Thursday, June 7, 2012

MR PM - BE PM FOR ALL - The Malaysian Insider

In a democracy the will of the people – the majority as well as the minority – is what matters the most.

Avoid popularity if you would have peace. – Abrahim Lincoln

The approval rating of the prime minister has gone up and down. It went up with the lower income group and down with the middle class segment. Why is the premier popular with the poor and downtrodden? It is simply because the premier gives them goodies to lessen the pangs of poverty.

These are ordinary folk who want food, shelter, decent wage to lead a simple life. Give them carrots and all is well with their health – and their votes. People who have to struggle daily to make ends meet are easily influenced by the sweet talk of smooth politicians. In their eyes, political leaders become god-like figures if they come visiting, loaded with cash and other promises. The adoring crowd can see no fault in ministers with bottomless pockets. A prime minister who waves the magic wand that makes money appear in their pockets can do no wrong. Politicians are crafty old devils when they want to capture power, and sinister characters when they want to keep power. When they campaign for public office, they put on their charm to woo, to plead, to cajole all classes of society. Once on the commanding heights, they lay out plans – to attack opponents and disillusioned citizens alike. As the years roll by, power corrupts them absolutely and they turn menacing in order to stay politically alive.

At this phase of their waning political career, they seek out the vulnerable group to forge a partnership. The prime minister of Malaysia is pursuing a similar course of action: he is building bridges with the lower income group who forms a sizeable portion of the electorate. Wherever he goes he throws out goodies to the settlers, the hard-pressed rural folk, the urban poor, the toiling workers. These are the people who little care or least understand the big issues rattling the country. Shady business deals, failed corporate ventures, environmental hazards, deep-seated corruption, abuse of power, dirty politics – all these unhealthy developments have little or no impact on the daily miserable life of the impoverished masses. Limping on crutches The prime minister only have to dole out some relief to this teeming poor to win hero status and soaring popularity. His last carrot is the national budget, the biggest basket from where he can liberally distribute more largesse to his hero-worshipping fans. He will propose more benefits but the distribution will hinge on what comes out from the ballot boxes.

More gifts for the less wealthy class means more votes for the elite class. It may be good strategy for the prime minister to exploit and manipulate the sentiments of the ignorant many but a bad tactical move to ignore the groundswell of dissent from the few. It is the minority that can decide the destiny of the country because they can ferret out the truth from the lies emanating from the mouth of the government. It was the vocal few that dug out the dirt and brought to light government-linked business ventures that went off tangent, defence contracts that stink, stock listing that only enriches the few, tainted electoral rolls that will put more votes into the pouches of the ruling party.

The prime minister did not like the insistent chant for reforms here and abroad because it was not music to his ears when the whole world now knows that democracy in Malaysia is limping on crutches. If not for the courageous stand of the minority – be they ordinary citizens or political opponents – the country would never have known the dark side of their leaders. The minority, mostly from the middle class, is never popular with the establishment for standing up to what is right and just. It has always been classified as enemies of the state bent on destroying the institutions of the state. But this strident criticism does not hold water because it is these very cherished institutions that the minority is defending against the might of the majority. It is the majority that often imposes its brutal will on the lesser numbers.

A good prime minister is one who serves all people. He cannot be riding high with just the majority while the minority is being pummelled into submission. In a democracy the will of the people – the majority as well as the minority – is what matters the most. Trying to split society into two antagonistic camps will not guarantee permanent peace. Playing the bigger side against the smaller one is a sure recipe to eternal enmity. It serves little purpose to be a popular prime minister with the majority when the minority unceasingly uncovers more sins of the government. Eventually, the majority will find common cause with the minority to send the prime minister into political oblivion.

Monday, September 15, 2008

MAHATHIR REGRETS - Missed by Malaysiakini

SNIPPETS BY TUN MAHATHIR - Can we expect many more regrets Tun.

PUTRAJAYA

1. Putrajaya, dedicated to Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra is a city built on a greenfield site.

2. It has attracted a lot of visitors, both local and foreign. Many countries have studied the development of Putrajaya when they are planning their new administrative capital.

3. Malaysians are divided in their opinions of this artificially developed city. Some think it is a mega project which costs too much. Some seem to like it.

4. I was still Prime Minister when work on Putrajaya began. I saw the completion of the Prime Minister's complex, the mosque and a part of the buildings lining the boulevard (not to be called boulevard now).

5. I had noticed that the impressive boulevard was to be lined with Government buildings. I had spoken to (the late) Tan Sri Azizan Zainal Abidin, then Chairman of Petronas, the agency chosen to build Putrajaya, remarking the boulevard has only imposing Government Ministries lining it.

6. In America the cities all have central business districts where all the major corporations have their impressive office buildings. In the daytime the area is crowded with business people, office workers etc. Big American cars dropped and picked up the Executives along the main street.

7. The area is usually beautifully landscaped with fountains and monuments dotting the area.

8. However at night the place becomes deserted as all the office workers and businessmen go home. Quietness descends on the area with only an occasional taxi driving through. The fast food restaurants are shut.

9. It is dangerous to venture into the area at night as you may be coshed and robbed.

10. Remembering this I wanted to have the Putrajaya boulevard full of people at night. If you have only Government Offices and Ministries, the place would be deserted at night.

11. Unfortunately the planners want the place to have imposing Government buildings. The businesses should be tucked away somewhere.

12. As I drive through the boulevard at night I am enchanted with the number of lights lining it and the side roads. But there is no life as all the great Ministries are shut up tight, although they are beautifully floodlighted.

13. There are no shops at all, not even a coffee house. Those who have visited gay Paris will remember the brightness and the throngs of people strolling along or sipping drinks at roadside tables in front of brightly lit restaurants. The famous Lido would be crowded with people going to see the shows. Busloads of tourists would throng the bright side streets or sit at café tables watching people going by. The scene is very animated.

14. Famous restaurants and some fast food outlets as well as other shops lined the side roads parallel to the boulevard. Traffic flowed to and fro, unimpeded along the tree lined central boulevard.

15. I can understand why Paris is called the City of Light.

16. Putrajaya has lights almost as bright as those in Paris. But there are almost nobody strolling along the boulevard. It reminds me of the business districts in American cities.

17. I have talked to several people about the importance of having shops and theatres along the boulevard to give life to this beautiful city. But nothing has happened. I believe a big glass-fronted building has been built to house business corporations. It too would be closed at night.

18. More offices are being built but no shops, no restaurants or coffee houses and certainly no places of entertainment of any kind.

19. One of the effects of this rigid confinement to Government buildings on the boulevard is to make Putrajaya a Malay city. Ninety five percent of the people living in Government built flats are Malay Government workers. Although the Government built flats are available to non-Government servants, there are hardly any buyers for them. Certainly there are no Chinese or Indian.

20. I admit being guilty of setting up Putrajaya as the administrative capital. It is very well planned. But it is dull. 21. Not being in the Government, I cannot influence anything anymore. But I hope the powers that be will read this snippet on Putrajaya.

Zaid resign - Malaysiakini


Malaysiakini - reported that Zaid has resigned. Way to go - Zaid. We Malaysians salute you. UMNO's arrogance is in play. Its not Government's (Barisan Nasional) decision, it is UMNO's decision with Syed Hamid Albar as the spokesman. Syed Hamid Albar = Zainuddin Maidin. His reasoning cannot even convince the kids. Syed Hamid Albar have shown his true colour.
See what The Star says:
Cabinet members or Barisan Nasional component party leaders should be consulted before the Government issues any detention order, said MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan. “We hope in future there will be more consultation among Cabinet members or component party leaders because we were not informed about this,”
MCA against it - MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said MCA felt that if the ISA was really necessary, it must only be invoked in the most extreme cases.
MIC against it - Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the Government should be sensitive to the feelings of the people and not be blind to the fact that a significant proportion of the rakyat abhor the ISA and would prefer it not to be used.
GERAKAN against it - Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said Gerakan had called for the amendment of the ISA but not its abolition. He said the Act should be used only when dealing with national security and not against journalists carrying out their duties.
DOMPOK against it - Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the arrests of reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin had put the Government in a bad light. “For any arrest there must be a reason and it must be clearly explained to the public,” he said.

Malaysians (Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans) - Be Calm, Be Patient and be polite even if it is your enemy. Register yourselves as voters and get whoever you can convince to register as Voters so that we could kick UMNO out in the next election.

RELEASE OUR BELOVED RAJA PETRA KAMARUDDIN & THERESA KOK IMMEDIATELY.

ABU - Anyone But Umno.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Permatang Pauh MP bersumpah - Malaysiakini

Malaysiakini confirms today that Anwar Ibrahim, MP for Permatang Pauh have sworn in as MP and has been appointed as Opposition Leader. What a comeback tale. Love it.

Anwar Ibrahim Bersumpah (1998 to 2008) - Malaysiakini

September 1998
August 2008

September 2008 - In Parliament

September 2008, DSAI will be in the Parliament to Korek, Korek & Korek. Glad that Tun Dr Mahathir is still alive to witness this. Malaysiakini reported that DSAI has been sworn in as MP for Permatang Pauh and now as Opposition Leader of Malaysia. Great day & moment for Malaysia.

1998 to 2008 - The journey of Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
September 1998 is still fresh in my mind as I witness;

  1. The everyday night Gathering at the home of DSAI in Damansara; the crowd, the stalls, speeches, interview with foreign journalist etc etc
  2. The gathering at Masjid Negara, which was early scheduled at Dataran Merdeka on the closing ceremony day of Commonwealth day. Queen Elizabeth were at the Church across Dataran Merdeka.
  3. The March to UMNO building with a song titled Inilah Barisan Kita by multiracial crowd from Masjid Negara. The FRU have to give way simply looking at the large crowd.
  4. The day DSAI were arrested by bacalavas or balacavas wearing cops.
  5. The protest and reformasi gatherings at Kampung Baru Mosque.
  6. The gathering across the river from the Court building everytime DSAI brought in from Sg Buloh prison and the waving everytime the white jeep pass by us.
  7. One of very few who eyewitnessed Tian Chua who sat in the front of FRU Truck at the bridge near the current Bar Council building during one of the protest.
  8. The day DSAI were found guilty and sentenced by Paul Augustine were still fresh in my mind when tyres and dbkl dustbins were burned on the roads and parking meters were uprooted and thrown.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Fed up of sodomy "Govt may cut fuel price" - Malaysiakini

Malaysiakini reports today that Govt may cut fuel price. We Malaysians are simply fed up with all this sodomy stuffs. We are getting annoyed for being treated like fools and it’s a challenge for the Malaysians’ intellect to hear and read nonsense news and views day in and day out.

Today, at the end of the month of July, we are glad to hear something nice i.e. that fuel price may come down. How nice if that happens and we Malaysians should pray that the Government and Opposition work towards the betterment of Malaysians at large.

Friday, July 18, 2008

DNA & SHA (Syed Hamid Albar). Police mull court action - Malaysiakini

Malaysiakini reported today that the police is considering court action to compel anwar to give DNA. It is also reported in Malaysiakini that Anwar will only agree if there is a court order. Lets see what NST says:

Question : "What is Anwar Afraid of?"


http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2296707/Article/index_html

Answer : Anwar fears tampering of DNA.

De facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim refused to give his blood sample for DNA test for fear that the evidence would be tampered with to implicate him in the sodomy allegation.

"Why should I give my blood sample when police have refused to give my lawyers a copy of the police report lodged against me?" ask Anwar.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2296708/Article/index_html

Conclusion : found in last para of lawyers' opinion

Lawyer Haresh Mahadevan, meanwhile, said DNA evidence alone was not conclusive to prove that a person was involved in a crime."It is merely corroborative evidence to support the prosecution's case," he said, adding that it was possible to plant samples like hair, sweat particles or blood of a person at the crime scene to implicate him or her.