On wearing a Bersih 4 T-shirt to church

Tan Foong Luen

Malaysiakini

Aug 24th, 2015

Life recently has been a roller-coaster ride. The Dow has plunged 531 points to end its worst week since 2011. Oil prices dipped to below US$40 – the lowest since 2009. The Swiss have launched a money-laundering investigation into 1MDB. The authorities have refused to grant a permit for the Bersih 4 rally.

As I knelt to pray this Sunday, I am mindful of the key verse in the Church bulletin: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Cor 23:12-13

I had wanted to wear a Bersih 4 tee-shirt to church to create awareness. My wife had reservations as to the appropriateness as a church attire. She didn’t want me to create an uproar.

I found comfort guided by my pastor. “All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial” – 1Cor 10:23-24. It is your prerogative to wear what you will but you need to consider if your actions brings greater benefit or evil. If it causes your fellow brother to stumble in his worship of God, then don’t ; if it encourages him to worship all the more, then do so.

“Either way, your conscience must be clear before God and man. The church is apolitical but is always opposed to corruption , injustice and evil. Hence the church, as did the prophets of the old and the new Testaments are called to speak up and stand against injustice and do what is right.” My heart is strangely warmed.

I am also touched by Ambiga Sreenevasan’s clarion call: “We have to fix this nation for the next generation . We cannot hand them a broken nation.”

The truth should be brought out – no matter who is involved. The information that from a trickle has become an avalanche. It has persuaded many to believe there is a real possibility that some of the charges are true, and suggesting further that there have been efforts to conceal the facts.

The integrity of the prime minister’s office is a sacred trust. The public faith in the integrity of this office would have to take priority over all personal considerations.

Whatever may appear to have been in this 1MDB debacle, whatever improper activities may yet to be discovered in connection with this whole sordid affair, justice must be pursued fairly, fully and impartially, no matter who is involved. And such abuses must be purged from our political process.

Admittedly, this sad legacy of the last 60 years is a showcase of the perils of our indifference. It is a sin we committed against ourselves. If we accept it as such, we will understand that it is up to us all to do something about it.

Let Bersih 4 be a demonstration of the moral vigour and the righteous fury of the rakyat. Let’s make Malaysia a land in which each person can dare to dream, can live his dreams – not in fear but in hope.

There is vital work to be done. Work that cannot wait. Work that we must do.

Come to do your bit for our beloved nation. Let us expose the cynical brutal lies, the stubborn arrogance and the ludicrous posturing and proud pathos of a doomed PM.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 25 August 2015, 6:46 am and is filed under
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Strong fundamentals are weakening, we’re failing

Ramon Navaratnam

Malaysiakini

Aug 24th, 2015

Our leaders keep saying that our fundamentals are strong. This is comforting and consoling.

But actually our apparently strong fundamentals are weakening and we are failing. But we still have hope as we approach our 58th Merdeka anniversary.

Whether we like it or not the falling value of our ringgit is a fair reflection of the state of our nation. Our gradual socio-economic and political decline does not indicate confidence in our strength or success, but sadly our weak fundamentals and prospects.

The performance of the ringgit is like a thermometer that measures our economic fever. Indeed the economic temperature is rising, while our socio-economic and political health is failing.

If we do not arrest our ringgit decline, our economy, like our health, can deteriorate rapidly. Then we could become a ‘failing state’. But if we still adopt an apparently complacent and cavalier attitude towards the falling ringgit and our current slackening socio-economic system, then there would be the rising risk of becoming a failed state.

Signs of a failing state

1. The steadily falling ringgit is a sign of weakness. Hence the question on most Malaysian minds is, how low will the ringgit go? And how long will the ringgit take to stabilise and hopefully strengthen? At what low levels will the ringgit settle? We have now to work much harder to earn foreign exchange. Imported inflation can cause major problems for all, and especially the poor and middle income Malaysians.

The 11th Malaysia Plan’s aim to help raise the living standards of the bottom 40 percent of the population but this goal can now be seriously impaired there are also now new and higher risks of social restlessness and even potential unrest.

2. The federal government’s budget deficit has been lowered commendably in the last few years. But can the deficit reduction be sustained in the longer term, with declining oil and commodity prices?

Will the pressure on the government to spend more be adequately resisted as we approach the elections?

It will be a very difficult for politicians to face this real challenge, which will require very strong government leadership, especially when the economic fundamentals continue to weaken.

3. Portfolio investment outflows have been rising to nearly RM12 billion in the last quarter, from about RM8 billion in the second quarter this year. Will this unfavourable trend continue and for how much and how long?

Although foreign direct investment rose to over RM 12 billion, creditably the highest inflow in the last 10 quarters, the investments by Malaysians abroad rose dramatically to over RM16 billion in the last quarter. This is the highest outflow in the last five quarters and poses to be a weak fundamental.

Hence overall, more private investment capital flowed out than came into Malaysia. This means that Malaysians have lesser confidence in the country than foreign investors. The private capital flight from Malaysia is certainly not a strong fundamental. This has been carrying on for some time together with a massive brain drain.

These trends are clear expressions of much loss of confidence in our good governance. They weaken our socio-economic fundamentals, and don’t strengthen them.

All these weakening fundamentals underline the poor public perception that the government has so far, not adequately handled the complex and complicated 1MDB alleged national scandal. This alone constitutes a major source of low confidence in economic management and political governance.

4. The foreign exchange reserves are under severe strain. The balance of payments surpluses keep narrowing, due to lowering commodity export prices and rising import prices. Furthermore, Bank Negara’s orderly intervention to smoothen currency fluctuations and the decline of the ringgit, acutely erodes our hard earned national reserves. They have now declined to about RM94 billion, thus breaking the sensitive psychological barrier of RM 100 billion.

The ringgit slide can no more be regarded therefore as a temporary phenomenon, but a longer term trend. The ringgit cannot and should not be artificially supported by Bank Negara, through more intervention and worse still thorough fixing of a currency peg or via exchange controls, as in the past.

5. Unemployment is low at about 3 percent, but underemployment can be a very serious fundamental flaw. The huge number of legal and illegal immigrants amounting to arguably about 4 million workers, with low paid wages, forces out our own Malaysian workers from the plantation and now even the service industries.

Waiters, cashiers, etc are mostly foreigners whom we see all over the place. Where have our own workers gone? And there are at least 100,000 unemployed and unemployable graduates who are looking for suitable jobs. This is surely not a sound fundamental? And yet, we have postponed again the teaching of English as a second language. Why? Is it sadly politics again, that will undermine our children’s future?

Preserve institutional integrity

6. The national institutions and their strength and resilience are vital for our sustained growth, progress and prosperity. But the wide perception both at home and abroad is that our institutions have been badly hurt and weakened. Even the civil service has suffered from attacks against its traditional independence and integrity, through unfair interference and unnecessary transfers , during the course of officials undertaking their duties diligently and faithfully.

Today, there is considerable anxiety and also some fear amongst Malaysians to express their views and to participate in public discourse and debate. Those of us who take part often feel we are sticking our heads out. But we soldier on in good faith and in our belief that it is in the public interest to do so. It’s our way to fulfill our own sense of duty to God, Agong and country.

But this feeling of insecurity, should not prevail so widely, as it shows a lack of public confidence in the government to uphold the principles of our constitution, our institutions and good governance.

There is also the perception that the government is selective in the administration of law and order. The passing of the Peaceful Assembly Act was welcome only because it was thought that it would be fairly implemented.

But there have already been many hurdles put in the way against those who want to organise peaceful rallies before Merdeka. How then can the people develop more confidence in our government and the sound fundamentals governing our institutions?

Democracy may not be dead as yet. But the apparent curtailment of basic and fundamental freedoms such as, to speak freely , to assembly peacefully, and the non accession to several UN Human Rights Conventions, create the sad impression that we have a ‘deceased democracy’ in Malaysia.

Avoid state capture

7. State capture is perceived to be broadly present, in most aspects of our life. This happens when governments anywhere use the state institutions, like the civil service, the police, the judiciary, education system, the Election Commission, etc, to ensure continuing rule by a particular government.

The question arises in our Malaysian minds, as to whether state capture is practiced in our country too? It’s an important issue that is worthy of public consideration?

8. For instance, Internet regulation can be a very sensitive matter. It is important to discourage racial and religious intolerance and bigotry, so as to preserve the peace and build national unity. But if new regulations are used to restrict the fundamentals of free speech, then any disease in our democracy can only worsen and cause Malaysian democracy to decay and then die.

9. Malaysia’s economic growth is still respectable despite all our problems. But this growth and financial stability run the grave risk of declining, while Inflation can keep rising . All this will happen not because of only external factors, over which we have no control, but because of our poor governance and excessive and unproductive politicking?

We are still caught in the middle income trap, because we fail to do more to phase out of the outdated New Economic Policy (NEP) and to adopt more of the New Economic Model. We cannot bumble along in a globalised world with outmoded protectionist policies that benefit much more, the minority elitist rich and not the majority poor and the middle class.

Given the decline in the ringgit and our fundamentals, we have to adopt some radical reforms in our old and outmoded socio-economic models. If we are slow or reluctant to do so, we will decline further.

Conclusion

10. Our 58th Merdeka anniversary is only a few days away and it’s worth honestly pondering whether, our national fundamentals in all fields are still strong or weakening? Can we live up to the sound values and noble aspirations of our founding fathers like Tunku Abdul Rahman and Abdul Razak Hussein?

Or do we continue to flounder on our weakening fundamentals and stale thinking, from which we may not recover for a long time?

But we can draw from our rich traditional inspiration of Merdeka. With a new national resolve, we can determine to strengthen our weakening national fundamentals.

But for now, the government has to present a plan of action to the rakyat on how to deal with the falling ringgit and the failing fundamentals, to prevent ‘state capture’ and Malaysia becoming a failed state.

We shall then overcome our present critical problems and move forward to ‘a better Malaysia for All Malaysians’.

On a personal note, I was at the Merdeka Stadium as a university student and shouted “Merdeka” with our beloved Tunku Abdul Rahman on our first Merdeka Day in 1957. I still cherish the recollections with emotion.

So let me greet you all – Selamat Hari Merdeka and God Bless our beloved country Malaysia.

RAMON NAVARATNAM is chairperson of Asli/Centre of Public Policy Studies.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 25 August 2015, 6:08 am and is filed under
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Time for Najib to prove his patriotism – that the twin scandals of 1MBD and RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts can cause his personal political undoing, but they must not be allowed to cause the undoing of Malaysia with unmitigated political and economic catastrophes

On Sunday, I made the most unusual and unorthodox proposition of issuing an Open Invitation to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to make a joint appearance at Bersih 4 rally where the Prime Minister can hold face-to-face dialogue with Bersih 4 organisers and principal supporters on the state of democracy in Malaysia.

This was a follow up to  my suggestion on Saturday that the Prime Minister should co-operate  with the Bersih 4 organisers to turn the Bersih 4 overnight rally on August 29/30 into a Human Rights Carnival or Festival, where the human rights of freedom of expression and assembly of Malaysians are celebrated rather than suppressed, which will make it an unique event and milestone in the 58th Merdeka Day Celebrations – not only in Malaysia but globally.

I said the Prime Minister can be assured of full security and courtesy, as the police as well Bersih 4 organisers and principal supporters will ensure that the Prime Minister is not only safe but accorded the full courtesies and politeness which Malaysians show to their leaders and officials.

The Prime Minister’s dialogue with Bersih 4 organisers and principal supporters can be an historic occasion for Najib to do what he had failed to do in almost two months to “tell all” about the twin scandals which have not only haunted the Malaysian body politic but causing grave  crisis of confidence as witnessed by the triple  freefall of the Malaysian ringgit, the Malaysian stock market and the country’s international reserves  – the 1MDB and the  RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal accounts in AmBank in March 2013 just before the dissolution of Parliament and the holding of the 13th General Election.

In response, the Prime Minister said that he would rather discuss the RM2.6 billion donation controversy privately with UMNO members instead of issuing public statements.

He said: “I can explain. No problem, but not openly because it can affect the party.”

But obviously, Najib finds great “problem” in explaining the two scandals not only to the three million UMNO members, but even to the UMNO chieftains – which was why UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had vehemently  protested that he did not know anything about both the 1MDB and RM2.6 billion scandals up to his summary sacking as Deputy Prime Minister on July 28.

The new Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi had promised at the  Tanah Merah UMNO delegates meeting on 8th August  that the government and UMNO leadership will give a detailed explanation to UMNO members “soon” on the issues of 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion political fund, but seventeen days have passed and there are absolutely no  signs that there would be any such explanation on these scandals except a series of  “cock-and-bull” stories about the purpose of the  RM2.6 billion donation to Najib.

In not wanting Malaysians and UMNO members  to talk about the twin scandals, Najib  is acting like King Canute trying  to stop the rising tide.

Najib may shut the mouths of the majority of the “UMNO 300” who are helping him to impose “command and control” of the UMNO machinery, whether at the Cabinet, UMNO supreme council or divisional levels, but he cannot stop ordinary UMNO branch leaders and members from speaking up.

This is why the speech by a Merbok UMNO delegate Anuar Abd Hamid at the division meeting of August 22 on the debate on the  motion calling on Najib to step down which was passed unanimously had gone viral.

Anuar urged Putrajaya to form a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the company and to “kill off the issue, once and for all”.

He had listed out several problems with 1MDB, in particular the decision to take on RM42 billion in debts via questionable ventures.

He said he had lost sleep and angry over the massive 1MDB woes.

Anuar’s sense of despair, frustration and anger is understandable, as it is the common feelings not only of the three million UMNO members, but also the 30 million ordinary Malaysians.

In fact, Najib, Zahid and the top UMNO leadership  are hand-in-glove in the latest 1MDB conspiracy of silence, pretending that the total debts of 1MDB are only RM42 billion when it should now be over RM50 billion as revealed by Muhyiddin in his last speech as Deputy Prime Minister to the Cheras UMNO Division on July 26, 2015.

Anuar joins the list of UMNO grassroots leaders who are not prepared to be cowed into silence but are prepared to pay the price  to speak truth to power, like

•	Parit Sulong UMNO division chief Zulkarnain Kamisan who recited Indonesian Mustofa Bisri (Gus Mus)’s poem “Kau Ini Bagaimana Atau Aku Harus Bagaimana”;

•	Langkawi Umno delegate Anina Saaduddin whose  honest and courageous “kencing tiga juta Ahli UMNO” speech  had gone viral;

•	Pontian UMNO division chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad  who made the shocking revelation that Najib bypassed the Umno Supreme Council and simply used mobile messaging app WhatsApp to decide whether he should reshuffle the Cabinet;

•	Pagoh UMNO deputy division chief Ismail Mohamad who  warned that UMNO leaders should not allow one man to single-handedly be the cause of UMNO’s downfall;

•	Tampin Youth wing which passed a resolution asking Najib to step down;

•	Kuala Kedah  division chief who criticised Najib for postponing UMNO party election; and

•	Pasir Gudang Wanita Umno delegate who handed over a 12-point memorandum to Najib asking him to “take a rest”.

Najib cannot continue to run and hide to avoid and evade giving a full and satisfactory explanation of the these twin scandals.

The time has come for Najib to prove his patriotism – that the twin scandals of 1MBD and RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts can cause his personal political undoing, but they must not be allowed to cause the undoing of Malaysia with unmitigated political and economic catastrophes to the nation.

Najib has procrastinated long enough, and he should take concrete steps by this weekend before the nation celebrates our 58TH Merdeka Anniversary to “tell all” about these two scandals, in particular where the money came from for the RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts in AmBank in March 2013, where the money have gone to, including the beneficiaries from the pay-outs from Najib’s personal accounts, how much each received, what is the balance of the funds remaining after all the pay-outs and the whereabouts of this remainder balance in the account.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 25 August 2015, 10:44 am and is filed under
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Bersih 4 Rally – The whole world is watching and Malaysia must not fail the global test of human rights, democracy and good governance so as not to head towards a rogue and failed state

The whole world is watching Malaysia on August 29 and 30.

Malaysia must not fail the global best of human rights, democracy and good governance so as not to head towards a rogue and failed state.

Malaysians should  have had enough of bad news in the past weeks and months, with the Malaysian ringgit becoming “shringgit”, sinking to a 17-year-low to 4.2680 to a US dollar at 10.17 am today, and taken off notice boards of money-changers overseas with the notation “P.O.A.” or “price on application” because of its extreme volatility.

Malaysia’s foreign exchange reserves fell 19% since the start of the year, dipping below the US$100 billion for the first time last month since 2010, falling to US$94.5 billion on August 14 from US$96.7 billion on July 31.

The Kuala Lumpur stock market has also crashed.

Capital outflows from the country are accelerating, to three times the size of capital investments in the country in Q1.

These are not the only woes Malaysia is facing, as there is a multiple crisis of confidence affecting not just the economy, but also about good governance and democracy in Malaysia.

The Police should end all the semantics about the legality or otherwise of  Bersih 4 overnight rally on August 29/30, and be guided by Suhakam which had stressed that the police have no power to ban any peaceful gathering and must instead protect the participants.

There are no doubt irresponsible elements out to create trouble and mischief at the Bersih 4 overnight rally, which is expected to draw bigger crowds than Bersih 1, 2 and 3.

Kuala Lumpur should be turned into an ocean of yellow on August 29 and 30, not by Malaysians who want to disrupt peace, create chaos and provoke violence, but because they want peacefully  democratically and constitutionally express their concerns about the state of the economy, democracy and good governance in Malaysia.

All supporters of Bersih will be disciplined to keep the peace at the Bersih 4 overnight rally, but there would be trouble-makers who would be assigned to breach the peace and even provoke violence.

What the Police should now focus on is to co-operate with Bersih 4 organisers and security personnel to ensure that these agent-provocateurs are not allowed to disrupt the peaceful, democratic and constitutional expression of Bersih 4 to save the country from being a rogue and failed state.

The police and Bersih participants must be on the lookout for these agent-provocateurs and take all necessary action to prevent them from disrupting Bersih 4.

In fact, if there are Bersih 4 participants who act disorderly which disrupt the peaceful nature of Bersih 4, all other Bersih 4 participants should exercise their citizenship duties to stop these irresponsible elements  from further mischief.

Let the successful holding of Bersih 4 overnight rally be the beginning of a national healing process for the nation to recover from the multitude of political, economic, good governance and nation-building crisis confronting Malaysia.

Let Malaysians prove  Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan wrong that  Bersih 4 rally will have an adverse impact on the economy in an already challenging economic environment.

In a series of tweets, Abdul Rahman said ultimately, ordinary Malaysians will become the victims if the economy is affected.

“The Bersih 4 timing is bad. Malaysians are losing billions and jobs. Don’t stoke the economic fire even more. Be responsible. Postpone it.

“Bersih 4 should be wise. This is the time for calm and composure in light of the global economic meltdown. Even just for a few weeks.”

On the contrary, if Malaysians, involving the government and citizenry, can successfully hold the biggest rally in the nation’s history to demonstrate the unity, resolve and commitment of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, age, gender or politics to want to end the nation-building, political, economic and good governance crisis, it can be beginning of a virtuous circle to save Malaysia from sliding down the slippery slope towards a rogue and failed state.

(Media Conference Statement at DAP Hqrs in KL on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 12.30 pm)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 26 August 2015, 2:23 pm and is filed under
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Call for emergency Parliament in first week of September on three issues: (I) Economic, Political  and Governance Crisis; (ii) fill PAC vacancies; and (iii) whether nation needs new PM and new Government

More and more voices are being raised  expressing grave concern about the state of Malaysian economy, governance and democracy.

Today, among those who have spoken range  from the Sultan of Johor; the nation’s top banker and brother of the Prime Minister, CIMB group chairman Datuk Nazir Razak and former Cabinet Minster who was Minister for Trade and Industry for more than two decades from 1987-2008,  Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

Sultan  Ibrahim Ismail Iskandar of Johor called on the federal government to resolve the instability facing the country as well as the falling ringgit.

He said that the  “unstable political and economic situation“ the country is in now is a major issue which has to be dealt with immediately.

He said Putrajaya should not fool the rakyat by whitewashing the problems faced by the country.

Nazir voiced concern over the economy due to the ringgit freefall and said “people  in power should stop saying ‘stupid things’ in order to help the economy”.

Rafidah questioned whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s acceptance of RM2.6 billion, said to be from a Middle Eastern donor, has opened Umno to being manipulated by foreigners.

She said: “Umno is the backbone of the BN government. Influencing Umno would mean influencing the government.”

Rafidah said  that the RM2.6 billion incident has taken money politics plaguing Umno to new heights, and that other Umno leaders were also in some way responsible for the fiasco.

The Prime Minister must end his denial complex and address the reality that the country is faced with an unprecedented crisis over the state of the economy, governance and democracy.

The failure of his reshuffled Cabinet to address the country’s multiple crisis is best reflected by the freefall of the Malaysian ringgit, which plunted from 3.814 to the US dollar and 2.7770 to the Singapore dollar when the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was sacked and the Cabinet reshuffled on 28th July 2015 to 4.26 to the US dollar and 3.016 to the Singapore dollar today.

The Sultan  of Johor ‘s call for urgent action to address the multiple crisis facing the country should be heeded and I urge the Prime Minister to convene an Emergency meeting of Parliament in the first week of September, which can address the triple issues of:

(I) Economic, Governance  and Political  Crisis confronting the country;

(ii) fill PAC vacancies including appointing a new PAC Chairman to end the sabotage of parliamentary investigations into the RM50 billion 1MDB scandal; and

(iii) address the nettlesome and unprecedented question whether the  nation needs a new PM and new Government.

(Speech  at  Taman Ungku  Tun Aminah (TUTA) Por Tor Dinner at Maedo Restaurant, Skudai, Gelang Patah on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 10 pm)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 26 August 2015, 7:18 am and is filed under
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The Unfortunate Case of Malaysia’s Prime Minister

Greg Lopez

Forbes

Aug 25, 2015

The feeling that Malaysia is now in an abyss is real. Malaysians fear terrible things are happening to them and their country because of poor leadership. The man who – rightly or wrongly – will be blamed for all of Malaysia’s woes will unfortunately be the current prime minister.

In June this year, the minister responsible for transforming the Malaysian economy – Idris Jala – in an open letter to Bloomberg , complained that he hardly recognised the country that Bloomberg columnist William Pesek was writing about. In the open letter, Idris Jala provided a robust rebuttal to William Pesek’s derisive commentary on Malaysia.

Last week, Prime Minister Najib Razak was compelled to assert that Malaysia is not a failed state as public outrage reached a crescendo. Some even suggested that Malaysia is heading towards both a dictatorship and a  failed state. Najib Razak countered with statistics and examples.

Both the prime minister and his minister for economic transformation are correct that – on balance – the available analyses suggests that the Malaysian economy is healthy and the prime minister is not yet a dictator. Yet, both men also know that despite evidence to support their case and after spending hundreds of millions of ringgit to prove their case, and improve the prime minister’s profile, the majority of Malaysians still think little of him, his administration and the country’s performance. After the fatal mistake admitting that he “accepted” $700 million from a foreign donor (after first denying it) for the ruling party’s political activities, significant portion of his own supporters (from the United Malays National Organisation/UMNO) have also lost faith in him. This is most unfortunate for Najib Razak, but also his cabinet and the Barisan Nasional.

During the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997/98, then Malaysian prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Tun Mahathir) managed to successfully pin the blame for Malaysia’s economic woes on the Jews.  Najib Razak is attempting to do the same, but does not have the required conditions that favoured prime minister Tun Mahathir. There is no crisis that he can appeal too. There is no external force/s that he can pin the blame on. He is being attacked by people from within his own party for what they perceive as unforgivable mistakes – weakening the Barisan Nasional and UMNO further – that are of his own making. The majority of Malaysians have long registered their preference for another coalition and leader.

The leadership of Barisan Nasional and the present cabinet strongly backs Najib Razak. Beyond that small but powerful circle, support is thin. He is now being made the scapegoat for the Barisan Nasional‘s, the UMNO‘s and the country’s poor performance. All calamities befalling Malaysia and Malaysians are now being placed at his feet.

Despite being a prized product of the UMNO and Barisan Nasional system, Najib Razak is now a curse to many within the system that produced him.  The son of the architect of  the New Economic Policy and UMNO thoroughbred, Najib Razak once glorified, is now hounded by the very people who made him the king of the hill. He has become a plague. It is no longer 1MDB but the prime minister that is the symbol of everything that is wrong with Malaysia.

On the 29th and 30th of August, 2015, rallies have been organised not only in Malaysia, but all over the world by Malaysians calling for Najib Razak’s resignation.

Will Najib Razak survive the weekend?

Stay tuned.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 26 August 2015, 6:12 am and is filed under
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Bersih 4 Merdeka

KJ John

Malaysiakini

Aug 25th, 2015

  I think it was about 10 years ago that I decided to stop flying the Merdeka Flag on Aug 31; and only flew it on Malaysia day instead, i.e. Sept 16. My reasons were simple. I realised that the Aug 31 Merdeka day had particular meaning only to the Malayans; but the Malaysia Day had a special meaning for all Malaysians.

Therefore, surely and practically, I moved my Merdeka Day celebrations and all it has meant for me, to the Malaysia Day; the day Malaysia was formed by the remaining three entities, after Singapore left.

Therefore, this year when the Bersih organising committee fixed Aug 29 and 30 for the Bersih 4 to walk the talk; it was easy for me to see and understand all the reasons for doing the same. The goal of ‘membersihkan negara kita’ is an on-going agenda towards achieving clean and fair elections so that we can form a government of our choice and based on our election and selection.

Nobody else can and should dictate that, even with the gerrymandering tolerated and moderated by the Election Commission.

Consequently also, when one former minister asked the Bersih 4 organising committee to march with Malaysian flags to celebrate Malaysia’s Merdeka; it was an easy and natural thing for all true-blue Malaysians. Therefore, this year with Bersih 4, we will also carry little Malaysian flags to celebrate this nation that we uphold and love but nevertheless also want to see things cleaned up.

Saya anak Bangsa Malaysia

All Malaysians born after Sept 16, 1963 are Malaysians; pure, clean first class Malaysians and no one else can deny that, not even the Home Affairs Ministry. It is guaranteed by the federal constitution and our Council of Rulers; all that is part and parcel of the Malaysia Agreement.

So, when a voluntary group of Malaysians began a group called SABM or Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia; of course I joined them and agreed with their premise. We are all Bangsa Malaysians and children of Bangsa Malaysians and no one else can deny that.

Merdeka also means that. It means that the second generation of Malaysians; born after Sept 16, 1963, must claim this nation and its complete systems and institutions of governance and make it their own. One cannot simply allow the goons and crooks of the past leadership models to cheat, steal, and destroy this nation which is also our heritage.

Therefore, I urge all Malaysians who love this country to march for Merdeka this year and join the Bersih 4 citizens to exert their influence and make your presence felt. There are all the signs that it is an awakening of sorts by all Malaysians saying enough are enough; we want to take back the Negara Ku and help define its future.

If the voluntary funds and donations are any consideration; we are going to have a great and grand march this time around and it will be peaceful because we wear yellow; our royal colour, and we carry the Jalur Gemilang. How can anything possibly go wrong?

Will Christians march this time?

While we have marched from the very first time, the majority of Christians may have not marched the first three times. In my calculation there are about 3 million Christians in Malaysia and the majority are in the Borneo states. These are the bumiputra Christians, and they are the ones badly affected by the so-called ban of the ‘Allah’ word in their Bibles.

This time, for the first time, the Bersih march will also concurrently be held in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Therefore and more significantly, this march, which is not on Merdeka Day, can also become a Merdeka March for all Malaysians. It is time that our brothers and sisters from the East of the Malaysian nation begin to feel and create full meaning for their merdeka; not just from the colonials, but also from the neo-colonials.

The Malayan Catholic Churches along the Bersih 4 route in Kuala Lumpur have agreed and invited all peaceful protesters to seek refuge within their locations; if that is ever needed. Now, that is a statement of intent.

The nature of a peaceful assembly

Malaysians marching peacefully on pre-designated routes to ask for a clean and trustworthy government must surely be one of the hallmarks of any good democracy. Merdeka cannot mean much if citizens, who chose governments, cannot march and make their feelings and views about poor governance known.

Moreover, the Peaceful Assembly Act justifies and allows such marches as part and parcel of any peaceful assembly. Given that the planning and intentions have been made to Special Branch more than a month ago, and as the Suhakam chief commissioner, Hasmy Agam, has reminded the police there is really no reason for the organisers to apply for permission to march in a peaceful assembly.

The so-called application is only a simple means of communication of intent. To me, the greatest joke of the century must be that more than one million marchers know all details of the march and are getting prepared for the march, but sometimes it appears that it is only the Malaysian police who are really not prepared to protect and ensure that the march remains peaceful especially in the light of the fact that some trouble-makers have made their intentions known.

Dear police officers, you are sworn to preserve and protect public order. Please understand that in a democracy, and not in a police state, sometimes, this preservation of public order includes moderating and ensuring that one million people, who are mainly citizens, can march peacefully to communicate a demand to the government of the day because they are hard of hearing.

Sometimes, it appears to me, that it is the police themselves who are hard of hearing. Now that the former Special Branch deputy chief has specifically said so; is there any more real doubt?

So, dear public servants of the people, please remember that you are sworn to act as police of the state (and this too is done in the name of the Agong). You are never the police of Umno; never were and never will be, as it is always ordinary and honest citizens who want a clean and fair elections but who do make up for the majority of those who Bersih Four Merdeka; pun intended.

KJ JOHN was in public service for 29 years. The views expressed here are his personal views and not those of any institution he is involved with. Write to him at
[email protected]
 with any feedback or views.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 5:04 am and is filed under
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Breaking all the rules of democracy

Mariam Mokhtar

Malaysiakini

Aug 25th, 2015

“The tremendous support I get from Malaysians, enables me to continue our struggle,” said Ambiga Sreenevasan at a talk called ‘Why Bersih 4?’, in London, on Sunday Aug 23.

The lawyer may be slight in stature, but is brimming over with humility and gratitude. Despite the abuse hurled by Malay extremists, she said, “The good times are amazing. People come up to me on the streets, to shake my hand and say ‘thank you’, for what I am doing for Malaysia.

“The little acts by Malaysians make a lot of difference. Nameless strangers paying my bill when I eat in a restaurant. The bouquets of flowers delivered to my house, and the messages of support from people I do not know, all keep me going,” she added.

Ambiga was responding to a question about the trigger which introduced her into activism and why she continues to inspire people, despite the death threats and insults against her faith.

In 2012, in a series of highly provocative acts by Malay extremists, her home was surrounded by beef burger stalls, where free burgers were distributed to the public, and Malay army veterans exposed their butts while performing dances to humiliate and annoy her. She is a practising Hindu and a vegetarian.

With the worldwide Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 gathering momentum, Malaysians based in England and Scotland are making preparations to support their peers back home.

London is arguably the world’s capital for activism. In a talk to Malaysians, Ambiga covered several topics, including her activism to soliciting the help of the Agong, and student participation, the Sarawak state election, people power, police support for Bersih 4, mainstream media and former PM Mahathir Mohamad’s return.

She cited her work at as lawyer and said, “I have always been inspired by leading members of the Malaysian Bar, and fearless and outstanding presidents like the late Raja Aziz Addruse, Param Cumaraswamy, Cyrus Dass. I am motivated by public interest and human rights issues.”

When asked about the aims of Bersih 4, she said that five demands were imposed upon the government and it was also to tell the government how the people really feel, with a public show of unity and revulsion for corruption.

To the people who suggest that Bersih take up the offer of a rally in a stadium, Ambiga said, “The people who suggest the stadium don’t really appreciate what freedom of assembly means.

“In democratically-elected countries, rallies happen regularly, so that the voice of the people can be heard. If they put you in a stadium, they can ignore you and forget about the message you are trying to tell them.

‘They are ignoring you’

“In Malaysia, the level of disgust about what is happening to the country is unprecedented. No matter what you say on Twitter and Facebook, or the articles you write, the politicians are not getting the message, they are ignoring you.”

Quoting one of the demands of Bersih 4, which is for the PM Najib Abdul Razak to step down, she said, “If they ignore the people, they will ratchet up the protests, until they are heard.

“It is important that the powers-that-be know that Malaysians are not fooled by the ridiculous and silly answers given by the politicians.”

She told the audience that she did not expect Najib to resign, and that it was up to civil society to take the next step. She said, “Everything is a process. I accept people’s criticisms that rallies can only achieve so much. This rally is also personalised to the PM. If the numbers are sufficient, it will send a strong signal that we are not happy with his handling the situation in Malaysia.”

Ambiga is aware that politicians hear the people, but slams them for not listening. She said, “Our MPs have to be more responsible. Politics in Umno Baru is about patronage, buying people’s silence, they may not agree what is going on, but they do nothing.”

She recalled the way which both Najib and the people dismissed the Wall Street Journal report on Najib, and said, “If this had happened in UK, the PM would have taken a leave of absence, removed himself from the seat of power, to protect the seat of office. He would not have led an investigation into this own conduct.

“We break all the rules of a working democracy.”

She mentioned one positive thing about the opposition coalition, which is its willingness to listen to criticism, but continued, “They have a lot of work to do. It is an absolute tragedy that they do not have their act together. Now is the time for the opposition to shine. Now!

“But it is not happening. They should get their act together quickly.”

She denied that the Bersih rallies have not achieved anything and said that the formation of the parliamentary select committee, and the huge numbers at previous rallies indicate that the voices against the government, are growing louder. She said, “Awareness is rising. The level of anger is much higher, now. People are under stress. The people in Parliament could make a difference, but they choose not to.

“Unfortunately, we are not following the rules on Parliament democracy.”

She lamented that Malaysia is rocked by a new scandal almost every week, but each one is forgotten, before the next one surfaces.

So, will you make your voice heard on Aug 29 and 30, and tell Najib that he has to go?

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 6:05 am and is filed under
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Choice of words, and the shaping of opinions

Hafiz Noor Shams

Malay Mail Online

August 25, 2015

AUGUST 25 — When I think of the terms “coup d’état”, “overthrow”, “topple” and the like, I would think of a violent change in government. The revolutions in Egypt and Ukraine would come to my mind. Closer to home, having tanks rolling through the streets of Bangkok is another excellent example.

In contrast, when I think of the case of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi — backstabbed by his Umno colleagues and pressured to resign what seems ages ago — the whole episode falls under the realm of peaceful power transfer.

It lacks the violence or coerciveness that colours the words “coup d’état”, “overthrow” and “topple” so thickly. The events in 2008-2009 were messy but democracy is always unruly. It is never as clean as an autocrat dressed in a democrat costume would like. These autocrats think modern democracy is about having regular elections only while ignoring other prerequisites that are just as important.

I do not think the definition of “topple” I have outlined exists only in my mind. The violent undertone it brings falls within the everyday understanding of the word. If “topple” had been used to describe the end of the Abdullah-led administration, then I would think the term has been abused grossly.

And so I frown when Najib Razak’s supporters and the police chief especially throw around that word to describe attempts at removing the prime minister from power through a vote of no confidence in Parliament. So insecure they are that even calling for his resignation is a go at coup d’état.

But perhaps after so much power and institutional corruption committed by Umno and their BN allies in government, it is only natural for the same side to corrupt the language we use every day.

I would think they know they are twisting these words beyond their intended meaning. It is a purposeful exaggeration to meet their selfish political end, which is to stay in power even at the expense of the country.

The bigger problem is when the intended recipients of the political message, mostly men and women on the streets, accept the word subversion without critical examination and then blindly reuse it in that unnatural way.

To understand why this is an issue worth highlighting, we have to understand that language has the power to shape our opinion. Language is not merely a neutral medium of exchange but it also influences how we perceive information, and from there on shapes our views.

Since “topple” comes with the violent connotation, applying it in the context of peaceful power change would likely cause the uncritical message recipients to balk and recoil from any call for change. They would hesitate from supporting change out of fear, merely because the words used.

That is the purpose of word subversion. It tries to pollute the legitimate peaceful means of change with the created image of smoke, fire and death. It is done to instill fear in us, make us feel hopeless and convince us to do nothing even in the face of injustice. It is to discourage the case for peaceful power change.

The sages of old told us not to judge a book by its cover. But let us face it. We almost always act on the first impression. We read the headline and prejudge without reading the whole article. We live in the too-long, didn’t-read culture.

In the same line of reasoning, most of us do not think too much of how “topple” has been used. I have spotted too many innocent men and women reusing the word in the corrupted context without realizing it, thus perpetuating fear and serving the pro-Najib camp.

I am sure I am guilty of the same sin I warn of here in other cases elsewhere. It is truly tiring trying to be critical about every single word uttered, read and written all the time with a thick dictionary by my side.

But during this chaotic dishonest period when words are abused frequently, meanings are not so straight forward and outright doubletalk is the norm, we must stand guard for the tabula rasa that still exists in the corners of our mind. We just cannot afford to be the uncritical blind consumers of language waiting to be exploited in these deplorable days full of deceits.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 5:55 am and is filed under
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Choosing sides: Days ahead in Malaysia

 — Rebecca Khoo

Malay Mail Online

August 26, 2015

AUG 26 —To some, patriotism simply means ‘love for country’ which is a very valid way of looking at it.  Patriotism means different thing to different people. It is rather subjective as patriotism exists on many— and different— levels. Hence, what is patriotism to you? Maybe you believe that it partly is about voting for the candidates of political parties that you pledge support for. However, have you ever contemplated that giving mandate to candidates of political parties alone is not equivalent to love for the country. That is just exercising your right to vote, which includes the right to abstain from voting.

You may still think that you love the country in your heart, but is that so? Of course, placing your hand on your heart will not instill or fire up love for the country. Neither will singing patriotic songs, nor following the national theme for the National Day.  Many Malaysians who have high political awareness support either the Barisan Nasional (BN) or the Opposition. The one-eyed partisanship is very clear. More often than not, people lose their rationality when it comes to politics. Staunch supporters from both sides of the political divide will come to their leaders’ defence-at all cost, never mind if the leaders are just as wrong as their opponents on the other side of the House.

In the last GE, people were so polarised and rumours were spread like wildfire during the campaigning period and particularly, the voting day itself. Remember rumours about chaos in Penang during the voting day as well as the blackout in Bentong? Even close friends and relatives continue to argue just to defend the party or candidates they favour.  Blind partisanship does not always work. For example, Anything But UMNO (ABU sentiment) did not manage to topple the ruling coalition although hatred towards the ruling coalition has been increasing day-by-day. Instead, UMNO won more seats in 2013 as compared to 2008.  However, rational people like Saifuddin Abdullah of UMNO paid the price for being in the wrong party and he was booted out.

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the former Deputy Minister of Higher Education lost to PAS’s Nasaruddin Hassan Tantawi. Saifuddin Abdullah is well-known for his courage to speak up for moderation and is an absolute progressive leader. He ensured that the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was amended in order for students to have more freedom to be involved in politics. Saifuddin is a bold and brave man who dares to go against policies which he thinks is unfair. As a result, staunch supporters of BN may despise him for speaking up. Nasaruddin, from the other side, was voted in due to his political affiliation with the Opposition, thanks to the ABU culture. Although, Saiffudin became the victim of “political friendly fire”, his defeat at Temerloh is not a loss merely for Saifuddin alone, but for all Malaysians. Such a progressive leader that calls for moderation was unable to garner adequate support to retain his seat. Many voters have definitely lost their rationality.

Besides Datuk Saifuddin, Gan Ping Sieu, the former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports is also an exemplary leader. He also gave support to the four UKM students then, better known as UKM4, who were summoned by the university authority for breaching the UUCA. The four wanted to only observe the Hulu Selangor by-election in 2010, and nothing more than that.  Recently, on his Facebook, Gan shared a picture that depicts the legendary Hang Tuah killing his friend, Hang Jebat for going against the Sultan. A brief description on “the case against loyalty” posted brought peoples’ attention to the fact that the principle of unquestionable loyalty can no longer apply to our society. His post reflects the current situation in Malaysia. The only thing that differs is Malaysians have unquestionable loyalty to the people from certain political parties.  This may, or may not, indicate the tentacles of patronage are longer than thought. Certainly, there is increasing suspicion that pot may be as black as the kettle.  At this time of the nation’s dark days, how many leaders will really stand up and speak for the future of the country, without having to side a party and/or its top leaders? Unfortunately, today, I feel that the love for party leaders or candidates has already overridden the true love for the country.

I am not saying that respecting and following leaders is wrong. Of course, loyalty is an important virtue but we should do our best to avoid blindly supporting leaders. I too have a handful of leaders whom I respect more than others.

Leaders like Ariffin Omar, DAP’s Senator for Penang and Liew Chin Tong, Kluang MP also earn my respect, but not my blind support. For example, Liew’s call to work with UMNO Johor and UMNO Perlis is definitely obnoxious to me despite being his supporter.  DAP’s Zairil Khir Johari is also one of those intellectual leaders that I respect. Despite being accused of being a “traitor” to the Malay race, Zairil persist and persevered. Today, he is the MP for Bukit Bendera. Zairil, a rising star within the party actively speaks up on important issues pertaining to education within the country— and never plays the loathsome game of pointing fingers at his counterparts.

There is no point blaming others if you do not perform your part well. Of course, we, the people have the right to voice our concerns and what we want. So, please vote for candidates with integrity for the betterment of our country! Malaysians, we have got no time to waste. Wake up, before it is too late!

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 5:35 am and is filed under
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Come heal Malaysia at Bersih 4

– J.D. Lovrenciear

The Malaysian Insider

26 August 2015

Indeed the lyrics of the late Michael Jackson’s song “Heal the World” is most apt as Malaysians all across the country and in many locations across the world prepare to stand and walk tall for a better Malaysia.

“Heal the world (Malaysia), make it a better place, for you and for me, and the entire human race (all Malaysians)…” is what encapsulates the five demands of Bersih 4.

The quest for reforms in the electoral system, governance, freedom to protest, parliamentary democracy and the nation’s economy cannot be wrong or sinful. In fact it is truly an attempt to “Heal” Malaysia.

While a mob-like group threatens to send its 30,000 troops in red to seemingly do combat with the patriotic citizens of this country as they gather in a peaceful protest, the quick rush for the yellow T-shirts and the unstoppable pouring in of over RM1.5 million in donations is a clear attestation that the people are committed to creating a cleaner and better nation.

They will not be cowed by bullies and hired agents to protect a failing government and scandal ridden leadership.

The police may be arm-twisted to deny Malaysians a world-enshrined right to protest peacefully. The Najib administration may spew threats to university students but you bet the young and caring souls will be there come this pre-Merdeka Day weekend.

Recognising the mass exodus of citizens who will be pouring into the cities and towns all across the nation, the interfaith leaders have, out of responsible and wise leadership, made a call to have their temples and churches open to the public for recluse and safety.

The compassionate leaders rightly recognise that Bersih 4 is truly the citizens’ effort of solidarity to “heal Malaysia”.

As the clock ticks, the networked society of right and like-minded people are wildly abuzz with text messages calling for and championing that God-given and democratic right to assemble peacefully.

Indeed, while some pessimists may cast doubts about Bersih 4 and even condemn the movement, the fact that glares right into the conscience of Najib’s entourage is one of solidarity of citizens determined to come together to show disapproval.

Yes, the time has finally come for Malaysians to be more responsible and be accountable to their present and future generations. Yes, as Michael Jackson’s song rings, come heal this nation. Let us make it a better nation for all the people. We must care enough for all Malaysians for this is our land, our nation.

This year’s Merdeka theme, “Sehati, Sejiwa” (One heart, one soul) also means we as Malaysians will make history.

With one heart and one soul we reform our nation peacefully. Indeed, what a great opportunity to heal our electoral system, our nation’s governance, the freedom to protest, parliamentary democracy and our economy.

Bersih 4 is all about healing Malaysia. Let us not see this noble intention as crime. Let us not accuse this solidarity of peace gathering as a ploy to bring down a government.

Bersih 4 is about bringing up a government that is falling fast. – August 26, 2015.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 5:22 am and is filed under
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In spirit of putting aside political differences to celebrate Merdeka,  call on three million UMNO members and all members of BN parties to participate in Bersih 4 as an expression of patriotism and commitment to freedom, justice and national unity

I have just read on the news portals of the call by the Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak on Malaysians to set aside their political differences and celebrate Merdeka.

He said Malaysians claim they are loyal Malaysians but we seem to have lost the spirit of nationalism.

He lamented that unlike in sports, where Malaysians have discarded ethnicity in favour of nationalism and the Malaysian spirit, this is sadly not the case with Merdeka celebrations.

He said the impression being given is that there are going to be two Merdeka celebrations, one for those who support the government and another for the opposition.

Salleh cannot be more wrong.

The Bersih 4 overnight rally in Kuala Lumpur, which is expected to be bigger than Bersih 1, 2 and 3, is in fact the highest expression of loyalty, nationalism and patriotism for Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, gender, age or politics, reaffirming the united national resolve to ensure freedom, justice and national unity in the country.

‘Bersih 4, with its objective “Save Malaysia” to prevent it from becoming a rogue and a failed state, is an integral and important part of Merdeka Celebrations.

The Merdeka Celebrations national theme of
‘sehati, sejiwa’
 (one heart and soul) should be an inclusive one embracing Bersih 4 theme to “Save Malaysia” and others themes like “Bersih, Cekap, Amanan” (Clean. Efficient, Trustworthy” instead of being a narrow and exclusive one.

The Bersih 4 rallies, which should turn Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu into seas of yellow, must be embraced as high-points in this year’s Merdeka celebrations.

In the spirit of putting aside political differences to celebrate Merdeka,  I want to make two calls tonight:

Firstly to the  three million UMNO members and all members of BN parties to participate in Bersih 4 as an expression of patriotism and commitment to freedom, justice and national unity and most important of all, to join all Malaysians to “Save Malaysia” from our multiple political, economic, good governance and nation-building crises ; and

Secondly, to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to respond to my Open Invitation to make a joint appearance at Bersih 4 rally where he could hold face-to-face dialogue with Bersih 4 organisers and principal supporters on the state of democracy, economy and good governance in Malaysia.

Najib’s appearance at Bersih 4 will be a momentous message to the nation that the government and the opposition can put aside their political differences and stand on the same common platform to “Save Malaysia” – and may be a new turning point for Malaysia to avoid the horrors of a rogue and failed state!

My invitation to Najib to make a joint appearance at Berish 4 rally will remain open and I urge him to rethink his initial rejection of the invitation, when he said that he would rather discuss the RM2.6 billion “donation” controversy privately with UMNO members instead of issuing public statements – which unfortunately, he has yet to do.

The RM2.6 billion “donation” has raised very serious questions about our national sovereignty and the independence of the Najib government.

None of the previous Prime Ministers, whether Tengku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein, Tun Mahathir or Tun Abdullah had received a single sen of foreign money to influence the outcome of our general elections from 1959 to 2008.

Najib should fully explain why he has received RM2.6 billion funding from an allegedly Arab source tin influence the outcome of the 13th General Elections in 2013, seriously compromising the independence of the Malaysian government and the sovereignty of Malaysia.

This is an important issue which Najib can explain and give full accountability if he comes to  Bersih 4 to have a public dialogue on the state of democracy and the future of Malaysia.

(Speech at Ceramah Perdana Bersih 4 at  Wisma Teng Ching, Klang on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 9 pm)

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 7:37 am and is filed under
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Malaysia will be condemned as an instant rogue and failed state if police authorities  allow  agent-provocateurs to sabotage Bersih 4 and create chaos

I welcome and applaud the stern warning from the Inspector-general of police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to all quarters not to promote violence, including the red-shirts –  the anti-Bersih group.

Khalid said the police would not tolerate acts of criminal intimidation by anyone against those who participate in Bersih 4 rally, although the police regard it as illegal.

Referring to news reports that the anti-Bersih group would be training with machetes and swords as preparation to counter the overnight rally slated for Aug 29-30, Khalid said: “Nobody should take the law into their own hands.”

Khalid said such acts could be construed as criminal intimidation, and the police would not hesitate to take action against those who gather on the streets with weapons.

I particularly welcome prompt police action, with Dang Wangi district police asking the leaders of the  Red-Shirt group to record their statements later today.

The Inspector-General of Police, the Home Minister and the Prime Minister should be forewarned that the whole world is watching Malaysia on August 29 and 30.

Malaysia will be condemned as an instant rogue and failed state if the police  authorities allow agent provocateurs and anti-national elements to sabotage the peaceful holding of  Bersih 4 rally by creating chaos and mayhem.

Hundreds of thousands of people, regardless of race, religion, gender, age or politics will be streaming into the Federal capital for the Bersih 4 overnight rally on August 29 and 30, not to  create chaos and mayhem or spark  mischief and violence, but to peacefully and orderly exercise their democratic,  constitutional and  citizenship rights to register  both their concerns about the future of democracy, the nation’s economy and good governance as well as their  love and patriotism in wanting to “Save Malaysia”.

The hundreds of thousands of Malaysians come in peace to the Federal capital and it is the special responsibility of the Police to ensure that such peace is not broken.

Yesterday, former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin warned that if the current crisis is not tackled with courage, or “take the bull by the horns”,  Malaysia could become a failed state.

Muhyiddin warned:

“With the uncertainty surrounding the global economic climate, the free fall of the Ringgit, extraordinary political crisis, increase of prices and living cost, influx of foreigners and dismal investor sentiments are elements which can cause Malaysia to become a failed state.”

I welcome Muhyiddin joining the ranks of Malaysian patriots who fear that the nation may be heading in the direction of a failed state if we do not change  course in our national policies to end the rampant corruption, socio-economic injustices and the collapse of good governance in Malaysia – which sum up the concerns of the  Bersih 4 rally.

The entire population and the whole civil service, including the police, will not be able to escape the adverse consequences if Malaysia ends up as a failed state.

For this reason, Bersih 4 is speaking up for the concerns and future of all Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans; Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs or Taoists; whether in the civil service or the private sector; whether in urban or rural areas; in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak or Sabah.

Malaysians support Bersih 4 not to destroy the Malaysian nation, but to achieve the Malaysian Dream of becoming a great, democratic, prosperous and just nation which is a leading example in the world of a successful plural society practising democracy which ensures political and socio-economic justice to all citizens.

Putting aside the semantics argument among the  Police, Bersih, Suhakam, lawyers and the civil society as to the legality of Bersih 4 rally, what is indisputable is that all supporters of Bersih want the rally to be peaceful and orderly, to allow the hundreds of thousands of Malaysians to come together to express their concern, love and patriotism for Malaysia.

Let no one break this peace which is the pre-eminent concern of everyone who will take part in Bersih 4 rally and which must also be the topmost concern of the police authorities.

I would urge the Inspector-General of Police to form a special police force headed by a top cop with one specific mission on August 29 and 30 – to ensure that the peaceful nature of the Bersih 4 rally is not broken or violated d by any trouble maker.

The whole world is watching. Malaysia must not fail the global test of human rights, democracy and good governance this weekend so as not to  become an instant rogue and failed state.

In fact, the successful holding of the peaceful Bersih 4 rally can be a turning point to rally Malaysians in a united mission to Save Malaysia from directions and policies leading Malaysia to a rogue and failed state.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 12:02 pm and is filed under
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Salleh should not only ensure no jamming of phone signals but ensure that the telcos expand their capacity by at least 20-fold in anticipation of at least  half-a-million people with cell phones  for the  Bersih 4 rally

The Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Datuk Seri Said Keruak has said Putrajaya will not jam telecommunication towers during the Bersih 4 rally in order to block communication amongst the participants.

The Malaysian public will hold him to his promise as in the previous Bersih 3 rally, the public have found their cellphone signals jammed which could only happen as a result of the directives from the powers-that-be to the telecommunication providers (telcos).

In an Internet and information era, Malaysians expect Salleh not only to ensure that cellphone signals during the Bersih 4 rally are not jammed and rendered unserviceable, but for the telecos to greatly increase their capacities many fold to cope with the increased traffic caused by hundreds of thousands Malaysians pouring into the Federal capital, likely to be larger crowds than Bersih 1, 2 and 3.

In this connection, it is most regrettable that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is already violating his public pledge that there will no interference or interruption of the free flow of information in connection with the 34-hour long Bersih 4 overnight rally.

MCMC had announced on its FaceBook page today that it is going to block websites that promote and spread information about Bersih 4 rally, to discourage growing nation-wide support for the rally.

It is ridiculous for MCMC to claim that it is blocking these websites which “promote, spread information and encourage people to join the Bersih 4 demonstration” on the ground that this will “threaten national stability”.

This is arrant nonsense, as it is abuses of power like MCMC blocking FBs on the ground of carrying information about Bersih 4 which undermines public confidence and threaten national stability.

The world knows that there is going to be a Bersih 4 rally this weekend, not only in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu but in at least 50 cities world-wide. Is the MCMC going to act and pretend that the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur does not exist, by wiping it out of the telecommunications system?

This is a most shocking manner to cope with the challenges of the information age.

Salleh should in fact be chairing an emergency meeting to ensure that the telecommunication providers increase their capacity by at least twenty times considering that there will be about half a million people attending the Bersih 4 overnight rally to cope with the increased demands on the GSM infrastrastructure.

Salleh must bear personal responsibility if there is a breakdown of the mobile telecommunications system in Kuala Lumpur during Bersih 4 rally.

During the 55th Merdeka celebrations on August 31, 2012, the telecommunication providers increased their capacity at the Bukit Jalil Stadium to meet the target of the then Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim to achieve a million tweets within an hour to Prime Minister Najib using the hashtag #Merdeka55 on Twitter.

Can the telecommunication providers ensure a 20-fold increase in the capacity of their telecommunications infrastructure around Dataran Merdeka area in Kuala Lumpur?

It is most shocking and irresponsible that the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin is talking about military intervention in the Bersih 4 rally this weekend if the government declares a state of emergency, in which case the military will take over the role of the police.

Malaysians regardless of race, religion, age, gender or politics  are coming to Kuala Lumpur from various parts of the country in peace to democratically and constitutionally express their love, concern and patriotism for Malaysia in wanting an end to multitude of crisis facing the country.

Why are those in authority actively trying to fan fear by irresponsible talk of declaration of emergency and military rule?

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 3:17 pm and is filed under
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Shifting the paradigm on Aug 29

Eric Loo

Malaysiakini

Aug 26th, 2015

We’re currently walking into a political minefield with not so much as a map to guide us through. When a prime minister can openly spew alarmist racial statements and denies any malfeasance despite the leaked documents without any fear of recourse, we are headed for worsening times.

As a people, we’re still divided along sectarian lines. Umno’s racialised politics would see to it that we remain divided in order to stay in power. The prime minister’s rant that Malays would be disempowered without Umno is politically desperate beyond belief.

Deluding the Malays that they can only prosper under Umno, that a non-Malay government will not hesitate to abolish affirmative action is taking the Malay grassroots for fools.And, the wider public should take such alarmist racial polemics for what it is – nutty gibberish.

Politico-economic crises fuelled by the 1MDB scandal and an increasingly fractious ruling party with the party president in denial should offer up new opportunities to mass-mobilise for fundamental reforms in the system and transformational change in how we engage with the political process.

Recollecting my past walks and sit-ins with Bersih in Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, I’m hopeful the movement will in time reach its goals – when it’s well-resourced and its leaders well-strategised to keep the public faith despite the perceptual blocks on its reformist path.

The reforms that Bersih fights for will eventuate if the people can mobilise and shout, like Howard Beale in the 1976 movie, ‘The Network’, “We’re as mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this any more!” It’d feel good. But, as many are asking, would it significantly change anything?

The fact is we don’t win public support for our cause by being seen as troublemakers. We win support by showing that the troublemakers are the government and the police – given their insistence that the protests be held on another day and place, which sounds reasonable, or risk being tasered, which sounds like a deadly threat.

This is where I find much relevance in walking with Bersih despite its image in my mind as a fledgling fringe movement since it staged its first protest in 2007.

Besides being portrayed in the mainstream media as a public menace intent on disrupting the Merdeka celebration, and spoiling the family weekend picnic, Bersih has so far not shown me a clear pathway of what’s next after Aug 29-30.

Nonetheless, I’ll be heading to KL from Penang this week. Like the multitudes of discontented Malaysians, I’ll probably be playing chicken with the riot squad, knowing that when we return home to our family, our neighbourhood, and our workplace, the corrupt system will still prevail.

So, what else can we do to show the prime minister that “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it any more”? How might we move from the planned tent stakeouts at Dataran to metaphorically get our foot in Parliament House to engage with the power brokers? Is our task too futile, and the power structure too strong? Sometimes, it feels like it is.

Protest movements essentially draw power from non-compliance and civil disobedience, a throwback to the strategies of the Occupy movements where protesters are willing to break the rules to gain mileage, if not to shut down the system. Bersih, however, has urged its supporters to abide by the laws of peaceful assembly regardless. This, we will.

Patiently mobilise

Bersih must patiently mobilise to gain that critical mass that the government can’t afford to ignore. It needs to show the hard evidence that it has the people’s backing, particularly those who’ll be voting for the first time in the next general election.

Bersih needs to reinvent itself as a people’s movement comprising the backbones of the country – the youth, the religious sector, academia, the media and business. It needs to avoid being seen as anarchistic and, most of all, as a fringe pro-opposition movement with no clear vision of who or what would comprise a transparent and incorruptible government.

To make a significant impact on policies and governance, to achieve fundamental reforms, these take strategic lobbying and orchestrated campaigns, diplomacy and old-fashioned marathon politicking to engage with those in power. If critical attitudinal, ideological and political reforms are to occur in Malaysia, it must first emerge from within Umno and 60 percent of the population comprising the bumiputeras.

This is where the Malay intelligentsia can play its transformative agency role in facilitating the grassroots’ transition from the politics of exclusion to one of integration, which would ultimately benefit the nation and the people.

For all its successes in instigating a politico-cultural conscience for fair elections and transparent governance, I’m afraid Bersih still seems diffuse in its campaign around a concrete agenda. What started as a movement demanding for clean and fair elections has evolved into a hybrid organisation of non-governmental organisations with a range of demands, this time urging the PM’s resignation.

Even if the NGOs are sympathetic to each other’s cause, they do not necessarily speak with one voice.

Aug 29, I hope, would be a paradigm shifter, a landmark protest that would dominate the news cycle indefinitely to keep the agenda on the front burner. We need to break the dominant racialised discourse to make an indelible dent on the Malaysian political consciousness.

What a landmark protest it’d be to see all racial, religious and gender groups in the peninsula and East Malaysia marching with interlocking arms, chanting “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this any more.”

But beyond the chants, I need to see and feel that Bersih 4 would lead to somewhere concrete and practicable. We need to be a paradigm shifter.

Reminder of Rosa Parks

Here, I’m reminded of Rosa Parks who defied the evils of racial segregation when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in December 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama. Park’s defiance sparked the freedom rides and led to the abolition of racial segregation in Montgomery’s public transportation one year later. (I happened to wait for a bus at the spot where Rosa Parks stood when I was on a short teaching stint at Auburn University Montgomery in 2009).

I’m reminded of Mohamed Bouazizi, a fruit seller in Tunisia in December 2011. He set himself on fire after he was banned from selling fruits on the streets to earn a living. Bouazizi’s fatal protest against the oppressive Tunisian government sparked the mass people’s protests and civil disobedience around the Arab world.

I’m reminded of Aquino’s People Power, the Arab Spring, King’s Freedom Rides, Gandhi’s Satyagraha, Mandela’s anti-apartheid liberation movement – all these landmark protests have shown that corrupt governments will be dethroned when the people speak with one voice. Ultimate power lies with the people.

Bersih may or may not go down in our history as instigating a ‘Malaysian Spring’ that changed the contents, context and tone of our national conversation. It has, however, certainly achieved a modicum of recognition as a movement that’s a thorn in the government’s side – but inadequately strategic and insufficiently resourced to bring about a complete regime change like the Arab Spring did in Tunisia and Egypt.

I hope this weekend will be a paradigm shifter.

ERIC LOO left Malaysia for Australia in 1986 to work as a journalist. He currently lectures at University of Wollongong, Australia, and serves on the advisory committee of UPI Next, a journalism education and training platform run by United Press International. He edits a refereed journal Asia Pacific Media Educator and conducts journalism training workshops in Asia. Email:
[email protected]

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 5:17 am and is filed under
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Where were you when this song was #1?

Greg Lopez

Malay Mail Online

August 24, 2015

AUG 24 — It was 1991.

I was 19. I was having a wonderful time at the legendary Setapak High (a high school in Kuala Lumpur) as an Upper Six student when (Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his bold vision for Malaysia.

His vision for Malaysia was laid out in a speech titled, “The Way Forward” to the Malaysian Business Council. This vision would soon become official policy. Wawasan 2020 or Vision 2020 remains Malaysia’s primary aspiration.

I remember Wawasan 2020 for very practical reasons at school and at university. At school, it was “spotted” as a hot topic for both Pengajian Am and Bahasa Malaysia; papers that I was taking in my Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM, the Malaysian equivalent to the High School Certificate/HSC). At university, Wawasan 2020 was a big deal as seminars and workshops were organised to discuss Wawasan 2020. Beyond the lively discussions, there was always great kuih-muih and teh tarik, and a chance to get up-close and personal with “prominent” people – as politicians were highly regarded then.

The Malaysian government was full of confidence. In 1994, for the first time since 1974, opposition members were allowed to speak at University of Malaya. Lively banter and criticism of the government were welcomed both inside and outside of parliament.

At the Faculty of Economics, you could learn from legendary academics such as Professor Mohamed Ariff, Professor Jomo Kwame Sundram, Professor Lee Poh Ping, the late Associate Professor Murthi Semudram (and many others), and the then-young Dr Terence Gomez intellectually critique (i.e. analyse) government policies freely through their teachings, research, seminars and talks.

These were the heydays of the global economy, of Malaysia, of Malaysians, of Barisan Nasional (BN) and of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno). Endless possibilities, one could say.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz would write a book about it, titled The Roaring Nineties: A New History of the World’s Most Prosperous Decade.

The Malaysian economy (GDP) grew 9.2 per annum from 1991-1997, Malaysia’s best-ever run.

In 1992, the then-Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE), in terms of capitalisation, was the largest stock market in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest in Asia. At university, many students and lecturers were making thousands while I heard stories of others higher up the social strata making millions on the stock market as national assets were privatised.

A joke – as then a very junior Lim Guan Eng was allowed to make when he spoke at the newly-opened Auditorium Perdanasiswa (just before he was arrested in 1994) – was that among Umno members, the usual greetings went like this:

Umno member A: Assalamualaikum

Umno member B: As-saham-naik

The BN and Umno were at their zenith. Melayu Korporat ruled Malaysia and was not afraid to take on the world. Malaysia supported the creation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and South-South co-operation. (Tun) Dr Mahathir even talked of a new international economic order.

Malaysians were Bangsa Malaysia. There was no fear of liberalism, pluralism, communism or capitalism. In fact, religious and racial fundamentalism were taking a beating. (Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad would take pot shots at the Islamic clerical class within or without Umno, pointing out their woeful ignorance of science and technology; it was not comrade, or alim but cosmopolitan Anwar Ibrahim that was Asia’s Renaissance man; as monarchs, clerics and fundamentalists of all sorts, beat a hasty retreat to their corners.

Malaysians would resoundingly endorse the BN and Umno. At the 1995 general election, the BN would achieve its best-ever performance, winning 65 per cent of the popular vote.

Euphoria or irrational exuberance, friends at school and at university and I could only see better days ahead as we wondered how Malaysia and we would be in 2020. Becoming a millionaire was a matter of when, not if.

What happened to me, to us, to Umno, to BN, to Malaysia, to the global economy, to becoming a millionaire by 30, 35 or 40?

This is a question that most Malaysians (especially of that generation) are asking, I believe.

Hence the title – Where were you when this song was #1?

Looking back, did we think that we would be where we are today? Do we feel that things are better today? Are we responsible for the way Malaysia is today? How do we actually evaluate what we feel methodically?

Twenty-five years on, and with just another five years to 2020, it is worthwhile to honestly and methodically evaluate this “thing” called Wawasan 2020 as it is the metric used to judge Malaysia. More importantly, whether Malaysia is a success, a failure, or something in between, it is ultimately a reflection of all Malaysians, not just some, and certainly not a policy.

To enable a methodical analysis of Wawasan 2020 and the path that Malaysia has taken, is taking and may take, it is important that we stop naming and blaming “others” for the failures. Instead we should claim and own these “failures.”

More importantly, we should see them as a challenge of our own leadership capabilities: as individuals, as parents, as spouses, as siblings, as friends, as relatives, as workers, as guardians, as citizens; of the many responsibilities entrusted to us.

If there are problems and/or challenges that we and Malaysia face, it is time to stop naming and blaming others; but claim it, own it, and do something about it.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 27 August 2015, 5:46 am and is filed under
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Information Department Director-General Ibrahim Abdul Rahman should be sacked as an example that civil servants should not play the irresponsible game of their UMNO political masters to spread lies to incite race and religious sentiments and hatred

The Information Department Director-General Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman should be sacked as an example that civil servants should not play the irresponsible game of their UMNO political masters to spread lies to incite race and religious sentiments and hatred to try to perpetuate UMNO hold on power in Putrajaya.

 In his FaceBook yesterday, Ibrahim shared a faked message which I was supposed to have made at a press conference at the DAP headquarters with DAP Acting Chairman Tan Kok Wai (MP for Cheras) and the DAP National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke (MP for Seremban), all donning the Bersih 4 T-shirts, declaring “Ini peluang kami untuk menumbang PEMIMPIN MELAYU DI BUMI MALAYSIA”.

This is a total lie as I never said or intended  any such nonsense, as can be testified by the press corps who attended the DAP press conference on Bersih 4 rally on Wednesday, 26th August 2015.

Even more serious, the despicable lies and evil motives are  being spread by a civil servant holding one of the strategic positions in the country, the Director-General of the Information Department, who should know better and have the basic common sense and intelligence to know that he was disseminating downright falsehoods, unless he was part of the scam to spread lies and falsehoods to incite race and religious sentiments and hatred.

Can Ibrahim Abdul Rahman explain why he had disseminated what were clearly downright falsehoods, which were not only an anti-national and anti-Malaysia, but violate the very “work ethics” he wants from  everyone in the Information Department, viz: with the trust and empowerment placed upon him with the position and authority as Information Department director-general, his personal pledge to perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his ability, sincerely, efficiently, courteously and ethically to discipline himself and act in ways that encourage good practices and prevent any deviation, abuse of power and corruption.

Ibrahim Abdul Rahman has dishonoured Harvard University where he studied “Leadership” and graduated in 2006 and he had also proven to be utterly unfit to be a professional Director-General of Information Department.

Ibrahim’s irresponsible dissemination of lies and falsehoods on the social media to incite racial and religious hatred in the country does not appear to be an isolated incident, but is probably par tof the latest edition of the P.R. campaign by Najib’s minders to try to strike fear among Malays and Muslims to distort the true purpose of the Bersih 4 rally to “Save Malaysia” from becoming a rogue and failed state.

Ibrahim and others are abusing the social media to spread the false message  that the agenda of  Bersih 4 was for the Chinese  to grab Malay political power  and to hate the Malays – with the DAP pictured as an anti-Malay political party!

This may be the reason why  Najib’s loyalists have suddenly focussed their attacks on the DAP, as happened on Sunday when the Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi told the Sri Gading UMNO Division the tall story that the Arabs donated RM2.6 billion to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to fight off “Jewish-backed” DAP because DAP was a threat to Islam in the country – a fairy tale even ordinary UMNO members do not believe!

It may also be the reason why the Prime Minister himself entered the fray to incite Malay fears and insecurities when he told Perlis UMNO on Sunday that Malays and Muslims would be ‘bastardised’ if Umno no longer ruled the country.

The response of the former Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) President, UMNO Secretary-General and Cabinet Minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, apart from expressing shock that Najib had resorted to the word ‘bangsat’ (bastard) to describe the state of Malays if UMNO loses, was  to point out that the Malays are not “bangsat” but that the word should apply to the Umno leader who led Malays to the current state.

Sanusi said: “Now there is the threat that Malays may become ‘bangsat’ if Umno loses, so the person responsible for this is the reason why Malays will become ‘bangsat’.

Sanusi pointed out that the notion that Umno would lose or become ‘bangsat’ never happened under the leadership of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Razak, Hussein Onn and Dr Mahathir.

Sanusi likened the usage of the word ‘bangsat’ similar to a low level Langkawi Wanita Umno member who used the word ‘kencing’ (lied to, or literally pissed on) against Najib.

Umno activist and blogger Shahbudin Husin caustically pointed out that there are no “bangsat” Malays in opposition-ruled states like Selangor, Penang and Kelantan.

He blogged: “Moreover, a lot of Malays (in these three states) are happier, have a better appetite and laugh more compared to those living in states controlled by Umno.

“They don’t look like Malays who are ‘bangsat’ or marginalised.”

Shahbudin said it is Umno which has “bastardised” the Malays more compared to other parties.

He asked: “Through the power they possess, who actually betrayed land, shares, permits and so forth which were supposed to strengthen Malay economy but were diverted for personal interests or sold to other races?”

Shahbudin said it is Najib who brought about the ‘bastardisation’ of the Malays and that the country and Umno can be healed if he is no longer the head.

“It is not Umno losing power which determines whether the Malays are ‘bastardised’ or otherwise, but the type of leaders,” he said.

Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, gender, age or party politics should not allow irresponsible political and government leaders, whether Abdul Aziz, Ibrahim Abdul Rahman or even Prime Minister Najib  to racialize the Bersih 4 rally tomorrow, for it is a rendezvous with history for all Malaysians regardless of race or religion to demonstrate the deep-seated and united aspiration of Malaysians for national unity, political and economic reform and the restoration of the independence, impartiality, professionalism and integrity of all the key national institutions in the country.

Bersih 4 is  the coming out celebration for all Malaysians who want to put aside their differences arising from race, religion, gender, age and political opinion, to unite on a common cause to “Save Malaysia” from becoming a rogue and failed state.

Let us all be Malaysians and not be Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans or Kadazans; nor  Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs or Taoists; but just as Malaysians who come to the Federal capital from all parts of the country in peace and solidarity with the common mission to seek peaceful and constitutional change in the political and economic destiny of our nation!

                This entry was posted on Friday, 28 August 2015, 1:34 pm and is filed under
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Internationally, it’s game over for Najib

John R Malott

Malaysiakini

Aug 27th, 2015

COMMENT
 Ever since he became prime minister in 2009, Najib Razak cut a very impressive swath overseas.

Armed with his impeccable English, a product of his British education, and dressed immaculately in his elegant bespoke British suits, Najib talked a good game. He traveled the world and spoke of how he wanted to reform Malaysia’s political and economic systems and transform his nation into a model for the world.

He spoke at the United Nations time and again of a Global Movement of Moderates, of which Malaysia would be the leader. He spoke of Malaysia as a tolerant nation that respected all religions and races.

In contrast to former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whose trips were primarily to Third World nations, Najib actively courted the United States and European nations – the lands of Mahathir’s dreaded “orang putih.”

Backing all of Najib’s efforts was a multi-million dollar international PR operation, paid for by the taxpayers. It was aimed at swaying international opinion. It spent untold millions on PR firms Apco and FBC Media. Their job was to puff up Najib and tear down the political opposition, along with anyone who dared to tell the truth about what was really going on in Malaysia.

And most of the outside world believed what Najib and his PR machine had to say.

But for the past few years, there were a number of people outside Malaysia, myself included, who tried to tell the world what the truth was – what really was going on in Malaysia. That Malaysia was no longer the country they thought it was, and that they should not believe Najib’s paid propaganda agents.

We wanted people to know that there were two Najibs. There was the fake Najib, the international Najib, the Najib who talked a good game overseas. That Najib was backed up by millions of dollars in PR fees. That man even fooled the President of the United States into a game of golf just last Christmas.

The real Najib

And then there is the other Najib, the real Najib.

He is the “domestic” Najib, the man who stifles freedom. The man whose police force tear-gassed people in the streets for demanding free and fair elections. The man who has arrested scores of opposition politicians and dissidents under the Sedition Act.

He is the corrupt Najib, the man who arranged the over-priced purchase of non-functioning Scorpene submarines, and most recently, the man behind 1MDB and its missing billions.

He is the Najib who received US$700 million into his personal bank account.

He is the Najib whose wife’s many Birkin bags and multi-million dollar emerald necklaces were the subject of a three-page expose in The New York Times.

Today, thanks to the most prestigious newspapers and magazines in the world, the whole world knows who the real Najib is. Now the world understands that there is only one Najib.

And it is not the dapper, suave, reformist Najib that they believed in.

So, it is game over for Najib Razak internationally.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Malaysians will march in Bersih 4 to protest Najib’s authoritarian rule.

It is certain that Najib, the man who brazenly stood before international fora and proclaimed himself to be a reformer and a liberal, will send his police force in to break up the rally.

Najib will deploy tear gas, chemical-laced water, and police batons to ensure his rule.

The whole world will be watching – and finally will realise what kind of man he is.

It truly will be game over for Najib.

JOHN R MALOTT is former United States ambassador to Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 28 August 2015, 6:47 am and is filed under
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