In rejoinder to the demand by the MCA Vice President and Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai that the DAP apologise to the Chinese voters in Kuala Terengganu for misleading them on the hudud issue, DAP had challenged MCA to a debate on “Who should apologise – MCA or DAP?” in Kuala Terengganu before the by-election on Saturday.
While DAP awaits the MCA response, let me give advance notice to the MCA leadership that there is a long catalogue of things MCA must apologise not only to the Malaysian Chinese in Kuala Terengganu but to all Malaysians, and it is most appropriate that this is done in Kuala Terengganu.
The catalogue of MCA failures and misdeeds range from the dismal performance of the current MCA leadership, the pathetic MCA record in Barisan Nasional, the shameful MCA failure to live up to the ideas and ideals of the MCA founding fathers like Tun Tan Cheng Lock to its shocking betrayal of the cardinal nation-building principles for Malaya and later Malaysia as embodied in the Merdeka “social contract” of 1957.
For a start, let me just cite five reasons why MCA owes not only the Malaysian Chinese but all Malaysians a fulsome apology.
Firstly, the failures of the present batch of MCA leaders in government.
1. RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal. The continued cover-up of the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bail-out scandal by the MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat, although Ong had promised when he was appointed Transport Minister 10 months ago that he would “inform the rakyat about the true situation” about the PKFZ scandal.
Up till today, Ong is unable to answer the Five Questions about the RM4.6 billion PKFZ scandal which I had posed to him nine months ago after his public pledge to “tell all” about PKFZ, particularly about the history of impropriety in land transactions, illegal issue of Letters of Support, Cabinet bailouts and retrospective ratification of illegal decisions by the two previous Transport Ministers, Tun Ling Liong Sik and Datuk Seri Chong Kong Choy although he had all the answers without having to await the outcome of the PricewaterhouseCooper audit report.
Let Ong answer the Five Questions about the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal in Kuala Terengganu.
2. Worst dengue epidemic in Malaysia. Another MCA Ministerial failure, this time by the MCA Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, who had shown shocking indifference, unconcern and irresponsibility at the worst dengue epidemic in the nation’s history, recording the highest number of dengue cases and dengue deaths with 112 casualties last year.
3. Malaysians are no more safe in their own country. MCA boasts as the second most important party in the Barisan Nasional coalition. It has also a Deputy Home Minister. MCA must apologise and bear full responsibility for the serious breakdown of law-and-order in Malaysia, where with soaring crime, no one can feel safe any more in the country whether in the streets, public places or the privacy of their homes, and Malaysian citizens, tourists and investors have lost the two fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime.
MCA must also come forward to apologise for
(i) failing to stand up for meaningful police reforms to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional and world-class police service dedicated to the three core functions to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and protect human rights as by implementing the key recommendation of the Royal Police Commission, establishing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC); and
(ii) the abuse of police powers like the recent arbitrary arrests under the Internal Security Act of Sin Chew senior reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin; the police harassment of Jerit cyclists demanding national reforms and the arrests of peaceful demonstrators against the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and Tamils in Sri Lanka.
4. Deteriorating education standards. Apart from being part of the Barisan Nasional government, MCA has also a Deputy Education Minister, pinning direct responsibility for the increasing educational woes in the country, with deteriorating educational standards as highlighted by the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007 results (blacked out by the Education Ministry for over a month), continuing “brain drain” of the best and brightest in Malaysia at all levels of education and the continued discrimination against Chinese and Tamil primary schools in terms of fair and equitable government funding and development for all schools.
MCA owes Malaysian Chinese and all Malaysians an apology for the Barisan Nasional government’s failure to fully appreciate that a country’s educational system is a key element in establishing competitive advantage in an increasingly global economy – highlighted by Malaysian universities falling out of the world’s top 200 Universities (Times Higher Education Supplement ranking) and even the world’s best 500 Universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong Univeristy ranking).
5. Corruption As part of Barisan Nasional, MCA cannot disclaim responsibility for the deplorable state of corruption in Malaysia, with Malaysia’s ranking on Transparency International Corruption Perception Index plunging from No. 23 in 1995 to No. 37 in 2003 and lower to No. 47 in 2008 – with the high risk of Malaysia falling below the 50th ranking in coming years. Is MCA prepared to apologise to the Chinese voters in Kuala Terengganu and all Malaysians for such dismal record in accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance after half a century in power at the national level?
These five instances are just openers for there are many more reasons why MCA owes an abject apology not only to the Chinese voters in Kuala Terengganu but to all Malaysians for its dismal political record in government whether for the present or the past – which would be enumerated if MCA dares to accept the DAP challenge to a public debate in Kuala Terengganu on “Who should apologise – MCA or DAP?”
#1 by Godfather on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 12:55 pm
Don’t waste your breath. Ong Ta Kut is busy trying to clamp the mouth of his deputy, so he won’t have time to debate with you or with anyone else. Furthermore, he needs the approval of his UMNO masters, or he could end up talking more than he should.
The Chinese know that MCA is history.
#2 by 1 United Bangsa Malaysia on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 1:07 pm
MCA is history no doubt WITHOUT CHANGE but is THE RAKYATS prepared for THE TSUNAMI and MALAYSIA not wiped off by continued divide along race/religion/language etc…
How is THE RAKYATS and MALAYSIA to benefits when salvo after salvo is blasted without fail while basic issues dear to THE RAKYATS are not addressed?
Thank you.
#3 by Godfather on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 1:12 pm
You should also add a sixth reason:
Ong Ta Kut was quoted as saying that the new Labu airport was a joint cabinet decision, but then he went on to say that the main decision maker was the ministry of finance, directing reporters to the PM-in-waiting. This is totally unbecoming of a person who is supposed to be in charge of air transport policy, a person who is supposed to do what is right for the country and not pander to the wishes of UMNO.
#4 by OrangRojak on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 1:14 pm
Go on LKS! He’s down! Finish him!
Oh sorry, my inner animal burst out.
How embarrassing.
#5 by k1980 on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 1:30 pm
MCA owes Malaysian Chinese an apology for using the term ‘Chinese’ when it actually represents the umno-nites.
#6 by pulau_sibu on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 2:05 pm
Karpal is sometimes a bit pain in the neck. There are things that should be talked at different timing.
‘DAP will pull out if hudud laws implemented’
By YENG AI CHUN
KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP would pull out of Pakatan Rakyat if hudud laws were ever to be implemented by its alliance partner PAS, said DAP chairman Karpal Singh.
He said DAP has always stood against the implementation of hudud laws and has made its stand known from the very beginning.
“Of course, of course … DAP would (pull out). We have to be consistent.
“We cannot sacrfice our principles at the expanse of public interest and at the expanse of what we have been saying along,” he told newsmen here on Wednesday, adding that being a secular state, Malaysia cannot have Islamic laws.
Karpal and his son Ramkarpal Singh were at the Istana Negara to deliver a letter to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agung’s secretary, calling for the resignation of Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi.
#7 by blink4blog on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 2:11 pm
For starters… where is the main course?
#8 by chengho on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 2:16 pm
More than 88% of voters in KT is Malays why 5 points sound like an apology to chinese community? do you have to apologise for DAP giving contradict statement on PAS and Anwar Huddud..
#9 by messi on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 2:19 pm
MCA owes Malaysian Chinese an apology for agreeing to implement the NEP policy based on the “privilege term” under our constitution but did the agreement highlight the implementation on one sided policy at the other races expense?
1) Double standard entry requirement for university.
2) Allow AP for bumi only.
3) Allow taxi permit one bumi only.
4) Allow to award a contract for bumi only.
5) Pay for higher contract price due to middle man.
6) Built Chinese school need years to get approval.
7) Scholarship for the rich bumi and non qualify/sub-standard student.
8) Rich bumi can buy house at the discounted rate.
9) ……..etc..continue if any..
After 50 years of independence with the above policy. Can anyone here tell us:-
(i) Any improvement on the bumi to stand equally with the non-bumi in term of education and doing business?
(ii) Can they survive without the NEP “tongkat”?
Would like MCA to enlighten us on the issue and explain on what they have contributed to the Chinese community under the BARISAN NASIONAL except agreeing to all the terms as per above.
#10 by chris chong on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 2:27 pm
pls read RPK’s article on how disgusting MCA is.
“You MCA Chinese are the worst kind. At least PAS and DAP are honest about what their stands are. You just throw the cat amongst the pigeons and stir racial and religious issues to divide Malaysians and to make them hate each other. You are dangerous Chinese…”
#11 by Cinaputera on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 2:30 pm
We should start a campaign among the Chinese community to demand MCA to stop using the term ‘Chinese’ in their party name. Instead the C should be changed to Coward, Corrupt or Chicken.
#12 by wanderer on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 3:16 pm
chengho;
How much were you paid to pen your rubbish. I thought only UMNO puteras go for handouts, this scum has painted himself brown to pick a few cherries!
No further reasons are required, MCA is history…
#13 by monsterball on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 3:21 pm
Chengho cannot differentiate between facts and fantasy…trying to expose DAP is… hypocritical.
hi Chengho…..why be mouth piece to… Ong Ta Kut….and ignore Lim Kit Siang challenge to your boss for a debate.
Why not give your remarks on what DAP have put out..at this post….so important to ALL Malaysians.
But then…..you are another dog……what do you know about human rights.
My remarks to this post is…..MCA is a confirmed traitors to Malaysians and Malaysians Chinese in particular……never so greatly shown…..since Ling Liong Sik took over.
Every Malaysian Chinese hates Ling Liong Sik……..except MCA members. How many balance? So may resigned.
But we know they still have chengho and cintanegera….don’t we.
Quality of these two doggies messages….less said the better.
#14 by Cinapek on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 3:31 pm
Y Kit, you may also want to add the question why the present Health Minister, Liow Tiong Lai, was so quick to support the takeover of IJN by Sime Darby. The Health
Minister is supposed to safeguard the health interest of ALL Malaysians but he was one of the first to support the takeover proposal. I view this as selling the rakyat out and betraying them to the fat cat carpet baggers of corporate Malaysia. In my most generous mood I would view his staunch support as “bodek” his UMNO bosses. At worst, I would question his interest in this deal.
The other question you might want to ask MCA is the mess the entire transport industry Malaysia is in. We are in this mess because the succession of MCA Transport ministers from Ling Liong Sik to Chan Kong Choy and now to Ong Tee Kiat has been derelict in their duty. Their incompetence and negligence has allowed the transport industry to deteriorate to the mess it is today. Instead of doing their jobs concientiously, they indulge in scandalous matters such as the PKFZ.
MCA, you are Chinese. There is a Chinese saying ” that when you point one finger out, there are three that is pointed in”.
Stop doing the dirty work for your UMNO bosses. PAS cannot implement hudud laws even if they win KT. But UMNO , who has declared Malaysia to be an Islamic country, and being in power, can. And it is in your character to docilely support everything UMNO does. And I have yet to hear you or UMNO’s position on this hudud matter.
#15 by taiking on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 3:41 pm
DAP and PAS are caught in a seemingly inextricable tangle. Actually more so for PAS than DAP. Karpal has to say what he said: “Pull out of Pakatan if hudud is implemented.” This statement is entirely consistent with DAP’s stand that malaysia is not an islamic country and is also consistent with our constitution (islam is only an official religion). In other words, Karpal is correct, legally and politically.
PAS on the other hand has created a large following on the basis of its express desire to turn malaysia into an islamic state. PAS too knew that malaysia is secular and not islamic for PAS always spoke in terms of “turning” malaysia into an islamic state (or some other words with similar effect). The point is this. If we already are an islamic nation, then there is not necessity to talk of “turning” our country into an islamic state!
With that PAS has created a nice conundrum for itself. PAS has to change the constitution to achieve its express claim. Not something they can do easily. At the same time, PAS cannot back away from its claim without losing the party’s followings and support.
PAS realise its weaker position vis-a-vis DAP on this issue. The party’s attempt to raise its appeal in the eyes of chinese up and down the country is good evidence of this fact. What they ought to do is to back down slowly from the stand. They have to do it. There is no option.
#16 by monsterball on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 3:50 pm
Chintaputra …you are so right…but then…let them try to continue fooling Malaysians and Malaysians Chinese.
Vast majority Malaysians…cannot be fooled anymore.
As such….MCA with the “C” representing “CHINESE”…is actually going to bury them alive…just as..”M” and “I” in “UMNO” and “MIC” respectively.
Let those three greatest political hypocrites in the world…..do their race and religion dirty politics.
Let us wait and see a small portion of Malaysians decisions in the Terengganu by-election. It may still mean nothing much…..even PAS looses..but if UMNO looses…it is showing another great sign..for a better tomorrow.
Most important of all….lets wait for 13th election…to see earthquakes and tsunami BLOW AND SWEEP AWAY… all the corrupted MUNAFIKS…from UMNO and BN..once and for all…to finally unite us all. …no more puppets….no more .dolls or dogs like those scums of the earth devilish parties…with the devil reincarnated UMNO leader…still active and talking to separate Malaysians…just to keep Dollah/Najib busy..defending his family.
These people talk nonsense and on unholy matters.
Chengho and cintanegara are but small …trying so hard to carry balls for a living…for one master..MCA…preparing themselves to succeed based on who you know and not what you know.
With all their good education background…they lack dignity and principles in life…or maybe plain cowards???
So brain keep on rolling and churning …..rolling and churning….roll on….churn on….
#17 by wanderer on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 4:03 pm
The Chinese community has long ago pulled the plug out on these so called Chinese protectors! Their existence depends solely on the charity of their UMNO masters. So understandably, they are doing the bidding for the scums in UMNO as lap dogs…pathetic!
Yet, this mongrel (hat fits wear it) has the cheek to comment in this blog.
#18 by wahai kawan on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 4:21 pm
Dear Kit,
Hudud laws – All of you got sucked into a debate where it is not practical even to suggest implementations. Can you state which country in the world that practices such outdated laws? I am sure when it’s origin has it’s own reason best known benefited to them at that precise point of time. But people evolved taking what’s best to them………. Let’s not alk about a topic which has no ends
Let’s not write good arguments for the rakyat to clap hands and to talk about in coffee shops. Let’s not enter any endless debate where we continue to demand from certain people even though we know it’s right. This will not lead to any solutions as we are operating from grid lock type of management.
Please set up more offices with more DAP representatives to resolve issues for the people as in the housing issues of Bukit Antarabangsa along with other negligent actions of the irresponsible developers. The trend has slowed down but the Rakyat has not forgotten. Let’s talk about issues which the rakyat can benefit.
Let us know we have a capable leader out there that can help us all and not “Mikasa Sukasa”
#19 by sightseeing on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 4:29 pm
MCA has yet to apologise to the hundred of thousand Chinese who have lost their life savings in companies promoted by MCA. Have the current MCA leaders forgotten Multi-Purpose Holdings, Aik Hua Holdings, Peak Hua Holdings and similar holdings companies promoted by MCA. Most of the directors of these companies have become multi millionaires while small investors of these companies have lost their life savings.
#20 by ch on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 4:43 pm
Dear All,
I think what we are seeing today in MCA and many other political parties alike is the greed and excesses that their champions allowed to happen and left unchecked during the past years. It is akin to the current financial situation of many gigantic banks in the USA and certain parts of Europe. Several years ago mega mergers were the order of the day and shareholders were celebrating because market analysts and rating outfits were drumming up all these deals. The trend of mega mergers caught into our very own financial system as well. Smaller size banks were gobbled up in the name of merger. Of course as we are all aware now, these drum beats had reached a crescendo and had gone silent sometime last year. It was then assumed (without much detailed analysis) that everything big is good. As history had demonstrated that all great empire will disintegrate eventually. Because unless if cloning is used or if all humans are robots, it is inevitable the leader will lose control when the organization become too big to control. How do you like working in an organization when do you not even get a chance to meet up with the CEO? Without the ability to meet or interact with the chiefs/leaders, you are likely to be unable to share the same vision and mission and likewise the chiefs/leaders are not able to ensure that the rank and file are responding according to their plan. Hence we have creation of sub-empires and so on.
MCA is currently under tremendous pressure from UMNO to deliver the Chinese votes which they lost badly to DAP, PKR and even PAS. Returning the votes are definitely by no means an easy task for MCA as the PR is getting sharper by the days. I am in no position to speak for BN but I believe they are finding it hard to blunt PR onward march in KT at the moment. MCA leaders are similarly trying to save their own skin if the inevitable happen in KT.
#21 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 5:04 pm
I feel so sorry for MCA. Every time they open their mouths, big and small, they put both their feet in!
If there is going to be any redemption left for MCA, then they must now steer the straight and narrow path and not lie shamelessly to Malaysians. The perception has always been that MCA leaders continually prostitute themselves so that their leaders are able to line their pockets with the crumbs that fall from UMNO’s tables.
#22 by singma on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 6:15 pm
Ong Ta Kut was saying the Labu project was a \collective decision\. You see, this is the kind people who has no balls and principle. He dare not voice his view (he supposedly try to potray to the chinese that he is such a person with integrity and dare to speak without fear or favour). But when under UMNO controlled Cabinet, he lost his bola.
Look at his presidential campaign video in Oct 2008:-
http://www.ongteekeat.net/gogo_en/content/blogcategory/9/62/
Clear of eg of Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin
So voters in KT, if you vote for BN, this is the consequence. They can promise you the sky, but after election, don’t you cry.
#23 by shah pinang on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 7:08 pm
quoting from pulau sibu:
“Karpal is sometimes a bit pain in the neck. There are things that should be talked at different timing.” – agree. Though to be honest never felt he was ‘a bit pain in the neck’ ….until recently.
This is referring to the latest ‘outburst’ as reported in the STAR (yeah sorry still reading the newspaper,albeit online)-‘DAP will pull out if hudud laws implemented’ By YENG AI CHUN
Dear God, YB Lim please calm him down or he’ll be the Malaysian version of Rafa Benitez (liverpool fan alert). To those non-footballing/soccer fan, apologies for the analogy but for those who know what i meant……YB Karpal is not doing his party, PKR and the supporters (secular muslim, pious muslim, flip flop muslim and non muslims) any favours at all. Even though this a question of principal, YB Karpal has been in politics long enough to understand PERCEPTION or how the people on the ground perceive DAP and PKR , is as important as demonstrating that you are neither a ‘flip flop’ like Pak Lah and cronies or you are gullible enough to ‘sell your soul to the devil’…..or the red devils (can’t help it)
The UMNOs,MCAs and MICs are playing stupid mind games so please, no offence intended, don’t be as stupid to stoop to their level.
Right now you are even making me ….anak bumi penang, who had the honour of following YB Lim’s/YB Karpal heyday of Projek Tanjung, uncomfortable and a tinge disappointed. I am ‘a PAS’ on principal, but i appreciate DAP’s call for good governance and mutual respect for all. In addition my father had the rare opportunity of coming up against YB Karpal in court (he was representing a government agency vs YB’s client at that time) and he was very much impressed. My father lost of course (but he’s adamant YB Karpal won only on the ground of technicality) but as a penangite, he was proud to have met such a determine and eloquent politician. Rightly so, YB’s was the ‘Tiger of Jelutong’.
BUT, now he is shooting himself on the foot. With all due respect, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim was right to point out that if we muslims wanted hudud, then we have the right to express it, and in this case such opinion is represented by large section of PAS supporters (including myself to such extent) which you cannot just ignore.
Everyone is well aware of DAP’s creed and commitment towards a Secular Malaysia…and yes Malaysia is a Secular State.Only blinded,misguided Umnoputeras and their poodles will state otherwise.
The same goes with PAS. Everyone is well aware of their aspirations for an Islamic State (it defines their very existence!), without which they seize to be a party of their supporters.
So why the big fuss now YB Karpal?? You already said yourself the constitution needs to be amended if Malaysia wants hudud.And that would need 2/3 majority, which in PKRs case can only be achieved with the support of DAP. Here’s where we should stop the discussion and leave it as it is.Period. Its up to PAS to educate and convince the masses(they have been trying for the last 30 years or so) but DAP must be prepared to ‘quietly’ accept the possibility(or perceive to) that Malaysians might one day be ready to have Islamic penal code. How we are going to implement is irrelevant at this moment in time so why bother losing sleep over it??
PAS has also quietly acknowledged that there might not EVER be such a day, but please YB Karpal stop ‘rubbing’ it in and giving the perception that DAP is living up to its label (wrongly so) of being a ‘chauvinistic’ secular party. You are breeding resentment amongst the malay voters (of every muslim version) and unless you intention is to help PAS loose the KT election- then you are being big headed and selfish for making further statements on the issue.You are only giving credence to your imbecile opponents who as YB Lim pointed out, are the ones giving their approval to the notion that Malaysia is an Islamic State. These are the very same people who thinks- ‘Race relations in Barisan more sincere’: Ahmad Shabery.My tutu.
Sincerity is when DAP can say to PAS-“sorry I am not convince by hudud” and PAS can accept the view and instead of throwing tantrums, will try to alienate the fears by being more accessible and pragmatic in answering any misgivings on the issue. That is the hallmark of Pakatan Rakyat. We are sincere. Nothing to do with appeasing or ‘pilih bulu’ amongst the races. We strive for a common good.
Unlike BN, its all about ‘sleeping with the enemy’-i kiss you, you kiss me-we have one(or a few) night stand…then a masterpiece DVD for public viewing of how awful you were in bed.catch the drift? never mind.just digressing.
So YB Lim,tolong tenang-tenangkanlah YB Karpal. Like my wife always say- “Why so serious abang?!”
Rant over.
#24 by monsterball on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 7:11 pm
MCA cannot pulled out. UMNO cannot admit non Malays.
They will not unite…give up UMNO…MCA and MIC and be Barisan National sincerely.
It has always been acting and side shows.
Ka Ting final speech as MCA president is exactly what he knew and did not do. He dare not…as pulling out of BN….to compete with DAP??
To join DAP …give up party and repent….right move…but loose face.
MCA from Liong Liong Sik time…..up to know…is thinking of themselves…..their futures…performing side shows ..to please UMNO.
Furthermore…UMNO have trained them to be arrogant and boastful…..making all so rich…making sure..they will stay as lapdogs.
They are willing to be pimps too!! I have seen with my own two eyes.
So how to be humble?
UMNO at their powerful time..kept saying ..at election time……. “When MCA talks….they will open two ears …wide open and listen.When DAP talks…they close both ears”.
Same style… to MIC.
So why should Ka Ting warn UMNO….if all his talks …were listened and carried weight?
Samy more direct. He blamed UMNO for not listening to him..and that’s why MIC lost.
From these two……no one should doubt MCA and MIC are clowns…puppets…and now…accepting as second class citizen willingly…because those so call MCA and MIC big shots are filthy rich…. fat….bought up by UMNO….lock stock and barrel.
After the 12th election…..with the help of Internet…voters can read this and go conclude……are we liars..carrying DAP balls…or telling the truth ..without fear nor favour.
#25 by Godfather on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 7:17 pm
Ong Ta Kut can only talk tough behind the STAR. He can’t even debate his own deputy so he just put all the obstacles in the way of Chua Soi Lek. Now Chua is totally muzzled.
Come March, Najib will ask his mentor the Mamakthir to return to UMNO. Najib will even make Mamakthir the advisor to UMNO. Ong Ta Kut should realise that his party will be even more marginalised by UMNO. As pronounced by the UMNOputra Samshul Anuar, UMNO is not shy of proclaiming its dominance, and minor parties like the MCA are only in existence by the grace of UMNO.
#26 by monsterball on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 7:32 pm
Sightseeing have an elephant brain.
That’s excellent!!
Many were not born yet…..and MCA president at that time was Tan Khoon Suan.
All Chinese savings gone…..hundreds of millions. He went to jail for few years…blamed Buddha did not protect him…and now become a nutty Christian.
I am a hainanese and that hylam sent few to tell me…give up my company and become a multi millionaire. I ask how. They said..they will buy up my company with shares from a public listed company….and I can sell the shares off…for cash…at later stage.
I refused and said no cash….no talk.
Sure enough..that so call public listed company..went bust few weeks later.
I played majong with few old hainanese blokes..and those poor fellas…took out all their savings to buy shares……all lost.
MIC have Miaka..under Samy Vellu son…lost RM100 million.
Samy promised to pay every sen from his own money…..just talk…never do……..and Indians are not giving up on matter yet…as Samy’s son gambled away with those millions…in share speculations. Win he take the profit…..loose he report officially.
So did Mahathir son….where is famous father took our money…RM1.2 billion to save his son….with no shame.no fear and no guilty feelings.
#27 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 7:33 pm
“……The perception has always been that MCA leaders continually prostitute themselves so that their leaders are able to line their pockets…” , I think, if possible we should try, wherever possible, not insult prostitutes who, by comparison, work hard and face personal hazards in delivering a hard day’s or night’s work for their money.
What should we ask MCA apology ? First, it won’t be given, and second, if given, it is unlikely to be sincere, more likely a self justification, and third, even if sincere, it is not acceptable, for it cannot provide adequate recompense for the damage and harm to at least two generations that have been marginalised by its selling out….
Better to draw a lesson from what MCA has done/not done, and, as a starting point, first take a look at how DAP National chairman Karpal Singh (dubbed the Lion of Jelutong) still roars – against the CJ appointment, against even his own Pakatan Rakyat’s defacto head Anwar Ibrahim for endorsing hudud’s application if only for Muslims!
As his team (DAP) go all out to support PR/PAS’s candidate in KT by election, there he (Karpal) stands alone defying PAS’s Islamic state vision/Hudud as going against the federal constitution’s secular vision of Malaysia, taunting PAS to consult its own luminary Salleh Abas, whose celebrated Federal Court decision, Che Omar Che Soh case in 1988 laid down that Malaysia was constitutionally secular….
For this act of speaking up based on principle – as distinct from political expedience – he incurs the displeasure, ridicule, if not wrath of his own supporters, PR colleaques, and large swathes of alienated rakyat desperate for change, desperate to boot the BN at any price or any cost who would view Karpal’s outspokenness as ill timed and sabotaging of PRs candidate’s chance of winning the all important KT By election.
However that was how it all started for MCA more than 30 years ago, all brimstones and fires about their constitutency’s rights and entitlement, then, its leaders started to make the first concession to UMNO in the interest of political expedience to have opportunity to share power, and then more compromises to original principles in order to keep the distributions of largese/patronage that “sharing” political power brought, and then even more concessions, for crumbs of patronage distributed as token for the (then) farce of power, which is considered still better than having neither!
That’s how if one does not draw a line in the sand to say that is the important principle to be defended and not crossed – if one puts expedience of winning elections or sharing power as more important, that one goes down the slippery slope towards the abyss.
Even as DAP criticises MCA, let the DAP, after the first whiff of power in capturing Penang, not grasp the lesson of MCA’s first betrayal by putting political expedience and pragmatism as of greater importance than its own principles on which Karpal, even now, amid the raging battle in KT by election, defends, roars and draws the line lest DAP, like MCA, would slide down, inch by inch, the slippery slope, seduced by the blandishment of sharing power in collaboration with forces of racial and religious bigotry leading to the eventual betrayal of its constitutency, the moderate and right thinking segment of the Malaysian electorate.
#28 by monsterball on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 7:58 pm
I mean.. elephant memory..not brain…Sightseeing writer.
My apology.
#29 by Lee Wang Yen on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 9:33 pm
Thanks, Jeffrey, for this excellent piece!
#30 by OrangRojak on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 11:17 pm
Nice job Jeffrey. Are you angling for a column in LKS’ daily rag The Racket “a Rocket for the Rakyat”, when he finally gets the platform he deserves?
#31 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 12:02 am
Thanks. Not angling for anything. Just want to say what I think true, if it could help perspectives, and Malaysians, many of whom have for too long been living lives of quiet desperation, vacillating between hopes and betrayal, seemingly with no reptrieve. We don’t derserve this.
#32 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 1:57 am
Let the lion roar! For is it not the nature of the lion to roar? Is it not the nature of a pinhead to bloviate without end?
Not you, Jeffrey! :)
#33 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 2:19 am
“So, as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, Malaysia is already an Islamic State and already practices Islamic laws. Almost all the Islamic laws are applicable in Malaysia. There is only one Islamic law that is yet to be adopted. And this is the Islamic law of Hudud. And the reason the Islamic law of Hudud has not been adopted is because Malaysia already has common laws to cover these seven crimes under Hudud law. So, since we already have common laws to take care of these seven crimes, the Islamic law of Hudud is not required.” RPK
Your response, Jeffery QC?
#34 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 3:19 am
“The Star reported that the Terengganu state government will be giving 25000 laptops for free to all year 5 students by April next year. After that, a factory will be set up to manufacture 10000 units of laptops per month which are to be distributed to students in year 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first batch of 25000 laptops will cost the state government RM30 million.
A sum of RM2.7 million was distributed to 9000 needy Chinese folks on January 5, a day before nomination day. This apparently is an annual event but in any other year, this handout would be made a week before or after the Chinese New Year.*
RM3.3 million was pledged by the Menteri Besar for the construction of a hall for the Chinese community in Bukit Kecil, with the ground breaking ceremony slated for Jan 13.*
The state government further approved RM2.8 million for the refurbishing of the sole Chinese school in KT, SJK (C) Chung Hwa Wei Sin. The school’s brass band will receive another RM200,000.*
RM110,000 was allocated to 40 Chinese religious organisations.*
The state MCA has obtained federal allocation worth RM205,000 for two temples while Education Minister Hishamuddin Hussien on Jan 5 announced a RM2,926,000 allocation for 10 Chinese schools in the state.*
* source: Malaysiakini report
Dr Azly Rahman in his blog has in the meanwhile cited a report in the New Straits Times that the state government had also promised to replace the zinc roofs houses of poor families and grant 4ha of land to anyone who wants to plant padi.
On January 10, Malaysiakini reported that the Federal Government had awarded RM15.8 million worth of small infrastructural projects to 583 Terengganu based class-F contractors through a computerised ‘bidding’ system. ”
It looks like PR has already lost the KT by-election. The Chinese have always been birds of fine weather.
#35 by NOT DUMB MALAYSIAN on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 6:09 am
1. The bankrupt MALAYSIAN CRASTRATED SOCIETY is bankrupt of any meaningful issues to improve the lot of the people especially ate 9,0d00 Chinese voters in KT. First they raise the Race Issues. When the Chinese are not buying that, they now moved to the Bogeyman of PAS HUD parroting UMNO like a mindless lapdog. The non-Muslims have for decades been under a PAS government for decades and they do not fear Hudud. The Trangganu folks have for a few years been under PAS and they are not scared of Hudud. So is MCA challenging DAP to state their stand on Hudud. All Malaysians are aware of he innumerable declaration by DAP on Hudud. Why can is MCA raising this, now? Because they have NOTHING TO CONTRIBUTE. As Running Dogs of UMNO, they will have to behave more muslims than the Muslims. We are getting to the stage of our political development that ALL MALAYSIANS HATE THE MCA.
2 Why, even their political master UMNO, dare not raise the Hudud bogey, They have too many things to explain.
#36 by Kathy on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 7:25 am
Undergrad2, sure most Chinese are well-known to be of birds of fine weather but it is time to start thinking themselves as Malaysians first.
The youth that are voting in KT, I hope you know what needs to be done.
#37 by monsterball on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 7:29 am
I think all the hue and cry of Hudud and Islamic laws are solely for political reasons and not for the benefits of Muslims.
For a country ruled by rock solid Islamic laws….to protect and respect.. 65% of total population…is enough. Just look at the amount of mosques built….so clearly overdone….yet non muslims have never complaint…inspite of the fact…..most are empty with few worshipers. If anyone come out to point out the illogical and downright over doing it…he/she is branded as a trouble causer.
In an area like Subang Jaya…you find mosques….everywhere…that based on muslim populations living around each area…it is ridiculously too many mosques….yet non muslims never complaint…because when coming to this subject…..UMNO and PAS have used religion to win votes. So..no matter how ridiculous that maybe….muslims will defend anything spoken…suggested against Islam matters….when infact..are spoken by the good of all muslim Malaysians …..to wake them up…for intelligent suggestions.
Karpal Singh is legally right…….but lousy in timing .. to speak up. Although Hudud is being said…only for Muslim…Karpal have pointed out the legal flaws….when involving a case between a muslim and non muslim. He is so legally right.
Talking about Islamic religion by UMNO…and supported …by MCA… is the only strong point to win votes in Terengganu.
Will it work?
I don’t think so…..as ordinary educated muslims can think clearly…this is brought out…..to force DAP. ..to speak against Islam…..and Karpal fell for it…when in actual fact…. not that important at all.
UMNO is trying so hard to avoid other issues being spoken up……and purposely talking hudud laws….getting their lapdog …MCA..to battle DAP on this issue…….and Karpal is caught on ..because he sees the legal flaws ….and not the bait to win votes…by UMNO. PAS must survive…by using same tactic. Karpal maybe an embarrassment to DAP.
Hadi Awang… is the pain in the arse for PAS.
To conclude…Malaysians must not be too serious to talk hudud laws….as all God’s laws..established few thousand years earlier than Islam….same objectives….same fairness to all mankind.
One need to read comparative religion to stop hero worship one religion…..as all are medicine for weak minds……not a poison to minds and make humans like zoombies….no need to think…just simply follow and believe. That’s mind control….not religion at all.
#38 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:01 am
“Your response?” – Undergrad2
It is a season for “bloviating” (to use your favourite term). Both both Dr Mahathir & RPK “bloviate” in different ways and for their respective (different) reasons/motives.
Especially convenient and easy to “bloviate” is a subject like “the Islamic state” which means several different things to different people.
There are high stakes in Kuala Terengganu by election. Rightly and wrongly Malay voters are perceived split tilting slightly in favour of BN, so it becomes crucial the 10% non Malay votes especially 8,787 Chinese voters viewed as potential Kingmakers….In last election they tilted 60 – 40 for BN, and Opposition’s strategy is to reverse that.
PAS (via Husam)’s statement for Hudud – and Anwar’s seeming endorsement of its application for Muslims only – is grounded on (a) religion being integral part of cultural identity of majority voters in Malaysia as well as KT in particular and (b) world wide, a call for Islamisation to the ideal Islamic state is rallying cry for many Muslims and has proven effective to remove authoritarian and repressive /well entrenched governments, whether republics or monarchies…
However non Muslim King Makers are scared, so since PAS’s
rallying call canot be muted, King makers’ fears on Hudud/Islamic state have to be ameliorated.
So our friend RPK comes out with this line, why are you so afraid, Malaysia under BN already an Islamic state like what Dr M said, and Hudud, it is already (in substance) accepted (in principle) and practiced in small ways like moral policing of close proximity, punishment for drinking etc though – by name, they are not called Hudud laws, and that the only reason why the more dramatic aspects of Hudud (eg chopping thieves’ hands) are not implemented is only because significant no. of non Muslims still around subject to secular laws, so its not practical to chop hands of muslim thief and spare non muslim…
So the drift of argument is that BN not very different from PAS – in terms of Islamic state/Hudud – but ceteris paribus, BN very corrupt loh, and therefore non muslims should tilt support to PR, PAS’s Hudud notwithstanding.
There my friend RPK “bloviates” some more to counter perception/fears that Hudud is brutal by arguing that in some aspects secular or common law is more brutal…
RPK cites some examples: “Nevertheless, you will still be put to death for rebellion against the state like what happened to the Al Maunah group — they were all hanged. And if you commit robbery with a gun, you will also be put to death. In fact, you will also be put to death for drug trafficking, whereas this is not a crime under Hudud. In that sense, COMMON LAW IS ACTUALLY MORE BRUTAL THAN HUDUD. Common law will impose the death sentence for armed robbery whereas Hudud will only impose the death sentence if you kill during that robbery. And if you are caught with a gun, even though you did not commit any crime with it, you will be put to death. Islam, however, guarantees citizens the right to bear arms, JUST LIKE IN THE US. So, in this respect, Hudud is more humane. Under Hudud, you do not die if you are caught with a gun. Under common law you do.”
RPK claims non political partisanship. True in the sense he is not member of any political party but he’s certainly not non-partisan in politics. His presence in KT represents a threat to Najib/BN.
Like I say who cares about “bloviating” if it helps one’s political capital against the other side? Truth? Let it be an orphan, not much good in political struggle for voters’ hearts and minds, where, from politicians’ perspective, mostly the hearts parts make up 85% of decision, the minds part, about poor 15% at the most! :)
#39 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:03 am
Sorry should be “Rightly OR wrongly Malay voters are perceived split …”
#40 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:15 am
I received the following from my colleague:
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s speech at Regional Outlook Forum, Singapore
Wednesday, 07 January 2009 16:43
Speech by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim
Regional Outlook Forum organised by Institute of South East Asian Studies
1. I want to thank ISEAS and in particular Ambassador Kesavapany for
this honour. Ambassador Kesavapany told me that I would have 30 minutes or
so to talk about Malaysia , and since it’s a luncheon talk it would probably
be light hearted and not too spirited. That will be difficult, like asking
me to be on my best behaviour while in the company of Paris Hilton, but I
will try.
2. Malaysia is a wonderful country and its people are among the most
hospitable. If Australia is the Lucky Country, then Malaysia is the Blessed
Country. Malaysia is also unique in another way. Not many countries have
their Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism
welcoming tourists. Many of you have visited the country and will no doubt
remember the giant billboards along the highway with the imposing picture of
a smiling Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism
welcoming you to the country. Now of course, after March this year, you will
see a new set of billboards replacing the expensive current ones. In March
2009, Malaysia will have a brand new Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister
and, in all likelihood, a new Minister for Tourism as well. Hopefully they
will not spend too much on the billboards for they might have to change them
again.
3. In Malaysia , General Elections had been considered a formality or a
ritual – something we had to do every 5 years or so as a matter of habit
although it had no real impact on the status quo. That all changed on 8
March 2008. The result of the 2008 General Elections held on that day sent
shockwaves through the country. It is probably also true to say that it also
surprised the Malaysian electorate which created the result. Ordinary
Malaysians suddenly found that they were capable of doing something dramatic
and historic. Malaysia will no longer be the same after March 8th. The book
published by ISEAS known as “Eclipsing May 13” is a good read about what
happened. You will find a good analysis of the general election and the
surrounding issues. What is clear is that Malaysia post-8 March 2008 is a
different Malaysia .
4. But, really, should we have been so surprised? For years, our former
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had told Malaysians that they could reach
for the stars. You remember the catchphrase “Malaysia Boleh”? Long before US
President-Elect Barrack Obama introduced the mantra “Yes We Can”, Dr
Mahathir was urging Malaysian to think “Malaysia Boleh” – “Malaysia Can”.
#41 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:16 am
But, really, should we have been so surprised? For years, our former
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had told Malaysians that they could reach
for the stars. You remember the catchphrase “Malaysia Boleh”? Long before US
President-Elect Barrack Obama introduced the mantra “Yes We Can”, Dr
Mahathir was urging Malaysian to think “Malaysia Boleh” – “Malaysia Can”.
5. Unfortunately for Malaysians, “Malaysia Boleh” has come to symbolize
something very different. To Malaysians it is about the government or the
bureaucracy doing things that could not and would not be done anywhere else.
Faced with unjustifiable mega projects like the national car project,
building the world’s tallest building, creating the splendour of a new city
in Putrajaya, hitching a ride into space on a Russian spacecraft that has
been paid for with tax dollars or revenue that should have been used for
more pressing matters like better equipped schools and hospitals, or an
effective transportation system, and all the things that have come with
them, what else could the average Malaysian do than shrug and say with
resignation, “Malaysia Boleh.”.
6. It seemed however, there was at least one thing that they could do.
“Malaysia Boleh” took on a different resonance during the last General
Election. For the first time BN only got 49 % of the popular vote in
Peninsula Malaysia . In terms of seats, BN only won 51% of those contested
in Peninsular Malaysia. Only the seats from Sabah and Sarawak actually gave
BN the solid majority it now enjoys. As for the Malays, a vote for the
Opposition is no longer an act of treachery or betrayal to the Malay cause.
PAS and Keadilan garnered more Malay votes than UMNO in Peninsular Malaysia.
UMNO is no longer the dominant voice for the Malays.
7. Why the sudden change? In my view, it was not sudden at all. The
results of the 2008 General Election were the culmination of the decline in
support for the BN since the 1999 General Election. In that election UMNO
lost a substantial portion of the Malay vote. It was this erosion of Malay
electoral support for UMNO in 1999 that influenced the constituency
re-delineation exercise in 2002. This move was to increase the number of
Malay mixed constituencies and lessen the predominantly Malay seats. It was
feared that PAS would be able to gain a stranglehold on such seats. This
effort was to no avail in 2008 with PKR doing extremely well in the mixed
Malay constituencies where Malay majority was between 50 to 65% and PAS
doing well in the predominantly Malay constituencies. With DAP doing well in
the predominantly Chinese majority seats, the writing was on the wall for
the BN. The aberration was the result of the 2004 General Election. This
aberration
had nothing to do with BN. It had everything to do with the manifesto of
change proposed by the then new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Change
however did not happen despite his best efforts. I will come to that later.
8. BN lost their 2/3 majority in Parliament in March this year though
only by 10 seats. It retained a majority and formed the Federal Government.
Yet, shockingly, there was almost instant pressure on the Prime Minister to
quit. Here you had an incumbent Prime Minister and leader of his party
having led his coalition to an electoral victory being asked to leave. No
other country except probably Thailand would purge a leader in that
position. But then this is the same country which saw the leader of the
Opposition being touted at the same time as the PM in waiting although he
was still 32 seats short of a simple majority. Malaysia is truly a unique
country.
#42 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:18 am
9. So where did the results of the 2008 General Election put the
country? In my view, the future looks good for Malaysia , current events
notwithstanding. Of course we have a multitude of problems, but then which
country is spared? What is important to note is that given our political
history we are possibly in the best condition we could be to address and
resolve those problems. As I stressed at the outset, Malaysia is no longer
the country it was before 8 March 2008. For the first time we have a real
prospect of a two party system in Parliament. Even if the Pakatan Rakyat
opposition fails to form the federal government in the next election – in my
view they have a 50% chance – we will have a stronger and more effective
opposition. To me, this is the only safeguard against abuse of power,
corruption and the preservation of the rule of Law, or at least whatever is
left of it. Though those of you in Singapore may not need a strong
opposition to
ensure good governance and low corruption levels, the Malaysian experience
requires the counterbalance a strong opposition allows for.
10. And what of the BN after the change in leadership in March?
Never mind March, what happens after Kuala Terengganu? BN will probably lose
and if that happens, life will be tough for Dato Seri Najib. If BN wins then
it’s only temporary reprieve. In my view, the BN will appear to be stronger,
thanks to the hype and spin by the mainstream media. With a new leader in
Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, UMNO and BN will rally behind him as a show of
solidarity. However, when you dump and push out a sitting Prime Minister,
especially someone as nice as Pak Lah, there are bound to be some of his
supporters who will retaliate, and Najib cannot as such be assured of
unanimous or cohesive support. After all, his popularity is low in the
country. He will probably tighten the screw on the press and the dissenters
within the party. He will be tempted to emulate Dr M’s style of governance.
The Prime Minister in waiting will probably assemble a younger and stronger
Cabinet. To do so, he will have to disband half of the present crop of
Ministers, who have in any event certainly passed their shelf life. There
are many young leaders in UMNO and the BN who are capable technocrats but,
more importantly, they are not the typical UMNO idealogues and are more
moderate in their positions. Khairy Jamaluddin, is capable and has enough
gumption to effect changes the new Government may need to effect. He could
be a star in the future, if he is not buried or sidelined in March. And
another young UMNO leader is Dato Saifuddin Abdullah -the present Deputy
Minister of Entrepreneur Development- these are bright BN second liners and
will make good Ministers. On the other hand, if as is likely, Dato Seri
Najib persists with the so-called “UMNO tradition” of giving Cabinet posts
to those who hold senior party positions, then the BN Government will be
more of the same. I also believe that the MCA and the other component
parties will continue to play the role they have developed after their
calamitous
showing in the last General Elections. In the wake of their defeat, they
became more assertive and less afraid to highlight the plight of the
minorities. The dominance of one party to the exclusion of others is over;
although UMNO extremists will try hard to hang on to the advantage they have
become accustomed through bullying. All these elements should allow the BN
administration a small window for a new lease of life if it plays its cards
right.
11. Pak Lah the outgoing Prime Minister has been the butt of many jokes and
criticisms from all quarters. It should not be overlooked that it was his
manifesto of change that got the BN its best result ever in 2004. He had
also begun to move towards the reforms he had promised, showing earnestness
in making transparency, integrity and good governance a reality. Sadly, he
was impeded by extremist elements in UMNO and he was too weak to take them
on. If UMNO had supported him with earnest, the March 2008 swing might not
have happened. It will be a fatal mistake for UMNO and the BN if Dato Seri
Najib reversed or paid mere lip-service to these initiatives.
12. Integrity, good governance and judicial reform, in any meaningful
sense, had been missing from our political lexicon for a long time. It took
courage for Pak Lah to not only reintroduce them but to take steps towards
giving them substance. The establishing of the Institute of Integrity , the
Judicial Appointments Commission and the Anti Corruption Commission, all of
which could have been better tailored to their purpose and declared aims,
signalled the need for a massive change of direction – a paradigm shift, if
you will – in political governance. Will these efforts herald a new era in
anti-corruption efforts as well as allow for more meaningful efforts to
restore judicial independence and competence? Only Dato’ Seri Najib can
answer this.
#43 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:19 am
9. So where did the results of the 2008 General Election put the
country? In my view, the future looks good for Malaysia , current events
notwithstanding. Of course we have a multitude of problems, but then which
country is spared? What is important to note is that given our political
history we are possibly in the best condition we could be to address and
resolve those problems. As I stressed at the outset, Malaysia is no longer
the country it was before 8 March 2008. For the first time we have a real
prospect of a two party system in Parliament. Even if the Pakatan Rakyat
opposition fails to form the federal government in the next election – in my
view they have a 50% chance – we will have a stronger and more effective
opposition. To me, this is the only safeguard against abuse of power,
corruption and the preservation of the rule of Law, or at least whatever is
left of it. Though those of you in Singapore may not need a strong
opposition to
ensure good governance and low corruption levels, the Malaysian experience
requires the counterbalance a strong opposition allows for.
10. And what of the BN after the change in leadership in March?
Never mind March, what happens after Kuala Terengganu? BN will probably lose
and if that happens, life will be tough for Dato Seri Najib. If BN wins then
it’s only temporary reprieve. In my view, the BN will appear to be stronger,
thanks to the hype and spin by the mainstream media. With a new leader in
Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, UMNO and BN will rally behind him as a show of
solidarity. However, when you dump and push out a sitting Prime Minister,
especially someone as nice as Pak Lah, there are bound to be some of his
supporters who will retaliate, and Najib cannot as such be assured of
unanimous or cohesive support. After all, his popularity is low in the
country. He will probably tighten the screw on the press and the dissenters
within the party. He will be tempted to emulate Dr M’s style of governance.
The Prime Minister in waiting will probably assemble a younger and stronger
Cabinet. To do so, he will have to disband half of the present crop of
Ministers, who have in any event certainly passed their shelf life. There
are many young leaders in UMNO and the BN who are capable technocrats but,
more importantly, they are not the typical UMNO idealogues and are more
moderate in their positions. Khairy Jamaluddin, is capable and has enough
gumption to effect changes the new Government may need to effect. He could
be a star in the future, if he is not buried or sidelined in March. And
another young UMNO leader is Dato Saifuddin Abdullah -the present Deputy
Minister of Entrepreneur Development- these are bright BN second liners and
will make good Ministers. On the other hand, if as is likely, Dato Seri
Najib persists with the so-called “UMNO tradition” of giving Cabinet posts
to those who hold senior party positions, then the BN Government will be
more of the same. I also believe that the MCA and the other component
parties will continue to play the role they have developed after their
calamitous
showing in the last General Elections. In the wake of their defeat, they
became more assertive and less afraid to highlight the plight of the
minorities. The dominance of one party to the exclusion of others is over;
although UMNO extremists will try hard to hang on to the advantage they have
become accustomed through bullying. All these elements should allow the BN
administration a small window for a new lease of life if it plays its cards
right.
#44 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:22 am
So where did the results of the 2008 General Election put the
country? In my view, the future looks good for Malaysia , current events
notwithstanding. Of course we have a multitude of problems, but then which
country is spared? What is important to note is that given our political
history we are possibly in the best condition we could be to address and
resolve those problems. As I stressed at the outset, Malaysia is no longer
the country it was before 8 March 2008. For the first time we have a real
prospect of a two party system in Parliament. Even if the Pakatan Rakyat
opposition fails to form the federal government in the next election – in my
view they have a 50% chance – we will have a stronger and more effective
opposition. To me, this is the only safeguard against abuse of power,
corruption and the preservation of the rule of Law, or at least whatever is
left of it. Though those of you in Singapore may not need a strong
opposition to
ensure good governance and low corruption levels, the Malaysian experience
requires the counterbalance a strong opposition allows for.
10. And what of the BN after the change in leadership in March?
Never mind March, what happens after Kuala Terengganu? BN will probably lose
and if that happens, life will be tough for Dato Seri Najib. If BN wins then
it’s only temporary reprieve. In my view, the BN will appear to be stronger,
thanks to the hype and spin by the mainstream media. With a new leader in
Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, UMNO and BN will rally behind him as a show of
solidarity. However, when you dump and push out a sitting Prime Minister,
especially someone as nice as Pak Lah, there are bound to be some of his
supporters who will retaliate, and Najib cannot as such be assured of
unanimous or cohesive support. After all, his popularity is low in the
country. He will probably tighten the screw on the press and the dissenters
within the party. He will be tempted to emulate Dr M’s style of governance.
The Prime Minister in waiting will probably assemble a younger and stronger
Cabinet. To do so, he will have to disband half of the present crop of
Ministers, who have in any event certainly passed their shelf life. There
are many young leaders in UMNO and the BN who are capable technocrats but,
more importantly, they are not the typical UMNO idealogues and are more
moderate in their positions. Khairy Jamaluddin, is capable and has enough
gumption to effect changes the new Government may need to effect. He could
be a star in the future, if he is not buried or sidelined in March. And
another young UMNO leader is Dato Saifuddin Abdullah -the present Deputy
Minister of Entrepreneur Development- these are bright BN second liners and
will make good Ministers. On the other hand, if as is likely, Dato Seri
Najib persists with the so-called “UMNO tradition” of giving Cabinet posts
to those who hold senior party positions, then the BN Government will be
more of the same. I also believe that the MCA and the other component
parties will continue to play the role they have developed after their
calamitous
showing in the last General Elections. In the wake of their defeat, they
became more assertive and less afraid to highlight the plight of the
minorities. The dominance of one party to the exclusion of others is over;
although UMNO extremists will try hard to hang on to the advantage they have
become accustomed through bullying. All these elements should allow the BN
administration a small window for a new lease of life if it plays its cards
right.
11. Pak Lah the outgoing Prime Minister has been the butt of many jokes and
criticisms from all quarters. It should not be overlooked that it was his
manifesto of change that got the BN its best result ever in 2004. He had
also begun to move towards the reforms he had promised, showing earnestness
in making transparency, integrity and good governance a reality. Sadly, he
was impeded by extremist elements in UMNO and he was too weak to take them
on. If UMNO had supported him with earnest, the March 2008 swing might not
have happened. It will be a fatal mistake for UMNO and the BN if Dato Seri
Najib reversed or paid mere lip-service to these initiatives.
12. Integrity, good governance and judicial reform, in any meaningful
sense, had been missing from our political lexicon for a long time. It took
courage for Pak Lah to not only reintroduce them but to take steps towards
giving them substance. The establishing of the Institute of Integrity , the
Judicial Appointments Commission and the Anti Corruption Commission, all of
which could have been better tailored to their purpose and declared aims,
signalled the need for a massive change of direction – a paradigm shift, if
you will – in political governance. Will these efforts herald a new era in
anti-corruption efforts as well as allow for more meaningful efforts to
restore judicial independence and competence? Only Dato’ Seri Najib can
answer this.
#45 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:24 am
14. But would things be any different under Pakatan Rakyat? The question is
beginning to surface now that the euphoria of the 8 March 2008 election has
waned. Anwar Ibrahim is a personality you are familiar with and is someone I admire immensely for his courage and tenacity. He has been the cement holding together the parties of the Pakatan Rakyat, with their diverse political philosophies and varying political agendas. I believe he’ll be Prime Minister one day. Certainly, he will continue to be the main player in Malaysian politics for many years to come. As you no doubt know, he is once again facing a charge for sodomy. Some are of the view that he will be incarcerated again, either through the courts or by executive detention
order. I am not so sure. The public demands by some Cabinet ministers for Anwar to volunteer a DNA sample at the time he was arrested and subsequently when charged suggests that there are doubts. Without a conviction, he cannot be incarcerated. A detention under the Internal Security Act by a new Najib government would invite serious repercussions both domestically and internationally at a time when economic and social conditions are in a mess. I would like to think that Dato Seri Najib appreciates that he has other options to win the support of the people in the next general election. Detaining Anwar under the ISA is an unnecessary risk and may well turn the tide completely against the BN. Nonetheless, I cannot say with certainty that Anwar will not be detained. Such is the state of play in Malaysian politics.
#46 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:26 am
15. The Pakatan Rakyat, on its part, cannot assume that they are safely on the road to Putrajaya come 2012. The honeymoon is over for the five Pakatan Rakyat State governments of Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Selangor. The PR must ensure that it retains these states. One would have thought that given the results in March, this would be a given. This may however prove
not to be the case. It is said that on March 8th last year, Malaysians went in search a viable alternative. The PR must show that it is that alternative. Public infighting is not the way to go about that, yet this is what the PR has come to be identified with in recent days. The coalition needs to build on its common identity and provide for a common platform on major issues. Member parties must go beyond issues like the implementation of Islamic criminal law and concentrate on delivering on their collective message of social justice and compassionate and fair governance. In this, PAS, with its Islam-centric philosophy has to work harder to fall in line with PKR and DAP whose ideologies are more closely aligned. Whether the ulamaks of PAS are able to make this concession will be a test not just of their own maturity but also of the cohesiveness of the PR.
#47 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:28 am
16. In short, the PR must show itself to be a real alternative to the BN way of doing things. To be able to retain the states currently ruled by them, PR must offer more effective policies and initiatives when compared to those of the BN. It will not be sufficient for them to depend on the personality of their leaders. That may have been enough the first time round, but the voters expect more and rightly so. But I must emphasize here
that Malaysians are a patient lot. They have been patient with Barisan Nasional for so many years and I am sure they will be patient with Pakatan Rakyat as well. But Pakatan should never take the people for granted. In this, it would also be enormously helpful for Anwar Ibrahim to change his grandstanding ways. Proclaiming dates of anticipated takeovers without the
ability to follow through merely distract and detract. Powerplays like that have undermined the PR in a way that has been wholly unnecessary. Anwar should instead focus on getting PR together as an entity with one coherent vision for the country. He has after all, the support of the rank and file of all the parties in Pakatan Rakyat, although not necessarily some of its leaders.
#48 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:30 am
17. PAS’ Islam-centric political posturing is particularly problematic, not because of the party’s identification with Islam but rather it’s posturing. PAS is a key member of the PR. For the coalition to stay viable coalition, PAS’ approach to the subject of governance and public policy determination where Islam is a factor must show sophistication and restraint. This is particularly true of interfaith issues. Though PAS ideology has all the elements for an inclusive and pluralist society built on a foundation of justice and fairness, it has sadly become more known for its opposition to
alcohol and concerts, and its fixation on implementing Islamic criminal law. Recalling that a multi-racial voter base voted PAS in last March on the back of a manifesto that centered on shaping Malaysia into a welfare state, PAS’ energy would be better spent on fleshing out the economic policy underlying its concept of a welfare state to show that its vision is achievable. Additionally, to prove itself a viable Islamic alternative to UMNO, PAS has to distance itself from the UMNO-style of unilateral, ultra-legalistic, enforcement-minded approach to Islam. PAS must further
accept that it has to consult not only its partners but also a broader segment of the public including progressive Islamic thinkers before making policy declarations.
#49 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:31 am
18. The reality is that non-Muslims are also affected by declarations on so-called Islamic matters, particularly where these coincide with matters in the public sphere. As such, a culture of non-discrimination and consultation must be nurtured for the good of the country. As I have alluded to, the compassionate side of Islam can be PAS’ strong point. If it is able to harness the various dimension of this aspect and project them more inclusively, for example by championing the rights of stateless children
with no papers and schools to attend, the issue of trafficking of women, theissue of refugees who have settled here for all intents and purposes, PAS will be viewed as a party for all Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. To showcase its vision of an inclusive Islam, PAS could take the lead in forging solutions for those problematic so-called conflicts issues. The reality is that there will be persons who converted to Islam for marriage and whose marriages have broken down or ended by reason of death or divorce. Some of them will want to find comfort in their original faiths. Leaving them unaided by hiding behind jurisdictional issues, as we have seen, or by proclaiming the beauty of Islam does not address the situation and the pain of those concerned. Thus far, BN states have been unwilling to offer solutions. PAS could lead the PR in navigating forward to resolution. This, I feel, speaks more for PAS’ ideals than mere pronouncements of what is sinful and what is not. In doing this, they would have offered the rakyat
the security they crave. I also believe they would have done more to restore the dignity of Islam than the Islamization campaigns of UMNO have done much to undermine.
#50 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:33 am
19. Inter-racial cooperation in Malaysian politics has a short history. We saw it in the years from 1946 as we came together in the quest for independence. Since the 80’s, Government policies appear to have increasingly polarized Malaysian society. Only in the last 5 years, have we again witnessed real camaraderie and solidarity, principally due to the efforts of NGOs, and, more recently, the PR. The last general election bore witness to a new dynamic. The rakyat came together, the young and old and
the person on the street, to work with and for one another regardless of race and affiliation. They had a common cause; the betterment of Malaysia . The majority of Malaysians who have been told repeatedly that they are of different races, that they have different rights and privileges, and to continue to blindly trust government decisions have now said enough! They have now found comfort and unity amongst themselves; they have found a
rejuvenating sense of a new identity as one people. This is the new Malaysia.
#51 by Lee Wang Yen on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:37 am
22. Sometimes I am asked what I intend to do next. I have only a limited political ambition; to see Malaysia prosper peacefully in a way that will benefit all including the Bumiputras who must have their fair share of the fruits of that prosperity; to see that the rights and the dignity of all are respected and protected; to see that the yearnings of the non-Malays to feel a sense of belonging and of being wanted as Malaysians in their own country is fully realized; to see that Compassion, which is the underlying teaching
of my religion, becomes the central consideration in the formulating of public policies. Finally, as a lawyer, I want to see justice and the rule of law reestablished and flourishing. These are simple ambitions, I think. Given the results of the 8 March 2008 election, there is some hope that they will be fulfilled in my lifetime. The rakyat has shown that it wants democracy and all that it portends.
23. In the meantime I hope to do my part towards achieving this goal with a foundation I have set up called MyFuture Foundation. It is a vehicle that I hope will assist the young to articulate their Malaysian-ness through their support of the various community oriented projects that the foundation aims to undertake for the realization of a Bangsa Malaysia. It is a vehicle that will allow the people to express their rejection of narrow racist politics, and to show that the various races want to, and can be together as one
people.
24. Countries in South East Asia have gone through tumultuous change over the years, each having to endure different sets of challenges. We each have our own stories. I have tried in the time made available to me to tell you ours in Malaysia . Thank you.
Zaid Ibrahim
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Island Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel , Singapore
#52 by monsterball on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 9:00 am
Come on…Lee Wang Yen….don’t be shy.
You want UMNO to rule us forever and you are contented to be second class citizen…as long as you can earn good living.
#53 by k1980 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 9:19 am
BN must apologize to all Malaysians
Rating Agency Malaysia (RAM), the country’s leading credit rating service, has joined Citigroup in predicting a technical recession for Malaysia in the first and second quarter of the year.
Citigroup had said yesterday that Malaysia may slip into a technical recession in 2009. Citigroup Global Market has also downgraded its forecast for Malaysia’s 2009 gross domestic product (GDP) to 0.5 per cent from 3.1 per cent.
#54 by ktteokt on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 9:57 am
Just for a few instances, MCA ought to KNEEL down before the Chinese community to beg for forgiveness.
One of the most interesting events is the SUQIU incident where MCA, as part of the ruling coalition, accepted the terms of SUQIU but later turned back on its words after winning the GE! And as part of BN which pronounced SUQIU as communist!
Another event of interest is the closure of SJK(C) Damansara. When BN closed down the school, reasons offered by the government was that the school was unsuitably located, it was too near to the highway, making it dangerous for the school children and that it was too noisy. Having closed down the school for more than eight years, the government decided to re-open the school now. Have all the problems brought up by the government for closing down the school been solved yet?
Are there sound-proof fences set up around the school to prevent noise pollution? Has the highway been relocated to make it less dangerous for the school children? And what has made the “abandoned” school safer now for the school children? Has the closure of the school for 8 years made this school a “suitable” location?
MCA who claims to champion Chinese rights and “fight” for Chinese education should answer to the Chinese community on these issues but they have been keeping mum on these. Instead, they start to point fingers at others and accuse them of misdeed!
#55 by Godfather on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 10:54 am
Prof Lee Wang Yen is probably wishing that Zaid could join his Third Force called PD. No such luck. Zaid has thrown his weight behind PAS in the KT by-election.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/15983-zaid-ibrahim-joins-in-the-fray-for-pAS
#56 by Cinapek on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 11:29 am
Undergrad 2 says: “..It looks like PR has already lost the KT by-election. The Chinese have always been birds of fine weather…” in describing the massive goodies that the BN Govt has been dishing out in KT to buy votes.
Yes, it is standard operating procedure for BN to try to win by- elections in this manner. Ijok was a good example, So was Permatang Pauh. That is why it is a fact, though sounding morbid, that voters should pray their BN constituencies have by elections because that is when the gravy train rolls in. Unlike a GE when their resources have to distributed around, in a byelection, all the BN goodies can be concentrated in one place.
#57 by jus legitimum on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 11:33 am
The MCA lapdogs have played out the Chinese community in many fields. Besides selling our political rights,they have also betrayed us in education and economy.The koperasi fiasco in 1980’s and the perpetual shortage of trained teachers and classrooms in SRJK(C) are just two typical examples of their countless betrayals committed to the community.Taiwan being a truly democratic state is able to put in jail its ex head of state and Malaysia is definitely very far behind in this respect.Many of you might have watched the Astro Channel 317,8 to 10 am talk show and see how the taiwanese expose and discuss malpractice committed by political leaders without fear and favour.On the contrary,Malaysians
because of the controlled MSM cannot speak their minds freely and
the KT by election is therefore a tough battle for the opposition.
#58 by cemerlang on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 11:58 am
The constitution is at fault. Who asks you guys to put Islam and Malay rights into the constitution ? Now you get yourselves and we selves into hot soup. Whether it is hudud law kah or Islamic law kah, back before independence, you guys should have stopped it. At that time, you did not know that God will allow Islam to be this challenging. Well, what to do ? Nowadays it is Islam and Malay and their right to be this and to be that. What efficient, incorruptible, professional and world-class ? In reality, there is no efficency, no incorruptibility, no professionalism and no world class. If you have, you don’t have to wait for 50 years gone and 50 years to come to prove you have that. People who are efficient, people who have no corruption, people who are professional and people who are world class are unseen, unknown and unheard of. The useless ones out populated the useful ones. Continue to dream on. Change has not come to Malaysia or Malaya University. If it has, your ranking should not have fallen. Please wake the students up from their dreams to be the next Obama of Malaysia. In Malaysia, it is still an uphill battle. It is not a real change. It is just a modified situation. We still come back to square one.
#59 by hennesy on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 12:15 pm
I have absolutely no idea why, even after 60 years gaining independence from the colonials, renaming the country to MALAYSIA, we still refer ourselves as Malays, Chinese & Indians & etc. Aren’t we all suppose to be Malaysians? I guess one will only be a Malaysian when we go out of the country but when we are IN country, we are Malays, Chinese & Indian again. Huh!? Harlo Mr Government, I am not a Malay, Chinese or Indian. My parents were born here after Merdeka. I was born here after Merdeka. Can’t we be referred to as
Race: Malaysian, Ethnic: xxxxxx.
I didn’t come from China or India. I did not get to choose. But I have accepted the fact that I was born here & raised here as a Malaysian. I worked my ass off 12 hours a day, spend my hard earned money here to benefit fellow Malaysians. I don’t send my money back to China or India & I give my tax to the government as a good citizen do (How Mr Government choose to spend the tax revenue is another matter)
I hope the majority of M’sians have awaken after the March 2008 elections. We can not continue to support race based politics. As long as these race based powers exist, there will be no true harmony between the people. UMNO, MCA & MIC was a temporary solution to help the various ethnic people to settle into the then new country called Malaya until time permits for it’s citizens to rise up & form a truly multi-ethnic political party. UMNO, MCA & MIC was formed to ensure none of the major ethnic groups are neglected or frown upon (but it DID happened didn’t it?), therefore, I say END RACE BASED politics!!! They are past their due & is no longer relevant in this time & age.
#60 by alhafar on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 1:16 pm
Aiya, MCA is just playing the PAS is the islamic demon and DAP is the sellout card again, when the real sellouts are MCA. Their people are totally incompetent. A friend once made an official request to a high ranking MCA ministry personnel, and the fella had the cheek to ask, after reading the detailed letter, what exactly do you want?. I bet his previous job was chicken seller who had done good to garner votes for MCA. In the end he agreed to get the fund application approved but my friend had to pay 30% admin fee. What admin fee? This is the government right? Frankly I’d rather give PAS and DAP the chance to work out the islamic law issue, and if it works against us, I will leave the country in that eventuality. If Barisan continues to manage things the way they do now, I may just leave right away.
#61 by Jong on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 2:07 pm
gosh Lee Wang Yen, why can’t you just give the link and those interested may hop over. It’s a long one and taking so much space here.
#62 by Jong on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 2:21 pm
Interesting,
“25000 laptops for free to all year 5 students by April next year. After that, a factory will be set up to manufacture 10000 units of laptops per month which are to be distributed to students in year 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first batch of 25000 laptops will cost the state government RM30 million.”
– Rosmah got the contract? Not again!
#63 by k1980 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 3:01 pm
25,000 laptops will cost the state government RM30 million.
Snatch thieves are going to have a carnival grabbing laptops from those 7 to 11 year old kiddies… :sigh: Lots of second-hand laptop stalls going to spring up in the markets soon… :sigh:
#64 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 4:08 pm
Sorry for Off topic:
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim hinted again at a ceramah in Pasir Panjang near Kuala Terengganu last night that eight BN MPs might join Pakatan.
“As you know we want to increase our numbers. But as the Kelantanese say kohol-kohol, bit by bit, one by one,” he said.
Anwar said Pakatan Rakyat now has two defectors in Sabah, six more in Sarawak and another two from unidentified states are on the way.
“With one more from Kuala Terengganu, we would have 93 and then there would be change,” he said, prompting cheers from the crowd of about 600″ – Ref Report filed by Andrew Ong of Malaysiakini| Jan 15, 09 11:44am.
Is this true or bull again???? :)
#65 by shah pinang on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 4:16 pm
cemerlang….. ‘you guys’ ? who exactly are you referring to?? and what’s wrong with Islam and Malay wanting ‘this and that’ – and by that i didn’t mean umnoputeras/BN philosophy of ” we …selective Malays…and…chinese and indian….and sabah and sarawak bumis can and must get rich whilst others can go to hell-literally”.
common stop with the generalisations. I am a Malay(and muslim)-there are chinese and indian muslims and vis-a-vis and yes shamely enough perhaps am DNA-coded to be a bit ….’layu’-but then can we not now express our desire to be at par or better than other races? and thank god for “you guys” for incorporating that clause in the constitution or I won’t be here talking to you in a confident and articulate manner. Don’t get me wrong, this is not about ‘Ketuanan Melayu’. Ketuanan of any kind is preposterous and of no difference when we were colonised/invaded/terrorised by the British,Japanese and the Communist Party. But there’s nothing wrong,surely for the Malays and Malaysian in general to aspire to have ‘Kepimpinan Melayu’. Personally, the biggest mistake “you guys” have done was not to include the chinese and the indians,baba,nyonya and other ‘legitimate’ bumis as ‘bumiputera’. and please don’t start the argument that ‘we’ wanted a ‘jus soli’ arrangement but ‘you’ are the ones with your Union and all…..
circumstances at the time shaped the history that we know today and if at all “you guys” carry equal blame of not being able to ‘relate’ to each other and understand their fears and inadequacy. But, you might argue its easy for me to say, being born into a more peaceful Malaysia but hey lets learn from history…instead of blaming history.
Change has come to Malaysia. That is why you are seeing me, self confessed ‘PAS symphatizer’ and at the same time a DAP voter-here giving my views and comments without prejudice and without fear. More important Pakatan Rakyat is en route to complete the ‘process of change’ and we need to do some very important ‘soul-searching’ to address any shortcomings in Pakatan lest we ‘come back to square one’.
Malaysian varsities are not as ‘bad’ as you painted it, yes the rankings (though be a bit ‘objective’ than just basing your argument on rankings) are bad etc and yes Singaporean and Hong Kong universities are force to be reckoned with (and we should be following in their footsteps)…..
but its not rocket science….its the people ‘up there’ who needs to be ‘kicked out’…and obviously all the ‘hindering’ policies that comes with them. YM Professor Ungku A.Aziz, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim,Prof. Dr. John Arul Phillips
(and on separate list) my wife, Dr.Sun,Dr.Dio, Loo and Dev the nurse et al (friends of mine) all turn out alright graduating from Malaysian Universities(just to make a point).Some of these same people are lecturing our under/postgraduates and from what i have heard there are many of ‘them’-the ‘useful ones’ out there.BUT as i have said the minority ‘useless ones’ ‘up there’ (right up to the Menteri) who are making their life difficult-from unnecessary bureaucracy, appointing cronies as Vice Chancellor/Head of School to unjust termination.Mind you my wife, a malay with all the glorious so call ‘rights’ that come with it,suffered the same fate as Prof Ramasamy recently. F to Umno/BNputeras.(you can interpret the F whichever you see fit).
Anyhow, it will be accurate to insinuate that the ‘quality’ of the university will continue to suffer if the ‘useful people’ are not allowed to do their job or behave like they are supposed to i.e. intellects rather having to put up with politics.
#66 by Jong on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 5:12 pm
“Is this true or bull again????” :D – Jeffrey
I do hear thunder claps, obviously there’s action in the cosmos, can’t you feel the energy? :D
#67 by monsterball on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:25 pm
Jeffery…Anwar is not so stupid to bullshit ….like UMNO guys.
What he announced….even on previous occasions….were all true….but people can be bought.
So he failed.and kept quiet…for the love of peace and harmony.
All are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi …non violence …to free India.
Actually UMNO love to see Anwar loose his temper…go to the streets and shout for justice.
That will be UMNO greatest victory..in dirty politics..to irritate him.
Police are building up fears….for that event to come.
Anwar will never fall that cheap stunt..
Now he announced what he received..plus openly said….UMNO is buying votes.
Do you believe UMNO is doing that..buying votes?
I was in Permatang Pauh and saw Albar given
“bonus” to muslims workers…hundreds of them in a hotel.
Why do that on election time?
UMNO will surely work hard to find out….who these crossovers are and use….what Mahathir have said….”money is power”..again.
Bottom line..Anwar is no fool.
Politicians may break their promises to him…but he knows vast majority Malaysian voters are solidly behind him….hungry to change the government….coming ..13th election.
#68 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:28 pm
Jong Says:
Today at 14: 07.30 (5 hours ago)
“Gosh Lee Wang Yen, why can’t you just give the link and those interested may hop over. It’s a long one and taking so much space here.”
After all those flashes of ‘brilliance’ the guy has a right to be dumb once in a while.
#69 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:55 pm
cemerlang Says:
Today at 11: 58.24 (8 hours ago)
The constitution is at fault. Who asks you guys to put Islam and Malay rights into the constitution ? Now you get yourselves and we selves into hot soup. Whether it is hudud law kah or Islamic law kah…”
Kah kah kah!! :)
#70 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 8:59 pm
“Is this true or bull again????” Jeffrey QC
Truth has but one version. With ‘bull’ you can never be sure. There are bulls and there are bears.
#71 by Jong on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 9:05 pm
I had this stuck on moderation since 3 hrs ago, just because there were two simleys! I now remove it, guess it’ll work.
Jong Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Today at 17: 12.33 (3 hours ago)
“Is this true or bull again????” – Jeffrey
I do hear thunder claps, obviously there’s action in the cosmos, can’t you feel the energy?
#72 by Jong on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 9:06 pm
It works!
#73 by ktteokt on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 10:27 pm
I still remember before GE12 that UMNO made it loud and clear it does not need Chinese votes! Now I know how these guys in UMNO fair in Mathematics!
If UMNO does not want the 30% Chinese votes, and it has totally lost the 10% Indian votes (after the Hindraf incident), it is only left with 60% Malay and other bumiputra votes. Now out of this 60%, it has to share among PKR and PAS, so just how many percent is left for UMNO? Sure they will lose! Go back to secondary school to improve your Mathematics before calling yourselves “leaders” of the nation!
#74 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 15 January 2009 - 11:02 pm
What kind of energy are you talking about, Jong?
Kinetic energy – Kamasutra version? Remember the truth has but only one version. Kamasutra has many versions.
#75 by computation on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 4:12 am
Liow Tiong Lai shut up lah!
you stinking odious creature.
you owe malaysians an apology
for the disgraceful way your ministry
is handling the dengue fever menace.
you moron!
#76 by computation on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 4:26 am
shah pinang
i disagre with you when you say that
malaysian universities are not all that bad.
they are bad. and not only that they are hidelously
bad! its really annoying when malaysians
try to defend an instituition because they are associated with
it or feel some pride (misguided) being attached to it.
you trot out the same old names of supposedly
“illustrious” former academics. its been done a million
times ad nauseum lah. seriously lah move beyong the past
and stop drawing wrong conclusions based on
“we had so and so”. for every one of these
so called PAST illustrious luminaries you will have 30
CURRENT more well known and more
highly regarded people at NUS.
and what is annoying is that the so called malaysian
lights of academia that you keeps getting pulled
out tend to be in the field of hummanities or whatever.
can you give me a few in science from the long dead
past? what about currently?
and also come on much has been said about the famous
” royal professor ” ungku azziz. wasn’t he the one who
recommended the misguided shift to education in the
malay language. so where has that led the malaysian
people today? misguided pride and nationalism in my opinion.
wake up!
#77 by computation on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 4:31 am
sorry “hideously bad”
and what is annoying is that the so called malaysian
lights of academia that keeps getting pulled
out tend to be in the field of hummanities or whatever.
can you give me a few in science…
in mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry
computer science? do you even know the quality
of staff down south? the staff in the hard sciences
at malaysian universities will only be fit to be senior
tutors (not lecturers) at NUS and even then
“senior” by dint of their merely their age.
i know these are strong opinions. and quite hurtful.
but seriously unless you really know what you are talking about
you should not make these erroneous statements
becasue the younger generation need to be aware of
how much malaysia needs to catch up.
you are doing no one any favours by trying to pour balm
on a deep wound.
#78 by computation on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 5:01 am
i rather let chua soi lek
hang about in his bed with his
personal friends.
Ong Talk Kock why? you want his personal friend
to be your friend is it? jealous ah?
at least i can sleep happily in mine
knowing that the mosquitos won’t
kill me!
#79 by Bigjoe on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 8:35 am
Going by the news this morning, I believe the KT Chinese vote is pretty much in the bag for PR but of course it should not be taken for granted and Sdr. Lim is not letting up.
I would however you take a different possible tack.Its also clear UMNO is now pinning its hope by mostly going after the Malay vote in the final leg of the election. The Malay vote appear to be split BUT final campaigning could swing it to BN making every single Chinese vote count.
The KT Chinese have a huge opportunity to send a message to UMNO. If the Malay vote split, it means that UMNO has not recover from Mac 8 and if KT Chinese vote PR, the national consience will shift to Sarawak in the next 12 month which is ripe for the picking by PR. If Sarawak come even close to the edge of losing to PR, UMNO will be thrown into chaos, Najib will be hard pressed to hang on and if he falls, UMNO will self-destruct. UMNO is not designed for marginal rule, it must dominate or it will fall apart. Their feudal system does not work when the party and their top leader is weak.
So KT Chinese could be the first of two step in actually ending UMNO rule meaning they almost guarantee reform of somesort nationally by their vote which is what is most important.
But the Malay vote has to hold, so tell Karpal to shut up for now!!!
#80 by merdekablog on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 8:55 am
My call to KT voters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijkKuSHOHDo
http://www.merdekablog.com
#81 by computation on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 9:00 am
oooii karpal!!!!
hush up for a while lah!
heh heh heh
#82 by FY Lim on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 12:45 pm
For MCA, the recently reopened SRJK(C) Damansara showed that the former PJ Utara MP Chew Mei Fun was at the opening of the school together with the Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong.
This the two MCA reps. want to hog the limelight.
But where was MCA and YB Chew Mei Fun who was the MP for PJ Utara then, when the Education Ministry decided to close this school ? Were they at the school arguing the case against the closure ? Kept quiet like a mouse ! The MCA and YB Chew left the school PTA and the school Board of Management to fight a losing battle with the Education Ministry. What a sad day !
By the way, the SRJK (C) Damansara is located within YB’s Chew Mei Fun’s constituency.
Anyway, the reasons given for the closure of the school does not hold much water. There are deeper reasons than that. You know what ?
The land around this area is skyrocketing like no body business and there are a group aligned to MCA interested in this piece of land like what the MIC and Gerakan did in Bandar Utama. MIC acquired part of the area allocated for an Indian school whilst Gerakan took the Telecoms reserve land. Very lucrative politics within BN.
At the same time, these set of people in MCA, Gearkan and MIC is telling the world ” I am fighting for your interest “.
Poda-lah
#83 by k1980 on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 1:39 pm
SRJK(C) Damansara PTA did not “feed” Chew with a RM10,000 salary per month plus a chauffeured car like Azalina did. Remember, when dealing with the mca, you must fill their pockets with $$$
#84 by Bobster on Friday, 16 January 2009 - 5:17 pm
Shameless Ong Ti Kus, Toh Tsu Kun (Pokok Tumbang), Liow Tiong Lai, Ng Yen Yen and cronies (partime Minister of Travel aka Ms Chew Monetary Fun) standing side by side with UMMO in photo taking.
You are FIRE! – Entire Chinese Community of Malaysia
#85 by grace on Monday, 19 January 2009 - 11:21 am
MCA is NO MORE RELEVANT TO THE CHINESE!Gerakan too is out!