Suaris Interview: The Future of Malays Part 4
Posted by Kit in Bakri Musa, Corruption, Elections, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Monday, 18 February 2013, 7:59 am
by Bakri Musa
It is said that Malays are at a crossroad. This is particularly so with the upcoming General Election 13 where the choice is between feudalism and liberalism. To what extent do you agree with that viewpoint?
[The original in Malay appeared in suaris.wordpress.com on February 6, 2013.]
MBM: I agree that we Malays are at a critical juncture. Our choice is between continuing on the present path that has led us to where we are today, with our minds still trapped, or make a sharp turn towards liberating them. Remember that the path to the dumpsite is the one well-trodden.
I do not agree that the forthcoming election (GE 13) will be a choice between liberalism and feudalism, as I understand both terms. Instead it will be between a party that has grown old, tired, and bankrupt of ideas versus another that is young, vigorous, and full of fresh talent.
As an aside, “liberalism” to me means a system that treats every human as having certain inalienable rights or freedoms granted unto him (or her) by Almighty Allah, among them, the freedom of thought, to choose our leaders, own properties, and pursue happiness. Feudalism on the other hand was the social system prevailing in Medieval Europe where humans were either lords or peasants. Land, property and peasants belonged to the lords. Your fate and place in society was determined at birth and remained fixed throughout life. Meaning, born a peasant, and you would remain one until death.
Clearly from the perspective of respect for human lives and values, liberalism is closer to Islam than is feudalism. Read the rest of this entry »
RoS confirms it received DAP’s report; apologises for confusion
Posted by Kit in DAP, Hishammuddin on Sunday, 17 February 2013, 10:04 pm
By CHRISTOPHER TAN and PATRICK LEE
The Star
February 17, 2013
PETALING JAYA: The Registrar of Societies (RoS) confirmed Sunday that it had received the DAP’s Dec 15 Central Executive Committee’s polls report on Feb 8, ahead of the Feb 15 deadline it had set for the party.
“Here I would like to clarify that my previous statement was based on information that was not updated and this has led to confusion,” Registrar Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said in a statement late Sunday.
“RoS apologises to all parties concerned over this mistake,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Dr M, on media and lies
— The Malaysian Insider
Feb 17, 2013
FEB 17 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrote today about the media – and how governments were able to exercise control through licensing and laws.
But then came the alternative media, or rather online media, he wrote, ironically, on his blog which is online.
“In the alternative media just about anyone can put anything they like to say on the internet directly, with no managers, editors or sub-editors changing any of the contents. The freedom is almost total. This is the essence of democracy?” he says.
Thank you, Dr Mahathir. Your views are always welcome because thanks to you, we are here. Without your foresight, the internet would have taken its time to come to Malaysia.
But your hindsight is another thing. You speak of the alternative media where anyone can put anything, without checks and balances. Read the rest of this entry »
Xenophobic Malaysia
Posted by Kit in Elections, Hishammuddin on Sunday, 17 February 2013, 6:54 pm
— The Malaysian Insider
Feb 16, 2013
FEB 16 — According to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, there is nothing political about denying entry to and expelling Australian Senator Nick Xenophon today.
That it was an immigration issue and done according to the law, he said.
But Immigration Director-General Datuk Alias Ahmad said Xenophon was barred entry under Section 8(3) of the Immigration Act as a “prohibited immigrant” because he called the Malaysian government “authoritarian” in handling the Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections last April.
“He tarnished the image of the country,” Alias told The Malaysian Insider.
So, we stop people from entering the country because they say bad things about our government? That isn’t political? That is law? Read the rest of this entry »
Parliament and Sabah State Assembly should meet in urgent sessions if Home Minister Hishammuddin is incapable of protecting the sovereignty of Sabah and Malaysia and the rights and safety of Sabahans
Posted by Kit in Hishammuddin, Police, Sabah on Sunday, 17 February 2013, 6:15 pm
Parliament and the Sabah State Assembly should meet in urgent sessions if the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, is incapable of protecting the sovereignty of Sabah and Malaysia and the rights and safety of Sabahans.
Malaysiakini has quoted the Sunday report of Philippine Daily Inquirer today that despite the Malaysian authorities declaring an end to negotiations with more than 100 armed Filipinos who landed in Sabah early this week and saying they will be deported, the group’s leader insists that they will stay put.
Jamalul Kiram III, who claims to be ruler of the now defunct Sulu Sultanate, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he authorised the ‘incursion’ and that his men would remain in Lahad Datu as long as needed.
Jamalul said the group, led by his younger brother crown prince Agbimuddin Kiram, would remain in Sabah for “as long as necessary” in their bid to reclaim the state, which was formerly a territory of the Sulu Sultanate. Read the rest of this entry »
Parlimen dan Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah perlu bersidang dalam satu sidang tergempar sekirannya Menteri Dalam Negeri Hishamuddin tidak mampu memelihara kedaulatan Sabah dan Malaysia serta hak dan keselamatan rakyat Sabah
Posted by Kit in Hishammuddin, Police, Sabah on Monday, 18 February 2013, 11:25 am
Parlimen dan Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah perlu bersidang dalam satu sidang tergempar sekirannya Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin tidak mampu memelihara kedaulatan Sabah dan Malaysia serta hak dan keselamatan rakyat Sabah
Malaysiakini telah memetik laporan Ahad Philippine Daily Inquirer hari ini bahawa meskipun penguasa Malaysia mengisytiharkan berakhirnya rundingan dengan lebih daripada 100 orang rakyat Filipina bersenjata yang mendarat di Sabah awal minggu ini dan berkata mereka akan dihantar pulang, ketua kumpulan itu bertegas mereka tidak akan berganjak.
Jamalul Kiram III, yang mendakwa sebagai waris kepada Kesultanan Sulu yang sudah tidak wujud lagi, memberitahu Philippine Daily Inquirer bahawa dia membenarkan ‘serangan’ itu dan orang-orangnya akan kekal di Lahad Datu selagi mana perlu.
Jamalul berkata kumpulan itu, yang diketuai adiknya tengku mahkota Agbimuddin Kiram, akan kekal di Sabah “selagi mana perlu” dalam tuntutan mereka untuk mendapatkan semula negeri itu, yang dahulunya kawasan jajahan Kesultanan Sulu. Read the rest of this entry »
53-Day Countdown to 13GE: Xenophon’s 15-hr detention and deportation – international confirmation that BN govt “authoritarian” and Najib a “false democrat”
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Hishammuddin, Mahathir, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat on Sunday, 17 February 2013, 9:43 am
In the run-up to the 13th General Elections, Malaysians are seeing the full flowering of the Greek saying, “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”.
Last month, former and longest-serving Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir flaunted his treasonous deeds in the “citizenship-for-votes” scams in Sabah in Project M and Project IC in the eighties and nineties, resulting in true Sabahans becoming a minority in their own land – and who added insult to injury when he alleged that Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman had given one million citizenship to “unqualified” non-Malays before Merdeka.
As if not enough damage had been done, Mahathir has compounded it by advocating a two-thirds parliamentary majority for Barisan Nasional so as to be able to revoke the citizenship of Bersih co-chairperson S. Ambiga for her patriotic campaign for free, fair and clean elections.
Last week, as if the three resounding “Yes for Psy, Noes for BN” at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Penang Chinese New Year bash featuring Korean K-Pop superstar and the indignity of the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers waiting on stage forlornly and in vain for Psy to join them for a “yee san toss” were not embarrassments enough, four days after the event and without an iota of evidence, Penang Barisan Nasional leaders spun the tale that there had been attempts on the lives of Psy and the Prime Minister. At least, Najib had the sense so far to keep mum on the tall tale.
The latest evidence of the workings of the Greek saying, “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad” is the 15-hour detention and deportation of Australian Senator, furnishing a national and international confirmation that the Barisan Nasional government of Malaysia is “authoritarian” and Najib a “false democrat”. Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 53 Hari ke PRU13: Penahanan dan pengusiran 15 jam Xenophon – pengesahan antarabangsa terhadap “autoritarian” kerajaan BN dan Najib seorang “demokrat palsu”
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Hishammuddin, Mahathir, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat on Monday, 18 February 2013, 11:20 am
Menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13, rakyat Malaysia melihat sesuatu yang seperti sebuah ungkapan Yunani yang menyebut, “Sesiapa yang tuhan mahu hancurkan mereka akan dijadikan gila terlebih dahulu”.
Bulan lepas, mantan Perdana Menteri yang paling lama berkhidmat, Tun Dr. Mahathir menunjukkan perbuatan khianatnya dalam penipuan “kewarganegaraan untuk undi” di Sabah dalam Projek M dan Projek IC di awal tahun lapan puluhan dan sembilan puluhan, menyebabkan rakyat Sabah sebenar menjadi minoriti di tanah mereka sendiri – dan turut memburukkan lagi keadaan dengan menuduh Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman sebelum Merdeka telah memberikan satu juta kewarganegaraan kepada bukan Melayu yang “tidak layak”.
Seolah-olah tidak cukup kerosakan yang telah dilakukan, Mahathir memburukkan lagi dengan meminta diberikan majoriti dua pertiga kepada Barisan Nasional supaya mampu melucutkan kewarganegaraan pengerusi bersama Bersih S. Ambiga disebabkan kempen patriotik beliau untuk pilihan raya bebas, bersih dan adil.
Minggu lepas, sekiranya tiga laungan “Ya untuk Psy, Tidak untuk BN” di pesta Tahun Baru Cina Pulau Pinang Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menampilkan bintang K-Pop Korea dan penghinaan terhadap Perdana Menteri, mantan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kabinet menunggu dengan sia-sia kemunculan Psy menyertai mereka “menggaul yee sang” tidak cukup memalukan, empat hari selepas acara itu tanpa satu bukti pun, pemimpin Barisan Nasional Pulau Pinang putar kisah itu kononnya terdapat cubaan membahayakan nyawa Psy dan Perdana Menteri. Sekurang-kurangnya, Najib masih waras untuk mendiamkan diri terhadap semua kisah bohong itu.
Bukti terbaru yang menggambarkan ungkapan Yunani, “Sesiapa yang tuhan mahu hancurkan mereka akan dijadikan gila terlebih dahulu” adalah penahanan dan pengusiran 15 jam Senator Australia, melengkapkan pengesahan dalam negara dan antarabangsa bahawa kerajaan Malaysia yang diperintah Barisan Nasional adalah “autoritarian” dan Najib seorang “demokrat palsu”. Read the rest of this entry »
54-Day Countdown to 13 GE – Najib should announce three ang pows at Dong Zong CNY Open House tomorrow: full recognition of UEC, approval for four Chinese Independent Secondary Schools and review of National Education Blueprint
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should announce three ang pows at the Dong Zong Chinese New Year Open House tomorrow, namely:
* Full government recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) as one of the academic qualifications for entry into national higher learning institutions, public services and teaching academies;
* Government approval for four Chinese independent secondary schools in Petaling Jaya, Puchong, Segamat and Johore Baru;
* Review of the National Education Blueprint to give full recognition of mother-tongue education in the mainstream of the national education system, including:
1. Increase in the number of Chinese and Tamil primary schools dependent on the needs of parents to send their children to Chinese and Tamil primary schools in order to ensure the right of students to receive mother-tongue education; and
2. Fair and just capital allocations for development expenditures of Chinese and Tamil primary schools and the provision of adequate trained teachers; and
3. Assist Malaysian independent Chinese secondary schools in financing, teacher-training, curricula design, amenities, etc and to allow them to relocate, set up branches and put up new premises.
DAP and Pakatan Rakyat are committed to the full recognition of UEC and if Najib fails to make such an announcement tomorrow, then it will be one of the priority policy announcements of a new Pakatan Rakyat government in Putrajaya after the 13GE. Read the rest of this entry »
22 questions for Dr M, again
Posted by Kit in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Anwar Ibrahim, Corruption, Education, Financial Scandals, Judiciary, Mahathir, Media, UMNO on Friday, 15 February 2013, 7:28 pm
P Gunasegaram
Malaysiakini
Feb 14, 2013
QUESTION TIME I became a journalist at the Business Times, then a standalone newspaper, in 1978.
Three years later in 1981 Dr Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister of Malaysia, its fourth, succeeding Hussein Onn.
I have followed his career quite closely since and frankly I am not impressed. He started off with promise – and promised a lot – but fulfilled none if any.
In fact I would go so far as to say that he was positively the worst prime minister this country has ever had.
Through destruction of institutions such as an independent judiciary, running roughshod over civil servants, bringing his brand of power, patronage and poor economics into decision making, and making use of oppressive laws he used an iron fist to rule and in the process brought more harm to this country than any other person alive or dead.
Much of the problems of Malaysia can be traced back to him and he has made it difficult for his successors to make major changes going forward, much of which would involve unwinding processes and linkages he had put in place before. Read the rest of this entry »
Psy-tastic Tales!
By Martin Jalleh
55-Day Countdown to 13 GE – Najib should clarify whether he left the stage at Penang BN CNY bash for fear of his life and whether Psy’s life was also threatened
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak, Penang on Friday, 15 February 2013, 4:42 pm
This is no joke or laughing matter. The people of Penang and Malaysia are entitled to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Why did the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah and Cabinet Ministers leave the stage at the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year bash on Monday after waiting forlornly and in vain for over five minutes for Korean K-pop sensation Psy to join them for the “toss yee san” ceremony.
Najib should clarify whether he left the stage at the Penang BN CNY bash for fear of his life and whether Psy’s life was also threatened.
Initially, the Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong had as good as blamed the MCA Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen for causing the yee san fiasco, resulting in shame and indignity to the nation when the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers were publicly embarrassed waiting for five minutes in vain for Psy to join them. Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 55 Hari ke PRU13 – Najib perlu memperjelas sama ada beliau meninggalkan pentas di pesta Tahun Baru Cina BN Pulau Pinang kerana bimbangkan keselamatannya dan sama ada nyawa Psy turut terancam
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak, Penang on Saturday, 16 February 2013, 2:30 pm
Ini bukan jenaka atau gurauan. Orang Pulau Pinang dan rakyat Malaysia berhak mengetahui kebenaran, tiada yang tidak benar melainkan yang benar.
Mengapa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah dan Menteri Kabinet meninggalkan pentas pada pesta Tahun Baru Cina Barisan Nasional pada hari Isnin selepas menunggu hampa di atas pentas selama lima minit untuk bintang K-pop Korea Psy menyertai mereka untuk upacara “menggaul yee sang”.
Najib perlu memperjelaskan sama ada beliau meninggalkan pentas di pesta Tahun Baru C ina BN Pulau Pinang kerana bimbangkan nyawanya dan sama ada nyawa Psy turut terancam.
Pada mulanya, Ketua Pemuda Gerakan Oh Tong Keong elok menyalahkan Menteri Pelancongan MCA, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen menjadi punca kemelut yee sang, menyebabkan tercemar maruah negara apabila Perdana Menteri, mantan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kabinet dimalukan di hadapan umum dengan sia-sia menunggu selama lima minit untuk Psy menyertai mereka. Read the rest of this entry »
Gross Encounters of the Zin Kind
Posted by Kit in Kee Thuan Chye, UMNO on Friday, 15 February 2013, 12:35 pm
By Kee Thuan Chye
Malaysian Digest
I was greeted first thing this morning by an SMS from a dear old friend. It read: “Saudara XXX [my friend’s name in full], Selamat Menyambut Hari Lahir. Happy Birthday. Ikhlas dari DS Ir Mohd Zin Mohamed, Kordinator BN Selangor. Sayangi Selangor, Yakini BN.”
At first, I wondered why my friend had forwarded me this SMS. Then when I saw the four-letter word he had appended at the end of it, I understood. He was sharing with me his disgust at the greeting from Mohd Zin.
This coordinator of Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) who is campaigning to win the state from Pakatan Rakyat at the soon-to-be-held general election has been sending out many such messages to a whole lot of people ever since last year. However, they have become such an annoyance that the recipients invariably express nothing but disgust each time they receive such messages.
Some of my other friends have also been complaining to me about Mohd Zin’s barrage of not only SMSes but postcards and letters as well. And social media is full of curses against him and his unsavoury proselytising efforts to the BN cause.
Read the rest of this entry »
Foot in the mouth?
Posted by Kit in Mahathir, Najib Razak, Penang on Friday, 15 February 2013, 12:16 pm
Zan Azlee
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 15, 2013
FEB 15 — Sometimes, people get their feet stuck deep in their mouths that it is impossible to pull them back out. Sad for them, but good for me, since I get something to write about.
The first case I would like to discuss is one that I’m sure everyone reading this column would be very familiar with — Sharifah Zohra Jabeen.
Here is a woman who is obviously not very smart trying to make it look and sound like she’s smart. Look what happened now. She’s gone into hiding out of embarrassment.
And she still hasn’t responded to my challenge in a previous article to debate her on a topic of her choice. I guess she’s scared that she’ll get her other foot stuck in her mouth too.
The second case is something that happened very recently, and that is, the response that Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow gave regarding K-pop artist Psy. Read the rest of this entry »
OMG! There was an attempt on Psy’s Life!
Posted by Kit in Najib Razak on Friday, 15 February 2013, 11:53 am
By Stan CH Lee
thedrawingisonthewall.blogspot.ca
Fear factor and Mahathir
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Constitution, Mahathir, Parliament on Friday, 15 February 2013, 11:42 am
by K. Siladass
The fear factor has finally caught up with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The fact that Dato Ambiga Sreenevasan, a former President of the Bar Council and currently the co-chairman of Bersih Movement, has been making constructive suggestions for the clean and proper conduct of the forthcoming general elections is well known. Mahathir, alike all his cronies and supporters fearing that the wind of change in the thought process of the Malaysians is actually blowing, had begun to make frantic undemocratic demands-one among them is the call for the revocation of Ambiga’s citizenship. Does this remind of Idi Amin of Uganda?
Has Ambiga said anything that would constitute as an attempt to overthrow the government? Hardly so. All her comments, suggestions, criticisms were objectively aimed at improving the standards of the voting procedure. Any citizen could make suggestions so long it is not contrary to law. Neither she nor Bersih advocate the transformation of illegal immigrants to legal immigrants with voting rights. It is those who violated the Country’s citizenship, immigration and election law, who should be dealt with according to law.
It is also hardly correct to assume that Ambiga alone had formulated all the comments, suggestions and criticisms; instead, she represents a movement and her expressions are those of the movement, hence, would it not be appropriate that all those who are linked with her and the Bersih Movement should receive like treatment? All who support the Bersih Movement should have their citizenship revoked. If this sounds very puerile, then, why single out Ambiga? When we are talking about democracy and democratic government we are indeed talking of Government by discussion. This does not mean discussion only amongst ruling party members but must also include the views from the public, of which the opposition and civic movements are a part.
From the Mahathir’s outburst it could be discerned that he and his followers are unable to match up with reasonable, rational and sensible argument, and argument has always been the core principle in democracy. Read the rest of this entry »
Winners and losers in the Psy show
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak on Thursday, 14 February 2013, 11:56 pm
by Tan Zhong Yan
Malaysiakini
Feb 13, 2013
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and BN would surely have regretted inviting South Korean pop star Psy to the Penang state BN Chinese New Year open house.
The one-minute video which has gone viral in the cyberspace says it all – Yes for Psy! No for BN!
Winners
Psy
Well, Psy is clearly the winner. Getting millions of ringgit just to perform for 15 minutes is definitely worth it despite the fact that he had to fly from Brazil which took 20 hours.
The people
Those who went to the open house would surely enjoy themselves getting to see Psy performing his famous ‘Oppa Gangnam Style’ for free as it was sponsored by person(s) unknown.
Hopefully that is true. If not, the people will be the greatest losers if it was paid with tax payers’ money. Read the rest of this entry »
