Solving The Malay Problem: Learning From Others
M. Bakri Musa
21.8.2017
Learning from others is a natural for some; those are the lucky ones. They consider the exercise mind expanding and liberating. For the rest, learning from others is a difficult endeavor, and often associated with deep embarrassment. To them, ignorance is bliss. Those are the closed-minded.
In my earlier book, Malaysia in the Era of Globalization, I gave the positive examples of Ireland and South Korea, nations worthy of our emulation, while citing Argentina as a negative one, of what not to do. Early in the last century Argentina was a bright star; a few generations later it was wrecked with one economic crisis after another. For South Korea, in the 1950s it was receiving foreign aid from the Philippines; today, the fate of the two countries could not be more different!
A more relevant example for Malaysia is Ireland of the early 20th Century. Just substitute Malays for the Irish, and Chinese for the English; and Islam for Catholicism. Just as Malays feel inferior to the Chinese, so too were the Irish to the English. Today’s Malays are in the tight grip of the Islamic establishment, so too were the Irish to the Catholic clergy. Only when the Irish mentally freed themselves from the Church were they emancipated. Progress soon ensued.
Malaysia had its Sean Lemass (“The Architect of Modern Ireland”) with the late Tun Razak. Both were leaders for about the same duration (1959-66 for Lemass; 1970-76 for Razak), but without diminishing Razak’s monumental legacy, his impact on Malaysia, specifically Malays, was not comparable to Lemass and Ireland with the Irish. Read the rest of this entry »
Pity that Gerakan has fallen from a national party which prides itself as the conscience of Barisan Nasional into a pathetic “mosquito of mosquitoes” party
Yesterday, Gerakan President Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong challenged me to contest against the Gerakan Penang State Chairman, Teng Chang Yeow in Penang in the 14th General Election.
I ignored the puerile call and did not give it a second thought.
Today, Teng upped the ante, urging me to be man enough to respond to the Gerakan challenge and announce whether I would contest in Penang or Gelang Patah.
I really feel sorry for Gerakan, falling from a national party during its heyday when it claimed that it was the conscience of Barisan Nasional, to the pathetic and abject “mosquito of mosquitoes” party today where both the Gerakan national President and the chairman of its most important state, which it had ruled for five decades, had to resort to cheap tactics to get publicity and attention. Read the rest of this entry »
When even the formation of RCI can become a political power play, the Government concerned has lost all authority, credibility and legitimacy and should be replaced
Posted by Kit in Corruption on Monday, 21 August 2017, 11:34 am
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that the government is ready to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe the 1985 Memali tragedy if there is a demand from any quarters, which was immediately welcome by PAS whose central committee will meet on the matter.
I had called for a public inquiry more than three decades ago when the Memali tragedy, where 18 people including four policemen, were killed and many others injured after the police launched an operation to arrest religious teacher Ibrahim Mahmud, popularly known as “Ibrahim Libya”, occurred on Nov. 19, 1985.
I had repeated my call for a public inquiry into the Memali tragedy as recent as in March 2014.
Since then a national disaster, many times more heinous and catastrophic than the Memali tragedy or any other scandal or tragedy in the nation’s history, had come to light – the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal which had transformed Malaysia in the past two years into a global kleptocracy. Read the rest of this entry »
Hadi’s three public statements in the past week bespeak of his new role as foremost apologist and defender of Najib Razak, in particular to deflect attacks and criticisms on Najib’s transforming Malaysia into a global kleptocracy
Posted by Kit in Elections, Pakatan Harapan, Pakatan Rakyat, PAS on Monday, 21 August 2017, 9:19 am
PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s three public statements in the past week bespeak of his new role as the foremost apologist and defender of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in particular to deflect attacks and criticisms on Najib’s transforming Malaysia into a global kleptocracy.
Imagine, three public statements in the past week and not a single reference to the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal and Malaysia being regarded world-wide as a global kleptocracy in the past two years!
Like Najib, Hadi does not believe that there is any 1MDB scandal. He believes that Najib is the victim of an international conspiracy to character-assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia and he does not mind Malaysia being regarded world-wide as a global kleptocracy!
This is the PAS President in 2017, a far cry from previous PAS Mursyidul Ams and Presidents of yesteryears like Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Fadzil Noor and Yusof Rawa – as it conceivable to imagine them leading a national and international campaign against the 1MDB scandal and to clear or clease Malaysia of the infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy.
But today, under the Hadi leadership, Malaysia as a global kleptocracy is acceptable to PAS which would be anathema to Nik Aziz, Fadzil Noor and Yusof Rawa.
This is why Hadi’s PAS leadership is hand-in-glove with the UMNO leadership to deflect attention, criticisms and attacks on the 1MDB scandal and Malaysia becoming a global kleptocracy. Read the rest of this entry »
In Barcelona, a heartening rejection of Islamophobia
By James McAuley
Washington Post
August 20, 2017
Spain investigates large-scale terrorist plot
BARCELONA — In the aftermath of Europe’s latest terrorist attack, a set of familiar tensions clouded this sunny, vibrant city Sunday.
Some here insist that Barcelona is a state of mind, a nonstop celebration of the good life where anyone is welcome and anything goes. But then came the almost predictable events of last week. In a scheme that resembled recent assaults in Paris and Brussels, a group of young, local Moroccan Muslim men — some of whom spoke Spanish and Catalan better than Arabic — staged Spain’s deadliest attack in more than a decade. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for their actions.
Suddenly, Barcelona — and the surrounding region of Catalonia — is being put to a test that has faced not just Paris and Brussels, but also Nice, Berlin, Stockholm and London in the past two years. At stake is the place of the region’s Muslim community, the largest in Spain. Read the rest of this entry »
Call on Najib to ask the Attorney-General to drop the charges against the three Malaysians for insulting him on the social media
Posted by Kit in Media, Najib Razak on Sunday, 20 August 2017, 1:11 pm
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, should ask the Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali to drop the charges against three Malaysians for insulting him as the Prime Minister.
Three Malaysians were charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Friday under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) which carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or one-year imprisonment or both, upon conviction.
Roti canai seller Mazlan Yusoff, 48, was charged with uploading a posting under the profile name Zain Al Aznam on a post written by one “Dr Hassan Ali”, which was critical of the country’s financial situation.
Mazlan had posted a doctored image of Najib, captioned “Mao Hu Tang” beside a picture of Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
Mazlan allegedly made the posting about 2.53am on Nov 11, 2016. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Harapan will win 39 seats, BN 20 and PAS zero seats in Perak State Assembly if there is a three-cornered contest with a Malaysian tsunami with a swing of 10% Malay votes and 5% non-Malay votes to Pakatan Harapan from Barisan Nasional in the 14GE
Posted by Kit in Elections, Pakatan Harapan on Sunday, 20 August 2017, 7:22 am
In the past week, I had discussed the possibility of Pakatan Harapan (PH) winning 113 parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia with the help of a Malaysian tsunami which will rid the country of BN’s 60 year rule and allow Malaysia to start on a clean slate under a new government.
In such a scenario, Barisan Nasional will win 50 parliamentary seats and PAS two seats in Peninsular Malaysia, setting the stage for formation of a Pakatan Harapan Government in Putrajaya with Sabahans and Sarawakians.
This Malaysian tsunami will take place if 10% of Malays and 5% of non-Malays were to switch their votes from the BN in the 13th General Election in 2013 to Pakatan Harapan in the forthcoming 14th General Election and that voters make a clear distinction between supporting Pakatan Harapan and rejecting PAS, as the PAS leadership under Datuk Seri Hadi Awang has become the greatest apologist and defender of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s kleptocratic regime.
In the 13th General Election, Pakatan Rakyat won 53% of the popular vote but Najib became the first minority Prime Minister because Barisan Nasional won 60% of the parliamentary seats despite getting the support of the minority of the votes – thanks to the gerrymandering and undemocratic electoral system in the country.
The same electoral injustice happened in Perak in the 13GE, where the Pakatan Rakyat in Perak won 55% of the popular vote for the Perak State Assembly, but Barisan Nasional continued to form the Perak State Government as it won 31 State Assembly seats as against 28 for Pakatan Rakyat.
In four Perak State Assembly seats, PR lost by less than 303 votes – Lubuk Merbau where PR lost by 53 votes, Manjoi by 132 votes; Manong by 231 votes and Pasir Panjang by 302 votes.
If there is a three-cornered contest for the Perak State Assembly seats with PAS playing the spoiler’s role, with a swing of increase of 10% support from Malay voters and increase of 5% support from non-Malay voters from Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Harapan, a likely outcome will be Pakatan Harapan 39 seats, Barisan Nasional 20 seats and PAS zero seats. Read the rest of this entry »
DAP will be able to help Pakatan Harapan win the Kedah state government if DAP contests in Kulim and Gurun
In the past week, I had discussed the possibility of Pakatan Harapan (PH) winning 113 parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia with the help of a Malaysian tsunami which will rid the country of BN’s 60 year rule and allow us to start on a clean slate under a new government.
This Malaysian tsunami will take place if 10% of Malays and 5% of non-Malays were to switch their votes from the BN in the 13th General Election in 2013 to PH in the forthcoming 14th General Election and that voters make a clear distinction between supporting PH and rejecting PAS.
Under these circumstances, even with PAS playing the role of a spoiler, PH will not only win the majority of parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia, it will also win control of the state governments in Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor in addition to retaining Penang and Selangor with even larger majorities compared to GE2013.
Under this scenario however, the outcome in Kedah will be a 18-18 deadlock between the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, with PAS unable to win a single seat in Kedah although PAS candidates will be responsible for BN winning 14 of the 18 seats because of split votes.
DAP will be able to help Pakatan Harapan break this 18-18 deadlock so that PH can win the Kedah state government if DAP contests in Kulim and Gurun state assembly seats as well as to mobilise support for Pakatan Harapan candidates in Central and Southern Kedah, instead of just being focused on the two state assembly seats in Alor Setar. Read the rest of this entry »
UMNO is nearing its end as the eternal Government in Malaysia, forfeiting all authority, credibility and legitimacy when it could dub the longest-serving Prime Minister of Malaysia and UMNO President for 22 years as the “foremost enemy” of Malays in Malaysia!
Posted by Kit in Media, Najib Razak, Penang Government, Politics on Saturday, 19 August 2017, 2:16 pm
UMNO is nearing its end as the eternal Government in Malaysia, forfeiting all authority, credibility and legitimacy when it could dub the longest-serving Prime Minister of Malaysia and UMNO President for 22 years as the “foremost enemy” of Malays in Malaysia.
Does that also mean that for 22 years, from 1981 to 2003, UMNO was the “foremost enemy” of the Malays, governing Malaysia for the whole period?
I think it takes some digesting – Mahathir as the “foremost enemy” of the Malays leading UMNO as the “foremost enemy” of the Malays to govern Malaysia for 22 years from 1981-2003.
But this is only a matter of degree, as for some 50 years, Malaysians particularly Malays had been fed a diet of lies, fake news and false information to portray DAP and I myself as the “foremost enemy” of the Malays, when there is completely no truth, basis or evidence whatsoever.
UMNO leaders, propagandists and cybertroopers knew all along that there was no truth, basis or evidence that DAP and I were anti-Malay and anti-Islam and yet this knowledge had not deterred them from continuing to spread lies, fake news and false stories that DAP and I myself were anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
What does this speak about the character, moral compass or religious upbringing of these UMNO leaders, propagandists and cybertroopers?
If UMNO leaders, propagandists and cybertroopers could be so unprincipled, blatant and flagrant in their lies, fake news and false stories against the DAP and myself over the decades, clearly they would also have no qualms to tell lies, manufacture fake news and disseminate false information against other national stakeholders, or even against the nation, in the pursuit of their own self-interests! Read the rest of this entry »
For Malaysia, the fight against corruption is also a fight for democracy
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Najib Razak on Saturday, 19 August 2017, 9:38 am
By Cynthia Gabriel
Washington Post
August 16, 2017
Malaysia’s anti-corruption commission has been making lots of headlines lately. Its agents have been carrying out high-profile arrests of government officials accused of bribery and influence-peddling. You’d think that Malaysians would be happy at the news.
But they aren’t — because it’s all too obvious that, however welcome this campaign, it’s just an attempt to divert attention from a far larger corruption scandal that has been rocking the country for the past five years.
I should know, because I’m one of the people — one of many — who were involved in bringing it to light. Read the rest of this entry »
Unfair of UMNO Youth to dislodge me from the UMNO demonology from the pole position as the “musuh utama” of the Malays in favour of Tun Mahathir
I must protest at the unfairness of UMNO Youth dislodging me from the UMNO demonology from the pole position of “musuh utama” (top enemy) of the Malays in favour Tun Mahathir.
Today, the Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun announced that Tun Mahathir is the “musuh utama” of the Malays as he is working hard to ruin Umno.
For five decades, I had been demonised as the “musuh utama” of the Malays. How can they snatch this “title” from me without any proper consultation with me and award it to Tun Mahathir?
This shows how ridiculous, unfounded and baseless is the whole UMNO demonology of attacking a person as “mush utama” of the Malays.
This is the worst example of the lies, fake news and false information which UMNO/BN leaders, propagandists and cybertroopers are using to mislead the Malaysian people. Read the rest of this entry »
Most shocking Najib did not condemn the thuggish ruckus and riot at the 1MDB “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum but instead made a joke of it
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak, Penang on Friday, 18 August 2017, 5:14 pm
I regret that for six days, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak had failed to condemn the thuggish ruckus and riot at the 1MDB “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum at Shah Alam on Sunday when he should have been first to do so.
It is even more regrettable that Najib made joke of it, referring to “flying chairs” during his visit to PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s stronghold of Permatang Pauh.
Isn’t this the strongest indication of high-level UMNO “hand” in the thuggish ruckus and riot at the 1MDB “Nothing to Hide 2.0’” forum in Shah Alam, where there was rowdy and “samseng” behaviour of flying slippers, flying chairs and flying “flashes”?
The rowdy and thuggish ruckus at the 1MDB “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum and the disrespect shown to the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, is most regrettable, but the failure of the Prime Minister up to now to condemn such rowdy and thuggish behaviour is doubly regrettable. Read the rest of this entry »
Call on Malaysians to return to the core values for the building of a united, harmonious, prosperous and successful Malaysian nation on the 60th anniversary of attainment of Merdeka on 31st August 1957
Posted by Kit in Corruption, nation building on Friday, 18 August 2017, 8:30 am
I call on all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or politics to return to the core values for the building of an united, harmonious, prosperous and successful Malaysian nation on the 60th anniversary of the nation attaining Merdeka on 31st August 1957.
That something has gone terribly wrong with the Malaysian experiment of plural nation-building can be gleaned from the following four disturbing developments:
Firstly, the recent police warning that the Islamic State (IS) is planning to launch an attack in Perak during the upcoming Merdeka celebrations.
Secondly, Malaysia losing international recognition even among international Islamic scholars and academicians as a moderate nation.
Thirdly, the trend towards greater rowdyism and thuggery in political and public life, as witnessed by the riot at the “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum at Shah Alam on Sunday, targeting former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad with flares and flying chairs, slippers and bottles.
Fourthly, the intensification of lies, fake news and false information in publicity and propaganda organs of the government.
Fifthly, the collapse of Malaysia’s good name and international standing because Malaysia new-found infamy as a global kleptocracy and our inability to clear or cleanse the country of such notoriety. Read the rest of this entry »
Archaic, anachronistic and even antediluvian to have Official Secrets Act in age of information –OSA should be repealed and replaced by Freedom of Information Act
Posted by Kit in Corruption, DAP, Parliament on Thursday, 17 August 2017, 6:43 pm
Some 38 years ago, on October 16, 1979, I moved a motion on behalf of DAP in Parliament to introduce a private member’s bill intituled “Freedom of Information Act” to ensure openness of government and to prevent the law on government information from protecting inefficiency, maladministration or even malpractices and corruption.
I moved the motion in the conviction that if Malaysia was to have a meaningful parliamentary democracy, we must create a more open government, which respects and upholds the fundamental right to know of the citizens in all matters affecting the country and the people.
I made it clear that the DAP accepted that there were some legitimate secrets which needs to be protected by criminal penalties, e.g. matters involving national security, defence, maintenance of law and order, personal information, etc.
My answer therefore to the subject of the forum tonight is quite obvious. Read the rest of this entry »
Will the MACC Chief Commissioner and top MACC officers be arrested and investigated for abuse of power in unlawfully requiring individuals arrested to facilitate graft investigations to wear orange lock-up uniforms in court in remand proceedings?
Posted by Kit in Corruption on Thursday, 17 August 2017, 2:07 pm
Will the MACC Chief Commissioner, Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad and top MACC officers be arrested and investigated for abuse of power in unlawfully requiring individuals arrested to facilitate graft investigations to wear orange lock-up uniforms in court in remand proceedings?
What is the use of MACC officials saying that arrest and remand process are just to facilitate investigations and not equivalent to guilt for the crime of corruption, when persons arrested by MACC and whose remand are sought in the courts are publicly humiliated, demeaned and insulted by being forced to be handcuffed and appear in court in MACC lockup uniform, as if they have already become guilty of the crime of corruption?
This is clearly a gross abuse of power. Read the rest of this entry »
Will Mohd Isa escape justice in the way the 18 “sharks” escaped the ACA dragnet during the Abdullah premiership?
Posted by Kit in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Corruption on Wednesday, 16 August 2017, 3:46 pm
A very strange coincidence indeed. The cryptic remark without further explanation by the former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Badawi five days ago that he knew the truth about the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Bank Negara’s foreign exchange losses three decades ago and the high-profile arrest of UMNO stalwart Md Isa Samad by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday combined to jolt memories of Malaysians and many must be asking the same question, viz:
Whether Md Isa Samad, now under arrest and five-day remand in MACC lockup, will escape justice in the way the 18 “sharks” escaped the Anti-Corruption Agency dragnet during the Abdullah premiership? Read the rest of this entry »
Najib should explain how he could appoint Isa Samad as SPAD Acting Chairman when he should have thick dossiers about Isa being a problematic candidate for any top public post because of his controversial role as FELDA and FGV Chairman raising grave issues about integrity, breach of trust and abuse of power
Posted by Kit in Felda, Good Governance, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 16 August 2017, 8:17 am
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, owes Malaysians a full and proper explanation as to how he could appoint Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad as Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) Acting Chairman when he should have received thick dossiers about Isa being a problematic candidate for any top public post because of his controversial role as Felda and FGV Chairman, raising grave issues about integrity, breach of trust and abuse of power.
Mohd Isa was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday in its investigations into corruption and abuse of power in the purchase of two hotels, one in London and the other in Kuching, by Felda Investment Corporation (FIC).
The MACC said that it has “strong basis” to arrest Isa and is considering a bid to freeze all assets owned by Mohd Isa. Read the rest of this entry »
The ruckus and pandemonium at the 1MDB “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum has served to further highlight Najib’s prevarications and dishonesty on the 1MDB scandal which caused Malaysia to be belittled world-wide as global kleptocracy overnight
The ruckus and pandemonium at the 1MDB “Nothing to hide 2.0” forum at Shah Alam on Sunday has served to further highlight the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s prevarications and dishonesty on the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal which caused Malaysia to be belittled world-wide as a global kleptocracy overnight.
If the 1MDB “Nothing to hide 2.0” forum, where the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak dared not turn up although he was invited to share the panel with former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, had not been sabotaged, it would just be a footnote in the long saga of multifarious activities and events by loyal and patriotic Malaysians to ensure full accountability and responsibility for the 1MDB scandal.
Now the 1MDB “Nothing to hide 2.0” forum has been elevated as one of key events to demand full accountability and responsibility for the 1MDB scandal, as it has further highlighted both Najib’s role and his evasion of responsibility and full accountability for the kleptocratic scandal.
I fully share the outrage of decent and rational Malaysians at the sabotage of the 1MDB “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum, and particularly the planned attacks on the 92-year old former premier.
The news portals and social media conveyed many of these outrages. Read the rest of this entry »
10 and 5 formula sufficient for Pakatan Harapan to win Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor and retain Penang and Selangor
Last week, I discussed the possibility of Pakatan Harapan (PH) winning 113 parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia with the help of a Malaysian tsunami which will rid the country of BN’s 60 year rule and allow us to start on a clean slate under a new government.
This Malaysian tsunami will take place if 10% of Malays and 5% of non-Malays were to switch their votes from the BN to PH and that voters make a clear distinction between supporting PH and support PAS.
Under these circumstances, even with PAS playing the role of a spoiler, PH will not only win the majority of parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia, it will also win control of the state governments in Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor in addition to retaining Penang and Selangor with even larger majorities compared to GE2013 (See Table 1 below).
Read the rest of this entry »
The “nothing-to-hide” 1MDB pandemonium a sign of growing panic among UMNO leaders that UMNO/BN would lose to Pakatan Harapan in 14GE
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Financial Scandals on Monday, 14 August 2017, 6:11 pm
The ruckus at the “nothing-to-hide” 1MDB forum at Shah Alam is a sign of growing panic among UMNO leaders that UMNO/BN would lose to Pakatan Harapan in the 14th General Election.
I welcome the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi that the police would investigate professionally and would take action against the culprits of the ruckus yesterday.
I only feel pity for the actual culprits, who for pittance, allowed themselves to be used as tools to disrupt the “Nothing-to-hide” 1MDB forum.
Investigation and action must be taken not only against the actual culprits but the masterminds of the ruckus, and a special effort must be made by the authorities to trace these “masterminds” of trouble. It should not be difficult to trace the “masterminds”, although the actual culprits of the ruckus could only lead to their “handlers”, but it is these “handlers” who would lead to the “masterminds”.
This would be a test of the professionalism of the Police.
The pandemonium created at the “Nothing to hide” 1MDB forum at Shah Alam is the latest evidence of the growing panic among UMNO leaders that UMNO/BN would lose to Pakatan Harapan in 14th General Election. Read the rest of this entry »
