Hutang Umno pada budi orang Melayu
— Sakmongkol AK47
The Malaysian Insider
Jan 03, 2012
3 JAN — Dalam masa seminggu ini saya di hujani soalan adakah benar saya dan saudara Aspan Alias akan memasuki DAP? Cuba baca berita yang mula2 di keluarkan oleh The Malaysian Insider. Disana di nyatakan bahawa tiada keputusan yang di capai. Ertinya, karya TMI itu bersifat spekulatif. Demikian juga rencana yang di keluarkan oleh Free Malaysia Today. Artikel itu juga bersifat spekulatif dan menimbulkan lebih banyak persoalan dari memberi jawapan.
Tidakkah terfikir oleh sesiapa bahawa jika kami berdua cederung menyokong DAP atau parti lawan Umno, sikap tersebut ialah kerana di dorongi oleh kepercayaan dan prinsip2 tertentu? Kita tidak boleh konsisten jika hanya di dorong oleh rasa frust, dendam dan sebagainya. Sikap konsisten hanya datang dari asas yang lebih stabil dan kekal- seperti di pacu oleh keyakinan dan kepercayaan kepada prinsip2.
Sebagai contoh, kami berdua merasakan Umno sudah bertukar watak menjadi suatu Frankenstein yang tidak lagi boleh di kawal. Ia menjadi wadah untuk mencuri harta benda rakyat, membelakangkan political decency, memanipulasi rule of law, dan paling dasyat sekali melupakan budi orang Melayu kepada Umno. Read the rest of this entry »
Is the Felda Global Venture Holdings listing in the interest of settlers?
Posted by Kit in Felda, Lim Teck Ghee on Tuesday, 3 January 2012, 6:25 pm
— Dr Lim Teck Ghee
CPI
Jan 03, 2012
JAN 3 — During the past few months, the government and Felda authorities have been engaged in a public relations exercise aimed at persuading Felda settlers as well as the public that the proposal to float Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH) on Bursa Malaysia is in the best interests of the settlers.
But is it really so?
What has emerged from the government-controlled media has been almost exclusively the government version as to why the listing should go ahead. What is missing are answers to the questions raised by the opposition and independent analysts on the real benefits to settlers as well as a credible response to allegations that the interests of settlers are being subordinated — and even marginalised — in favour of other parties.
The stakes involved in the proposed listing exercise go well beyond those of any past Bursa listing exercise. At stake are not simply concerns of how well the offering will be received by investors; the initial IPO pricing; and other market-related issues. This is not your ordinary listing exercise aimed at reconciling the interests of a small group of initial shareholders with those of other new parties; neither is it a question of how much gains the initial settlers and shareholders can make from this listing exercise. Read the rest of this entry »
Pertembungan di antara Umno dengan rakyat bertambah serius
— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
Jan 03, 2012
3 JAN — Sejak berita yang dilapurkan oleh The Malaysian Insider dan Utusan dan beberapa blogger yang pro Umno beberapa hari yang lepas, blog saya telah dibanjiri dengan pelawat yang ramai dan kebanyakkannya memberikan sokongan kepada saya jika saya menyertai DAP.
Media perdana Utusan dan blogger Umno telah menulis dengan panjang lebar dan membuat kritikan keras terhadap saya. Tetapi yang menggalakan ialah sokongan dari orang-orang biasa ini sangat menggalakan dan ianya benar-benar membuka minda ramai orang Melayu yang sebenarnya menyertai DAP itu bukannya satu jenayah dan juga tidak “unpatriotic”.
Tidak ada parti akan dibenarkan untuk ditubuhkan jika parti-parti itu tidak memperjuangkan kebaikan untuk negara dan rakyatnya. Apa yang asas kepada segala-galanya dalam penubuhan parti itu ialah Bab Asas dan Tujuan dalam Perlembagaan sesebuah parti itu. Kalau di selidik secara teliti semua parti yang terdaftar dengan halal di negara ini bertujuan yang tidak lari dari kandungan dan peruntukan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
Semuanya mempunyai matlamat menyatukan rakyat berbilang kaum dan agama di negara kita ini. Apa yang membezakan dari satu parti dengan parti yang lain ialah samada pimpinan sesebuah parti itu benar-benar mengikuti apa yang diperuntukan di dalam Bab Asas Dan Tujuan yang terkandung di dalam parti-parti itu. Baik atau tidak sesuatu parti itu bergantung samada pimpinan parti itu benar-benar mengikut lunas-lunas yang telah di tulis dalam Perlembagaan parti itu.
BN pada asasnya bukannya tidak baik, tetapi semangat yang ada di dalam BN itu tidak di sempurnakan dengan betul sehinggakan rakyat tidak lagi berselera dengan komponen itu. Read the rest of this entry »
Umno fears loss of monopoly
By Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz | January 3, 2012
Free Malaysia Today
Some folks in my hometown Pekan are now calling me Dato’ DAP. Its quite amusing and comical.
The most common question to me is why DAP? Weren’t they the ones who started May 13?
The thrust of that reminder is to remind us – fellow blogger Aspan Alian and me -of their commonly-held belief that DAP started the May 13, 1969 incident.
Well since they want to know, what if I said Tun (Abdul) Razak allowed it to happen because the ensuing troubles would give him an excuse to kick out (then Prime Minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman?
The point is, there was no single contributor to the May 13 incident.
But I would place some blame on Tun Razak who as Home Minister allowed things to degenerate. He allowed it so that a proclamation of emergency could be made.
Read the rest of this entry »
What we dream of
Posted by Kit in nation building on Tuesday, 3 January 2012, 12:30 pm
By Ambiga Sreenevasan | January 03, 2012
The Malaysian Insider
JAN 3 — Dare we Malaysians dream that in 2012:
• Bersih 2.0’s eight demands will be implemented before Parliament is dissolved.
• the run-up to the elections will bring out the best in everyone and not the worst.
• we have free and fair elections run by an Election Commission which is empowered, independent and brooks no cheating.
• the selling of our country to foreigners for votes (as is widely believed to be happening) will be halted and punished as the highest treason.
• every single registered voter votes in the 13th general election.
• justice will be done in Sodomy II.
Read the rest of this entry »
Siapa yang pengkhianat? Introspeksi betul-betul
— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
Jan 02, 2012
2 JAN — Isu saya yang dispekulasikan akan menyertai DAP membuatkan pihak tertentu marah-marah dan yang marah-marah itu seorang dua memang saya kenali. Saya tidak bercadang untuk menjawab dan melayani mereka ini kerana seperti yang saya katakan mereka ini masih bercabang kencingnya dan belum lagi kenal yang mana satu tangan kanan untuk menyuap nasi dan yang mana satu tangan kiri untuk beristinja’.
Bagi pihak yang mengkritik saya ini, mereka tidak ada isu untuk membahaskan apa yang telah saya perkatakan selama ini: tentang apa yang terlalu kurang dalam Umno. Mereka ini belum pun pandai menyebut nama Umno itu tetapi bercakap mempertahankan Umno itu seolah-olah mereka telah lama mengenali Umno dan perjuangannya.
Saya ini kononnya bangkrap politik dan telah menjadi barang “reject”. Kalaulah betul apa yang dikatakan terhadap diri saya itu saya hairan kenapa isu ini diperbesarkan sedangkan saya ini adalah barang “reject” dan bangkrap politik.
Saya ingin menyatakan dengan terang dan jelas. Yang telah bangkrap ialah Umno dan yang sedang di “reject” ialah Umno dan keseluruhan sekutunya. Mereka yang kononnya pejuang ini harus berfikir bukankah Umno hanya tinggal 56 kerusi sahaja di Semenanjung dan 13 kerusi sahaja di Sabah. Jumlahnya hanya 69 semuanya. Umno telah kalah dalam banyak kerusi dan akan kalah banyak lagi dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang ini.
Siapa yang kena “reject” ini? Kalau Umno kena “reject” tentulah ada sebabnya. Orang seperti saya bukan suka-suka hendak “reject” Umno tetapi oleh kerana keadaan yang membuatkan Umno itu terpaksa di “reject”. Saya perhatikan pemimpin-pemimpin Umno dan penyokong-penyokongnya yang membela membabi buta ini hanya mahu mendengar apa yang mereka hendak dengar sahaja. Read the rest of this entry »
Malays should not fear the DAP
— Sakmongkol AK47
The Malaysian Insider
Jan 02, 2012
JAN 2 — I am not going to respond to the xenophobic responses around news that Aspan Alias and Sakmongkol are about to join the DAP. No explanation will be able to change preconceived biases. So why bother? So we are about to join or have joined the DAP.
The DAP is a democratic party committed to the rule of law, good governance and good government. It abhors corruption and abuse of political office. To me those are attractive propositions. Umno, on the other hand, has turned its back on these. It harps only on one primal worry of Malays — when Umno is threatened it shares the threat with Malays at large. So a threat to Umno is translated mindlessly into a threat to Malays as a whole. Nothing can be farther from the truth. That is how Umno has approached politics in Malaysia basically — make its fears public, make the gains private for selected Malays within Umno.
I have only one message to that; those salad days and that halcyon period are over.
Umno is trapped by its own successes. Indeed its supporters and leaders assume ownership of the wrong things and end up digging in to support the wrong choices.
My answer is, if we do indeed change our political vehicle that is what we are actually doing. Don’t read our move as blasphemous or treasonable. The DAP is more relevant and functional in achieving a more democratic and abuse-free society. As a Muslim, we are changing wadah not aqidah.
So, I thought it would be more substantive to answer my critics by writing an article, why shouldn’t Malays embrace DAP politics? That’s the only way to dominate and conquer your fears.
How has DAP politics been inimical to the general political health of this country? Can any DAP Chinese leader be a PM when it’s contesting only at most 50-55 seats? Can any DAP non Malay leader harbour the dream of becoming a PM in a country dominated by Malays? Has the DAP threatened the institution of the Malay Rulers? The DAP has never done that or will not be mad to countenance such rebellious idea, but Umno, on the other hand, has insulted the Malay Rulers way back in the 1998 constitutional crisis. Can we reasonably accept the allegation that the DAP is instrumental in claims that Malays are being converted into Christians when most DAP members are themselves not Christians? We have to do better than that to take Malays as imbeciles. Only Umno seems to do that. Read the rest of this entry »
Zakat funds abuse vs abuse of NFC funds
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Good Governance on Monday, 2 January 2012, 2:48 pm
by Mat Zain Ibrahim
2 January 2012
For last year, several thousands of “Amils”(tithe collectors)were appointed nationwide. KL about 800 with a collection of RM7.5 mil. Selangor with 2437 amils that collected about RM16 mil.
The action taken against one amil in Kulaijaya for misappropriating RM19,510 should not undermine the integrity of the amils to be appointed for the coming Ramadhan 2012.
The action taken by Johor Police should be lauded and act as a deterrent to future amils.
However we are worried what would happen should many of the amils this year, make use of the tithes collected by themselves for personal matters after seeing what happened in MAIWP as confirmed by the Auditor General?
What would the Government say if many of the amils said they have used their collections first to pay for their medical expenses,or for preparations of their school-going children,or for performing Umrah or to settle several traffic summonses?,and that they would reimburse the money after getting some funds from somewhere?
If the Minister in charge of Islamic affairs can make use of the zakat funds, why can’t the amils? It is not a question of amount misused. The question is whether the zakat funds can be used other than those already stated in the Quran and the laws. Certainly the Zakat funds are not managed like “the Ah Longs” and “chettiars” run their business! Read the rest of this entry »
NEP’s Failure to Nurture Malay Entrepreneurs
Posted by Kit in Bakri Musa, NEP on Monday, 2 January 2012, 2:21 pm
by Bakri Musa
Chapter 11 : Embracing Free Enterprise
Encouraging Entrepreneurialism
As a long distance observer, let me suggest some reasons for NEP’s failure in this endeavor.
They all boil down to that basic defect of too much central planning and too rigid top-down command. Instead of trying to create an environment where budding Bumiputra entrepreneurs could thrive, the government went much further to actually select which individual Bumiputras would thrive and succeed.
These central planners presume to know the traits of a successful would-be businessman. That these planners—politicians and bureaucrats—have no experience in starting or running a business is conveniently ignored. Such hubris!
No surprise then that the pseudo entrepreneurs that the system produced were more adept in cashing in their close association with the politically powerful rather than being true creators and builders of wealth. They in turn perpetuated that same system in choosing their own set of suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors. Thus was born a class of Bumiputra entrepreneurs and businessmen more skillful at commercializing their political ties rather than being true wealth creators; a class of rent seekers and economic parasites rather than of genuine entrepreneurs. Read the rest of this entry »
Happy New Year (a poem)
by Allan CF Goh
Farewell to Two-O-One-One;
Let us count our blessings and wants,
As we sing the “Old Lang Syne”,
To this full year’s departing sign.
Firstly, thanks to have survived;
Our future needs to be revived.
We have maintained our good health,
And have not squandered all our wealth. Read the rest of this entry »
2012 NY message – Year to make Malaysians proud of being a Malaysian and motivate Malaysians to achieve greatness
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Corruption, Elections, Muhyiddin Yassin, Najib Razak, nation building on Friday, 30 December 2011, 4:51 pm
As if further reminders are needed, the closing month of the year have provided further proofs that the country has never been so polarised both on grounds of race and religion in the nation’s 54-year history than in the 32 months of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s premiership, viz:
-
The irresponsible incitement and exploitation of the 3R cards of race, religion and Malay Rulers at the UMNO General Assembly;
-
The Prime Minister’s pandering to the 3R rhetorics at the ensuing Perkida general assembly;
-
The extremist reaction to a moderate and reasoned appeal for a fair and even-handed interpretation of Article 153 made by the chairperson of National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Reverend Eu Hong Seng at a Christmas hi-tea on Christmas eve; and
-
The unjustified response by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to Reverend Eu’s speech at the national Christmas open house in Kajang on Dec. 26, warning against attempts to undermine the country’s unity “which the BN government has painstakingly built”.
Why has racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia worsened in the 32 months of Najib’s premiership when Najib had launched from April 2009 his signature policy and slogan of “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now”, focussing on the core concepts of social cohension, unity in diversity and inclusiveness, social justice, excellence and integrity? Read the rest of this entry »
Scandals, real or imagined?
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Good Governance on Friday, 30 December 2011, 4:46 pm
— The Malaysian Insider
Dec 30, 2011
DEC 30 — When it comes to scandals of the financial variety, Putrajaya seems to have only one answer: blame the opposition.
Fair enough; the opposition does the same when it gets caught. Sometimes both sides are no better than the other.
Yet, what happens to the scandals? The National Feedlot Centre (NFC) “mess” was first revealed in the Auditor-General’s Report for 2010.
It blew up with further revelations from a few whistleblowers via PKR. Anti-graft officials passed the matter to the police. And over month later, it remains under investigation.
As is the matter of a man now held for attempting to “settle” the matter for those in the NFC. But Barisan Nasional (BN) has been quick to say it is an opposition plot to smear Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.
And that the NFC has nothing to do with her, as the project is undertaken by her family. Not her.
It remains that the Auditor-General was the first to raise alarm bells about the NFC. Just as he and his team did with the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).
We now have a similar situation with the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who is in charge of Islamic religious affairs, Senator Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, whose legal fees were paid using zakat funds. Read the rest of this entry »
Merdeka sudah, tapi jiwa masih terjajah
Posted by Kit in Corruption, UMNO on Friday, 30 December 2011, 4:13 pm
— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 30, 2011
30 DIS — Rakyat sedang menghadapi terlalu banyak masalah yang berat akibat kelakuan dan sikap pemimpin kerajaan kita yang tidak mempunyai disiplin kepimpinan serta pemikiran. Sebagaimana yang telah selalu saya katakan masalah yang kita hadapi ini berpunca dari masalah kepimpinan negara.
Sekarang ini kepimpinan negara sedang menghadapi krisis keyakinan yang paling getir dalam sejarah kemerdekaan negara. Krisis ini sudah lama menular tetapi kerajaan dan parti yang memerintah masih boleh menyangkutkan kesinambungan kuasa yang dipegangnya melalui saki-baki sokongan dan kuasa yang masih berada di tangan mereka.
Umno tidak lagi mempunyai kepimpinan yang jitu kerana akhir-akhir ini krisis keyakinan ini ditokok dan ditambah oleh isu-isu baru, kesemuanya berkait dengan salah guna kuasa dan rasuah. Tidak ada pertembungan di antara dua atau lebih dalam Umno berkaitan dengan perjuangan. Semuanya kena-mengena dengan wang ringgit dan laba harta yang tidak berkesudahan.
Selepas isu NFC dengan Shahrizat Jalil, timbul pula isu Awang Adek dan sebelum itu isu menteri yang menjaga agama yang tidak amanah menggunakan wang zakat untuk membayar kos guaman peribadinya. Shahrizat pula menambah lagi dengan berkata tidak ada pemimpin dalam Kabinet atau parti yang tidak bermasalah. Ini semua berlaku dalam beberapa minggu ini dan jika hendak diluruti sejarah satu dekat yang lalu timbul pula wang rakyat dan negara telah dilarikan keluar negara sebanyak RM1 trillion.
Sekarang ini kita tidak lagi menyebut jumlah yang berbillion. Kini kita menyebut jumlah kecurian yang berjumlah trillion-trillion ringgit. Masyaallah, rupa-rupanya negara kita negara kaya sehinggakan dalam tempoh sepuluh tahun sahaja sebanyak RM1 trillion telah dibawa lari ke luar negara oleh mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab kepada negara. Read the rest of this entry »
Malaysia CBN finally gets head of choice
By Debra Chong
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 30, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) has a Christian headmistress again, after the Education Ministry caved in to the wishes of school’s Catholic owners following a highly-publicised row.
“Yes, the candidate we named, Mystrical Rose Fernandes, reported for work last week,” Sister Rosalind Tan, the mother provincial of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus (IJ) Convent who own the prestigious mission school, told The Malaysian Insider today.
Fernandes, who is a Catholic, previously headed SMK Convent Sentul, which is also owned by the IJ Sisters, and SMK St Gabriel’s in the city, which is owned by the Anglican Church.
She replaces Datin Seri Zavirah Shaari, who was also newly posted to head CBN. Zavirah was taking over from the previous principal, Ann Khoo, who has since retired.
Tan, who is also on the school’s board of governors, said she had not received any letter from the Education Ministry informing them of the latest switch.
She found out only because Fernandes stopped by the Malaysian Catholic Education Council (MCEC) office to inform them of her new posting.
A spokesman from the MCEC, who asked not to be named, confirmed that Fernandes had reported last Friday. Read the rest of this entry »
A change is gonna come
by Praba Ganesan
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 29, 2011
DEC 29 — An important time is arriving in Malaysia, and it does not matter if you are for it or not; that’s not material anymore. The growing fear is that the nation is about to enter this phase without a seat belt.
History students in the distant future will love 2011. When in doubt in a class history quiz, 2011 is, as they say in basketball, a high percentage shot (or guess in that situation). The world has plenty of discussion points from this year, with the death of Kim Jung-il tipping the year to epic proportion.
However for Malaysians, despite its share of watershed moments this year, 2012 will be the one that is monumental.
Two inevitable events in 2012 will dictate life in Malaysia for some time.
A general election and a court verdict. Read the rest of this entry »
Messing around with Malaysian higher education
Posted by Kit in Education, university on Thursday, 29 December 2011, 1:56 pm
— Zaharom Nain
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 28, 2011
DEC 28 — In Malaysia, politics has been central to many academic matters for a pretty long time, from as far back as 1971 at the very least, when the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was introduced.
The UUCA, like other legislation such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), is an obscene piece of legislation which really has no place in a democracy.
Two recent controversies highlight the extent to which politics has virtually swamped Malaysian academia and the resultant mess that has emerged. First has been the on-off suspension of Professor Abdul Aziz Bari by the International Islamic University (IIU) and the accompanying police investigation. Second was the recent Appeal Court verdict on the UKM4 and the judgment given on Section 15(5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act. Read the rest of this entry »
Berdayakah Najib dan kepimpinan Umno mengenepikan Shahrizat?
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Good Governance, UMNO on Thursday, 29 December 2011, 11:13 am
— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 28, 2011
28 DIS — Isu Shahrizat Jalil dan NFCnya masih tidak terlerai dan tidak ada apa-apa keputusan. Ia tidak akan terlerai dalam masa yang singkat ini kerana yang terlibat ialah seorang Menteri Kabinet kerajaan persekutuan. Di Malaysia seorang menteri itu bukan senang hendak diketepikan kerana menteri itu merupakan orang yang sangat besar dalam masyarakat kita terutamanya orang kita Melayu ini.
Etika kepimpinan kita sangat rendah dan moral kepimpinan memang tiada. Lima tahun dahulu seorang ahli Kabinet Britain, Blankett ,telah hilang jawatannya semata-mata kerana beliau telah mempercepatkan proses permohonan teman wanitanya untuk mendapatkan permit kerja untuk “maid”nya. Beliau telah dikatakan telah menggunakan kuasanya sebagai menteri bertanggungjawab kepada permit pekerjaan mempercepatkan pemohonan teman wanitanya yang memerlukan permit kerja untuk “maid”nya itu.
Apabila diketahui umum, maka beliau telah meletakkan jawatan kerana beliau telah bertindak secara tidak beretika dalam meluluskan permohonan permit itu. Itu sahaja sebabnya. Begitulah tingginya etika kepimpinan di negara itu.
Sebaliknya di negara kita perkara-perkara yang tidak beretika itu berlaku tanpa hadnya dan jika semuanya mengambil tindakan ke atas mereka yang melakukan kerja-kerja yang tidak beretika itu hari ini, tidak ada seorang pun yang kekal dalam Kerajaan Persekutuan pada hari ini.
Kes NFC dengan Shahrizat tidak langsung menjadi apa-apa kepada Shahrizat. Tetapi sebaliknya beliau masih berada di dalam Kabinet sehingga hari ini, malah beliau telah menyatakan bukan beliau sahaja yang bermasalah dalam Umno, semua menteri-menteri lain pun juga bermasalah. Read the rest of this entry »
All I want for Christmas
Posted by Kit in Mariam Mokhtar, nation building, Religion on Thursday, 29 December 2011, 10:34 am
Mariam Mokhtar | Dec 26, 2011
Malaysiakini
The spirit of Christmas lives on in Malaysia, regardless of race or religion. I know of several non-Christians who have not forgotten the joy of giving and thinking of others before themselves. Some find solace in singing carols in a group. Others delight in thinking about what to get for friends, family or colleagues.
A few join in the season of goodwill by the simple act of volunteering, while others help relieve Christian colleagues who want the day off to celebrate Christmas. Perhaps, there is something about the magic of Christmas, which even diehard Muslim extremists will never destroy.
When I was in primary school, Lembaga Letrik Negara (LLN), the pre-cursor of Tenaga National Bhd, used to hold Christmas parties for children, principally of its employees.
It was an event that every child looked forward to eagerly. As Christmas fell during the school holidays, it was another happy occasion that children and parents found welcoming.
It did not matter if the child was Malay, Chinese, Indian or Eurasian. No one bothered if the child who went was Christian or not. It wasn’t just the children who were excited. The accompanying parents enjoyed the get-together, which was always held at the Kilat Kelab. Read the rest of this entry »
Barisan National’s early elections plan in disarray
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 28 December 2011, 1:47 pm
by Dr Lim Teck Ghee
CPI
27 December 2011
Commentary
During the last few months, Prime Minister Najib Razak has been pulling out one pre-election carrot after another from his inexhaustible supply of goodies aimed at persuading the electorate to vote BN’s way in the coming general election (GE).
These range from indefinite postponement of the long delayed goods and services tax to financial grants and other handouts to Chinese, Tamil and Islamic religious schools as well as politically strategic groups including Felda settlers, Indian small entrepreneurs, low income communities, and imams and Kafa (religious) teachers.
Najib’s backroom boys must have been supremely confident that this mass saturation of money and handouts – so effective in past elections – would pave the way for a resounding victory as they plotted the timing of the next GE. Read the rest of this entry »