Archive for February 4th, 2017

Let all political leaders, including Najib and his Cabinet, make a new start to stand united stand against corruption, regardless of party affiliation or political ideologies, at the Save Malaysia Roundtable on Tuesday

Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Saturday, 4 February 2017

I endorse the call by the former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief, Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohaamed, that Malaysians must stand united against corruption, regardless of their political ideologies.

Speaking at a congregation at Masjid Al-Ikhlas in Shah Alam yesterday, Abu Kassim said that if corruption is used as the basis of politics, it will be difficult to resolve social issues.

More than anyone, Abu Kassim should know what he was talking about.

Abu Kassim became MACC Chief Commissioner on 1st January 2010 following the prolonged firestorm in a clear case of MACC political persecution resulting in the death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock, falling from the 13th floor of the MACC premises in Shah Alam on 16th July 2009, in a MACC investigation over allegations about impropriety in a RM2,400 purchase of flags for Merdeka Day celebrations by DAP State Executive Councillor, Ean Yong Hian Wah.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry in July 2011 found that Beng Hock had been “driven to commit suicide” due to interrogation by three MACC officers in a manner that was “aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous” – which was nothing but a euphemism for murder.

To his credit, Abu Kassim tried his utmost as MACC Chief Commissioner to restore the professionalism and credibility of the MACC in his seven-and-a-half years as head of the anti-corruption agency, but he failed as the murderers of Teoh Beng Hock had yet to be brought to justice.

But there were other weightier reasons for Abu Kassim’s failure. Read the rest of this entry »

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Donald Trump Is Spreading Racism — Not Fighting Terrorism

Posted by Kit in International on Saturday, 4 February 2017

Daniel Benjamin
TIME
3.2.2017

IDEAS

Benjamin was Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S. State Department and is director of The John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College

Counterterrorism may seem like a complicated, murky business. But practitioners agree on a few simple rules. Among them:

1. Be clear about who threatens you, and target them. Casting your net too widely creates new enemies.

2. Build strong alliances. Terrorism is a global problem that requires a global solution; you need capable, like-minded partners to collaborate on intelligence, law enforcement and military operations.

3. Counter and undermine your enemies’ narrative. Don’t confirm it.

4. Don’t drive away moderates; winning them over is key to defeating your enemies.

And, 5. Show efficiency and competence. Those qualities bolster deterrence. Read the rest of this entry »

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