I am Malaysia

By
Zhin
 | May 25, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

MAY 25 — I choose to stay in Malaysia because I cannot “escape” the Malaysia that is in me. Malaysia is what I make of it, so staying put when everything looks like it is going against my interests has required me to internalise my Malaysian experience rather than hinge on public opinion to see where this “fictional” malaise is taking us. So here is my take on it.

I say that this malaise is fictional because, I think it is very important that I take charge of my Malaysian citizenry. I refuse to indulge in a pessimistic attitude which is apparently “realistic.”

For many of “us” who have left out of sheer lack of hope, even to the extent of blaming an “other”, I find this predicament to be the absolute centre of what is wrong with this country. I am determined not to allow the state of affairs or opinions or statistics invest its authority into my mindspace. I may blame the authorities, people, races, religions or any group for discrimination, but suffering is something we do to ourselves.

I am sick and tired that the only roadmap we have to fix ourselves in this country is by asking that the system changes. But what about our own reform? Malaysians are downright lazy, incompetent and cowardly because most of us do not stand up for any Value. We do not believe in a Cause.

There is a way out of “this” Malaysia that we grumble about. I believe it lies within us when we ask ourselves what kind of values we can attach to our own Malaysia that is above and beyond what the statistics require and is beyond a ringgit equivalent.

I am horrified by the self-righteousness of every Malaysian who imputes so much guilt on a government that “governs” us when we have been blessing it time and time again with our common consent. We deserve the government we put into power.

But the average Malaysian does not stop there. He blames every plague, every injustice, every lack — to an “other.” It is appalling how so many of us are paralysed by the system when it is we who have persisted in nurturing this very system. This system is called, it’s not me, it’s the SYSTEM, the SYSTEM, the SYSTEM. But we are that system in our head, even before we relate to others in that system.

I wake up proudly each day, without needing to externalise my inadequacies on a corrupt system, without the need to suffer and make others suffer because I am obsessed with demonising something else.

I wake up with a sense of purpose in this country, ready to accept the struggle because Malaysia is not something or some place out of my body or mind, but is the very fabric of my soul. And the only person that can change that is me.

The state (now that I’m at it) can take away everything but they cannot take away the truth, that I am Malaysia and Malaysia is me. We are Malaysia and Malaysia is us. No amount of corruption and despondency should change that. And if we do indeed believe that it can, well, that’s precisely why we are in this sinking boat in the first place. Because you give “them” the authority to do so unto you.

I choose to stay because I have to. This is why I am a Malaysian.

* We asked readers to tell us in their own words why they stayed in Malaysia … instead of migrating. This is one of the stories.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 6:04 pm and is filed under
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Minister: Fuel prices to stay, for now

By
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
 | May 25, 11

Malaysiakini

The government will maintain petrol, diesel and liquified petroluem gas (LPG) prices for now, said Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri.

This was decided by cabinet earlier this morning, said Ismail (left) during a press conference at about 3.45pm today.

“This decision was made because the government takes consideration of people interest,” he said.

But Ismail said the cabinet did not discuss how long this postponement to cut fuel subsidies will last.

Earlier today, reporters were busy chasing down various ministers in Putrajaya to obtain confirmation that cabinet had indeed discussed subsidy cuts.

It was learnt that cabinet also did not reach a decision on the electricity tariff hike and other subsidy cuts. Instead, such matters would be deliberated by the the National Economic Council (NEC) on Friday.

One press briefing cancelled

According to Health Minister and MCA deputy chief Liow Tiong Lai, the dispute over the mismatch of Public Services Department (PSD) scholarships will be also be discussed at the NEC meeting.

The NEC panel is chaired by the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also the finance minister, and comprises 12 members, including senior cabinet ministers and officials such as Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah. MCA president Chua Soi Lek also sits on the council.

Earlier, a media briefing and press conference by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry where subsidy cuts for electricity tariffs and RON95 grade petrol were speculated to be announced was cancelled at the last minute.

The briefing was scheduled to be held at 12.30pm today at the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya, to be followed by a press conference by minister Peter Chin.

The cabinet held its usual Wednesday meeting this morning where subsidy cuts were among the major agenda.

The media were later informed at mid-morning that the briefing and press conference had been called off when they reached the ministry’s headquarters.

Adding to the intrigue was the fact that no reason has been given on the cancellations. One of Chin’s aides told reporters that as of 12.30pm, the minister was still in the cabinet meeting.

Several newspapers published reports today claiming that cabinet would deliberate on increasing the electricity tariff and review prices of RON95, diesel and liquid petroleum gas.

It appears that the cabinet had an eleventh-hour change of mind in slashing subsidies.

Prior warning

Newspaper reports also claim that cabinet would look into widespread discontent of fishermen against the removal of the ‘super subsidies’ which would see diesel cost for them rising from RM1.481 to RM1.80 per litre.

The same move also affected the haulage industry as a total of nine types of vehicles would have to now pay 1.80 per litre of diesel.

 Earlier this month, cabinet also decided on raising sugar and prices of RON97 grade petrol, which is almost guaranteed to provided inflationary pressure.

But Malaysians are already bracing for more subsidy cuts as several ministers including Muhyiddin have been repeatedly warning Malaysians that such a move was imminent.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak also famously said that Malaysians were addicted to subsidies, likening it to opium.

According to some analysts, the additional fuel subsidies this year – estimated at around RM10 billion – could bump up Malaysia’s fiscal deficit to 6.3% this year, much higher than the 5.4% target set by the government.

While higher income from taxes and privatisation sell-off may off-set this increase, the deficit will still be higher than expected.

As such, Najib may be compelled to increase the price of RON95 – as every increase of 5 sen at the pumps will help the government slash RM650 million off the deficit.

[More to follow]

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 5:04 pm and is filed under
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Mubarak charged over protester killings

By
Heba Saleh in Cairo

Financial Times

May 24 2011

Egypt’s state prosecutor has charged Hosni Mubarak, the former president, and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, over the killing demonstrators during the protests that toppled him and abuse of authority for personal gain.

The decision, which should lead to a criminal court trial, confounds predictions by some analysts and diplomats that the ruling supreme military council would try to shield the ousted president from public humiliation.

Assuming the trial goes ahead, Mr Mubarak will be the first Arab leader to have been deposed by his people in a popular uprising and held to account for abuse during his rule.

Diplomats say the prospect has rattled other states in the region and that Egypt is likely to have come under pressure from some Arab neighbours to spare him. There has also been speculation that the military council, whose members were appointed by Mr Mubarak, may have been reluctant to try the man who was until three months ago their commander in chief.

The charges against Mr Mubarak relate to the killing of some 850 demonstrators – most of them by police bullets – during the early days of the popular uprising which ousted Mr Mubarak in February. The abuse of power charges relate to favours allegedly granted to Hussein Salem, a tycoon.

The prosecutor’s announcement comes a few days ahead of planned demonstrations on Friday called by youth groups and other opposition movements angered by what they consider the reluctance of the military council to hold Mr Mubarak to account.

Activists have resorted repeatedly to mass protests over the past three months to extract concessions from the council. These have focused mainly on ensuring it take legal measures against members of the Mubarak regime. The council also faces criticism for monopolising political decision-making during the current transition to elected rule.

“Every time we have called for a massive demonstration, the military council has made a partial concession a few days before the date of the protest,” said Khaled al-Sayed, a member of the coalition of youth activists who launched the uprising. “But we want them to know they cannot deal with our demands in a piecemeal fashion.”

He said there were no plans to call off Friday’s rally in Cairo’s Tahrir square because other demands had not been met. These include speedy trials for Mr Mubarak, not only for the killing of protesters, but also for “corrupting political life” in the country during his three decades in power. Mr al-Sayed also said the protesters wanted the military council to sack governors and ministers who served under the old regime.

Mr Mubarak’s wife Suzanne was ordered released from custody last week after she turned over to the state disputed assets worth some $4m. This, along with a court ruling ordering the freeing of a senior aide of the president being investigated for corruption charges, sparked a wave of public anger.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 6:34 am and is filed under
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Muhyiddin is shaping up to be the worst DPM and Umno Deputy President in history – completely no class or standard!

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is shaping up to be the worst Deputy Prime Minister and Umno Deputy President in history.

I would not yet say that he is destined to be the nation’s worst Education Minister although he is undoubtedly leading the pack in a more competitive field.

I had thought that the “creative conspiracy” by the Defence Minister and  Umno vice president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi where he allegedly “exposes DAP’s plan to name Malay  candidates in general election” takes the cake for being the most silly  political statement of the year.

But I was wrong, for within 48 hours, Muhyiddin dislodged Zahid in making the silliest political statement of the year!

Speaking in Pagoh yesterday, Muhyiddin demonstrated that he has out-panicked Zahid resulting in an outburst of allegations characterised by falsehoods and half-truths.

Discerning Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans or Orang Asli need only ask whey Umno leaders like Muhyiddin and Zahid are so panicky about the DAP reaching out to get the support of more Malays if their allegation that the DAP is “a chauvinist party which had never cared about the wellbeing of the Malays” is true.

If Muhyiddin and Zahid are right about the DAP being a “chauvinist party which had never cared about the wellbeing of the Malays”, then they should be very relaxed and just  dismissed’s DAP’s latest initiative to reach out to more Malays – as it is then condemned to failure!

It is precisely because Umno leaders know that their allegations against DAP are untrue and baseless – as irresponsible and baseless  as Utusan Malaysia’s seditious and treasonous “Christian Malaysia” bogey – and their inner feeling that DAP can get the support of rational and right-thinking Malays, which explains why they are so panicky.

Muhyiddin alleged that DAP “had never fielded Malay candidates in previous elections”.

This is the best proof that we have a Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Umno President who is absolutely of no class or standard- – utterly contemptuous or ignorant about the truth!

For the information of Muhyiddin, Zahid and the ignoramuses thronging the upper echelons of the Umno leadership in government and party, the DAP had fielded Malay candidates in everyone of the 10 general elections contested by DAP from 1969 to 2008.

In the first general election contested by the DAP in 1969, DAP fielded Malay candidates in one parliamentary and nine state assembly constituencies covering four states, ie. Johore, Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Perak.

In the first general election outing by DAP in 1969, two Malay candidates were elected as State Assemblymen – Ibrahim Singgeh for Tapah Road, Perak and Haji Hassan bin Haji Ahmad for Si Rusa, Negri Sembilan.

Since 1969, six Malay DAP leaders had successfully won in elections – five as State Assemblymen and one as MP, Ahmad Nor who represented Bayan Baru constituency in Penang in 1990-1995.

The other three DAP Malay Assemblymen elected on the Rocket ticket were: Daing Ibrahim Othman, Mohd Salleh Nakhoda Itam and Fadzlan Yahya.

I need only to pose a question to expose the hypocrisy spouted by Muhyiddin and Zahid – whether they can name a current UMNO Minister or MP who had sacrificed his or her political career, disqualified as an elected representative whether in Parliament or State Assembly,  and gone to jail for standing up for the  dignity, rights and interests of Malays as a DAP leader had done?

DAP had right from its founding 45 years ago in 1966 committed itself as a party for all Malaysians and not just for any one race or religion.  This was why the DAP always fielded a multi-racial slate of candidates in every general election – starting with Malays candidates for nine state assembly and one parliamentary seats in 1969.

DAP’s new initiative to reach out to secure more Malay support to save Malaysia from greater national divisiveness, decline in quality of life, increasing economic inequality, corruption, abuses of power, environmental degradation and worsening international competitiveness is part of the DAP’s founding political struggle to unite Malaysians regardless of race, religion, geography or socio-economic status in a common patriotic mission to make all Malaysians proud of Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 1:34 pm and is filed under
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No Umno leader dare censure Ibrahim the clown

Malaysiakini
 | May 25, 11

‘Mr Minister, you totally missed the point. Irrespective of whether that person is a clown or idiot, he is an MP and should have known better.’

Minister says society can handle Ibrahim Ali

Cannon:
 Perkasa incited hatred and ‘jihad’ against innocent Christians who have nothing to do with Umno’s gutter politics. PM Najib Razak invited the Christian representatives to meet up with him ostensibly to clear the air, only to have him stab them in the back after the meeting.

Our society, far from being matured, is victimised by Umno’s nasty and brutish politics. Evaluate the ruling party’s behaviour against the five national principles of our Rukunegara: (1) Belief in God; (2) Loyalty to King and Country; (3) Supremacy of the Constitution; (4) Rule of Law; and (5) Courtesy and Morality.

Umno trashes all the criteria that make us a matured society.

De facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz says Malaysians are matured and can handle the incendiary speeches of Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali. But, somehow they are not mature enough to handle the political cartoons of Zunar. That’s why Zunar’s comic books are banned by the regime.

Cala:
 Are we a tribal society? Nazri missed the point by 500 miles. Why?

If he was referring to the ancient world of the operation of a tribal society where the people were living in a ‘stateless society’, conflicts then were solved by customs, usages, normative rules, etc, not based on ‘political rules’ because the latter were not there (Colson, 1974, cited in North, 1990, p. 38; Beugelsdijk and Maseland, 2011). But such a society was not efficient.

Today, formal rules that come with a supposedly strong set of enforcement collectively known as political rules are there to ensure the efficient running of a society/nation state.

Nazri, hence, talked as if we are living in a tribal society in the frontier wherein any conflict between two cowboys may be solved through a gunfight. Put it in another way, see what happens if an American senator, for example, publicly calls for the re-introduction of slavery?

Artchan:
 Nazri, if our society is mature enough, then can you tell Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein that Bersih can, and has the right, to demonstrate and protest?

Blogsmith:
 Would this occasional clown Nazri – who had once said he is the minister for the then-chief justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and thus showed he didn’t understand the principle of the separation of powers – extend the same courtesy of being mature to non-Muslims and/non-Malays?

We have so many times in the past seen selective action and pronouncements whenever something occurred which is not pro-Umno/BN.

Terus:
 Mr Minister, you totally missed the point. Irrespective of whether that person is a clown or idiot, he is an MP and should have known better.

Remember the famous phrase by you-know-who, “One must not only be clean but must be seen to be clean.” The NATO (no action, talk only) government is telling Malaysians that certain people are above the law and as usual these people are either from or associated with Umno/BN.

This is bad for the country and sends out the wrong message. To date, not a single Umno leader has dare censure this ‘clown’.

Zz2XX:
 Nazri, when it is convenient for you, our society is said to have ‘changed and matured’, in order to protect Umno racists. You can make excuses for that fat-faced Ibrahim Ali. Let’s us see how ‘mature’ Umno’s racists are when someone utters something like what Ibrahim said against Umno’s racists.

Anonymous _a12b:
 If anyone of the politicians want to comment like Ibrahim Ali, then feel free to do so. After all, you reap what you sow. But the fact that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been photographed with Christian leaders is already, to a lot of people, a statement.

In addition, many Christians are ashamed that their church elders are not above politics. His Holiness the Pope in Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury in UK do not get involved in politics. But no, not our Christians.

Many Christians are confused as to why their religion, which has had peace with the Muslims, been dragged into a situation like this.

Quigonbond:
 I agree that in a mature society, the society can handle a cretin like Ibrahim Ali. The problem does not lie in the society, but rather the fact that the mainstream media is so lopsided in its reporting that Ibrahim Ali, Perkasa, Pembela and Utusan Malaysia has been given more credence than they deserve, while criticism against them has been stifled.

How would ordinary Malaysians know that most Malaysians find Ibrahim Ali’s invectives offensive? In their minds, when the opposition is not reported, they fear that the contrary is true – that Ibrahim Ali has a lot of supporters.

So Nazri, before you sanguinely expect the public to be able to see Ibrahim Ali as the menace that he is, remove media restrictions first and allow dissenting media to become mainstream, then we talk. If you are not prepared to do that, then you need to use Sedition Act against him. There are no two ways about this.

Moontime:
 I tried to understand Nazri’s reasoning for not taking action against Ibrahim Ali. I failed. The conscience in me said it’s totally wrong, obnoxious and downright dangerous if the government decided to do nothing.

You, Mr Minister, are practising double standards – one standard for Perkasa aka Umno’s running dog and the other one for the rest of us, opposition included.

If you claim Ibrahim Ali is a clown, he is, to me, the most dangerous clown in the world. A clown that could incite hatred, animosity, anger and eventually disrupt the harmony that our community had enjoyed for the past 40-odd years.

I am very confident that if the same words were uttered by a Christian, changed the wordings to a “holy war against Muslims”, you would have arrested him under ISA even before the guy had a chance to leave the rostrum.

However, I do know that no self-respecting Christian would ever utter those words. In conclusion, Nazri, you are a disgrace to the Muslims by doing nothing.

Anonymous222:
 If the government thinks we are matured enough to deal with clowns like Ibrahim Ali, it should know that a matured society can and should live without the Sedition Act, the Internal Security Act (ISA) and all those other oppressive acts.

Louis:
 I am happy that Nazri said that the society has matured. If he really means what he said, he should stop the police from arresting peaceful demonstrators. Similarly he should allow the opposition to publish their own newspaper and remove the censors. Allow them to write what they want, for after all, the society knows what is right and wrong.

Society in general has matured. Only Umno leaders are still infants. No wonder, after more than 50 years leading the nation, it is still far backward behind the likes of Korea and Taiwan.

Anonymous:
 If our society is matured enough, why are you barking whenever someone touches on matters relating to Malays or Islam? Why the need for Najib to meet the church leaders? Why was MP Teresa Kok detained under the ISA?

Dood:
 For once, Nazri got it right – Ibrahim Ali is indeed a clown. Then again, it’s no surprise that Nazri recognised that, seeing that he himself is a clown.

Just listen to him: in the same breath, he said Malaysians are mature enough to handle threats of holy war uttered in public by a man who leads a group of fanatic fascists, yet he feels the government is ‘threatened’ by Anwar Ibrahim for trying to maintain his innocence in the fabricated sex video scandal.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 11:36 am and is filed under
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PPSMI options

Page

The Malaysian Insider

May 24, 2011

MAY 24 —
 “We will consider the Prime Minister’s views and what can be done to fulfil the wish of certain groups.” — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, April 4, 2011

“We have not made any commitment on this yet and we need to assess the feelings of parents. We want to see if it is possible to have some flexibility on this.” — Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, April 7, 2011

“The teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics can be carried out bilingually according to the capabilities of the teachers or students.” — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, April 24, 2011

Prior to the Sarawak state election over a month ago, Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak made an encouraging announcement, on the possibility of using two mediums of instruction for the teaching of Science and Mathematics in schools. Parents are eagerly looking forward to a meaningful dialogue with the Ministry of Education. However, there has been no subsequent follow-up since then, leaving many of us in the dark.

Internet chatter back then was quick to dismiss the prime minister’s announcement by linking it to the Sarawak state election. But, surely if this were true, it would be but a tacit acknowledgement of fact by the government that there is considerable support from parents for PPSMI.

Lately, the views of bloggers seem to be dominating the print and digital media. Twitterverse and blogs have been buzzing with raison d’être in respect to the arguments ‘for and against PPSMI’, ever since our prime minister gave a glimmer of hope for the revival of Science and Mathematics in English. There were definitely more people for PPSMI. Isn’t this more than enough to “assess the feelings of parents”?

The Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) views this as positive proof that PPSMI is indeed favoured by a significant number of the rakyat, both in Peninsular and in East Malaysia. Needless to say, this is in line with the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the nation’s aspiration to be “a knowledge-based economy”.

It is evident that abolishing PPSMI (RM3 billion spent) and replacing it with MBMMBI (RM5 billion to be spent) is a hasty decision that would require ad hoc supplementary remedial corrective solutions. English class to be held on Saturdays is being proposed even before MBMMBI is rolled out in full!

Page echoes the call made by the Federation of Manufacturers Malaysia (FMM) that a complete review of the education system is due, however, for the review to be planned and materialise, we stand firm that the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English must continue (as an option) until the new all-encompassing holistic world-class education system takes over.

In this respect, Page firmly believes that for now, PPSMI, alongside MBMMBI, is the better vehicle to help propel Malaysia swiftly forward.

* Page is an educational lobby that serves as a channel between concerned parents, the Ministry of Education and other educational stakeholders.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 6:46 am and is filed under
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Subsidy cuts focus of today’s Cabinet meeting

The Malaysian Insider
 | May 25, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Subsidy cuts will top the agenda when Datuk Seri Najib Razak chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting today, with many speculating it will lead to hike for RON95 petrol and electricity rates.

Cabinet sources say the government has to trim the runaway subsidy bill which could balloon to RM21 billion if nothing is done.

On the table is the scheduled plan to cut subsidies for RON95 petrol and gas for independent power producers while increasing electricity tariffs in a growing economy.

Labs run by Performance and Management Delivery Unit (Pemandu) last year proposed 15 sen hikes every six month for RON95 petrol but the government decided to stick to 10 sen, ensuring a slow rise in the fuel’s prices.

“What has happened is that the high RON97 prices has pushed more people to use RON95, increasing the subsidy bill further,” a Cabinet source told The Malaysian Insider.

RON95 petrol is now RM1.90 a litre while the premium RON97 fuel is floated at market price of RM2.90 a litre, making it a great saving for motorists but a bigger share of the national budget.

The Malaysian Insider understands it is the same for electricity tariffs which should have been increased months ago but postponed to ensure the economy keeps growing at a quicker pace.

Pemandu’s proposal last year was to initially cut gas subsidy by RM4.65 per mmbtu and then set a corresponding 2.4 sen per kWh increase in tariffs in July 2010, followed by a 1.6 sen per kWh increase every six months.

But the gas subsidy and electricity tariffs have remained the same due to long-term deals between Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Petronas and the IPPs.

“Cutting the subsidy won’t bring down electricity rates because Tenaga is already paying too much,” the Cabinet source said.

Bloomberg quoted Manokaran Mottain, senior economist at AmResearch Sdn Bhd, today as saying  price hikes are inevitable.

“The government is in a difficult position,” said Manokaran, who expects the government to raise the price of RON95 petrol by as much as 20 sen a litre after the subsidy review.

“If the government does not do anything now, it has no other choice but the fiscal deficit will be widening,” he added.

Inflation rose to a two-year high of 3.2 percent in April after the government cut subsidies on fuel and sugar in December, boosting retail prices. The central bank raised interest rates for the first time since July this month.

The Consumer Sentiment Index moderated to 108.2 in the first quarter from 117.2 in the fourth quarter of 2010, partly due to accelerating inflation, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research said April 14.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 12:40 pm and is filed under
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Talking Malay on false premises

Sakmongkol AK47

The Malaysian Insider

May 25, 2011

MAY 25 — Let us demolish one pet belief of Umno people and those who think they speak for Umno. It’s time for the real Malay to speak for the Malay. Where have the real Malays gone?

How can we force ourselves to suffer fools by allowing ourselves to consume the hate spewing writings of some bloggers whose Malay-ness are questionable? Why isn’t the peddler of rancid curry speaking on behalf and for Kimma members? He looks more kitol-ish that the person he castigates as Kitol. Why isn’t the gold nugget seller doing the same? We thank you but no thanks.

Jadi jadi lah kita orang Melayu kena tipu.

I find myself in strange territory listening to people like Reezal Merican, or Azeez speak for the Malays. I would have thought, Malays are better off if these people speak on behalf of KIMMA. I think Malays have got enough talented people to speak for ourselves.

Then we have those who pretend they speak for Umno but are themselves not Umno members. Can they have the same thinking dynamics of an Umno member? And I am not even differentiating between good and bad thinking- just undifferentiated Umno thinking. Why is this important?

It’s important because then, what we say can be leavened with realistic assessment. Then we can appreciate the Umno spirit.

Without the Umno spirit, what you write is mechanical.

The real Umno man wouldn’t speak of an imagined clash of Christians and Muslims or spun the story about Christians taking over this country. I think Malays are already suffering from an overdose of ghost stories and will NOT want to add to their consumption , manufactured tales about DAP becoming PM or Christians taking over this country.

Does a Malay cease to be a Malay if he is not Umno member? Being Umno is not an absolute requirement to fight for a Malay cause. Even being Malay is not an absolute guarantee that Malay interests are taken care of. Both require the right Malay with the right values and the Umno Malay with the right values.

Consider the record before us. From the day we got independence, most of our MBs are Malays. The top bosses in the Police and the army are Malays. The KSUs and TKSUs are almost invariably Malays. The top government officers are Malays. All the District officers are. All penghulus are Malays. All the Kings? All are Malays.

Now, one would be justified into assuming that given the fact that almost all the important office bearers are Malays and the governmental institutions we have are peopled by Malays, the lot of the Malays would be greatly improved or would have been vastly improved. Wouldn’t it?

Well, in terms of control of the economy, Malay economic interest is just about 20 per cent. That’s 20 per cent of the overall wealth being shared by 65 per cent of the population.

We would further imagine that Malays would own more land in this country. We would also imagine that Malays owned better housing. Their education would be of higher standard.

With Malays in power, there would have been more rich Malays than rich non Malays. Yet in the top 20 richest in Malaysia, you would find probably one fellow. In the top 40, you start getting more Malays but you also get more non Malays.

So what conclusion can you deduce from these observations? The only valid and justifiable conclusion, is having Malays up there does not readily translate into Malay prominence in any of the fields we mentioned. It follows from here, that positioning Malays in strategic offices is not necessarily beneficial and advantageous to Malays.

The other conclusion is those Malays in power have not helped other Malays. So if Umno insists that Umno is Malay and Malay in Umno, then by extension, Malays in power do not help the rest of Malays will also mean, Umno in power does not help the rest of the Malays.

Umno people must be realistic on this. One doesn’t stop becoming Malay if one dismisses Umno. People are already doing that if you still don’t realize it. 1.5 million Umno members protested by not voting in Umno candidates. That should be interpreted as a rejection of not merely the candidates but perhaps more so of the policies and vision that Umno projects. 1.5 million members didn’t share in the vision of Umno. 3.7 million Malay (including the 1.5 million) voters didn’t subscribe to the Umno ideals peddled by Umno leaders.

Yet the leadership is hyping themselves, aided by a pliant audio visual and print media into believing all is well. Ignorance is really bliss. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

* Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de plume of Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz. He was Pulau Manis assemblyman (2004-2008).

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 11:21 pm and is filed under
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“The Great Pretender” Onslaught To Win Big In The 13th General Election (13th GE )

Richard Loh
 | May 24, 2011

“You had to pretend conformity while privately pursuing high and dangerous nonconformism” (Anthony Burgess)

‘Pretend’:

To feign an action or character, give a false appearance of; feign, represent fictitiously, make believe, take upon oneself; venture.

And the person who pretends is called the ‘pretender’.

“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““

This nation is run by ‘pretenders’ using feign actions, false appearances by way of slogans, rhetoric and acronyms.

Those who are 35 years old and above should have voted at least twice and under the rule of 2 Prime Ministers. From the 4th, the 5th and the present 6th Prime Minister what we have are ‘pretender’ leaders and the ‘great pretender’ is none other than the 6th PM.

Just like his predecessors he is not short of rhetoric and slogans. What have become of his ‘1Malaysia, People First Performance Now’ slogans and rhetoric?

In addition, with the guise to propel the nation to be developed by 2020 he spent a big sum to come out with the GTP (Government Transformation Programme), ETP (Economic Transformation Programme) and NKRAs (National Key Result Areas). Even though he and his cohorts claimed success, the general public do not have that ‘feel’ of anything better nor improving their standard of living.

A big win in the coming 13th GE is the only thing in his mind since he took over as the Prime Minister and what he must do in order to achieve this sole goal. Singing different tunes to different audiences and by allowing his party organ, the msm, malay NGOs to champion only the malay rights while he portrayed himself in ‘pretentious way’ as the hero to the non malays.

He takes upon himself and feels no shame nor guilt in representing fictitiously and make believe of his great potential as a leader for all Malaysians.

We can no longer allow ‘pretender’ leaders to con the rakyat into voting a government that does not care about the well being of the populace but only their self interest to win and stay in power.

‘a muddle-headed educational system, a corrupt and incompetent government, racial polarisation engendered by government policies, discrimination in educational enrolment and scholarships, public sector employment and an environment increasingly intolerant of the non-Malay, non-Muslim races’. – from ‘Why I chose Australia’ by (
Alan Roy
)

The above are critical things that the PM should look into and take action immediately but after more then 2 years in office, his only concern is how to win big in the 13th GE and let lose his ministers and others to create more racial and religious tension.

Could I be wrong to call him ‘The Great Pretender’, all he does is talk, talk, talk and could not walk his talk or are we Malaysians so gullible to believe his call for another mandate to give time for his acronyms GTP, ETP and NKRAs to bear fruits?

All I can say is “NO MORE” pretension, we need to change and change we must.

Below a great song from The Platters – The Great Pretender with lyrics. Enjoy and think very carefully comes the 13th GE.

The Platters Lyrics

” The Great Pretender ”

(Buck Ram)

Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender

Pretending that I’m doing well

My need is such I pretend too much

I’m lonely but no one can tell

Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender

Adrift in a world of my own

I’ve played the game but to my real shame

You’ve left me to grieve all alone

Too real is this feeling of make-believe

Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal

Yes, I’m the great pretender

Just laughin’ and gay like a clown

I seem to be what I’m not, you see

I’m wearing my heart like a crown

Pretending that you’re still around

Too real is this feeling of make-believe

Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal

Yes, I’m the great pretender

Just laughin’ and gay like a clown

I seem to be what I’m not, you see

I’m wearing my heart like a crown

Pretending that you’re still around

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 10:56 am and is filed under
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Time to stand up and be heard

By
CY
 | May 25, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

MAY 25 — I actually returned to Malaysia after around 18 years overseas in the United Kingdom. I am originally from the peninsula but have now lived in East Malaysia for the last one and a half years.

Malaysia is in some ways still a land that is blessed by God. It is largely free from large scale natural disasters and its land and shores are rich in natural resources. Sabah and Sarawak are filled with wonderful places to visit and its beaches, rainforests and climate bring many visitors from across the globe. Moreover its peoples throughout the federation are mostly incredibly friendly, hospitable and kind-hearted to locals and visitors alike notwithstanding their race or religion.

Malaysia boleh! Malaysia really can be better. And that is truly why I and other like-minded Malaysians have decided to come back. We can have the tallest twin towers in the world but yet many large towns on the east coast of Sabah have interrupted power supplies on a regular basis.

Needless to say the interior villages have it much worse. We talk about Johns Hopkins medical facilities in the country but yet many district and even general hospitals in the country have inadequate or often poorly functioning equipment.

Our people are keen to learn and gain skills but when our expatriate communities try to come home they are often met with stifling bureaucracy. I personally asked the head of a university department if I could have a look around the department whilst still overseas with the purpose of evaluating if I could contribute at the department on my return. I was told flatly that the department was full and a visit would not be encouraged.

Conversely my request to visit or co-operate with “Ivy league” universities in Europe have always been greeted with enthusiasm. However, on a more positive note my experience has been different with other departments. Unfortunately the former experience has also been reported by other Malaysian expatriates.

The federal government has been talking about cutting wastage. Good idea! Let’s start with middlemen functions that have no or little value added purposes. Why is around three per cent of public hospitals’ drug budget given to companies that simply order drugs, which the hospitals can do themselves. These companies do not make, package or deliver the drugs at all.

Our media talks about Bumiputera rights. However, I hear constant complains from East Malaysian native Bumiputeras claiming that they get fewer opportunities for jobs and government contracts because they are non-Muslims. Where in the federal Constitution does it say that Bumiputeras are given preference based on their ethnic or religious backgrounds?

In Sabah, you will hear complaints from every ethnic group that the state has large communities of illegal immigrants and people who have been given ICs illegally. Our federal government is in talks with the Australians currently about potential immigration co-operation yet Sabah’s longstanding immigration issues remain unresolved. Where are our government’s priorities? Our own nation’s or other’s?

One of the most striking differences on my return that I have noticed is the main issues discussed daily in our media. In Europe, the important issues are mainly economic growth, educational progress, good and accessible healthcare. In Malaysia sadly and significantly more so than in the past, it is about race, religious issues and political voyeurism.

Isn’t our nation’s prosperity, our children’s education and our parent’s healthcare infinitely more important than the colour of our skin or the private lives of our people? Despite the guarantees of religious freedom in the constitution and the respective 18-point and 20-point agreements promising the same for Sabah and Sarawak, our politicians continue to use these sentiments to divide the people and certain paternalistic authorities continue to force their religious views and practices on what should be personal decisions for the people.

Yet “Malaysia boleh”, “1 Malaysia also can” — if we the people of Malaysia whether staying, left or returning — stand up and unite against the divisive, corrupt and intolerant elements of our society and demand that whoever our political leaders are, that they act as they say.

* We asked readers to tell us in their own words why they stayed in Malaysia… instead of migrating. This is one of the stories.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 6:00 pm and is filed under
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To call or not to call, that is the question

By
Zairil Khir Johari
 | May 25, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

MAY 25 — The Malaysian political scene is living on frayed nerves right now. Every plan, strategy or decision has to take into account the possibility of an election that may be called at any time.

Even holiday plans cannot be made.

There are all kinds of speculation about when D-Day will be, and corresponding theories to substantiate the arguments. However, rather than attempting to add to the multitude of guesstimates out there, I would like to postulate that the timing of the 13th General Election will in fact reveal the underlying currents of the power struggle within Umno.

There is a clear tension developing within the walls of the Putra World Trade Centre. In a recent address to party members during Umno’s 65th anniversary celebrations, Prime Minister Najib Razak made a sharp call for an end to factionalism and to unite in the face of the coming general election.

He also ended with a plea for loyalty and to accept the choices of the party leadership. Internal discord is neither new nor unusual, but how does this fit into my hypothesis?

A quick study of Najib’s political philosophy over his three-decade-old career would reveal pragmatism, cautiousness and an aversion towards risk. In short, he is not one to make a bold or rash decision. His has been a career that can only be defined by the phrase “toeing the line”, having always done what was expected of him.

Throughout his three decades in politics, he has filled every required role and climbed every required step before successfully summiting at the pinnacle with nary a scrape on his political gloves. Not once did he have to challenge anyone for a major party post.

An MP at the age of 22 (an uncontested win), he went on to fill the positions of deputy minister, menteri besar, and later took on the ministerial portfolios of youth, education and defence before being raised to deputy prime minister.

At the party level, he played the conservative and insular Youth leader, going so far as to utter rabid and racially inflammatory rhetoric during a party rally — bold for sure, but unremarkable considering the gallery he was playing to and the context in which it took place — and then quietly assumed his place in the senior hierarchy as a vice president before naturally progressing to deputy and then president.

Some may call it playing safe, others may label it playing smart. Yet for what may appear to be political reticence, one cannot deny that it has been nothing short of a winning strategy.

Which is all the more reason why he would be loathe to attempt a different tack. It would make no sense, especially to his mind, to attempt a new and uncharted course when the one he has known, tried and tested for over 30 years has never failed him once.

To better understand the situation facing the prime minister, one has to understand what the stakes are. He is currently prime minister by default, having never secured a personal mandate from the electorate.

More importantly, he has had no major political victory to speak of besides the Perak coup of 2009. His foothold at the summit is therefore not as firm as he would like, especially with an ever-restive retinue of would-be successors eyeing his seat.

Najib’s father, Abdul Razak, had succeeded to the premiership in similar fashion, but quickly set in motion an ambitious agenda that resulted in what was hitherto the Alliance/Barisan Nasional’s greatest victory in the 1974 General Elections.

The defeat of 1969 was immediately buried and his legitimacy was unquestioned, both as prime minister and as Umno president. Najib, therefore, knows that he has to repeat such a success in order to cement his own claim to the pulpit.

In today’s political scenario, there are only two realistic deliverables that would accord Najib his much-needed legitimacy: regaining two-thirds majority, or at the very least winning back Selangor, the richest and most developed state in Malaysia. Both would make him untouchable, but either one would be good enough.

And therein lies the reason why he cannot risk calling a snap election in the immediate future, as doing so would run the very risky possibility that Selangor may not dissolve concurrently.

If this happens, then Najib will be left with only one result to deliver — and the more difficult one at that. With the results of the Sarawak state election still fresh in mind, it would clearly not be wise to risk such an action.

Given that the Barisan Nasional’s current mandate will only expire in March 2013, Najib knows that he is under no undue pressure to call for an election. It would be much safer to wait it out, in part to ensure his machinery is well-primed and in part to ensure the possibility of delivering one if not both of the said objectives.

On the flip side, however, recent events seem to indicate that an election is very much around the corner. The two-pronged strategy of Malay unity and Malay scaremongering is being perpetrated with the kind of unsubtle co-ordination which leaves one with little doubt that Umno is the proverbial Rome to which all roads lead. But if that is true, then it is also clear that Najib is not the only conductor of the Umno orchestra.

This parochial strategy is one that practically alienates the non-Malay electorate. If their plan is to maximise Malay votes while discounting the others, then there is a great need to strike while the iron still smoulders.

Waiting too long would necessitate newer and more elaborate issues. With the “Anwar Ibrahim” video scandal still fresh and the Opposition leader’s trial soon coming to an end, and with the great drive on Malay and Islamic issues being blatantly pushed forward by Umno-linked NGOs, blogs and the mainstream media, they certainly can’t afford to wait.

But Najib of course, is not to be outdone. Seen in this context, the surprising revival of the GST and the recent increase in sugar and fuel prices may be the prime minister’s way of stalling the polls. Even those clamouring for an early election to “cut their losses” can surely see votes disappearing with every rise in the cost of living, Malay or otherwise.

There is a loud noise emanating from the Putra World Trade Centre, and if it appears to be alternating between a symphony and a cacophony, it may be because there are two conductors trying to direct one disorderly orchestra. And whether or not music will triumph over noise, only time, or in this case timing, will tell.

* Zairil Khir Johari is a chocolate purveyor, chicken rice enthusiast and noodle lover. When he’s not preoccupied with any of the above, he is also a politician.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 5:57 pm and is filed under
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Why I left for our ‘poorer’ neighbour

E

The Malaysian Insider

May 25, 2011

MAY 25 — Contrary to most Malaysians who work overseas, I chose a less popular destination. I have been based in Jakarta for the past year and a bit. Most people look down on Indonesia as the poorer neighbour, much like the way Singapore looks at us. However, after living here, there is much to like, and below are some of the reasons why I prefer life here and do not plan to return anytime soon:

1. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world. However, you will find that most Indonesians are very open about their religion and respectful of the rights of others. Muslims here have no problem with patronising outlets that sell alcohol or non-halal food, even if they choose not to have any. In Malaysia, the Muslims make a big fuss over small things which they claim are not halal. You may argue that there are fanatics here, but the number is small relative to the population. Just look around Malaysia. Everywhere you look, you get fanatics.

2. The work ethic and culture here is better than in KL. People here are less racist. In Malaysia, you identify companies as Bumi companies, Chinamen companies, Indian companies and so on. Here, it is easy to work with people no matter what ethnic group. Again, you may mention the race riots during Suharto’s era, but the problem is practically non-existent in everyday life nowadays. People here respect talent and ability no matter your background, religion and skin colour.

3. There are unlimited opportunities here for those who want to do business. No such thing as Bumiputera quota, etc. If you see an opportunity, you are free to pursue it. Where Malaysia could once boast of being a strong regional player, our government is now coming here to woo Indonesian investors. I have dealt with local Indonesian companies for a number of years and all dealings are reasonably fair and transparent. This is unlike Malaysia where Bumiputeras are highly favoured no matter how incompetent.

4. Free and open press. It’s no secret our mainstream media is heavily self-censored, and Utusan is openly inciting racial hatred. Here, the Jakarta Globe and Jakarta Post are two publications that are highly regarded for their unbiased reporting and open criticism of the government. We are able to keep ourselves informed without having to log onto alternative news portals.

Of course, Indonesia shares some of Malaysia’s current shortcomings including widespread corruption, and the country is still very poor, but they are on the way up and it is only a matter of time before Malaysia is the one exporting maids to Indonesia.

There are those who will criticise my points above, but I believe the majority have never set foot in Jakarta and understand very little about the place. If you feel proud to be a Malaysian citizen, and look down on Indonesians, just remember that internationally, especially in the US or Europe, people generally put us on a similar standing as other Third World countries regionally.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 10:35 pm and is filed under
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Why I work and stay overseas

—
Alex Yap

The Malaysian Insider

May 24, 2011

MAY 24 — Rather than harping on race issue, I am writing as a Malaysian not as a Chinese Malaysian. My point is to get the new graduates in Malaysia to see the bigger picture, and hopefully my article can help them get a direction in their career.

I am now working overseas in China (not because I am Chinese but because China has lots of jobs now due to the booming market).

I worked in Malaysia for more than 10 years in the retail market working for Chinese bosses (Singaporean/Malaysian), Indian bosses and handled brands like YSL and Hugo Boss and I have climbed to the level of GM in Malaysia. I have worked overseas under Singaporean/US bosses for more than six years now and been posted to the Solomon Islands, Vietnam and Cambodia and now China.

The reasons why I work overseas:

1. The money/currency

In overseas postings even if you work for Malaysian bosses/companies you can expect to be paid more than in Malaysia. Currently I am paid in US$ and British pounds. Thus, if you convert to ringgit, my salary can easily reach more than RM20,000 per month. That’s a lot of money in Malaysia. In Malaysia, I discovered some GMs are only earning RM8,000-10,000 a month. With inflation and cost of living in KL so high what is RM10,000 per month if you have a family to feed, house and car and other debts? Is it really enough?

2. The work

Overseas you will find that you are really treated well for your talent, skill, hard work and performance. There is no ceiling really when it comes to salaries… some expats from Singapore are earning on the average S$$30,000 (RM72,000) per month. If you are good, headhunters (international standards) will come looking for you

3. The exposure

You will meet people of different cultures and become more confident, open minded, etc. Now I do not have to look for jobs, I can rely on my network of foreign contacts. You will also look at things differently. Malaysia really is a tiny country and its economy is small. The Malaysian GDP per capita is more than 20 times lower than Singapore’s.

4. The culture

I am sad to say my years working in Malaysia I have encountered all sorts of unethical behaviour among Malaysian bosses and employees. They seem to be very concerned about people’s sexuality. I have encountered GMs who are actually mistresses of the bosses, etc.

6. The system and delivery of businesses are not efficient in Malaysia

The roads, the public sector services. Thus, it’s really frustrating working in Malaysia. Small issues or non-issues will always come up e.g. lost mail, cheques, slow Internet, poor service, poor or non-delivery of services paid. All are rent seekers and businesses do not really create values. Corruption is the norm.

7. Race and religious issues also will come in the picture and taint all business dealings.

People or businessmen will always use race and religion to justify business failures. Non-Bumi and Bumiputeras are always clashing with each other in business dealings. Performance and fair competition are not well regarded.

8. Tidak apa attitude/apathy

Now, Bumis and non-Bumis are hoping for God, the government or bomohs to help them in everything including businesses and careers.

The fighting spirit is gone.

9. NEP
This has caused Malaysians and Malaysia more harm than good (even to the Bumis). The country is no longer competitive.

10. Security

I do not see any future in Malaysia for anyone… it is a time bomb waiting to go off anytime. The country is not working.

I did not write this to condemn anyone, it is just my honest opinion about why I prefer to work and live overseas. This world does really belong to the fittest. Nobody will help you if you don’t help yourself.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 7:11 am and is filed under
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Yemen: Sanaa sees third day of Hashid clashes

BBC

25 May 2011

Clashes between the Hashid tribe and government forces have continued since Monday

Street battles between Yemeni security forces and the country’s most powerful tribal federation are continuing for a third day in the capital, Sanaa.

At least 44 people have died in the clashes, which began after forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh moved against a tribal leader’s compound.

The tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, has joined an uprising against President Saleh’s rule.

On Sunday, the president refused to sign a deal to stand down.

One report early on Wednesday said forces loyal to Sheikh al-Ahmar had moved to take control of several public buildings.

They seized the state news agency Saba and the national airline building, while also trying to storm the interior ministry headquarters, AFP news agency reported.

‘Don’t take orders’

But Mr Saleh remained defiant in a statement read by his spokesman on Wednesday.

“I will not leave power and I will not leave Yemen,” the spokesman, Ahmed al-Soufi, quoted the president as saying.

He dismissed fears that Yemen risked civil war, and that the country might turn into a failed state or an “al-Qaeda refuge.”

And he implicitly criticised Western efforts to mediate a transition, saying: “I don’t take orders from outside.”

He also said he was still prepared to sign a transition deal “within a national dialogue and a clear mechanism”.

“No more concessions after today,” he added.

Later on Wednesday, US President Barack Obama – in a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London – repeated his call for Mr Saleh to “move immediately on his commitment to transfer power”.

Immunity

The deal Mr Saleh has so far refused to sign called for him to step down within a month after 33 years in office and hand over power to a unity government.

It would also have given the president immunity from prosecution.

Mr Saleh has previously said he would only sign in the presence of opposition leaders.

Sheikh Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribe, is a former supporter of the president. He joined the anti-government protests against Mr Saleh in March.

On Tuesday, his compound appeared to have been shelled as tribal leaders were trying to mediate a ceasefire there.

President Saleh has accused the sheikh of trying to provoke civil war, but the same accusation has been levelled against the president.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 10:18 pm and is filed under
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10 Days in May (33)

Tweets
@limkitsiang
:-

Who is greatest threat/wrecker of Najib’s 1Msia concept? No 1 outside. From very bosom of Umno eg its organ UtusanMsia w 1Melayu agnst 1Msia

Utusan’s anti Najib 1Msia campaign has full support from Umno old guards headed by UMNO No.2 Muhyiddin. Is Utusan loyal 2Najib or Muhyiddin?

Wld Utusan dare 2b so irresponsible as 2publish seditious/treasonous Christian Msia bogey if Utusan editor not assured of immunity/impunity?

Who assured Utusan of immunity/impunity 4seditious/treasonous ChristianMsia bogey? Y has Utusan editor thrown all journalstic canons 2winds?

Met in SJ Utusan’s greatest journalist, ex editor-in-chief Said Zahari, who couldn’t believe that Utusan cld undergo such total degeneration

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 6:44 pm and is filed under
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10 Days in May (34)

Tweets
@limkitsiang
:-

TBH RCI – What game MACC up2 demanding special treatment in not meeting yesterday’s RCI deadline 4submissions – while complied by others?

Bar Council justified complaint working “round the clock” 2comply with RCI deadline 4submissions – Y MACC exception w Friday extension?

Question Grave Public Importance:Y MACC need more time than others 2submit what happened 2TeohBengHock dat fateful day @MACC Shah Alam hqrs?

Fully endorse PAS ShahAlam MP KhalidSamad query whether there is any MACC cover-up http://bit.ly/kloK8j MP questions silence on Sarbani case

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 7:57 pm and is filed under
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Abolish race quota for PSD scholarships, says ex-FT education chief

By
Boo Su-Lyn
 | May 26, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, May 26 — A former Federal Territory education director today pressed the Najib administration to abolish the race quota in Public Service Department (PSD) overseas scholarships.

Abas Awang, who is now the PKR education bureau chief, said the government should consider the long-term interest of Malaysia which aims to become a high-income nation by 2020.

“We should not take race into account,” Abas (picture) told reporters today.

“In Malaysia, let the brilliant explore their biggest potential and let them be assets to the country. We should give justice to everyone in Malaysia,” he said.

The Malaysian Indian Student Association (Misa) yesterday also called for the abolition of the race quota and said all students who scored 8A+ should be awarded the overseas grants.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, who is in charge of the PSD scholarships, has said that the government had allocated 1,500 overseas scholarships to top students, but only 300 of the total were given based entirely on merit to students scoring straight 9A+.

The remaining 1,200 overseas grants, he said, were distributed according to those qualified within four categories — Sabah Bumiputeras (five per cent), Sarawak Bumiputeras (five per cent), social composition or the population’s racial composition (60 per cent) and socially handicapped (10 per cent).

Abas served as the Federal Territory education director from 2005 to 2007 and has 34 years’ experience in the education profession.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 2:55 pm and is filed under
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DAP: Opposition pressure forced Putrajaya to postpone subsidy cuts

By
Clara Chooi
 | May 26, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — The DAP triumphed today in Putrajaya’s postponement of fuel and gas subsidy cuts, claiming it was largely due to opposition pressure that forced the government to back down.

It however warned that the celebration would likely be short-lived, predicting that the cuts would be imposed after snap elections.

n a statement, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (picture) listed three likely reasons behind the decision — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had successfully exposed the large subsidies enjoyed by corporate giants, Barisan Nasional (BN) intends to hold snap elections soon and the ruling pact fears pushing subsidy cuts would cause a loss of popular support.

“Such unfair price increases will not go down well with the voters. BN is worried about the surprising electoral strength of PR,” he said.

Lim however noted that since no deadline had been imposed on the postponement, the government was likely to proceed with its plan to cut subsidies after snap elections are called.

“Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob refused to specify how long the government would maintain current prices.

“In other words, once the snap elections are won by BN, then clearly nothing would stop them from removing subsidies and allowing prices to increase,” he said.

The Bagan MP also pointed out that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had declared recently that a subsidy review was necessary as the government expects the subsidy burden to double from RM10.32 billion to RM20.58 billion this year.

Lim predicted that corporate giants like independent power producers (IPPs), TNB and Felda would likely escape subsidy cuts, pointing to recent statements made by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui.

“Peter Chin had insisted that the RM19 billion savings enjoyed by independent power producers and TNB annually are not a subsidy but merely profits foregone by Petronas in selling gas at 25 per cent of market rates.

“Dr Chua had declared that gas subsidies to IPPs cannot be abolished as it is tied up in agreements,” he said.

Lim also slammed Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe for accusing the DAP of playing racial politics when it complained that the recent cut in sugar subsidies was unnecessary due to Felda’s high profits.

“This is a stupid argument by Tan as those affected by the price increase of sugar by 20 cents to RM2.30 per kg include Malays. Or is Tan saying that price increases in sugar and petrol affect only non-Malays?” he said.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 2:49 pm and is filed under
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I hope that one day I can return

John Malachi

The Malaysian Insider

May 25, 2011

MAY 25 — I am a Malaysian living abroad. I graduated as a doctor in Australia and went back to Malaysia in the early 1990s. From the first day I started working in Malaysia until the day I left, I have worked all the 15 and a half years of my time in Malaysia in public hospitals, not a single day in private practice.

In the mean time I got married and have two beautiful children. I went through the system, however unfair it was, being posted to hospitals that no one wanted to go to, and being sent on a merry-go-round around the country with two kids and a wife in tow.

I have had many opportunities to leave the public health sector to go into private practice – I was even offered a consultant specialist job in Singapore, but I hung on to the government hospitals, willingly foregoing better opportunity and financial rewards.

The reason that I went back to Malaysia? Well, in spite of the warts and all, it is still my country; where I grew up, where my parents live, and where my grandparents lived and died. In spite of all the corruption and cronyism, it is still where my roots are, and where I want my children to grow up and to acquire the identity of being Malaysians.

Yes, I know about the religious bigotry and the racist policies, but it is still the land that has given birth to me and where I thought I could contribute a little in return. I don’t have the eloquence to be a politician, the courage to be in the opposition, or the brains to constructively criticise and shape public opinion to move the country to a better future.

But just like my grandfather who spent his life as a hard manual labourer who helped build the railway from Gemas to Kota Baru, I thought the little skill that I have as a doctor would do some good to some people somewhere. That was why I stayed back.

But why then did I leave? Well, there comes a time when you have to look into your children’s eyes and tell them that you have to sacrifice their better future because you love your country. There comes a time when you have to tell them that you don’t have enough money to educate them because you want to do your bit for the less fortunate in the country. There comes a time when you have to tell your children that they have to grow up and get used to the discrimination — in spite of all that the family has done for generations — just because of their skin colour.

The only problem is, I couldn’t bring myself to look into their innocent eyes and tell them that.

My family and friends have been gracious; they have been glad that we could leave, and none of them called us traitors. But I do feel like a traitor inside me. And as I write this in tears tonight, I hope that one day I can return — return to continue to do what I was doing before I left

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 8:03 am and is filed under
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IPPs: A case of the poor subsiding the rich

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | May 26, 11

‘Why is it that one minister called it ‘subsidy’ but another minister said it is not. This is ridiculous BN ways at work.’

Chin’s ‘savings, not subsidy’ remark shocks DAP

Onyourtoes:
 I think both Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin are missing the fundamental issues on IPPs (independent power producers):

There is no doubt Petronas sells gas to the IPPs at a fixed and subsidised price. The question we have to ask is: Did Petronas’ subsidy pass down to the consumers in the form of lower electricity and energy tariffs?

If so, how much of the lower price enjoyed by ordinary consumers is due to Petronas’ subsidy?

All IPPs buy gas at pre-determined price and they sell the electricity generated to TNB also at pre-determined price. The quantity is also fixed, irrespective of whether TNB needs the energy or not.

Hence, all IPPs are actually doing a risk-free business. If the business is risk-free, do they deserve to make the rates of returns they are enjoying now? The theory of risk-return trade-off must apply here.

It is my humble opinion that IPPs are making returns excessive to and incommensurate with the risk they have to bear. We, the people, therefore not only have the right to ask IPPs to make lower profits, we also have the right to demand they return the excessive profits made in the past.

All these moronic agreements with IPPs are due to that Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The MCA president has said IPP agreements are sacrosanct and untouchable. We probably know the reason why.

The IPPs association is a powerful and rich lobbying group. We are never short of prostitutes in three-piece suits.

EugeneT:
 Peter Chin is only twisting words to sound nicer. A RM19 billion ‘subsidy’ or ‘forgoing profit’ or ‘savings’ or whatever terms BN uses, it is still a RM19 billion loss.

At the end of the day, Malaysia lost a lot of revenue and the rakyat suffer from the unfair contract.

Mt KK:
 I just cannot understand Chin: is he so naive that a simple thing called subsidy is so difficult to understand or explain? Let him go back to primary school to learn English again.

Pemandu chief Idris Jala explained lately that the subsidies given to independent power producers (IPPs) are up for review. Why is it that one minister called it ‘subsidy’ but another minister said it is not.

This is ridiculous BN ways at work. Better change or be changed.

Hoon Lim:
 We have come to a time where the poor are subsidising the rich. That’s what happens when the country has been corrupted.

Loyal Malaysian:
 Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has given us a comparison of the electricity tariffs in Thailand: there, without the so-called fuel subsidies to the IPPs, the citizens actually pay lower rates. What say you, Chin?

Playfair:
 Is it also not the same Peter Chin that is screwing up the Selangor government on the water restructuring scheme so that the Umno cronies who have amassed wealth and created risk-free revenue flows by imposing high tariffs and price increases for the supply of water to us?

Poppyie:
 Gas subsidy is almost all enjoyed by IPPs as their power stations are all fired by gas, whereas TNB power stations are fired by gas, coal and water (hydro).

What come may, TNB has to operate as it is the aorta vein to the IPPs for TNB has been moulded into the sacred PPA (power purchase agreements) as the paymaster so as to make the deal bankable.

Thus TNB has to live on borrowing and more borrowing, and currently TNB is sitting on a RM21 billion debt while the IPPs are enjoying an annual return of more than 25%.

With TNB posting about RM2 billion net profit and with more than RM4 billion annual capex (capital expenditure) and about RM21 billion debt, there is no way TNB is going to clear the bulk of its loans.

What TNB is doing is to pay the matured loans and get new loans so that the IPPs can continue laughing all the way to the bank. We must ask the ‘kung fu’ master of ‘piratisation’ on how to put TNB back in black.

Anonymous_40dc:
 Savings for IPPs and TNB? Come on, Peter Chin, you must be joking. It is more like gross injustice. It is a case of IPPs sucking TNB and, in turn, the rakyat, by making enormous profit.

Minister: Fuel prices to stay, for now

Righteous:
 Why talk about the easy way out – reducing subsidies, increasing taxes – while being so silent on leakages, corruption, commissions for God-knows-what services rendered, rent-seekers, expensive you-help-me-I-help-you buy-elections, syphoning from government-linked companies, etc.

I can go on until the cows come home, but they will not listen. ‘Kami diutamakan, rakyat dikemudiankan’ (We’re the priority, the people secondary) is the Umno’s motto, which also stands for ‘Untuk Melayu, Nanti Orang’ lain.

Rakyat Malaysia:
 There are other ways to reduce the deficit. Don’t always chop off the rakyat’s head and arms. BN’s internal corruption and wastage is high enough and I believe reducing these things will reduce the country’s deficit – much more than raising sugar prices, fuel prices and electricity prices.

How can the government ask the rakyat to bear the mistakes of the government, which does not control spending and wastage of funds and keeps on borrowing money under the name of Malaysians?

It is like borrowing money under another person’s name. When you default, who will bear the burden? The rakyat, not BN ministers.

BornInM’sia:
 Why the delay? Are they waiting for Perkasa’s input?

Ferdtan:
 No increase in fuel prices for now – before GE13. After winning the election, beware that BN may have two-fold increase to recoup the loss in subsidies.

Cannon:
 Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri would have us believe the administration have the people’s interest at heart. Pemandu chief Idris Jala is bushy-tailed pushing us the urgency of ‘subsidy rationalisation’ and defending his initiative with gusto. Has he not considered the people’s welfare?

So, why now the sudden brake on the fuel price increase? Answer: it has dawned upon the cabinet that it’s not in BN’s interest to time the fuel hike near the general elections. The rakyat’s interest is about the last thing in the mind of this heartless regime.

Wait until the elections are over. Malaysians will see the hooves, horns and tail come out.

KSN:
 The cabinet which is the government proper, is the highest decision- and policy-making body in the country. In our case, it’s even more powerful than Parliament, having delegated the decision on subsidies to another subsidiary, thus downgrading itself.

What is going on? The same thing should be said about the scholarship tragedy – also delegated.

PM Najib Razak chaired the cabinet meeting this morning. Did Minister in the PM’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz and the Public Service Department (PSD) object? Were the PM and the entire cabinet overruled?

WCP:
 From the list of ministers in the National Economic Council (NEC), it looks like a mini-cabinet. Another eye-wash to hoodwink the people into believing that NEC decision may be better?

Fellow Malaysian:
 There’s little the government can do but to continue subsidising petrol sales to the public if the BN wants to win in the general election.

Even a five-sen rise will not go down well with the people as world spot rates of crude oil such as Brent, Nymex and Tapis have been dropping since a week ago. Our people are well-read nowadays and they get live news report and data at an instance.

I urge Najib and his band of cohorts not to blame the public for their so-called indulgence in ‘subsidised goods’. Who would want to pay more, especially for essential commodities like petrol?

In fact, the government ought to console themselves and assume responsibility for starting this unhealthy culture.

Rakyat Malaysia:
 Barang Naik! Bila Naik? Baru Naik. Berapa Naik? Banyak Naik.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 2:14 pm and is filed under
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Longing For A Free Mind (Part 12 of 14)

By
M. Bakri Musa

Q& A (Cont’d): Pakatan, UMNO, and Mahathir

Q4:      Pakatan declared that it will take away Malay special privileges. Why should I vote for that coalition?

A4:
      Your greatest fear, and reason for not voting Pakatan, is the possible loss of your special privileges. Thanks to the agitations of leaders from the increasingly shrill Mahathir down to the ever-frothing Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali, affirmative action is now an existential issue for Malays.

            It need not be. Let me suggest to you and others who share your view that the way to deal with a fear is to imagine the worse possible scenario and then be prepared for that.

            What would be worse than losing our special privileges? Imagine the descendents of Chin Peng or someone of his persuasion gaining power either legitimately or through corrupt means. After all if UMNO can bribe voters to vote for it, why not Chin Peng’s party? Make the scenario even scarier; imagine that this party is determined to make Malaysia a province of China as indicated in some moldy maps in the musty tombs of its emperors.

            How do you prepare for that? Take to the streets and challenge those Chinese army tanks a la Tiananmen Square? If the Chinese government had little sympathy for its own kind, do you imagine it would be more sympathetic to Malays demonstrating?

            Let me suggest another and more productive way for preparing for this worse case scenario. Equip yourself and your children with the best education and the most useful skills. Then whoever is in charge of the country would beg you to stay; they need you! Besides, if you do not like working for the new power, you can always find ready takers for your talent elsewhere.

            Every year thousands of Chinese, Indians, Irish and Italians leave their country for far lesser fears and problems. So do not worry about losing your special privileges. There are worse things. Instead prepare yourself by being well educated and trained.

            Tunku Abdul Rahman once said if Malaysia were to be invaded by China or any major power, then he would be the first to raise the white flag. His point was not that he was a coward, rather that he viewed human life as precious and that you should not waste it over such dubious things as “patriotism.” Instead you should learn to accommodate to reality if you cannot change it.

Q5:      Which party will win the next election? Barisan or Pakatan?

A5:
      If I could see the future, I would not waste it on predicting which party will win; I would instead pick some winning stocks! That flipping remark aside, I do hear you! Answering your question however, requires some downstream analysis.

            Imagine if Barisan, specifically UMNO, were to win and win big. Will that trigger change? Far from it! It would merely reaffirm their arrogance that what they have been doing all along is being approved by Malaysians. So if you like where the country is today, with rampant corruption, endemic inefficiencies, and deepening polarization of the races, then you will certainly get more of those things with another UMNO victory.

            For Pakatan, a major loss would trigger much soul searching. Perhaps that would make them focus on their commonalities (like getting rid of corruption and intrusive laws like the ISA) instead of on their differences.

            Now imagine the alternative, with UMNO suffering major defeat. The party would implode. It would be left to only true believers and those not in it for material gains. They will rebuild UMNO to its humble origin in the decades of the 40s, 50s and 60s. The party emerging from the ashes would be better and cleaner.

            If Pakatan were to win, yes there will the inevitable squabbles especially on whether the Deputy Prime Minister should be a Malay. Such squabbles over the fruits of victory are predictable.

            My view on the specific question of a Malay Deputy Prime Minister was expressed earlier in response to a question on a Muslim versus non-Muslim leader. I go for competence. I believe Pakatan has its share of talents, and I am all for giving them a chance.

Q6:      Do you agree with Tun Mahathir’s relentless criticism of his chosen successor Abdullah Badawi to the extent of undermining his (Abdullah’s) authority?

A6:
      If Mahathir had not been relentless – and merciless – in his criticisms of Abdullah, the old man (Abdullah) would still be in power today and busy running the country to the ground. Actually it would not be him as he would be dozing off, rather his assorted hangers on who would be ruining Malaysia.

            I disagree with Mahathir on many substantive areas, but on Abdullah I not only agree with his actions but also grateful for what he did. Malaysians too owe Mahathir a deep debt of gratitude for he was very instrumental in getting rid of Abdullah.

            I applaud Mahathir on two points. First, he had the courage to admit his error, in this case, choosing Abdullah as his (Mahathir’s) successor. Not many of us would readily admit to our mistakes and do so publicly. Score one for Mahathir. Second, and more important, is that he went beyond that and actively corrected his mistake. That took more than just courage.

            Mahathir’s harsh criticisms of Abdullah also broke new grounds for Malay culture. Again here is an example of his successfully changing Malay culture, contrary to his assertion elsewhere. The Malay cultural taboo of criticizing our leaders is broken; we now do not hesitate doing it, as Najib is finding out much to his chagrin. That is good. Elsewhere I cheekily suggested that maybe Mahathir had a hidden motive in choosing Abdullah – to provide Malaysians practice in this exercise of criticizing our leaders. Abdullah was so inept that he practically invited contempt and criticisms.

            Now that Abdullah is out it is easy to belittle or even dismiss Mahathir’s effort. Remember when Mahathir was doing it, the mainstream media under Abdullah’s cronies were ignoring Mahathir; likewise senior UMNO leaders and leading corporate figures and senior academics. They all quickly aligned with their new master, conveniently forgetting the man (Mahathir) who put them there. If not for the alternate media (specifically Malaysia-Today) and the Internet (Mahathir having his own very popular blog) Mahathir would have been silenced.

            My praising Mahathir on this matter notwithstanding, I still have a nagging unanswered question. Why did he pick Abdullah in the first place? Surely he has known Abdullah for decades and thus should have a very good assessment of the man. How could a simpleton like Abdullah hoodwink a seasoned politician like Mahathir?

            I live 10,000 miles away and have never met Abdullah, yet I can see through the man’s hollowness. I am not trying to be wise after the event; I have publicly stated my doubts on Abdullah in front of a sophisticated international audience long before he assumed office. Why did Mahathir (and so many other seasoned observers in Malaysia) missed what was obvious to me?

            Even after Abdullah had clearly demonstrated his ineptness there were still many toadying praises for the man. One respected scholar gushed Abdullah was a “social engineer par excellence!” This phenomenon cannot simply be attributed to our senior people eagerness to bodek (suck up), although that is a significant factor.

            We have to look elsewhere for a fuller explanation. My theory is this. Abdullah was a simple, courteous and humble man, that is, until he tasted power and all its vanities. (Having seen his performance, Abdullah has every reason to be humble!) Having not met the man I was not the beneficiary of those fine qualities of his; thus my judgment of the man was not clouded. In Malay culture those traits are highly valued. One could hide one’s other inadequacies, including incompetence and corruption; hence Abdullah’s successfully concealing his! As can be seen, he successfully deceived many, even Mahathir.

Q7:      Tun Mahathir recently admitted that his greatest failure was his inability to change Malays and the Malay mindset. How confident are you that the changes you advocate would topple our metaphorical coconut shell?

A7:
      I totally disagree with Mahathir’s self assessment; it is totally self-serving with a barely disguised tone of pseudo humility. On the contrary, he has changed Malays, in profound and irreversible ways. It is just that he does not like the changes that he has wrought. He has turned Malays into corrupt, insular, rent-seeking and dole-dependent citizens. He does not like what he sees and consequently concluded that he has not succeeded in changing us. To him apparently we have always been that kind of people.

            I disagree. There was a time when we were honest, open and tolerant. We may be poor in our villagers but at least what we earned was honest, the result of our effort and not our being parasites on the rest of society. He recently labeled UMNO as “the party of contracts, APs, and licenses.” Since to UMNO folks UMNO is Malay and vice versa, he thinks that all Malays are like those UMNO folks.

            I do not know whether the strategies I discussed here will work, but I do know the current policies championed by UMNO has led us to where we are to day. Even Mahathir does not like where we are today.

            The only way forward is to ensure that Malays are liberated mentally, that is, we have a free mind. Once we have that and see where we have been led to, then we will become angry and demand actions be taken or else take it upon ourselves to change things.

            We have to be competitive, only then can we find our rightful spot whether in Tanah Melayu or elsewhere. There are no short cuts.

            So forget about 1Malaysia, 100-storey tower, multibillion-dollar GLCs and all those alphabet soup of acronyms that promise miraculous transformation. Improve our schools, have trained teachers, and get rid of corruption. There is nothing secret or magical to my prescription. The Irish, Japanese, South Koreans, and now the Chinese are doing it. That is the only workable recipe.

Q8:      Has (UMNO Youth President) Khairy Jamaludin a future in his party and country?

A8:
      The future of UMNO Youth or Khairy Jamaluddin specifically is peripheral to my interest. Meaning, I could not care less about what happens to him or the organization he leads. The future of Malaysia and that of Malays specifically is far divorced from that of UMNO or Khairy.

            Your question however prompts me to make a more general observation on Malay youths, specifically those few bright ones. Too many of them are like Khairy, poorly mentored and not so wisely counseled. Far too many think that graduating from a top university with an undergraduate degree was the height of intellectual achievement. Thus they eschew further education or the broadening of their experience.

            As so few of our youths end up at those elite institutions, these fortunate few acquire a sense of special destiny. They feel destined to lead us. They are imbued with undisguised confidence in their innate ability and without having to gain further experience or training to helm a major corporation or organization.

            If there are so few Malays graduating from elite universities today, there were even fewer a generation or two ago. So these bright young graduates lack proper role models or mentors to guide them. Thus unless they have a sterling core they are too readily susceptible to flattery. This is especially so for those who have connections to important people as Khairy is. You add to this our cultural penchant for effusive praises, and things can get very heady for a young man or woman.

            There was a young Malay student who, like Khairy, graduated from a top university. Unlike Khairy he graduated from an American university and furthered his studies beyond the undergraduate level. He worked in America and was later posted to Malaysia. With his expatriate pay and Malaysia’s relatively low cost of living, he was ready to live it up.

            Fortunately for this young man, the head of the Malaysian branch of the American company was also a Malay. On his first day at work, the young man was taken aside by the local CEO for a friendly fatherly talk. Aware that the young man was being paid as an expatriate, the local head said, “Young man, many of our clients are GLCs and public agencies. They are paying your salary, and you will be dealing with civil servants who will be paid a fraction of your salary. It would not look good if you were to flout your fabulous income in front of them.”

            He then suggested to the young man to instead have his luxury condo and Porsche in New York but to live more modestly in Kuala Lumpur. That was the best advice that young man ever had. Unfortunately far too many fast-rising young Malays today have been deprived of similar valuable advice.

            Bright young Malays are no different from other bright students. In America however, these students have plenty of role models and mentors to give them such guidance; not so with our boys.

            Thus our Khairys believe that their undergraduate degree is their ultimate achievement and not the beginning, as with bright American kids. Indeed the measure of excellence with American universities is the percentage of their graduates who go on to graduate or professional schools. Those few who opt for work would choose companies or organizations where they would get the best experience, including best mentoring.

            Our problem is compounded by our institutional rigidity. A year ago one of the students here was accepted to the graduate program at one of the top universities. Every year literally thousands of bright eager students from all over the globe apply to this and similar programs. Yet when our student was accepted, the folks at the ministry with their rigid bureaucratic mindset would hear nothing of it. She had to return home.

            If I were to advise the Khairys of today (meaning, some of you), this is what I would offer. First, congratulations for having graduated from a top university. You should be justly proud of your achievement. Explore how you could leverage that to even greater heights. Sit for your GRE, GMAT or whatever and get yourself enrolled into a quality graduate or professional program. Then when you are suitably qualified, work with some reputable corporations or organizations where you will have capable leaders and executives to be your role models and mentors. Better yet, set up your own enterprise. If you are pursuing your doctoral work, stay back for some postdoctoral experience and have a few papers under your belt.

            If you are related to a VVIP, all the more you should take my advice. If you were to bank on your connections to achieve your goals, your achievements will forever be tainted, as Khairy is belatedly finding out. Unfortunately there are many Khairys out there who look upon their connections as durian runtuh, and exploit that relationship.

            That will definitely make you rise very quickly as long as your patron is in power. It would not however, be enduring. While you are on the rise they will shower you with superlatives. Khairy was once called “the best investment banker!” Really! Those things can go to the head of even the most humble. It helps to remember that when they shower you with such extravagant praises, that reflect more on them than on you.

            As for Khairy, he is now a damaged brand; he cannot recover. My advice would be to get out of politics, possibly out of Malaysia too, and find your niche elsewhere. There are many ways to serve your country besides being in politics or even being in Malaysia.

Next:   Q&A (Cont’d): Islamic State and Leaders

[
Presented at the Fifth Annual Alif Ba Ta Conference at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, organized by UMNO Club of New York-New Jersey, January 29, 2011.
]

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 11:11 am and is filed under
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Make lists of scholarship recipients public

Malaysiakini Vox Populi
 | May 26, 11

‘Then there will be no arguments as to the veracity of the selection process. Until that is done, there will be quarters that won’t trust nor believe PSD.’

Abolish PSD’s racial quotas, urge NGOs

WangMalaysia:
 More than 8,800 students getting 9A+. Malaysia has loads of talent! I remember during my time, those getting 8A1 count for less than 30 throughout the country.

The criteria to qualify for PSD (Public Service Department) scholarships must be fully spelt out in black and white for all to understand. Since time immemorial, PSD scholarships have been disbursed under a shroud of uncertainty.

It is high time to publish the names of all recipients and their qualifications so that there be no arguments as to the veracity of the selection process. Until that is done, there will be quarters that will not trust nor believe that PSD is fair. Why are they so scared to publish the list?

RR:
 All the hue and cry from the public will not work. This is the same story every year. This is a BN cabinet decision, in which MCA, MIC and Gerakan are members. These parties must put their foot down against unfair treatment. They should walk out of the government if crucial matters are sidelined or ignored.

Meritocracy means all students should sit for the same examinations. STPM and local matriculation exam are not the same and are not equal in standard. If we want high-calibre leaders for the future of this country, the government must change its mindset and be non-racial, starting from now.

Anyone:
 Scholarships should be given only to poor students who have scored well regardless of their race, not for students who come from rich families, who may, however, be considered for loans at a discounted rate.

Born In M’sia:
 Do they think when they award scholarships for medical degree to candidates other than those academically deserving, they are doing a great service to you and your family?

When these candidates graduate, they may turn out to be sub-standard doctors and you and your family may suffer as a result of their sub-standard diagnosis or treatment.

They better act now to ensure that there will be doctors par excellence around when you and your family need medical treatments by giving the scholarships to the academically deserving candidates.

Faz:
 I do agree that the racial quota must go, but it must be replaced with a system that serves the overall needs of the country as these scholars must serve the nation.

Still, scholarships are an aberration to the normal costing of the education system. It was put in place to ‘level the playing field’ between the haves and the have-nots, the rural and urban students (the urban areas get better educational infrastructures), the minorities and the marginalised – to create educational opportunities for upward mobility in society.

So mere merits should be balanced with the financial and environmental background and also the courses pursued are needed by the government/nation. Students from well-to-do families could get the scholarships if the courses are to me the nation’s needs.

If we look at the situation honestly, the above could be achieved by having transparency in the selection process for all eligible Malaysians.

Keturunan Malaysia:
 Faz, I agree with you but sad and real as it is, nowadays, even with our best intentions cast in stone, we don’t have the best of people to make sure that the said best intentions are carried out to the letter, without fear or favour.

Thus, we have do with the next best level where the need for human discretion is the least to avoid the worst ill – and that is discrimination and abuses for reasons best known to the people to whom the job is entrusted.

Ramu:
 Asking a 10A scorer (9A+ and 1A) to do a diploma course in English when she applied for a science-related course is cruel, insulting and heartbreaking.

Umno, where have all the good men gone?

Geronimo:
 Tunku Abdul Rahman and Hussein Onn top my list, but certainly not Abdul Razak Hussein, our second premier. He, Harun Idris and Dr Mahathir Mohamad were all there to create May 13, a day that will live in infamy, much as the opposition was also to be blamed.

I was living in my own country then. Today, I feel like I am living in a foreign land. It’s so sad.

KSN:
 All the good men of Umno died or retired. The death knell started when Mahathir took over the country and Umno. The rest is history. There are good leaders left in Umno, at least in positions to influence and check its collapse.

Yeoh Chee:
 The few good men left in Umno are trampled on, their grimace has been drowned by the extreme Umno rightists, their pitiful positions in the power hierarchy do not serve any useful purpose.

On the other hand, if they had the courage, they would be able to address the corruption and injustice endemic in Malaysia by joining the opposition.

ONG:
 It has been many years since those Umno members with any goodness left in them have any chance of being leaders. All those Umno members with goodness left in them have either left the party on their own accord, been sacked from the party or have been completely sidelined.

If you still believe that Umno is still capable of addressing issues for the betterment of the nation as a whole, I suggest that you are high on some hallucinatory drugs.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 May 2011, 2:10 pm and is filed under
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