By Tunku Abdul Aziz
I am told on good authority that you cannot make good china with poor clay, and it is so obvious that we should know it instinctively. By the same token, I expect you cannot form an effective cabinet with general election rejects. Appointing them to cabinet posts in such large numbers through the Senate is not illegal, but is it ethical? Jesse Jackson in a speech to the 1992 National Democratic Convention reminded his audience that what was morally wrong would never be politically right. Najib, as our Prime Minister, would do well to ponder and reflect on the wisdom of this self-evident truth so that he would feel encouraged and inspired to bring moral and ethical principles to bear on the governance of this nation. I naturally hope that in the process, and with God’s help, he will find some time to dwell upon his many grave lapses that have brought his fitness for the highest political office in the land into serious question.
Some months ago I had occasion to allude to the fact that no prime minister in our country’s history had come into office, bent over not with the burden of leadership which would have been understandable, but in Najib’s case, it was his oversize baggage comprising a mix of potent allegations of impropriety ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. While some may be nothing more than coffee morning tittle-tattle among the leisure classes, and, therefore, to be treated with the contempt they deserve, one worrying aspect of Najib the man that refuses to evaporate into thin air is corruption.
People still point to the arms purchases made during his long stints as Minister of Defence, and what he got out of them through his redoubtable defence/political analyst, Razak Baginda. Would the MACC care to take a look at the wealth behind the man so as to give our 1Malaysia Prime Minister a chance to clear his name? And while they are looking at Najib, I think it only fair that they take a look at the wealth of Mahathir and his family. To show that they are not being selective, they might like to check out Badawi and his family. I am sure these great leaders of ours are dying to clear their names for the sake of their reputation, however defined.
To return to the blatant abuse of the function and role of the Senate in the constitutional life of our country, it is clear that Najib does not put great store by basic rules of the game. He obviously plays by his own rules that postulate the inevitability of immoral behaviour in politics and that scruples are not for the Prime Minister of Malaysia. This is a sad commentary on 50 years of Barisan Nasional rule that has seen this once proud country now on its unstoppable decline in social, political and economic terms. Is this the promised just reward for the people of this country for putting their blind faith in the UMNO leadership? It is also a sad reflection of the bankruptcy of ethical values that those whom the people of this country, exercising their rights to choose, cast aside in a democratic process, have now been brought back into the cabinet. Who are these recycled seconds supposed to represent? Even if they were a galaxy of Nobel laureates, it would still be totally indefensible for Najib to show such utter contempt and disregard for public opinion by appointing them to the cabinet. And these are by no means the crème de la crème of Malaysian brains-those that have not disappeared overseas.
Najib plays by his own rules. For him, offering inducements to voters as played out in the Hulu Selangor by-election with a repeat performance in Sibu was par for the course. He obviously could see no contradiction in urging the people to fight corruption while he himself breaks the law with complete impunity, as always aided and abetted by the ever independent Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, so it proclaims, and the equally fearless Elections Commission. When will Najib learn that there is no substitute for integrity in national life? It is within his power to clean up his act so as to lessen the burden of the negative views and innuendos that he carries on his back to the detriment of his effectiveness as PM. He must learn quickly that the ultimate decision whether he remains in office, and his party in power, will be made by the very people for whom he has shown such blatant contempt. He may, at this rate, be the last UMNO prime minister.
#1 by limkamput on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 10:36 am
That is why I suggest that a person should only be allowed ONE pension as a tax free payment – everything else should be treated as taxable income. HJ Angus
I think this is one area the country must seek to reform. Right now, politicians holding different government posts in the course of their careers (be they in civil service, executive, legislative or judiciary branches) are eligible for multiple pensions. With so much of vested interests, how then can we expect them to bring about reform and prudential financial management to this country? The country will be bankrupted by politicians’ pension alone. Look at Idris Jala for example. Upon his retirement, he can receive pension as senator and minister in addition to big EPF which he must have accumulated. And for KTK, he can receive pensions as state assemblyman, CM, MP, Senator and Minister. I think no country on earth has rewarded this much to politicians for their “service” (more of disservice). If we are not able to reform this, I believe soon PR politicians would also be trapped in the same situation. Theresa Kok, for example, would be able to get pensions as MP, State assembly woman, state exco etc.
One more point, with multiple pensions, they only have to pay tax on ONE pension and usually they will choose the lowest pension for tax purpose. This is Malaysia, the land of the nincompoops.
#2 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 10:45 am
With all due respect to Tunku Aziz and everyone else, these points are not known to the urbanites whether those that support PR or don’t.
So what if Najib is just shuffling his cabinet and don’t have a game plan. The fact of the matter the system that UMNO/BN have been allowed to abuse over the years allow these kinds of luxuries. It is the UMNOputra/BNputra version of entitlement. Its Ketuanan UMNO, Ketuanana BN, UMNO special rights, BN special rights. The group of voters PR is trying to reach don’t understand it. They don’t get it how damaging it is to be directionless. They don’t comprehend how bad it, how wastefull it is, how indulgent it is. How it takes away their right and the root cause of failures of delivering the NEP to the masses.
If the Malays are to understand it, its got to be put in relevant context they understand so that they will act on it. The equivalence is Nero playing the flute while Rome burns. Sultan indulging in guilty pleasures while the country is falling apart. Perhaps more useful to even compare Samy Vellu giving excuses while the Indians fall behind..Even look at the Arabs who have so much oil and wealth but sat on their laurel and took for granted they did not have to educate and free their people’s mind.
Its got to be context that the Malays can identify with. The non-Malays already know the pathetic excuses and he has lost the vote.
#3 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 10:45 am
We all know that a business that makes no money is a failure. At the same time Car Capitalist Henry Ford once said, “a business that makes nothing but money is also “poor business”.
How to reconcile? So that’s where the once Richest man in the world Bill Gates comes out with his idea of Charitable Foundation – what he called in his speech to Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in Jan 2008 as “creative and caring capitalism” – which in a nut shell is supposedly a “ WIN-WIN” FORMULA of how to use Charity to make even more money and to plough back a portion of the tax savings from such enlarged profits – by virtue of Charitable Foundation being tax exempt entities – to charity again on recurring basis.
If one expands “domestic charity” to “international charity” like donation to (say) Gaza humanitarian efforts against Israel one’s business through the cover of Charitable Foundation can tap (say) on even the Middle Eastern funds and markets as regulators there are partial in favour of the Charitable Foundation that promote Muslim Causes!
If (say) the Charity’s Foundation Articles of Association allow only 5% of profits to be donated for charity it means the Foundation can make profit if the tax savings from being Charitable Foundation exceed that 5%!
What Bill Gate’s Davos speech didn’t acknowledge is that profitable corporations can provide and already have provided money to communities and charitable causes DIRECT. They pay employees and managers, who are able to write checks to charity.
Once done & filtered through the the corporate tier of a Charity Foundation, it can then in other cases be abused, as the scandal surrounding the National Kidney Foundation Singapore of 2005 amply illustrates!
Charity and Avarice (Greed) are oxy-morons but this creative and caring capitalism is supposed to bridge that gap and use charity to satisfy avarice/greed…..
Its “Creative” indeed until a government short of amnd hungrey for money deems it timely to amend the tax lergislations to make thse charitable foundations pay corporate tax from enlarged profits made under banner of “charity”.
This I have to say to our local Malaysian entrepreneurs : think creative yourself instead of following everytime the Americans in everything.
Then again following does make one successful – eg the MC Donald Franchise and now hopefully Bill Gate’s creative and caring Capitalism extended to gaming – because we are always behind, our brains having migrated elsewhere and to the US.
#4 by Thor on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 1:08 pm
We’ve had enough problem in this world already and because of iran and the north korea, we’re on the verge of third world war.
Now in our country, we’ve some troublemakers trying to be heros, recruiting activists and sending them in, on the pretext of aiding the palestinian as to provoke israel.
If their intention was genuine, they would have gone thru the proper channel but many have been misled by them just because of religion.
Because of their selfish action, I do believe that it will only escalate the tension where even god could no longer save us from total destruction.
Guess these sorts of people are tired of living!!!
#5 by k1980 on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 1:26 pm
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BJGWfUvJNiQ/TAo0rjhVF-I/AAAAAAAAKZ8/DNHx5mKefJs/s1600/Picture1.jpg
Da greatest anti-crusader warrior since Salehudin the Great— Prebet Ah Khai from bolehland. (He ain’t no lance-corporal yet!)
#6 by k1980 on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 1:32 pm
http://imagineequality.blogspot.com/2010/06/private-khairy-to-rescue.html
Yessir Arafat and his Black September gang could not do it, but this private could drive the Jews into the sea
#7 by Thor on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 1:43 pm
If these people wanna die, please go on and do your stunt.
Please don’t drag us along ‘cos we’re not with you.
Bring your whole “B” team along and we’re truly happy to bid you farewell, once and for all!
#8 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 1:52 pm
“…dog-eared pack of cards”?
Well, this pack has been pissed on by dogs and skunks included too.
It’s microbe infested; it’s got all d signs of chronic terminal disease as well.
It will be buried in the next GE. That I am sure. So may the devils help them when they burn in the everlasting lakes of fire, where worms die not and nerves survive to scream no end.
#9 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 2:04 pm
PR have to change their line of argument.
Sebenarnya, tidak selama ini tidak ada hak Istimewa Orang Melayu, hanya hak istimewa UMNO/BN. Selagi ada Ketuanan UMNO/BN, tidak ada ketuanan Melayu. Sebenarnya Dasar Ekonomi Baru adalah Dasar Ekonomi untuk UMNO/BN sahaja. Ketuanan Rakyat adalah Ketuanan Melayu kerana kebanyakan rakyat adalah orang Melayu.
#10 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 2:26 pm
Expanding on what Thor in posting #3 said: -
Religion tugs at heartstrings, especially the masses, so to politicize Religion is to enable elites to tap on support of masses to secure and maintain political power and indirectly via political positions to exercise power as to benefit oneself in making money. As long as Hamas – having control of Palestine – keep the Palestine issue alive making Israel the bogeyman its elites could tap funding for Palestine Cause from many sources: official contributions from rich Arab states including Saudi Arabia; the Palestinian Liberation Tax Fund, which taxes Palestinians worldwide; income from legitimate and illegitimate investments; donations from wealthy Palestinians and international organizations such as the UN and the EU; donations from humanitarian projects; funds from world wide “charitable” organizations used as veil and vehicle for slush funds and black market and laundered monies to sponsor both legitimate Palestinian Cause or illegal Al-Qeada and Hizballah activities.
Whilst these people pray to the Almighty for what comes hereafter, the now and present are hedged against by dedication to the Money God. Far from being tired of living by provoking incidents against Israel these sorts of people actually have the zest for living where money provides the zest. For to abjure money is to abjure life itself – the point made by J Salinger in his book Catcher of the Rye!
If one thinks that is hypocritical, then the legitimate question may be asked – what around the world is not???? Its not just BN even PR deems fit for political mileage to march to US embassy on the Freedom Flotilla issue heedless of whether accusations against Israelis forces stand in logic and fact! Here its not just our local tycoon but world’s richest man Bill Gates preaching how to have creative capitalism through charity foundation (to make money) under guise of socialism (charity) that he described in Davos as “creative capitalism”. Take an average man who gets married and vows to be faithful to his wife : how many of these do not have clandestine affairs? We also have men of cloth, priests and members of religious orders supposedly taking care of sick and teaching of children but abusing them sexually instead. At level of nations Uncle Sam attacked Taliban / Afghanistan blaming 9/11 attacks so as to enable control of the Unocal pipeline passing Afganistan as transit country just like charge against Sadamn Hussein for Weapons of Mass destruction – which were never found – when the intent was to have strategic geo political control of the oil pipe lines from Turkmenistan, not to mention defence contractors in US needed profits from weaponry deployed and reconstruction of war torn Iraq & Afganistan may be awarded to Halliburton related to key decision makers in US administration. And even “victim” Saddam – whose Baath party both secular and nationalist – suddenly and hypocritically became champion of Muslim Causes to threaten Israel with his missiles.
Hypocrisy is a necessary condition of Human Life and part of our nature. Intellectuals obsessed with truth may rail against it but salt of the earth ordinary people with ordinary common sense don’t – because whilst hypocrisy has got its bad points (principally deception of others), yet it also has its good points because hypocrisy enables to live in a bigger society and advance our self interests on basics especially to get more power influence and of course money and sex without conflicts with others (having the same desires) hood winked to avoid conflict/competition if our hypocrisy is not exposed! I am sure our former premier TDM would concur with this general position.
#11 by monsterball on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 2:32 pm
Bigjoe….why your reasons given on Bahasa?
Are you a Malaysian first…. and race second person in Malaysia?
There two kinds clearly seen…the other is race first…Malaysian second.
Both can never think alike…….and totally different attitudes and behaviors.
There is another group….that love to swing….waiting for signs..where the wind blows.
#12 by limkamput on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 3:13 pm
Those who organise the humanitarian aid ships should be held accountable for the death of “volunteers”. Why can’t they go there themselves or send their own sons and daughters. I guess there are too many nincompoop “freedom fighters” around – freedom fighters who were manipulated into extremists who think Israel has no right to exist.
The Palestinian cause must be kept alive at all cost so that sympathy money will continue to flow in. Monsterball should ask how much Yaser Arafat has amassed for himself and his family.
#13 by limkamput on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 3:15 pm
Waiting for where the wind blows is at least not as bad as the one who keeps creating foul “wind” everywhere.
#14 by lopez on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 3:40 pm
come down to earth, if you cannot even save your own kind , how can you save others.
go to the pasar malam for a start,,,how come got professional beggars chaffeur driven daily and the social welfare bragged about what we should do and should not do, oh how cruel some of us can be…and how come still no news on the child kidnappers, do they come from overseas and the police bragged the crime rate has dropped so tremendiously that they praised themselves on the national news…
what about the the cruelty of so call corporate citizens like toll road concessionaires companies who can cut off access to landowners and forced use of their tolls roads…and the government even help them to enforce such use too…well you can in bolihland
What to do,,,when you are wealthy enough you have many choices, even can chose who to make enemy with…….and gather some small minds to work for you …are you so easily be moved by these clowns and be used ….cheapo
#15 by k1980 on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 5:09 pm
I believe most Malaysians do not know this:
Less than 8% of the working population in Sarawak who are paying income taxes. The remainder of the population just do not earn enough money to pay any taxes. And we have the bloody cheek to send activists to protest Israel’s policies in Gaza.
Also that in 2001, the Selangor state government encouraged government servants, other than those in the lower income bracket, to buy low-cost homes as an incentive. Up to 500 MBPJ officials who benefited from this scheme meaning that more than 500 of the displaced urban poor had been unable to secure a low-cost unit for themselves.
#16 by boh-liao on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 5:23 pm
VT is truly loaded n 500 millions sup sup sway lah
No wonder several no-principle political toads benefited fr VT’s generosity in d tune of several RM millions
Many ppl want RM millions too, money, money, money
#17 by frankyapp on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 5:33 pm
Malaysian can’t even take care of themselves and the federal government is not doing enough to help them.,Most of them especially in Sabah,such towns in Sandakan,Lahad Datu Tawau and Kennigau are afraid to go to the town centres after 6.00 pm as thousands of dubious citizens and illegals are among a few locals doing their petty trades.Why are they allow to do business without permit and rob the locals the opportunity ? Those malaysian activists should come to Sabah to help malaysian Sabahans to demonstrate and protest against the central government for allowing more and more illegals to enter and keeping squatting in Sabah instead of going to Gaza to help foreigners.Malaysians should think malaysian first and not foreigner first.
#18 by monsterball on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 6:44 pm
Those days that each minority race needs to save themselves are over.
Those days..you have no choice. One needs to agree to disagree to survive.
Sibu miracle have endorsed the signs of CHANGE.
Malaysians are geared for the change of government.
That’s why Najib…”Lets make a deal” with Sibuans backfired as not all Malaysians will stoop so low to forsake dignity and principles in life for money..which actually belong to all Malaysians.
Yes…vast majority Malaysians are dignified people and that shocked Najib..whose race and religion will not work with Malaysians anymore.
Najib and UMNO B politics are not only focusing on how to buy Malaysians votes.
UMNO B party .. is a party…clearly divided and with full of contradictions.
#19 by boh-liao on Sunday, 6 June 2010 - 10:45 pm
VT 2 PR-controlled state leaders: Hey, U know what I want, I know what U want, U help me, I help U, approve lah sports betting
#20 by chengho on Monday, 7 June 2010 - 7:22 am
KL , 8 places to retire in the world;
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/109728/great-places-to-retire-youve-never-heard-of;_ylt=AvRjczKOpWmIWUT.flsqAzBO7sMF;_ylu=X3oDMTE1amQwMWx2BHBvcwMzBHNlYwNmaWRlbGl0eUZQBHNsawM4Z3JlYXRwbGFjZXM-?mod=fidelity-readytoretire
#21 by dagen on Monday, 7 June 2010 - 8:51 am
“It is within his [jib's] power to clean up his act so as to lessen the burden of the negative views and innuendos that he carries on his back to the detriment of his effectiveness as PM. He must learn quickly that the ultimate decision whether he remains in office, and his party in power, will be made by the very people for whom he has shown such blatant contempt.”
Huh? “%$#@!*&^ Oh. Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ….. Weeeell …. Ask mother gobi about this shall we?
#22 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Monday, 7 June 2010 - 12:39 pm
Some malaysian puns:
1) It’s time to send for the dogcatcher for corrupt Ministers.
2) The cabinet should wear dog collars so they toe the line. Some ministers howl like hyenas; others have their blinkers on.
3) Most cabinet ministers speak doggerel.
4) Malaysians are in for dogdays when subsidies are withdrawn
5) Is Raja Petra K winning the dogfight against najib? Scotland yard is the kennel keeper. (sorry, Pete. Just making a point about dogfights.)
6) Malaysians are fed dog-biscuits whilst top-dog UMNOputras are fed juicy dogbones.
7) how do you train a dog choir to sing in unison. Ask jib.
#23 by syeikh85s on Monday, 7 June 2010 - 3:17 pm
Thanks but not to Tunku Aziz and a bravo to Jeffrey for his well drawn comment. I once respected Tunku Aziz for his sincerity in fighting corruption and all his opinions but since regard him as another antics good for the shelve. He must accept that by writing one or two books on corruption don’t make you an expert. Being a former President of TI or giving talks on corruption don’t make you the referral resource person.
Yes, we had seen many politicians and their family members make tons of money over night. That shall not be construed as corruptly derived income or wealth. They may derive the wealth through genuine business opportunity or by business chances created by their position. It’s not corruption but we agree it is not ethical. No one shall be prosecuted for none ethical act as far as I have known, unless Tunku Aziz may have a law in his “pocket” to empower an investigation on members of a political figure accumulating wealth via legitimate business. Everyone should be made known that a person is innocent unless found guilty for an offense in a court of law. No one shall use the authority as a riding horse to defame or frustrate another.
Opinion and investigation are two separate thing which needs different kind of attitude to deal with. Opinions could be made which need no basis or facts but investigation needs many elements such as investigative power, offense stipulated in an act, information, witnesses, methodology etc. Let me give Tunku Aziz a lesson on the formula for an investigation = Information + witness + documents – abuse of power. While to prefer a charge for an offense = ingredients of an offense + facts + admissibility + corroboration – contradictions.
It’s not easy as being said. No authority shall use the legal arm to defame, ridicule, malice or frustrate anyone base on opinions but relity and facts. Once corruption or the will to fight corruption is being politicized then we are not helping to frustrate but encourage the opportunist. Everyone including Tunku Aziz must come to the sense and fight corruption not making statements that our country is full of corrupt practices to support the declination of CPI. No thanks to Tunku Aziz.
#24 by boh-liao on Monday, 7 June 2010 - 5:39 pm
Now d MCA Gelang Patah MP Tan Ah Eng is crying wee wee all d way home 4 being cheated/sodomised by CSL who recommended only his precious son 2 NR
#25 by victimofcorruption on Tuesday, 8 June 2010 - 2:05 pm
what to do?…UMNO loves yes-men like KCH (PKFZ solved already) and CCH ( i am just a normal person like you but got lucky because i am promoted now)…so, recycling and reshuffling is a must for them..
#26 by good coolie on Wednesday, 9 June 2010 - 12:24 am
RAHMAN prophecy seems more and more likely. The question is what guarantee is there that Pakatan can do a better job when they can’t even ensure that their elected men and women stay loyal to the opposition? Anwar keeps falling into traps laid by pretty men.