Really, must it make the prime time news show on one of Malaysia’s most watched TV Channel? I am referring to TV3’s sensationalism of an issue that should be buried – the “sexy” school girls’ uniform.
Or should it be buried? Forget about TV3. RTM has overtaken them in terms of credibility anyway. Let’s look at the issue, or non-issue, whichever way you want to look at it.
My interpretation of their statement: Girls’ uniform are too thin and white resulting in their inner wear and skin easily seen by young boys who are swayed to suddenly commit social ills including those of the sexual kind (is there any other when it involves skin and inner wear?). Girls are also responsible because they use this to their advantage by teasing guys, leading to even more social ills.
I disagree with putting the blame on uniforms for the rise of social ills and sexual experimentation amongst the young. The actual causes require a deeper discussion which I have neither time nor inclination to delve into now. Clothes do not make a man (or woman in this case).
But fundamentally, let’s look at the typical girls’ uniform. It’s white, and it’s thin. Does it allow for the inner wear and skin to be easily seen? I hate to admit it, but it does, doesn’t it? I certainly remember those girls at my school...well, I should stop there.
Let’s just say I think we could all agree the white material is pretty see-through comparatively to other materials and colors. Does this arouse interest amongst the boys? You could argue that pornography has taken away a lot of our sexual innocence, but nothing’s quite the same as the real thing.
So a few things about their statement actually makes sense (damn it), though I’d be hard-pressed to find one to admit to this, especially in blogosphere.
So, as much as I wish I could totally dismiss their claim, it does warrant a discussion. A small one, perhaps. It’s a fact that the uniform is white and thin. It’s a fact that comparative to other colours, white allows more light to pass through and therefore is more see-through (if all other things are equal).
It’s a disputable fact that boys are interested in seeing what is behind a female’s uniform (I believe they are). It’s a disputable fact that some girls do tease boys by wearing sexy inner wear underneath their school uniforms (I can personally attest to this phenomenon).
The only portion of the statement that we can say is rubbish is their direct correlation between see-through uniforms and social ills and rise in sexual experimentation amongst the youth. Even this could not be dismissed quite so easily if you use logic.
The association may not have framed it in this way, and perhaps they didn’t think about it this way. Perhaps they just wanted to speak out for the sake of speaking out (like most members of society today...so yesterday man). But the validity of their claim shouldn’t be dismissed. If there’s an alternative, shouldn’t we explore it?
Oh, is it sexy? That’s totally subjective isn’t it? But could you say it’s 100% NOT sexy? Go figure.
p/s: But isn’t the guys uniform also white, thin and see-through? Damn. I guess I was sexyback before Justin made it cool...hehehe
As expected, the consequences of Mahathir’s resignation dominated the headlines this week.
Mukhriz is caught between a rock and a hard place. He may believe in reforming from within, but there’s always this lingering doubt – would he have stayed if he wasn’t in a strong position to be Ketua Pemuda? But to his defence, it could be said if he did win the post, then he has a stronger mandate to lead for a change.
But what changes are we talking about here?
There are two issues that need to be addressed in UMNO. None has a stronger claim than the other.
There is the need to regain the trust of UMNO members. The grassroots within UMNO has a lot to say about Pak Lah’s leadership style. The lack of conviction and direction in implementing policies remains a problem. But more importantly, there’s this perception that Pak Lah is constantly reacting rather than initiating, defending rather than attacking.
This would be addressed by the proposed change in leadership.
But there is this other, equally important, issue of regaining the trust of Malaysians. No matter who leads UMNO, that person must realize that the game has changed. Some say the issue can never go away as long as UMNO remains a Malay party.
I disagree. Although that plays an important part in swinging the non-Malay votes, the arrogance of UMNO in its actions must rank as the actual catalyst. The sharp rise in debates on N.E.P and Malay rights came as a consequence of UMNO’s own delusional view that it could appeal to both the hardcore Malays and also the non-Malays. UMNO has always and must remain moderate in its views.
Furthermore, the rejection of a portion of the Malays can be directly attributed to the WAY UMNO has actually carried the torch for the Malays. It’s one thing to say you’re acting on behalf of Malays; it’s another to actually carry that out as equitable as possible. Not all Malays get it as easy as some non-Malays think they do. The rise of the UMNOPuteras should be addressed immediately.
Are these two issues exclusive? Could UMNO actually appeal to both its grassroots and Malaysians?
One goal can co-exist with another. The actual process of leadership change should be viewed as the perfect opportunity for UMNO to refresh itself, infuse itself with new blood. The choice of the next leaders of UMNO must not be viewed by the members simply as another change for UMNO, but also a change for all Malaysians. Strong, competent, compassionate, intelligent and morally righteous leaders of UMNO benefits all Malaysians regardless of race.
The upcoming branch meetings, culminating in the party elections at the end of the year, are interesting for UMNO. If the grassroots could lay the seed of change from even the branch level, all the way to the top, then there is that hope that most of the problems that exist within UMNO now would eventually be weed out.
At the end of the day, the people must always believe that anything is possible. It is difficult, of course, to think of UMNO as anything but a corrupt, racist party. And nothing UMNO has done thus far can change this mindset. The image of UMNO is tainted. But what is UMNO if not a collection of individuals?
Unlike the entrenched theory of relativity, UMNO (the image, the association) can change if there is a collective effort to see changes in the people within UMNO itself. The only problem is – do the members realize that this is the time for them to choose how they want UMNO to be? The choice is not only at the top, but at the roots of the tall, strong, tree known as UMNO.
Tun Dr. Mahathir has resigned from UMNO. This is the man, a larger than life character, whom I’ve grown up with as the leader of my beloved nation. The man who best defined Malaysia Inc. Malaysia’s meteoric rise in the mid 80’s and especially into the 90’s was, to many, directly attributed to this great man.
Without a doubt, he has his flaws. In his desire to mould his vision of what Malaysia should be, and can be, Tun M has taken Machiavellian-like moves to quash his opposition and stifle anything he deems (and that, in essence, is the problem) as against the nation’s interest.
Unfortunately, at this moment in time, a lot of Malaysians seem to remember only this side of Tun M, without realizing or refusing to realize how great his impact has been on Malaysians, Malays or otherwise.
Could his patriotism and nationalistic pride ever be questioned?
This is the man who refuses to kow-tow to foreign elements, who believes that though it is always good to learn from others, we must never be subservient to them.
Unlike some politicians today who are all too happy to believe that we Malaysians will always need other people from “developed” nations to progress. Unlike some who believes that “this principle” or “that system”, imported from other “developed” nations, is the best for Malaysia. Unlike those who argue that we are the same as other countries in the world, thus we must also be like them in the way we think and act. Unlike my fellow colleagues who despite their claim of “patriotism” would not hesitate for one bit to jump ship and leave Malaysia for another land.
Tun M believes that we can do things on our own. He believes that Malaysia is Malaysia, so why should we always believe that the concept and ideas of others are better suited than ours. He believes that we are unique in our diversity, culture and manner. He believes in Malaysia and Malaysians. Of what they are capable of, and what they should aspire to be.
Some may say he is a dreamer. But is it a dream because we didn’t believe? Is it a reflection of our own failure, Bumiputera policy or not, that his vision increasingly became a mere fantasy? Mahathir truly believes in this nation and in our capability to achieve greatness.
And this will, despite my own misgivings on certain policies, guarantees my never-ending respect for the man who defined UMNO for me, who defined Malaysia for me, who defined what being a Malaysian is for me.
Imagine Manchester United lost the title. To a team like Bolton. Despite having millions to spend, and having won the title comfortably for the past decade, Man United suddenly finds itself losing its grip on the domestic league.
The players are old. The tactics are quaint. While other teams are buying younger players, this new manager prefers buying those entering the twilight of their careers. While other teams can play total football, the new manager prefers putting in 10 Paul Inces’ in the squad. Squad rotation becomes a joke when players are brought in 5 minutes before kick-off.
Tactics, player selections, game plan, strategy, mission and vision are all aligned to the manager. If a manager is unable to adapt to the modern game, then one who is must be selected. Go figure.
I’ve missed politics. Here are some events the past few weeks that has caught my attention:
Parliament is better than Akademi Fantasia I love reading what’s going on in Parliament. Most importantly, I realize that Malaysians are now paying a great deal of attention to Parliament. This is likely because a lot of the Parliamentarians themselves were giving firsthand account on the lively debates through the Internet.
The entertainment provided will turn into something cool in the very near future. Watching the sessions would suddenly become the latest reality TV craze. But just like in any reality TV talent contests, the talented may not be the winner. We Malaysians might just be enamoured with another Mawi of politics. Let us not be fooled. The price is too high.
Shooting Oneself in the Foot It’s a problem with UMNO, and it’s also a problem with Pakatan Rakyat. It’s not the party itself that is fundamentally flawed, but the people currently in the leadership position. Karpal Singh just made life a bit more difficult, NOT for DAP, but to PAS and PKR.
At the heart of the matter is the political ideology of DAP and its elderly statesmen. I just cannot ever see them understanding and accepting the position of the Malays in this country. And their overt comments touching on Malay issues are making it hard for even their own supporters to accept especially in the fragile state the PR alliance is at this moment.
They are as stubborn headed as some UMNO leaders. They could also be said to be as racist as some UMNO leaders are. Like one of my friends said, Malaysian politics will turn for the better as the older generation pass on the baton to younger, more dynamic, and hopefully more tolerant leaders.
RPK and Sedition The Sedition Act is an oppressive legislation that infringes on some basic human rights. Supposedly such laws shouldn’t exist anymore, yet it does, not only in Malaysia but also in other countries all over the world, even those that went to war under the banner of “Freedom” and “Democracy”. Why? Maybe those shouting for “freedom” here in Malaysia should decipher this mystery. It could be a long debate.
When blogger-royalty Raja Petra was arrested for Sedition, we hear the typical cry of political persecution from the Opposition and “freedom of speech” by the Bar Council. We will leave the validity of their claims for another time, because surely it will be raised again. I just want to say that I find RPK a bit too dramatic for a person who supposedly is willing to fight the fight. When he was arrested, he refused to fork out bail, stating that he’s willing to be in jail until trial. And then, we hear that he’s on “hunger strike”. Then we hear that he’s posting bail because life in prison would be “dangerous” for him.
A bit too in love with the concept of his importance really. How many people actually turned up to support him? Was there a wave of protest against his arrest? In fact, the only loud voices I hear are those racist (Malays are not the only racists here in Malaysia. Don’t believe? Just read the comments in RPK’s blog) fans of RPK. Is he that important to kill? I think not.
Oh, he claims he “knows” things. Okay. Let’s accept this claim. Isn’t it in the interest of the general public if the truth is disclosed as soon as possible? Why all the “sandiwara” in the blog? Why politicize, if he is indeed the Rakyat’s champion, the truth? Could it be because at the end of the day, armchair activists can only take so much heat before being burned? Could it be that self-sacrifice is no longer a pre-requisite to become “hero Rakyat”?
The most amusing aspect of this is the reason for the “hunger strike”. He doesn’t want to eat “duit rakyat”. Hmmm...isn’t the road financed by the rakyat? What about the subsidised food he’s eating at home? That’s duit rakyat too, right?
I know what the reply will be. But let’s not pre-empt that shall we. I still enjoy reading his articles. It’s damn entertaining and highly recommended, but take it with a pinch of salt. Or not, if you don’t want to eat “duit rakyat”.
Chaos and Anarchy It is one thing to demonstrate peacefully. It is another to act like hoodlums. The residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras may have a valid claim, but they (well, some of them) have alienated some sympathizers (including myself) and degraded their efforts by acting like gangsters in the Grand Saga...saga (pardon the pun).
The legal aspect of the road closure is still unresolved, so shouldn’t a lawyer like the MP from DAP (who is lauded as a hero...sigh...how the silly rise quickly) representing the “people” be responsible enough to prevent the violent skirmishes with the police? When will it end? It’s good that we see the rise of social activism, and yet this violent clash only seek to reinforce my belief that sometimes people fight just for the sake of fighting, especially if it push forward their own personal agenda. The Opposition must not instigate anarchy, and insidious behaviour, just because they have the momentum. With great power comes great responsibility. Go figure. ...
Millions of Malaysians spend their hard earned ringgit on the only option they have when it comes to satellite TV - ASTRO. As such, is it too much for us to expect that they treasure our very existence, considering that their major cash flow comes from the domestic market?
Let’s forget about the abysmal coverage when there’s rain or the exorbitant amount we have to fork out for channels we don’t want but is part of some capitalist-driven package. Let us talk about the core element of a “service provider” – customer service.
I never really had to deal with ASTRO previously, so I couldn’t understand when others were moaning about their customer service. After the past few weeks, I not only understand, but couldn’t accept how we Malaysians could tolerate this obvious lack of care on the part of ASTRO for its customers.
At the very least, we expect our calls to be picked up. Unfortunately, that is seldom the case. I have just put down the phone, without speaking to a consultant, for the second time tonight. Both my calls to their “direct” line resulted in me waiting for the almost impossible-to-reach consultant.
In fact, after having to deal with ASTRO the past one month, I noticed that my waiting time is never less than 5 minutes and often surpasses the 10 minute mark (if you managed to get into queue, which is almost impossible if you try the hotline”). To me, this smacks of arrogance. ASTRO’s unwillingness to spend money, and of course time, improving their system or training their consultants or even hiring more consultants is certainly business-wise BUT it merely says “our time, and our money, is MORE important than our customer’s time AND their money”.
Make no mistake; the problem doesn’t end once you reach a consultant. The lack of training is evident, and I can forgive that. But the lack of respect for one’s intelligence is hard to swallow. If I were to say to a consultant, “The decoder can’t be switched on, there’s no power running through the decoder, I have tried different power sockets and it still won’t light up, the decoder is spoilt”, I certainly wouldn’t expect the consultant to ask me to insert a smart card and try to switch it on. But that actually happened! I might not work for ASTRO, but I can certainly tell when the decoder can’t even be switched on.
That is just the tip of the iceberg. One consultant can check the account using an old IC number, another one says that that is not possible. One consultant said that in half an hour’s time I would get back my channels, but it’s been one day now and there’s no difference. Hence, my persistent calls to the call centre.
Unfortunately, it went unanswered. And where do Malaysians turn to when this happens? Do we have any choice but to wait for the perfect moment (when the stars are aligned and there is a full moon, maybe) when everything falls into place? No, we don’t.
I will still watch ASTRO. I will pay every month. But ASTRO must realize that as soon as an alternative appear, it cannot count on its customers’ loyalty because quite simply, there is none. We are here because you’re the only one, not because you’re the best.
The past one month has been nothing short of hectic. Work has taken on a more real dimension, with me participating in two Six Sigma projects within Customer Service of Maxis. As part of the Process Improvement team, I basically act like an internal consultant for Customer Service.
I guess that’s enough about work. More importantly, the past one month has been an eye-opener in terms of real politics for me. Although I haven’t really gone into the nitty gritty of grassroot politics, I have been fortunate enough to participate in some events that has played an important part in developing my views at this moment.
However, I apologize for not sharing to you folks considering the abundance of materials recently. Partly this is due to the sudden increase in political activism in the blogging world, with everyone suddenly joining the bandwagon. You know something’s weird when even Mat Taib started blogging.
This growth was probably led by the strides made by Malaysian bloggers. We are the first nation in the WORLD to have a blogger as an elected representative in the national legislative assembly. And another blogger even got himself in the CLEO’s Most Eligible Bachelor finalist list (despite the rather obvious … well… he has a cool AND popular blog though, which is more than you can say about this humble collection of ramblings).
So bloggers are pretty hot stuffs, so hot that one of them had to take some time to cool off in prison. Raja Petra or RPK as he is more famously known, has been one of Malaysia’s most prominent “opposition” blogger with his straight forward, no holds barred style of writing. But his recent ranting on the Altantuya murder trial has landed him in hot soup with the authorities charging him for sedition.
Never shy from a battle, RPK has refused to post bail (of course he pleaded not guilty). Instead, the RM5000 needed was raised via RM1 contribution from his readers, though I doubt they would just contribute RM1. In just one day, they managed to collect RM25,000.00, showing that Malaysians will support just about anyone willing to stand up against the present government or more importantly, against members of UMNO.
UMNO must look at this as another example of how the people have openly rejected them. Instead, from my experience in the past one month, we (and I do mean us, as I am an UMNO member…*what the hell?*) are living in denial. We are busy with our own problems without realizing that we are fighting over a cause that will or will not exist if doesn’t take remedial actions immediately.
This is evident from the discussion some of my friends organized with Datuk Zaki Zahid and some of the 4th Floor Boys, my meeting (1st) with my division’s Wanita UMNO chief and the recent Sekretariat Melayu Muda’s forum featuring Mukhriz and Akramsyah. The Malays are lost and confused. And when a group is lost and confused, it tends to develop a siege mentality. Everyone is against us, what did we do wrong kind of self-inflicted conundrum.
So the natural reaction is to capitalize on these emotions amongst the UMNO members to further one’s own political ambition. No doubt some of the points the Malays have raised are valid in my point of view. For example, when Kelantan Prince made his remarks about “Ketuanan Melayu”, the press had a field day reporting it which sensationalizes what was otherwise a pretty straightforward, even humbling speech, about the Malay dilemma.
His respect for the Chinese, his advice for the Malays, was all left out. Instead, the Malays were once again played out as racists. Not dissimilar to the sensitivity of the black community in the United States, the Malays have to thread carefully when the rest can just lambaste their actions without being called racists. Never mind. We shall leave this at that for the moment.
More importantly, this inward approach by UMNO is based on the assumption that it has lost the Malay support. Unfortunately, I have to disagree. A strong, moderate UMNO has always been the basis for Barisan Nasional’s successes. In 1999, the Chinese and Indian community came out in droves to support Barisan and UMNO because it was seen as the moderate voice that could keep PAS and Malay fundamentalist at bay.
Its actions leading up to 2008 led the rest to believe that UMNO has progressively turned ultra-Malay, especially the overt statements and actions by its leaders. This was perhaps prompted by their desire to capture even more Malay votes from PKR and PAS. What they didn’t realize was perhaps these votes were never there to be won anyway. The Malays are definitely split between UMNO, PAS and now PKR.
Actually, UMNO did rather well in the seats it contested despite the obvious dislike by the general public against the government in the past election. The Malays are not turned off by the rhetoric. Instead, the Chinese and Indians were alarmed by the way UMNO is acting, and this is shown by the absolutely dismal showing by MCA and MIC. We have lost the confidence of our non-Malay friends by our actions.
The previous administration has shown that UMNO can further its cause while at the same time manages to hold on to the support of the non-Malays. These two are not mutually exclusive, and one can go hand-in-hand with the other. It’s just a matter of who’s managing the situation. Go figure.
*Sorry for any factual mistakes...arrghhh...screw it.
Sorry for not updating. I’m busy with work, though that primarily consist of attending pointless meetings and drawing up Six Sigma action plans without actually thinking of the solution and implementing it. A bit like the Government, you might say. But which Government are we talking about? Since 8.03.08, things are different.
Or so they say. But looking at UMNO, and their clever leaders, it’s hard to imagine that they’ve changed at all. The whole pig-farm issue in Selangor was the lead in several leading Malay newspapers. Obviously, in the interest of UMNO, they chose to pin the blame on the new PKR-DAP-PAS state government.
And as usual, Pakatan Rakyat had an easy time in kicking the ass of these UMNO folks. They made a decisive blow by proving that it was actually approved by the previous UMNO-led state government. There’s even a photo of an UMNO assemblymen (who was one of those loudly criticizing the project) smiling with a thumbs up at a pig farm in Netherlands. Crazy.
Don’t the Mainstream Media realize that they no longer can pull off this one-sided shit? Can’t UMNO themselves think before they speak? History have shown that UMNO is not past electing less-than-savvy (very PC, don’t you think?) representatives. Datuk Zam, our former Information Minister, immediately comes to mind for his almost comedic performance on Al-Jazeera.
It is at this juncture, when information flows uninterrupted from the grassroots to the top, that UMNO must take strategic steps to educate its members on the virtue of that very important ingredient of leadership – THINKING.
Well, at least Pak Lah has announced his plan to reform the judiciary. This is a good first step towards gaining back the public’s confidence. But it must be noted that the Pakatan Rakyat’s state governments are pushing in even more reforms, further proving that if PR comes into power, the same could be done at the Federal level. BN is playing catch-up, and the score now shows P.Rakyat leading the way in terms of reform and action plans.
I’ve just got a slight issue with Karpal that I wish to raise. If it’s true that he’s trying to bring up a judge on a charge of misconduct JUST BECAUSE of an innocuous statement made in the course of the judge’s duty, then he really is abusing the PR’s influence in Parliament for his own personal use. He should be a grown-up and stop with trying to get everything his way. It’ll just backfire in the long run.
"As I had anticipated, my comment on (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) Dato Zaid Ibrahim's suggestion that the Government should apologise for the action taken against Tun Salleh Abbas would draw accusations against me for my alleged misdeeds during my tenure of office.
I regard this as an attempt to shut my mouth should I find occasion to criticise the present Government. It is always about "You were worse when you headed the Government", even if it is obvious that I had not done badly.
Param Cumaraswamy's letter (The Sun, April 2, 2004) falls in that category. He wants to know why action had not been taken against me over the allegations made by Datuk Shafee Yahya (former director-general of the Anti-Corruption Agency) during the Anwar Ibrahim trial.
The statement may be a sworn testimony in court but the accuracy of it cannot be accepted unquestioned. There were omissions and inferences which mislead.
Counsel was of course interested in proving that Anwar did not inveigle Shafee into doing something wrong. But during the trial it was revealed that he did get a senior police officer to threaten and intimidate his accusers.
I admit to calling up Shafee to ask him about the raid by the ACA on the office of the director of the Economic Planning Unit. I did that because I received a complaint from the director that the ACA had been very offensive towards him during the raid. He also said that he believed the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister had set up the whole thing.
I knew that Government officers were sometimes overzealous and would overstep or abuse their authority.
I could not verify whether there was any truth in what the EPU director said. Accordingly, I called the director of the ACA to find out what actually happened.
I asked many questions, many more than what he said in Court. I also asked him if he had been directed by Datuk Seri Anwar to carry out the raid.
He denied it but he became angry when I asked whether he intended to pursue his investigation. Raising his voice, he accused me of trying to stop him from carrying out his duty. Angrily, he said that he was a senior civil service officer and that I had no right to question him about his work.
I was shocked at his loud accusation against me. No civil servant however senior had spoken to me like that. I was rendered speechless.
These exchanges were carried out in my office. No other person was present. No notes were taken, nor was there any recording at least by me. So only the two of us would know what really happened or was said.
What he said in court is his version. There is nothing to verify what he said nor is there anything to verify what I say now is wrong. It is a case of his words against mine, sworn testimony notwithstanding. He had obviously omitted his shouted accusations against me. Had what he said in court was all that happened, then it would not have taken more than three minutes. But what he said and what I said took longer than three minutes.
I wonder how counsel knew of what happened in the privacy of my office. Even the Chief Secretary, the only person who was informed by Datuk Shafee could not have told counsel. Obviously it was Shafee who volunteered information. Why did he do this?
I was not a party to the trial of Anwar. If I was to be accused, I should at least be heard. But clearly Shafee saw Anwar's trial as an opportunity to make statements detrimental to my reputation.
Shafee was an angry man and what he said in court was opportunistic and seem to reflect his desire to take revenge against me. I can only assume that this was what motivated him, because what he divulged did not help Anwar much. But it did put me in a very bad light.
As to why this case has not been followed, I can only assume that the courts are busy and there are tens of thousands of cases which have yet to be heard. Maybe the fault is with the Attorney-General or Police. I would not know.
Still I welcome any investigation by impartial people as to the truth or otherwise of what I say in this letter.
As for Param Cumarawamy and Karpal Singh, their hatred of me is well known and apparently has not abated even after I am no longer Prime Minister.
Many lawyers were angry with me because I had quoted Shakespeare during a Cabinet meeting which says "the first thing we do, we hang the lawyers". I was only joking but they heard of it and believed I meant what I said. The judges also felt unhappy with me.
Besides I had criticised the judiciary for disregarding the intention or objectives of the laws formulated by the legislative wing but instead interpret them based on the words used. Was I committing a crime for saying this? I was merely stating a fact. Can no one comment on the judiciary at all even when they disregard the interest of the country? In many developed countries it is common for the public to criticise the judiciary.
As for Param, he made libellous remarks about a fellow Malaysian when he was a member of a Untied Nations Commission. He should have been hauled before a Malaysian court but he claimed immunity due to his appointment by the UN.
My stand was that his immunity was only with regard to the specific work for the UN. If he breached Malaysian laws on matters not related to this work, then he cannot plead immunity.
His libellous words against a Malaysian individual had nothing to do with his work for the UN. He should therefore be liable, and his immunity could not be invoked. But he got the UN to back him. It was even hinted that if Malaysia prosecuted him, then our case before the International Court of Justice on the issue of the ownership of Sipadan and Ligitan would be jeopardised.
Accordingly, I agreed that he should not be prosecuted. Luckily it was only libel. Had Param Cumaraswamy murdered a person, and he claimed immunity, then there would indeed be a miscarriage of justice.
I do not think my recalcitrance over his immunity endeared me to him. Now that I am not a Prime Minister, he has expressed his delight at saying that I should not criticise anything the present Government does because I was guilty of worse.
I maintain that in the case of Tun Salleh Abbas, I did what was required of me under the Constitution and Malaysia's laws. I consider the suggestion that I should apologise as frivolous, unwarranted and stupid.
If Param or Karpal is not convinced perhaps they should use their considerable knowledge of the law to shut my mouth."
A lot has been going on these past few days in relation to UMNO’s leadership. A forum organized by MyKMU.net was heavily covered by the media. Tun again goaded Pak Lah and basically asked UMNO members to openly revolt against the embattled leader. Ku Li has already made it clear that he wants Pak Lah to step down.
Today Najib declared that he will support Pak Lah. Muhyidddin has been coy about his future, using very clever (cleverer than most UMNO politicians) tactics of avoiding taking a stand while at the same time making a stand.
Hishamuddin is moving up into the senior ranks, perhaps sensing that a challenge from Mukhriz might be too much for him to take. This perhaps leaves Mukhriz with a possible showdown with Khairy, his favorite victim thus far.
Again, they’re barking up the wrong tree. All this call for the change in leadership because the people are unhappy with the corrupt practices is a smokescreen to blind UMNO members from the real issue that they have to face.
The blogs, the sms, the vcds…these are merely medium to convey messages that have already been around for years. It is the ignorance to deal with the primary message that led to BN’s defeat, and from the looks of it, UMNO still haven’t learn their lessons.
UMNO, instead of merely changing leaders, must also change their mindset. Not one of the top UMNO man have been brave enough to come out and say that their “business model” is no longer applicable. Just like in any business, you must constantly re-invent yourself to remain relevant, but this fact is not even addressed by the top echelon.
They’re more concerned with who’s going to be in power next, instead of actually thinking that what they’re fighting for may no longer be relevant OR IN EXISTENCE if they continue down the same path.
It is not about the non-Malays not accepting Malays, but more like them not accepting underperforming Malays. Their huge approval of Anwar, Wan Azizah and other Malays from the Opposition must serve as a lesson to UMNO. UMNO must not be stuck in the mindset that their political will is god-given. They must revisit their standings, their attitude and their mindset to become relevant again.
This is not unique only to UMNO or Malaysia. Previous demarcation of political parties based on ideologies and territories have slowly disappeared with Republicans now having some Liberal views and Democrats having some Conservative views in the United States. The Labor party, under Tony Blair, have changed so much in terms of their values that the battle is no longer under the old ideological banner.
Labor, Conservatives…these are just names. Now, the true form of democracy is choosing your candidates based on specific policies dealing with current issues. If the issue in Malaysia is corrupt practices, then UMNO must start by arguing to the people that it is taking measures to combat it. Instead, by arguing over who is going to lead (a party that’s probably slowly disintegrating anyway), they have just shown to the people that they don’t really listen. They just let you speak, but they only hear the words that they want you to hear.
I am for removing Pak Lah, as a matter of principle. I just think too much effort is being put into the drama instead of looking down and realizing that…hey, we don’t HAVE credible, intelligent leaders! Go figure.
The Opposition – PAS, DAP and PKR – has agreed to form a new coalition known as Pakatan Rakyat.
"Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race, as enshrined in the Constitution." said Anwar.
Previous attempt at a coalition (Barisan Alternatif) failed as DAP could not accept PAS’ central theme of forming an Islamic state. This time, Abdul Hadi Awang has expressed that this new Coalition is not part of PAS’ constitution – in other words, they are still pursuing the Islamic state agenda.
It raises a few interesting questions. What’s PAS intention? Is it simply concerned with being in power instead of pursuing its own constitutionally adopted agenda? What about its supporters? Are they really for an Islamic state, or are they now evolving and changing when they realize that it’s becoming almost impossible to implement their Islamic agenda? Or are they being played around by another political party?
The fear is that if this coalition is put into power, it would be nothing more than another Barisan Nasional with each component party pursuing its own agenda and there would be a silo mentality – only PAS can take care of Muslims, DAP the Chinese and PKR the “Malaysiana”.
Let’s not forget about the mentality of each of the races within those parties and their supporters! Why should DAP argue that there should be this many Chinese, or the PKR to argue there should be this many Malays in Selangor or Perak? Why should there even be such a discussion if you believe in equality?
Even the supporters of these parties are confused when on one hand they trash-talked Barisan’s race-based politics but at the same time exhibited some form of xenophobia when it actually comes to their part in choosing their leaders.
This is already evident in Perak when newly elected DAP Assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam resigned (and later retracted the resignation…even in a card game you can’t just call off a bet…aiyoh) because only ONE INDIAN was chosen as an Exco member. In his letter, he claimed that DAP’s victory has a lot to do with Indian voters (which I am not objecting).
The point is this Mr. Siva – it doesn’t matter! According to DAP and PKR rallying call, Makkal Sakthi is applicable to everyone! That’s what your voters voted for…not because you’re Indian. It shouldn’t matter to supporters of A. Siva, but it does, as evident from some comments we read through Malaysiakini’s Vox Populi. Or are the voter themselves delusional by believing that it’s not about race?
Let’s get back to Pakatan Rakyat. PKR’s position, due to its multi-racial platform, becomes even stronger as people will start asking for “intergration” – forming one party to be led by DSAI. We all hope that all political parties have the interest of the people at heart, and we should not give up on that hope. My only fear is that there is still a huge question mark on DSAI and though I know DSAI’s supporters are very vocal when it comes to protecting his character, as an until-now objective observer, I have listened to stories from people who has worked with him when he was in power. Power corrupts…I just hope that 6 years would have thought him some lessons.
Malaysia & Halliburton
Slipping under the news radar for most people is the recent investment by Halliburton in IDR valued at RM200 million. While our quest to develop all these corridors remains a noble one, shouldn’t we also look at the companies investing in it and what they stand for?
For a country that publicly condemns the Iraq invasion, and openly criticized the US government’s foreign policy as opportunistic capitalist “invasion”, our acceptance of a company that is a major part of these policies smacks of hypocrisy.
Halliburton is at the forefront of the war on terror – allegedly an attempt by US of A to control the growing influence of Islam while at the same time increase their presence in Arab countries (for the oil of course). Halliburton has been closely associated with the US government, especially as Dick Cheney is its chairman.
Halliburton’s subsidiary, Kellogg-Brown & Root, was an integral part in all major US operations overseas since the Vietnam war, supplying equipments and also being part of the major reconstruction company awarded with “no-bid” projects from the US government. It was also awarded contracts to build detention facilities for suspected terrorists – not the most humane of places I should say.
Halliburton is the only company in the world mentioned by Osama bin Laden when he claimed that this war on terror is actually a war to control oil resources. Halliburton’s track record is not only questioned around the world but also in its native country with allegations of fraud and accounting malpractice common. The U.S public’s growing concern prompted its CEO to move their office to Dubai, as part of an effort to concentrate on the “Eastern hemisphere”. Malaysia is now part of that plan.
I recommend you read Economic Hit Man where the author, a former “EHT”, revealed how the world is now commanded not by States but corporations like Halliburton.
Malaysia should seriously consider aligning its business policy with its moral standing. I'm sure my pal WMF would have something to say...if he reads this:) ...
Since GE 12, Tun has been more than willing to share his views on many things, especially the present situation in UMNO. His long-standing disapproval of Pak Lah was partially vindicated by the stunning lost for Barisan. Recently, he was even more forthright in interviews and forums.
It was reported in the Star today that Mahathir was very candid (and a bit non-pc for my taste…but that’s Tun) of his views on Anwar. Below are excerpts taken from the Star:
On de facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he said cynically that “everybody loved Anwar.”
“When he is with the Jews, the Jews love him. When he is with the Muslims, the Muslims love him. When he is with the temple groups, they love him too.
“Everybody loves him. He is a convincing orator. He talked bad about me to foreigners. He told them I put him in jail,” he said.
On talks that Anwar stood a chance to be the next prime minister, he said he would make a “good prime minister of Israel”.
Sounds a bit like a bitter old man I would say (regardless of the fact that I think his answers were absolutely funny…in a ha-ha kind of way) although it does raise an interesting point. Is DSAI really a leader for all or does his sway where the wind blows? At least with Tun, you pretty much know his stand on a lot of things (especially with regards to the Palestine – Israel conflict, which makes him pretty much a global giant in the Muslim world)
But Tun has also exhibited some inconsistency recently, and it is this apparent “forgetfulness” of his deeds during his premiership that has been holding up people from taking his words seriously. Despite valid arguments, it’s pretty hard to accept a lot of his ideas and thoughts because people already have a negative perception of Tun.
Below are selected excerpts from his article which was published in the Sun. It was clear, straight to the point and pretty much valid. But at the end, some will get the impression that it’s a bit like Michael Jackson telling Will Smith how to be black.
Dr. M speaks up on Rulers and Politicians by
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
…Terengganu is blessed with petroleum deposits. It should get 5% of the total earning from oil production. The Federal Government; fearing the previous PAS government might use this money wrongly had withheld payment. But when the Barisan Nasional (BN) regained Terengganu the money, now called "Wang Ehsan", was lavishly spent by the Federal Government on Terengganu. It is not a small sum. Over these years "Wang Ehsan" totalled several billion.
(Note: Terengganu has been a part of Barisan since 1974 until 1999. Previously, it was with Perikatan. Terengganu was under Tun’s control, as PM, for 18 years. Terengganu has been in the top five of POOREST State in Malaysia, almost always behind Kelantan, for all those years)
We know that since the BN regained Terengganu in 2004, all kinds of projects have been developed in Terengganu. This includes The Monsoon Cup, luxury housing for sale to foreigners, Crystal Mosque and theme park, university, etc. Some of these projects are very good but many are totally unnecessary and wasteful.
But what the Terengganu people are saying is that all these mega projects costing billions of Ringgit have been contracted out to people outside Terengganu. Terengganu contractors got practically nothing.
But additionally, they say the contracts all went to one person and they are suspicious that behind this person are members of the first family. The rumours also say that the previous Mentri Besar was responsible for these things happening and of course, they think that he might have benefited financially.
The rumours went on to say that the Prime Minister might have influenced the Mentri Besar into doing wrong things. These are all rumours. It will be quite impossible to prove anything as the perpetrators are skilled in hiding themselves.
This is not good for a Government keen to abolish corruption and be transparent. To clear its name, an investigation should be made.
But the public is leery of investigations by Government agencies and departments. Even Royal Commissions are not highly regarded. The people believe, not true of course, that the Government has been interfering with the work of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), the Police and the Attorney General (A-G)'s Chambers. The say this is borne out by the results of investigations by these agencies.
When a Deputy Minister was accused of accepting money for the release of a detainee, the A-G said there was no case because the detainee said he did not give any money to the Deputy Minister. It is so easy. If you have a case involving someone, all the enforcement agencies need to do is to ask him whether he was involved. If he says "no", then there is no case.
For some reason, judges are finding that people accused of murder are not guilty because of insufficient evidence by the police. Yet people who are totally not involved in a case, who were not accused of any misdeeds and who did not appear in court at all and been given a hearing are found guilty and publicly condemned.
(Note: Tun Mahathir was Prime Minister when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was convicted of sodomy and corruption in a case many legal observers felt was not properly conducted. The conviction for sodomy was later quashed by the Federal Court in 2004.)
The public cannot be blamed for not having faith in Government agencies doing investigations. The public cannot be blamed for suspecting cover-ups by the Government or worse still the Government may be using these enforcement agencies to threaten people. To clear its good name, the Government should get credible foreign agencies to do the investigation. Of course, they must be given full access to the documents etc.
Now my detractors are going to say I did worse things when I was Prime Minister. Well, if that is so, let us have the foreign agencies investigate me also. I am aware that people are looking into possible misdeeds by me during my 22 years so as to threaten me and ask me to shut up. So far they have not found anything.
Not only have I not taken anything that was not due to me while I was Prime Minister but I have given back to the Government and the people everything that I had received as gifts during my tenure of office. The Government had offered me land in Kedah and Langkawi and I had refused to accept. I have a 5-acre plot in Putrajaya which I paid for even though the Government was offering it to me free.
Unless there is a frame-up, I think there should be nothing to pin on me. Even other accusations against me, including the dismissal of judges, were not my doing and I do not feel obliged to apologise. Ask the Tribunal to apologise.
The person asking that the Government should apologise for what happened to Tun Salleh Abbas may have forgotten that as President of the Muslim Lawyers Association, he fully supported the action that was taken. He castigated the Bar Council for condemning Tun Hamid Omar over the dismissal of judges. Now he wants to be more correct than correct. I wonder why.
The Sun, 29th March 2008
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He was a great many things to many people. He is a leader, an inspiration, an icon, a giant among giants. He is a dictator, a nightmare, an embarrassment, a small man trying to do big things.
Me? I am the kind of person who likes to view the bright side of life. The past is the past, but it is what lingers on that matters. KLIA, Putrajaya, LRT, KLCC…we cannot deny how these have changed our lives. The rest, well…go figure.
I received a text message on Thursday evening informing me of a massive police operation going on at PWTC. Then, as I was reaching USJ, I received another piece of message that said that a few ministers have resigned, and there was going to be another “earth-shattering” announcement after Maghrib prayers. This was confirmed by another source, again, via sms.
This is perhaps another example of the latest shift in politics, one which we have seen in more mature democratic societies, but only now being felt here in Malaysia. I am of course referring to the power of information. Information has always been an integral part of politics, but even in terms of world politics, it has seen its importance outweigh other components only in recent times.
No longer does military might or economic prowess supersede the importance of disseminating correct information to the widest target audience possible. The US of A invasion of Iraq is the perfect example of how even a powerful country could be on the wrong side of something just because the information that was being relayed to the widest audience in the world does not support their argument.
Despite their military supremacy, undeniable importance in the world economy and wide impact on societies throughout the world, the Americans could not prevent intense scrutiny almost instantaneously by the entire world. Every mistake is amplified, every perceived victory is scrutinized.
The same is happening here in Malaysia. Ironically, the government’s effort in promoting broadband usage perhaps single-handedly created the “YouTube” culture in Malaysia that spawned an almost one-sided Opposition camp in the World Wide Web. Words no longer mean as much as videos, and even blogs are no longer traditionally text based to maximise its impact on its target audience. More and more people have the time to surf the net, and put in their input, because less and less time are needed to access WebPages.
This is in furtherance to the power of the SMS, which also came indirectly as a result of the government’s effort in promoting mobile connectivity throughout Malaysia. We have all received dozens of SMSes during Election Day, constantly updating us on the results, sometimes hours before it came out on mainstream media. It has left the traditional communication medium, sadly, almost irrelevant (as long as it remains objectively PARTIAL to certain quarters).
When Pak Lah announced (after a lengthy Supreme Council meeting) that UMNO has decided to support Ahmad Said (what else can they say?) and hold the UMNO election this December (good news for us, bad news for Pak Lah?), immediately news were disseminated through SMS. Discussions went off in households throughout Malaysia, just like mine. My guess is for every one person who received an SMS, another 3 – 5 would hear about its content.
I text a friend telling him that December is too long. I e-mailed a friend that Pak Lah has again lost another battle in what’s looking like a long and complicated war for his own political survival by appearing to bow down to pressure from Sultan Mizan. By the time the news was repeated on midnight, I have already discussed, argued and reached a conclusion on the issue reported.
The power no longer lies in the hands of the select few but spread out to those who could provide information. Managing the communication channels remain a thorn on the side of Barisan, who has dismissed alternative channels simply because they themselves remain archaic in their form of communication. Ironically, there’s a YouTube video of Anwar Ibrahim appealing to rural voters by referring to an e-mail (on the latest corruption gossip) he read from his BlackBerry. It worked to perfection because information was relayed instantly to the listening crowd, even though they might think that the BlackBerry is a form of fruit. How many UMNO Supreme Council members who use e-mails (personally, not using their political secretary), let alone a BlackBerry? Go figure
UMNO’s proposed postponement of their party election to next year is a step backward in Pak Lah’s quest to bolster public confidence in the government, which is primarily led by UMNO members.
Accountability and transparency should be at the forefront of UMNO’s struggle. I put the recent election results squarely on the problems within UMNO and the image that UMNO projects to the public, regardless of ethnicity and religion. That is why it was easy to dismiss MCA and MIC (especially MCA) because all the Opposition had to do was say, “A vote for MCA is a vote for UMNO”, and you’ll find everyone deserting MCA.
People may assign fault to people like Khairy and Hisham. Yes, Hisham’s keris-wielding act smacks of arrogance and ignorance (or is it forced arrogance and ignorance?), but these are issues where the leadership could tackle behind close door with a firm hand. As another example, Khairy’s rise as a political force within UMNO DESPITE the public’s general dissatisfaction and suspicion of him could be handled and tackled by the leadership, but nothing was done.
The leadership failed to listen to the voice of the people, the growing dissatisfaction, and failed to carry out its promises which brought it such great joy in the 2004 election. There is a vacuum in leadership that brought with it disharmony amongst grass-root supporters who are tired of being pinned down by various issues brought up by the Opposition but were denied by the leadership.
Let’s not start with the messy handling of picking candidates prior to GE 12, where successful leaders were plucked out from the constituency and instead cronies were put into place. Or even the current long-drawn issue of the MB of Terengganu, where the latest news is that Pak Lah has again lost in another open battle against the monarchy.
These are issues which the grass root could address through an open election. A democratic and free UMNO is the starting point for the revival of Barisan Nasional. This latest move to postpone the election is a blow to any effort of ridding UMNO of the deadweights that held it up and Barisan Nasional in the past election.
It is not merely UMNO’s interest to see a change (if a change is what they wish). It is in our interest as Malaysians to see a change for the better, regardless of our political affiliation. A true champion of a Malaysian cause could see beyond party lines and say that, “Yes, a more honest and truthful UMNO would benefit Malaysia”.
A corrupt and oppressive UMNO is bad news for everyone, because it allows people without real competence in leadership to continue in their position (albeit made weaker because of the Opposition) and this position of leadership determines how Malaysia is being run.
Yes, the easier alternative is to allow the Opposition to run the country. Fair enough. But if the Opposition then conducts itself in a manner that is dishonest and corrupt, can we then turn to a corrupt Barisan to mount an Opposition? Isn’t it better for the fight to be between two corrupt-free parties based on ideals and policies rather than sentiments and fear of corruption?
A balanced, fair and just contest must consist of balanced, fair and just contestants. An UMNO election this year would be the first step towards a new, corruption-free, people-friendly Barisan Nasional which is good for everyone anyway. Whether Malaysians see it that way or not is an open question. Go figure.
I laughed when I read UMNO is protesting against the Sultan and I laughed even more when I read the Opposition asking UMNO to respect the wishes of the Sultan. This is again evidence of political interest above and beyond serving the people.
UMNO, who previously condemned the Opposition for the whole “PerakMB dilemma”, are now eating up their words by openly protesting against the Palace of Terengganu. This issue should be dealt with quietly, with diplomacy and grace. Unfortunately, in another evidence of lack of leadership, Pak Lah has started an open argument against the Sultan, who is also now the King.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin had a brilliant idea – Idris and Co. should seek an audience with the Palace, discuss all the misgivings, apologize for any wrongdoings and then seek a solution. If the Palace is adamant in not wanting Idris, then a candidate that is agreed by both UMNO and the Palace should be chosen.
Regardless, there is a political process that could nullify the Palace’s appointment, which is the vote of no confidence. The assemblymen could have waited and use this process to their advantage, without provoking an open war with the Palace. Why Pak Lah didn’t think about this is beyond my comprehension. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t but the whole handling reeks of incompetence and ignorance of protocol and constitutional law.
On the other hand, I question the motives behind the Opposition’s call for respect of the monarchy and its decision. Isn’t transparency part of the agenda of the Opposition? Yes, it’s true that we should respect the monarchy (I really do believe in it), but at the same time it smacks against the call for transparency when there is so much hidden from the public in a decision making process that ultimately will impact the public the most.
What are the issues against Idris Jusoh? If rumors (of Idris going against the Palace’s “request”) are true, is it then the Opposition’s mantra that the Palace has the absolute right to only choose those who would abide by their wishes? Would request for lands and projects then has to be approved by all MBs in the future?
Then, there is the issue of the choice of MB. Again, questions must be asked why Ahmad Said was chosen amongst the many ADUNs. What's so special about him that the Palace is so adamant in placing him as MB? Even before the election, there were talks that Idris would not get the mandate as the next MB. TWO other reps were named as most likely replacement, and if these two were chosen, perhaps the issue would not have reached this stage.
But they chose Ahmad Said. This is the man who courted controversy before with the incident in the State Assembly where he acted like a gangster in arguing with a PAS assemblyman. He is a combative grass root leader, by all accounts, and according to many, lacks the necessary intellectual capacity or even charismatic charm that is needed to lead a state. The choice really is a step backward for Terengganu. People say that he is similar in style to Pahang’s Menteri Besar, Adnan Yaakob. Wow, that’s so reassuring.
Let’s not dismiss the reports going around that a few assemblymen were offered huge sums of money around March 14 to support Ahmad Said as the next Menteri Besar. I read that some were even offered up to RM 300,000! Imagine that amount floating around just to garner support for MB. Imagine then the amount floating to garner support for Prime Minister’s post! Sorry, I’m digressing.
So if the people think that he is unsuitable, or even if the people is unaware that he is unsuitable, isn’t it the task of the Opposition to stand up for the people? Shouldn’t the Opposition look at the man, look at his credentials, his capabilities and say, NO, he’s not the right person to lead Teregganu?
Instead, they are now INVITING Ahmad Said to JOIN them. It’s crazy. Instead of fighting for the truth and for the people, they are more concerned about fighting for power and control. Go figure!
Terengganu’s MB-elect, Datuk Ahmad Said, was sacked from UMNO for defying party’s leadership order to decline the appointment as Menteri Besar. The trouble in Terengganu has now turned into a full-blown crisis for UMNO.
Idris Jusoh remains the choice of the UMNO leadership and also the elected assemblymen of Terengganu, but the Palace has refused to accept Idris for a second term. Please refer to the previous post for more details.
This impasse gives rise to a constitutional conundrum that has left many clueless as to what will happen next. Despite what Pak Lah said, it IS constitutional for the Palace to appoint Ahmad Said. However, it is arguable that the Palace (will all due respect) failed to observe that they must choose a person whom they believe WILL COMMAND the respect of the State Assembly. “Believe” is not an absolute term, therefore the discretionary power of the Palace is also not absolute.
There are talks that Ahmad Said may join PAS. This is irrelevant because once the State Assembly is in session, you can be sure a vote of no confidence will be passed against him. This would lead to the Palace needing to appoint another person OR call for a snap election. This would certainly be good news for the Opposition, especially since they lost by thin margins in most of the areas in Terengganu.
The question now is: what is the motive for Ahmad Said to accept the MB post and risk his membership in UMNO and also take on a post that he knows will not be supported by fellow assemblymen? Is this another example of one man’s greed and appetite for power above loyalty and servitude to the people? What about the people of Teregganu? Why is the Palace so adamant in not wanting Idris?
Could it be true?
In related news, unsubstantiated reports have surfaced that police reports have been made against Datuk Ahmad Said 11 years ago for alleged rape. Apparently, the source of this piece of information has removed the said article after it was picked up by another prominent blogger. In any case, it is a serious allegation that gives rise to two important questions: (1) why did UMNO allow a person of questionable character to even BE in the party, let alone be nominated to contest? (2) if it’s not true, it gives rise to a question as to how dependable are the information we receive from bloggers and blogs and sources that don’t conform to ethical reporting?
Please note that this is merely a rumor at this stage.
United doused the Scouse
Manchester United comprehensively outclassed a poor Liverpool team 3-0 in yesterday’s BPL match. I’ve always admired the history of Liverpool, and I believe that they deserve all the support of their ferociously loyal fans. But I also think that Liverpool is not playing like a team that wants to challenge for a title. They ARE a big club, and they must start believing that. I cannot believe that they still think Rafa is the man to lead them. Their loyalty is commendable, but his lame efforts in signing players and even lamer tactical naivety will only further pull down this once great club to a level of Everton and Tottenham. Match Report
After the debacle in Perlis, Pak Lah was dealt another blow when the office of Sultan of Terengganu released a statement appointing Ahmad Said, the ADUN of Kijal, as the next Menteri Besar. This is despite the fact that Pak Lah and the other 22 state assembly representatives in Terengganu supports Idris Jusoh to continue as the Menteri Besar.
Unlike Perlis, where the issue was Pak Lah had no inkling that Shahidan has lost the support of the elected assemblymen, the situation in Terengganu is really a battle between the Palace and Pak Lah. Although press reports suggest that Idris’s fall out with the Palace is due to the Batu Burok riot and his “cockiness”, alternative sources have suggested that this is due to Idris’s reluctance to comply with certain “demands” from the Palace.However, this remains a rumour unsubstantiated.
However, in terms of current UMNO leadership, this situation shows how embarrassingly weak the government’s position is in even executing its plans. Understandably, Pak Lah would like to see Idris continuing the rapid development in Terengganu, especially after he successfully led Terengganu UMNO in GE 12.
The Palace has the prerogative to appoint a Menteri Besar. But it would be a comical situation when the House is in session and all 22 ADUNs of Barisan passed a vote of no confidence against Ahmad Said, again depriving Terengganu of the leadership it desperately needs to hold the tide against the Opposition.
Part of being a leader is the ability to be steadfast and strong yet speak with a soft, persuasive voice in pushing forth your agenda. There’s a soft voice, but is it persuasive enough? Go figure...
At this moment, I’m in Penang Island, the crown of the Opposition’s jewel maybe. I was here since yesterday, ironically, moving from one Opposition state (Selangor), passing through another (Perak), before reaching my hometown. It is, to me, a chain of states that has always been closely connected due to the migration of the younger generation to KL.
The younger generation, or so I’ve been led to believe, are IT-savvy. Therefore, they remain the main source and recipient of a lot of alternative information available online. Prior to GE 12, these young “migrants” return to their hometown to lay down the “truth” to their parents about the corruption, nepotism, arrogance and mismanagement of the present government. In my opinion, it is not surprising that these states fell to the Opposition like a huge domino stack.
Anyway, today I visited my father’s Aunt at Permatang Pauh, the parliamentary seat currently being held by Anwar’s wife, Wan Azizah. Before that, we stopped by my father’s former High School, the BM High School (primarily to show my wife that yes, we are not that boring of a family). But this High School holds with it a legacy that may change the course of Malaysian politics. You see, BM High School was also where both Pak Lah and Anwar Ibrahim attended their secondary education.
Pak Lah’s apparent weakness and incompetence has allowed a resurgent Anwar to lead the Opposition to unprecedented victory in GE 12. Now that talks are rife of East Malaysia’s BN reps ready to jump ship, it might really be possible for Anwar to be our next PM. So this humble area (including Kepala Batas, Pak Lah’s hometown and Parliamentary seat) full of traditional Malay houses and surrounded by paddy fields may be the place which give rise to two PMs.
Back to my father’s Aunt, or more fondly known as Tok Su. Now, Tok Su used to be Permatang Pauh’s Wanita UMNO’s chief, back when Anwar was the Deputy Prime Minister and the MP of that area. In fact, I remember the days when we would attend his open house and get RM 2. I used to quip that it was pretty stingy for a Finance Minister (but he had THOUSANDS of kids coming over).
So you would have guessed, correctly, that when the Anwar-Mahathir debacle came to a head with Anwar’s sacking and arrest, a lot of this strong supporters formed PKR. Tok Su became a highly influential member of PKR in that area, and her strong and vocal voice was often at loggerheads with her previous mates who are still sticking with UMNO. But she was distinctly beyond dirty politics from the start, preferring instead to use wit and humour to gather supporters.
From an area where UMNO was predominant, the Anwar saga really split the people into two camps. Those who stayed with UMNO must have laughed at the attempts of PKR, especially after 2004 where the Opposition was truly wiped out with only Wan Azizah remaining as the lone, lonely soldier. It also splits families, and Tok Su’s wasn’t spared, although the fall-out was not as catastrophic as some I’ve heard.
She is the epitome of a grass-root leader who will decline posts and money just to serve loyally her elected representative. Without fear or favour she declined the tempting offers from UMNO and threats from others. So I guess she must have been delighted to hear of the Opposition amazing victory in Penang (she seems completely oblivious to what’s going on in other States...she couldn’t care less).
She looked animated and excited when we were discussing politics (well, it was more like her telling a lot of amazing stories and us listening). I can share with you that the current Timbalan Menteri Besar of Penang, M. Fairus, a 32-year old PKR ADUN of Penanti, was selected just two days before nomination day because there was NOT enough candidates to stand for the Opposition. In fact, he came in without any money (basically, he’s just a simple guy without funding), and this was even raised by UMNO supporters during their campaigns. I guess UMNO was still trying to play the “money-game” and hoping that most Malays are still after the quick buck.
So the joke was that if my father had accepted Tok Su’s offer to stand as a candidate in Penanti, he would have been the Timbalan Menteri Besar. He missed out big time, my mom said. But my father said that if he comes in as an ADUN simply because he wants the TMB post that would not be ethical and morally correct. God, he’s sooooo straight that it gets annoying sometime. I guess a lot of Permatang Pauh’s folks are now ruing their missed opportunity to be the TMB of Penang. It’s just, as Malays say it, his rezeki.
M. Fairus had no money, but he had the support of people who worked NOT for the money, which “surprisingly” yields better result and implementation of campaign strategies. These volunteers would work day and night tirelessly for a cause they believe in, without hope of getting contracts or favours, so the support that they gain is also pure and true. These grass root support will triumph over any “duit kopi” campaign in the long run, and so it prove this time.
Where PKR has not enough candidates, UMNO had too many, until factions materialized and infighting became common-place. Everyone is jockeying for position and with money thrown into the mix, the quest to be just even the Ketua Cawangan is intense. There were 6 people contesting for the 4 seats available, and you can just guess the support those dropped would give to the ones selected. They can rent 10 buses to carry people, but if each one is only filled with 4 people, what does that say about your grass root support?
This neglect of the foot soldiers led to even more money being wasted with tales of “allowance” money abound all over the country as UMNO tries its best to gather support. If UMNO had just paid more attention in collecting a lot more Tok Sus instead of businessmen, they wouldn’t need to spend a lot (of the rakyat’s money no less) to oil their election machinery.
The choice of candidate is also important for the future. No longer can UMNO just put anyone in and he would win. This is wonderful for our democracy, and also for this country in general, as each elected representatives would not take their constituency for granted. Wan Azizah visited Permatang Pauh at least once a month, and even if she’s not there, people can still turn to Tok Su to settle their problem. One UMNO candidate was humiliated when he went on a campaign round and was told off by a Chinese trader that Wan Azizah comes over every month, and he only shows up once every four years! Why should he when he’s busy with his multi-million ringgit contracts?
There are a lot of things that was shared this afternoon that I could not share with you for fear of being sued for defamation etc., and I believe that these stories are nothing new anyway. It’s just surprising to hear it from the people on the ground, even though stories of corrupt Dos (District Officers) and phantom voters have been around for years. The battles, the dirtiest battles, are not fought in the big towns and cities, but in little rural areas like Permatang Pauh.
When we left Tok Su, she was smiling happily with the thought of Wan Azizah coming over tomorrow to have a “kenduri”. Her loyalty and affection for both Wan Azizah and Anwar may be misguided to some, or inspirational to others, but the crux of the matter is she believed in them with all her heart.
UMNO needs to find back its heart and soul. It needs to convince people like Tok Su.Go figure.
Contrary to rumors, Rafidah will continue to head Wanita UMNO. She expressed her surprise at being dropped from the Cabinet. She further admitted to sending a 16 page letter to Pak Lah after the recent election ( was it one of the reasons she was removed?) but will not divulge the content.
So she's staying on to fight the good fight. It'll be an interesting party election this year for UMNO.
MP Korek korek korek
Tengku Adnan, who was dropped from the Cabinet, has replaced Md. Radzi, who announced his resignation today, as the Sec-Gen of UMNO. The MP of Putrajaya, who was recently embroiled in the VK Lingam saga, was quite clearly enthusiastic over the prospect.
Isn't it weird when Md. Radzi claimed that he could no longer function as Sec-Gen effectively because he's not a minister, only to be replaced by a man who is also NOT a minister! So does this mean that he is less able than T.Adnan, or T.Adnan will not be effective in his role?
Or is it just two old politicians, playing the game - one knowing when to get out, the other forcing himself in when he really should get out. Go figure:)
Pak Lah just announced his new Cabinet, and I’m not referring to IKEA. It’s a lean mean cabinet, but there are still 27 ministries, down from the previous 32 but not 24 like some predicted. UPDATED!
Rafidah and Pak Lah
Surprisingly, Rafidah Aziz, one of the longest serving ministers, was dropped from the MITI portfolio which she held since 1987. With both her and Samy Vellu out from the Cabinet, the remnants of Tun M era are fading into the sunset. Much has been said about Rafidah’s political prowess, but the contradiction between her legendary work ethics and alleged corrupt practices means that she has to be sacrificed.
What this will do to Pak Lah’s political future is unknown. Rafidah has strong support from Wanita UMNO, the wing that has now seen its influence slowly dwindling with both Rafidah and Shahrizat out of the Cabinet. This will lead to further discontent amongst the rank-and-file. But it could also signal the beginning of a power struggle within Wanita UMNO, what with Azalina Othman remaining a favorite of Pak Lah and having the backing of her Puteri UMNO cohorts.
Malaysiakini just reported that Rafidah has called on a surprise press conference at her former Ministry. It was reported that she may resign from her position as Wanita Chief, paving the way for a battle between Shahrizat, who was made special adviser with the ranking of minister, and Azalina, who is now the designated Tourism minister for the post of Wanita Chief. (Read the above...just as predicted)
Pak Lah has also killed two birds with one stone. By removing Rafidah, he has sent a strong message to the public that he is ready to change. But more importantly, and I think (although bless Pak Lah if he really wanted to change the Government) the main consideration in removing Rafidah, is the fact that Rafidah could be one of the strongest voice if the call for Pak Lah to resign continues within UMNO’s rank and file.
Pak Lah and Rafidah have never been friends, and Rafidah’s almost daughter-like relationship with Tun M is certain to cause anxiety amongst Pak Lah and his supporters. With Rafidah and Shahrizat both allegedly unhappy with Pak Lah’s handling of GE 12, it takes a brave man to continue giving power to the leader of a wing that has done so much as part of UMNO’s campaign machinery.
It remains to be seen what happens next, but it’s harder for UMNO to call on Pak Lah to resign now that he suddenly becomes the darling of the Opposition supporters and general public. It’s almost a brilliant move by Pak Lah, but how much of it was due to serving the public instead of personal political interest?
Other Casualties
Tengku Adnan Mansor, the infamous minister embroiled in the VK Lingam saga, was also dropped from the Tourism portfolio to be replaced by one of Pak Lah’s favorite, Azalina (previously Sports Ministry). Jamaluddin Jarjis (Science & Tech) is finally gone despite (or because of) the much-hyped (and much criticized) Angkasawan project. Frankly speaking, they deserved to go.
What interest me more is the removal of Mohd Radzi (Home Affairs) and Azmi Khalid (Natural Resources). Is this a way for Pak Lah to punish those who did not toe the party line? Both Radzi and Azmi are seen as instrumental in persuading the Perlis assemblymen to support Md. Isa and not Shahidan as the next Mentri Besar of Perlis. As everyone in Malaysia knows, Shahidan was chosen by Pak Lah but, in an embarrassing situation, he was rejected by the Raja of Perlis. Pak Lah bowed down to pressure, and accepted Md. Isa, but I believe that he wasn’t too pleased with the whole episode.
Update: Malaysiakini just reported the resignation of Mohd Radzi from the post of Sec-Gen of UMNO and Barisan Nasional. He tendered his resignation today, citing that he can no longer work effectively under current circumstances.
I mean, why would you want two guys who basically disagree with your choice to serve in your government? Again, the question is, is this move politically motivated or for the good of the public?
Isn’t there anyone else?
The one to keep an eye on is Muhd Taib or Mike Tyson as he is more fondly known. His rise to the post of Minister (Rural and Regional Development) after years in the background showed how resilient he is and how savvy he is when it comes to his own political career.
In case anyone needs a reminder, Mike Tyson was previous the Selangor Menteri Besar who had to resign in 1997 after he was charged with trying to bring in RM 2.4 million (in cash apparently) into Australia. Of course, his credibility being questioned, and with investigation going on, he had to slip quietly into political wilderness.
But he remains within UMNO, always taking his time to make statements, just to remind everyone that he is still around. Despite having strong support from the grass root, he was not chosen by Khir Toyo to contest in Selangor (of course, Khir is scared that someone will take away his power). With Khir Toyo spectacular losses in Selangor, the path is now open for the former darling of UMNO to make a comeback and wrestle back Selangor.
The question remains the same. Credibility is an issue. But rest assure, by next election, Mike Tyson will be going for the K.O.
Pleasant Surprises
It was a pleasant surprise to hear that Zaid Ibrahim is moving up as Minister in charge of Legal Affairs in the PM Department. Zaid of course courted controversy within UMNO with his willingness to question current practices and was even disciplined before by UMNO. His frank and open opinion on the state of UMNO after GE 12 earned him extra points from UMNO supporters wanting to see changes and also the general public. His book, In Good Faith, is pretty enjoyable and showcased a man who believes in the fundamentals of democracy.
He couldn’t do worse than the man he replaced – Datuk Nazri Aziz. Nazri is still a minister though, but thankfully, the Minister of Law portfolio is no longer his. With incompetence and arrogance, Nazri has diminished the integrity of our judiciary and legal system by his mere presence. Every time he speaks, it’s as if I’m in the Twilight Zone and he’s an alien who couldn’t really understand what the rest of Planet Earth is talking.
Another good move was the inclusion of Shahrir Samad (Domestic Trade), the vocal member of UMNO who dared to cross the line by agreeing with an Opposition’s motion in Parliament (rightfully so). His desire for transparency and accountability in government’s actions are widely noted, and his presence lends a fair bit of credibility to the present line-up.
Let’s hope that Pak Lah doesn’t stop at the Cabinet level. There’s still a lot of work to be done. We need strength, we need intelligence, and we need decisiveness. Go figure.
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