‘Hometowns’ battle to claim their celebrities

By
Hu Yongqi and Hu Yinan

2011-06-07 | China Daily

Cashing in by claiming a star as one of their own can boost tourism revenue and give regions bragging rights, report Hu Yongqi and Hu Yinan in Beijing.

As Li Na ended her campaign in France to become Asia’s first Grand Slam singles winner, another battle commenced at home.

Li Yanping, the new champion’s mother, was on a trip to her uncle’s native county of Xinhua in Hunan province on Saturday when the final began in Paris.

When she arrived, reporters, tennis fans and local officials were waiting.

National television repeatedly showed scenes of cheering crowds around Li Yanping with red banners proclaiming, “Come on, sister Na, a good daughter of Xinhua”.

A daughter of Xinhua? There’s certainly a family connection, but Li Na was born and raised in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. People there felt that their thunder had been stolen.

Wuhan’s mayor, Tang Liangzhi, did make the first official call to congratulate Li Na, saying her success “brought honor to the people at home”.

But that gesture, residents of Wuhan said online, is no match for what Xinhua did to “make it look like sister Na’s hometown”.

Disputes over bragging rights to celebrities are nothing new in China. They usually involve well-known historic figures, not 29-year-old athletes, and some have festered for centuries. Now, however, big money is at stake – tourism money – not just pride.

Hometown battle

A case in point is that of Zhuge Liang, a famous statesman during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280).

He likely would be surprised to be an incentive for economic growth in places where he was born, lived or worked. But here he is, at the center of a battle among one county and two cities that claim to be his hometown.

Yinan county in Shandong province has invested 1.5 billion yuan ($231 million) since July in a project that includes Zhuge Park, covering more than 50,000 square meters, plus statues, Han-style buildings and five kilometers of roads. The county, which says that Zhuge (AD 181-234) spent his childhood in Yinan, held a ceremony on May 16 to celebrate the completion of the park.

Nanyang, in Henan province, and Xiangyang, in Hubei province, also have spent huge sums to build or rebuild structures to prove their claims as Zhuge’s hometown.

There’s more:

Just two days before the Yinan ceremony, city authorities in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, decided to spend 4 billion yuan to build a theme park, Journey to the West, because they believe that Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, was born there. The construction is scheduled to begin in July and operation in 2013.

Qianshan, Lujiang and Nanling counties in Anhui province are wrestling to be hometowns of the Qiao sisters, two beauties in the Three Kingdoms period.

At least five regions have claimed to be the hometown of Li Bai (AD 701-762), China’s greatest poet of romanticism, since he died. The fight still isn’t over and the central government jumped into the fray last year.

Experts said such projects aim to develop tourism and enhance local economies, which makes sense. Proceeding with projects without thorough research does not.

“Very often, local governments add modern elements into the construction of so-called cultural heritage sites,” said Cui Yong, a researcher with the China Academy of Cultural Heritage in Beijing. “However, cultural buildings should not be copied until the area has a rooted cultural heritage. People don’t want to see replicated ‘antiques’ during sightseeing.”

Banking on it

The idea of rebuilding Zhuge’s birthplace occurred to the local government in 2005, said Zheng Bin, director of Yinan’s tourism bureau. Yinan sponsored an exhibition to promote its products and tourism in Seoul, and South Korean officials were impressed when they learned Yinan was Zhuge Liang’s birthplace, Zheng said.

According to The History of the Three Kingdoms, written by Chen Shou in the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 265-316), Zhuge was born in Zhuanbu township of Yinan county. He left at the age of 14 with his uncle for what is now Jiangxi province.

“Historical celebrities are an essential element for cultural landscape tourism,” said Deng Hui, director of the Tourism Management Department at South-Central University for Nationalities in Wuhan. He said they are particularly important to remote or underdeveloped areas that are new to tourism.

Yinan’s GDP increased 18 percent last year to 14 billion yuan, but still ranked eighth among the 12 districts and counties in Linyi city. That makes tourism, and the yuan it will bring, particularly important.

Xue Jie, deputy director of the Yinan publicity department, said tourism contributed about 2 billion yuan to the county’s GDP last year, up 230 percent from 2009. “Though the industry still has to be perfected, the effect has already been shown to us,” he said.

‘Don’t fight!’

The continuing turf war over Li Bai started in the late 8th century, and became so intense by the 1500s that philosopher Li Zhi had this to write:

“I’d say there’s no year when and no place where Li Bai wasn’t born. . . . (Li was) as much from Baxi (in western Sichuan province) as he was from Longxi (in Gansu province), Shandong, Kuaiji (in southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang provinces), Xunyang (in Jiangxi province) and Yelang (in Hunan province).

“(Li’s) glories are found in where he died, lived, was exiled and imprisoned. And in places where he neither traveled to, was being held at, lived in exile in nor went to, those glories are found in the people who read his work and thereby carry his spirit. Don’t fight!” Li Zhi wrote.

Five centuries on, economic incentives lead the concerns as local officials mobilize historians, alleged descendants and media outlets; name museums, parks and schools; and map out plans for luxury hotels and holiday resorts.

Tension escalated in August 2009, when China Central Television 4 began to air a promotional ad that read, “Welcome to Anlu, the hometown of Li Bai,” three times a day.

That enraged officials and residents of Jiangyou, a county in Sichuan province where the poet was widely believed to have been born and raised. For decades, it has been selling what it calls “Li Bai culture” to promote its image.

In a rare move, tourism officials in Jiangyou wrote to the Anlu government and CCTV, asking the channel to pull the ad because it infringed on their rights as people from the poet’s “true hometown”.

Anlu, in response, said it hoped to share the title – “hometown of Li Bai” – with Jiangyou. And when CCTV suspended the ad broadcasts, Anlu’s officials consulted the State Administration for Industry and Commerce on whether the ad amounted to a rights infringement.

The administration replied that “as a place where Li Bai had lived for a long time”, it was “reasonable” for Anlu to claim itself “the hometown of Li Bai”.

Officials in Jiangyou responded furiously with threats to file lawsuits. Things cooled off only after the central government stepped in last year to halt all disputes concerning claims over hometowns of historic figures anywhere in the country.

At the time, national headlines were filled with three provinces’ fight to claim Cao Cao, a warlord in Zhuge’s day whose tomb was allegedly found in a Henan village. County officials started to sell tickets to the site – a freshly built exhibition hall with very few artifacts – while archaeologists were still disputing the evidence.

This is why the central government took action. The Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage last July jointly issued a notice, saying that any publicity on controversial and unidentified historical figures’ hometowns would not be allowed. Local authorities are prohibited to name hometowns of any historical figures.

The ministries also said that monitoring should increase to prevent excessive commercial development and any deliberate distortions and abuses of cultural heritage connotation.

The top leadership’s direct intervention brought a temporary end to smear campaigns and hate mail between counties and towns. But within their jurisdictions, most of the promotional campaigns have continued.

Finding leverage

Jiangyou is nowhere as desperate as Anlu in looking for a way out of poverty.

A county in Hubei province, Anlu had 462 million yuan in revenue last year, less than half of what Wujiashan, an industrial district in Hubei’s capital Wuhan, pulled in this January alone.

Anlu was not Li Bai’s hometown, but that of his first wife; the couple lived there for about a decade. That experience, though, was enough leverage for local leaders.

Among other things, officials named the county’s central square Taibai Square (Taibai was Li’s courtesy name), built him a statue, a memorial and a temple, and held a massive choir festival in his honor. A campaign to promote its own version of “Li Bai culture” has also been launched.

In Jiangyou, too, Li Bai the poet is often seen more as a strategic asset. The county’s oldest complex commemorating Li was built during the Qianlong period (1736-95) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a millennium after Li’s time. Most early relics of his time were ravaged by centuries of wars and chaos. Existing replicas are by and large highly homogenous sites (many built with State funds after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake) aimed at drawing profit.

As with most ancient cultural icons, Li’s early life is still an academic question. Historian Guo Moruo’s 1971 assertion that Li was born near Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, has been widely accepted and is still found in some textbooks.

However, this claim has been contested, most famously by Zhao Yahui, a veteran reporter with the People’s Daily, who wrote in 2009, “There’s a more than 99 percent chance that Li Bai was born in Jiangyou, Sichuan.”

Qin’an county of Gansu province, where Li Bai’s ancestors were from, and Tokmok have also joined the drama.

It doesn’t always work

Little attention has been paid to those who lose out in the game. An example is Xinzhou, one of the earliest localities to take the initiative in Shanxi province.

The alleged hometown of Diao Chan, from the early Three Kingdoms Period and one of China’s four most legendary ancient beauties, built her a theme park in 1994, amid the nationwide tide to build manmade “attractions” to boost tourism.

But in the years that followed, very few bothered to go to a remote village to visit the statue of a long-gone beauty and read from stones engraved with stories about her.

At the turn of the century, farmer Wang Wangxi took control of the park and was determined to give it one last shot. Restaurants and motels were built around the park, but still no one came. Nobody wanted to handle the mess, either.

Wang gave up in 2005. Since then, he has been using the theme park as a rural yard to raise sheep and chicken.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 7:46 pm and is filed under
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Knowledge not fear in religion

By
 Dina Zaman

June 08, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 8 — A reader asked me in an email what my thoughts were on the “… religious management in the country…” and what I would do about the disarray.

I was quite stumped by the question. While I read in dismay about what was happening to our country, I had to admit, I didn’t have the answers.

Malaysia is obsessed with titles and credentials, and I was a highly improbable person to answer such a question. Perhaps, I replied to the reader, this was something best left to politicians, activists and religious authorities.

He wrote back, “… but if you could, what would you do?”

It is obvious to most thinking Malaysians that there is a serious disconnect between the real lives of Malaysians and the perceived notions of our lives by (self) appointed leaders of our faiths and authority. And that there are gaps among ourselves, within our own communities, and when combined, these only aggravate the situation.

We must remember when it comes to our religions, we are emotional. Where is the sacred space for us to believe and practise our faiths?

In Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik, Douglas Johnston had written that there was the assumption that with globalisation and modernisation, there would be “… a gradual, persistent, unbroken erosion of religious influence. “ [1] The book further elaborates, “Quite often, the reaction against (Western) modernization is framed in religious terms. This is a valid characterisation when one considers the modern, secularized, and rather compartmentalised approach to life … the strict division between the sacred and the secular observed in the West is a relatively recent innovation—and is foreign to much of the rest of the world. As Boston University sociologist Peter Berger has pointed out, ‘The difficult-to-understand phenomenon is not Iranian mullahs but American university professors.’”

Is this a predominantly Muslim problem?

No.

A review article by Michael G. Peletz states that “… we see many of the same general dynamics operating in a wide array of predominantly Christian, Jewish and/or Judaeo–Christian contexts (including the USA) and among Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and others (Casanova, 1994; Antoun, 2001; Juergensmeyer, 2003; Cannell, 2010; Hefner, 2010). As with capitalist markets, modern states and civil society, it seems that public religions are here to stay.” [2]

My personal opinion is that while our religious leaders have the right to feel besieged and want to protect the faithful, the ego needs to be kept in check. We must own the responsibility of disseminating information and we must be objective. It is not about authority and position of power.

I am extremely suspicious of committees and panels. While I understand the need for a body to campaign and discuss religious matters, I have always wondered about what goes on in the minds and hearts of the individuals involved. I am sure that most are selfless, but who is to know? There is always an agenda.

In Malaysia, it is about protectionism. It is about a minority constantly battling a majority that is fearful of a loss (of its position), whereas all the former wants is space to practise what it believes in.

We have yet to learn that negotiation is not just about compromise.

How can our leaders help?

In the second chapter of Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik, the author Andre Malraux wrote, “Among the attributes that give religious leaders and institutions sizeable influence in peacemaking, four stand out:

1.   A well-established and pervasive influence in the community

2.   A reputation as an apolitical force for change based on a respected set of values

3.   Unique leverage for reconciling confliction parties, including an ability to rehumanize relatiohships

4.   The capability to mobilize community, national, and international support for a peace process.”

Most important, religions possess a transcendent authority for their followers that is the envy of most temporal leaders.

However, looking at some of our religious personalities who have caused more grief than inspired hope, the above may not be possible in the immediate future.

Another reader emailed to ask whether there was a place for agnostics and atheists in a country like Malaysia, where religion plays an integral role.

“What is your take on people who don’t have a religion especially in the context of Malaysia where like you said — religion has become inseparable from the national discourse?”

My rather inadequate answer to all of the above is that we Malaysians have the right to empower ourselves with knowledge. We must overcome our fear of the Other and learn more about each other. My column, Holy Men Holy Women, has taught me that we can learn from each other’s differences and delight in our similarities.

Inter-faith dialogue is an important tool, and we must include our youth in the negotiations. We cannot expect to love each other when we meet, but the whole idea of such dialogue is to exchange. Anger, fear, myths must be addressed.

Our education system needs to be revamped. Perhaps a return to the past where we had a system that worked; a time we fondly remember our children mixing freely with each other.

We should encourage comparative religious courses.

We must create and sustain a reading public. A culture that instils the love of books is also one that promotes the endearing quality of being curious, which in turn leads to critical thinking. Kumon, Enopi are supplements to an education, but do not necessarily mold children into personable beings.

Malaysians, God fearing or not, must focus on the relevant issues: education, corruption, the economy and the welfare of the state.

Instead of being taken up by polygamy and obedient wives, and who’s falling in and out of political parties, we should emulate Canada and Scandinavian countries which have exemplary welfare, health, employment systems. We should focus on what unites us — our common good, and our similarities (socially and culturally). And not the superficial chaff they would have us believe is dividing us.

Notes:

[1] Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik. Contributors: Douglas Johnston – editor. Publisher: Oxford University Press. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 2003.

[2] Islamization in Malaysia: Piety and consumption, politics and law. Michael G. Peletz

[3] Building a Shared Home for Everyone-Interreligious Dialogue at the Grass Roots in Indonesia. Contributors: Achmad Munjid – author. Journal Title: Journal of Ecumenical Studies. Volume: 43. Issue: 2. Publication Year: 2008. Page Number: 109+. COPYRIGHT 2008 Journal of Ecumenical Studies; COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 1:55 pm and is filed under
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Mahu wujudkan negara berkebajikan? Langkah mayat ‘politik perkauman’ dulu

By
Amaluddin Zhafir

Roketkini.com

8 June 2011

8 JUN – Entah apa yang dimaksudkan bekas Perdana Menteri Malaysia bila beliau menulis bahawa pertandingan jarang menghasilkan keputusan “menang-menang,” dengan semua yang bertanding berjaya.

Apa yang jelas, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dalam blognya merujuk kepada muktamar PAS lepas yang mana menurut pandangannya, ada yang menang dan ada yang kalah.

Kenyataannya itu ada asasnya. Tetapi melihat kepada tuduhannya yang mengatakan Pengerusi DAP Karpal Singh berjaya menggugurkan matlamat PAS untuk menubuhkan negara Islam, nampaknya kenyataan tersebut agak dangkal yang datang daripada seorang tokoh besar.

Benar, Karpal Singh pernah dipetik sebagai berkata “Mahu wujudkan negara Islam? Langkah mayat saya dulu,” dalam Utusan Malaysia bertarikh 8 Oktober 1990.

Tetapi itu cerita tahun 1990; kisah ketika PAS dan DAP masih tak sebulu dan belum bersekutu. Zaman di mana internet itu jauh lebih ‘mahal’ berbanding usaha Mahathir yang tiga tahun kemudian (1993) menghantar surat amaran kepada Menteri Besar Kelantan Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz mendesak PAS tidak melaksanakan hukum hudud.

“Apa nama, apa nama…” I

Mahathir sendiri sedar dalam politik, lawan boleh jadi kawan dan kawan boleh makan kawan dan sebagainya. Tetapi beliau leka dengan politik kulupnya – tuduh-menuduh berniat menimbulkan sensasi picisan yang sudah tentu akan memecahbelahkan lagi masyarakat.

Politik itu berkembang mengikut masa dan keadaan.

Sekarang tumpuan PAS ialah membangunkan negara berkebajikan, tetapi bukan pula bermakna PAS akan melupakan perjuangannya menegakkan Islam.

Malah dalam ucapan dasar Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang sendiri jelas lebih terbuka konsep Islamnya berbanding dahulu. Malangnya, keterbukaan konsep Islam yang dikemukakannya seakan ditolak ketepi oleh sesetengah poli-tikus untuk memberi ruang kepada perkara-perkara yang bersifat sensasi berbanding isinya.

Ucapan dasar Hadi Awang terang lagi bersuluh untuk sesiapa yang mendengar atau membaca teksnya:

“Politik berkonsepkan Islam mengakui wujudnya masyarakat majmuk berbilang agama, dan memelihara hak beragama kepada penganut berbagai agama yang dilindungi pemerintahan yang mengamalkan prinsip sembak-imbang dalam pemerintahan.”

Jelas Hadi lagi, dalam negara berkebajikan, indeks kesejahteraan yang ingin dicapai PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat perlu mengambil kira persekitaran masyarakat yang terdiri dari pelbagai agama, bangsa, dan segala fahaman yang wujud di negara ini.

Yang jelas di sini, selain mengemukakan pandangannya atas nama kebebasan bersuara (sesuatu yang jarang-jarang berlaku di era pemerintahannya), Mahathir telah memberi satu lagi input untuk media kawalan kerajaan bagi bermain kembali cerita lama, langsung membuktikan betapa pimpinan UMNO sekarang semakin kontang idea dan untuk memecahbelahkan perpaduan Pakatan.

Saya tertanya-tanya kenapa di dalam fikiran mereka, sentiasa mahu bermain hal-hal ‘lucu’ sedemikian sedangkan teknologi internet (sedikit sebanyak hasil titik peluh Mahathir) tidak diguna pakai untuk mencari dan menilai kebenaran. Untuk laku akhbar sahaja kah?

“Apa nama, apa nama…” II

Bagaimana pun saya separuh bersetuju dengan pandangan Che Det bahawa “Karpal tidak perlu mati untuk PAS langkah mayatnya”. Tetapi bukan kerana PAS tunduk kepada DAP; ia kerana PAS dalam soal perjuangan politik bersama Pakatan, jauh lebih matang meninggalkan perkauman lapuk Barisan Nasional.

Peduli apa dengan tarian perkauman mereka, sedangkan Pakatan Rakyat sudah hampir ke Putrajaya bersama longgokan idea-idea baru untuk pembangunan sosial, ekonomi, dan budaya untuk rakyat Malaysia yang lebih mapan dan cerdas.

Walaubagaimana pun, saya masih lagi berasa kasihan dengan UMNO, parti pejuang tegar Melayu, apa yang sedang mereka usahakan sebenarnya sekarang ini?

Baik, marilah kita beranggapan kerajaan pimpinan UMNO-BN mahu memecahbelahkan Pakatan kerana takut pada pilihan raya umum akan datang mereka akan dikeluarkan dari galaksi politik Malaysia, seperti planet Pluto ditolak oleh para saintis secara syura dan penuh ilmiah.

Dan jika begitu, apa yang mereka nampak ialah bahayanya sifat kepelbagaian kaum DAP dan PKR yang cuba “merasuk” PAS – parti tertua dalam gabungan Pakatan – supaya meninggalkan pegangan lama parti Islam itu.

Oleh kerana PAS mempunyai ahli Melayu paling ramai berbanding DAP dan PKR, maka menjadi satu tanggungjawab besar bagi UMNO – parti Melayu konservatif yang mana pemimpin kaya manakala ahli banyak merempat – untuk memecahkan dan kalau boleh, meyakinkan PAS menyertai mereka.

Bagai pungguk rindukan bulan, kasihannya, usaha mereka sudah ditolak mentah-mentah oleh PAS.

“Apa nama, apa nama…” III

Pakatan Rakyat sejak awal lagi telah sebulat suara untuk memegang falsafah ‘Ubah Sekarang, Selamatkan Malaysia,’ berbanding slogan 1Malaysia yang agak longgar falsafahnya, dan ditolak pula oleh kelompok perkauman di dalam dan di pinggiran UMNO.

Berbalik kepada bekas perdana menteri, beliau melihat pegangan PAS yang semakin kendur itu disebabkan “PAS tidak sanggup berhujah dengan Karpal Singh.”

Psikologi jenis apa doktor yang sudah lama berhenti merawat pesakit ini sedang main? Bukankah sudah dijelaskan tiga tahun dahulu selepas tsunami politik, parti-parti dalam Pakatan telah bersetuju untuk bergabung menjatuhkan demokrasi cacat hasil legasi Mahathir sendiri?

Apa lagi yang PAS nak hujah dengan Karpal?

Dalam Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat Kedua akhir tahun lalu, Karpal mengatakan bersedia untuk berdialog tentang negara Islam. Beliau jelaskan, kata-kata “langkah mayat” itu telah difahami di luar maksud kenyataannya.

“Apa yang saya katakan 20 tahun lalu dibaca di luar konteks. Islam adalah agama persekutuan dan rakyat agama lain juga ada hak. Oleh itu tidak baik untuk mengatakan Perlembagaan Persekutuan membolehkan mengadakan negara Islam, tetapi yang ini boleh diperbincangkan. Saya tidak mahu BN mengesksploitasikan isu ini… ini boleh dibincang dengan Tok Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz, Tok Guru Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi.”

Apa nama, apa namanya itu…kura-kura dalam perahu, pura-pura tidak tahu. –
Roketkini.com

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 3:37 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia bored by drawn-out sex trial of opposition leader

By
Julia Yeow

Jun 8, 2011 | M&C News

Kuala Lumpur – The sex trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has become a bore-fest for a worn-out audience, despite having all the makings of a highly charged scandal, full of sordid details of illicit dalliances, accusations of lies and conspiracies.

When Anwar, 63, was initially charged with sodomizing his 25-year-old male aide in 2008, local and international media were clamouring to get the details as an eager public soaked in what one paper called the scandal of the decade.

What heightened the interest was that it wasn’t the first time fingers were being pointed at Anwar, a married father of six and grandfather to two.

In 1998, Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister and subsequently found guilty of sodomizing his former driver and using his position to cover it up. Even if consensual this sexual act is illegal in Malaysia.

He was jailed, but released six years later after a higher court overturned his convictions.

Ten years on and having become the leader of a strong opposition movement, Anwar now finds himself facing similar accusations.

He has maintained his innocence in both cases, and insists he is a victim of a political conspiracy. The government has denied any involvement.

But that’s where the similarities end.

While the highly publicized hearings in 1998 were filled with sordid, sometimes embarrassing details and one memorable day when the mattress on which the incident allegedly occurred was hauled into court, the recent case has long worn out the public.

One major reason are the almost unending deferrals and trial postponements that have plagued the hearing since it began in February last year.

‘The trial has gone on for too long, with too many technical delays that it’s turned stale,’ said software engineer Nanthini Retnam.

‘I make it a point to skip articles on the trial and the entire scandal when I’m reading the news,’ she said.

And despite the government’s continuous denial of any hand in the charges, public opinion has unavoidably veered towards a conspiracy, prompting a backlash against what many see as ‘gutter politics’.

‘This isn’t so much a normal trial, than a political drama,’ said school teacher Noorhayati Ahmad, 31.

One political analyst said the public view of Anwar’s case has shifted from interest to disgust at the ‘degeneration of politics’ from being based on ideology and important problems to sexual issues and controversies.

‘I think in one sense, the case has been so long-drawn that it’s become an overkill,’ said Denison Jayasooria, a political observer and expert of social studies at the National University of Malaysia.

‘People believe this whole thing has been orchestrated, and they will not want to have any part in it,’ he said. ‘It’s sad that certain leaders are still unable to move away from such gutter politics.’

If Anwar is found guilty he stands to be jailed for 20 years and barred from politics for at least five years.

While a conviction would surely hit the opposition, observers say Anwar’s role as position head is fast becoming dispensable with the emergence of other leaders, thus further explaining the dwindling of interest.

Anwar’s alliance, consists of his National Justice Party, the hardline Parti Islam SeMalaysia and the Democratic Action Party, made major gains in the 2008 general elections, capturing five states and denying the ruling National Front a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

His partners have been quick to downplay the trial’s importance in their struggle to take power in the next general elections, which must be called by 2013 but may take place as early as this year.

‘This fresh round of allegations will have no effect on the opposition and what we are focused on accomplishing – that is bringing change to this nation,’ opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said.

Anwar has taken great pains to draw attention away from the trial and to what he calls ‘crippling issues’ affecting the nation such as rising unemployment and rampant corruption, and the general public has largely made up its mind about his criminal case.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually did it, but it’s gone on for so long, I don’t really care anymore,’ said James Tan, head of an advertising agency in Kuala Lumpur.

‘And anyway, there’s just so much sex a person can take in the news.’

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 7:52 pm and is filed under
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Najib: Good governance easier said than done

June 08, 201 |
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak told Muslim leaders today that achieving good governance was “easier said than done.”

The prime minister told the seventh World Islamic Economic Forum in his speech that this was due to political influence, inequality, strong family ties, greed, inadequate regulations and poor enforcement.

“Even the fear of God at times can do little to ensure… integrity,” he said in Ankara, Kazakhstan.

However, the Barisan Nasional (BN) chief said that his administration was committed to pursuing good governance to make Malaysia more competitive.

He listed the Whistleblower Protection Act, National Integrity Plan, the introduction of key performance indicators for the public sector and establishing the Malaysian Institute of Integrity as steps taken by his administration to promote good governance.

The prime minister also said said that openness, honesty and transparency was needed to convince the public that the government was working for them and not itself.

Najib (picture) said these guiding principles would show that leaders and politicians were working for the benefit of all and not just “lining their own pockets.”

“It is up to us to show the resolve, dedication, commitment and political will required to do what is right, to right what is wrong and to prevent corruption and secrecy from becoming a norm in our societies,” the Umno president said.

He added that governments should “walk the talk and practise what we preach” and not fear criticism from the public.

According to graft watchdog Transparency International, Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has been falling since 2008 when it scored 5.1.

In last year’s report, Malaysia scored a 4.4, ranking it 56th out of 178 countries.

The score fell short of the 4.9 target the government had announced in January 2010 as one of its National Key Results Area (NKRA).

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 10:44 pm and is filed under
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Nazri’s claim that Hadi is gunning for PM’s job latest example of scent  enveloping UMNO and BN leaderships on the last legs of power until 13GE

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri’s claim that the PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is gunning for the Prime Minister’s job strikes discerning Malaysians as the latest example of the debilitating loss of confidence enveloping Umno and BN leaderships that they are on the last legs of power until the 13th General Election.

Until the 308 political tsunami of the 2008 General Election, the very thought that the Prime Minister would not come from Umno would be a completely unthinkable notion.

Now a senior Minister of the Najib Cabinet is seriously canvassing the scenario of UMNO and BN losing federal power in Putrajaya and, for the first time in the nation’s history since Merdeka in 1955, a Prime Minister not from Umno after the next 13th general election.

Nazri of course had his ulterior political motive and agenda in making his allegation that Hadi is gunning for the PM’s job, but the overwhelming public impression from Nazri’s claim is not about its veracity (and Hadi has already rebutted him) but the shocking fact that more and more Umno and BN leaders are coming to accept the possibility that the next Prime Minister after the next general elections will not be Najib or come from UMNO.

Is the most famous political prophecy of the land, RAHMAN on the first six Prime Ministers from UMNO with “N” marking ‘The End” of Umno rule and hegemony of the ruling coalition to be fully perfected and proven true very soon?

As far as Pakatan Rakyat coalition of DAP, PKR and PAS is concerned, we are agreed that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia if Pakatan Rakyat wins the voters’ mandate securing a majority of the parliamentary seats in the next general election.

Many plots to derail this possibility from becoming a reality have been set in motion including the conspiracy to jail Anwar and  disqualify him from standing as a candidate in the 13th general election.

If this despicable plot succeeds, it may prove to be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back to catapult Pakatan Rakyat to power in Putrajaya and Anwar to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia after the next general election.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 12:51 pm and is filed under
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PAS’ welfare state goal is debatable

By
Terence Netto

Jun 8, 11 | MalaysiaKini

COMMENT
The comments that emanated from Umno on the outcome of the PAS elections last weekend yet again demonstrated that when it comes to a discussion of ideas, their commentary is bereft.

Its crappy tone hit a nadir when Dr Mahathir Mohamad speculated that the person most elated with the results of the PAS elections would be DAP chairperson Karpal Singh.

Trust Mahathir to squeeze the soft underbelly of DAP-PAS relations by dredging up a remark made by Karpal in the prelude to the 1999 general elections – that Malaysia could only become a Islamic state over his dead body – to remind voters of how far PAS had now come in abandoning its Islamic state goal to appease the secularists in DAP.

In a long career politicians are allowed a rash comment or two, provided the person apologises as Karpal did.

Nobody can remember if Mahathir had apologised for his “We will shoot them” remark in reference to the boatloads of Vietnamese refugees who landed on Terengganu beaches in the late 1970s; neither can anybody recall if Mahathir had recanted his claim that Anwar Ibrahim’s infamous black eye was self-inflicted.

In Mahathir’s conception of political villainy, everyone else except him can be frozen in the error one has committed even if apologies have been tendered for the mistake.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s apparent substitution of a ‘welfare state’ for his party’s Islamic state agenda in his policy address at the party’s muktamar last week was remarkable for reason of its admission that in the Quran, there are verses on the welfare for Muslims under Islamic rule, but no mention of an Islamic state.

Some years ago this aspect was highlighted by the late Indonesian leader, Abdulrahman Wahid, who in explaining his stand against the creation of an Islamic state, said there was no such concept in the Quran.

With his pedigree in Quranic exegesis – in 1926, his grandfather founded the Nadhatul Ulama, the Muslim world’s largest social organisation – Wahid’s explanation was seen as a major contribution towards demystifying the concept.

Now that the PAS president has said essentially the same thing, the admission can be taken to be another step towards stripping the subject of its mystique.

Not that this would be terribly useful in cooling the ardour of fervent Muslims for an Islamic state.

In religious matters, the absence of scriptural support is no guarantee that a belief, once it has taken hold, would not endure.

Still, Hadi Awang’s supplanting of ‘welfare state’ for ‘Islamic state’ is a timely circumlocution given that a general election is close and the issue of an Islamic state would certainly be resurrected by Umno-BN as a useful stick with which to beat the opposition Pakatan Rakyat over its head.

Umno can be counted on to take the hypocritical tack in its criticism of PAS: that the latter has abandoned its principles, never mind that Umno’s Muslims care nothing for that goal, though support for syariah is an Islamic obligation and a state found on syariah qualifies to be called Islamic.

Welfare state for the rich

Even when Umno takes the less pretentious route and claims, as did its deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, that PAS’ welfare state goal has been become a reality under Umno rule, the criticism is stupefying.

Under Umno-BN rule, Malaysia can be considered a welfare state for the politically well-connected and the already well-heeled.

If it could be said that Malaysia is a welfare state, it is so in much the same way that China is a communist state: in the one, there are state provisions for the wealthy, while in the other there is a capitalistic economic system for the elites and communist ideological controls for all.

A better entry point to the debate on the welfare state goal of PAS would be whether such a state is viable given what has happened to the concept of the welfare state over the last six decades of world history.

The notion of a welfare state has not worn well in recent world economic history though it must be said that the opposite – a rapacious capitalistic system – has brought catastrophic consequences in recent years to several countries in the west.

Needless to say, there are useful points for debate on the PAS switch to a welfare state but you won’t suspect that from the rash of Umno’s commentary on the change.

You will hear a lot about PAS’ motive for the switch but virtually nothing about the viability or relevance of the welfare state concept. As ever, shadows matter more than substance.

* TERENCE NETTO has been a journalist for close on four decades. He likes the occupation because it puts him in contact with the eminent without being under the necessity to admire them. It is the ideal occupation for a temperament that finds power fascinating and its exercise abhorrent.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 10:22 am and is filed under
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Politics ruin religion and religion ruins politics

By
Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

June 07, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 7 — The turmoil in the Middle East started off with the uprising in Tunisia to get rid of their corrupt leader, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. The man, his family and cronies enriched themselves at the expense of the Tunisian people. They built palaces for themselves and cornered businesses to themselves. In the meantime the emerging youths found that with their professional degrees that they possessed, they were left unemployed.

They had to peddle wares, hawking them from makeshift sheds. Even this was forbidden and their trade was smashed by the authorities. One disappointed, dejected and helpless youth committed suicide by torching himself. The ember of revolt was thus lighted.

Tunisia has been a secular state since it achieved its independence and became a republic in 1957. The revolution that took place was not religious in character. It was secular and supported by all citizens irrespective of their religious denominations.

But as usual, Islamists who rode on the bandwagon of this revolt tried to highjack the cause and wanted to impose their beliefs in the new Tunisia. This had caused sane minded Tunisians who were the protagonists of the revolt to come out for another protest to cut off the impending disaster this religious elements would cause.

One of the banners displayed at this protest was “Politics ruin religion and religion ruins politics’. Another said, “Separation of mosque and the state!”

Tunisians value secularism and will not tolerate the imposition of religion in the affairs of government.

This was and had been the agenda of those who want to see that religion will not spoil the governance of a country. When religion is placed as the controlling factor in the governing of a state, chaos will emerge. Pakistan, Bangladesh and others which promoted Islam as being the core of their governments have seen no progress.

The bulk of government work was directed at controlling  the lives of their citizens. The focus on good governance and ensuring   fair and equitable progress for all never takes root. Religion had been manipulated for the benefit of the few.

The common men were cowed into following these moral regulations. But the actions of the rulers had never been made the focus of moral policing. These rulers may look and act saintly in the country but it is a different scenario when they are overseas. This hypocrisy in using religion for the benefit of the rulers will not however last. This happened because; the focus on uplifting the standard of living of the general population was set aside. In the meantime the rulers enjoyed the benefits of both worlds.

The Arabs in the Middle East had suffered far too long. The revolt is to seek justice and fairness. It was therefore not a religious revolt.

All these countries in the Middle East have never seen democracy being practiced. All came under the clutches of dictators, autocrats and religious fanatics. They are afraid of democracy as this will definitely destroy their hold on government. They had created two classes of people in their own countries – the rulers and the ruled. The people were given zero choice in the governing of their countries.

They had  some semblance of democracy by having elections but rigged them  to ensure they stayed on as rulers. Thus Egypt’s Hoesni Mubarak kept on winning election after election.  Libya’s Muammar  Gaddafi totally destroyed  all  institutions of government. Through that he was able to stay in power for over 40 years. His sons controlled all the instruments of government.

They never believed in the aspirations of the people and thus they did not create any channels whereby they could monitor the feelings of the people. They only believed in controlling the people through force by using the police and the armed forces. To them might would thrive and they could remain in power.

Thus the whole of the Middle East has become a very combustible cauldron of an area, needing only a slight spark. That spark, of all places, burst in Tunisia, a secular state. Corruption and cronyism became the stones that rubbed one another to create the revolution..

It all boils down to economics. These dictators never ever thought of themselves as benevolent rulers but put themselves as ancient emperors who treated their subjects as slaves.

For that they would meet their fate one by one in a fiery environment which they had never thought would ever happen.

The Middle East needs true democrats to come to power if it envisages of becoming a power house and determine the course of world events in the future.

* Ahmad Mustapha Hassan is the author of “The Unmaking of Malaysia” and a former general manager of state news agency Bernama. He was also the press secretary to Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the then-Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 10:28 am and is filed under
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Purpose, meaning, choice

By
Jerome Martin

June 08, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 8 — Nobody should feel obliged to stay or leave, wherever one might be.

Be it your birthplace, country of residence or somewhere you’re just passing through, no one should be compelled to be someplace s/he’d rather not be.

Which is why this entire business of our government begging Malaysians around the world to return disturbs me. You can ask someone to loan you 50 bucks as a favour. You can’t ask them to uproot, change their life plans and come home just to render some kind of “national service.”

People want different things in life and most of it is completely valid — aside from say serial murder and rape. The end result is some kind of meaning.

For some, it means partying all night every night and banging a different chick each day. For some, it’s sheer buying power and the ability to drop a million dollars without batting an eyelid.

And these are not so different from someone who wants to help the poor, someone who wants to write a great novel or someone who wants to work in government and make sure that the people’s money is well spent.

In short, life should be its own affirmation. What you do should make you happy about being you.

Still, many spend their lives seeking what is real. Something that has meaning to their lives.

Some hold to ideas of going some place where they get what they deserve, or quality of life is better, or there is no discrimination — if such a place could truly be said to exist. Does this provide meaning? Does one fulfil a purpose this way?

I guess it is a means to an end. Maybe they will be able to cure cancer or make advances in renewable energy in places with the right industrial ecology.

For those who stay, there is this notion of Malaysia being “home.”

But what does a home mean? Security? Familiarity? A sense of belonging? Those do not provide any meaning. They do not fulfill a purpose.

I call Malaysia home too. I spend a lot of time wondering why. Not why it’s home. But why I call it home.

Then again, I’m the sort of guy who is retarded by a sense of moral virtue. Framed within the context of doing something good, impactful and positive, rather than just nihilistic pleasure, cracks start to form around my notions of being a rock star.

Between being the world’s greatest… football manager, say, and Malaysia’s No. 1 football supporter, I’d pick the latter. Not much impact, but it involves people I give a damn about.

I know what you’re going to ask: “Why do I give a damn about them?”

Maybe because I’ve done something to make them who they are and vice versa. In a minute way, I’ve made Malaysia the way it is, and it’s made me the way I am.

And I just can’t run away from that. I can’t even try.

“Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?” — Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 2:05 pm and is filed under
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SABU-tage

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 11:40 am and is filed under
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Why I’m Returning Home to Malaysia

By
Idzwan Husaini

8 June, 2011 | LoyarBurok

While The Malaysian Insider asks readers to reveal why people choose to leave or stay in the country, Idzwan Husaini, a medical undergraduate shares why he is coming back to stay in the country. Hopefully in the near future.

I have been studying in the United Kingdom for almost three years now and I have enjoyed the enormous sense of freedom, liberty and equality that is widespread in this country.

Freedom of expression is celebrated here. Rather than oppressing the movement or suppressing the voice of the minority, they are given a chance to prove to the majority their abilities and worth. I was surprised to see an entire family of grandparents, parents and little children joining the throng of people watching the parade during the London Gay Pride summer last year. Rather than teaching their kids to hate people who have, and are proud of their differing sexualities, the parents chose to expose their children to a completely different lifestyle so they can later choose what is best for them in the future. Freedom of expression is allowed to take place in all forms and shapes. I do not remember ever hearing any agencies involved in banning books, films, songs or even cartoons for that matter!

Discourse and dissent are not tolerated, they are encouraged. When the coalition government began to put in effect the new and more expensive student fees, universities had no qualms allowing their students, through the student unions, to organise marches and protests to voice their discontent. My university even allowed the staff and the lecturers to protest in the middle of the city against the proposed cuts they would have to endure due to David Cameron?s ‘austerity’ scheme. Emails were circulated to students to remind us to check with our lecturers if they were taking part in the protest to see if the lectures for the day were cancelled.

For every rotation I do at various hospitals through out my third year, I think up to 70% of the senior doctors and consultants involved in the teaching are foreigners coming from all around the world like India, the Middle East, the East Asia, and several from Malaysia. If this is any indication, it reflects the country’s policy of pure meritocracy regardless of race, religion, ancestry, and nationality in its employment.

While everything seems fine and dandy, it does not mean social prejudice with respect to race and religion never takes place. Living in the UK has led me to experience what I have not had the chance to feel living in Malaysia. While I enjoy being born in the so-called Malay race with all its privileges, living in the UK turns the table and makes me the minority, especially with regards to my religion. It throws me off the silver platter and it makes me realise what my fellow Malaysian friends, who are not born the same race as I am, have been feeling their entire lives – marginalised, discriminated and under-appreciated.

I had to endure the eyes of doubt from patients who thought me incompetent simply from my appearance. I have to constantly challenge that assumption and do so by demonstrating to them my firm command of their language and that I am competent in my work.

Yes, racism does continue to exist but only in a small proportion involving the NEDs (non-educated delinquents), scallies or chavs. These slang terms describe a group of hooligans, uneducated, unemployed and living on benefits, who go around town causing trouble, committing petty crimes and using vulgar language whilst drunk. I have only heard of a case in which a fellow Malaysian was bashed on his way home in the middle of the night. Aside from getting a black eye simply for ‘looking’ different, none of his belongings were taken from him. As for my religion, let’s not even talk about the flicker of fear and prejudice I could see in their eyes when they know my first name is Muhammad.

Social prejudices do exist. They hurt just the same despite being uncommon. It remains a comfort to know that such behaviour is not tolerated in society. Racism and religious intolerance certainly hardly occur in matters pertaining to education and employment.

Because of those reasons above, the United Kingdom seems like a good place for me to pursue my future. The minor glitches aside, I am not worried one bit about its progress because I know it is my talent that will count. My abilities will not be judged based on my race and religion.

Why, then, have I decided to come back?

I have lost count of the numerous times when the many consultants that I have sat in their various clinics during my rotation asked me about my plans after graduation. The conversation tends to follow this one pattern:

Consultant: So, are you planning to go back and practice in your country or stay here in the UK?

Me: I?m going home. I might do my two-year foundation here but I?ll eventually go back to work there.

Consultant: Is it any good over there? I?ve heard the working condition is not very good. And you?re probably paid more here.

Me: Yeah, I’ll probably be paid more here. And yes, the working condition back home is not that good. There are very few doctors so we?ll be working long hours but that is why I’m going home. If every Malaysian medical student studying abroad chooses not to go back to work over there, naturally the hospitals are gonna be understaffed and that’s what’s causing the poor working conditions for the doctors there. The cycle is just going to go on and on so somebody has to go back to fill up those positions and I’m going to do it. It is, after, all home.

No, I did not make up that conversation. Some of my friends here are actually surprised that I still want to go back despite the better opportunities and future I would have here.

I have been lucky to get the opportunity to study abroad and learn from excellent and dedicated doctors and consultants from around the world. It is a privilege to have my eager, keen and thirsty mind fed and filled by these experts who are willing to take time out of their busy and hectic schedule to educate and nurture future generations of doctors.

The same cannot be said about medical students in Malaysia. Due to lack of senior doctors and consultants in hospitals, medical students and newly-graduated young doctors do not receive the adequate amount of guidance during their foundation year to cultivate consistent and systematic working habits that is necessary for every doctor. I have felt the frustration of not having anyone to learn from during a hectic Accident and Emergency (A&E) session when my brain was eager and excited but with few doctors available to teach. I have also seen the tired look in the eyes of the patients in the waiting area hoping that their names would be called after waiting for more than two hours.

So I am coming back because I want to give back. I want to serve every Malaysian either by using all the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired to treat the sick or share those same skills and knowledge with fellow young doctors and future medical students. I know it will not solve the brain drain in the country or reduce patients’ waiting time at the A&E but at least I am doing the little I can about it.

Some of you will probably think that I should come back to serve the country out of sense of duty. After all, my entire education here and all the great things that I have gained and experienced for the last three years have been funded by my fellow Malaysians who pay their taxes.

Yes, I believe in that sense of duty but no, I am not coming back because I need to hold up my end of the contract I signed with MARA three years ago. In fact, I am not even bonded to MARA the way PSD scholars are. I could just stay in the UK and make my fortune without having to deal with the incompetence of a corrupt government making ridiculous and unfair policies that are poorly thought out. And I do not have to worry about enrolling my future children into a sub-standard, exam-oriented education system that encourages dogma instead of independent-thinking apart from its lack of tolerance for diversity.

My desire to come back stems from the simple basis that I love my country so much that leaving it and its people simply because of its faulty modus operandi is akin to a coward running away from the problems instead of tackling them. I want to give other young Malaysians, medical students or not, the opportunities that I have gained during my study abroad. It is, of course, impossible to ferry all the country’s youth abroad but I can come home to bring and share the important values of freedom, equality, meritocracy, diversity, tolerance and fighting for what is right with the youth in the country.

Signs of great changes are already sprouting in the country with the alternative media encouraging voices of dissent and discourse to provide check and balance to whatever the Powers That Be is doing. We already have human right groups who have been trying their best to promote tolerance and creating awareness among the public their rights and what they can and should do to fight for those rights.

Although limited, it is still a good start that we already have bright and educated Malaysians pushing for those changes. I believe that if Malaysians who have had the opportunity to enjoy the greater freedom and liberty abroad were to come back and share the experience and work together with the ones at home, we will be one step closer to bringing our country to the much civilised and progressive nation it should be.

Some of you are probably laughing at my naivete and simple-mindedness. But I remain a believer for that is what being young is all about. I apologise if I come across as patronising or condescending but I believe in the people of my country. I am coming back to do whatever I can to contribute to the change no matter how slow and tiring the struggle will be. And it really is just because Malaysia is home and there is no place like home.

Idzwan Husaini believes in the joy and energy of being young. He believes in being optimistic and hopeful of what lies ahead rather than being doubtful and fearful of the future like most old people do these days. He wishes old people would grow up and out of the old prejudices and start looking forward rather than focusing on what has happened in the past.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 8 June 2011, 11:15 pm and is filed under
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13th GE: Your choice ‘Original Malaysia’ or ‘Fake 1Malaysia’

By
Richard Loh

We are warned and reminded about fake goods that look like it, feel like it but it is not the original branded goods. Many have been conned into believing that at a cheaper price you can still get the same original products that you wanted.

Being cheated of buying fake products may not cause us any harm in anyway except burning a hole in the pocket. A lesson to learn and you will be more careful when offered any branded goods at great discount the next time.

But what happen when you are conned into believing in a fake product that can caused great harm to you, your family and future generation?

Malaysia, in the 60’s and 70’s was the most memorable for its prosperity, harmony and peaceful living among all the races and there were hardly any religious issues. The Federal Constitution was closely followed in governing the nation without much fuss.

Then in the 80’s and 90’s came a great salesman with a doctor degree, force selling his great product of ‘Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah’ to the people and many bought it without realising that this hollow and fake product can cause so much damage in the later years. A certain group of people that consumed this product begin to have side effects. They got bolder and braver to challenge the Federal Constitution, got greedier, making more demands on special rights and turn the whole judiciary upside down. But credit must be given to him for his ability to sell his fake product for 22 years!

Before this old doctor salesman left, he put in place a less knowledgeable salesman, so he thought, that he could manipulate and control, but how wrong he was. This is the 21st century.

This 21st century salesman came out with his own products, ‘Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang’ and ‘Islam Hadhari’, claiming to be the best products that can combat greediness and create religious harmony among the different religions. These products were hot selling for a couple of years that won him a landslide victory in 2004. Soon after the great victory the effectiveness of the products begin to wear out showing clearly that they were fake. Instead of leaving graciously, this salesman was force out by his own assistant.

Now, this assistant is a total different breed. He has been scheming and plotting to take over the salesmanship for quite sometime and finally he made it in 2009. Without wasting much time, he immediately peddled his own products convincingly to the public. He had seen how his two predecessors failed in selling their fake products and he knows he has to be wiser.

So, more products were churned out starting with ‘1Malaysia’ which he claimed to be his own idea, even though others had already used it. This salesman is smarter, engaging foreign PR at hefty cost to churn out more make believe statements, advertisements and creating ‘1’ this and ‘1’ that, all with public funds.

To prop up his ‘1Malaysia’, by products were introduced such as ‘People First Performance Now’ with a list of acronyms such as GTP (Government Transformation Programme), ETP (Economic Transformation Programme) and NKRAs (National Key Result Areas).

After two years of hard selling, never mind the millions wasted, what are the results, nothing, zilch, zero. Consuming these fake products, the people are getting more agitated, racial divide getting wider, religious intolerance are at its peak and the so call transformation had indeed transformed into something that can tear this nation apart.

Malaysia was once such a nice and peaceful nation but because of leaders peddling fake ideologies for their own gains and benefits are about to destroy it and the people must do something to correct it.

To bring back the original Malaysia, love by all Malaysians and to get rid of all these fake ‘1Malaysia’ thingy et al, you have to make the correct choice comes the 13th GE.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 9:57 am and is filed under
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DAP backs couple’s ‘Anak Malaysia’ bid

By
Debra Chong

June 09, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The DAP pledged today to back Hannah Yeoh and Ramachandran Muniandy all the way to court in their bid to register their newborn child as an “Anak Malaysia” for her official ethnicity.

In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he has directed the party’s legal adviser, Gobind Singh Deo, to represent the interracial couple in court should they decide to pursue the case.

“Forcing Hannah and Ramachandran to choose either Indian or Chinese is repugnant when they just want their child to be known as Malaysian,” Lim said.

“By deliberately forcing us into ethnic boxes BN is not celebrating diversity nor creating a common Malaysian identity, but opportunistically playing divide-and-rule politics,” the Penang chief minister added, criticising the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Subang Jaya state lawmaker Yeoh, 32, and her husband had sparked controversy earlier this week after tweeting their failure to win approval from the National Registration Department (NRD) to register their daughter as “Anak Malaysia” under the category for race.

The NRD issued a statement yesterday explaining it was unable to process the duo’s unorthodox request as policy determined the child’s race follow the parents; leaving Yeoh and Ramachandran two options — Chinese or Indian.

The couple subsequently chose to register their firstborn as Chinese, but said they would appeal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 6:11 pm and is filed under
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If history was written by Interlok author Abdullah Hussain

By
Centre for Policy Initiatives

June 09, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 9 — The Malaysian Insider yesterday (June 8) carried the rather arresting headline “Use Interlok as model for history textbooks, says historian”. The article reported a suggestion by Prof Anthony Milner for “Interlok” to be used as a model for history textbooks. The reasons given are that the novel is “wonderfully inclusive” and “sympathetic” in its narrative and depiction of non-Malays.

Milner, who is with UKM’s International Studies department, categorises “Interlok” as being “a bit of a historical novel” that provides an insight into the lives of the Chinese and Indian communities and their relationship with the Malay community.

The Australian academic is likely unaware that his proposal is every bit as controversial as Abdullah Hussain’s contentious novel. “Interlok” elicited the firestorm it has precisely because its sympathy quotient is no more than if a third-rate author were to attempt to copy Alex Haley’s acclaimed “Roots” (about the origins of the African-Americans) but narrating from a white slave owner’s supremacist point of view.

An analogy would be if Milner — who incidentally has admitted to reading “Interlok” only in its truncated English translation — were to put forward the idea of including “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” in the German school syllabus as a model to teach sympathetic history.

If one were to take Milner at his word, what would a reader derive from the novel regarding the portrayal of Indian and Chinese immigrants historically?

The main Indian character Maniam is a bigamist and irresponsible husband. In fact, “Interlok” prescribes that “Indians are irrational and violent people” [this surmise within quotation marks is made by the blog Hartal MSM which had gotten hold of a classroom lesson plan designed by the Education Ministry’s curriculum development section]. The Hartal posting “When a language lesson isn’t about language” reveals the ministry’s insidious pushing of derogatory racial stereotypes in its study guide worksheet.

If you asked anyone from the Indian community how they view their women, he would not hesitate to say that Indians are the most loyal of wives. Yet Abdullah Hussain depicts Maniam’s first wife as an unfaithful spouse who was “enticed” (ala the Daphne Iking cheating case) by their neighbour. Meanwhile, Maniam’s second wife, whom he abandoned, is described as responding sexually to her rapist who happens to be the mortal enemy of her husband.

Apart from the implausibility of the plot devices, what “Interlok” imposes is the pronouncement of one bigoted Malay author on what he promotes as the ingrained character traits of the Indian and Chinese.

SPM students forced to study the book do not hear the genuine voice of an Indian or a Chinese speaking for himself. Instead the students are hectored that an Indian is such and such, that a Chinese is such and such, and are required to accept Abdullah’s cock-eyed view of them because the officially sanctioned prejudicial lesson plans reinforce his slanders.

Chinese came here as prostitutes

There are no positive role models among the Indian women characters in “Interlok”. Among the Chinese female protagonists, again there is a similar type — the vapid wife of the immigrant is left behind in the homeland by her philandering husband Kim Lock. The other woman in Kim Lock’s life is an opium-addicted prostitute in the north of our peninsula who ultimately hangs herself.

“Interlok” conveys the Chinese race as nothing more than ruthless swindlers, inveterate gamblers and walking, talking sepet caricatures. The Indian community in Abdullah’s selective world is quarrelsome, violent, devious and pariahs.

The Malaysian history curriculum already has enough trouble distinguishing fact from Biro Tata Negara fiction. Therefore, it is surreal to hear a foreign professor seemingly promoting a piece of BTN propaganda to be taught in Malaysian school as history aid or accessory.

Such a line of thought would however align perfectly with Perkasa Professor Ramlah Adam who claimed the Chinese came here only either as a coolie or as an investor. Kim Lock, the immigrant in “Interlok”, was pictured as a manual labourer who pulled a rickshaw and carried nightsoil (shit buckets).

Whether “Interlok” is disguised as something historical, or if immigrant history is otherwise passed off as the epic story of “Interlok”, one cannot escape the unmitigated negative stereotyping of the minorities — made out to be a species of succubus who suck dry the milk and honey of the land. The enduring image sketched by Abdullah Hussain of Chinese town folks is “muka mereka berminyak, semuanya gemuk-gemuk” and of the Indian who is easily emotionally aroused — “[Maniam] sudah mabuk seperti babi gila”.

In the latest episode (remember that we study the past to understand the present and predict the future), the parliamentarian Teresa Kok made a statement that is apposite of the recent “cattle-branding” of Chinese nationals detained in a Penang nightclub for alleged vice. Kok said: “It is sickening that the police would employ such dehumanising tactics as a show of power and moral superiority over their detainees.”

Exactly the same can be said of “Interlok”. The Malay hegemony of the Ministry of Education (including all the public universities, and also the one that Milner is currently a visiting scholar), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Gapena/Pena as well as the government-approved literati dominated by a single race, have together conspired to allow Abdullah Hussain to get away with it.

Like the police who branded the Chinese women with a scarlet letter, the methods of writing employed by the author is similarly dehumanising and a show of power and perceived moral superiority over the immigrant races. The Malay body politic has permitted a biased author to fictionalise an adverse history about two peoples whose ethos he has but a shallow understanding of and whose culture he is little acquainted with.

Blood libel of selling daughters

The worst is how Abdullah makes as if Chinese parents are incapable of loving their female offspring. He also insinuates that it is a cultural norm that they sell their daughters. Can he show a single piece of Chinese literature or any Chinese text of note or authority that proves this as a traditional or common practice of the community?

One would expect Ramlah Adam to endorse Abdullah Hussain but whatever possessed Prof Anthony Milner of Australia to lob his little bombshell?

To be fair to him, those we spoke to who attended Milner’s talk have pointed out that these comments on “Interlok” comprised a very small portion of an extended presentation which also focused on the pitfalls and dangers of an ethno-centric history.

Nonetheless, let’s hope though that Prof Milner realises the potential damage arising from his woefully injudicious and naive endorsement of “Interlok” and comes out quickly with an appropriate clarification. If he fails to do so, he can be sure that the media coverage of his speech — likely to be extensively circulated in Malay and officialdom circles — will be used to justify the further propagation of negative and hateful stereotypes of the non-Malays in the educational system of the country.

Certainly if “Interlok” were to be used as a model to liven up our history textbooks, it would teach a salacious “history” of Indian sluts and Chinese whores.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 6:26 pm and is filed under
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Kit Siang: Cops, MACC must answer RPK claims about dead Customs man

By
Yow Hong Chieh

June 09, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — Both the police and the national anti-graft agency must respond to claims by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin that police found no proof of unusual wealth in the assets of deceased Customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed, Lim Kit Siang said today.

The DAP parliamentary leader said the authorities should not wait for an inquest or a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to confirm or deny the allegations, especially as this was the second mysterious death under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) watch.

Raja Petra, in a post on his Malaysia Today website yesterday, claimed the police had conducted a thorough check on Sarbaini’s assets and found no unusual or extraordinary wealth.

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

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

Raja Petra has also accused MACC of trying to tarnish Sarbaini’s name following his death.

Lim also said today that the Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General should reveal the police probe findings to Sarbaini’s family, who believe there is an attempt to cover-up circumstances surrounding Sarbaini’s death.

“Let the Sarbaini family decide whether they want an inquest or a royal commission of inquiry,” Lim said in a statement.

Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the badminton court of the MACC building in Jalan Cochrane here on April 6 at about 10.20am, barely two hours after walking in.

His death, which occurred while the Teoh Beng Hock RCI was still ongoing, came as a huge blow to the anti-graft body’s already battered credibility.

Teoh, a DAP aide, fell to his death at the then-Selangor MACC office on July 16, 2009. An 18-month inquest returned an open verdict, ruling out both suicide and homicide in Teoh’s death.

The police have recommended an inquest be held for Sarbaini and the A-G has agreed but Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers have criticised the idea, citing Teoh’s case as reason to back their doubts.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 11:26 am and is filed under
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Longing For A Free Mind (Concluding Piece)

By M. Bakri Musa

Q&A (Cont’d) Contemporary Leaders

Q13:    We have leaders who surround themselves with opulence while millions of our citizens are mired in poverty. Should Nik Aziz (leader of the opposition PAS) who lives modestly be the more appropriate model? Further, should a leader sacrifice everything – his career, wealth and family life – for the sake of the nation?

A13:
    Although I do not care for opulence, I have no problem with those who do, including our leaders. In fact I prefer that our leaders be rich. In that way when they assume power they would not look upon that as an opportunity to enrich themselves. Also, the world being what it is, wealth is often a measure of your success and talent, and I want successful and talented leaders. I am here assuming that the wealth is not inherited or acquired though illicit means. I am only against leaders using the public treasury to enrich or indulge themselves. If it is their money I could not care less if they have gold toilet faucets or travel in luxury jets, as with California Governor Schwarzenegger.

            Having said that, the constraint for a busy leader is time; for that reason I have no problem with and indeed encourage our leaders to travel in corporate jets rather than lining up and wasting time at the airport. Now there is a difference between a small corporate jet versus an Airbus of the type that Abdullah Badawi fancied.

            I do not judge a leader by his lifestyle rather by how effective he or she is. Much as I admire Nik Aziz’s piety and modest lifestyle, as a state leader he has failed miserably. Unfortunately it is the people of Kelantan who are paying for that failure. He has been chief minister for decades yet cholera is still endemic in his state. The burden of his leadership failure far outweighs whatever pahla (religious brownie points) he may have accumulated through his piety and modest lifestyle.

            To the second part of your question, no, I do not believe that our leaders should unduly sacrifice everything just to serve us. I am suspicious of leaders who claim to do just that. On the contrary we should pay our leaders well, but not well enough that the monetary rewards become the only goal for serving.

            The Sudanese-born mobile phone entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim established the Ibrahim Prize to reward honest, competent and effective African leaders. The funny thing is that those leaders really do not need the extra generous financial rewards from the prize because their expertise would be widely sought and generously compensated after they retire. The gesture however, is worthy of praise. Unfortunately it would not persuade the likes of Robert Mugabe.

            I also believe in moderation, and I like my leaders to have other interests. It helps broaden their experience and perspective. That can only be good, quite apart from making them more human.

Q14:    You have given us examples of free minds from our legends and history. Can you give us some personal examples?

A14:
    I have been fortunate to have lived in many cultures, had broad-based liberal education, and traveled widely. It would not surprise you to find me to be open-minded. The surprise would be if were to be insular. So my personal examples would not be particularly interesting.

            Instead I will give you examples from my father. Unlike me, he did not go to university, only to the Sultan Idris Teachers’ Training College in Tanjong Malim. He never lived in or experienced a different culture, and had never traveled outside the state where he was born, Negri Sembilan, except for the trip to Tanjong Malim Yet he was remarkably free minded.

            I grew up in the 1950s, a period of intense nationalism, anticipating merdeka, and with that a resurgence of interest in Malay as it would be the national language of our new nation. Malay teachers in particular were at the vanguard of this movement. Tun Razak, the first Minister of Education, had expanded Malay schools to secondary level, with promises of further extension right up to the university level.

            I was enrolled in an English school in the period just before the resurgence of this intense nationalism. My father went through great effort and expense to secure for me a slot in an English school. Soon after, Malay leaders including Tun Razak were exhorting everyone to support our national language by removing their children from English schools and to enroll them into these newly established Malay schools.

            Being Malay school teachers, my parents were subjected to intense peer and community pressures to take my siblings and me out of English school. After all, if Malay teachers did not demonstrate their commitment, who would? As a Malay school teachers however, my parents were only too aware of the limitations of the Malay stream, in particular the lack of textbooks and teachers. So against all odds he resisted those intense social and professional pressures.

            What strengthened my father’s conviction was not that he could tell the future or that he had any particular brilliant insight rather that while Tun Razak and the other leaders were urging Malay parents to send their children to Malay schools, they were quietly sending theirs to English schools. Tun Razak in particular went further; he sent his to schools in England! You could say that my father heard the braying of the donkey (Tun Razak’s children attending schools in England), and ignored the words of the Mullah, including the top Mullah, Tun Razak.

            Many years ago I was visiting my old village and met one of my former kampong mates whose parents had followed our leaders’ advice and taken my friend out of English school. On seeing where I am today, his only comment was that my father was wiser than his!

Q15:    If you were given an opportunity for a private meeting with Prime Minister Najib, what three pieces of advice would you give?

A15:
    Najib has a short attention span so I will offer him only two. Even if I were to give him three, he would forget the third (or first) anyway!

            One is not an advice but merely to elicit from him his vision of Malaysia, and then to inquire what his greatest fear is, politically. The two are related. I think I know what his answer would be to the second part of my question but as to the first, I have no clue. This despite his much-ballyhooed 1Malaysia public relations exercise, and its attendant extravagantly expensive international consultants!

            The greatest fear of Barisan, and thus Najib as its leader, is that it would not regain its traditional two-third majority in the next general election. You know the fate of Najib’s immediate predecessor, Abdullah Badawi, when he failed to deliver in the 2008 elections.

            If that were to be his greatest fear, then I would advice Najib that the most effective way to deal with a fear, as I indicated earlier, is to imagine the worst case possible and then prepare for that eventuality. If things were to turn out less worse, then you would be relieved and have more confidence in tackling the crisis.

            What could be worse than losing the supra-majority? Barisan failing to gain even a simple majority, and with that, the right to rule Malaysia. To add insult to an already unbearable injury, I would have him imagine UMNO winning fewer parliamentary seats than PAS. That would definitely and irreversibly shatter the myth that UMNO is Melayu, and Melayu, UMNO. If that scenario would not be scary enough, then I would add his losing his Pekan seat, as he nearly did in the 1999 elections.

            The next election is due no later than March 8, 2013, so Najib has exactly 768 days from today to prepare for that eventual political catastrophe. Add a day more if there were to be a leap year till then!

            There would be only two choices for Najib. One, knowing that he would lose everything come 2013, he should seize this short opportunity to enrich himself and his family. Then when he would be booted out he could charter a private jet to whisk him and his family out of the country. This unfortunately is the well trodden path followed by many Third World leaders, the latest being the Tunisian leader, soon to be joined by Egypt’s Mubarak. If Najib were to pursue that course, he would of course deserve the wrath and curse of all Malaysians. Worse, that ill feeling would spill over and despoil the fond memories Malaysians have of his late father.

            The other would be to execute his grand vision of a clean, efficient and meritocratic nation, as encapsulated in his 1Malaysia aspiration, and to propel Malays onto the global arena, his so-called glokal Malay agenda. Many, including Najib, have already forgotten that slogan.

            He could do this by getting rid of all those tainted UMNO characters in his cabinet and party. So what if they were to rebel and plot against him; the result would not be any worse than the earlier scenario I painted.

           Then there are those juicy government contracts. Put them out to competitive bidding and invite international bidders. If an American company were to win it, so what? At least the roofs would not leak or collapse. Yes, those pseudo UMNO entrepreneurs would be ticked off, like a hungry bear whose honey jar is suddenly taken away.

            To demonstrate his commitment to meritocracy, visit the top universities of the world and invite those Malaysians there for a private dinner. They might not fall for his cajoling to return but they might just give him some useful advice and brilliant ideas. Who knows, one or two might return. It would be certainly be more productive than meeting a Petronas University flunkee lobbying for a scholarship.

            If Najib were to opt for this second course, he would literally transform Malaysia come 2013. Voters, seeing the tangible results, may well enthusiastically endorse his leadership. If not, then Najib would at least have the satisfaction knowing that he has given his best for Malaysia.

            My second advice to Najib is real one, not merely a question for him. It is also very short: Get rid of your wife from the public arena! [Spontaneous enthusiastic applause!] As you can see, I am not the only one who would like to throw him that advice!

            If Najib’s wife has the itch to involve herself in the affairs of the state (she has certainly given every indication of her itchiness for that), then lobby her husband to nominate her as a candidate in the next election.

[P
resented 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, 9 June 2011, 9:52 am and is filed under
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MCMC: Forced to play bad cop in censorship game?

By
Erna Mahyuni

June 09, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 9 — Tech blog Wirawan Web lived up to its “Internet hero” moniker by turning up evidence of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) directing local ISPs to ban certain sites.

In what looks like a circular sent out by the MCMC to ISPs, a list of file-sharing sites have been targetted including the controversial piratebay.org, warez forum Warez-BB as well as file-sharing site Megaupload.

What I found interesting was the reaction of Malaysians I know on Twitter and other social networking sites; most said they had already known about censorship attempts and/or were unsurprised at MCMC’s actions.

In other words, they placed little store in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s statement that the government was committed to not censoring the Internet.

Cakap tak serupa bikin (Words belying actions), as the saying goes in Bahasa Malaysia.

It’s tragic, really. As citizens we seem to put little store in what our politicians tell us, but don’t we expect politicians to lie to us anyway?

Now, before you go making devils of the MCMC, I suspect they had little choice in the matter. When I was with another Internet news portal, the MCMC had also visited after a “complaint” that had been filed about a video involving not very nice things being done to a cow head.

MCMC has, in fact, very few enforcement officials. Nearly all of them were sent to said news portal to “investigate” the complaint. They were all genuinely nice, polite and very professional. It was also obvious that they didn’t want to be there but were there only because of directives sent from “higher ups.” It all smacked of political interference.

Speaking of interference, how is Malaysia supposed to become a high-income economy when there is so much meddling even where the Internet is concerned? Why have one hand say there will be no Internet censorship while the other hand quietly goes about trying to censor it anyway?

Creativity and innovation do not bloom in highly restrictive environments. That is why you see innovation happening in “freer” nations, unfettered by political interference and the intrusion of ideologies. It is no accident that Facebook, Twitter and the very phenomenon we call the Internet came from the West.

Look at IT’s biggest innovators, who are funnily enough, mostly college dropouts. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell all pursued their ideas instead of chasing paper degrees and where did that get them? Now if an average Asian, heck, even Malaysian university student, announced he or she was quitting school to chase a business idea, the kid would probably get disowned.

That is precisely why nations like China and Iran are doomed to copy ideas instead of generating them. When you rein in free speech and thought, you also constrain creativity and imagination.

So I politely request that the MCMC be left alone and allowed to do its real job instead of being forced to become the Internet police. If we are to become a knowledge economy, then the government would do well to foster that by keeping to its promise — not to censor the Internet.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 6:15 pm and is filed under
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One single school system

By
Kamal Amzan

June 09, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 9 — Why is it so hard to have a single education system?

With all the talk about unity, certain sacrifices must be made. If a unified Malaysia cannot be fostered in this generation, we shouldn’t miss the bandwagon for the next generation.

I’ve said this before, and let me say it again. Let’s start with our divisive schools.

In order to make a single school system successful, the government must build more schools. When we have enough schools to cater for a single session, we can then begin to teach extra languages and cultural studies in the afternoon. Those who claim that the vernacular schools are built as a mean to propagate and preserve their cultures can then be permanently silenced.

Mandarin, Tamil and later on Kadazan, Iban, Bidayuh language lessons, cultural dances, religious studies can then be taught to wanting children in the afternoon, regardless of race and religion, by qualified teachers in the Education Ministry.

Don’t you think this will bring us all together, and at the same time tap the advantages of living in such a colourful, culturally rich country? Don’t you think our children will be the world’s envy for being able to speak, understand, tolerate and embrace and live in such diversity?

I think so.

And should the Education Ministry muster the strength to carry out such a reform, they must consciously allocate students and teachers in each school to ensure a balance, well proportionate representation of society. Apart from that, they must have the will and courage to oppose and deter bigotry in all forms. Administrators, teaching staff or students who are caught inciting racism must be dealt and punished severely to serve as a reminder, and then publicised as a deterrent to the rest.

Do we have any good reason to not have such an education system? Anyone?

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration came up with the idea of a vision school, multiple ethnic schools in a single compound, sharing amenities i.e. football field, a hall and a canteen, but this was opposed by some chauvinistic NGOs who in my opinion have no business in multiracial Malaysia.

The Vision School was a good step forward, but the government lacked the will or b*lls to implement it. The government bowed down to myopic demands, and has not proposed anything similar since despite the 1 Malaysia hullabaloo.

Uniting a country takes more than just mere slogans. It takes more than just building shopping malls overseas and labelling buses and trains declaring the superficial reality of a united Malaysia.

It needs sacrifices by all segments of society. The Malays must be prepared to lose the MRSMs, the Chinese their SRJKCs, and the Indians SRJKTs. We must all lose for our children to win, and the nation to prosper and build on our differences instead of antagonising each other.

The government, the opposition and respective NGOs should sit down and draw lines that they should toe, and members do not cross at all cost. Those who do, well, we have ISA don’t we? Those who incite disunity and hatred should be treated as traitors to the nation and dealt with accordingly.

It takes guts, courage and political will to carry such a reform. We need visionary leaders and not those who cannot see past skin colour to lead this country. They need to make tough, painful, unpopular but necessary decisions in the name of national interest, instead of opting for popular political decisions that bring temporary happiness to a very selected, bigoted few.

Believe it or not ladies and gentlemen, there is no way we can advance this nation, grow its economy, significantly prosper and impact on the world stage without unity, no matter what the politicians say.

Let’s start with our children who were born without prejudice, and colour blind towards all mankind.

Together, we can chart a new beginning for a better Malaysia.

I offer no apology for saying all this and more.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 11:19 am and is filed under
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Poor command of English affects job chances

By
Teoh El Sen

June 9, 2011  | Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians will be at a “slight disadvantage” in the competive global environment because of their poor command of English, said Jobstreet.com.

The online recruitment company recently placed Malaysia, behind Singapore and the Philippines in an English Language assessment test conducted in Asian countries.

“We are not that far off in the ranking but the third place does mean that we do have a slight disadvantage when we compete globally for businesses,” said JobStreet.com country manager Chook Yuh Yng.

Chook said there was a need to appreciate the importance of English proficiency as English is recognised as the international business language.

“Proficiency in English influences one’s ability to communicate effectively, and to articulate ideas and solutions well. It also affects self-confidencethe , ability to work in a team and excel, and so on,” said Chook.

“In a 2009 survey with employers, we found that lack of proficiency in English is also the one of the top three reasons for the unemployment rate among graduates,” said Chook.

She said that in a 2009 survey, 91% of companies surveyed said that English was their official business language.

She added that the lack of English proficiency was a “worrying trend” as the ability to communicate is among the five main criteria employers look for in job applicants.”

The JobStreet.com English language assessment test was conducted from November 2009 on 1.5 million workers in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. The test comprised 40 questions to evaluate an individual’s grasp of the language.

It had ranked Singaporeans first, Filipinos second, while Malaysians came in third. Thailand and Indonesia came in fourth and fifth respectively.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 6:29 pm and is filed under
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Reveal police probe into Sarbaini’s death at MACC before any inquest is decided upon

The Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail and the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar should accede to the most reasonable request of Sarbaini’s family that police reveal its  probe into the senior custom officer Ahmad Sarbaini’s death at MACC premises at Jalan Cochrane on April 6 before any inquest is decided upon.

In this connection, both the police and the MACC owe the Sarbaini family and the Malaysian public a response and explanation on the revelation by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin that the police had conducted a thorough check on Ahmad Sarbaini’s assets and found no “unusual or extraordinary” wealth.

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

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

Justice and public interests demand that the police and the MACC should come forward to confirm or deny these revelations about Sarbaini’s assets without having to wait for an inquest or a Royal Commission of Inquiry to be held – especially as this is the second MACC death after the mysterious death of Teoh Beng Hock at MACC headquarters in Shah Alam exactly two years ago come July 16.

Let the Sarbaini family decide whether they want an inquest or a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

I will meet and discuss with Sarbaini’s family on the second MACC death in less than two years of the establishment of MACC to replace the Anti-Corruption Agency.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 9:38 am and is filed under
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