Archive for February, 2013

63-Day Countdown to 13GE – Can Psy and Gangnam Style salvage BN Government’s popularity among the Chinese voters, which plunged from 17% to 6% in ten months from February to December last year?

The war of nerves to shape voters’ perceptions in the run-up to the 13th General Elections has entered into its final lap, with Parliament expected to be dissolved in the next two to three weeks.

The latest script of the UMNO/Barisan Nasional spin-doctors and mind-benders is three-pronged:

• to concoct false and baseless reports and allegations to defame DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders especially through faceless, nameless and soulless sites on the social media and the UMNO/BN mainstream media;

• to foment distrust and suspicion intra-party in DAP, PKR and PAS and to provoke animosity and tension inter-party in Pakatan Rakyat, with the ultimate aim to cause the break-up and disintegration of Pakatan Rakyat especially the co-operation between DAP and PAS to save UMNO/BN from their “life or death” challenge in the 13GE; and

• to create the perception that UMNO/BN under the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has finally succeeded in turning the tide of popular support in favour of UMNO/BN, whether among the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban voters.

This is the rationale for the highlight of Najib’s Chinese New Year Open House in Penang on February 11 – the multi-million ringgit performance of the South Korean superstar and his global hit Gangnam Style.

But will the sensational appearance of Psy and Gangnam Style in Penang be a “wish come true” for Najib as far as turning the tide of popular support among the Chinese voters for UMNO/BN in the 13GE? Read the rest of this entry »

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The Desperate CNY Charmer

By Martin Jalleh

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The second Merdeka

by Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysiakini
Feb 4, 2013

When food bags were given out by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at Semenyih recently, it is alleged that there was a near stampede to acquire the goodies. Najib must have felt smug satisfaction at being able to control people like that.

One does not want to judge or question why people would demean themselves by pushing others out of the way to receive the goods. Perhaps, the people who grabbed the offerings were poor, and gaining some rice and flour seemed like winning a jackpot.

It is despicable that Najib and his advisers have not learnt to treat people with more dignity. Why should these people be filmed acting like refugees from a war-torn area? Why do political parties make ordinary people feel and act like beggars?

On the other hand, why should the taxpayer be burdened with the extra expense when the money could be put to better use?

If the truth be known, the goods were probably provided by some crony company and sold at exorbitant prices. The organisers arranging the transaction were possibly from another crony company and charging an inflated rate for completing the deal. The transport company delivering the goods may also be another crony company and presenting another excessive bill. In the end, the taxpayer will pick up the tab for the inflated invoices.

If the rakyat stopped rushing up to Najib to receive his goods, his money or his election offerings, Najib would not know how to react and Umno would be flabbergasted. Corruption does not work if there are no takers for the gifts.

People cannot be told what to do, and to stop needy people from taking these goods is easier said than done. There are many underprivileged people whose needs are varied, but what if the majority of us stuck to our principles and stopped giving Najib the attention he craves? Read the rest of this entry »

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Pengiraan Detik 64 Hari ke PRU13 – Memperingati ulangtahun kelahiran ke-110 Tunku dan menyokong kempen “Cetuskan Perubahan” untuk mencapai Merdeka 2 yang Tunku usahakan pada dekad terakhir hayatnya

Jumaat, 8 Febuari 2013 merupakan ulangtahun kelahiran ke-110 Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Sejarah dan dunia tahu akan sumbangan beliau sebagai seorang negarawan, pembangun bangsa dan sebagai tokoh sejarah yang unik. Beliau melambangkan kesopanan, kepercayaan yang mendalam terhadap kedaulatan hukum dan menghormati tradisi.

Inilah saatnya untuk semua rakyat Malaysia, tidak mengira kaum, agama dan kepercayaan politik bersama-sama memberikan penghormatan kepada seorang insan yang telah membina asas kepada Malaysia yang moden, demokratik dan sekular yang dipaterikan dengan perpaduan etnik, kepercayaan dan budaya yang pelbagai.

Amatlah malang dan kesal apabila kenangan indah dan nama baik Tunku dan nenek moyang kita baru-baru ini difitnah apabila kata-kata menghina dilemparkan oleh salah seorang Perdana Menteri terkemudian yang menuduh Bapa Malaysia memberikan kewarganegaraan kepada satu juga bukan Melayu yang “tidak layak” sebelum Merdeka pada 1957 – dengan hipokritnya mendakwa bahawa pengkhianatan “kewarganegaraan untuk undi” untuk pendatang tanpa izin di Sabah sebagai perbuatan yang lebih terhormat dan layak!

Apabila negara mencapai kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos, 1957, diikuti dengan pembentukan Malaysia pada 1963, ia menandakan permulaan satu era baru yang mana rakyat Malaya dan kemudiannya Malaysia berani untuk berimpian besar dan mengubah dunia. Read the rest of this entry »

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Pengiraan Detik 65 Hari ke PRU13 – Adakah Najib akan mencipta empat rekod buruk sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia?

Datuk Seri Najib Razak Sabtu lepas berkata bahawa beliau tahu bila masanya untuk menghadap Yang Dipertuan Agong bagi membubarkan Parlimen dan tidak “menjolok” beliau untuk tahu bila pilihan raya ke-13 akan diadakan.

Bukan Perdana Menteri yang “dijolok” berkenaan pembubaran Parlimen, tetapi 28 juta rakyat Malaysia yang telah “dijolok” oleh Najib sejak dua tahun lalu supaya sentiasa berada dalam mod “PRU13” – semua disebabkan Najib merupakan Perdana Menteri yang paling tidak mampu membuat keputusan, teragak-agak dan berubah-ubah dalam sejarah Malaysia.
Najib telah pun mencipta dua rekod buruk politik sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Persoalannya ialah sama ada beliau akan mencipta dua lagi rekod buruk politik menjelang PRU13 diadakan.

Najib telah pun menjadi Perdana Menteri paling lama tanpa mandat pilihanrayanya sendiri – hampir tiga tahun dan 10 bulan, lebih lama daripada empat Perdana Menteri sebelumnya, iaitu Tun Abdullah, Tun Mahathir, Tun Hussein dan bapa beliau Tun Razak sebelum mereka mendapatkan mandat mereka sendiri selepas mengambil alih tampuk pemerintahan.
Najib juga mencipta rekod buruk kedua sebagai PM – dengan Parlimen di bawah pemerintahannya berjalan untuk satu penggal yang paling lama. Pilihan raya umum lalu yang terkenal dengan “tsunami politik” diadakan pada 8 Mac 2008, tinggal satu bulan tiga hari daripada ulangtahun ke-5 pilihan raya umum itu. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chinese New Year

by Allan CF Goh

When the New Year eve comes to call,
When the Old Year has ended all,
Bringing home those close and dear,
It’s that joyful time called New Year.

When the first dawn of Spring appears,
May all our problems disappear,
Bringing home a blessed reunion,
For a family communion. Read the rest of this entry »

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Pengiraan Detik 66 Hari ke PRU13 – Mengapa cuma sasarkan 60,000 orang untuk persembahan “Oppa Gangnam Style” Psy pada Tahun Baru Cina di Pulau Pinang, sepatutnya mensasarkan 100,000 atu 250,000 orang dari Pulau Pinang, seluruh Malaysia dan negara jiran untuk sebuah acara yang sensasi bersama Psy

Topik terhangat di kalangan rakyat Malaysia tidak kira kaum, umur atau jantina di seluruh negara untuk dua hari berturut-turut masih lagi Psy dan “Oppa Gangnam Style”, terutamanya laporan yang mengatakan kos sebanyak RM3 juta untuk membawa bintang Korea Selatan itu ke Penang bagi memastikan kehadiran 60,000 orang untuk Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Semua rakyat Malaysia bergembiralah dengan Psy dan “Oppa Gangnam Style” di Pulau Pinang pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina pada 11 Febuari.

Malah, mengapa cuma sasarkan 60,000 orang dan tidak cuba capai 100,000 orang atau 250,000 orang dari Pulau Pinang, seluruh Malaysia dan negara jiran untuk menjadikannya acara sensasi bersama Psy benar-benar bersejarah dan menjadi kenangan?

Amat bersejarah sekiranya kehadiran julung kali Psy di Malaysia dapat turut membuatkan Malaysia mencontohi Korea Selatan yang berusaha memperbaiki keadaan negara bagi menjalankan transformasi negara yang jujur dalam tadbir urus, politik, ekonomi, pendidikan dan pembinaan bangsa bagi membolehkan Malaysia membuat satu anjakan dalam segenap aspek kehidupan nasional dalam kemerdekaan kedua Malaysia.

Biar kehadiran Psy ke Malaysia memulakan satu debat nasional dan mencari diri bagaimana Korea Selatan, daripada negara yang miskin dan mundur mampu berjaya melontar dirinya menjadi penjana ekonomi yang kini lebih kaya daripada Malaysia, dengan pendapatan per kapita dua hingga tiga kali lebih tinggi daripada Malaysia, dan lebih maju berbanding Malaysia di dalam semua bidang.

18 tahun Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI) Transparency International (TI) berikut memberikan kunci kepada jawapan itu: Read the rest of this entry »

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64-Day Countdown to 13GE –Commemorate Tunku’s 110th “birthday anniversary and support the “Spark the Change” campaign to accomplish Merdeka2 which Tunku dedicated final decade of his life

Friday, 8th February 2013 is the 110th birthday anniversary of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

History and the world at large acknowledge his contributions as a statesman, a nation builder and as a singularly unique historical figure. He personified decency, a deeply-held belief in the rule of law and respect for tradition.

This is an occasion for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political beliefs to come together to pay tribute to a man who laid the foundations for a modern, democratic, secular Malaysia welded out of a diverse mix of ethnicities, faiths and cultures.

It is most unfortunate and regrettable that Tunku’s good name and memory and those of our forefathers had recently been sullied when derogatory references were made by one of his successor-Prime Ministers who falsely accused Bapa Malaysia of having granted citizenship to one million “unqualified” non-Malays before Merdeka in 1957 – hypocritically claiming that the treasonous “citizenship-for-votes” rackets for illegal immigrants in Sabah were more honourable and worthy deeds!

When the nation achieved independent nationhood on August 31, 1957, followed by the formation of Malaysia in 1963, it heralded the beginning of a new era where Malayans and later Malaysians could dare to dream big dreams to remake the world. Read the rest of this entry »

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Psy, the Answer to BN Penang’s Psychosis

By Martin Jalleh

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65-Day Countdown to 13GE – Will Najib establish four dubious political records as Malaysian Prime Minister?

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said last Saturday that he knew when to see the Yang di Pertuan Agong to ask for the dissolution of Parliament and there is no need to “jolok” (pester) him on when the 13th general elections will be held.

It is not the Prime Minister who is being “jolok” about the dissolution of Parliament, but 28 million Malaysians who had been “jolok” by Najib in the past two years to be on “13GE mode” – all because Najib is the most indecisive, hesitant and flip-flop Prime Minister in Malaysian history.
Already, Najib has established two dubious political records as Prime Minister.

The question is whether he would establish another two more dubious political records by the time the 13GE is finally held.

Najib is already the longest Prime Minister without an elected mandate of his own – close to three years and10 months, longer than four Prime Ministers before him, namely Tun Abdullah, Tun Mahathir, Tun Hussein and his father Tun Razak before they sought a mandate of their own after taking over the mantle of premiership.

Najib has also established a second dubious record as PM – with the Parliament during his term serving out its longest tenure. The last general elections of the “political tsunami” fame was held on 8th March 2008, which is one month and three days away from its 5th anniversary.
Read the rest of this entry »

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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: Read the rest of this entry »

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Interview with Suaris: The Future of Malays, Part 2

[The original in Malay appeared in suaris.wordpress.com on January 25, 2013).

Suaris: In a recent interview with Astro Awani, Dr. Mahathir said that Malays would be left behind unless given continued help. He referred to such help as crutches. Do you agree that we continue to need crutches? If so, for how long?

Dr. M. Bakri Musa: If we Malays still remain backward and marginalized after over 55 years of “help” from the UMNO government, then we ought to examine critically the nature of that help.

As parents we readily acknowledge the importance of how we guide and help our children. Be too indulgent and protective, we lose hope of their ever able to shine on their own. Be too strict and controlling, they will never acquire self-confidence; likewise if we constantly criticize and highlight their weaknesses.

In modern medicine, we rarely give crutches to patients following hip surgery. Instead we give them to physiotherapy so they could be self-ambulatory as quickly as possible. I encourage, in fact insist that my surgical patients be up and about the very next day. It is dangerous to keep them in bed; the most serious complication being potentially lethal blood clots.
Read the rest of this entry »

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Pengiraan Detik 67 Hari ke PRU13 – Jangan hanya memuja Psy dan Gangnam Style tetapi fahamilah pengajaran paling penting bahawa UBAH dalam PRU13 adalah prasyarat untuk Malaysia melakukan peningkatan besar menjadi sebuah negara maju seperti Korea Selatan

Perkara yang sedang hangat diperkatakan hari ini ialah senjata rahsia PRU13 Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk menarik 60,000 orang hadir ke Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina di Pulau Pinang di sekolah Han Chiang pada 11 Febuari dengan menjemput bintang Korea Selatan, Psy untuk mempersembahkan Gangnam Style.

Jemputan kepada Psy akan mengakibatkan kos yang besar buat UMNO/BN dan akhirnya rakyat Malaysia sendiri, termasuklah Najib dan pemimpin UMNO/BN, dan terlepas titik paling penting jemputan buat Psy untuk Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Najib di Pulau Pinang.

Malaysia tidak seharusnya cuma memuja Psy dan Gangnam Style tetapi fahamilah pengajaran paling penting bahawa UBAH dalam PRU13 adalah prasyarat untuk Malaysia melakukan peningkatan besar menjadi sebuah negara maju seperti Korea Selatan.

Pemimpin UMNO/BN telah cuba untuk menakut-nakutkan pengundi Malaysia dengan memberi amaran bahawa sekiranya berlakunya perubahan pada Kerajaan Persekutuan di Putrajaya dalam PRU13, akan berlaku huru-hara seperti negara yang mengalami “Kebangkitan dunia Arab” dan Malaysia akan muflis dalam masa lima, tiga atau dua tahun – bergantung pada pemimpin mana yang mengatakannya!

Mengapa rakyat Malaysia mahukan perubahan ketika PRU13? Adakah pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat dan pengundi Malaysia yang menyokong diakhiri hagemoni 55 tahun UMNO dan kerajaan satu perikatan BN mahukan huru-hara di dalam negara dan Malaysia muflis dalam masa dua, tiga atau lima tahun lagi? Read the rest of this entry »

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Is sharia immutable?

— Asghar Ali Engineer
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 02, 2013

FEB 2 — It is believed by millions of Muslims across the world that sharia laws are immutable and represent divine will. This is based on serious misunderstanding. Sharia is not and cannot be immutable.

Recently I was invited to the Jaipur Literary Festival to be part of a panel discussion on the book “Heaven on Earth” by Sadakat Kadri of London, which is on the application of sharia laws across the Muslim world. He has travelled to different Muslim countries and talked to various ulama and muftis about sharia as applied to their respective countries.

All of them were defenders of conservative sharia formulations and refused to admit any change. They maintained that sharia being divine cannot be changed. It is from this rigidity of our ulama that the misunderstanding among common Muslims arises that sharia is divine and hence immutable.

In fact our ulama forget that ijtihad was not only permitted but encouraged by the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and the hadith pertaining to Ma’adh bin Jabal is well-known. When the Prophet appointed him to the governorship of Yemen and he came to take leave of the Prophet, Ma’adh was asked how he would govern. Ma’adh said, according to the Quran. The Prophet thereupon asked what he would do if he did not find the solution to the problem in the Quran, to which Ma’adh said he would govern according to the Sunnah. But when the Prophet asked if he could not find it in the Sunnah also, Ma’adh said “ana ajtahidu” (I will exert myself to find the solution). The Prophet thereupon patted his back and told him he was right. Read the rest of this entry »

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Psy is paid RM3mil for Barisan Nasional CNY Open House

By Noorsila Abd Majid | 03 FEB 2013 12:19AM
ABN News

KUALA LUMPUR: South Korean superstar Psy will be performing at Barisan Nasional’s Chinese New Year open house in Penang on Feb 11.

But the question that’s buzzing in everyone’s mind is: who’s paying for Psy and how much is he paid?

According to an industry source, the Gangnam Style hitmaker commands a minimum pay cheque of US1mil (RM3.1mil).

That’s just for him to horse around to the quirky beats of his phenomenal YouTube hit, “Gangnam Style”.

Yes, Psy is more expensive than teen pop superstar Justin Bieber, who’s paid US1 mil for a full concert in KL.

The runaway rap star is expected to perform Gangnam Style in front of 60,000 guests, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The BN Chinese New Year open house will be held at Han Chiang High School in George Town from 10am to 1pm.

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Pengiraan Detik 68 Hari ke PRU13 – Penyimpangan dan histeria Chua Soi Lek yang kian menjadi-jadi ketika semakin hampir dengan PRU13 amat menyedihkan

Amat menyedihkan untuk melihat menjadi-jadinya penyimpangan dan histeria Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ke tahap beliau perlu merayu ahli MCA untuk memberikan tepukan kepada ucapannya dan pemimpin MCA lain dalam acara terbuka MCA seperti “makan malam mega” MCA yang diadakan di seluruh negara.

Chua membuat rayuan ini ketika majlis makan tengah hari sambutan ulangtahun MCA ke-64 Wilayah Persekutuan di Kepong semalam akan tetapi apa yang beliau dapat daripada ahli MCA yang hadir hanyalah sambutan yang dingin dan tidak sepenuh hati meskipun berkali-kali merayu tepukan untuk ucapannya.

Malah Chua cuba untuk mengelirukan ahli MCA untuk mengukuhkan rayuannya – meminta ahli MCA untuk mencontohi DAP dengan mendakwa bahawa apabila pemimpin DAP bercakap atas pentas, ahli DAP di bawah akan menyambut tanpa henti dengan tepukan untuk memberikan gambaran apa yang dikatakan adalah betul. Begitu juga, beliau meminta ahli MCA untuk melakukan perkara yang sama dengan memberikan tepukan gemuruh kepada pemimpin MCA ketika mereka bercakap atas pentas untuk mewujudkan keyakinan buat MCA.

Pertama sekali, izinkan saya nyatakan sepanjang 47 tahun di dalam politik, saya tidak pernah merayu supaya ucapan saya diberikan tepukan dan sorakkan – dan begitu juga dengan semua pemimpin DAP yang lain.

Kedua, jawapan mudah kepada Chua adalah bukan sahaja orang biasa, tetapi juga ahli MCA yang berasa marah dan terasing dengan lakonan yang dimainkan oleh kepimpinan MCA sebagai penyebar pembohongan dan ahli nujum malapetaka bagi membantu UMNO untuk menakut-nakutkan pengundi Cina bagi menyokong Barisan Nasional dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13. Read the rest of this entry »

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Pengiraan Detik 69 Hari ke PRU13 – Mahathirisme kembali lagi dengan kengerian dan kejahatan

Mahathirsime kembali lagi, dengan kengerian dan kebinatangan bersamanya.

Manifestasi terkini kembalinya Mahathirisme adalah melalui tuduhan liar di dalam politik Malaysia – bahawa pemimpin Oposisi Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim adalah dalang sebenar di dalam penipuan “kewarganegaraan untuk undi” di Sabah pada tahun sembilan puluhan yang dikenali sebagai “Projek M”.

Bilakah mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mula menyedari yang Anwar merupakan dalang projek yang dinamakan “Projek M” sempena namanya?

Jelas bukan pada 16 Januari, 2013 apabila pendedahan di Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) Sabah terhadap pendatang tanpa izin melibatkan dua orang kanan Mahathir, bekas Timbalan Menteri Dalam negeri, Megat Junid Megat Ayub dan bekas Setiausaha Politik Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin dalam penipuan “Projek M” dari tahun 1990 – 1995 yang mengeluarkan beratus ribu kad pengenalan biru palsu dan surat pengesahan surat beranak sebagai tukaran untuk undi kepada pendatang tanpa izin.

Bukan juga pada hari berikutnya pada 17 Januari apabila buat pertama kalinya dalam dua dekad Mahathir secara terbuka mengakui kewujudan “Projek M” tetapi mempertahankannya sebagai mengikut undang-undang berdasarkan hujah pendatang tanpa izin Filipina boleh berbahasa Melayu dan “mempunyai hak untuk menjadi warga negara”, sambil melemparkan penghinaan kepada nama baik Tunku Abdul Rahman dengan menuduh Bapa Malaysia telah melakukan perkara yang lebih buruk kerana memberikan kewarganegaraan kepada satu juta orang yang tidak layak sebelum Merdeka, rungutan yang tiada siapa menjadikannya satu isu. Read the rest of this entry »

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Pengiraan Detik 70 Hari ke PRU13 – Adakah Najib akan menjadi Perdana Menteri terakhir UMNO?

“Najib tidak akan menjadi perdana menteri terakhir Umno”, begitulah kata seorang pemimpin lama Umno Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad di Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference ke-15 yang dianjurkan oleh Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) hari ini.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak jelas tidak mermpunyai keyakinan dan rasa optimis Abdullah, jika tidak tentu beliau telah memanggil untuk pilihan raya umum dan bukannya berbolak-balik dengan ragu-ragu dan tidak yakin sejak dua tahun lalu, memberkannya reputasi sebagai Perdana Menteri Berubah-Ubah lebih teruk berbanding perdana menteri sebelumnya, Tun Abdullah.

Begitu juga Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Ghani Othman yang memberitahu pertubuhan Cina Kulai kurang daripada tiga minggu lalu bahawa Pakatan Rakyat boleh menawan Putrjaya dalam PRU13 walaupun beliau memberi amaran bahawa paling banyak PR boleh menang cuma majoriti tipis 5% hingga 10% kerusi parlimen – iaitu majoriti daripada 12 hingga 22 kerusi parlimen.

Dan juga manusia berkuasa di dalam UMNO/BN, Tun Mahathir, yang kelihatan semakin pesimis tentang peluang UMNO menawan Putrajaya dalam PRU13, membuatkannya menyeru pengundi Malaysia menyokong “syaitan yang dikenali bukannya malaikat yang tidak dikenali”, dan baru-baru ini membuat kenyataan yang lebih semberono dan terdesak seperti:

  • tuduhan tidak berasas beliau bahawa Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat at Stadium Merdeka (KL112) yang aman dan berjaya dengan kehadiran 100,000 rakyat Malaysia dari pelbagai kaum, agama dan tempat adalah cubaan menggulingkan melalui jalan keganasan kerajaan UMNO/BN yang dipilih rakyat.
  • tuduhan tidak berasas beliau bahawa Perdana Menteri pertama, Tunku Abdul Rahman sebelum Merdeka pada 1957 telah memberikan kewarganegaraan kepada satu juta bukan Melayu yang tidak layak dalam cubaanya untuk menjustifikasikan penipuan “kewarganegaraan untuk undi” dalam Projek M di Sabah, malah mencadangkan satu Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja untuk menyiasat isu Tunku Abdul Rahman dan kewarganegaraan satu juta bukan Melayu sebelum Merdeka.

Read the rest of this entry »

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67-Day Countdown to 13GE – Don’t just idolise Psy and Gangnam Style but learn the most important lesson that UBAH in 13GE is a prerequisite for Malaysia to make the quantum leap to become a fully developed country like South Korea

The talk of the country today is the 13GE secret weapon of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to attract 60,000 people to his Chinese New Year Open House in Penang at the iconic Han Chiang High School on Feb. 11 by inviting South Korean superstar Psy to perform Gangnam style.

The invitation to Psy is going to cost UMNO/BN and eventually the Malaysian people a “bomb” but most Malaysians, including Najib and UMNO/BN leaders, have missed the most pertinent point of the invitation to Psy for Najib’s CNY Open House in Penang.

Malaysians must not just idolise Psy and Gangnam Style but learn the most important lesson that UBAH in the 13th General Elections is a prerequisite for Malaysia to make the quantum leap to become a fully developed country like South Korea.

UMNO/BN leaders have been trying to scare Malaysian voters by warning that if there is a change of Federal Government in Putrajaya in the 13GE, there will be chaos like the “Arab Spring” countries and Malaysia will become bankrupt in five, three or two years – depending on which BN leader is talking!

Why do Malaysians want change in the 13GE? Is it because Pakatan Rakyat leaders and Malaysian voters who support the notion of ending the 55-year UMNO hegemony and one-coalition government want chaos in the country and for Malaysia to become bankrupt in two, three or five years’ time?

It is only the politically mendacious or the mentally retarded who could believe in such nonsense and garbage. Read the rest of this entry »

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Malay politics and Ramleeology

Azly Rahman
Malaysiakini
Feb 2, 2013

“Alif-Mim-Nun-Wau… sarkis!” – said a character in P Ramlee’s movie Pendekar Bujang Lapok.

Of late I have been hit by nostalgia, reminiscing and even romanticising the 60s, 70s and the early 80s before Mahathirism took root.

My last column on Malaysia in the 70s was an enjoyable piece of journaling and from the numerous comments I read from all the blogs that carry it – my own blog Between Cybernetics and Existentialism, my Facebook page, Malaysia Today, etc – I feel that there was a time when a good Malaysian spirit was about to be forged.

This was that sense of a historical block, until May 13, 1969 came, of course; whether it was orchestrated or a victory campaign that went wrong we are beginning to find out, as alternative accounts of it continue to be written.

After languishing in sweet memories of the 70s, I next thought of the 60s; the time when I was growing up in Johor Baru and how the kampong and the city and the school I went to became my “global classrooms”.

My fond memories always go back to a “multicultural Malaysia I knew – especially how I owed my interest in learning and insatiable urge to acquire knowledge through the selfless work of my teachers – Malay, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, and even my Peace Corps American teachers.

Without them, I would not have been able to write honestly about the need not just to “tolerate” other cultures but to learn from each one of them, embrace the dynamics of each, and to bring out the universality of the values, and next to design good learning systems and environments that will nurture these differences into commonalities and to hybridise the wisdom we will acquire.

This is what has been lacking in our education system – critical sensibility and the embracing of the idea of “cultural action for freedom”, as the Brazilian educational philosopher Paulo Freire would say. Read the rest of this entry »

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