66-Day Countdown to 13GE – Why only aim at 60,000 people for Psy’s “Oppa Gangnam Style” performance on CNY in Penang, should aim for 100,000 or even 250,000 people from Penang, all over Malaysia and neighbouring countries for the sensational event with Psy


The hot topic among Malaysians regardless of race, age and gender throughout the country second day in running is still Psy and his global hit “Oppa Gangnam Style”, especially the reported cost of RM3 million to bring the South Korean superstar to Penang to ensure a turnout crowd of 60,000 people for the Chinese New Year Open House of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Let all Malaysians have a great day and enjoy themselves with Psy and “Oppa Gangnam Style” in Penang on the second day of Chinese New Year on Feb. 11.

In fact, why only aim at 60,000 people and not go for 100,000 people or even 250,000 people from Penang, all over Malaysia and the neighbouring countries to make the sensational event with Psy really historic and memorable?

It will be really historic if Psy’s premier appearance in Malaysia can also inspire Malaysians to emulate South Korea to pull the country from its bootstraps to undertake a genuine national transformation in governance, politics, economics, education and nation-building to enable Malaysia to take a quantum leap in all aspects of national life in the second Merdeka of Malaysia.

Let Psy’s visit to Malaysia mark the beginning of a national debate and soul-searching as to how South Korea, from a country poorer and more backward than Malaysia more than 50 years ago when we achieved Merdeka, succeeded in catapulting itself into an economic power-house which is now much wealthier than Malaysia, with a per capita income two to three times higher than Malaysia, and more advanced than Malaysia in all fields of human endeavour.

The following 18-year series of Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) provides key to this answer:

Transparency International Corruption Perception Index

Year Malaysia South Korea
Rank Score Rank Score
1995 23 5.28 27 4.29
1996 26 5.32 27 5.02
1997 32 5.01 34 4.29
1998 29 5.3 43 4.2
1999 32 5.1 50 3.8
2000 36 4.8 48 4.0
2001 36 5.0 42 4.2
2002 33 4.9 40 4.5
2003 37 5.2 50 4.3
2004 39 5.0 47 4.5
2005 39 5.1 40 5.0
2006 44 5.0 42 5.1
2007 43 5.1 43 5.1
2008 47 5.1 40 5.6
2009 56 4.5 39 5.5
2010 56 4.4 39 5.4
2011 60 4.3 42 5.4
2012 54 49/100 45 56/100

[From 1995 to 2011, the scale from 10(very clean) to 0(highly corrupt) was used, which is now replaced to a scale 0 – 100 from 2012]

The 18-year annual TI CPI series 1995-2012 show:

  • For the first 11 years from 1995-2005, Malaysia was ahead of South Korea in being perceived as more clean and less corrupt than South Korea, even reaching a difference of 18 rankings in 1999, representing a difference in score of 1.30.

  • South Korea beat Malaysia in 2006, with 42nd ranking as compared to Malaysia’s 44th ranking, and after a draw in 2007 with both ranked in 43rd placing with 5.1 score, South Korea has never looked back in getting better ranking and score in the five years from 2008 – 2012, even beating Malaysia with a return difference of 18 places in 2011.

  • Malaysia’s TI CPI ranking and score in the past four years (2009 – 2012), which are the years under the premiership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, are the worst in the past 18 years; while South Korea’s ranking and score for the past four years are among the country’s best in the series.

  • The lesson is clear. In the past 18 years, and particularly in the past four years, South Korea’s governance in transparency and accountability have been successful in restoring public trust by turning back the tide of corruption while the reverse is the case in Malaysia.

    This is one lesson Malaysia must learn from South Korea. Are Malaysians prepared to do so?

  1. #1 by kg on Monday, 4 February 2013 - 6:23 pm

    Yes, it will be really historic if Psy’s premier appearance in Malaysia will inspire Malaysians to emulate South Korea to pull the country from its bootstraps to undertake a genuine national transformation in governance, politics, economics, education and nation-building to enable Malaysia to take a quantum leap in all aspects of national life in the second Merdeka of Malaysia.

    Malaysia ubah, Malaysia Maju Jaya, Ini Kalilah:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2OMv7ezhqM

  2. #2 by Loh on Monday, 4 February 2013 - 6:55 pm

    Najib claimed that he will announce the date of election at the proper time. His chance of selecting a date diminishes as the sun rises each day. Najib is either creating a situation whereby he will not need to announce election and yet get to rule, or else he is having problem getting his list of candidates prepared for the election. Maybe Najib needed the crowd brought about with 3 million ringgit to announce that he is quite ready for election short of announcing the date, to prove that he still believes in general election.

  3. #3 by Bigjoe on Monday, 4 February 2013 - 8:06 pm

    Actually very true, why Penang? If its because of the Chinese voters there, its well known Selangor and neighbouring Perak and Negeri Sembilan Chinese voters are also essential if they are to win those states…

    The real answer is because its viewed as DAP-PR led and DAP is the one with the UBAH video..Their pre-occupation with ‘attack’ or NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING automatically just led them there with hardly a pause in thinking..

    RM3m for just one short NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN. Issues? I shudder to think how much they will spread across the nation when the campaign starts. It will be BILLIONS – and a lot of it going into the pockets of the their cronies…

  4. #4 by wood on Monday, 4 February 2013 - 8:30 pm

    Another comparison is the car industry in Malaysia and Korea.

  5. #5 by sheriff singh on Monday, 4 February 2013 - 8:54 pm

    Why only 60,000?

    They have no money for food.

    They only have US$ 1 million to flow out of the country.

  6. #6 by yhsiew on Monday, 4 February 2013 - 10:32 pm

    Najib’s aim of inviting Psy to Penang is to increase his chance of wresting Penang back to BN. The invitation open to 60,000 people is not genuine but for the benefit of BN. I for one will not attend the gathering unless the political motive behind the invitation is removed.

  7. #7 by rahmanwang on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 6:37 am

    Using my $$ to please only the Penang people.
    I live in KL why no Madonna/ Kylie Minogue in KL?

  8. #8 by Sallang on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 7:19 am

    Make sure Psy get a taste of Assam Laksa,Penang style, because it taste better than Kimchee in any style.
    Some day Psy may fly his family and friends into Penang, just for Assam Laksa Penang style, the best taste of SE Asia.

  9. #9 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 8:40 am

    So S.Korea beat us at the TI ranking? But we have angkasawan and lynas. Surely we must be better somehow. And and oh yes we have prinsip2 ekonomi pokok rambutan and keadah2 kerajaan poker-style. All of these must have a great impact.

  10. #10 by cseng on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 9:05 am

    Yes!…. Ubah Rocket Style!

  11. #11 by cseng on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 9:08 am

    Just give psy blue IC! Psy is for gangnam style, bn is for kannapsy…

  12. #12 by machiavelli on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 11:16 am

    When I was transferred to Johor Baru for my first job posting in the early 80s I encountered my first Korean car; it was a Hyundai Pony. It looked really realy nondescript. Compare the latest Hyundai Sonata now.

    And it was in the 80s when our Malaysian car project was mooted and we saw the launch of our Sagas in the late 80s.

    Since then all of us can see the difference in the trajectory of the Korean cars and ours.

    Where the Korean cars have become world beaters, our national cars are still stuck at rebadging, the Inspira being one.

    Malaysian car buyers are stuck with a lack of choice and costly cars because of the protection granted to our national cars and inadvertently have to pay higher insurance and financing costs.

    Something is very wrong.

    Bangun Rakyat Malaysia!

  13. #13 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 12:14 pm

    Why only 60k?

    Najib tak boleh.

    Ah Jib should just retire.

  14. #14 by Jim55 on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 12:24 pm

    Not sure if this idea has now been in place.
    Since MM said that BN is a “devil” while PR is an “angel”, shall we use this opportunity to capitalise on this!
    Have a pic of a devil beside the BN logo and emphasise that a vote for BN is a vote(support) for Devil which is haram in all religions. The Muslims (those who have the intention to give BN their vote) might spoil their vote or just don’t show up in polling centres in order to avoid putting a “X” against BN logo which is haram. Likewise, have an angel next to PR logo and encourage all to put a “X” next to it.

  15. #15 by homeblogger on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 2:01 pm

    Here’s an idea… why not use the event as a show of support for Pakatan/Bersih? Get the word out for everyone to show up in yellow.

  16. #16 by cintanegara on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 3:03 pm

    Jealousy is a disease that creates anger, hatred and prejudice…..Don’t criticize something if you couldn’t do better yourself…

  17. #17 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 3:10 pm

    Jeeeez.

    Psy asked to be paid in advance. Even he does not trust BN.

  18. #18 by good coolie on Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 11:41 pm

    The great renovator of Malaysia has painting himself into a corner. Now, it does not matter that he has not set a date yet for the elections!

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