The decline and fall of Najib
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mahathir, Mariam Mokhtar, Muhyiddin Yassin, Najib Razak, Sabah, UMNO on Friday, 8 February 2013, 10:47 pm
Mariam Mokhtar | February 8, 2013
Free Malaysia Today
The prime minister had the perfect opportunity to act, but he neglected to do so. Consumed by greed and power, like many politicians in Malaysia, he looked the other way.
COMMENT
As soon as Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announces the date for 13th general election, it will probably sound his political death knell.
For the benefit of the rakyat, and in front of the television cameras and news photographers, Najib and his Cabinet present a united front; but behind the scenes, another story emerges.
Damaging leaks about the shortcomings of his leadership continue to undermine Najib. His grip on the party is tenuous. His strongest ally, the self-styled First Lady Rosmah Mansor, will do her utmost to ensure he succeeds.
Last month, the independent organisation, the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, found that Najib had high popularity ratings of 63% among voters in Peninsular Malaysia.
For the sake of “completeness”, why not a survey among voters in Sabah and also, Sarawak? It would have been interesting to gauge Najib’s popularity in Sabah, before and during the proceedings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) for Sabah.
If the same survey had been conducted among ministers in Najib’s own Cabinet, the results would be a good gauge of their confidence in his leadership. Read the rest of this entry »
Can Psy horse power boost BN?
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mahathir, Najib Razak, UMNO on Friday, 8 February 2013, 6:07 pm
Jeswan Kaur | February 8, 2013
Free Malaysia Today
Is getting Psy a pathetic reflection of how desperate BN has become in gearing up for the coming 13th general election?
COMMENT
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad just cannot have enough of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, finding any excuse possible to meet the actor, be it here or in India.
But the rendezvous with Shah Rukh Khan is always a private affair for Mahathir unlike the desperately seeking-attention Barisan Nasional, which is banking on South Korean “happening” rapper Psy do deliver them the much-needed people’s support.
BN has invited the rapper to grace its Chinese New Year open house in Penang on Feb 11, a move which comes at a cost of RM1 million to RM3 million.
Psy will be doing his “horse riding dance” or tarian kuda in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and some 60,000 guests expected at the CNY open house.
Where will BN get the money from? Has it “appointed” sponsors to take care of the massive payment Psy wants for his debut performance here?
Does BN or rather Najib seriously think getting the 35-year-old singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer Psy to do his “Gangnam Style” dance moves will bring in the crowd to its CNY open house?
If yes, then it is a pathetic reflection of how desperate BN has become in gearing up for the coming 13th general election. Read the rest of this entry »
The essence of journalism
— Bob Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 08, 2013
FEB 8 — The worst headline that can greet a journalist is this: Malaysia records worst-ever ranking on press freedom. Let’s face it, we have reached rock-bottom.
In the latest index compiled by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, Malaysia has dropped 23 spots to a new low by ranking 145 out of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index.
Some are quite happy to live with this sorry state of affairs. After all we are three steps ahead of Singapore which is ranked lower than Malaysia at No. 149.
But this is no consolation considering Bangladesh, Libya, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei are better off than us. And if that’s not bad enough, Myanmar is fast catching up — it climbed 18 spots to No. 151, just six steps behind us.
The moot point is that journalism as practised in Malaysia has fallen from grace.
Journalist, particularly senior editors, should start redeeming the profession. Sure there are many things we can’t influence or change but one thing we can do. We can change our attitude towards journalism and believe that press freedom is not only possible but essential. Read the rest of this entry »
Star Headlines (07/02/13) “150k loans for students”
Posted by Kit in Education, Finance, Najib Razak on Friday, 8 February 2013, 5:31 pm
By PW Cheng
Feb 7, 2013
I would like to remind those students and parents who had read the Star today (07/02/2013) on “150k loans for students”, do not feel ecstatic about it. Please be prepared for a rude shock. No banks or any financial institutions in their right mind will give loans without any collateral. As according to Najib “this is a creative way of helping the rakyat”, I do not see anything creative about this. The interests charged is far too high and much higher if you were to take a mortgage loan. Najib should be sent back to school to study mathematics and calling it as creative, do not emanate intelligence.
In 2004 or 2005, the government has a loan scheme for tertiary students studying overseas. I was one of the few who knows about this loan scheme. Not even Dr Wee Ka Siong ( who was then the MCA Education Bureau chief) knows about this. I tried applying the loan for my son who was studying in Australia then but PSD kept on giving various excuses by twisting their terms and conditions to turn the loan down. Read the rest of this entry »
MCA’s empty threats
Posted by Kit in Elections, MCA, Pakatan Rakyat on Friday, 8 February 2013, 10:31 am
— An SME businessman
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 08, 2013
FEB 8 — Many argue that the most important reason why Pakatan Rakyat must be elected the new federal government in the forthcoming general election is to bring an end to 55 years of Barisan Nasional government. While Umno’s frequent threats that May 13-style riots will occur if the elections produce a new government have lost their effect, the MCA has now joined this “threat game”.
Seeking to claim its traditional role of the party of big business, its president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was reported in the mainstream media over the weekend as saying that Bursa Malaysia will drop 500 points if Pakatan wins, which would “have a direct impact on the national economy”.
Chua went on to say “PAS has also mentioned that it will close Genting and the Bursa. All these will frighten investors, be they local of foreign”. Clearly these are empty threats.
For Pakatan to be elected the new federal government it must have a simple majority in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, say, about 125 seats.
Because of the gerrymandering of constituencies by numerous Barisan administrations, Pakatan must receive a popular vote exceeding 55 per cent in order to win that number of seats required to form a working government with a comfortable majority that can also withstand any party-hopping that may occur thereafter.
In this scenario, surely the 55 per cent of Malaysians who voted for Pakatan will not wish to have their newly elected government destabilised at any level, including our economy. Read the rest of this entry »
62-Day Countdown to 13GE – Fulfil Bapa Malaysia’s dream in 1990 general elections to promote a two-coalition system and lay the basis for Malaysia to close the gap with South Korea
Posted by Kit in Elections, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Friday, 8 February 2013, 8:33 am
Today is the 110th birthday anniversary of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman – two days before the 2013 Chinese New Year of the Snake and two or three weeks before the dissolution of Parliament for the holding of the 13th General Elections.
On the second day of the Chinese New Year on Feb. 11, South Korea’s global pop sensation Psy whose “Gangnam Style” is the first video to be watched over 1 billion times (latest record: 1.27 billion times) on YouTube, has been invited to Penang to make Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s CNY Open House a historic and unprecedented event.
I am on public record as saying that Malaysians should enjoy Psy’s show, but before and after the fun and entertainment, Malaysians must conduct a soul-searching as to why there had been a reversal of national fortunes in the past half-a-century, with South Korea now two to three times richer than Malaysia and ahead in all fields of human endeavour when this nation was twice as rich and developed as South Korea when we achieved Independence in 1957.
I have no doubt that if Tunku is still with us today, this will be topmost in his pre-occupations, as he would feel even sadder than anyone at Malaysia’s regression instead of progress when comparing Malaysia with South Korea.
Not only in the field of democracy and good governance, economic progress, technological advance, human resource development, art and culture, but also in the field of sports, South Korea has shot well ahead of Malaysia in the past half century. Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 62 Hari ke PRU13 – Memenuhi impian Bapa Malaysia dalam pilihan raya 1990 untuk memperkenalkan sistem dua perikatan dan meletakkan asas kepada Malaysia untuk merapatkan jurang dengan Korea Selatan
Posted by Kit in Elections, General, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Friday, 8 February 2013, 12:49 pm
Hari ini merupakan ulangtahun kelahiran ke-110 Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman – dua hari sebelum Tahun Baru Cina 2013 dan dua atau tiga minggu sebelum pembubaran Parlimen bagi diadakan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.
Pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina yakni pada 11 Feb, bintang pop Korea Selatan Psy yang video “Gangnam Style-nya” telah ditonton lebih daripada 1 bilion kali (rekod terkini: 1.27 bilion) di Youtube, telah dijemput ke Pulau Pinang untuk menjadikan Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak sebuah acara yang julung-julung kalinya dan bersejarah.
Secara terbuka saya katakan bahawa rakyat Malaysia sepatutnya bergembira dengan persembahan Psy, tetapi sebelum dan selepas keriangan dan hiburan, rakyat Malaysia perlu melakukan pencarian diri terhadap persoalan mengapa nasib negara terbalik sepanjang setengah abad lalu, dengan Korea Selatan kini dua hingga tiga kali ganda lebih kaya berbanding Malaysia dan jauh kedepan dalam semua usaha yang dilakukan sedangkan negara kita pernah tiga kali ganda lebih kaya dan membangun berbanding Korea Selatan ketika kita mencapai Kemerdekaan pada 1957.
Saya percaya sekiranya Tunku masih hidup lagi hari ini, itu akan menjadi perkara yang paling diberi perhatian dalam urusan beliau, tentu beliau akan menjadi lebih sedih berbanding orang lain melihat kemunduran Malaysia bukannya kemajuan apabila membandingkan Malaysia dengan Korea Selatan.
Bukan sahaja dalam demokrasi dan tadbir urus yang baik, perkembangan ekonomi, kemajuan teknologi, pembangunan modan insan, seni dan budaya, tetapi juga dalam bidang sukan, Korea Selatan telah jauh mendahului Malaysia dalam setengah abad lalu. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s over for MCA
Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz | February 7, 2013
Free Malaysia Today
If the voting trends go along the same lines as it did in 2008, it is then the end for both Umno and MCA.
COMMENT
If only 30% of the Malay electorate in each of the parliamentary seat where MCA is the incumbent vote for PKR, then MCA is wiped out.
But Umno wants to save its Islam-bashing partner at all costs even if it means speaking like an infidel.
MCA, on its part, must do everything to keep the Chinese intact but it’s facing an uphill battle.
MCA has lost its credibility and relevance. It goes to town, saying if Pakatan Rakyat wins, then PAS will “Talibanise” everything.
It claims if Pakatan wins you can’t play mahjong, eat pork, bah kut teh, wash hair, yam seng and all that.
But we all know that MCA must say that PAS will restrict everything.
Umno and MCA are playing two sides of the same coin, but the subterfuge is not fooling everyone.
So, how do we kill off MCA for good? There is a simple formula.
If only 30% of the Malays vote for Pakatan and 80% of non-Malays vote the same way, MCA is finished. This is all we need.
MCA can lose all its 15 parliamentary seats in the next general election. Read the rest of this entry »
My Beautiful Malaysia, My Dream Malaysia
by Allan CF Goh
Feb 7, 2013
My dream Malaysia is full of charms,
With white beaches and tall swaying palms.
The redolent air is fresh and cool,
Blowing with gentle, caressing balm,
Not ravaged by ugly constructions,
Mother nature is blessedly calm.
Malaysia empowers greenery;
Forests grow in protected freedom.
Myriad flowers bloom in ecstasy,
To thrill us from unwanted boredom.
Native animals are free to roam;
Their habitats are saved by wisdom.
This country is a peaceful nation,
Where people live in real maturity.
Each respects the other’s differences,
Celebrating our diversity.
We live within shared common values,
Forging a lasting unity. Read the rest of this entry »
Last chance for MCA to change history for the better
— Koon Yew Yin
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 07, 2013
FEB 7 — As the curtain comes down on the MCA and its demise as a force in Malaysian politics, Malaysians are being treated to demonstrations of desperate behaviour by the MCA top brass to show that they are still relevant.
The latest is the attempt by MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai to reach out to Chinese voters by offering health tips for the Chinese New Year season.
No doubt the book launch speech by the health minister has been widely reported in the mainstream media. His backroom boys will probably be flattering the minister about how clever he is in referring to the lucky number of 8888 and its association with wealth and health in reaching out to the Chinese electorate.
But will it work on the Chinese electorate? Read the rest of this entry »
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?
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 3:00 pm
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 »
Pengiraan Detik 63 Hari ke PRU13 – Bolehkah Psy dan Gangnam Style menyelamatkan populariti BN di kalangan pengundi Cina, yang menjunam daripada 17% ke 6% dalam tempoh 10 bulan dari Febuari sehingga Disember tahun lalu?
Posted by Kit in Elections, General, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Friday, 8 February 2013, 12:42 pm
Perang saraf bagi membentuk persepsi pengundi menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 masuk ke pusingan akhir, dengan Parlimen dijangka akan dibubarkan dalam dua atau tiga minggu lagi.
Skrip terbaru tukang putar UMNO/Barisan Nasional adalah serampang tiga mata:
- mereka-reka laporan dan dakwaan palsu serta tidak berasas untuk menfitnah DAP dan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat terutamanya melalui laman tak berwajah, tak bernama dan tak berjiwa di media sosial dan media perdana UMNO/BN;
- menimbulkan kesangsian dan rasa tidak percaya di dalam parti DAP, PKR dan PAS serta memprovok permusuhan dan ketegangan di antara parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat, dengan matlamat utama untuk memecahbelahkan Pakatan Raktyat terutamanya kerjasama antara DAP dan PAS untuk menyelamatkan UMNO/BN daripada cabaran “hidup atau mati” dalam PRU13; dan
- untuk mencipta persepsi bahawa UMNO/BN di bawah Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak akhirnya berjaya meraih sokongan popular kepada UMNO/BN, baik di kalangan pengundi Melayu, Cina, India, Kadazan atau Iban.
Inilah sebabnya mengapa ditonjolkan Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Najib di Pulau Pinang pada 11 Febuari – persembahan berjuta-juta ringgit bintang Korea Selatan dan lagu terkenalnya Gangnam Style.
Tetapi adakah kemunculan sensasi Psy dan Gangnam Style di Pulau Pinang adalah “harapan menjadi kenyataan” untuk Najib sehingga meraih sokongan popular di kalangan pengundi Cina untuk UMNO/BN dalam PRU13? Read the rest of this entry »
The Desperate CNY Charmer
Posted by Kit in Elections, Martin Jalleh, Najib Razak on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 12:34 pm
By Martin Jalleh
The second Merdeka
Posted by Kit in Mahathir, Mariam Mokhtar, Najib Razak, nation building, UMNO on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 11:22 am
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 »
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 »
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
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mahathir, Najib Razak, nation building, Sabah on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 12:02 pm
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 »
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
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mahathir, Najib Razak, nation building, Sabah on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 5:31 pm
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 »
Psy, the Answer to BN Penang’s Psychosis
Posted by Kit in Martin Jalleh, Penang, UMNO on Tuesday, 5 February 2013, 9:11 pm
By Martin Jalleh
