Tan Zhong Shan – top law student at Cambridge University is Malaysian and latest example of our costly brain-drain


Congratulations to Ipoh-born 23-year-old Tan Zhong Shan who has emerged as the top student in his final-year law examinations at Cambridge University.

In a report headlined “Malaysian is top law student at Cambridge University”, the Star today reported that Tan obtained a first-class honours in the Bachelor of Arts (Law) in June this year at Queens’ College, which is part of the university, one of England’s oldest and most prestigious.

The report said:

“He even scored the ‘Slaughter and May’ prize given by the university’s Law Faculty – an award given to those who achieve the best overall performance in the final-year law examinations.

“Other coveted prizes he bagged include The Norton Rose Prize for Commercial Law, the Clifford Chance Prize for European Union Law and the Herbert Smith Prize for Conflict of Laws.

“Queens’ College dean Dr Martin Dixon said Tan definitely stood out among the students there.

“ ‘He is probably the best Malaysian student I have seen in the last 10 years,’ said Dr Dixon, who taught Tan on Land and Equity for two years.

“’He is the most able, dedicated and one of the most likeable students I have taught in more than 20 years at Cambridge.’”

However, Tan is the latest example of the failed Barisan Nasional policies resulting in the costly brain-drain in the past four decades which Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 2011 Budget has done nothing to resolve for the country to become high-achieving and internationally competitive.

This is because Tan is one of Malaysia’s “best and brightest” sons and daughters we have been losing to other countries in tens of thousands every year because of unfair Barisan Nasional education and nation-building policies – whether by directly driving them abroad to pursue secondary, pre-university and university education or pushing their parents to join the migration wave in earlier decades.

This is obvious from the report citing Tan as an ASEAN scholar awarded by the Singapore Ministry of Education after completing his A-levels at the Temasek Junior College in Singapore.

In the 2011 Budget, Najib announced “Intensifying Human Capital Development” as one of the four budget strategies, disclosing that the Government will establish a Talent Corporation in early 2001 “to attract, motivate and retain talent human capital from within the country and abroad”.

Although this is also the emphasis of the New Economic Model to “save” the country from the decades-long middle-income trap and from becoming a bankrupt nation in 2019 and instead to transform Malaysia into a high-income developed nation in 2020, there is nothing in Najib’s 2011 Budget to demonstrate that the government is at last serious and has the political will to address and end this grave problem of brain drain.

What is there in the 2011 Budget to convince Malaysians that the budding Tan Zhong Shans in the schools in Malaysia, who can become top students in the world’s top universities, will not be driven from Malaysian schools and universities to foreign ones by unfair BN policies only to benefit other countries eventually?

The Najibonomics of the 2011 Budget is just a throwback to the old Mahathironomics of mega-projects like the proposal to build a 100-storey RM5 billion Najib Tower rather than to create a new architecture of Malaysian talents fully able to retain and utilize the contributions of the best and brightest of Malaysians – who can compare and compete with their peers in other parts of the world.

  1. #1 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 1:06 pm

    The mamak will say that mata-sepet Tan Zhong Shan belongs to the world’s oldest 4,000-year civilisation and therefore does not need any handicap. However, the mamak and his family still needs lots of affirmative action to survive.

  2. #2 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 1:18 pm

    ///Top law student at Cambridge University is Malaysian and latest example of costly brain-drain…../// – Kit

    This is the price the country has to pay for keeping a tight grip on the NEP, that is, becoming a “charitable” donor of professionals to other countries.

    As long as the NEP is not abolished, the country will continue to be a generous donor of professionals and experts to foreign countries.

  3. #3 by BoycottLocalPapers on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 1:31 pm

    Congratulations Tan Zhong Shan!

    PLEASE TAKE UP SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP!

    FORGET ABOUT MALAYSIA!

    LEAVE MALAYSIA TO UMNOPUTRAS AS THEY ARE THE TUAN HERE. MALAYSIA IS NO PLACE FOR MATA SEPET LIKE YOU!

    For a poor Malaysian like me who could not afford to go to University despite having better grades than my Malay classmates in my SPM & STPM, all I can do is working in factory as a machine operator or working inhotel as a waiter.

  4. #4 by artemisios on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 1:59 pm

    So, Zhong Shan, would you like to bring that magnificent brain of yours to M’sia, improve our human capital, probably start some kind of successful law firm, provide employment, pay taxes, contribute to the m’sian legal profession, train more good law students when you’re older etc etc?

    Your rewards will be all of the following:

    You (& your children) will be classified as a “pendatang”/”bangsa asing”/”orang luar”/”jews of asia”/”si mata sepet” & whatever derogatory names we feel like calling you.

    Should you or anyone try to seek justice about the above, our cops will act super swiftly.

    Should you start your own business, do not try to tender for govt projects, it doesn’t matter how professional, how efficient or how experienced your company is.

    You will also be used as a distraction, scapegoat & “object of hate” whenever the Govt gets caught stealing the rakyat’s money.

    Welcome to M’sia Zhong Shan

  5. #5 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 2:28 pm

    Nazri said Y so much blowing of trumpet, me too got a law degree
    Rice Yak-tim also said no big deal lah, me too got a law degree n PhD, U know, don’t play2
    MMK said what man, meritocracy = racist lah, Sg can hv him loh, no loss 2 M’sia
    BRA recovering fr his op said sh!t, sh!t, sh!t 2 Cambridge 4 not giving Malay students d ‘Slaughter and May’ prize
    An Oxford-educated in d ongoing Umno AGM may raise keris against Cambridge

  6. #6 by DAP man on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 2:34 pm

    If Zhong Shan had been a Malay the country would have been painted red and he would probably be given a datukship.

    Since he is a pendatang, who cares. Best student in Cambridge? So what. You are not a bumi what.

  7. #7 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 2:36 pm

    //He even scored the ‘Slaughter and May’ prize//

    So what? Jib oso got ‘Slaughter and c4’ prize

  8. #8 by pulau_sibu on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 2:46 pm

    No problem. BN will say this is Malaysia boleh!

  9. #9 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 2:59 pm

    If he is a maylay, the pm will personally invite him for a nasi-lemak dinner, plus promises of unlimited money and titles.

  10. #10 by ksauyong on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:00 pm

    It is pointless to return to Malaysia as your fantastic results will hinder your progress, should you decide to join the Malaysian Judiciary. Only dumb and corrupt (I hope you have imbibed the Singapore values of zero tolerance to corruption while studying there) in the Malaysian Judiary advance to become Federal Judges. The most you can hope for will be a Sessions Court Judge. And if you decide to open your own practice here, the lawyers who become rich are those that do a lot of agreements (house purchase especially) and those who are well connected to the Judiciary – like Lingam. So, please do not return.

  11. #11 by pulau_sibu on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:03 pm

    Is 23 years old is old enough to get a doctoral degree in UK?

  12. #12 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:07 pm

    Folks over at Galas and Batu Sapi are getting ready to sing—
    Oh! You better watch out,
    A five million ringgit here,
    A five million ringgit there,
    I’m telling you why:

    Jibbi Claus is coming to town!

    He’s making a list,
    He’s checking it twice,
    He’s gonna find out
    who’s pro or anti-BN.

    Jibbi Claus is coming to town!

    He sees you when you’re sleeping,
    He knows when you’re awake.
    He knows when you’ve been pro or anti,
    So be good for goodness sake!

    So…You better watch out,
    A five million ringgit here,
    A five million ringgit there,
    I’m telling you why.

    Jibbi Claus is coming to town.

  13. #13 by Fatty Doc on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:08 pm

    BN will only allow such brilliant lawyer back here with ONE condition – to help BN win the case in Teoh Beng Hock and Altantuya!!

  14. #14 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:11 pm

    Music to accompany the above song

    http://xmasfun.com/midi/santacom.mid

  15. #15 by waterfrontcoolie on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:26 pm

    I agree there won’t be space here for Zhongsan to improve his considerable natural talent in this sector. He can only improve better if he is given a chance to inter-act with his peers in the environment he is best at and also with the blessings of the ALL_MIGHTY he would still make us all proud of his achievements in life. Coming back to the current scenario will either frustrate hin or totally snuff off his talent.
    To Zhongsan, whatever life has to offer, use your considerable talent for the good of the human kind!

  16. #16 by DAP man on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 3:44 pm

    I understand this Zhong’s father is a judge in the Malaysian Judiciary.
    Ministers’ children (Yen Yen hear hear) and judges children are all running away.

  17. #17 by dagen on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 4:43 pm

    Young man. We are proud of you. Well done. Now stay on in england and make us all really proud. Go on and be like the Fin Min of Australia.

    Do not come back to malaysia unless you are prepared to give up rambutans!

  18. #18 by undertaker888 on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 5:07 pm

    here’s a comparison;

    Tab Zhong Shan- Awarded ‘Slaughter and May’ prize, The Norton Rose Prize for Commercial Law, Clifford Chance Prize for European Union Law and the Herbert Smith Prize for Conflict of Laws.

    “’He is the most able, dedicated and one of the most likeable students I have taught in more than 20 years at Cambridge.’”

    MACC lawyer abdul Razak – TBH strangled himself then jumped off the building. Winner of Court Jester Prize, Laughter and Mad Prize, NEP, 30% and Quota Prize.

    ““’He is the most dis-abled, deadicated and one of the most ridiculous comments we have heard in more than 20 years in this country.’”

  19. #19 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 6:09 pm

    Those who know BTN courses know that one of the thing the intstructor do is exhort Malay students to do better than Chinese and Indian students.

    Those who have attended these courses should go back to BTN instructor, point to this guy and ask Sekarang Macam Mana?

  20. #20 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 6:11 pm

    What’s so great abt ‘Slaughter and May’ prize?
    Someone here many moons ago oredi received ‘Slaughter Altantuya‘ prize!

    Ya lah, better find out Tan Zhong Shan’s illustrious pedigree first, don’t play2
    He did his A-levels at Temasek Junior College in Sg under an ASEAN scholarship, 2005-06
    He went to Cambridge in 2007, graduated June 2010
    He should know d M’sian judiciary system very well
    His father is a judge/chief justice (?) in M’sia

  21. #21 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 6:12 pm

    My point above is this: HATE is futile – it does not lead to success – if it does have material reward – its at great price either later (like what Mahathir is experiencing now) OR to others – such as Anwar knows well. Its not worth it. In life, better to focus on the positive and work on it.

  22. #22 by Ray on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 6:27 pm

    “” Good Education is the Key thing”” >>getting Rakyat to read and it is the Recipe for Self Help(career etc) .’
    In Malaysia, Umno Racist Education was merely a system of Garbage In Garbarge Out….Islamic U Mara etc
    UMNOists practise UMNOism instead and thus became a weak nation full of tongkat Ibrahim ali ;abdullah badawi and Barbaric BN Cabinet ministers…
    BTW umNO Putra puteri ‘s son and daughters,Uncles or Undies; newphew or nices cousin and their $ $ empire cronies gangs member >> Indeed So Sorry ….”” You are Not welcome here””… except for depositing yr Ringgits.

    Mr Tan ZS had got no other choice option But th head down to Singapura MajuLah …A Democratic Meritocracy nation of One People,One Race and One Langauge, and …so Glad indeed to hear this good news…over here we welcome and really need this SMART guy for our nation building….
    Ray Brain Drain Bye2

  23. #23 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 6:50 pm

    We import a lot of Nigerian and Iranian smugglers sorry, ‘students’.

    So nett, nett, we gain.

  24. #24 by dagen on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 6:51 pm

    So what if his is the best cambridge has seen in a long time. The point is his mata is still sepet.

    So you malaysian indians out there. Dont dream. If one of you fellas should ever get say a double first from oxford (a real possibility), you will still be identified as kaki botol.

    These are facts, as far as umno is concerned. And facts dont change!

  25. #25 by ktteokt on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 7:12 pm

    Just let the Melayu in Malaysia melayu lah! They will sooner or later WITHER as their name suggest. Perhaps their ancestors were CLAIRVOYANT to know that their race will end up thus!

  26. #26 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 7:15 pm

    Moo n NR said in Umno AGM: Look how excellent is our education system
    Students like Tan Zhong Shan went through our primary n secondary schools in BM
    Our schools laid a solid academic foundation for them 2 excel in Sg JCs n 2 top d law school of d world’s #1 university Cambridge U
    Who says schools in Malaysia don’t prepare our youngsters well?
    Who says our school products cannot compete with the world’s best in English?
    Moo n NR declared our students r d best of d best, 2 wild cheers fr Umno delegates

  27. #27 by atlk on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 7:17 pm

    Malaysia rejected Vijay Singh application for PR. And then when Vijay Singh became world no. 1 golfer, they put all over the newspaper that Malaysia could have had a world no. 1 golfer. Well… that’s what we are good at, isn’t it?

  28. #28 by ablastine on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 7:46 pm

    Singapore don’t mind providing scholarships to deserving top students so that they may have the fullest opportunities to develop their talents no matter their nationalities. Three out four of their universities are led by foreigners. Their National bank and some of their GICs are headed by the ablest foreigners. Even management of their soverign weath funds are mostly by foreigners. What is the end result? Growth expected to be about 15% this year-one of the highest growth rate in the world if not the highest. Per capital income coming to six times of Malaysian. The nation with the highest concentration of millionaires and the fastest rate of increase. Contrast to Malaysia. Only UMNO members. Malays and cronies can hold important post in the country. 90% of scholarships for one race and that is after begging by component parties. Besides the ketuanan race others are pendatangs. Results: talents leaving in droves: entire cities like Ipoh hollow out. Full scale plunder of nation wealth by the umnoputras. Results: bankrupt by 2019.

  29. #29 by SENGLANG on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 8:10 pm

    WHAT HE CAN DO FOR MALAYSIA IF HE WAS OFFER SCHOLARSHIP IN MALAYSIA? DO YOU BELIEVE HE CAN BE AG? MALAYSIA DO NOT NEED SUCH A BRIGHT STUDENT ANYWAY! IF THEY ARE TOO SMART THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THAT WHAT MALAYSIA DO NOT RETAIN THEM.

    TALENT CORP? IT WAS ANOTHER AGENCY SET UP SO THAT MORE OPPROTUNITY TO TRVEL FOR FREE USING TAX PAYERS MONEYS. THAT THE WAY FORWARD IN MALAYSIA.

    ANOTHER SUPPER MEGA PROJECTS SO THAT MORE CONTRACTORS CAN BE FEED WITH FUNDS AND SURVIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF RECEESSION

  30. #30 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 8:18 pm

    Big fat Rafidah Aziz who heads Talent Corp said: Noooo way I want dis bright spark back in our legal system; nanti he comes after me n my family members 4 walloping APs, C kiau2
    I only want lawyers like d world class self-strangling Lazak type

  31. #31 by Taxidriver on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 9:12 pm

    UMNOB Malays would rather Tan Zhong Shan not come back. His return will make the NEP lawyers feel small. They do not mind being the best among the worst ( Loyar Lasak Mosa of ”Experiencing Sucide” fame? ) They perfer to live in a homogeneous country where they can continue to be ”Tuans” to the poor and less educated Malays. Such mentality is clearly shown when UMNOB member Kasim Amat said, ” I’d rather my country not so well develope and live with my own people than live in a highly develpoed country and surrounded by foreigners”

    Tan Zhong Shan, Singapore is a good place to stay. And may I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your success. But don’t be surprised if one of these days I walk up to you to extend my personal congratulations, i.e if you take up Singapore citizenship.

  32. #32 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 9:25 pm

    Good for Singapore for sponsoring and cultivating him.

    Good for Zhong Shan for making the most out of his second chance in life.

    Win win situation indeed for these two parties.

    The loser is Malaysia. Or maybe not – good riddance to mata sepet.

  33. #33 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 9:54 pm

    Najib- boh – nomics.

    BN/UMNO don’t need first class honours graduates from world’s top universities.

    BN wants third clASS AND GENERAL DEGREES FROM Malaysian universities ranked below 200 placings in the world.

    Itu sebabnya Najib-boh-nomics. Silly comic. Moo-ing around the country just won’t help.

  34. #34 by ocb2020 on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 9:56 pm

    Better to stay in Singapore to fight corruption and held high your head. If he comes back he will be assign VERY high profile case like sodomy cases. His head will then be twisted to fight sodomy sodomy sodomy only ;-(!…

  35. #35 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 10:36 pm

    Hello, can Najib-boh-nomics do something about Orang Asli rights too?

    How come, according to Kamarul Baharin Abbas, Orang Asli must fight for recognition as Bumiputras whereas Khir Toyo is a first-generation Indonesian-Malaysian and he is a Bumiputra???

    Where got jalan? And where got logic?

    Aiyah, Galas & Bt Sapi by-election, must sapu BN kow-kow into the longkang.

  36. #36 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 - 11:43 pm

    UMNO can easily “manufacture” thousands of PhD holders with all kinds of decorations … no big deal man.

  37. #37 by waterfrontcoolie on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 12:25 am

    YB, do you think it is really worth your while to plead with our so-called leaders to change? At times, I prefer the sinister thought. If the majority of our Malaysian brother want to bury their heads under the mud, so be it. Someone said a decade ago that knowledge today is changed every 7 years, by now it should be 5 years or even less. so whatever is being done will not allow some Malaysians to catch up with the rest of the competitive world except maybe Zimbabwe. Hence our pleads for change are in a way wasteful og energy. it is reminiscence of Hilter trying so hard to build up the Germans against what he thought was Jewish’s domination of Germany then. His act drove many of them to the US who leap-frogged to dominate the world after WWII.
    But today, we have entered the 21st C, and time will be much shorter and more competitive, it won’t wait for 60 years or 2 generations for things to either rocket upwards or plunge into the Marina Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The gain this brilliant young man will bring to Singapore is without doubt, from any angle. We can feel sad for having to lose such a brain but in today’s world only an equally good society will appreciate and honor him and ours is not that kind of society!

  38. #38 by Cinapek on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 1:29 am

    Take note of this name. In the years to come he will be the BN’s worst nightmare if they managed to remain in power with their gerrymandering tricks and underhand “lu tolong gua, gua tolong lu” tactics.

    Just like the Pedra Branca case, where some of the key members of the Singapore legal team were ex Malaysians, you can expect this bright young man to play vital roles in future cases involving Singapore and Malaysia.

  39. #39 by passerby on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 5:43 am

    This is a very big slap on the face of Malaysia for losing such a bright and brilliant scholar to Singapore and will be an even bigger slap on Malaysia in the future whenever we challenge Singapore in the court.

  40. #40 by pulau_sibu on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 5:50 am

    Many of you praised Singapore, but it is not too perfect. There is a lack of speech freedom. Media is under control. I am not sure about the court as well because the opposition can be sued to take off the pants. At the moment, we see a new Asian dynasty of Lee family in the making.

  41. #41 by undertaker888 on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 8:02 am

    This is umno’s modus operandi. The country still have natural resources to plunder. Easy money can be tapped from there to run and bribe the country. it’s a no brainer to run the country by throwing money around. Once these natural resources are all gone, like Singapore, these goons still truly embrace 1Malaysia. Because they need the si sepet and si botol intelligence to bring the country forward.

    In other words they will leave all the hardwork to run the country in the future to the si sepet and si botol when no money can be tapped from our natural resources anymore. This is the time the goons will be truly asia and 1malaysia.

  42. #42 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 8:25 am

    pulau_sibu :
    Many of you praised Singapore, but it is not too perfect. There is a lack of speech freedom. Media is under control. I am not sure about the court as well because the opposition can be sued to take off the pants. At the moment, we see a new Asian dynasty of Lee family in the making.

    Nobody is claiming Singapore is perfect. But these points you brought out against Singapore – Malaysia is also guilty. In fact, more so.

    You mean there is freedom of speech in MY? Tell that to Subramanium, Kit Siang, RPK. Tell the Christians about using the “A” word.

    You mean the press if MY is not under control?

    You mean the courts in MY is independent?

    Najib is the son of who?
    Kerishisham is the son of who?
    Mukriz is the son of who?
    Eng Guan is the son of who?

    So, it is all in the family on both sides of the Causeway. The question you should be asking is – are the children doing their parents proud? Are they qualified to hold their positions?

    Let me suggest that Eng Guan and Hsien Loong are eminently qualified for their respective positions. I don’t know about the others. Perhaps you are impressed with the performance of Najib and Mukriz. I am not.

  43. #43 by k1980 on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 8:29 am

  44. #44 by dagen on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 8:37 am

    For god’s sake, we need labourers.

  45. #45 by zack on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 9:42 am

    with due respect to all, i have to disagree with YB. its all about the choices we made, its about the best offer made for us and its about are patriotic we are to the nation. there have always been claims of injustice in bolehland but whose justice are they referring to? justice like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. a just action to/against one may be an injustice to others! so YB whose justice/injustice are we talking here?

  46. #46 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 9:47 am

    According to Law Singapore Latest Information, “Malaysia is facing a severe Human Capital Flight with large-scale emigration of intellectuals seeking greener pastures in more advanced society like in Singapore who is estimated to have 45 % of the best brains from Malaysia and 25 % to other Asian countries with the balance of 30 % to Europe and the USA out of the total estimated one million Malaysian working overseas”.
    If Malaysia’s brains are taking flight then surely Singapore – a society whose core belief is meritocracy excellence, elitism and whose aspiration is to develop human capital to lead the world from mathematics, airports to automated building plan approval – will be first to try harness and poach these brains…And Singapore also strives to be first in field of poaching – not only for boys like Tan Zhong Shan to join its legal service (so that when they prosecute, their lead prosecutor will not come out with something outlandish like “self strangulation”) but also girls! This year Top Girl in Singapore who scored 10 A1s in the Cambridge General Certificate of Education (O Levels) Examination is 16 year old student Lai Kai Rou from Selangor, Malaysia. She is on a bond-free scholarship from St. Nicholas Girls’ School of Singapore and stays at the Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) hostel. She has a younger brother, a secondary two student in HCI, who is also on scholarship. The Top Girl for last year Haw Sue Hern is also from Malaysia with 10 A1s.

    Of course this kind of poaching benefits Singapore society as a whole as well as the ruling clique there that gets the confidence of their voters: they have an efficient public/civil service because the people in public/civil service compete and try their best to solve the most intractable problems and come out with intelligent as well as practical solutions, and in that process the public socio-economic infrastructure there become even more developed and efficient, and being developed, attract as an on-going process and way into the future more brains (human capital), not necessarily from Malaysia (the most convenient source) but also elsewhere. (One of the features of Globalised world is migration of talent from less developed to the more developed societies and such migration activated tends to widen even more the existing gap between the less developed and more developed…).

    The NEP and loss of human capital buttressed by the Kasim Amat’s xenophobic attitude of “I’d rather my country not so well developed and live with my own people than live in a highly developed country and surrounded by foreigners” (per taxidriver post #31) will guarantee Malaysia in the backwaters.

    To get out of the travails, one needs a strong bold and visionary leader to push for transformation but even in this area no one steps up the plate here.

    The present crop of politicians here are mediocre in individual talent (which is being generous) whilst the more capable ones – caught up in a moribund political system which sustains itself on negative factors of securities, racial and religious sentiments of their constituencies, political trickery, propaganda and situational repression of dissent than the positives of competence and efficiency of governance – have no desire and will (beyond lip service) to change the system for both the government as well as the country to become more competent and efficient. So they look inwards to self gain, especially gains from the gravy train that power provides access to and use money made from such access to perpetuate power by buying votes and gaining influence to further stay in power. It is a short sighted attitude, and selfish because it abdicates the responsibilities of power and governance to preserve, nurture and develop the nation’s resources – especially human capital resources – for the benefit of the next and future generations.

  47. #47 by zack on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 9:52 am

    ” … Let me suggest that Eng Guan and Hsien Loong are eminently qualified for their respective positions. I don’t know about the others. Perhaps you are impressed with the performance of Najib and Mukriz. I am not…”

    They are in politics NOT civil service. They don’t have to be paper QUALIFIED (whatever that mean). As politician , as long as they command the support of the masses, then that’s the qualification you need.

    Just to play along with this line of reasoning , Dr Mahathir should be considered as VERY qualified but I don’t remember the DAP saying good things about his qualification …. a MBBS from UM(Singapore).

  48. #48 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 10:06 am

    TDM’s sum zero racial hypothesis – that Malays cannot be seen to lose out to Non malays and being handicapped needs affirmative policies tends to have the unintended consequence of making the majority race diffident of their own capabilities and therefore even more reliant on the crutch of govt.’s affirmative help and making the other races, perceiving themselves marginalised, strive harder in an adverse milieu and therefore become even more competent to thrive and survive not just here but anywhere in this world, thereby widening the very gap between Malays and non Malays that the policies are supposedly intended to narrow….

    There is much wisdom in being more inclusive in attitude – not seeing each other in terms of race and how my race can do better than yours, but together how we could tap develop and bring out the talents of each our countrymen without regard to creed and race to face the global challenge and uplift the country as a whole. Surely if the country prosper so will the majority race and vice versa if the country suffers so will that be a natural consequence except that the minority race being more self reliant, competitive and comptent – being forced to to learn to do so in a discriminating environment – need not have to stay and suffer but could pack their bags and go since they have survivors skills needed by other countries…

  49. #49 by cintanegara on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 10:12 am

    Thank you Pulau Sibu for the great comments. At least we have someone here telling the truth. Only LKS has a high regard for that country. Pure meritocracy in that tiny country? Very doubtful!!

    TheWrathOfGrapes…. I have highlighted this numerous times….DS Najib, DS Hisham and DS Mukriz got the positions after their fathers no longer held significant positions in the cabinet/government…. Would LGE be Penang CM if he was not LKS’s son? Do you know that he contested in Kota Melaka at a very young age? In 1986 he was just in his early 20s whereas DS Mukriz got the chance to contest at the age of 44 (2008 GE)…Got it??? In the future, DAP might have difficulty explaining what nepotism, merit or family relationship

  50. #50 by Taxidriver on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 10:22 am

    TheWrathOfGrapes #42

    Well said. Singapore may not be too perfect but compared to Bolehland it is perfect in every way. There WAS ( not IS ) a lack of speech freedom. The PAP government now more open to CONSTRUCTIVE criticisms, but of course, if you say or spin lies to destroy someone’s credibility and reputation, then you will be accountable for your own action. Singapore is not like Bolehland where the ruling UMNOB-led government leaders can use the electronic and print media to disseminate lies and propagate hatred among the races with impunity.

    In Singapore they have a special corner where you can talk or criticise the government. Initially, there were two policeman to make sure the speakers did not go overboard. But nowadays, policemen couldn’t be bothered with what the speakers say because they know nobody believe them ( speakers ).

    Majority of Singaporeans are happy with their Government’s performance. Unlike 30 years ago, Singaporeans feel blessed when they compare their government with Bolehland government. Hence, it is not that the PAP is supressing press freedom or speech freedom. The truth is UMNOB/BN government is doing Singapore Government a very BIG favour in that Singaporeans have very little issues to take up with their government when they see how Malaysia is being plundered by the UMNOB/BN government.

  51. #51 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 10:35 am

    NR n Moo proudly declared: We UmnoBputras hv respect for all communities
    BUT nonMalays MUST accept we r tuan, no Q asked
    N we don’t mind others (like Perkosa n senior civil servants including principals, teachers, n BTN officers) calling nonMalays creatif names (si mata sepet, si kaki botol, pendatang, descendants of beggars n prostitutes) n asking them 2 balik whichever kampung
    Zhong Shan is welcome back 2 intern with d world class self-strangling loyar Lazak

  52. #52 by cintanegara on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 10:46 am

    Fairy tales and folklore are among the most enjoyable stories TaxiDriver can tell…belittle his own country and give high respect for other country…No wonder patriotism is disappearing….

  53. #53 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 11:29 am

    cintanegara :
    whereas DS Mukriz got the chance to contest at the age of 44 (2008 GE)

    The rest of the rabid drivel snipped….

    cheatanegara – you seriously think Mukhriz got his ministerial post by compentence or election? Remember he lost to KJ, yet he was made a deputy minister and not KJ. Who do you think is squeezing whose balls to get Mukhriz the deputy minister’s post. Nepotism indeed.

    Yes, Mukhriz started politics at age 44, whereas LGE started in his 20s. So? You know the facts, but are too dumb to draw the right conclusions.

    What this means is that Mukhriz was busy raking in the millions and billions when he was in his 20s and 30s. That his mental and political development are retarded and he needs to be in his 40s before he can take on those in their 20s. And yet he lost to KJ. So, go figure.

  54. #54 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 11:52 am

    cintanegara :
    TheWrathOfGrapes…. I have highlighted this numerous times….DS Najib, DS Hisham and DS Mukriz got the positions after their fathers no longer held significant positions in the cabinet/government….

    On paper, Mahathir is no longer the Prime Minister. But who do you think is running (or rather ruining) the country all these years after he “stepped down” in 2003? Who was telling Badawi how to run the country? Who brought down Badawi? How do you think Najib got the current job? Why do you think Malaysia is going back to Mahathirsm and Mahanomics by going for mega white elephant projects?

    So, father no longer held significant position in the cabinet? Who needs to be in the cabinet, if he can manipulate and control while sitting at the top of Petronas Tower? Who needs to be in the cabinet, if he has thick dossiers on those in the cabinets, and can tell them to do exactly what he wants. How did Mukhriz get his deputy minister’s post?

  55. #55 by k1980 on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 12:33 pm

    //Mukhriz started politics at age 44, whereas LGE started in his 20s///

    Some people are late developers, having to take and retake their SPM umpteen times. Remember that some animals are more equal than others in “Animal Farm”?

  56. #56 by Godfather on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 - 4:27 pm

    cintanegara is stupid beyond belief. Mamakthir made sure his children made their billions while the old man was still in power, and then when the old man was no longer in power, he made sure that at least one of his kids stayed close in politics to protect the family’s “heritage”.

    And this guy cintanegara sitting under the rambutan tree still doesn’t know that all his rambutans have been stolen as part of Mamakthir’s legacy. cintanegara tells himself not to worry, there’ll be another fruiting season. He doesn’t realise that a fruiting season means another season of plunder for the UMNOputras.

  57. #57 by Ray on Thursday, 21 October 2010 - 10:06 am

    Cinta negara,
    Whatever you had commented past and present are Pure Lies and Hatredness of Umnoism .
    > Its Time for you RambutanCinta to go for Mental Rehab Happily at Tanjong RamButan Centre For Gila2 Allah2….cos you always feel miserably sad about life might as well living yr next new life thereby .

  58. #58 by johnnypok on Thursday, 21 October 2010 - 12:36 pm

    After Maylaya is sold or become part of Singapore, cinanonok will be made the minister of cuci jamban

  59. #59 by johnnypok on Thursday, 21 October 2010 - 12:42 pm

    Mukris is still a baby, compare to LGE … not to mention his low IQ … in Singapore, he may not be even qualified as a dish-washer, while that cintanonok guy will become a street-beggar after his country is sold/given free to Singapore.

  60. #60 by cintanegara on Thursday, 21 October 2010 - 1:13 pm

    After 2 more than years, how much FDI has Penang secured? All Malaysians must vote against NEPOTISM, the most unhealthy side of politics…

  61. #61 by johnnypok on Thursday, 21 October 2010 - 2:18 pm

    Majority are vultures, malas, unproductive, beggers, day-light robbers, waiting for the rambutans to fall, and some more does not pay tax … and forever need tongkat … eventually they will become jelly-fish … and extinct.

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