Huge institutional reforms are required to create competence. Without that, an uncaged parrot can be as bad as a caged one.

Neither the courts, NGOs nor the politicians seem to care. A profusion of new rules and regulations are constantly churned out without any cost-benefit exercise to judge the impact on competitiveness.Yet this damning expose of our uncompetitiveness produces no political will to change. We have a deep structural problem that is not even recognized, let alone redressed. Will have to go bust again to concentrate the minds of politicians?For years I have demanded faster, stronger action against crooked politicians and businessmen.

A Kadir Jasin  screamed “Where did RM7.2bil in consultancy fees go to?” Ask any Malaysians, they would chorus, “In the pockets of middlemen as commissions.”How I wish the government of Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak acts equally swiftly and decisively on the plights of the rakyat, like the plan by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to hike assessment rates by as much as 200% or the spike in deadly shootings around the country.A nation that has forgotten about competing Because the new measures do not change the political mind-set of constantly ignoring competitiveness in formulating new policies and regulations. Politicians take competitiveness for granted, and just want to divide up the spoils of growth. Alas, neglect of competitiveness has meant a collapse of growth, and hence of the spoils too. In his  “dream budget”, Najib declared Malaysia would steadily reduce its import duties to ASEAN levels. This aimed to make Malaysia competitive with the Asian tigers, not just in tax rates but everything else, converting Malaysia into the next tiger. This actually happened. But instead of recognizing this as a lesson for future policy, the Najib government took fast growth for granted and stopped trying to compete. With this, the Najib’s credibility lies shredded. It seems not to know the difference between crime and bona fide use of ministerial discretion; between policy decisions and corruption; or between good governance and wooden adherence to bureaucratic norms. It has produced no evidence of bribe or other favours in return for favours. So, its accusations sound more a hurried witch hunt than a search for justice.

 ‘Where did RM7.2bil in consultancy fees go to? Ask any Malaysians, they would chorus, ‘In the pockets of middlemen as commissions.’Just from the list provided, it looks the setting up of the Performance and Management Delivery Unit (Pemandu) takes the bulk of the consultancy fees.

Poor Bumiputera will resort to theft, minister Nancy Shukri said today in her defence of the government’s recent move to reintroduce a race-preferential economic policy that has drawn the ire of Malaysia’s minority Chinese and Indian communities. The de facto law minister told a public forum on international covenants organised by the Malaysian Bar here that the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Policy was needed to help fix the unequal wealth distribution among the races that remains prevalent half a century after the country was formed, and which she claimed could lead to a potential spurt in social ills and crime. “As a politician now, I understand why there is a Bumiputera new economic policy… The Bumiputera, they are very marginalised in terms of economy. They’re very much lower than other groups. – See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/bumiputera-will-steal-if-left-unaided-says-law-minister#sthash.KucPQWkK.dpuf

The RM51.5 million is computed from the following companies, excluding some with cost unknown – they include McKinsey and Co, Hay Group, Ethos & Co, Alpha Platform (M) Sdn Bhd, Tarmidizi, Boston Consulting Group, Provectis and Vision Technology Computing.

These were only initial setting-up cost but to include the running, maintaining and the advertising cost that Pemandu took would be in billions. No wonder unelected Minister in PM’s Department Idris Jala, who also acted as CEO of the unit, defended and self-praised their department.

Pemandu sets KPI (key performance indicators) for other departments but have they set and achieved their own KPI?

Maybe Najib feels pressured to do something quickly by the Supreme  council activism. Recently, Mahathir said the government of turning the  Finance Ministry into a “caged parrot” in the  scam. Many people, including me, cheered  determination to prevent cover-ups for which the MCCA has in the past been notorious the pace of inquiry is not good. You are still driving in the first gear.” The voters wanted investigations in the scam completed.

more shocking is the revelation by the Finance Ministry that the Federal government had spent RM7.2 billion since 2009 to hire private consultants for national projects.

It is clear that Mohd Najib as PM and Finance Minister loves private consultants despite the government having a whopping 1.4 million staff. This is not counting his special envoys and special advisers with ministerial status.

In response to question by the DAP MP for Kelana Jaya, Wong Chen, the ministry revealed a gradual rise in the bills for private consultancy firms from RM1.3 billion in 2009 — the year Mohd Najib became PM — to RM1.63 billion in 2010, RM1.8 billion in 2011, RM1.82 billion in 2012 and RM722 million from January to October this year.

In a damning indictment of the civil servants, the Finance Ministry said: “The capabilities of government researchers are limited in terms of their competency and human resources.”

If they are not good, sack them or train them. What’s the point of having a million over civil servants and paying them better salaries if Mohd Najib has to rely on outsiders and foreigners? Actually we can get free consultancy from such multilateral organisation as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank if we want to.

As a footnote, I congratulate a former BN MP, who now chairs a statutory body, for telling two Ministers –Mustapha Mohamed and Idris Jala – in a meeting with journalists a few days ago to stop hiring foreign consultants. I would not ask if he dares saying that if he was still an MP.– kadirjasin.blogspot.com,

Democracy is as depressing in practice as it is uplifting in theory. There have been so many corruption scandals in the past few years but political parties refuse to learn are back to their crooked old way

UMNO, on its part, is trying to keep up a brave façade though it is imploding internally. Mistakes of a few UMNO leaders can cost a lot of others their careers. The party campaign lacks strategy and its key leaders speak in arrogant, defensive tones. Not once have any of them admitted, “Yes, we have made mistakes. Malay politics has changed, UMNO need to change too.No,UMNO won’t say it because deep down, apart from a few MPs, most believe they do not need to change. They think the advisors, naysayers, Facebookers, Tweeters, investment banks and media-editors are simply ‘out to get them’. They believe real Malays is still with UMNO, and only the noisy upper class buzzes around like irritating mosquitoes. Enough chamchas exist to endorse this view. Hence all good advice is ignored. Internal or external suggestions will be met with “you new-age types don’t know politics” or “we know how to win elections, so shut up”.

Too simplistic, Ms. Shukri.Malays are not stupid. BN policies make them feel that they are inferior and must rely on government for their sustenance. NEP must be replaced by policies that can help to build a resilient, rugged and competitive Bumiputra community, not one dependent on handouts from a corrupt regime.

Let us start by giving them good education to enable to think and fend for themselves. UMNO  Baru leaders must not be afraid of smart thinking bumiputras. We have enough of corrupt elite rule in this country. These bumiputras can be tapped for leadership roles in government service, business and research  and policy making and execution so that we do not have to dish out RM7.2 billion in consultancy fees to private consulting firms. Meritocracy is the way forward because competition strengthens a people and makes them proud of themselves.

With smart Malays around, we would not be talking about Blue Ocean strategy without understanding what that means and what it takes to put such a strategy into practice. Ms. Shukri should look at herself first before insulting the rest of us. Otherwise, she would not be elected in GE-14

Yes, UMNO leadership is in denial. Sadly it is expected to remain so until after the 2018 elections. Maybe a jolt in the results remains the only hope for the party to undertake long overdue reforms.

For the RM7.2bilmoney that government has given in consultancy fees,The RM51.5 million is computed from the following companies, excluding some with cost unknown – they include McKinsey and Co, Hay Group, Ethos & Co, Alpha Platform (M) Sdn Bhd, Tarmidizi, Boston Consulting Group, Provectis and Vision Technology Computing.

These were only initial setting-up cost but to include the running, maintaining and the advertising cost that Pemandu took would be in billions. No wonder unelected Minister in PM’s Department Idris Jala, who also acted as CEO of the unit, defended and self-praised their department.we have done much more,”Mahathir retorted, when a reporter asked if he felt that in the country.Seriously, I think it is time to get tough with people like Pemandu chief Idris Jala. His greatest achievement is to spend government’s money lavishly on glossy consultant reports that no one reads, understands and implements.

If this is the case, then any idiot too can be prime minister, even a three-year old kid. Just put her in the PM’s Office’s nice cushy chair, and hire a bunch of consultants to do the real work.. Why the hell these idiots these unelected Minister is a mere waste of good money. The RM7.2 billion is used to pay for producing reports only. have given so little for us. Inspite of that we voters have done something,” losing his cool.Whatever that is recommended by these foreign consultants won’t be carried out because the ideas in those blueprints and what not are just way too sophisticated for the Malaysian minds and thus many of these plans fall flat.A good example is the education blueprint. The people in the ministry and the teachers in general, including many school administrators, don’t understand two hoots what it’s talking about.

Barisan Nasional (BN) ministers must think the bumiputras are stupid and not worthy of respect. Nancy Shukri, the de facto Law Minister, said that she defended pro-bumiputra policies because without them, social problems would be created when bumis, who are lagging behind, would resort to theft when they have no money.

First. She insults bumiputras by insinuating that they have no self-respect or dignity, and have no compunction about stealing.

Second. Despite their vast wealth, ministers and their family, friends and cronies of UMNO Baru and BN politicians, allegedly steal from the rakyat, everyday.

Scandals, all with political links, have been quietly swept under the carpet. They range from the Bank Bumiputra fiasco to the bail-out of companies belonging to the sons and daughters of politicians. Farmers were deprived when money intended to expand the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) was diverted. In 1974, news of the Baling hunger strikes, when Malay farmers were struggling to feed their families, was censored.

Nancy (left), who is also a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, casually labels poor bumiputras as potential thieves. In the past, her peers also branded bumis as lazy, stupid and ignorant.

Last month, this government inadvertently said that Malays were easily confused, when a court ruling decided that the word ‘Allah’ could not be used by non-Muslims. It appears that the qualities which define the proud Ketuanan Melayu man are stupidity, arrogance, a state of confusion, laziness, ignorance and a propensity towards criminality.

Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards,” says an epitaph from the philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. It rightly belongs on the grave of this dying Barisan government that has destroyed our economy, with the traumatic collapse of On the Judiciary and Lawyers  its latest achievement. The epitaph reminds us that we must not ignore history if we want to lead a reasonably predictable life in the future.One of the greatest lessons of history is that only an industrial revolution can make  nation prosperous. Every country has done it this way. Only thus can a nation hope to provide jobs for the millions of young people.The key lies with decent individuals to move out of the dogged pursuit of material comfort and engage with politics. The right place to begin is one’s neighbourhood. When public spirited individuals engage in the community they help create new ‘habits of the heart’ in society. This was the great insight of Alexis de Tocqueville who wrote, Democracy in America, perhaps the best book on democracy. What impressed Tocqueville about Americans almost 200 years ago is that they were ‘joiners’ and engaged in volunteer activities for a few hours a week. By joining local clubs and social activities, they connected with neighbours. And when neighbours meet, what do they talk about? They discuss the condition of the roads, the schools, garbage collection and so on. Thus, civic life and ‘citizen’ are born.

he celebration held by the Tourism and Culture Ministry was attended by Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel who is also MIC President, Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Aziz.

Najib said cooperation among people of various races would ensure a better quality of life for the present and next generations.

Nambikei or Tembikai, Najib?

“If the strength of an elephant lies in ‘thumbikei’ or trunk, the strength of a man lies in ‘nambikei’ or trust,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the government was committed in fulfilling the pledge made in the 13th general election manifesto to improve the well-being of the Indian community. He said this could be clearly seen through a number of initiatives such as an additional allocation of RM50 million for Tamil school infrastructure announced in the 2014 Budget.

Najib said RM100 million was also allocated to improve Tamil schools performance and provide skills training for Indian youths as well as a RM50 million fund for the Indian Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) under Tekun Nasional and loans under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

Special attention given

He said many areas in the life of the Indian community were given special attention through various innovative approaches to bring about a positive change to the community.

“For example, from 2009 to 2013, the government has allocated RM560 million for Tamil schools infrastructure development nationwide.

“I am very impressed when informed of the Tamil Schools Future Action Plan that for the past five years the achievement gap among SJKT (Tamil schools) was reduced by 50 percent while the gap between SJKT and national schools is now less than four per cent,” he said.

He said the UPSR National Average Grade for SJKT increased from 2.58 in 2010 to 2.44 in 2011 with similar trends seen in Mathematics achievement from 92.5 percent in 2011 to 94.1 per cent last year while Science achievement rose to 87.6 percent in 2012.

On entrepreneurship, he said until October this year, more than 19,000 Indian entrepreneurs had received financial assistance amounting to RM227 million, including about 11,000 from Tekun loans amounting to RM137.3 million since SPUMI was established in 2008.

Meanwhile, about 30,000 people of various races attended the celebration which was arrayed with cultural events depicting the multi-racial society in the spirit of 1Malaysia as well as a tourism product.

Kumpulan Artis Kebudayaan Johor waxed the floor with a welcome dance followed by Temple Five Arts Troupe gyrated with Indian traditional dances before revellers were vowed by Permata Seni Tari children.

In the spirit of Deepavali, Najib completed the ‘kolam’ pattern.The Deepavali celebration started at 2.30pm with various activities such as Indian music, dance performances and a demonstration on ‘bunga malai’ or flower arrangement.

Various traditional Indian food and delicacies such as muruku, masalavadei, laddu, putu mayam and tosei were served to visitors including MegaFam participants from Singapore and China.

 ’wow’ moment why is it that the associates of Mahathiri get nailed every time but Mahathir gets off scot-free?

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, urging prime minister Najib to end his political career 

Najib should resign as Prime Minister and devote himself full time to party work. This is the only way that the UMNO–which is going downhill – can rejuvenate itself. Popular wisdom is that in the 2018 general elections Barisan weighed down by the anti -incumbency impact of  Mahathir will be booted out of power.Since the anti-incumbency is expected to be demonstrated by the electorate in the form of a vote against rising corruption, Najib can play a great role in warding off this impact.

I will go empty-handed from this world, but the pain of not being able to attain freedom for the country will accompany me,
being a Muslim, I cannot think about rebirth,
But in case I am able to find Allah,
In place of heaven, I will beg rebirth.

“Just as the cult of patriotism teaches us today that the individual has to die for the family, the family has to die for the village, the village for the district, the district for the province, and the province for the country, even so country has to be free in order that it may die, if necessary, for the benefit of the world… There is no room for race hatred there. Let that be our nationalism… It is impossible for one to be internationalist without being a nationalist… It is not nationalism that is evil, it is the narrowness, selfishness, exclusiveness which is the bane of modern nations which is evil. Each wants to profit at the expense of, and rise on the ruin of, the other. Indian nationalism has struck a different path. It wants to organize itself or to find full self-expression for the benefit and service of humanity at large.”
Even if we are not able to follow all these in their entirety, we can at least take a few steps towards them. That will be enough to get rid of fake nationalists and pseudo secularists.

Isu perkauman digunakan oleh sesetengah ahli politik di Malaysia bagi melindungi kegiatan rasuah yang dilakukan pemimpin terbabit, kata bekas Naib Canselor Universiti Malaya Tan Sri Dr Ghauth Jasmon (gambar).

Beliau berkata isu perkauman juga dimainkan bagi melindungi salah laku selain mengelak mereka yang terlibat daripada dituduh atas aktiviti tidak bermoral itu.

“Jika negara dipenuhi dengan pemimpin rasuah, mereka akan menggunakan isu perkauman untuk melindungi kesalahan bagi menarik perhatian.

“Adalah penting kita memisahkan manusia dengan politik. Di Malaysia, kita selalu diingatkan oleh ahli politik tentang masalah perkauman malah terdapat juga kumpulan tertentu yang menyokong isu tersebut,” katanya semasa ucaptama Persidangan Asia Barat dan Afrika 2013 di Kuala Lumpur hari ini

Pak Samad ,said Mahathir had mastered the art of doublespeak. It was not that they did not know what has happening that Mahathir’s attitude of always commenting on issues could be construed as criticising but without any concrete backing. unfortunate part of using the language of ‘us’ and ‘them ‘is that it leads to deterioration of relations between communities leading in some places even to riots. Therefore it would not be a matter of surprise if the communal situation in the country deteriorates the `fake nationalists’ led by Mahathir.However, people, particularly the privileged class, are also to be blamed for the mess because they have allowed themselves to be swayed by the politicians who have distorted the meaning of the terms like , Hinduism, Islam, secularism, patriotism and nationalism to suit their vested interests. All of us are unaware of the real meaning of these terms which played crucial role in country’s freedom struggle and shaping the idea of Malaysia Today, fake nationalists are emulating Hitler (hate and racial supremacy) and pseudo secularist the British (divide and rule). Both have forgotten the philosophy of greats Nationalism can be best understood

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”

There has been clear evidences in this high profile and wide-connected corruption case that procecution and members involved ( includingsome witnesses) had been closely connected in their political life. It surprised no one that such a weak procecution could stand the scrunity of the court. In this boleh-land, almost all politically connected corruption cases were thrown out by the court judges on ground of insufficinet evidences. If procecution team is not willing and serious, no concrete evidence and cases could be put up for the court. It is always the easy way out besides wasting taxpayer’s money in trying in court.the most important question and issue was never tabled and discussed in court by the AG. I have written about this before. The Cabinet Paper which approved the PKFZ was NEVER declassified and tabled in Court; why not? Only that would have defined the parameters of the project and conditions attached, including the calculation of selling price. When those were not submitted; the ex-Ministers look rather legitimate; and, the truth still lies untold Pun intended! Stop further selective lying! Tun Ling is a friend, but truth has not been served in this case!

This stratagem of Machiavellian Mahathir  politics can have many variants and be described in many other ways: the principle of Barisan-government, the halo of sacrifice, the backseat driver, or the remote control principle. However, in simple terms they all amount to having the cake and eating it too.Some skeletons refuse to remain locked in a closet, no matter how firmly we shut the door.Nancy Shukri,Malaysians are not fools like you,please tell your stories to the rural Malays in Sarawak.Bumiputras who are poor will end up robbing others,what a half-past six Cabinet Minister we have. Nancy. Is interest charges the only issue faced by PKFZ? Is Dr. Ling the only person liable to be charged? Is there no one else? Why charge Dr. Ling for cheating the Cabinet? Why not charge the whole Cabinet for cheating? What about the bond guaranteed letters issued by MOT? Who said these letter are good when the Financial Procedure Act clearly stated this is not? The AG should not appeal the PKFTZ scandal at this time but to wait for Pakatan Rakyat to take over the country after the 2018 GE after doing away with the first past the goal-post idiotic system.The verdict to discharge the rot starts from the fish-head ex-MCA President was expected when the Mamak ex-PM told the court that he was not cheated by the former Minister of Transport. What do you expect from those birds of the same feathers,they flock,Why not appoints Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as a prosecutor to appeal the case. At least it shows that the government is sincere in wanting to bring the culprit to book.That decision not to appeal reflects, exhibits out govt. approach, policy to fight corruption, abuses, incompetency on the part of the AG’s Chamber, perhaps intentionally incompetent. Our leaders, our institutions! tell us you  Nancy have experts You saved us time and money. Next excuse please, Nancy.looking at the case we want to know what these so called  remote control principle”experts” saw that made an appeal untenable. You are giving excuses

Recently, Dr Mahathir called on the government to bring back the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English policy (PPSMI), saying that the decision to reverse an earlier decision was made because Putrajaya had heeded Pak Samad’s advice.

Dr Mahathir  had also said that Samad was only a scholar, who was an expert in the Malay language but did not have any expertise in science.

Citing himself as example,  Dr Mahathir said he was an expert in science and English and could also communicate in Malay.

Samad, however, countered that Dr Mahathir’s actions today were motivated by the desire that his son, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, would assume the country’s top leadership one day.

“We know that he wants to ensure that Mukhriz continues his legacy. That is fine, but at least do it the correct way. We know leaders make leaders, but it has to be done in an honest and sincere manner.

“If you look at Mukhriz, all the characteristics are there. There is a big chance that Mukhriz would lead the country one day but let it be on a proper platform and not by finding fault with others. His time will come because he has good characteristics,” said Samad.

The Bersih 2.0 co-chair added that the time has come for Dr Mahathir to stop interfering in the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and to allow the Cabinet to chart the country’s future, free from any interference.

“He should stick to bigger international issues, as for internal issues, leave them to government leaders.”

Samad also described Dr Mahathir as someone who liked to cause conflict, targeting local leaders.

“Try to name one leader whom Dr Mahathir has not fought with. He has fought with Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“It can’t be that everyone else is always wrong, they would have been right at some point. Also because the press entertains him, that gets him more excited.”

In August, Dr Mahathir, when answering criticism in the book Awakening:The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia, had said that the Barisan Nasional government led by Abdullah in 2008 was a rich one but the people still voted the opposition.

Although Abdullah saved billions of ringgit, voters still delivered five states to the opposition and BN lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Even by the outrightly chauvinistic standards of a male-dominated, patriarchal society like ours, the Supreme Court ruling that a husband and his relatives cannot be prosecuted for cruelty towards the wife merely because they had kicked her, takes the cake! What is the idea of, on the one hand incorporating clauses like 498(A) in the Indian Penal Code (dealing with cases of cruelty against women) and enacting laws like Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 if our judges, and that too from none other than the apex court of the country, condone such barbaric acts, on the other?Women, the only way you can free yourselves from the clutches of a male dominated,chauvinistic, archaic society in which Manu’s words are law is economic independence.The Indian women must learn a lesson from their western conterparts.Burning bras was a symbolic burning of the shackles that have long imprisoned women.We can only plead temporary insanity on the behalf of our honourable judges of the supreme court.

“The wife who engaged herself in (an) adulterous relationship with a man … cannot claim maintenance and cannot be allowed to take advantage of her own wrongdoings,” the court said while accepting the 40-year-old husband’s plea seeking divorce on grounds of cruelty and adultery. A local court on Friday rejected a 38-year-old South Mumbai woman’s plea for maintenance from her estranged husband after it found she was involved in an adulterousrelationship.

The couple were married in 1999 and have 12-year-old son. The husband ran a business at Nana Chowk and used to return home after 10pm. In his petition, he alleged that when he returned home early one day in November 2005, he found his child alone at home. The husband alleged that he repeatedly made attempts to contact his wife on the phone, but it was switched off. When she finally returned home at 7.45pm, she gave evasive answers and claimed to have met a woman friend. However, when the husband inquired with the friend, she denied she had met his wife.

The man claimed the woman confessed the next day and told him she had gone out with her neighbour to a hotel. He said he also got to know that the man had visited the house in his absence, and residents had seen his wife with him.

The husband filed the divorce petition in December 2005.

Both the wife and the man against whom her husband had levelled allegations denied having an affair. The woman claimed she was forced to write the confession statement. She accused her father-in-law, stepmother-in-law and sisters-in-law of harassing her for dowry and forced her to leave the home.

The court observed that the woman could have easily complained to police and her parents about being forced to write it once she was at her parents’ home. In the absence of such complaints, the court said her version was not believable. The husband had also produced a picture of the woman and the alleged lover along with his child, shot outside the city.

The court also pointed out that the child looked comfortable in the presence of the man, and this showed the extra-marital relationship had been a long affair.

The court also accepted the evidence of two residents of the building who supported the husband’s claims. Granting the divorce, the court said: “The husband cannot be asked to continue his marital relations with his wife who has breached the marital trust between husband and wife.”

Rosmah is an unusual politician. Perhaps even her worst critics might grant her that  her speech to business leaders to deliver a keynote address at the 4th Qatar International Business Women Forum in Doha, has been written about and discussed by many, in part because this was first time he engaged with this constituency but also because of what he said. Instead of addressing issues of direct interest to business, he chose to focus on his diagnosis of what was needed in a larger sense- linking aspiration with empowerment, and making the case yet again for real inclusion.Whatever Rosmahi’s flaws might be, to label him as a generic dynasty is to do him disservice. Those that rail against his student-like approach to the world and equate that with dimness and political naivete forget that it is the easiest thing in the world to speak like a politician or indeed like an industry leader. If indeed as is widely alleged on social media,Rosmah is incapable of articulating her own thoughts and merely reads out other people’s ideas, then for her to mouth the usual platitudes about growth, development and inclusiveness would take very little. Other products of political dynasties do this with great smoothness, we see them slip into their legacies noiselessly, gradually filling out their allotted spaces with increasingly greater conviction that is laced with ever slicker patter.

The  battle in 2014 is not only about who will run the country but about where the country heading today and what drives its voters. The difference in not merely in strategy but in the reading of how much  UMNOI  has changed and an understanding of how elections work in this country.When we go out of our way to create this inequality in the first place in other realms of life. In some ways,our excessive regard for Rosmah is the reason why  there are no limits to the power enjoyed by the political class. It is true that all power need not manifest itself through formal channels alone, indeed it is inevitable that a degree of extra-official power will always be exercised in any structure.There are several examples of the love for informal power and this transcends the political class that we love to hate.In Rosmah ’s case, this was seen  in the manner in which using a government jet  Clearly judging from Pengerang MP Azalina Othman’s statement, the said event was not a state affair. If the wife of a prime minister gets the invitation, I am sure she can attend it on her personal capacity and pay for her expenses, just like any international traveller. But this is not the case. As always, half-baked Third World politicians and their equally half-baked halves would want to impress people in the First World by the trappings of the West. Then Rosmah and gang needs five star hotels, fine foods and private jet to shore up their handicapped conditions. Lee Kuan Yew observed the same phenomenon a long time ago. On his way home from London to Singapore, he saw row after row of gleaming private jets used by African politicians to ferry them around, while Lee had to catch up a commercial flight home. Perhaps Third World people are gullible, and easily fooled by their politicians and their wives. we see as special are accorded the status of being above rules. The powerful earn the right to break rules, even if, as in the politicians, their job might be to make and enforce these very rules. We cannot condemn political dynasties as being undemocratic..what’s new? they have ‘justified’ everything from altantuya, tbh, pkfz, cowgate, etc………the same guys are in still power and in-charge. surprising? that’s why malaysia is heading for the abyss and pitifully, innocent malaysians are really going to suffer from this bunch of immoral, shameless, gutless,

But when this informal power is accorded official and institutional sanction, and this is done with a degree of unsolicited eagerness, that we have to ask as to whether we deserve the leadership we have.Although on surface the  cases seem to be very different in terms of scale and implications, they  reveal something familiar and unsettling. In  cases, what is unmistakable is the legitimacy that informal power Rosmah enjoys Accompanying her were Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who is special adviser to the prime minister on women entrepreneurs and professionals; Datin Seri Siti Rubiah Datuk Abdul Samad, wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman; Datin Seri Khamarzan Ahmad Meah, wife of International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; and Datin Seri Che Kamariah Zakaria, wife of Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

If Sharizat was found guilty in the cowgate incident, is Rosmah’s abuse of power any different? Now Najib must explain his role in this incident.This DPM spends the rakyats’ money like his own. No accountability and integrity. He does not know simple arithmetic; value of money. Remember, he allocated RM1m for a school with only 15 students. This incident is so apparent, that he used rakyats’ money to polish his BOSS’s apple. Maybe he could not get near to his BOSS, so he thought this would be an easier way. If this is the caliber of DPM, what caliber are the rest of the cabinet members, who sat in the meeting and allowed it to be approved? They too are parties to the approval and polishing their BOSSES’ apples. This is the type of leaders we are going to have G14. Don’t blame ROSMAH but the person who approved it..If she was invited in her personal capacity, why should the rakyat bear the burden of expenses for the trip. In what capacity or under what category does this expense come under for the cabinet under DPM Muhyiddin to authorise use of public money for an unelected person? If PM had gone along on the same trip, then it will be considered ok. but what is the rationale when Rosmah had gone alone. Minutes of meeting can be rewritten with DPM as chairing the meeting since no requirement to file such minutes with a third party.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (pic, right) has once again come to the aid of the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, saying miracles do happen. And I am not talking of those that ‘God moves in mysterious ways…to perform’ because those do not need vouching for, they are truths which brook no argument. What I am saying is that WE—mere mortals—also work miracles! Yes we do, (or at least we can and definitely should)—without even realizing it! Wow, that is a momentous thought! We can all be conscientious miracle-worker like Rosmah Mansor , and it doesn’t take much effort either. Are you game?Each one of us has a self-image, flattering or otherwise; and we also have a degree of self-worth which is either reinforced, boosted or battered in our interactions with others. Agreed?

Now then, just hark back to the last occasion when you werepraised/appreciated/thanked for something you had said or done…strategy is about concentrating resources on a few fronts, intensifying the aura around an individual and hoping to cross the line with one big push. The first lady nature of her campaign has been widely commented upon, and noticeable as this approach makes her on media, it is a hugely risky bet to take.Opposition politicians earlier criticised the usage of the government jet, claiming it was an abuse of power, which Shahidan revealed was approved by the Cabinet.for sure that you would say it is state secret. However for the sake of clearing the PM’s name don’t you think it is better to clear the air by releasing the document? That been said, legality aside, it is still morally wrong for the government to use our taxpayers’ money to hire a private jet for an unelected member of the public to attend a conference. And she is said to be not representing the government in this women’s summit in Qatar. Just a little doubt, Azalina, with or without permission, may be dropping DPM’s name to help Najib. If it is then Najib owes his deputy one favour.In fact investors are afraid of a country that does not have a leader who has no honour and dignity. If there is a business dispute or problem face by the foreign investor, is Shahidan implied that Rosmah will come to their aid? If she is an asset to our nation why didn’t she come forward to help those London investors who were cheated by the local? no other first lady in the region gets the prominence she gets. That’s because no other first lady in the region travels in her personal capacity using taxpayer-funded government private jets.In effect Rosmah has placed herself at an existential cul-de-sac. Her is in a position to try and change things with her ideas, but only because of the power she derives as Prime Minister’s 2nd wife –a thought that violates the core of the very ideas that shown a thought that violates the core of the very ideas that she calls his own. The paradox is inescapable-according to her  own framework, she has earned the rights she has illegitimately, and therefore everything that follows cannot be put into practice. She has convinced  herself without genuine democratisation, all other questions are ‘smoke’ or ‘irrelevant’, and hence need not be engaged with. He rejects the idea of leadership itself in an attempt to efface the power that is her for the asking, at least till 2018. Rosmah thus stands perennially on the outside, looking in, disowning all that she led to her leadership, and shying away from any action that is enabled by the illegitimacy of her position,disembodied voice in the UMNO’ head, tentatively issuing abstract conceptual constructs while party tries to make its way forward in an increasingly hostile political landscape. The fatal flaw in ROSMAH’s argument is the existence of Najib and because he is only too aware of this, his leadership is almost by definition, a non-starter.

BEAST IN OUR MIDST

Rosmah Mansor’s controversial trip to Qatar last week using the government-funded jet has caused an uproar, but news reports and photographs on her website show it had been four busy days for the prime minister’s wife’s entourage.

Sometimes, a purer, deeper, more truthful script emerges from the one that has been carefully written and blows us away.Kadir said Rosmah’s actions were open to debate by everyone as Malaysia is a democracy.But if our past was so great, if our leaders were so wonderful, our culture was so rich, how come we are in such a mess today? How come every time we boast about our achievements, we only wallow in shallow nostalgia? We are constantly copying others or ourselves. All Malays have one simple question today of their leaders: How are you going to set the future right? No one wants to answer that. Except MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman  who has come out with an erudite solution,

Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, the public debt should be reduced and the arrogance of public officials should be controlled.With allegations ranging from diamond rings to black magic, Rosmah Mansor has always hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons. Behind closed doors, even BN leaders murmur in protest of her being an albatross around her husband Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the ruling coalition’s necks. Stupidity combined with arrogance and a huge ego will get you a long way.
This admission by Azalina that it’s on a personal capacity makes it even worse as far as abuse of power is concerned.’ This admission by Pengerang MP Azalina Othman – that PM’s wife Rosmah Mansor’s trip to Qatar was on a personal capacity – makes it even worse as far as abuse of power is concerned.If it’s personal, why use public’s money and the government-funded private jet? Use your own money.Azalina, as a qualified lawyer, is smart enough to see the potential danger of PM having conflict of interest if he was the one who sat in the cabinet approving the use of the government jet for his wife.Why is it that so many men feel they “own” their women? They tell them what to wear, who to be friends with, what their timings should be, how much cleavage they can show, fly into fits of rage if their woman should talk to another man, spy on their women and think it is their right to keep checking their phones and computer. Strangely, many women actually feel flattered by this attention; do things to actually provoke it further and get on some absurd high, thinking that “this is love”.

There is a big difference between ‘possessive’ and ‘protective’. Possessiveness stems from distrust, insecurities, control issues and nothing about it, in any form, is healthy or desirable. Like a man calling and messaging his woman incessantly to find out where she is and what time she is returning. Protective behaviour, on the other hand, is a sign of caring. It’s when the man respects his woman’s personal freedom to go out alone with her friends or work colleagues and calls or messages perhaps just once simply to say “I love you, hope you’re having a super time” or to check if she’s okay for transport if it’s getting to be a late night. Men find it difficult to deal with strong, capable women colleagues! But is this really a gender issue?

Is it true that men constantly try to pull down women at the workplace? Why? Perhaps they do so because they consider the office, and in particular, the corridors of power, their original territory! And a woman walking down the same corridor is something they still haven’t got used to.

Or, maybe men are convinced that women are inferior, and so give them short shrift. Or, is it because knowing the weakness of their own sex, men fear that susceptible male bosses may give women colleagues more attention and bigger promotions?

Whatever the reason, the fact remains that a woman with a strong personality and even average looks can strike terror in the hearts of male colleagues for no fault of hers. If a woman has a mind of her own and dares to question a decision or make a point strongly, she is instantly labelled “enemy” for she has violated the traditional code of conduct between the sexes! And so as a protective response, men label her “difficult to work with”, “hard to get along”, “tough to handle” or “not willing to listen”. This is the global mantra of guys who find it difficult to accept a woman on an equal footing, intellectually or professionally.

Most women professionals realise early on that in order to be heard and taken seriously, they will have to adopt a somewhat serious mien and a nononsense approach. It is only strong women who make it to the top, others fall by the wayside. A softie just will not do, she will be an easy doormat for men to walk over. They will take her lightly and try to fix her in the slot they are most comfortable with — a biddable or sexy type who can be controlled through manipulation. But give men a stern, nononsense approach and they will stand at a distance and wonder what to make of you.

But reflect upon the issue a bit, and you realise that the situation is not as simple as a male-female gender face-off. Certainly, the gender edge aggravates it, but the issue is more about fields of control rather than men not able to accept women at work. And so, as a male colleague puts it, “Men don’t get along even with each other in office situations, except when their work relationships are sharply defined as junior and senior. And when it comes to women, you have to be mature if you are not to feel challenged and diminished. The fact is that women at the top are all the strong ones, who have grown against a lot of opposition from colleagues.”

The competition between women at the same level is equally intense and dirty. And probably that’s how the top bosses like it to remain. Jagged edges, unrealised dreams, unfulfilled desires, and circles just short of completion, all make for edgy people who will give it their last shot to move ahead, rather than sit back in sated glory.

Protective is when a man loves his woman to look her best and to wear what she feels most expressive in, and only guides her as to a dress protocol if it be a visit to the in-laws, a place of worship, or travel in crowded public transport so as to not be uncomfortable or chased by rogue elements. Protective is when you make sure there’s money in your woman’s wallet to get through the day, and possessive is when you want to control her finances and figure her daily movements through it. Protective is when you respect your woman, and possessive is when you distrust her. Which kind of “love” do you prefer?

Self-preservation is the default mode of the self-destructive.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is trapped in an existential dilemma. He cannot blame himself for the wreck he has wrought. To do so would severely damage, if not abort, a political career born in genetic entitlement and wafted into that exhilarating but oxygen-thin ozone layer of celebrity. He cannot blame Najib either, the favoured recourse of Rosmah issue caught in a crisis, in more senses than one. He owes his job to  Rosmah  and more specifically Najib. He tried blaming the local opposition, particularly his bete noire  ANwar Ibrahinm, but that is a futile dead end. It could not take him out of the maze.  Anwar is in control of neither the street nor the secretariat. Blaming  PAS is too obvious to raise anything more substantial than a yawn. ’mischievous’ use of social media molestation harassment journalist Former New Straits Times group editor-in-chief Datuk A. Jasin  been accused, is making waves decided to do “penance that lacerates” him for his “bad lapse of judgement” and has therefore “offered to recuse” himself from the editorship of the publication.Former New Straits Times group editor-in-chief Datuk A. Jasin raps Shahidan for scolding reporters over Rosmah issue”Shahidan can defend Rosmah and the opposition can argue it on grounds of check and balance,” he said, adding that with a bigger representation in the Dewan Rakyat, the opposition would be criticised if they did not speak out against Rosmah’s use of the government jet.The former editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times also said that it was imperative for the public to debate the matter.”We should let our voices be heard because this is our country and the money spent by the government is our money,” he added.Kadir, however, called on the people to not be depressed.”In less than five years, we can vote again. It’s just that during this time, many more issues will be twisted,” he said.But there are critical questions that come to mind and they cannot be brushed under the carpet. A crime,  been committed, cannot be wished away with Najib’s a self imposed exile. It is a legal issue, apart from being a huge social problem, and it is surprising that despite it now being common knowledge,and that the incident actually happened a fortnight ago, there is no police complaint. More importantly, can a magazine that prides itself in exposing the wrong all around hide behind the façade of ‘internal matter’? Malays have no future? If you were to listen to all the election rhetoric, that’s the honest takeaway. There’s so much chest thumping about how we were once the world’s greatest nation, how we had the most amazing leaders, the finest culture, the best schools of learning, the most exciting politics. It’s all about the past, nothing about the future.

“Shahidan can defend Rosmah and the opposition can argue it on grounds of check and balance,” he said, adding that with a bigger representation in the Dewan Rakyat, the opposition would be criticised if they did not speak out against Rosmah’s use of the government jet.

The former editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times also said that it was imperative for the public to debate the matter.

“We should let our voices be heard because this is our country and the money spent by the government is our money,” he added.

Kadir, however, called on the people to not be depressed.

“In less than five years, we can vote again. It’s just that during this time, many more issues will be twisted,”

There is a limitation  what MPs ‘thank’ Rosmah for ‘fruitful’ trip “Conditions apply”. Depending on the way Shahidan Kassim framed it,despite the monstrous conditions, may still plead you for a deal!There must be a reason why we are not annihilated, Though for many years, the world has been our enemy Loyalty doesn’t mean obedience or adherence; it implies keeping the …Read more

Someone should ask in Parliament the total travelling costs taxpayers have to foot for Rosmah and her star-studded entourage that includes a galore of wives of ministers and PM special advisers and members of parliament.The costs should run easily over a million, as apart from the government jet, bills covering air tickets, luxury hotels and limousines and other expenses would be substantial. Looking at Rosmah’s itinerary, none justifies her grand tour on such exorbitant public expenses.Hence, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must respond to the huge public outcry of abuses of authority and public funds with a swift investigation and an official statement.When the response to questions in Parliament is so convoluted, it is only natural to assume that Najib has been caught with its pants down and it is wriggling around to escape the sticky situation Rosmah has put it in.Perhaps the larger problem is that we have run out of belief in the bigger ideas and have grown weary of articulated ideals. The old labels have become shiny with overuse, and do not fit the feelings that the world of today generates in us. The concepts we have grown up in defending and believing in do not seem to have reciprocated that investment, and show a stubborn tendency to go their own way. The old classifications of left and right, liberal and conservative, secular and fundamentalist, media and business seem too rigid and self-absorbed to offer answers today. Even the ideal of democracy seems to have overpromised and under-delivered and more worryingly, seems bereft of ideas on how to find new answers from within its aging self. The leaders do not have access to a new language and the followers cannot rise above the vocabulary provided by television shows, film dialogues and advertisements.

Of course, this strange inarticulateness is not restricted to the Parliament or media alone. Even those protesting show a similar lack of coherence. The anger of the middle class shows a similar characteristic; what we see is a nameless anger that has been seeking an address of some kind. The fact that Anna Hazare has emerged as a leader of this group is remarkable for on the face of it, no one represents the urban middle class less than this rustic, largely unknown and somewhat quaint figure from rural Maharashtra. His team of assorted activists that has been leading the anti-corruption movement shows a similar preference for inchoate wordiness. Everyone involved has something say on pretty much everything, and no one is a camera or microphone-shy. The problems that the movement has faced have much to do with the Government’s determined and often unprincipled attack on key individuals Pengerang MP Azalina Othman  too has been guilty of an incoherent verbosity that has clouded the issue on more than one occasion. And yet, beneath all the confusion, lies a single-minded focus on a specific instrument, a beacon of simplistic clarity that shines in a sea of noise that has allowed the movement to retain its relevance. The faith reposed in a single mechanism likeRosmahis indicative of the exhaustion with abstract ideals and with not opposing words that seem to perpetually cancel each other out.

 why should Shahidan Kassim  get to decide the correct measure of the correct recompense neither one of you has offered any rationale about why your office does not already have a committee that examines PM’s wife Rosmah Mansor’s Qatar itinerary shows nothing that is considered Malaysia’s official business. Why did we pay for her trip and that of the other ministers’ wives, too?MPs tried their best to cover up. Initially the trip was justified with lots of lies. Finally the details of Rosmah’s junket to Qatar have been exposed for what it was – a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.

Can an election ever throw up the right candidate? Or to put it more moderately, is an election the mechanism best suited to throw up representatives that will strive to work for their constituents and attempt to better their life? Are there in-built into the electoral process, a set of imperatives that help pre-determine one kind of outcome, irrespective of the quality of the candidates?  why only those that already have the ability or are able to generate it, are found suitable to be offered as candidates. The political system wards off change at the point of entry itself, by making the entry level conditions unsuitable for anyone but those that toe the existing line and play by the rules already laid down

Increasingly, it would seem that what it takes to win an election is not only very different from what it takes to govern, but might well be at odds with the idea of providing governance. The privileging of representativenes in our democracy, with an emphasis on
The middle class Malays distrust of UMNO politicians is in part a sense of frustration with the electoral process. Part of the reason why visible outrage does not automatically translate into higher voting percentages is because the idea is laced with a sense of presumptive futility. It is also the reason why movements like the one led by ibrahim Ali get traction; the apolitical nature of the struggle is found valuable. The disenchantment with the movement is in part due to its involvement in electoral politics; the paradox being that the impetus for change cannot succeed unless it becomes a variable in the elections but the very act of getting involved with anything to do with elections is seen as an act of contamination.

Electoral reforms will help. But too much has to change before reforms by themselves can be effective. As a structure, elections cannot create intent; that must exist in the system. Without intent, the structure merely re-inforces and perhaps amplifies all that is already wrong. Even when elections are not rigged, in some ways they always are. If not by design, then by definition.It is difficult to have faith in Parliament when it seems to have such little faith in itself. Over the years a pattern has become clear- whenever there is a significant disagreement between the benches, the preferred mode of communication is noise and the argument of choice is disruption of proceedings of the House. Now the fact that the Opposition is meant to resist the party in power and challenge it fiercely on issues of policy is not an occasional accident; it is the whole point of the adversarial system. The parliamentary process is designed for frequent and strong disagreement; the Opposition as the name suggests is meant to oppose. That this opposition takes the form of walk-outs, boycotts, noisy disruptions and the occasional physical brawls, not as an exception but as the rule speaks volumes about the nature of Parliamentary discourse on view today.

Your statement – that you “need time prioritize it,” – does not even make sense – for prioritizing it would mean acting without lapse in time – self contradictory statements such as this have the media, and the ever watchful readership waiting in abeyance while you prioritize, or rather think about acting correctly!The cabinet is at fault for allowing the use of the private jet, operated with the taxpayers’ money. The cabinet must explain its decision.

A severe, trite, authentic case made by a journalist not just from your fraternity a journalist would not shy away from taking an unambiguous stance – fearlessly and without partisan, political, filial, official or corporate indoctrination that has air-conditioned our conscience along with our offices It is not the role of the media to attract investments, says veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin.After all, he added, the media does not have access to executive jets to play that role, unlike the prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor. ’Najib and his cabinate has been caught with its pants down and it is wriggling around to escape the sticky situation Rosmah has put it in.’

As if the complete apathy towards what constitutes a ‘correct’ moral system, a ‘correct’ humane system, the ‘correct’ legal system, the ‘correct’ professional system and ah – the very vertebrae that ought to sustain it all– the ‘correct’ journalistic system – were not enough, the leitmotif that a journalist of Shoma’s stature is hankering after – ‘give me time to act correctly’ is painful, hypocritical and …incorrect.If you are, as you say, ‘driven by what Rosmah wants’ then how can you follow it up with a statement such as, “(he) stepped down. It was something she had not asked for. It was much more than what she wanted.” How sardonically heroic for Najb to give her so much more – a self-contrived temporary vacation to get away from the eye of the storm – for what he ‘in his correct senses’ deems as ‘drunken banter’ and a ‘lapse of judgment The tactic is not restricted to any specific party, but can be seen across state legislatures throughout the country. It is as if we have reached the limits of debate and exhausted the power of language and communicate our positions through negative means only. By not working, not allowing others to work, not talking to each other, not allowing others to speak and so on. Usually a tantrum is a child’s way of levelling the power inequality that exists between the adult world and the child. A tantrum intensifies the pitch of protest to an unsustainably high level and forces the more powerful adult to bend to the demands of the toddler in order to buy the resumption of ordinariness in life. It is understandable when the weak, powerless and exploited use negative means of protest; for elected representatives to communicate through a succession of legislative tantrums is bizarre. In their case, they have the constitutional right to express themselves and indeed, the power to articulate their feelings by way of voting. When they feel that a vote is not an adequate vehicle for their sentiment, then why should the ordinary citizen feel satisfied with it?

IN 2009, AN UNELECTED AND SCANDAL RIDDEN SUCCESSOR TOOK BADAWI’S PLACE WITH A NEW SLOGAN 1MALAYSIA AND A CATCHY PR (PUBLIC RELATIONS) GIMMICK “PEOPLE FIRST, PERFOMANCE NOW“. NAJIB TUN RAZAK AS THE 6TH PRIME MINISTER WITH HIS EBULLIENT AND BUMBLING WIFE, ROSMAH MANSOR (AH, THAT SELF PROCLAIMED FIRST LADY!) BY HIS SIDE AS ONE OF HIS LOYAL AND TRUSTED ADVISORS, MOVED AGGRESSIVELY TO HYPE UP HIS IMAGE. THERE WAS INITIAL FAVORABLE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO HIS 1MALAYSIA IDEA, BUT THIS HAS BEGUN TO FIZZLE OUT AS THE SCANDALS REFUSED TO GO AWAY. AN ANGRY MAHATHIR RETURNED AS A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF UMNO AND WE CAN EXPECT HIM TO INFLICT FURTHER DAMAGE TO OUR NATIONAL PSYCHE, AND TO ATTACK AND EMBARRASS NAJIB readmore BUMBLING WIFE, ROSMAH MANSOR and the price for Raj

It is time PAS stood up to truth dont make Islam a political football?

Prior to attempting any genuine critique of UMNO, it becomes imperative to substantiate the same with either empirical facts or hard evidence. Even so, in tune with the liberal tenets of our Constitution, UMNO does not object to genuine criticism of its judgment in Islam. However, scurrilous attacks and comments attributing motives to decisions are absolutely unacceptable. These exceptions are reasonable and essential to preserve the sanctity ofits’ that flow . Commentators must understand that the scope of their criticism ought to be restricted to decisions itself – and not the personal characteristics of its leaders .  The simple fact of the matter, is that the politicians is supposed to be, and thankfully is, scrupulously apolitical.  Islam is not in the race to win a popularity contest Change they say is the only constant in life. Some minor, some life altering while some leave a lingering aftertaste. Taking a leaf from PASi’s philosophy, attention was the appeal to youth to spin the spindle and have an experience in meditation while spinning.It is clear that the changing situation in Malaysia needs a fresh approach. Rampant corruption, failing economy and spiralling inflation are enough to defeat  UMNO in the next election but PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang  has kicked unnecessary debate such a strategy was not a new thing as such scenarios had existed for thousands of years.“Muslims in our country were shocked by a string of attacks in relation to Islam being the official religion of the country.Undoubtedly, today’s  PAS is not the one which fought for Islam in Malaysia. PAS version of islam flourished in KELANTAN under PAS. The pluralistic society of  Malaysia flourished under UMNO.One unified  Malaysia, the other gave a socio-economic direction. Together,D AP controlled riots and put thousands of innocent life lives..in danger

DAP led temple movement, leaving behind series of  Hatred Chaos. DAP go beyond ‘builders’ brew’ and give masala chai and chapati a try allow us to believe! Please? In an era that prides itself on ripping away dreamy veils to reveal ugly truths, a sense of mystique is a rare, undervalued commodity.Life would be simpler if we accepted everything at face value but would … Read more

Karpal Singh is a lawyer, he often cheat … the moment we read the article in M’kini, everybody knew what he meant and not be surprised since he don’t like Islam, now he is saying other people cheating… so much of a person with principal …PAS Youth vice-chief Dr Raja Ahmad Iskandar said today DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh had lied in denying that he  urged at a press conference in Penang on Nov 5 that PAS be deregistered.

Does  PAS have no future? If you were to listen to all the election rhetoric, that’s the honest takeaway. There’s so much chest thumping about how Malaysia the most exciting politics. It’s all about the past, nothing about the future.Nowhere is this more obvious than in our politics. Our biggest statues are built for the long dead.But  what PAS talking about that.NOT offering a blueprint for change  But what next? There’s so much more to be done and undone. But is anyone interested?i,   PAS who looked different to begin with, has now settled into the familiar groove of badmouthing his rivals and making one gaffe after another, showing that his reading of history is as inconclusive as his strategy for change. Everyone’s fault lines are being revealed.All Muslim in Malaysia have one simple question today to Pas leaders: How are they going to set the future right? No one PAS Lleader wants to answer that.

When PAS politicians   stoop so low of using   Islam,, as a “political weapon” to boost its decreasing support among Muslims in Malaysia. as to invoke PAS and its despicable  ideology to score political brownie points, it becomes increasingly clear that something is seriously wrong with our polity. Are we truly that devoid of pressing issues that we need to worry about  PAS and its despicable  ideology Muslim voters forced to trade their valuable votes for permanent indignity.  UMNO may speak softly  on Islam, but this must not be confused with weakness or ‘fickleness’, as some PAS observers have claimed, in the backdrop of the Allah issue,  Almost all Malaysians look up to the Justices of the Supreme Court with the reverential belief that no matter what the odds, the Court will ensure that justice prevails. Indeed, the Court has rarely disappointed those who come to it with meritorious claims. Even the harshest critics of the court will concede that the Supreme Court has earned its rightful place as Malaysia’s most respected public institution. This has not happened by mere chance or accident. Muslims  and Infidals of the highest calibre and unimpeachable integrity have fulfilled the immensely difficult responsibilities that a judge of the apex court must shoulder.  . In the larger Muslim interest, it is crucial that the record is set straight.

Oversized diamond rings, Birkin bags and fawning GLCs

Let us talk basics first. Just look at the way our leaders and their spouses dress to kill in their routine public appearances and doing-good public events. We are not saying that leaders must go around in tattered jeans and slippers. No. But when over-sized diamond rings, branded bags, pearls, and exclusive suits and silken wraps are the standard, one begins to wonder who is paying for all these.

Look at the way that GLCs and private companies have to spend to cater to the whims and fancies of these VVIPs when they are invited to grace the organisations’ public relations events. Ask any CEO and they will honest-to-God tell you in a guarded whisper that it even puts hell to shame.

Today we are beginning to get glimpses of evidence of the extravagance of our leaders. Today we are beginning to realise that all these stories of wealth creation through privatization sold to the rakyat since the time of Tun Dr Mahathir, has only made the rakyat seek fish and chips whereas the fishing is being done by politicians and their families.

The First Lady has already denied the allegations in her book. So why the need to reinforce that denial? Pro-Umno bloggers and cybertroopers have been doing the denial for the past two years and now The Gombak MP opens a Pandora’s Box,   has joined that bandwagon

`In traditional Malay and even in every arranged marriage today, the girl always marries someone of her own level and calibre, or possibly richer than her. But that’s also because most of these women didn’t have a source of income and were hence submissively accepted designated roles in preset ‘man provider-woman nurturer’ script. However, modern Malay women, armed with jobs and bank balances are re-writing their own scripts and ‘marrying down’. It could be based on their ambition and inner confidence that they choose a man who’s happy to play house husband, as it enables and empowers them to take their careers to greater heights and hence, as a result, they take on with gratitude and elan the role of being the provider. For other women, it’s about being spending a lifetime with a man purely for reasons of love, compatibility, chemistry and trust, and the financials of it are irrelevant in context of such a union. It’s the bond with the man and not his bank balance that they choose to marry. Such decisions made by open minds and open hearts lead to a relationship of equality. And then, there are those that ‘marry down’ because it gives them more importance and power in the relationship. It is fuelled by a woman’s insecurity, her need to control, and her fear of rejection. Ambition, equality in love, or insecurity, in each of these three versions of ‘marrying down’ or ‘hypogamy’ as it is called; always involves the woman being in a position of strength. There are no rights and wrongs, men have exercised power through ‘marrying down’ for centuries, it’s just interesting and amusing to see the empowered woman of today, making such choices.Suara Keadilan Malaysia blogged Intimate with another woman Adultery is not cruelty, Supreme Court says

Isa Samad was in possession several pictures of Najib Razak and Ziana Zain, was taken by Burglars The main aim is to give a few more blows on Najib hoping that Najib will surrender his will to the real master, whatever the outcome of the GE-13 may be. Who in UMNO can beat Najib if not Mahathir? Najib’s most dangerous enemies are

ISMA , find it difficult to deal with strong, capable women?Literary giant Ernest Hemingway lived, loved and died by his own rules, leaving a trail of exceptional work, but also broken women and homesIn a November 12 statement that was signed by its deputy president Aminuddin Yahaya, ISMA had insisted that Marina was involved in Comango’s actions and criticised her lawsuit threat.

Marina Mahathir Simply put,  Aminuddin Yahaya, your core is your real, essential self — the authentic you, the person you are when you shed all pretences. That’s the easy part; what is more difficult is tearing down the perception you have of your real self! For, all of us come to adopt an image of ourselves that we believe in very early in life, and then live trapped in that image for the rest of our lives. In doing so, we forget to understand who we really are, what makes us tick and what is true happiness or the real purpose of our lives.

And it is equally true that these men, when they get out of their own intensely thoughtful headsIntellect is seductive… and is equally eager to be seduced. Women are drawn to intelligent men; the interest of a worthy man gives a woman an increased feeling of self-worth. And genius is a world apart. We forgive our men of letters many evils, and indeed many of them – most dead, some still alive, are boors when it comes to real life, After the initial charm wears off, reluctant to settle with anything lesser, they have changed women as one changes clothes, seeking to stay on the high which the initial flush of love and sex brings. This keeps the adrenaline flowing, the ego sated. And of course, it keeps the ideas coming.

Ambiga deserves our admiration an respect forComango for calling for the freedom to renounce Islam; the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) rights; the removal of Malay privileges; the freedom to embrace Syiah teachings; and the right for Catholics to refer to God as “Allah”, among others.  the campaign , this being one of the foundations of democratic politics. It was due to the strength of her character and integrity that she was able to lead BERSIH successfully and withstand the pressures and intimidation from a discredited and openly corrupt regime

Punjabis have an interesting saying, which translated, says, “Before you criticise another, take a hard look at your own self.” And also remember, every time you point a finger at another, three of your own fingers remain pointed back at yourself.

Marina Mahathir said criticism is nothing but a cover-up for low self-esteem. We criticise people because we wish to lower them in the eyes of others, and maybe through the same action raise our own worth. And we are self-deprecating or self-critical when we do not value ourselves and seek to occupy a high ground by making a joke of our own shortcomings. A self-deprecating person is a weak personality, who believes that he or she is inferior to others. He is convinced that something is wrong with him and rather than wait for others to point this out, jumps in with self-criticism. So  ISMA  will typically say, “You would know better, I don’t have half the brains you do,” or “This is  Malaysia, what do you expect?” Have you ever heard a confident, successful man make such a self-deprecating statement? Either way, whether you criticise yourself or another, you are doing so out of a feeling of low self-esteem.

SMA has been at the forefront of attempts to discredit Comango, which has also come under fire from other Muslim activists here who claim the group’s human rights recommendations to the United Nations ran counter to the “true” teachings of Islam and the sovereignty of the Federal Constitution.ISMA, which has since signed on with a coalition of Muslim NGOs called MuslimUPRo, also accused Comango of attempting to spread “liberalism teachings” backed by Western powers. Harassment comes in many forms and is not necessary always sexual in nature. Women are persecuted in many ways. Women are automatically labeled as weak, the foundation built on the underlying assumption that they will rarely put up a fight. In many unfortunate cases, the victim may not get support from another woman that she may turn to as well. The hapless victim is most times mortified by somebody she trusts, she does not getting a shoulder to lean on, instead is degraded by the same people she would necessarily turn to. This is precisely the reason why law makers and those entrusted with enforcing the law find excuses to imprudently blame the woman instead of doing what needs to be done in facilitating her protection

Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has issued a legal ultimatum to Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA), promising to haul the Muslim activist group to court unless it retracts allegedly false and “defamatory” claims against her by next week.

The Malay Mail Online understands that Marina had through her lawyers recently sent out a letter of demand to ISMA and its office-bearers over the group’s statements that had purportedly cast serious doubts on her “integrity and honesty”.

The letter claims that ISMA’s allegedly groundless statements were intended to smear the reputation of Marina, a prominent activist who is also the eldest daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Earlier, the letter traced ISMA’s allegedly defamatory statements, where the group was said to have distributed 70,000 leaflets that had featured Marina’s photograph and named her as a purported “dalang” or mastermind of Comango, which ISMA had claimed was composed of 54 “anti-Islam” non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

In the leaflets reportedly distributed on November 8 in mosques throughout the country, the Islamist activist group named several non-governmental organisations including Sisters in Islam (SIS) as supporting Comango.

The leaflets also slammed Comango for calling for the freedom to renounce Islam; the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) rights; the removal of Malay privileges; the freedom to embrace Syiah teachings; and the right for Catholics to refer to God as “Allah”, among others.

In her response reported two days later, Marina described ISMA’s allegation that she was one of the masterminds behind Comango as “wholly untrue”, stating that she was not involved in the Comango process despite being a board member of Sisters in Islam.

“Therefore I view this allegation by ISMA as defamatory and demand that ISMA and its office bearers withdraw it immediately with a public clarification in all media, including social media, on my terms. Failure to do so will result in my taking legal action against them,” Marina wrote in a brief statement then.

The letter of demand said that despite Marina’s clarification, ISMA had not retracted its claims, noting that the group had continued to make allegedly baseless accusations against Marina.

In a November 12 statement that was signed by its deputy president Aminuddin Yahaya, ISMA had insisted that Marina was involved in Comango’s actions and criticised her lawsuit threat.

The LoD also noted that in a report on its website and Facebook page, ISMA said it had on November 15 distributed 10,000 of the same leaflets at mosques across Johor, including the districts of Skudai, Pontian, Kota Tinggi and Batu Pahat.

ISMA has been at the forefront of attempts to discredit Comango, which has also come under fire from other Muslim activists here who claim the group’s human rights recommendations to the United Nations ran counter to the “true” teachings of Islam and the sovereignty of the Federal Constitution.

Social media and the various platforms it gives people, has made critics of all of us, and we freely voice our opinion on the many networks available. Who cares about a designated professional critic anymore, except as a reference point, whether for food, films, art or books? Everyone has an opinion — and that is fine — but people get judgmental, and sometimes cruelly so. Some people are so critical all the time that it becomes difficult to discuss anything with them. Their first response is always negative, a sure way to discourage others from coming to you with ideas. Are you sure you are not one of them? Because a recent study found that most such negative souls are unaware of this trait, and claim they criticise because they are honest and they care.

What they do not realise is that bringing down others becomes with some people an attempt at proving their own smartness. People criticise so as to draw attention to the weaknesses of others, thereby proving their own superiority. Everyone wants a success story. Some get theirs by working hard; some by pulling others down and so seeming taller. However, those who are truly superior do not need to prove anything by pulling down others.

We are of course not talking of constructive criticism here. To do so would be akin to throwing away the baby with the dirty water. Constructive criticism is important and helps us grow as a part of the learning curve. Criticism, in order to be effective, must serve a purpose and be delivered in as gentle a manner as possible. How do you differentiate between constructive and negative criticism? Simple. Just ask yourself the purpose of your criticism. Is it because you are truly concerned about the one you are critical about and wish to help in the growth process? Or is it because criticising another helps you feel better about yourself? The first is absolutely justified; the latter is demeaning to you.

Punjabis have an interesting saying, which translated, says, “Before you criticise another, take a hard look at your own self.” And also remember, every time you point a finger at another, three of your own fingers remain pointed back at yourself. Utusan Malaysia has accused the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) of attempting to help foreign powers colonise the country. Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) accused today Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan of supporting a local human rights coalition called Comango, whose demands the Islamist group said were a threat to Islam. It said …Read more

 Ku Nan  drinking toddy in Sentul Naked vs nude on poverty Advice  is likely to ignore

Change is a mist which floats through events, often obscured by the daily cloudburst of facts. It is noticed least by those it affects most. Tengku Adnan Tengku Manso have a sharper eye than they are given credit for, but they can miss the obvious. A tectonic shift is taking place in the structure of party politics. After a long and dominant reign, the high command is dead. It has become a dinosaur, a museum piece whose skeletal jaw hints at the massive bite it once possessed. he last inheritors of a concept that has exhausted its moment in history. After them, there will be command, but it will not be very high. Beware the mistake you think you haven’t made, particularly if it seems innocuous. The unconscious slip reveals far more than vigorously polished truth, or indeed a lie carelessly exposed. Decipher the cipher and you could well discover a lump of golden illumination. This is as true of social gaffe as of political combat.A rising federal impulse has also changed the character of parties. minister now  Muslim bring in the votes, they will also take the decisions.

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor says prejudice against Muslims has become so ingrained in  Kuala Lumpur life, the most vitriolic anti-Islamic sentiments can be expressed in polite drawing rooms without an eyebrow being raised. May be everyone knows this part.All that apart, it is not easy , that 23 Hindu temples must be  be demolished by the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL). Changing the rules might be easier than changing behaviour in a land with such a stern pecking order. Distinctions thrive in politics, bureaucracy, determined by tradition, or power or wealth. The chief guest at any function, preferably a minister, always gets a few more flowers in his bouquet than others on the dais, who are kept in their place by the deficient cluster in their lap. The flowers might be from the nearest cemetery, but the chief will get more. The higher you go, the more rigid the hierarchy.

Not so long ago, UMNO seemed invincible. The voters do not love   and were in awe of his impressive CV.

One reason many people advance for supporting UMNO is their opposition to  PAS’ this, they claim, ends up creating a vested interest in preserving rather than combating poverty.contrast, in ’s championship of growth, they see the possibility of eliminating poverty. Stripped bare of sophistry, this pro-poor versus anti-poverty distinction, altogether less substantial than naked versus nude, turns out to be nothing more than the proverbial fig leaf.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor (centre) is of the opinion that City Hall is doing property owners in the city a favour by revaluing their properties and putting a higher assessment  the middleclass for its inability to understand the source of  Kuala Lumpur’s problems. Its failure to engage with the system and taking recourse in slacktivism comes in for sharp criticism s indomitable will has been hailed by its politicians and socialites with such regularity it has become obvious that they’ve used this resilience as an excuse to absolve themselves of the need to take the difficult decisions necessary to actually make the city more liveable. The incessant invocation of  Kuala Lumpu  ’s spirit is just an attempt to ignore the numbing of another little bit of its soul.”The Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said there are many more temples in Kuala Lumpur which were squatting on land illegally.He said the Ministry was checking the statuses of these temples and will act against them.”Yes, I am checking and I am firm… I will tell them to move. I will give them a new place and I will gazette the new place as a temple,” he said commenting on a claim by a non-governmental organisation, which had called itself Jakun Malaysia, that 23 Hindu temples were due to be demolished by the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKLthere are many more temples in Kuala Lumpur which were squatting on land illegally.He said the Ministry was checking the statuses of these temples and will act against them.”Yes, I am checking and I am firm… I will tell them to move. I will give them a new place and I will gazette the new place as a temple,” he said commenting on a claim by a non-governmental organisation, which had called itself Jakun Malaysia, that 23 Hindu temples were due to be demolished by the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL What are you trying to do if not to take it out on the KLites? And we object to the arrogant manner this was done and the sneakiness of having our representatives sign the Official Secrets Act (OSA) pledge before you had a meeting with them.

To quote you, “the federal government is giving us sufficient funds, but we’d rather raise most of our own funds.”Excuse me, don’t use us, KL residents, to raise funds for you – and if that’s to be the case, let us at least vote for our own mayor and FT minister to represent us.The arrogance you have to say you can legally increase the tax to the maximum rate of 35 percent rate, but will not do it – don’t expect us to kowtow to you for that, we will fight you instead.

. 

.If an apology could change the past, it might mean something. If it could rescue the future, even more so. But no apology arrives until the mind has already changed, making it a historical tautology.

A Pakatan Rakyat-controlled Kuala Lumpur City Hall would have offered the city’s property owners a 10% revision in property valuation over the next five years, says Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, adding that this would have brought about a reasonable assessment charges for everyone.

Khalid, who is Bandar Tun Abdul Razak MP, said he and several other Kuala Lumpur MPs would be meeting Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to show the minister “how things are done the Selangor way”.

“I will be asking him to consider my suggestion for current property owners during my meeting with him after December 17,” he said today after attending a residents gathering in Cheras where residents handed over their objections against the assessment rate hike which will be implemented in January.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall has set December 17 as the deadline for property owners to submit their objections.

Khalid, who is also the Selangor Menteri Besar, said that City Hall should also explain the mechanism used to calculate the increment in property valuation which results in a hike in the assessment fees.

The assessment rates are based on a certain percentage of the property valuation by City Hall. Currently, the rates for commercial properties is 12%, residential units 6% and vacant property or land 10%.

“This is why people keep having doubts over the matter as they do not understand how it is done,” he told reporters.

On Tengku Adnan’s statement that the move is to help owners revalue their property, Khalid said: “Don’t talk too much. Just find a solution to reduce the rates.

“The government should also not tie property prices with inflation rate as property prices grow at a faster pace.”

Khalid said that it was not necessary for City Hall to increase the assessment rates by up to 300 per cent.

“It must be in accordance with the services rendered by City Hall. So keep writing your complaints to them and tell them that their services are lacking and hence, the assessment charges must be reduced. They have yet to deliver their promises on many things,” he said.

Khalid said City Hall had made two grave mistakes in revising the property valuation which resulted in an exorbitant hike in assessment charges.

“Firstly, the authorities should have held briefing sessions to help people understand the issue better and the reasoning for it but this was not done.

“Secondly, City Hall ceased to consider the burden Kuala Lumpur folk will face due to the increment and it is not fair to say that this is being done now because City Hall did not increase the rate or revaluate the properties in the last 21 years,” he added.

Khalid said he had requested his officers to note down the provisions under the law to support his suggestion that property valuation be pegged at 10% over the next five years.

Asked if he forsees a surge in migration by people from Kuala Lumpur into Selangor and if this will cause property prices to boom in the state, Khalid said that Selangor is already facing a dilemma with high property prices.

“There is no problem for them to move here though,” he added.

The birth of any new era requires a midwife with an exceptional grasp of  the Malay politics, the imagination to conduct negotiations with a tough enemy, and the blessed virtue of silence. This  is Najib’s dilemma 

A second term in office is dangerous if there is no third term. It is like entering a casino with plastic money. A prime minister or president has no personal stake in the game. There is of course the duty towards good governance, and national interest, but that fire which stokes a leader’s instincts has become ash. Politics is a human business, and human beings need the zeal inspired by ambition. Only saints are content with moral purpose alone, and saints do not win elections.upon Barack Obama, and the indifference that is driving his signature decisions into disrepair. Obama has not become arrogant; he was arrogant to start with. He is probably just bored. His great battles were over with his re-election, and he does not quite know how to handle the meandering journey through a downward swamp. A quagmire oozing with the pride of victory, and heavy with the drudge of complacency, is an invitation to mistakes, errors of judgement, and indifference to consequence.

It is quite normal for anyone to ask this question: Where are we going and where is Najib taking us? Since Najib took over the reins of government in 2009, we are  neither here nor there. Most people are baffled because Najib seems disconnected from reality while the country is facing innumerable critical problems which require urgent attention.

Even as these problems are left unattended, more problems are being added. Najib’s words have no meaning whatsoever as his cabinet ministers have been acting to dismantle what he had promised the people before he was given the mandate to run the country.Ku Nan  drinking toddy in Sentul Naked vs nude on poverty Advice  is likely to ignore Change is a mist which floats through events, often obscured by the daily cloudburst of facts. It is noticed least by those it affects most. Tengku Adnan Tengku Manso have a sharper eye than they are given credit for, but they can … Read more

Najib wearied by the complicated demands of an often fruitless domestic agenda, sought a place in the books through an audacious gamble in  petty and hollow sloganeering..  Najib believed that goodwill was good enough.

It never is. conceived in the conviction that  Muslims and Non–Muslims cannot co-operate as equals. That epic delusion slips repeatedly into its equations with Malay politics. Najib began his second term dramatically, with a gesture to

Government involvement in religion, to him, should also be on a minimum scale. Religion was a faith adhered to by individuals and that should be about all there was to it. He did not encourage the religious department to expand its jurisdiction whereby it could pose a threat to national harmony.

But unfortunately, at present, things seem to have gone out of hand. Ministers contradict what the Prime Minister had promised. Voices of disharmony were allowed free reign. Acts that harm the sensitivities of those not of the Muslim faith are on the rise.

And yet Najib champions 1Malaysia. It was there all along but subsequent leaders, especially those from UMNO Baru, had dismantled that by allowing anti-national elements from the cabinet itself to “flourish” uncontrollably.

Najib told the Sabah and Sarawak people of the freedom in practising their religion and then a ban was imposed on their newsletter. Sarawak and Sabah together with Malaya then had formed Malaysia, and there was no need to tell them that they are part of Malaysia. They definitely were and are part and parcel of Malaysia.

One very important factor was that Tun Razak walked the talk. The Malay paper Utusan Melayu with national calibre editors like Yusof Ishak (later President of Singapore) and Said Zahari had been vocal in fighting for the truth and even when it was taken over by UMNO, it still remained as a national paper that was very much respected.

But once UMNO Baru led by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad took over the country, Utusan has become the party’s organ and has been allowed to become a national trash. The TV channels have also become the mouthpiece of the party. They have miserably failed to play a positive role in fostering national unity.

Every single effort should be coordinated like during Tun Razak’s time to achieve the national goal of equality, prosperity and happiness for all.  Pray! Tell us! Are you, Najib, taking us towards disaster!

Government involvement in religion, to him, should also be on a minimum scale. Religion was a faith adhered to by individuals and that should be about all there was to it. He did not encourage the religious department to expand its jurisdiction whereby it could pose a threat to national harmony.

But unfortunately, at present, things seem to have gone out of hand. Ministers contradict what the Prime Minister had promised. Voices of disharmony were allowed free reign. Acts that harm the sensitivities of those not of the Muslim faith are on the rise.

And yet Najib champions 1Malaysia. It was there all along but subsequent leaders, especially those from UMNO Baru, had dismantled that by allowing anti-national elements from the cabinet itself to “flourish” uncontrollably.

Najib told the Sabah and Sarawak people of the freedom in practising their religion and then a ban was imposed on their newsletter. Sarawak and Sabah together with Malaya then had formed Malaysia, and there was no need to tell them that they are part of Malaysia. They definitely were and are part and parcel of Malaysia.

One very important factor was that Tun Razak walked the talk. The Malay paper Utusan Melayu with national calibre editors like Yusof Ishak (later President of Singapore) and Said Zahari had been vocal in fighting for the truth and even when it was taken over by UMNO, it still remained as a national paper that was very much respected.

But once UMNO Baru led by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad took over the country, Utusan has become the party’s organ and has been allowed to become a national trash. The TV channels have also become the mouthpiece of the party. They have miserably failed to play a positive role in fostering national unity.

Every single effort should be coordinated like during Tun Razak’s time to achieve the national goal of equality, prosperity and happiness for all.  Pray! Tell us! Are you, Najib, taking us towards disaster!

Over the last four decades, Iran has become to America what Pakistan is to India. Obama is in his Nixon moment. Richard Nixon recognized that history would be kinder to him than journalism if he could reverse the absurdity of America’s stagnant attitude towards Maoist China. His China manoeuvre shifted the balance of economic and strategic power in ways neither Nixon nor Mao could have foreseen when they cracked the glacier in 1970.

Obama wants an equally transformative coup in America’s relations with Iran, a regional power that is far more durable than its detractors thought. If there is a deal and that deal survives the acid attacks inevitable along the long road ahead, the strategic map of Asia will be altered beyond recognition, and in ways that no one has yet begun to articulate. From Delhi’s perspective, America’s spatial dependence on Pakistan will weaken, disturbing a basic foundation of the America-Pakistan relationship. Iran will also be a more reliable partner than Pakistan in the continuing confrontation against militias of the Sunni Jihad, who believe that after defeating the Soviet Union in Afghanistan they have now delivered a death blow to the mighty Americans. They want to turn Afghanistan and Pakistan into the epicentre of an offensive against India, and China, which has absorbed Muslim Sinkiang into its territory. 2014, when most American troops return home, is not an end but only another beginning.

But Obama has a problem: every Nixon needs a Henry Kissinger. The birth of any new era requires a midwife with an exceptional grasp of the world order, the imagination to conduct negotiations with a tough enemy, and the blessed virtue of silence. This is  Obama ’s dilemma, now that the Pandora’s Box has been pried open, it will be very difficult to put a lid on the scandal. By challenging public opinion, Rosmah may have hammered the last nail into  Najib’s coffin.The birth of any new era requires a midwife with an exceptional grasp of  the Malay politics, the imagination to conduct negotiations with a tough enemy, and the blessed virtue of silence. This  is Najib’s dilemma Oversized diamond rings, Birkin bags and fawning GLCs Let us talk basics first. Just look at the way our leaders and their spouses dress to kill in their routine public appearances and doing-good public events. We are not saying that leaders must go around in tattered jeans and slippers. No. But when over-sized diamond rings, … Read more

The problem with the country led by newly-minted cabinet that has little honour, integrity and moral value left.    whole cabinet should be arrested for being complicit to defrauding the country by agreeing to allow an unelected person to represent the country at international forum and allowing her to use state assets when she is not entitle to it.Listen up, all you people. At the end of the day, we are all chatterati, okay? Don’t feel bad. It is not such a terrible thing to be. Let’s face it, nobody but nobody knows what the hell is going on in our country right now. The Prime Minister is as clueless as you and I. It’s a game of hit and miss —or touch and go  is increasingly appealing to this lot, and no, nobody is feeling sheepish about expressing admiration for an individual who resolutely refused to give up. Even when everybody else had  on her More questions: Since Najib’s second-wife claims to have represented the government to justify the illegal use of the aircraft, did she also claim traveling expenses? Why does Rosmah insist on flying on the government jets? Is it because these jets operate from Malaysian Air Force bases and thus she and her guests do not get checked by the regular customs counters in KLIA or Subang? she has the guts and determination, to take on a system this corrupt, this all pervasive

No doubt this is not the first abuse of power and will not be the last. It does not make it right. Our tax money is not meant to be used this way. In future, please “for the sake of the government’s interests”, kindly use your personal savings for your personal joyride. As far as we ministers am concerned,we can stay on until the next elections. Take as much as time as he likes since changing the culture is, by his own admission, a long term process. Furthermore, the chance of being made a Tan Sri is too tempting for him to quit. Hang around and you will be rewarded for your effort. That is the system as it has been for years. Down to what level? She is already at rock bottom level and she can cannot sink any lower than that anymore. Does she think that she is at a very high level? Must be dreaming.

Down to what level? She is already at rock bottom level and she can cannot sink any lower than that anymore. Does she think that she is at a very high level? Must be dreaming.What level would a person who, despite her wealth, is still using our money to fly a private jet?Fair Play: Wonder what Pengerang MP Azalina Othman is trying to prove by disclosing that the DPM chaired the cabinet meeting to approve the use of the government jet by Rosmah.
The PM’s wife said she is ‘happy’ and would continue to ‘do (her) work as reported is indeed startling.If the powers-that-be are unable to provide justification for the use of the government jet, this might spin out of control into a major embarrassment or something even more damaging.Is Rosmah the modern ‘Soong Mei-Ling’? Any decent reader of modern China history would have noticed how Mei-Ling, the power-hungry wife of Chiang Kai-Shek brought Kuomintang to its knees because of corruption, crony-capitalism, and self-interested nature of its leaders.Despite having American support and an army size of 10:1 against its foes, the Chinese communists, it lost the support of the masses.Towards the end, Chiang’s son wanted to reverse the situation but failed due to resistance from Mei-Ling’s own family members. Is there a lesson from this for Najib?eads to the heart of the betrayed Indian voter. If, indeed he has, then the confusion of  Rosmahgate obstinately    may actually help propel the man who can never be the Mahatma, but could do the job just being himself.pitch is increasingly appealing to this lot, and no, nobody is feeling sheepish about expressing admiration for an individual who resolutely refused to give up. to the heart of the betrayed Malaysian voter.This is not an empty rant against the ruling class. It is much more — it is an expression of utter and total condemnation. It is a notice. The entire country stood as one, a rare occurrence,Behind all the emotional outbursts, one thing was constant — the vociferous demand for justice.

The demand for change. Not years from now. But immediately. Perhaps, this is precisely the tipping point India has been waiting for. Here was one case which touched countless hearts and pushed an important concern to centre stage in a way no other case or movement has in recent memory.The cabinet ministers whose wives tagged along on the free all-paid for shopping holiday in Qatar and Dubai are all as guilty DPM Muhyiddin Yassin for approving the use of the government’s private jet and should be charged.What are you waiting for MACC? Muhyiddin approved the use of the executive jet and Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abd Jalil was part of the gang. It’s similar to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) saga.Shahrizat was in the cabinet and claimed to know nothing about the grant to her husband; Muhyiddin was the agriculture minister then. Was it Rosmah or Shahrizat who wanted the executive jet and this was approved by Muhyiddin? You guess who the culprit is. If those in positions of power refuse to recognize what this crisis is all about, it will be their tragedy fell on deaf ears and was dismissed by deadened souls, it was left to the people of India to continue the struggle, while our leaders resolutely and foolishly refused to meet protestors. Such aloofness . Such cowardice. It is going to cost. And cost big time.Leadership is about engagement. Real leaders do not run away from crises. But ours have specialized in burying their heads during any emergency hoping it will resolve itself and disappear on its own.The cabinet ministers whose wives tagged along on the free all-paid for shopping holiday in Qatar and Dubai are all as guilty DPM Muhyiddin Yassin for approving the use of the government’s private jet and should be charged.What are you waiting for MACC?

Someone should ask in Parliament the total travelling costs taxpayers have to foot for Rosmah and her star-studded entourage that includes a galore of wives of ministers and PM special advisers and members of parliament.The costs should run easily over a million, as apart from the government jet, bills covering air tickets, luxury hotels … Read more

The most pressing need before the country is to ensure Letting Parliament function is the responsibility that comes with all the rights that our MPs

In a democracy should the  Speaker sit in give judgment  Does the government not have faith in the ability of our Parliamentarians to examine an issue and make realistic and appropriate recommendations? Isn’t the Parliament the appropriate forum to discuss and decide on their recommendations? If we as a country do not have faith in the Parliament and its members, why stick around with parliamentary democracy?As expected,Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia’ the of the Parliamentary  route to stall and subsequently divert the issue Letting Parliament function is the responsibility that comes with all the rights that our MPs enjoy.    Disrupting and  art of hijacking Parliament is murder of democracy  Parliament  Speaker’s  should be treated  as  criminal offence. Virtues of Malaysian democracy and the power of the voter. Where  are the voter now? What power does  VOTERS have?  their representatives, the MPs now have to await orders from the  speaker. If they say no, then Emergency motion  are doomed. In our system, the voters vanishes the moment their casts his votes. That is the reality. This is democracy in Malaysia

The murder of democracy is now taking place with increasing regularity. Its not being done by just one or two parties; all of them stand a ccused. Murdering democracy does not even take too many members.  Essentially, the approach of these parties is that if something is not done as per their liking, will disallow the House from functioning. The rest can do nothing even if they want to continue working. Basically, the whole House (and indeed the country itself) is taken hostage by Its important we remove this scourge or we will find ourselves in a situation where the frustrated and angry people of the country throw out democracy itself.

The people do not really give a fig whether Parliament discusses price rise through an adjournment motion or a simple resolution. Indeed, they do not care whether the Parliament discusses the issue at all. It is the most dangerous thing to have happened to our polity. Here is the institution that the people should be looking up to. It is supposed to set the agenda and the tone of public discourse in the country. This is where we send our representatives to carry out our common will. They are supposed to legislate and oversee the functioning of the government of the day.Instead, thanks to outdated practices and absence of fresh thinking, the Parliament is managing to push itself more and more into irrelevance. It is tough to recall a time when any significant number of people tuned in to live broadcasts of Parliament to enlighten themselves on any matter, much less to know the outcome of goings on in its haloed portals. It is difficult to name a member of Parliament who has distinguished himself or herself through scholarship on any issue. It is nearly impossible to refer to debate on any law to learn the legislative philosophy that informed its enactment.These days it is difficult to listen to even budget speeches as honourable MPs do not restrain themselves until it is time to discuss the budget. What does this augur for our democracy? Nothing very good. Already the Parliament is less a forum of free expression of views and more an arena for political machinations by partisans. Thanks to stranglehold parties have on their MPs through provisions of anti-defection law, it is more of government running the Parliament than the other way around.

The irrelevance of Parliament has beginning to reflect on our faith in the democratic system. Few believe that their vote makes a difference. We know from experience that no matter who has his way in Parliament, our life will go on pretty much the same way. We can feel the dishonesty that underlines the proceedings. It makes us laugh when we see tainted leaders whose own wealth has gone on multiplying over the years voice concern over plight of the poor.As these worthies of opposition and government meet for the second week of the session today, the big challenge before them is not the technicalities of discussion on price rise. Instead, they should be worried about how to make themselves matter to the public on whose behalf they claim to speak

To sir Najib, with love from Rosmah

Rosmah case has hit national headlines.  woman of integrity, woman for the masses, woman who has fought all odds to speak up for rights of the oppressed, and against those who are corrupt and misuse their power is now being probed and damned for doing exactly  OUR MPs ‘thank’ Rosmah for ‘fruitful’ trip “Conditions apply”Rosmah is an unusual politician. Perhaps even her worst critics might grant her that  her speech to business leaders to deliver a keynote address at the 4th Qatar International Business Women Forum in Doha

Controversial Muslim group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia or ISMA has trained its guns on Prime Minister Najib Razak, giving voice to the words on the lips of millions of Malaysians – reckless spending of public money too is also akin to TREASON!He also called on government leaders to “fear God” when doing their duty by the people.
Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman said “Do not betray the trust of the people who have voted for BN and Umno. Use your wisdom to manage the funds properly,”

He also called on government leaders to “fear God” when doing their duty by the people.”Remember that wisdom does not merely involve the technicalities of management, but also ethics and compassion.”

Abdullah’s comment followed a call made by Najib a day ago to Malaysians to accept the unpopular and much-resisted new tax GST.The PM minister also warned that all those who resisted GST were unpatriotic while those who evaded taxes were traitors.Najib’s remarks sparked a furore of public indignation, as just last week he and wife Rosmah Mansor were the objects of dissatisfaction following revelations they had chalked up multi-million ringgit electricity bills at the PM’s official residence and always used the government’s private jet to travel although it was much cheaper by commercial flights.

Isma itself has come under public fire for its extreme statements that grossly disrespected the rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims.Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former premier, has threatened to sue Isma should it fail to apologize and retract its statement that she was actively involved in Comango, a coalition of NGOs that recently wrote an open letter to the United Nations to complain about Najib’s political insincerity, the worsening racism and religious bigotry in the country and Najib’s clear backtracking on promised reform we need more intellectuals, less politicians in Parliament…There have been many incidents recently when the intelligentsia in the country has stood against the mood of the common people. Since we are a democracy, the mood and opinion of the common person usually trounces the views of the intelligentsia. One of the great joys of living in a democracy is the freedom of thought and expression we enjoy. But one of the ills of democracy is that decision making is driven by the opinions of the majority – those who may not be well equipped in the art of running the government. If we could overcome this, we could enjoy all the joys of democracy and avoid all the downsides. One of the ways to do this is to have more intellectuals in Parliament…..and fewer politicians.

In a democracy, we elect our leaders to Parliament. Each person above 18 has the right to vote – irrespective of whether he/she is literate or illiterate. Since we the people elect the politicians, it is but natural that they the politicans represent the “average” level of thinking in society – its average level of intellect, orthodoxy and economic thinking. Now this is dangerous. If the quality of our politicians is the average of that of our society – rather than being miles ahead – then we are doomed. A leader must be intellectually far superior to the mass he/she leads. This is what happens in the corporate sector. The leader is the unquestioned thought leader of the team. Many times, younger people are preferred over older people since thought leadership (and not age) is of paramount importance. In the army, it is not the average subedar who is the Chief of staff, but the savviest General. In the cricket team, its not the average guy on the street who is the captain, but the most competent player. It should be the same with the government as well. In a country full of people who have been deprived of education, of social progress and of equality for so long, we cannot let the average become the bar for our leaders. But how do we make sure the most intelligent, the most visionary becomes our leader? The bureaucracy is supposed to be the institution that provides the intellectual horse power to the government. At one time, the IAS had some of the most brilliant people working in it. Today, the best prefer to go to the corporate sector. After all, who wants to spend his entire life earning less than what a person with 5 years experience can earn in the corporate sector? Who wants to operate under the constant glare of those who believe that every bureaucrat is corrupt? Further, by making bureaucrats subservient to politicians, we have made them totally impotent. The only success stories of visionary bureaucrats making bold moves come when they have been taken out from under the politicians and given independent roles.

Sharizat was found guilty in the cowgate incident, is Rosmah’s abuse of power any different? Now Najib must explain his role in this incident.This DPM spends the rakyats’ money like his own. No accountability and integrity. He does not know simple arithmetic; value of money. Remember, he allocated RM1m for a school with only 15 students. This incident is so apparent, that he used rakyats’ money to polish his BOSS’s apple. Maybe he could not get near to his BOSS, so he thought this would be an easier way. If this is the caliber of DPM, what caliber are the rest of the cabinet members, who sat in the meeting and allowed it to be approved? They too are parties to the approval and polishing their BOSSES’ apples. This is the type of leaders we are going to have G14. Don’t blame ROSMAH but the person who approved it..If she was invited in her personal capacity, why should the rakyat bear the burden of expenses for the trip. In what capacity or under what category does this expense come under for the cabinet under DPM Muhyiddin to authorise use of public money for an unelected person? If PM had gone along on the same trip, then it will be considered ok. but what is the rationale when Rosmah had gone alone. Minutes of meeting can be rewritten with DPM as chairing the meeting since no requirement to file such minutes with a third party.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (pic, right) has once again come to the aid of the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, saying miracles do happen. And I am not talking of those that ‘God moves in mysterious ways…to perform’ because those do not need vouching for, they are truths which brook no argument. What I am saying is that WE—mere mortals—also work miracles! Yes we do, (or at least we can and definitely should)—without even realizing it! Wow, that is a momentous thought! We can all be conscientious miracle-worker like Rosmah Mansor , and it doesn’t take much effort either. Are you game?Each one of us has a self-image, flattering or otherwise; and we also have a degree of self-worth which is either reinforced, boosted or battered in our interactions with others. Agreed?

Do you realise that almost everything we do is a form of creative expression of our inner self? Each of us has aspirations, dreams and desires, not all of which have found their way into reality. And yet this inner self peeps out, it paces around within us, chaffing against the confines – seeking an outlet, a creative expression.

People express themselves through creative forms such as writing, music, theatre, painting and dance. Almost everything we do, say or think is a form of self-expression that reveals a lot about us.

Our imagination and the flights of fancy it takes in the form of fantasies is also a creative form of our self-expression, known to us alone, unless we choose to share it. Fantasies play an important role in revealing to us our innermost desires and also help us visualise goals and aspirations. These then, when tempered with reality, become the goalposts we strive towards. The ability to use imagination and suspend reality also helps us enjoy fiction, movies and theatre with keenness.

Even as a man watches cricket, it is a form of selfexpression as he aligns himself with one team and totally identifies with them in his desire to compete and win. The vicarious victory is an important element of his self-expression and a balm to his ego. Another person may express himself through the food he cooks or a dress he designs. A poet, in his poetry; a singer in his song.

As desires and aspirations grow, fed upon an explosion of available choices and exposure to success stories, the average middle-class finds itself able to think and fantasise about much bigger things. The 70-inch wall mounted TV no longer seems that distant a possibility, nor does ownership of a dream house, a luxury car or a world cruise. All this helps give expression to our desire for material acquisitions and expansion. Along with this, the fantasies embrace other modes of happiness, such as romance, love and relationships.

Says Dr Deepak Raheja, psychiatrist and director, Hope Foundation, “When we talk of expressing ourselves, we are referring to our ability to sublimate the libidinal energy, which as Sigmund Freud says, is the basis of all biological fuels that drive us. For a long time, we have forgotten to sublimate this energy into creative expression. Today, we find more and more people able to do so. If the gap between the real and the fantasized self increases, it increases frustration in life. Self-expression helps us feel more complete and helps bridge the gap between the real and the imagined self. This brings us to a more philosophical and spiritual fulfillment.”

How does expressing yourself help you? Expressing your inner self through various means gives you an opportunity to sublimate your impulses into identifying with something that gives you catharsis. Expression gets us into a consistent tranquillity, explains Dr Raheja. If we are good at expressing ourselves outwardly, thus allowing bits of our inner self to find real expression, this helps bring us to a state of what Dr Raheja calls “consistent bliss and tranquillity”. This naturally then helps us in real life as well. Because now the state from which you will approach all your mundane tasks and even your critical business decisions, is a more consolidated, tranquil one. The big difference is that now, apart from giving importance to material acquisitions, you have also simultaneously learnt to be happy. And in that state of tranquility, you are able to see your circumstances more realistically since you are better able to connect to the here and now.

Creative expression brings about changes in the brain. Research has quantified those changes. It helps the brain move to a meditative state from where we are able to act in a state of calm that helps us synchronise our actions better; what occurs is a convergence of energy . This convergence leads us to a state of consistent bliss and this bliss eventually begins to make the difference in our everyday living and is what eludes us, almost like a butterfly we are chasing, which at will may come and perch on our shoulder, suggests Dr Raheja poetically.

Self-expression is a way of beating stress, detaching yourself from the burnouts of day-to-day reality. It is a self-defence mechanism where we let ourselves go into a state of meditation and return healed.

So then, what is your favourite mode of self-expression? Is it to talk aloud, listen to music, garden, play tennis, indulge in charity, paint or to write? Or, is fantasy your favourite way to express your innermost being?  Someone should ask in Parliament the total travelling costs taxpayers have to foot for Rosmah and her star-studded entourage that includes a galore of wives of ministers and PM special advisers and members of parliament.The costs should run easily over a million, as apart from the government jet, bills covering air tickets, luxury hotels … Read more

Beware of fake nationalists and pseudo secularists

At long last Malaysia’s democracy is moving in the right direction in offering voters genuine choices  One of these is a choice between English vs Malay policies — a polarization that exists in many democracies and ends in educating citizens about two distinct paths to prosperity choice before voters is between competing styles of leadership. Muhyiddin is a strong, determined leader, who leads from the front while Najib is shy, reticent, and leads from behind Rosmah. Najib is more likeable and compassionate; Muhyiddin is dictatorial but with his obsession with implementation,like Mahathir he is more likely to get the job done. Both are reasonably intelligent, but we make a mistake in overvaluing intelligence. Our current prime minister is hugely intelligent but he has failed to deliver results because he lacks determination, which in the end is more important in delivering results.,Muhyiddin on the other hand, has shown willpower and purposiveness in trying to root out corruption. Incidentally, business leaders voters make the same mistake in over-valuing intelligence when they recruit new employees. It is always better to hire for attitude and train employees in skills.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is the other half of the Mahathir and Muhyiddin pact and today, he has returned with a vengeance., Muhyiddin was almost forgotten. He suffered the same ignominy as Rosmah Mansor, the silent partner in the Najib and Rosmah partnership.With Muhyiddin’s sudden appearance, the rakyat will again be sacrificed in the war for political supremacy, in the fight within Umno.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin  has always wanted something  the Prime Minister post the other banned. English in  Malaysia is hardly the only item in that list. Language and technology have been two perennial fault lines where Muhyiddin ’s lava-like anger keeps steaming and occasionally erupts violently from time to time. What Muhyiddin Yassin  wants abolished, reduced, or done away with stretches from tech upgrades to expensive education The bans list is not just about English and computers.  will declare that he is resolutely opposed to capitalism, stock trading and the ‘mall culture’ – and, even after the split with  Mahathir, be on quite cordial terms with corporate groups that are most definitely not opposed to the stock market or the mall culture.

Former PM Mahathir Mohamad has made several overtures, to set the tone for the Umno  war, but Muhyiddin was largely absent. they were in their eagerness to gain cheap publicity for themselves, were caught in the crossfire and inadvertently became cheap political fodder for the raging warlords in Umno Those arguing that the demand to ban the use of Englisht is illogical or regressive are engaging in a futile exercise. Never has  Muhyiddin  been fazed by the absence of logic or rationality in argument. Muhyiddin will go after the use of English in every forum feasible for years and years, and advocate the shutting down of schools offering English education ­– and express his distaste for English education by sending one son to Australia and one to the UK to study.  Muhyiddin will rave and rant that the use of English is a recipe for increasing unemployment, that their use in the government should be banned – and then have his face on the wallpapers on the thousands of free laptops to government schools will dole out to students.  Muhyiddin will declare that he is resolutely opposed to English.

Malay Language Champions are self-serving

The corporate world relies heavily on English for their networking and advancement. Top and middle management in PETRONAS and Sime Darby, for example, conduct their business deals in English. To progress the nation has adopted science and technology, relied on foreign investment and international trade for its well-being, for example.

If the Malay language champions and other critics are sincerely concerned with the well-being of the nation,they should be less self-serving, more open-minded and supportive of any policy to reintroduce English, crucial for the development of science and technology, promotion of trade and foreign investment.

Real nationalists would do everything to promote the national well-being. Like it or not, the destiny of this nation is tied closely with good governance which provides the objective conditions for greater economic productivity and higher economic growth trajectory; since the Asian financial crisis (1997-1998), economic growth in Malaysia has not recovered fully from its nosedive. Whether a more robust economic recovery could have been achieved with higher English proficiency is debatable, there are studies, which correlate proficiency in English with economic development.

Corporate World needs English Language proficient workers

According to a survey conducted by The Economist Intelligence (2012), 70 per cent of the executives said they need English to expand their corporate vision and more than fifty per cent of the work force need to be proficient in English. According to another report workers with very good command of the English language tend to garner 30-50% higher salaries than “similarly qualified candidates without English knowledge.”

The same study shows a positive relationship between employability and English proficiency, worldwide. Statistics (2011) show that more than forty- thousand Malaysian graduates from public Universities with low proficiency in English find it difficult, year in and year out, to get jobs in the private sector. Their lack of employability puts a drag on the country’s economic trajectory.

The strong correlation between gross national income and proficiency in English is now an accepted mantra. Many maintain that the correlation between English proficiency and gross national income is a virtuous cycle, each mutually reinforcing each other. According to one study, proficiency in English can increase job employability and better salaries. It can also remove some of the accumulated deficits in education affecting students, especially those in the rural areas with limited access to English education.

English proficiency can level the uneven playing fields and close the income gaps between the ethnic groups in this country. Admittedly, language can be emotive as it is cultural specific. However, here we are talking of a productive language and at no time, anybody has even suggested that it should replace or supplant the national language. Today is English as it was Latin in the era of the Roman Republic and early years of the Roman Empire.

This was a ten-course dinner, the best one has had so far. The fare included some fish bladder, sautéed black fungus and ginseng soup in white fungus. Couldn’t wait to lay my hands on it. Alas, there was no spoon, fork or knife on the table. Only chopsticks. The rest of the table was pretty comfortable using the sticks as extended fingers, clicking away to glory. I asked for a fork and it took about ten people in intense confabulations to figure out what I wanted. Started eating about half an hour after all the guests were half way through. This was at a 5-star resort in Nanning, one of south China’s biggest cities. “Don’t know English”, was all that they could say. Same problem when I asked for a loo/ toilet/washroom in the middle of this conference where China had invited delegates from about 15 countries to explain to them the concept of the ‘Chinese dream’.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin  has always wanted something  the Prime Minister post the other banned. English in  Malaysia is hardly the only item in that list. Language and technology have been two perennial fault lines where Muhyiddin ’s lava-like anger keeps steaming and occasionally erupts violently from time to time. What Muhyiddin Yassin  wants abolished, reduced, or done away with stretches from tech upgrades to expensive education The bans list is not just about English and computers.  will declare that he is resolutely opposed to capitalism, stock trading and the ‘mall culture’ – and, even after the split with  Mahathir, be on quite cordial terms with corporate groups that are most definitely not opposed to the stock market or the mall culture.

The way the system works though, it is a matter of time before China masters English. China’s main adversaries in the region included Phillipines with whom they have major problems in the South China sea over control of certain islands. The Filipino delegation was the most vocal at the conference, clearly spelling out in chaste English about their problems with China. Leading from the forefront was Ferdinand Marcos. Jr., now a senator, with his impeccable English.

We sense an element of fear and insincerity among many, especially Malay politicians, in Malaysia when it comes to English. Rather than acknowledge its usefulness in almost every sector of human endeavor, they use English as a bogey to accuse those with a different view of English as being anti-national, and worse still anti-Malay. In such a hostile environment, it is impossible to conduct a rational debate.

Some politicians worry about losing Malay votes if they were to embrace English. Nothing could be far from the truth because English has never featured as a prominent issue in the last thirteen general elections.

There is a sense of contradiction and double standard too. Among the most vocal critics of English are those who have benefited greatly from an English education, whose offsprings attend private English schools abroad and locally. They seem to do it on purpose: to perpetuate their own political survival and to deny the others, the majority who cannot afford an expensive English education, the rite of passage. This is a classic case of using the pedagogy to suppress the poor, mainly Malays.

Thank Mao, we had Macaulay. The letter of invitation from Zhang Yannong, president of People’s Daily, said clearly: “Please be advised that the working language of the program is English and the participating journalist should be proficient in English”. Well said. All the Chinese delegates however were speaking in Mandarin and we had earphones interpreting what was being said. Conquering English is however the biggest challenge wthat China faces today and the ‘Chinese dream’ is all about learning the Queen’s English as the first step to rule the world.

The speakers, some of them from the establishment and others from the Communist Party of China clearly said language was the main barrier coming in the way of making friends with Asian neighbours. China has unleashed a major offensive in schools and colleges to get the younger generation hooked to English. Interpreters are highly paid and still hard to get. In the hotel room, at the Guangxi Wharton international, a letter from the general manager welcomes you saying “The rooms of our hotel are scheduled to be fixed. If any noise make you feel uncomfortable during this period of time, please close your window. We do apologise for any inconvenience that may cause”. On the bedside, there is a notice which states “Don’t smoke in bed”. In the bathroom, it says “Pull the spout in the below tap, then water will come from the up tap”. Can’t ‘shower’ praises on all this Chinglish!

The voter concerns the important issues of secularism and corruption. The PAS a non  nationalist party and is inclined to see the world through majoritarian eyesDAP professes to be secular but its secularism often amounts to appeasing minorities in order to win votes. Still, a voter deeply wedded to secularism, will choose  UMN over PAS. When it comes to corruption, UMNO has broken all records and is seen by many to be profoundly corrupt. PAS  too has skeletons in its closet but the voter is likely to be influenced by  cleaner record against corruption . Thus, there is a third polarization — does one vote for a nonsecular  PAS or corrupt  leaders of UMNO?

Sharp choices bring clarity to decision making for the confused, middle of the road voter, someone like me. Ultimately it amounts to this: Should one risk Malaysia’s precious secular and collaborative traditions for the sake of good governance and prosperity? But by choosing secularism over development, one might deprive millions of young Malaysiaa chance to realise their capabilities, to rise above their lot into the middle class, and the nation a demographic dividend. It is an unappetising choice. It would be easier if Najib is more secular and compassionate, or if Muhyiddin  showed more determination, gave more priority to growth, and was less tolerant of corruption.
Alas, it is not a perfect world and the best one can hope is to choose the less worse of the two candidates and call it a “wise choice”.

UMNO .PAS  things are becoming clear. And with PAS,UMNO and DAP continuing with minority appeasement policies, people fear communal violence will engulf entire Malaysia in the run-up to  elections. Both the sides are promoting fundamentalists among Muslims and non Muslims. In fact, the country is witnessing a ‘fixed match’ between the `fake nationalists’ led by Muhyiddin Yassin   and ‘pseudo secularists’ led by Najib to grab power. And, the common man is suffering.However, people, particularly the privileged class, are also to be blamed for the mess because they have allowed themselves to be swayed by the politicians who have distorted the meaning of the terms like , Hinduism, Islam, secularism, patriotism and nationalism to suit their vested interests. All of us are unaware of the real meaning of these terms which played crucial role in country’s freedom struggle and shaping the idea ofMalaysiaa. Today, fake nationalists are emulating Hitler (hate and racial supremacy) and pseudo secularist the British (divide and rule). Both have forgotten despite their difference of opinion, all worke for the unity of  Malaysia. Many of us may not agree with the ideologies of these great men but we can at least try to understand and follow the common ideas. And, believe me, it is the only way to address the problems the country is facing today.

 Umno president Najib Razak is taking up where his party’s mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia, left off.Najib said yesterday that his party is open to talks with PAS on the issue of cooperation between them on the administration of Islam.At the conclusion of the PAS muktamar last weekend, the Islamic party’s president, Abdul Hadi Awang, in an apparent sop to the unity-with-Umno faction within his party, had offered to talk with Umno on cooperation on matters pertaining to Islamic administration.The faction had not gained the upper hand in PAS’ internal elections. Hadi’s offer was not only an earnest of good Islamic form but was also placation to elements within his party said to be uneasy with Pakatan Rakyat. readmore.Najib persists with the luring game

Wimpish Malaysia may lose the Great Game

United States was planning fierce retribution against  Malaysia with some help from a refuge nation  called SINGAPORE

Malaysia’s wimpish Parliament today rejected an emergency motion brought about by Shamsul Iskandar Akin (PKR-Bukit Katil) to condemn United States, Singapore and Australia over allegations that the three countries were involved in spying on Malaysia. response to Singaporew’s double-dealing isn’t likely to generate oodles of gratitude. A beleagueredMalaysia  has reacted to its own embarrassment with a heady cocktail of victimhood, nationalism and anti-Americanism. Such an outburst can’t be delinked from that country’s pet hates. When it comes to Singapore, Malaysia  is often loath to even practice al taqiyya—so profound is its fear Singapore’s skills of absorption. This may explain Putra Jaya’s calculated over-reaction to notional threats of Singapore special operations. For Singapore, anti- Malay is the national adhesive. In the normal course, India would have been an additional pressure point on Najib. Having abandoned that option,    he has made itself redundant in the Great Game.yet to open his mouth

A televised speech on the choices facing Pakistan. In a rambling address, Musharraf drew inspiration from the early history of Islam. The Prophet, he reminded viewers, had negotiated the Treaty of Hudaibiya with the Quraish of Mecca. The truce may have seemed a climb down and an admission of weakness but it offered the army of Islam the elbow room to spread the faith throughout the Arabian Peninsula. It was an invigorated Islam that finally regained Mecca. knew less than her bravado believes, and might even have been turned into a conduit of misinformation, without her knowledge, after she was uncovered. But she does constitute a gigantic Indian failure. Only saps get sucked into such soft snares, and an Indian diplomat, and an Indian mission, leapt at the bait hook, line and sinker.

You don’t have to be beautiful to be Mata Hari; you merely have to be available. Margaretha Zelle, the Dutch-born, Paris-based, World War 1 German agent who made spying synonymous with sexual frisson, was actually a bit of a podge who couldn’t get a job in a vaudeville chorus line because she wasn’t “cute” and became a circus horse-rider.
One pithy observer thought she was as attractive with clothes as without them, which may or may not have been a compliment. She was driven to striptease by despair: she fled her husband, an officer in the Dutch colonial army, posted to Indonesia, and an alcoholic who beat her regularly and mercilessly.But she had an extraordinary talent, the ability to trump the real with the surreal. She reinvented herself as an expert in the secret and mysterious arts of “Indian” erotica (hence the name ‘Mata Hari’), learnt during her interlude in Java, and became a sensation. She was not much of a spy actually; she did more spending than spying. The Germans, cold to a fault, betrayed her, and she ended up before a French firing squad in 1917.It is not, presumably, compulsory, but it is clearly useful for a potential spy to have a split personality. The pain of the tragedy, or failure, is subsumed by the surreal. But a fevered imagination also weakens or even erases the constraints of duty and morality that bind real life.

Former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim today revealed that money changed hands, which led to Malaysia losing its claim on Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore in 2007.That revelation was made in Mat Zain’s 31-page statutory declaration sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on October 9.”In the accompanying letter to the Prime Minister, I urged him to focus on paragraph 54 (e),(f) and (g) of the SD , which revealed the wrongdoings of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who handled the Pulau Batu Puteh case.”Also included was information that a large amount of money changed hands and was credited into a bank account in Hong Kong,” said Mat Zain.He also defended his earlier allegation that Abdul Gani was the reason that Malaysia lost the case which was heard at the International Court of Justice in 2007.In his SD, Mat Zain claimed that Abdul Gani had intentionally lost the case.”Studies made on the ICJ proceeding notes showed that a ‘controversial photograph’ was added in a few days before the case was heard, which can be seen as trying to dupe the ICJ panel,” said Mat Zain.Putrajaya had denied the claim that Malaysia lost its claim on Pulau Batu Puteh due to a wrong photograph of the location of the island submitted by Abdul Gani in the proceedings.”The AG did not head the case and did not have the final say on the handling of the case,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri in Parliament last week.”So the allegations that the AG had shown a wrong photograph as claimed by the opposition leader (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) is baseless and made without any verification.”Mat Zain said if the SD had been made public before the Umno party polls last month, it would have affected Sabah Umno representatives who contested, adding there was a link between Abdul Gani and politicians in the state.Mat Zain urged Putrajaya to appeal the ICJ decision on the Pulau Batu Puteh case for the sake of the country’s honour.”We still have four and a half years more to file an appeal to ICJ if there was enough evidence to do so.”No matter how slim our chances are, we cannot let it go just like that,” the former Kuala Lumpur CID chief stressed.It was previously reported that on August 10, Mat Zain met former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Umno lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusoff and Dr Mahathir’s former political secretary Matthias Chang.Their discussion reportedly centred on Abdul Gani’s alleged wrongdoings, including fabrication of evidence in the infamous “black eye” incident of 1998 involving former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.Mat Zain, then the investigating officer in that case, reportedly informed Dr Mahathir that Abdul Gani, then a senior deputy public prosecutor, had fabricated evidence to suggest that Anwar’s injury was self-inflicted.Mat Zain also claimed that Abdul Gani deliberately lost the Pulau Batu Puteh case.Following the meeting, Mat Zain released his SD with copies to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Solicitor General Datuk Idris Harun and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.Part of the contents of the SD was made public by Mat Zain earlier this month after he expressed his disappointment with Putrajaya for not acting on the revelations.Malaysia will summon Singapore’s High Commissioner, Mr Ong Keng Yong, today to seek a clarification over reports that allege Singapore is involved in spying activities against Malaysia.There is an obvious problem in the analogy with Mata Hari.  S’pore envoy in the  trap came from Australian newspapers claimed that secret documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor turned whistle-blower Edward Snowden had shown that Singapore and South Korea were helping the US and Australia tap undersea telecommunications links in Asia. These articles were picked up by the Malaysian press.

We have no confirmation yet about his expertise in the seductive arts. But gender is not the issue. Men are far more vulnerable to the inflammable concoction of ego and libido operative of singapore intelligence. But the principle of a spy’s mentality holds. Since there is never sufficient justification for the betrayal of a country, and the greed (whether for money or sex) involved must be rationalized by layers of self-deceit, the spy converts a complex, tortured fiction into his or her version of that malleable commodity called truth.

In a statement issued late last night, Malaysia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, said the country was investigating the matter.

“The Malaysian authorities have taken appropriate actions with regard to earlier allegations of spying by the United States and Australia. The Malaysian authorities are now investigating thoroughly the latest media report about the involvement of other countries, in particular Singapore, in the spying activities against Malaysia,” the press statement said.

The statement comes after Australian newspapers claimed that secret documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor turned whistle-blower Edward Snowden had shown that Singapore and South Korea were helping the US and Australia tap undersea telecommunications links in Asia. These articles were picked up by the Malaysian press.

Neighbouring Singapore is a key partner of the “5-Eyes” intelligence group which was revealed to have tapped telephones and monitored communications networks in Kuala Lumpur, according to more top secret documents leaked by intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

In a report by Australian media group Fairfax Media today quoting Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad, it was revealed that Singapore is a key “third party” providing the ring — made of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — access to Malaysia’s communications channel.

Singapore was included in a map published by NRC, which showed the US’ stranglehold on trans-Pacific communications channels through interception facilities on the US’ West coast, Hawaii and Guam.

The facilities, in turn, tap all cable traffic across the Pacific Ocean, and links between Australia and Japan.

In August, Fairfax had reported that the Singaporean intelligence is a partner of Australia’s electronic espionage agency, the Defence Signals Directorate, to tap the SEA-ME-WE-3 cable that runs from Japan, via Singapore, Djibouti, Suez and the Straits of Gibraltar to Northern Germany.

This access was allegedly facilitated by Singaporean telecommunication operator Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel), which is owned by Singapore government’s investment arm Temasek Holdings.

Singapore’s head of civil service Peter Ong, who had previously been in charge of national security and intelligence co-ordination in its prime minister’s office, is the government’s representative on the telco firm’s board.

It is believed that SingTel had been responsible in expanding the ties between Australia and Singapore’s intelligence and defence in the past 15 years, said the report.

According to Fairfax, Malaysia and Indonesia had been key targets for both Australian and Singaporean intelligence even since the 1970s, since most of its telecommunications and Internet traffic goes through the island city-state.

Last month, Snowden had revealed that the US runs a monitoring station in its Kuala Lumpur embassy to tap telephones and monitor communications networks.

A map originally published by Germany magazine Der Spiegel and sighted by Fairfax, showed 90 electronic surveillance facilities worldwide, including in US embassies in Jakarta, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Yangon.

Dated August 13, 2010, the map however did not show any such facilities in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and Japan, which are the US’ closest allies.

In August, Australian intelligence sources had confirmed that top-secret intelligence tool XKeyscore — which was revealed by on-the-run Snowden — has been used to spy on Malaysia among other Asia-Pacific countries.

The XKeyscore programme boasted that by 2008 over 300 terrorists had been captured from intelligence gathered by the tool.

Edward Snowden: New leaks have revealed the involvement of Australia in the interception of global satellite communications. Photo: Reuters

Singapore and South Korea are playing key roles helping the United States and Australia tap undersea telecommunications links across Asia, according to top secret documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. New details have also been revealed about the involvement of Australia and New Zealand in the interception of global satellite communications.

A top secret United States National Security Agency map shows that the US and its “Five Eyes” intelligence partners tap high speed fibre optic cables at 20 locations worldwide. The interception operation involves cooperation with local governments and telecommunications companies or else through “covert, clandestine” operations.

The undersea cable interception operations are part of a global web that in the words of another leaked NSA planning document enables the “Five Eyes” partners – the US, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand – to trace “anyone, anywhere, anytime” in what is described as “the golden age” signals intelligence.

The NSA map, published by Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad overnight, shows that the United States maintains a stranglehold on trans-Pacific communications channels with interception facilities on the West coast of the United States and at Hawaii and Guam, tapping all cable traffic across the Pacific Ocean as well as links between Australia and Japan.

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The map confirms that Singapore, one of the world’s most significant telecommunications hubs, is a key “third party” working with the “Five Eyes” intelligence partners.

In August Fairfax Media reported that Australia’s electronic espionage agency, the Defence Signals Directorate, is in a partnership with Singaporean intelligence to tap the SEA-ME-WE-3 cable that runs from Japan, via Singapore, Djibouti, Suez and the Straits of Gibraltar to Northern Germany.

Australian intelligence sources told Fairfax that the highly secretive Security and Intelligence Division of Singapore’s Ministry of Defence co-operates with DSD in accessing and sharing communications carried by the SEA-ME-WE-3 cable as well as the SEA-ME-WE-4 cable that runs from Singapore to the south of France.

Access to this major international telecommunications channel, facilitated by Singapore’s government-owned operator SingTel, has been a key element in an expansion of Australian-Singaporean intelligence and defence ties over the past 15 years.

Majority owned by Temask Holdings, the investment arm of the Singapore Government, SingTel has close relations with Singapore’s intelligence agencies. The Singapore Government is represented on the company’s board by the head of Singapore’s civil service, Peter Ong, who was previously responsible for national security and intelligence co-ordination in the Singapore Prime Minister’s office.

Australian intelligence expert, Australian National University Professor Des Ball has described Singapore’s signal’s intelligence capability as “probably the most advanced” in South East Asia, having first been developed in cooperation with Australia in the mid-1970s and subsequently leveraging Singapore’s position as a regional telecommunications hub.

Indonesia and Malaysia have been key targets for Australian and Singaporean intelligence collaboration since the 1970s. Much of Indonesia’s telecommunications and Internet traffic is routed through Singapore.

The leaked NSA map also shows South Korea is another key interception point with cable landings at Pusan providing access to the external communications of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has long been a close collaborator with the US Central Intelligence Agency and the NSA, as well as the Australian intelligence agencies. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation recently engaged in legal action in an unsuccessful effort to prevent publication of details of South Korean espionage in Australia. ASIO Director-General David Irvine told the Federal Court that Australian and South Korean intelligence agencies had been cooperating for “over 30 years” and that any public disclose of NIS activities would be “detrimental” to Australia’s national security.

The NSA map and other documents leaked by Mr Snowden and published by the Brazilian O Globo newspaper also reveal new detail on the integration of Australian and New Zealand signals intelligence facilities in the interception of satellite communications traffic by the “Five Eyes” partners.

For the first time it is revealed that the DSD satellite interception facility at Kojarena near Geraldton in Western Australia is codenamed “STELLAR”.  The New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau facility at Waihopai on New Zealand’s South Island is codenamed “IRONSAND”.  The codename for DSD’s facility at Shoal Bay near Darwin is not identified. However all three facilities are listed by the NSA as “primary FORNSAT (foreign satellite communications) collection operations”.

Coverage of satellite communications across Asia and the Middle East is also supported by NSA facilities at the United States Air Force base at Misawa in Japan, US diplomatic premises in Thailand and India, and British Government Communications Headquarters facilities in Oman, Nairobi in Kenya and at the British military base in Cyprus.

The leaked NSA map also shows that undersea cables are accessed by the NSA and the British GCHQ through military facilities in Djibouti and Oman, thereby ensuring maximum coverage of Middle East and South Asian communications.

Court amends charges to include Dr Mahathir in NFCorp cheating case

A severe, trite, authentic case made by a journalist not just from your fraternity but from your office, the office that for over 12 years has been emblematic of unflinching, investigative journalism is mulled over at a pace that defies your very etymological origin  is this your way of acting correctly?Neither one of you has offered any rationale about why your office does not  examines cases  which is mandated by  Court judgment in correct correct correct  case. How have you acted correctly?Your statement – that you “need time prioritize it,” – does not even make sense – for prioritizing it would mean acting without lapse in time – self contradictory statements such as this have the media, and the ever watchful readership waiting in abeyance while you prioritize, or rather think about acting correctly!If you are, as you say, ‘driven by what she wants’ then how can you follow it up with a statement such as, “(he) stepped down. It was something had not asked for. It was much more than what she wanted.” How sardonically heroic for to give  so much more – a self-contrived temporary vacation to get away from the eye of the storm – for what he ‘in his correct senses’ deems as ‘drunken banter’ and a ‘lapse of judgment’ the Attorney General  should read and understand Article 145(3) of the Malaysian Constitution Unholy Trinity of Mahathir, the AG and the MACC  Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail for malicious prosecution.

said it before and I say it again- AG Gani Patail is a liability to this government!

AG Gani Patail is a liability to this government!

When Mat Zain first divulged Mahathir had asked to meet him, many believed that his rambling and convoluted attack against the AG was a red herring.When Mat Zain first divulged Mahathir had asked to meet him, many believed that his rambling and convoluted attack against the AG was a red herring.Factually, there is little room for doubt, ambiguity, misunderstanding or convenient errors of contrivance relative to the atrocious incident that took place in As if the complete apathy towards what constitutes a ‘correct’ moral system, a ‘correct’ humane system, the ‘correct’ legal system, the ‘correct’ professional system and ah – the very vertebrae that ought to sustain it all– the ‘correct’ journalistic system – were not enough, the leitmotif that a journalist of stature is hankering after – ‘give me time to act correctly’ is painful, hypocritical and …incorrect.But even so, we would urge the government to investigate Mat Zain’s claims against Najib and Gani impartially. These are very serious allegation involving possible treason as far as Pulau Batu Puteh and the US agents are concerned. As for Najib’s part in so far as the Umno election is concerned, if true, that would be gross abuse of power

Mat Zain accuses AG Gani Patail of being LIAR, FABRICATOR and MANIPULATOR.

Mat Zain’s contempt for AG Gani Patail and former IGP Musa Hassan is so without bounds. That these two have destroyed the criminal justice system and have brought total disrepute to PDRM and the A-G Chambers. AG as being the root cause that will discredit the whole government’s efforts to eradicate corruption. he exception as the rule Good Intentions cannot justify bad delivery
Bill passd in parliamnt are not in the laudable intention but in the clogged delivery. The desire to be politically correct has overtaken the imperative to be politically sensible. Method and order structural flaw could further erode the already ebbing credibility of our parliamentary systemThe irony is that such flaws can be easily corrected, with some time and thought. Both have been absent from the process, the favourite weapons of Hercule Poirot, might be usefully employed in analysis.It is odd that the government should have chosen law and order as its final alibi after some exhausting self-laceration in its search for a credible explanation for the escape ofJustice
When Instuation smuggled  The Predators to safety, the authority of state abandoned the responsibility of state. Excuses, evasions and lies have shifted over years; this central truth has not.the umbilical chord of the colonial, or neo-colonial. Who had dared to arrest a pillar of the American corporate establishment. ‘Bail or no bail’: what was a rotten piece of paper signed in an Indian court worth to a lord of Wall Street? Not even the decency of silence. Anderson was publicly, even proudly, contemptuous of those who did not have the courage to interrupt his freedom for a mere industrial disaster in which a few thousand semi-slave Indians had been gassed to death within hours and thousands more would die over years.Accusation is the easy exit route from Bhopal. Introspection will take us back to the beginning. Betrayal is impossible without trust. We did not trust Carbide to be honest. We trusted our political class, and it continues to search for new and inventive ways to betray us again.

“The root cause of all this suspicion is the credibility of the A-G Chambers, in particular of the personal integrity of AG Gani Patail himself. As a public officer, the AG’s conduct, both public and personal, must be beyond reproach. That is the root problem. For so long as there is suspicion about the personal conduct of AG Gani Patail as described above and it is not addressed, all sincere efforts by the Government and the MACC will be futile. It will be regarded as mere public relations exercise or slogans.  It will be unfortunate if the AG himself becomes a stumbling block to the Government’s and the MACC’s efforts to portray a Bersih. Cekap, Amanah Government. It is like the saying “Ketam cuba mengajar anaknya berjalan lurus”.Gani Patail is the problem. He is mired in controversy . He is vindictive. Hevictimizes the innocent and protects the crooks.

The Umno election was held on October 19, all the ‘president’s men’ had won. Najib, the Umno president, and deputy Muhyiddin Yassin had retained their posts without any challenges made.

t must be noted that Mat Zain is given ‘face’ by many of the media who report his allegations, and as he has also divulged, even Mahathir has asked to meet hm. This is due to the fact that he had access to extremely sensitive and confidential information while in the police force. why should you get to decide the correct measure of the correct recompense – a recusal from office for six months – six months of atonement? What does that amount to? Why just six months? Do you even realize the gravity of your – at this point –

Sad to say, Najib – who perhaps stands to lose most in the event of any neutral public inquiry – is unlikely to pay any heed to Mat Zain.

In fact, some in Umno believe that it was Najib’s supporters who had sabotaged the Pulau Batu Puteh case so as to tarnish Abdullah Badawi, Najib’s immediate predecessor.Their motive – to help Najib oust Badawi and take over as prime minister in 2009.The hotly-contested vice-president posts were swept by incumbents Hishammuddin Hussein, Zahid Hamidi and Shafie Apdal – all regarded as being loyal to the Najib camp.Mahathir’s youngest son Mukhriz failed in his bid to win one of the 3 VP posts and few of his allies managed to get into the supreme council.

A re-election in Umno would obviously give Mukhriz and his allies another shot at key party posts. However, despite his startling revelations, few doubt Mat Zain would be able to accumulate sufficient momentum to really dislodge Najib & Co.”I doubt Umno will vote out corrupt politicians no matter how strong the evidence. Corruption is their raison d’etre actually,”And the explosion is devastating. The former police chief has accused Najib of deceiving Umno members and wants the party election held last month to be declared null and void.According to Mat Zain, he had sent Najib a copy of a 31-page statutory declaration on October 9 that contained ‘sensitive’ information about many of the senior Umno leaders vying for office.However, Najib kept the information to himself, and this may have helped his allies win key posts in the Umno top decision-making body – the supreme council.”And by concealing the content of the SD, Najib could be said to have deprived the members of their rights in choosing the right candidates in the party polls,

reported Mat Zain as saying.

“The Registrar of Societies must show that it has a backbone and is able to take action against any political party which has violated the laws or party constitution.”Mat Zain zoomed in on the AG again, accusing him of protecting Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.“There were Umno supreme council candidates who are known to have been protected by Abdul Gani when allegations of wrongdoings were raised against them. There is a strong possibility that Umno members would not have voted in these candidates,” Mat Zain.”Umno supreme council candidates, especially those from Sabah, would not have fared well either as Abdul Gani is from Sabah and has family ties with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.”Musa himself has been accused of being protected by Abdul Gani on several occasions when he was accused of corruption and abuse of power. I believe that if Najib had told the assembly about my SD, the outcome of the polls would have been very different.”Mat Zain has mystified many in the political arena with his recent revelations of a hush-hush pow-wow with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad that had been brokered by senior Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah.The former police chief has also alleged that US agents were working in the AG’s office with Najib’s knowledge, and that the AG had been negligent in handling the Pulau Batu Puteh ownership tussle against Singapore.And now, even before the dust has settled on those accusations, which incidentally are deafening due to Najib and Gani’s persistent silence and refusal to clear the air, Mat Zain has dropped his latest bombshell.

Our Parliament and state assemblies are little more than a hotbed of interminable intrigue, confrontation, mud-slinging, filibustering and sometimes also outbursts of violence.Judged according to these standards, this numbs the nerves of the executive and paralyses the legislature. The one cannot govern while the other cannot enact laws, adopt policies or, so far as the opposition is concerned, even act as a watch-dog of the government of the day. What stands out, therefore, is a mockery of their constitutional responsibilities.

A few high-profile cases reveal how much democracy’s ‘software’ lags behind its ‘hardware’   intricacies of the cases continue to be subjected to close and critical scrutiny in the media. But the larger picture they reveal hasn’t attracted the requisite attention: the growing disconnect between the “hardware” and the “software” of Malaysian democracy. The “hardware” of democracy include legislative and executive institutions (Parliament, state assemblies, the judiciary, official statutory and non-statutory bodies, political parties and the media. And the “software” relates to the observance of rules and regulations, conventions and precedents to enable the institutions to function in a transparent, accountable and effective manner. What is the record?

In believing AG Gani Patail is invincible -Police are not investigating a sworn statement containing explosive allegations against Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail because it is not a police report, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today when referring to e statutory declaration made by former city CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim. the ‘moral of the story’ apparently is “You gotta be careful, you never know nowadays…”. Read the twisted thought process prompting such fear. This part of is driven byMat Zain Ibrahim.  stuff:   Zahid Hamidi is trying the defence that Red Riding Hood is really the wolf and the wolf was none other than good old  Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail . Sickeningly, it’s received wisdom in newsrooms that there will be ‘flings’. That Mat Zain Ibrahim story “  did not catch the editor’s eye”. “That these things happen”. As the case gets murkier,Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi fires his latest WMD (weapon of mass distortion)How the case moves, truth be told, is an off-putting thought given that mud will fly worse than a mud-wrestling bout. All eyes on  Najibl, who must’ve studied from special grammar text ‘Wrench & Martin’, to play — verbosity and all -you have individuals without kith or kin who rule the roost in their parties:l. None dares cross their path. What “software” of democracy can they possibly bring to the table? Precious little.

Thank you,  Ahmad Zahid for — liberating us — from the burden of suppressed emotions. Regardless of what his critics are saying about Mat Zain Ibrahim.  stuff outburst, we am pretty sure AG Gani Patail   touched countless hearts. A no-holds-barred personal catharsis from a political bigwig on this scale and level is a hard act to top. But then again, As people evolve and circumstances change, no decision seems too sacrosanct to be questioned again Between the two Liars , what a lesson learnt amidst the beautiful environs of Liars Club: Be true to your own self and cultivate passion for something meaningful… Is it okay to change your mind? How often can one do so without being labelled … Read more

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi   have a vested interest in playing down Ahmad Zahid said the authorities would consider investigating the allegations if a police report was lodged on the issue. however, said a statutory declaration did not amount to a police report, hence no investigation papers have been opened.In a 31-page statutory declaration, Mat Zain claimed that hundreds of millions of ringgit had changed hands and deposited into a Hong Kong bank account over the Pulau Batu Puteh case, which the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Singapore.Mat Zain alleged that Abdul Gani had deliberately lost the case resulting in the ICJ ruling in favour of Singapore. He urged authorities to investigate the actual reason for Malaysia losing the island to Singapore, saying it was a matter of sovereignty.Administrative and legal processes  to get to the bottom of four high-profile cases involving, directly  What is at stake in each case is abuse of power that is in flagrant violation of the laws by those who are duty-bound – because of the positions they occupy – to uphold them.The most pressing need before the country is to ensure Letting Parliament function is the responsibility that comes with all the rights that our MPs In a democracy should the  Speaker sit in give judgment  Does the government not have faith in the ability of our Parliamentarians to examine an issue and make realistic and appropriate … Read more

The ailments of the judiciary, including, in the first place, that of the Supreme Court, are of another order. The alleged moral turpitude of some of the judges is only one of them. Even on this count, however, the judiciary is loath to allow an impartial and transparent probe by anyone other than the members of its own fraternity. The most recent instance concerns allegations of sexual misconduct against a recently retired judge of the apex court by an intern.

Add to this the growing interference of the apex court in legislative and executive areas that are, strictly speaking, beyond its remit. It is argued, doubtless with good reason, that such interference is inevitable when the government and the legislature are unable or unwilling or both to shoulder their constitutionally-mandated tasks. Governance, like nature, abhors a vacuum. But the danger in this argument is that it upsets the delicate balance of power between the three estates of the republic that the Constitution decrees. On this count, too, a lethal virus could render the “software” of democracy obsolete.That danger is no less acute when governments, both at the Centre and in the states, deploy official agencies to get even with rivals. More often than not, such deployment is initiated outside the framework of laws, rules and regulations. Fake encounters and fabricated cases are evidence of this conceited insouciance.

‘Right to clear name’

On May 2008, the inquiry findings had recommended investigation by the authorities on six individuals including the trio.

The others were tycoon Vincent Tan, UMNO secretary-general and then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir did not seek a judicial review of the findings in the report.On Dec 12, 2008, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had rejected the applications of Lingam, Eusoff, Ahmad Fairuz, Tan and Tengku Adnan to challenge the commission’s findings.

Tan and Tengku Adnan withdrew their application before the appeals were jointly heard yesterday.  Lingam, who represented himself yesterday, had submitted that he has a right to clear his name.

But so is the intrusive surveillance of citizens suspected of making life difficult for the rulers of the day: rival politicians, nosey media persons, un-cooperative civilian and police officials, NGOs and, in one instance at least, an individual who posed no such threat.

The cases ofV AG Gani Patail,Mahathir former MCA President  different category. They relate to an unforgiveable betrayal of trust reposed in them . What makes the betrayal odious is that these individuals professed to promote highfalutin principles of moral and spiritual rectitude. All three of them emasculated the substance of their calling and, in the process, polluted the “software” that is expected to keep state and society in India in fine fettle.

Najib  respected and knowledgeable economist and an honest and well intentioned man, Najib risks losing even this limited legacy completely, with scams unraveling around him like Draupadi’s robes. Unless  angle miracle steps in to save him he is lost.This is really when new MT needs to step up to the plate and provide the leadership … Read more

 The PKR Youth chief  Shamsul disagreed.argued that a strong message must be sent to those allegedly involved in spying.The failure of government especially our prime minister to come out with a strong stance is causing this despicable act to continue,l

SINGAPORE is under the spotlight following the latest revelations that it is a key “third party” in providing intelligence on Malaysia to the “Five-Eyes” intelligence grouping.

According to top secret documents leaked by former United States intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, the city state, along with South Korea, were playing key roles in helping the US and Australia tap telecommunications links across Asia on the Internet backbone — undersea fibre optic cables that shuttle online communications between countries.

The PKR Youth chief said other countries leaders like Brazil, Germany and Indonesia had reacted strongly by demanding for apology and cancelling trip to Washington to show their disgust over US and Australia’s spying activities in their countries.US and Australia’s spying activities was thrust to global limelight by American whistleblower Edward Snowden who revealed the existence of a global espionage network by both country upped the ante by alleging that Singapore had aided an intelligence group to spy on Malaysia.US embassy in Kuala Lumpur was listed by Snowden as one of the monitoring station to tap telephones and monitor communication networks using XKeyscore, a top-secret intelligence tool Singapore Straits Times .

Singaporean  can drive  to Malaysiaa very large truck of suspect cargo through the door marked ‘patriotism’. Once the integrity of the nation is invoked and the spectre of social and to create communal unrest is seen as being at stake, the state buys for itself a lot of room for actions that might have otherwise seemed unpalatable. In that sense, the decision to impose some kind of regulation on social media The refuge nation  Singapore governtment owned  Straits Times.and United States are planning fierce retribution against  Malaysia   episode has been discussed  falsehoods and exaggerations.   threadbare by all. misadventure stings itself  Go On A WitchMalays in Malaysia were attracted to hardline groups who claim to champion their rights, as they felt the country’s major Malay-based political parties have ditched them for non-Malay votes, the power of unsubstantiated rumour is hardly a new phenomenon; we have many instances of it from Singapore occurs  political scandal  in this case the key role was played by a new technology, one that promises to free up information from being controlled by a few.

Horrific Singapore Straits Times  hate crimes are, here the horror is given an added edge by the fact Singapore Straits Times wrong by targeting Malaysian Muslims, who even by his warped standards, were unconnected with the imagined grievances  not harboured in their mind.  suggests that no amount of information, however widely circulated and easily accessible can by itself overcome determined ignorance and pre-conceived prejudice. In a larger sense, in spite of the dramatically higher volume of  misinformation that circulates, it has made little dent on the volume of prejudice .entirely the result of a surfeit of information, the multiplication of motivated rumour by Singapore Straits Times lies

Singapore Straits Times lies

“Muslims are attracted to NGOs… like ours because the political parties cannot prioritise Malay and Muslim rights,” Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, was quoted as saying.

Abdullah is of the view that Malays and the position of Islam in the country were being threatened by liberals, Christians and groups advocating gay rights.

Adding to their list of enemies were what they termed “deviant” Shi’ite Muslims, all of whom they said threatened the sovereignty of Malay rulers by “invoking equality and freedom of religion”.

And while their views may seem outlandish to many, hardline groups represented by the likes of Abdullah have been gaining support among Malays.

The paper said Malays felt that both Umno and PAS, two of the country’s largest Malay-based political organisations, have failed to defend Malay-Muslim privileges because the parties were now going after non-Malay support.

Associate Professor Shamsul Adabi Mamat, political analyst at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the hardline groups were comprised of inactive members of political parties who felt their parties had not been assertive enough on Malay and Islamic issues.

Another analyst said Umno would risk losing support from other races if it stressed too much on Malay-Muslim issues.

“Race-based groups like Umno cannot be voicing Islam and Malay rights too much, or they will lose the multiracial votes so they need some prominent pressure groups to do it for them,” Shaharuddin Badaruddin of Universiti Teknologi Mara, told the Straits Times.

After more than 40 years of affirmative action, many non-Malays and even some Malays viewed race-based policies as outdated, and instead were calling for a needs-based approach to poverty.

This shift, according to the report, has not sat well with groups like Isma.

Over the next three to four months, Isma plans to hold at least 20 forums on such topics as “Christianisation and survival of the Malay”, “Christian threat in Malaysia” and “Threat of liberalism”.

The group claims to have 20,000 members nationwide with hundreds more to be recruited by the month, while Perkasa, the other Malay rights group, claims to have “hundreds of thousands” of members, the report added. Perkasa’s membership is said to overlap with that of Umno.

The Straits Times said the groups were vocal, and recalled how protests by Perkasa and another Malay rights NGO called Jati, had shut down a festival to highlight gay rights in Kuala Lumpur, Seksualiti Merdeka.

The same groups were also behind protests in the wake of the Allah controversy. A ruling on October 14 banned Catholic weekly Herald from using the word Allah in its Bahasa Malaysia edition.

Abdullah had then urged Christians who disagreed with the court’s decision to migrate.

Former commissioner with Suhakam, the human rights commission, said groups like Isma were hurting their own cause by vilifying those who did not share their views.

“Asking people to get out of Malaysia if they disagree with certain issues is not an argument, it’s a bully method,” the Straits Times quoted Muhd Sha’ani Abdullah as saying.

the truth too can be deeply contentious. The attack against Muslims in  is unprecedented in the naked use of every instrument that is available to singapore  government .demonising all private information as a sinister form of secret, and making the truth, no matter how private or how sensitive, a public commodity, Wikileaks builds a crude model of our reality, one which ignores the need sometimes for information to be cloaked and for appearances to be maintained. Not all truth sets us free, and while the withholding of information has undoubtedly been used to create power asymmetries, not all information can carry an air of presumptive righteousness. By setting it free in its rawest form, Wikileaks shows us that truth too has limits on its value. Wikileaks makes the truth pornographic, by making it a titillating display of undifferentiated wares, a laying bare of the inner for the satisfaction of sight alone.

In an earlier era, when the transmission of information was centrally regulated, it was easier to think of it as a resource that needs to be shared more widely and made more accessible. More information was almost always better, and the battle to extract more was often a heroic one. The reason why journalism was seen through a lens of romance was because it represented the act of extricating the truth from the jaws of the powerful and the corrupt.Singapore’s ISA LAW for instance has been a key instrument in enabling government powerful and hitherto opaque institutions. But with the greater penetration of the market into media and the dramatic democratisation of information, not just in terms of being able to access but also in being able to broadcast it, the default belief in its inherent and limitless legitimacy needs to be rethought.As media gets seen as having an axe to grind, its coverage of issues gets to be consumed with a filter in place. This creates many parallel narratives of truth, each claiming that it represents reality better.the news comes to us contaminated and our 0doubts about it taint it even further. And social media, which bypasses traditional channels of information, is in the name of freedom of expression, able to re-circulate rumours that speak to the deepest anxieties of those vulnerable. The valorisation of the freedom of expression is a product of its context; as information becomes less scarce, more motivated and less inhibited in its expression of human frailties, it might be time to evaluate whether we need more robust mechanisms for creating some sense of order. The value of free expression was derived in part from its scarce availability; today’s problem is the one that comes with its chaotic plenty. Not regulating this in any way may not be as a romantic an idea as it once was.

 Party over at Federal Territories Ministry given that in any crisis, good, clear and honest communication has a far better chance of convincing people than taking Najib to  the Road to Disaster

The election of 2018  will be about the future of the stomach.  Since we live in overriding virtually every other attribute, this week’s sordid scandal involving an alarmingly enough has appeared about the lurid details of the case, so let’s skip the muck, and focus on what could have been done to salvage a pretty hopeless situation.  fledgling political hopeful, made a mistake it would be loath to recognize, let alone admit? Was a broom quite the correct symbol for an organization seeking to achieve the unprecedented — break through glass and steel ceilings, and in one dramatic leap soar from street anger to responsible office? Is a broom too brash an image, representative of undergraduate coffee house rage more than the visual signature of a party that wants to   insists the rate hike will take effect on January 1, for the middle-class, sort out the capital’s silly drainage, and, if there is any time left over, eliminate corruption from the intricate layers of government that claw and crush citizens from all sides? Does a symbol make much difference to electoral fortunes? UMNO has won Titiwangsa in G13 election on a humble Najib’s  promise to voters to hear them. But  voters might be more successful in creating a rebellion than in benefiting from this achievement. In any case,  Tengku Adnan Mansor deserves congratulations for making Titiwangsa a fascinating electoral case-study . A flat equation has acquired the tension of a fragile triangle.: no election is a mirror of the past. Previous statistics can be misleading  Najib has indicated what he will do: continue the distributive largesse from the national exchequer.

Liberty, as an idea, is a toddler in the history of human thought. No surprise, then, if it periodically trips over and breaks a milk tooth. Civilization, ever a moveable feast, emerged out of the belief that social order must take precedence, to protect and enhance the common good. Order searched for command; this quest evolved into institutions like chief, king or, in the worst scenario, despot.Communities which valued individual freedom, both in mind and body, were pushed to the margins. Lacking organization they could not compete militarily or economically with the power of settled civic formations. Curiously, they still invited subliminal envy, sometimes expressed, positively, in romantic notions of ‘purity’. The alternative impulse was lust and exploitation — which has been the fate Federal Territories voters

In political space, there is sufficient evidence that the young do not want to repeat the failures of their parents, or the follies of grandparents.the polarization which swings results is increasingly between order and disorder, decision and stagnation, governance and chaos, the young know that a government’s lapse leads to economic collapse, and they do not want life to crumble before it has begun.  Federal Territories  constituency much faster than  Tengku Adnan Mansor had found it. He may not have lost the confidence of the legislature, but he has lost the trust of his people.

What can we make of the differing statements of the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor (pic) and his deputy Datuk J. Loga Balan Mohan over the rate hike for Kuala Lumpur property owners?

All this actually means is a greater trust deficit in the authorities, from how they assess taxes to how they they use public funds to run the capital city.

This comes at a time when Putrajaya has been promoting Kuala Lumpur as a regional headquarters for multinationals under the InvestKL programme.

Who would consider KL if the authorities can’t make up their minds on when taxes take effect or what is the quantum of taxes and the only reason for such rate hikes is because it has not been increased in 21 years.

One insists the rate hike will take effect on January 1, 2014 while the other says it has been deferred till after March 2014 due to appeals and hearings. And where is the city mayor in all of this?

Is the Malaysian capital city being run by politicians elected elsewhere or a civil servant who is appointed to the post and only accountable to the government – not the people who pay tax in Kuala Lumpur? The decisive rule in the last game of the five-year political season is simple. No election is won or lost till the last vote is counted. Those who celebrate or despair today should wake up and wash their face. Both are unwarranted. Opinion polls can offer a trend but do not produce a result, particularly in an election where the very meaning of victory and defeat is in dispute. Numbers alone will not suffice. You have to have sufficient numbers in the nex G18.

How can two men in the executive differ on something as simple as this? And why are they talking instead of the mayor? KL might as well save money by dropping the mayor and leaving it to Putrajaya to run the city.

Who can property owners rely on for certainty and facts? Bumbling politicians or fumbling civil servants? Is there any wonder why the people are fed up with such politicians and voted for their opponents in the past two general elections?Can we get some clarity from City Hall, rather than those who can’t get their story straight? If Putrajaya wants Kuala Lumpur to be a world-class city, it must have a better class of people in authority, not third-rate politicians.All this actually means is a greater trust deficit in the authorities, from how they assess taxes to how they they use public funds to run the capital city.

What can we make of the differing statements of the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor  and his deputy Datuk J. Loga Balan Mohan over the rate hike for Kuala Lumpur property owners?

One insists the rate hike will take effect on January 1, 2014 while the other says it has been deferred till after March 2014 due to appeals and hearings. And where is the city mayor in all of this?