saint, up to 10 ten ago, things could have been manageable by BN. Series of events look place that showed their incompetence and lack of timely responses to pressing issue and their leadership skills had much to be desired. Nepotism remains very real and they no longer have the best people to be in positions of responsibility.

Citing these negativities of BN does not automatically prove PKR to be the opposite. Where the fundamental problems with BN lay with race pacification, PKR’s problems will be with the role of religion in public life. Primarily, most problems lead back to religion because allegiance to one’s religion is prior to that of race or country. Islam’s role in federal governance and higher status in the country may become PKR’s achilles heel if they attempt to alter the status quo.

Godfather Says:

>> So Zak is an economic migrant

Err no, and it does not surprise me that your English comprehension is pretty bad. Malaysia is much less a favourabe place than surrounding countries but it is a personal choice. You cannot beg for direct foreign investment on one hand and drive it away on the other! If you bothered to read my post properly, it was the Islamic climate that attracted me and continues to attract other Muslim professionals.

Shadow, Do you think that a Malay Muslim can ever become the PM in S’pore? Singapore’s social demography is different to Malaysia’s. You can not give the reins of leadership to a non-Muslim in a 60% Muslim country, this would never work and would lead to chaos. Having the best people in government however is what’s needed to make sure that the most competent are given positions of responsibility no matter what their race and religion.

Godfather, man worship is inherently against Islam, so I will excuse your ignorance on that. What gives me the right? Hmmm, I want myself and my family to live in an equally stable and successful Malaysia as you do. Being a citizen or PR does not reduce one to an observer of farce that Malaysian politics has become.

Every person has a right to study and comment on any country, there are academics and int’l organisations who write and commend on matters pertaining to affairs of other countries; most of them are neither resident nor have any connection to the country of analysis. If this is the best you can throw at me (or wish away opposition to your orwellian dream), you are more of an amateur than I thought.

Shadow, as I stated before, I do not hate for the sake of hating. Anwar is to be judged by his past performance and his contradictory position thereafter. It is a matter of trust; and what bigger trust is there than placing the responsibility of the country’s leadership into the hands of a person with personality disorder and unstable character (and I don’t mean sodomy!)

Furthermore, money-politics is still very much at play and I concur that the 30 MPs Anwar needs to form the government will not materialise. Anwar may think he could “buy” MPs to jump to his camp but it would be impossible for him to outbid the other bidders who have more money. With Anwar in parliament, the most he can do is make life difficult for Badawi.

The presidency of Singapore is a ceremonial role and the president does not have any executive powers at at all. It’s all honky dory for him to attend functions and open service centres etc.

>> And most of the top posts in the civil services are filled by the able sigaporeans irrespective of races.

Wrong, it is common knowledge that top military posts can never be given to Malay Muslims for example. This is a time-honoured understanding. Debating is all well, but what’s the point when the politicians do not practise what they preach?

I have not condoned discrimination in any shapr or form and fully support the notion that only the best and competent people should be given roles of responsibility. On a side-note, I personally believe that the “affirmative plan” was a real bad idea that has created lazy and lackluster Malays, but once the damage has been done and a mindset moulded over a generation, it is not easy to simply revolutionise the entire government and it’s policies over weeks and months. Mahathir has given a simple outline on his thoughts on the matter over at chedet which I naturally agree with, notwithstanding admittance of his mistakes.

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AsalUsul, why are your preaching history here? No one denies the facts you outline, why don’t you drum this home to the UMNOputras!? Perhaps you have the wrong blog.

Godfather, respect has to be earned and is not anyone’s prerogative! Badawi deserves all disrespectful titles because he has earned them through his disasterous tenure as PM. Perhaps you were one of those who gave him the landslide in 2003?

I understand you are not PR, but you fully support PR, therefore you must know what the party you are voting for (and want to lead the country) plans, right?

Again, this is an open question to anyone on this thread. Can anyone answer the following 2 simple questions:

1. What does the “reform agenda” consist of?
2. How will it be implemented?

In light of Anwar’s statement:

“Pakatan Rakyat is bringing new hope to the people with its reform agenda.”

Will the schizophrenic make up policies as he goes along? Will he be brainwashed from one quarter of the coalition or another to do their bidding? After being a failure as a finance minister in the 90′s, what qualifies him to handle the country’s economy and indeed scruitise the forthcoming budget? Surely PR have better economists than Anwar? Tell me they have not put all their hope on the competence of an unstable character!?

Thank you and good night.