No, neo-colonialism is never the answer

Today, the structures of colonial rule persist with colonial era-inspired laws such as Malaysia’s Internal Security Act still in place; and the ruling elite of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries are likewise distanced from their own people. Like the colonial masters of the past, they view their own fellow citizens with incredulity, and fail to understand how plural and complex their societies really are, observes Aliran member Farish Noor.

I recently had a conversation with an Indonesian political analyst in Singapore, where I am currently based. In the course of our discussion about the state of Indonesian politics, he let slip a statement that I felt terribly uncomfortable with. While lamenting the state of Indonesia’s convoluted politics, he opined thus: “I wonder if Indonesia ’s problems could be solved if we allowed a foreign government to run our country?”

Now, talk like this usually sends shivers up my spine. We will recall that up to the late 1990s, it even became fashionable to talk about the necessity for the re-colonisation of Africa. This sort of nonsense was all the rage in some American political magazines and journals, and of course this neo-colonial bile was dressed up in the discourse of altruism and universal humanism, as if the colonisation of any country was an altruistic act between fellow human concerned about the fate of others. Never mind the fact that the ones doing the colonising would be the same Western powers and the ones being colonised would be the same hapless denizens of the Third World.

It is true that Indonesia’s political situation at present is a mess to say the least. With the next elections almost half a year away, the political parties – and there are more than 35 of them, at the last count – are already campaigning in earnest. Vast amounts of money are being spent (or rather wasted) on publicity campaigns and electoral drives that are designed to puff up the already inflated egos of political aspirants than to do any real good to the people. On top of that the political discourse of parties like Hanura and Gerindra seem full of fluff and froth as the leaders have little to say on how they will actually set about changing things for the better.

But in the case of Indonesia, as it is with the other countries of Southeast Asia, the perennial problem is the same: aspiring elites want to speak for the people and represent them, but they don’t even know what the people want. The political disconnect between the elites of Jakarta and the masses across the archipelago is mirrored in the disconnect we see among the elites of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok. Why?

Answering this question may also lead us to the answer to the earlier comment about the need for Indonesia to be re-colonised for its own good.

The bottom line is that the governmental structures of Indonesia – as it is for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and many other post-colonial societies remains rooted in the structures of colonial rule. Now colonial rule was unique in the sense that the colonial governments could govern with scant attention paid to the colonial subjects themselves, hence the ‘success’ of British colonial rule in Burma, Malaya and Singapore and Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia. The British, French, Dutch, Spanish and American colonisers who governed Southeast Asia were not answerable to their colonial societies, but rather the metropolitan capitals of London, Hague, Paris and Washington. Thus British Malaya, Burma and Singapore were governed at a long-distance, with orders from London being enacted and executed in Malaya. Likewise orders from the Hague were put to work in Indonesia. At no point was this metropole-colony relationship an equal or reciprocal one.

Today the structures of colonial rule persist with colonial era-inspired laws such as Malaysia’s Internal Security Act still in place; and the ruling elite of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries are likewise distanced from their own people. Like the colonial masters of the past, they view their own fellow citizens with incredulity, and fail to understand how plural and complex their societies really are. The ‘success’ of colonial rule – if you could call it that – was that it blanketed the real pluralism and differences in these colonised societies and made them look homogenous.

Today, Southeast Asia’s internal pluralism and difference are coming to the forefront in no uncertain terms. Indonesia ’s complex political landscape merely mirrors the complexity of Indonesia’s plural society, a fact that was thinly disguised during the three decades of Suharto’s centralised authoritarian rule. But we need to remember that the manifold forms and modes of socio-political activity we see in Indonesia today, that includes also the new ‘radical’ groups like the Majlis Mujahidin Indonesia, the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) and even mainstream Islamist parties like the PKS are the genuine expressions of Indonesian pluralism too. The MMI, HTI and PKS are not from Mars or Sweden: they are part and parcel of Indonesian society and the products of the same political processes that created the political elite in Jakarta who do not understand them.

We must therefore recognise two things: postcolonial societies have yet to jettison the colonial mindset of colonial governmentality; and we need to develop a new mode of representative politics that reflects the complexity of the societies we reside in. Indonesia’s new political elites may be jockeying for position and running for the biggest prize of all – the Presidential seat – next year. But they need to remember that to be President of Indonesia today means being President of one of the most complex, confounding, plural and internally-differentiated societies in the world. The sooner the political elites of Indonesia (and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines) realise this and the sooner they behave like democratic representatives rather than colonial bureaucrats, the better it will be for everyone.

- Aliran

Ethnic outsiders vs bumiputera-ism

By Wong Chin Huat in The Nut Graph

THERE are two issues around the appointment of Low Siew Moi as general manager of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). The first, as raised by laywer-cum-blogger Haris Ibrahim, is whether this state agency should act like an ethnic institution that serves only Malays or bumiputera.

The second is, if indeed PKNS's main objectives are to uplift the status of bumiputera as some claim, does the appointment of a non-bumiputera general manager go against this? After all, only two of PKNS's four objectives are about "effective bumiputera equity participation and management in industry and commerce" and "creating a bumiputera commercial and industrial community".

The logic that justifies objection to the appointment of an ethnic outsider to an ethnic-specific programme is called "ethnic solidarity". In other words, people help their own kind and, vice versa, can only count on help from their own kind.

This view is not completely baseless. I recall, and still encounter from time to time, lines like: "Hey, since both of us are Chinese, give me some discount lah!"

That may sound natural since most of us give special treatment to our own family members. In this context, a person of the same ethnicity could be considered an extension of family.

(© Maa-illustrations/Dreamtime)

But if a Chinese shopkeeper gives a Chinese customer a discount, who covers the loss from such preferential treatment? Does the Chinese shopkeeper take a cut from his or her own profits? More likely, he or she would still maximise profits by charging more from non-Chinese customers.

Hence, such acts of ethnic solidarity have an external cost: ethnic outsiders will eventually pay the price.

Of course, ethnic solidarity is not exclusive to the Chinese Malaysian community. I sometimes find myself being served later than an ethnic Malay Malaysian or ethnic Indian Malaysian in a Malay or Indian store.

So, ethnic solidarity is everywhere. And if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, or else you will lose out.

The agency problem

For a Malay or bumiputera who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in the non-Malay/-bumiputera-dominated private sector, it is only right for the Malay-/bumiputera-controlled state to reciprocate by favouring Malays/bumiputera.

However, the business world learnt long ago about the agency problem, which refers to the conflicts of interest between the interest-owners (principals) and the people entrusted to look after such interests (agents).

The classic example is the conflict between company shareholders (principals) and management (agents). While shareholders want to maximise profits, management may be more interested in maximising revenue (which boosts the company's reputation), or their own remuneration.

The current financial crisis is a prime example of the agency problem. This phenomenon is captured in the Malay proverb, "harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi".

Pope Alexander VI (died 1503), considered the most controversial
pope of the Renaissance period (Public domain)

The problem is so widespread that it covers not only the economy, but also politics. The public choice theory sees the state having its own interests (getting re-elected, etc.) that are different from those of the collective society.

Think about those corrupt popes who extracted money by promising sinners entry to heaven — the agency problem even exists between God and mortals.

So, can ethnic bonding be so strong as to be free from this problem? Look at how many bumiputera remain poor even after nearly four decades of the New Economic Policy and its succeeding policies, and you know the answer is a resounding "no".

The beauty of the mercenary

Now, let's assume how a rational "ethnocentrist" would think. Imagine a Malay supremacist who genuinely wants to see Malays catching up in commerce and industry. Assume this supremacist can think rationally, instead of resorting to keris-waving — what would be his or her solution?

The counter-intuitive solution is to engage with ethnic outsiders. An ethnic outsider cannot cause a problem of agency simply because he/she is not supposed to be trusted like an insider. The outsider can't get away with cheating or shirking duties simply with the "he/she is one of us" excuse.

The ethnic outsider would instead be subject to extra scrutiny. Since his or her position is not guaranteed in the long run, the only way to keep his/her job would be to best serve the interests of the principals.

In other words, because there is no presumed trust arising from ethnic solidarity, an ethnic outsider may make an ethnic-based project more successful.

Not convinced? From the great empires of Rome to the Tang Dynasty and the Arab, Moghul and Ottoman dynasties — they all benefited from the services of ethnic outsiders. The need to earn trust — rather than trust being given as a birthright — drives ethnic outsiders to go the extra mile in their professional duties. It would also work similarly with "ethnic insiders" without "pure bloodlines".

Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty
(618-907AD) (Public domain)

Just look at the "ultras" in Umno, and also some in PAS, from the 1940s until now. Ask yourself, how many of them did not have Indian, Arab, or even Chinese blood?

Who are the losers?

With the appointment of a non-bumiputera general manager at PKNS, the loser is not likely to be bumiputera at large. On top of her competence, Low would have every incentive to do a good job simply because of her "original sin" of not being a bumiputera.

So, why should the bumiputera staff in PKNS protest her appointment? Are they truly convinced that she won't do a good job in helping bumiputera?

My guess is exactly the opposite: they fear she might actually do her job well. She would then set a precedent and throw the logic of ethnic solidarity into bankruptcy. The implication is clear: you may have a pro-bumiputera policy, but the executor can be a person of any ethnicity who does the best job.

That's why the bumiputera bureaucrats, Umno politicians who claim to defend the Malays, and PAS politicians who sang us the "PAS for all" tune just seven months ago must oppose this.

Their interests are not the same as that of ordinary bumiputera. Theirs is a classical case of an "agency problem" indeed

'Zaid Ibrahim now an Umno target'

‘He is the target for an onslaught by the so-called defenders of race and religion. I sincerely hope that all the right-thinking Malaysians will stand solidly behind him.'


On Zaid: Ketuanan Melayu has failed

RRN: I salute Zaid for his comments regarding the Ketuanan Melayu and the ‘social contract'.

It is heartening to know that there are people like Zaid who speak not only for his race but for all Malaysians. Keep it up Dato, we need many more people like you.

His explanation regarding the 'social contract' is truly enlightening to many of us. As mentioned by Zaid, many new ‘clauses' have been added to the original ‘contract' to satisfy the demands of a certain group.

Some people are demanding now that nobody should talk about 'social contract' and those who call for a review should put under ISA.

If changes can be made to the original constitution, why can't we ask for a review now? Is it because only one particular race is empowered to make changes to suit their wishes?

The introduction of the Ketuanan Melayu concept was the main reason for the erosion of goodwill and friendship among the various races of our beloved nation.

By exposing this blunder openly, Zaid has put himself as the target for the onslaught by the so- called defenders of race and religion.

I wouldn't surprise if they accuse him off being a traitor. I sincerely hope that all the right- thinking Malaysians will stand solidly behind him.

Blueonblue63: It is sad that each time someone like Zaid Ibrahim rightly criticises Umno's entrenched concept of racism which is Ketuanan Melayu, he is branded a ‘racist' by the Umno leaders themselves like Shahidan Kassim and Syed Hamid Albar.

In this case, we have the logic of the whistle-blower being stigmatised as the culprit in the eyes of Umno.

There must be sufficient numbers of Malays like Zaid, Haris Ibrahim, Azly Rahman and Raja Petra to openly come up and criticise Ketuanan Melayu for its explicit racism.

Their numbers must increase day by day such that eventually when their voice gets loud enough, the wider Malay community will be able to judge for themselves who the real ‘traitors' to their race are, ie, the Umno leaders and their spin doctors in Utusan Malaysia.

At a time when the whole world is phasing out racism, political dinosaurs like Umno and Dr Mahathir want to be even bigger racists than the former apartheid regime of South Africa by espousing Ketuanan Melayu .


On Unanswered questions over Altantuya

Millionth Citizen: Malaysia a nation reeling in shock with the news that Abdul Razak Baginda has been released without his defence being called.

Also not being called is Raja Petra Kamarudin, now detained over his statutory declaration, while Balasundram's continued absence shows the sudden slacking of the police for not being able to trace him and his family.

The final verdict is and has been a forgone conclusion So it will be no surprise. However, that's only the first salvo as many more surprises are to come.

And many think the way the prosecution are doing their job calls into question a kind of 'pure wayang kulit' with the defence having a field day at each hearing.

God help us in Malaysia as only He can work on the conscience of the real culprits.


On Battle royale to be Wanita chief

Dan Tan: I don't really understand how this Umno election thing works.

How come Shahrizat Abdul Jalil can have one leg on the Wanita Umno president's seat and another for the wing's deputy presidency?

She has said that she will be only contesting the Wanita Umno deputy presidency so how come the situation is now such that she is receiving nominations for the Wanita Umno presidency?

Did she indicate that she wanted this or her followers have chose her for both the positions, that is, if that is even possible?


On Food vendor wins biggest lottery payout

John Johnson: Syabas to Lim Guan Eng for suggesting fewer lottery draws. People will keep on buying as long as these outlets are open so we need the government to lend a helping hand to stop the rakyat from spending too much on this vice.

These lottery companies - like the government - are raking in billions but exploiting the people in these times is definitely uncalled for.

Of course, one can argue that the people themselves should practice restraint. Well then, let's be fair.

Let the government also let people to install their own satellite dishes as they are matured enough to choose their own rogrammes.

Let the people air their grievances on the talk shows without being censored or giving excuses like this talk show is undergoing a ‘re-branding' or a make-over (what a lot of hogwash).

And let the people take up their own sports (yoga), let the rakyat go to Israel if they want and let the five Pakatan Rakyat states rule without bullying or a boycott of funds.

And let Hindraf be a registered society or organisation.

Anwar’s ‘mega project’ motion rejected

November 5, 2008 Deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today rejected an emergency motion filed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim calling for the formation of a royal commission to probe three government ‘mega projects’.

MCPX

The deputy speaker rejected the motion on the grounds that it was not urgent.

Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh), who filed the motion on October 29, tried in vain to urge Wan Junaidi to reconsider his decision.

However, Wan Junaidi replied that once the speaker makes a ruling, the decision cannot be overturned.

Anwar had filed the emergency motion seeking a royal commission to probe the RM11.31 billion broadband project, the RM4.26 billion purchase of Bank Internasional Indonesia shares by Maybank Bhd and the suspended RM1.7 billion procurement of 12 helicopters from Eurocopter France.

Proceedings disrupted amid confusion over Najib's speech

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 - Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar suspended proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat at 12.15pm today as the opposition refused to debate the 2009 Budget at the committee stage.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had initially questioned the legality of Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's new proposals yesterday.

"What was passed yesterday was the Aug 29 budget," the Ipoh Timur MP told the House, referring to Prime Minister and then Finance Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi's original budget.

"It does not not include yesterday's suggestions. So do we debate it or ignore it completely? Was it an illegal Supplementary Budget?" he continued.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also added that it was unclear which figures would be debated.

"Today, at committee stage, what are we debating? Is the old estimates still in use or not?" the Permatang Pauh MP said.

"I am only asking that the Finance Minister give us the revised figures so we can debate at committee stage. I am not objecting to anything, but how can MPs debate when we are not sure which figures?" he continued.

However, Wan Junaidi ruled that what had been passed by the Dewan Rakyat could not be retracted.

"The issue was passed yesterday. If the Dewan Rakyat has passed it, what other approval do we need? Principally it was passed. It is up to the ministry to release details," he said.

However, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Pas-Kuala Selangor) pressed on the fact that a debate could not continue without the details.

As such, the deputy speaker decided to postpone proceedings, although at that point it was unclear even to MPs until when.

When asked by reporters later, Wan Junaidi confirmed that the House would resume proceedings at 2.30pm pending the details of Najib's proposals being furnished to the MPs.

Pakatan's hubris, Rakyat's loss

COMMENTARY

NOV 5 - As you have seen, it was a sheer display of arrogance, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday described his prime ministerial rival Datuk Seri Najib Razak's refusal to allow him to speak when winding up the Budget debate.

That actually holds true for the Parliamentary opposition leader and his cohorts for in a fit of hubris and pique, they abandoned their seats and their role to represent the people in questioning the Barisan Nasional's proposals to face the global economic slowdown.

Their excuse? They argued that Najib's set of statistics and estimates were different from those in Abdullah's budget speech and thus, it required time for debate before being passed for a second reading. Instead, Najib said no to being interrupted and they left the House.

The result? The Bill was passed nonetheless, without their participation.

Anwar eloquently argued his case for walking out, saying "We are asked to approve a new, revised budget - including a new deficit, a new growth scenario, new inflation figures, and government income and expenditures - in a matter of minutes to be approved.

"It is treating the Parliament process and budget debate as a mockery," said the Permatang Pauh MP, who had promised to topple the Barisan Nasional government by last September 16.

In retrospect, so was his walking out of the House.

He and the rest of the Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers, who had denied the Barisan Nasional coalition its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority, could have put Najib to the test on all his economic presumptions, proposals, the aborted Eurocopter deal, the controversial EPF RM5 billion loan to state fund manager Valuecap Sdn Bhd and other pressing issues.

Instead, they walked out and left a laundry list of questions unasked and unanswered. And like many affected by the economic turmoil, we are all the poorer from it.

Veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang too argued his point against Najib, saying Pakatan Rakyat leaders had called for the Finance Minister before Parliament ended on October 13 to present a revised budget for debate and to be put to vote.

"He refused. He allowed the members of parliament from both sides of the House to debate a budget which he clearly was going to be abandon and he abandoned the original budget," Lim said.

The irony, is of course, Lim had abandoned the rakyat the moment he walked out of the House yesterday.

The DAP strongman, who has debated with almost every Prime Minister since being elected to parliament in 1969, did none of that yesterday.

Walking out was a better option that talking it out.

Najib called them "irresponsible" for the walkout.

"I have already promised them the space to ask questions after I finish delivering my winding-up speech but since they have decided to leave," he said, reiterating it was not a new budget except for additional amounts to stimulate the economy.

All said and done, Najib's winding-up speech gave some answers but left a few lingering questions. If only Pakatan Rakyat had also lingered to ask.

For they are not heroes for walking out, they are zeroes for not staying on.

Text of Obama's victory speech

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, Chicago, Illinois: Text of President-elect Barack Obama's victory speech in Chicago on Tuesday, as released by his campaign: If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

The first black President of the USA

Barrack Obama wins. The US wakes up tomorrow to a new - and its first black - President. But will it change anything for the rest of the world? Will he be able to turn around the US economy? Will he close down Guantanamo Bay? Will he stop America's holy War againstTerror?
I have my doubts.
But who cares, uh? They say anyone after Bush would/should make a better US President, at least to the rest of the miserable world.

Btw, Obama is mixed, actually: dad's a black from Kenya, mom a white from Kansas. So why is he the first BLACK president of the USA?

p.s. Dr M will appear on Aljazeera English channel @ 4.30pm today under the programme "The World Watches" to discuss the US election.

Barack Obama elected President - The Star
Obama wins historic US elections - BBC News

Obama sweeps to US presidency

McCain concedes defeat after Democrat wins key battleground states from Republicans.

Three Higher Education Ministers in 4 years

As Najib speaks Opposition MPs walk out

PKR, DAP and Pas walking out of the Dewan Rakyat even before Datuk Najib Razak had finished his speech. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 - All Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers staged a walkabout of the Dewan Rakyat approximately an hour into Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's speech when winding-up the debate on the 2009 Budget this evening.

Speaking to reporters outside the House while Najib continued with his speech on the federal government's economic stimulation package, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said they protested against Najib's "arrogant manner" in prohibiting them from speaking up during his speech.

Anwar added that the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, had even asked Najib if he would give way for the Opposition leader to rebut his announcements and Najib had stated "no."

"If that is the case, what is the benefit for us to remain inside?" queried Anwar.

The top leaders from the PR coalition further accused Najib, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, of being "dishonest".

"He said the Budget has not been changed, which is untrue. The Budget has been changed," said DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang. "This is misleading the House."

Lim said it was an "unfortunate beginning" for Najib, who had just won the Umno presidency uncontested which is likely see him become the prime minister next March when Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi steps down.

"He is presenting a revised Budget while claiming it is not a revised Budget. He is dishonest," Lim emphasised.

Anwar criticised Najib for his "complete disrespect of procedures of the House." He explained that the opposition faction had been waiting for the past two weeks for Najib to appear with a revised Budget proposal.

The Permatang Pauh MP said the opposition were incensed that they were now given only minutes to discuss the new, amended Budget before approval.

Asked if the House could approve the Budget now without the opposition inside, Anwar replied: "They don't need two-thirds majority, they only need a simple majority."

PR-led states to unite on waste management

IPOH (Nov 4, 2008) : The five Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments in Perak, Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan are likely to take a united stand against the federal government’s move to implement the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 through three concessionaire companies nationwide by year-end. They intend to sue the federal government if it goes ahead and implement the Act. State education, local government, housing and public transport committee chairman Nga Kor Ming said today the federal government's move would impose an additional financial burden on the people because it would privatise most of the services now carried out by the local councils. 'I have discussed this matter with the state governments of Penang and Selangor and they have agreed to take a united stand," he said. "I shall be contacting the two other state governments of Kedah and Kelantan and I believe they will also agree to take a united stand. "The federal government has been hasty in pushing through the act without proper feedback from the public and without consulting the state governments as they should do under the Local Government Act, which states that the federal government cannot impose any local government act in any state without the consent of the respective state governments." Nga said the privatisation of the council services to the three concessionaire companies would mean the assessment rates would go up "which will cause financial hardship to the public during this downturn in the economy". "There is a price tag for every service undertaken by the concessionaire company like, for example, the removal of carcasses from public places such as those of cows, which will cost RM250 each, cats or dogs, which will cost RM100 each, and chickens, which will cost RM40 each." At present, he said, the local councils removed such carcasses without charge. "The concessionaire companies will bill the local councils for the cost of the services undertaken by them instead of billing the public directly to avoid public complaints. Nevertheless, the local councils will pass on the cost to the public by increasing the assessment rates," he said. "At present, members of the public caught littering in public places are slapped with fines of up to RM250 by the councils, which can be reduced on appeal. "However, when the new act comes into effect, the concessionaire company will have extensive power to impose fines, whereby the minimum is RM10,000 and the maximum RM100,000 or six months imprisonment, or both. "Also, the state government and local government will be burdened by the act, whereby both must apply for licences from the housing minister or director-general before they can handle their duties." Calling on the federal government to review the act, Nga said the scope of the concessionnaire company is "wide and far-reaching as it covers almost all the basic and core activities of the local councils". "The local councils will only be left with the duties to do landscaping, approving plans and maintenance of roads," he said. "All the core responsibilities, such as cleaning of drainage, handling landfill, and maintenance of public toilets, public parks and public markets will all be surrendered to this company and the local council will be rendered powerless to act on public complaints." Nga spoke to reporters after Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin officiated at the first state motivation seminar for the 338 councillors in the 15 councils in Perak at the State Secretariat.

Opposition MPs stage walkout

Parlimen Malaysia merupakan salah satu tiang seri utama kepada institusi demokrasi di Malaysia. Dewan Rakyat dan Dewan Negara adalah pentas bagi wakil-wakil yang dipilih untuk menyuarakan hasrat hati serta menjaga kepentingan rakyat keseluruhannya. Di atas semangat inilah Parlimen bukan sekadar bongkah batu kosong, akan tetapi kukuh terbina sebagai sebuah institusi.

Oleh itu menjadi tanggungjawab ahli-ahli dua dewan perundangan tersebut untuk memastikan kepentingan rakyat dan negara menjadi pertimbangan utama, bukannya kepentingan politik kepartian.

Hari ini ahli-ahli Parlimen Pakatan Rakyat mengambil keputusan untuk keluar dari Dewan yang mulia sewaktu Menteri Kewangan menggulung perbahasan belanjawan 2009. Tindakan ini terpaksa diambil kerana YB Menteri secara jelas bertindak di luar dari batasan semangat Parlimen Malaysia.

Selaku Menteri Kewangan dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak sudah tentu sedar ucapan penggulungan beliau akan memberi kesan kepada negara, justeru amat penting ucapan tersebut dibahaskan dengan teliti oleh Ahli-Ahli Dewan Rakyat.

Namun, keengganan YB Menteri Kewangan untuk membenarkan sebarang celahan, pertanyaan dan penjelasan sewaktu beliau menggulung perbahasan Belanjawan 2009 amat dikesali kerana beliau sanggup membelakangkan kepentingan umum. Satelah berulangkali menuntut jawapan, dan menunggu selama satu jam, Menteri Kewangan tetap berdegil dan enggan memberikan laluan.

Sejarah Parlimen Malaysia yang sudahpun menjangkau usia separuh abad, buat pertama kalinya, menyaksikan Menteri Kewangan enggan dan gagal melayani perbahasan belanjawan. Adalah malang sekiranya Dewan Rakyat yang menjadi tempat undang-undang dibentuk dan polisi nasional dibentangkan tidak lagi dihormati.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Karpal: Razak can be re-arrested if prosecution appeals

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 3 — Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda can be re-arrested and remanded pending the outcome should the prosecution appeal to the Court of Appeal against his acquittal, lawyer Karpal Singh said today.

Razak, the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre executive director, was charged with abetting two police commandos, Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 32, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Razak, 48, walked out a free man after Shah Alam High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin acquitted and discharged him without calling for his defence last Friday.

Karpal, who is holding a watching brief for Altantuya’s family, said the prosecution could make such an application under Section 56A of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 to prevent Razak from absconding.

He said the provision allowed the prosecution to apply to the Court of Appeal to issue a warrant of arrest against Razak and remand him pending the disposal of the appeal.

Alternatively, the section allowed the prosecution to apply to the court to free Razak on bail pending the disposal of the appeal, he said.

Azilah and Sirul Azhar, both from Special Action Squad (UTK), were ordered to enter their defence on the charge of murdering the 28-year-old mother of two in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.

They face the death sentence if convicted.

In ruling that the prosecution had failed to make out a prima facie case against Razak, the court accepted Razak’s affidavit containing exculpatory statements which it said negated and nullified the act of abetment as alleged against him.

Meanwhile, Altantuya’s father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev, has submitted a letter to Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail urging him to appeal against Razak’s acquittal.

Karpal said he handed over the letter, on behalf of Shaariibuu, to Abdul Gani this afternoon.

He said he also faxed the letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Friday. Under the law, the prosecution has 14 days to file the appeal to the Court of Appeal. The date ends on Nov 17.

In the letter, Karpal said that Shaariibuu and the second secretary of Mongolian embassy in Thailand, Siizkhuu Sainbileg, met him in the afternoon of the decision day, fervently requesting him to write a letter to Abdul Gani to file the appeal.

“We are of the view that a prima facie case had been made out against Abdul Razak Baginda and his defence ought to have been called. In view of the trial attracting national and international attention, we would be grateful if the notice of appeal could be filed as soon as possible,” he said in the letter.

- Bernama

Let me tell you, Rocky

In his post today entitled ‘How should a judge endear him/herself to the Bar?’ , Rocky associated with Azmi Anshar’s response to Robert Lazar’s “If Rocky really wants to know, the Tun never really endeared himself as a friend of the Bar pre-1988 ….” and reproduced in his post, the following excerpt from Azmi’s piece :

“But to “endear as a friend to the Bar”? How should Salleh endear himself to the Bar as a friend? Play golf with lawyers? Lunch or dinner together? Go for holidays together? Rule everything in favour of the lawyers of the Bar?”

Since you asked, let me tell you, Rocky.

The greater number of the 12,600++ lawyers at the Bar, most of whom are not tainted by any connections with UMNO or any BN politicians, wouldn’t know one end of a golf stick from the other.

Not that they wouldn’t like to take up the game. It’s just that they can’t afford it.

What most of them would not do, though, even if they could afford it, is to wine and dine with judges.

Holidays together?

Don’t insult all the lawyers and judges, Rocky! Not every judge is a Chin and every lawyer a Lingam whose slimy tentacles reach into every corrupted crevice in UMNO.

You know the sort I mean, Rocky.

Why, some lawyers can’t even afford a holiday with the family!

You think I fib?

Go on, ask the missus next time you see her.

Of course, some of these lawyers are the authors of their own circumstance, foolishly hanging on to ideals of a free and unshackled press, free speech and free expression and, for less than a peppercorn, defending the same in court. More on these lawyers in a forthcoming post.

Let me tell you how these lawyers would want a judge to endear himself / herself to the Bar.

Treat lawyers with the same courtesy that the judges themselves expect be shown to them, hear impartially and devoid of any bias, and decide according to the law, without fear or favour.

No more, no less.

Don’t get me wrong, Rocky.

I am not for one moment suggesting that everything is hunky dory with the Bar and the Bench.

Just as there are slimeballs amongst the journos, editors and bloggers in the media business and blogosphere, respectively, who would pawn their souls in exchange for position, power and the posh lifestyle, so too, sadly, in the Bar and on the Bench.

And we know who they are, don’t we, Rocky?-HarrisIbrahim

Catalyst For Change (Must Read)

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

There are two types of changes: evolution and revolution. Evolution is the slow change. It normally takes years or generations. Revolutions are immediate, sometimes overnight or abrupt.

They say Malaysia can never see a revolution. This, they say, is because Malaysians are not revolutionary or violent. Well, yes and no. Malaysians may not be violent, at least the majority of Malaysians, but they can be revolutionary when they want to.

Revolutions should not be equated with killings and blood on the streets. You can have a paradigm shift, which is a revolution if done overnight, or a change of mentality, which would be a mental revolution.

Malaysia saw its revolution on 8^th March, 2008. It is a revolution and nothing short of that. You can’t really call it anything else.

Revolutions are good, if it can be un-bloody. Bloody revolutions normally never end because there will always be the tendency for revenge. But when there is no other avenue and if a bloody revolution is needed then a bloody revolution it would have to be like in Indonesia and the Philippines who fought against the Dutch and Spanish respectively.

Malaysian at first were quite prepared to allow for an evolutionary change. In fact, they waited 50 years. Then, on the 51^st year, they decided that the situation is getting from bad to worse and they can’t expect any improvements so they decided to go for a revolutionary change. And that is why Barisan Nasional did so badly on 8^th March 2008.

This triggered other events. The Barisan Nasional component members realized that they too need to change or else suffer death and we began to see dissent in the ranks of MCA, Gerakan, and so on. Umno too is going through change, at least a change of leadership.

But Umno needs more than just a change of leadership. It also needs a change of attitude. It can no longer threaten “another May 13” or ask the “immigrants” to “go back to their own country” whenever they raise “sensitive issues”. Umno must realize that the Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Dayaks, Kadazan, Portuguese, Thai, etc. have as much rights as the Malays. They too have a stake in Malaysia. Did not Tun Dr. Mahathir say that 90% of the income tax is paid by the Chinese?

The fear is that Umno’s leadership change is just that and nothing more; Umno is not going to change its attitude or policies. And why should it? After all, it is not 26 million Malaysians or 11 million voters who decide the Umno presidency. It is 191 division leaders. 191 Malay Umno leaders decide who becomes the President of Umno and ultimately the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

So 26 million Malaysians do not matter. 11 million voters do not matter either. Only 191 division leaders matter. And what matters to these 191 division leaders is what counts.

And what do these 191 Umno division leaders want? They want Umno to continue to uphold Malay rights and special privileges and to defend the New Economic Policy “with the last drop of their blood”. And this is what the Umno President cum Malaysian Prime Minister will have to do if he wants to keep his job. If not then he will be pressured into resigning like what happened to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister normally forgets that he is a prime minister of all Malaysians. Most times he thinks that he is the prime minister of just the Umno members – not even the prime minister of all Malays. And this is not going to change when Najib takes over from Pak Lah.

It is not that Najib does not know. It is just that he has no choice. It is not 26 million Malaysians or 11 million voters who gave him his job. It is the 191 division leaders. The 191 division leaders who nominated him and gave Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah only a single nomination. So he has to cater to their needs and not the needs of non-Umno Malays or the 11 million voters or 26 million Malaysians.

And this is why we need a prime minister from Pakatan Rakyat. We need a Malaysian prime minister, not an Umno division prime minister. And until Pakatan Rakyat takes over and as long as the prime minister is a man nominated by 191 Umno division that would be how long the prime minister will be an Umno prime minister and not a Malaysian prime minister.

But is this going to happen? Will we see a Pakatan Rakyat prime minister? And when will that be?

Yes, I think it will happen. And it may not be too long away, probably even before Christmas. The 8^th March 2008 revolution has not ended. It is still continuing. It continued into the Permatang Pauh by-election. It will continue into the Kulim by-election if they dare declare that seat vacant – which was why they dropped the case. And the revolution will only end once the Umno prime minister has been kicked out of office.

The incoming Umno leadership is a Mathathir leadership. Mahathir announced at Hotel Singgahsana in Petaling Jaya that the new prime minister will be guided by a Presidential Council. Who will head this newly set up Presidential Council? Can the people accept the fact that Mahathir will be back in power and will be ruling by proxy? This will be the issue debated these next couple of weeks and which will have a bearing on a Pakatan Rakyat prime minister taking over.

I know many are no longer holding their breath. Most Malaysians have given up hope for Pakatan Rakyat taking over the federal government. Well, it may be too early to give up hope. If by Christmas it has not happened then maybe it’s time to get worried. Until then keep hoping and plan for this year’s Christmas to be the best Christmas in 51 years since Merdeka.

Unruly scenes unfold in video clip (Must Watch)

Is this what in the heart of UMNO led government, for sure in the future there is no place for non-Muslims in the country. They are not doing this with East- timor delegates but it is just peace of low class mentality that they want to show other. This country will appear as Pakistan , Sudan and Somalia one day.

Media Statement 4th November 2008

The UMNO led Malaysian Government in its attempt to silent the voice of HINDRAF had made this people's Civil Rights Movement an illegal movement.

The aspiration of HINDRAF has always been to address the grievances of the ethnic Malaysian Indians who are continuously marginalized and discriminated in every aspect of socio-economic in Malaysia.

PAS and other political groups as well as non partisan groups have voiced their dissent against the government's stance in declaring HINDRAF illegal as they truly understand that in reality, the Malaysian Indians are subjected to socio-economic imbalance due to unfair and unjust policies thus creating a new underclass society in Malaysia.

The voice of the underclass Malaysian Indians being a minority have never been heard before until HINDRAF came along to address the genuine grievances of this mass to be treated equally and fairly.

The UMNO led government instead of engaging us to listen to the public's grievances rather chose to silence us by fear and intimidation by unjust operation of law. This only creates further animosity amongst the Malaysian Indians toward the ruling government.

We welcome PAS's intention to act as mediator and negotiate on behalf of HINDRAF to lift the ban on HINDRAF.

Along with PAS, we would like to invite matured and seasoned politicians like Tun Musa Hitam, Dato Seri On Ka Ting and Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan to participate together to act as mediator for HINDRAF in all fairness as we trust they are able understand the problems faced by the Malaysian Indians as a minority and maybe able to reach out to the UMNO led government in lifting the ban on HINDRAF.

If the government fails to engage HINDRAF through these mediators, it clearly shows that the UMNO led government is least interested in obstinate methods in further alienating the Malaysian Indian in every aspect of socio-economic development in Malaysia.

Thank you.

P. Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

Family ties take root in Malaysian politics

Najib set to be PM like his late father. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Politics often appears to be a family affair in Asia with Pakistan's Bhuttos, India's Gandhis and the Lees in Singapore; now Malaysia looks set to join the party with Datuk Seri Najib Razak now set to be Prime Minister next year.

Najib, the 55-year-old son of Malaysia's second premier and the nephew of the third, will take the helm in March at a time when this Asian nation of 27 million people grapples with economic problems and rising political and ethnic tensions.

News agency Reuters released a feature today, noting that another rising star of the party that has ruled Malaysia for all 51 years of its existence as a country is Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of its longest-serving prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

On the opposition benches in Parliament sits Nurul Izzah Anwar and her father, veteran politician Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar is a former deputy premier who once looked set for the top job until he was kicked out of the ruling party and jailed on what he says were false charges.

"There is an Asian belief that political power can be passed on to the next generation through bloodline," said James Chin, political science professor at Monash University in Malaysia.

Critics say the sense that blood entitles a person to exercise power has generated corruption, stymied development and hampered good government.

More often than not, the progeny of political leaders fail to live up to the family name.

"If Malaysians or foreigners expect Najib to be like his father as PM, they will be greatly disappointed," said Abdullah Ahmad, a political author and a former aide to Najib's father.

Najib, who has a bachelor's degree in economics, will take over at a time when a re-energised opposition led by Anwar is seeking to gain power and when economic growth is skidding due to global financial turmoil.

Adding to his troubles, Najib will need to address Malaysia's failure to keep up with more nimble neighbours in the competitiveness and investment stakes.

Growth in Malaysia's export-oriented economy looks set to fall to 3.4 per cent next year, the lowest since 2001. The budget deficit has soared due to spending on fuel subsidies and national infrastructure projects, according to the Malaysian Institute for Economic Research, a leading think-tank.

"I pity Najib. He's taking over from the worst of times and from a man who messed things up," said Abdullah Ahmad, referring to the outgoing premier Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Najib has been in Parliament since the tender age of 22 when he took over the seat of his father, who died in office. He has held posts in the sports, education and defence ministries and now holds the powerful finance portfolio.

His father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein designed Malaysia's race-based system which was supposed to help ethnic Malays climb the economic ladder and compete against the more entrepreneurial ethnic Chinese population. His uncle, Tun Hussein Onn is credited with forging unity among the races during his premiership.

Najib's family links run to the heart of politics and business; his cousin is education minister and his younger brother Nazir runs Malaysia's second-largest bank CIMB.

Najib's recent move on the top job has been marked by continued attacks on his integrity by the opposition and by Internet bloggers obsessed with a lurid murder trial that involved Najib's former aide. The aide was acquitted, but not before Najib had to issue statements denying involvement.

Many political observers believe Najib may simply owe too much to too many people to stake out a separate political identity.

"He (Najib) was coddled and helped all along, first by his uncle Hussein Onn and then by Mahathir, the man who owed a debt of gratitude to his father," said Zainon Ahmad, political editor of the local Sun newspaper.

"Only now I think Najib has to be on his own," he said.

When he took the reins of power in 2003, current prime minister Abdullah looked like a tonic for a country that had grown tired of Dr Mahathir's 22-year rule.

Dr Mahathir dragged Malaysia towards developed nation status, oversaw the building of the iconic Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, and guided the country through the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. Yet his long rule was also criticised for the growth of cronyism and its failure to help poor Malays.

Abdullah seemed to have laid the ghost of Dr Mahathir to rest in 2004 when the Barisan Nasional coalition, led by his Umno party, scored its biggest election success on promises to end corruption.

That success turned to dust in elections in March this year when the opposition stunned the government by depriving it of its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament, which means it can no longer automatically change the country's constitution.

Dr Mahathir has since turned on Abdullah, sniping from the sidelines when the premier cancelled some of his massive infrastructure projects. He resigned from Umno, swearing not to return until Abdullah was ousted.

In a further twist to that feud, Mukhriz is battling Abdullah's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin for the leadership of Umno's influential youth wing, a staging post to the party presidency and the premiership of the country.

That political battle is a sign that dynasty politics will be around for a long time to come, worrying some Malaysians who feel the country is governed neither by them, nor for them.

"The ones that keep coming back for more are the sons, daughters and grandchildren of yesteryear's leaders," said a comment posted on political blog www.bakrimusa.com.

"It is, to them, their birthright to be accorded such positions as their fathers and forefathers. If you are not born to 'the families', then you must marry into one!"

Hindraf wants political figures to help

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), while welcoming the Pas offer to mediate on its behalf to lift the ban on the movement, has called on political figures to do the same.

"We would like to invite matured and seasoned politicians like Tun Musa Hitam, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan to mediator for Hindraf," said its chairman P. Waytha Moorthy, who is living in exile in Britain.

"We trust they are able understand the problems faced by Malaysian Indians as a minority and may be able to reach out to the Umno-led government in lifting the ban on Hindraf," Waytha Moorthy said in a statement released today.

This represents a softer stance from the group which has continued to attack the government despite being outlawed on Oct 15 in the aftermath of its presence at the Cabinet Hari Raya open house at Putra World Trade Centre.

On Oct 23, just prior to Deepavali, 11 leaders of the group, insisting they were there as ordinary citizens, were arrested as they attempted to submit a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi demanding the release of five Hindraf leaders currently held under the Internal Security Act.

Two days later, Pas offered to act as mediator in resolving the problems Hindraf supporters had with the government.

The offer was made by two Pas leaders, vice-president Datuk Husam Musa and Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, who met about 40 Hindraf supporters in front of the Putrajaya police headquarters where the 11 were being held.

The group was released on bail the next day.

Zaid lucky to be born a Malay, says Syed Hamid

• Zaid hits back at critics • Ex-minister called 'a traitor to race' • Pakar gesa Zaid keluar dari Kelantan, Malaysia • Zaid not going to apologise for Ketuanan Melayu statement ©New Straits Times • I will not apologise, says Zaid PUTRAJAYA: Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said historical realities must not be questioned to prevent potential issues from cropping up. Elaborating on his call for Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to apologise for his remarks on the concept of Malay supremacy, Syed Hamid said the former minister in the Prime Minister's Department should extend the apology to all Malays in the country. "It (the apology) is a simple statement that he should make. He should tell them (Malays) that it was not his intention to make them angry or hurt their feeling as the realities are all there," the home minister said. Zaid should realise that in practising freedom of speech, he should not go to the extent of hurting the feelings of Malays, he said. "If he does, then issues will start arising. So, those historical realities must never be questioned. Let us look forward. "If you say that the concept of Malay supremacy has failed, then Zaid will not be what he is today. He is fortunate he was born a Malay," he said after launching a forensic level security control system, NexCode, here yesterday. On Friday, Zaid was reported to have said that the concept of Malay supremacy had failed and was a distraction from the real issues confronting the country. I will not apologise, says Zaid KOTA BARU: Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said yesterday he will not apologise for his remarks on Malay supremacy. He said the concept did have negative elements and racist traits. "Many Malays want their achievements to be respected and recognised based on their abilities. "Malays have extraordinary abilities and they do not have to be arrogant that they have more rights than the other races. "It does not mean that I am questioning the Federal Constitution. The problem is that the so-called Malay champions could not differentiate between rights and privileges. "Maybe because of the (Umno) party's election season, many, especially those contesting the vice-president's posts, want to gain support by giving their own interpretations of my statement." In his statement yesterday, Zaid said as a Malay kampung boy from a poor family, he wanted to see Malays advance in economy and education.

A rare parliamentary sight not seen for decades – eight UMNO Ministers queuing up in Parliament till 11.30 pm last night to reply

A rare parliamentary sight in Parliament for decades – eight Umno Ministers queuing up in Parliament till 11.30 pm yesterday to take their turn to reply in the 2009 Budget debate yesterday.

Clearly, my Sunday speech to the DAP Kuala Lumpur Convention castigating Umno Ministers for neglecting their parliamentary, Cabinet and national responsibilities because of the protracted Umno party elections and suggesting that they take five-month leave so as to ensure that the people and country do not suffer because of their party politicking when Malaysia faces the worst global economic crisis in 80 years has hit home and taken instantaneous effect.

On Thursday, two Umno Ministers, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein played truant from their Ministerial duties when they were absent in the winding-up of their Ministries, passing the buck to their deputy ministers.

If Hamid and Hishammuddin think that their deputy ministers were equal to them and could reply of behalf of their Ministries as effectively as they themselves could, then it is time they resign and give way to their two deputies to become full ministers!

I hope that this unprecedented show of discipline and responsibility is not a “one-shot” affair but will become a directing principle for all responsible Ministers for the rest of the parliamentary term – and we will see Ministers taking full charge of the debate for each Ministry during the 16-day Committee stage debate of the 2009 Budget beginning tomorrow till 4th December 2008.

Yesterday, the Umno Ministers put up a responsible show, but the MCA Ministers fell short, with two MCA Ministers absent from their parliamentary posts during the reply, viz the newly-elected MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Ong Tee Kiat and the newly-elected MCA Vice President and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, who had to depend on their deputy ministers to save the day.

There can be no excuse for the absence of Cabinet Ministers from their parliamentary duties for the parliamentary calendar for the Ministerial winding-up in the 2009 budget debate had been fixed many months ahead of schedule and there can be no excuse for Ministers to be away from Parliament, whether overseas or somewhere else in the country.

I hope today, the fourth and last day of the Ministerial winding-up of the 2009 Budget debate, will see other Umno Ministers continue to set a good parliamentary example to their other BN Cabinet colleagues

How should a judge endear him/herself to the Bar?

NST's chief Dewan dispatcher Azmi Anshar is not letting the Salleh Abas vs Bar Council issue die just yet. I must thank him for reminding me about Robert Lazar's comment to my disclosure here on Salleh's predicament: "If Rocky really wants to know, the Tun never really endeared himself as a friend of the Bar pre-1988 ....".
I'm not sure why I didn'tn pin Robert Lazar there and then. Am glad Azmi's asking these questions in his latest despatch:

"But to “endear as a friend to the Bar”? How should Salleh endear himself to the Bar as a friend? Play golf with lawyers? Lunch or dinner together? Go for holidays together? Rule everything in favour of the lawyers of the Bar?"

Read Azmi's piece If you have to sock Salleh Abas ..... The new CJ should take serious note of Robert Lazar's response ...

Finding Equilibrium

Zaid Ibrahim’s impassioned call for a rejection of race politics last Friday at the LawAsia conference is one that deserves its place in history. His plea for the restoration of democracy and the Rule of Law has reverberated throughout the nation.

This is not surprising. Zaid’s message is rooted in an obviously deep and heartfelt commitment to the nation and the interests of all its citizens. Where the Malays are concerned, he is strident in his rejection of policies that have left the community struggling against a siege mentality that robs it of its ability to meet the challenges of a globalizing world. As he observes, the “Malays are now a clear majority in numbers. The fear of their being out numbered is baseless; they are not under siege. The institutions of government are such that the Malays are effectively represented, and the there is no way the interest of the Malays can be taken away other than through their own weakness and folly.”

Equally forceful in his defence of non-Malay interest, Zaid laments attempts by politicians to do away with a social contract that guarantees “equality and the promise of the Rule of Law” in favour of one that promotes a supremacist ideology that ultimately serves only the interests of an elite. This, he opines, has left the nation deeply divided and cut off from the democracy and Rule of Law so vital for the sustainable and inclusive development that all Malaysians need, irrespective of race and religion.

Put another way, Zaid has given voice to what it is most Malaysians think: that we need to be united to face the future. The founders of this nation understood we could, appreciating that there was no reason for fear and that we had every reason for mutual respect and dignity. Fear mongering has however kept us apart and from seeing the threats that confront us, and what we need to do to counter them.

Zaid’s message is persuasive for its simplicity and self-evident truth. He must be credited for having been able to say what had to be said, as it needed to be said.

If there is any doubt as to the legitimacy of the viewpoint expressed, then we need only consider the reactions from senior UMNO members entrenched in the leadership structure of the party. These reactions not only make it evident that Zaid hit the nail on the head, they also show why it is UMNO and the Barisan Nasional need to seriously reconsider how to make themselves relevant. Two responses are illustrative.

Perlis UMNO liaison chief and former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had this to say, according to media reports, “Zaid should repent. Otherwise he should get out of the ‘rumpun Melayu’. Paraphrased by BERNAMA, his explanation for this was that “if Zaid continued to question the Malay supremacy concept, then he should no longer be a Malay as a Malay should be defending the Malays and not running them down.”

But, is that not what Zaid was doing? Apparently not, for the New Straits Times reported Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who is incidentally an UMNO supreme council member, as saying that Zaid was “a traitor to his own race and should apologise for his remarks.”

Both responses are so self-defeating that they boggle the mind. They typify the might is right attitude that Zaid speaks out against. Being senior UMNO members, both individuals must be open to the possibilities. As Zaid put it, if “affirmative action is truly benchmarked on the equitable sharing of wealth that is sustainable, then we must confront the truth and change our political paradigm; 40 years of discrimination and subsidy have not brought us closer.”

Zaid was not alone in expressing concerns about the way things are. At the same conference, His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin Shah, the Raja Muda of Perak, called for a rejection of discriminatory policies. The Raja Muda observed that the “consequence of not empowering citizens or, worse, disempowering them, is to create a deep sense of alienation and hostility. Indeed, it is very often an overwhelming sense of alienation and powerlessness that causes the rash acts of violence that fracture societies. It gives these citizens every reason to seek to divide society in order to redress their dissatisfactions. This is bad and insensitive politics. On another level, we cannot morally turn our backs on the fundamental responsibility of ensuring that all stakeholders in our society, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, have a place under the sun.”

The ideal could not be better articulated. Malaysians, all of us, want our place in the sun. We do not wish to live in fear, looking over our shoulders all the time. There is more than enough for us all to share in. We have been blessed with a nation so abundant with resources and so rich with potential that generation upon generation will be able to live in peace and prosperity. The only catch, if it can be called that, is that we need to be left alone to find our equilibrium. Only then can we get on with the task of doing it right.

(Malay Mail; 4th November 2008)

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

Kuil SRI BATHRAKALIAMAN, JLN MASJID INDIA

Eventhough the new structure already been build on 10 meter by 11 meter next to the old structure DBKL was not considerate.
Temple priest Kanmanibala say he had ask for time for him to remove the dieties, earlier he had agree to remove on 30/10 then extention given till 3/11. DBKL doesnt consider plea by the priest. They came and bulldoz the old structure and also the toilet and a room where the priest stays. Even water supply been cut off.

S.JAYATHAS

MPs want answer on 'missing' TV show

DPM NAJIB’S OPEN HOUSE PLEDGE ANOTHER EYEWASH

DPM SHOULD INSTEAD ANNOUNCE A SPECIAL ALLOCATION AND CONCRETE PLAN TO UPLIFT THE INDIAN SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS

We refer to DPM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak’s Statement that a “the Indian community's plight was also being seriously looked into by a special cabinet committee, which he chairs, to ensure that it had participation in the national economy and equity”.

HINDRAF wishes to reiterate that the Indian community had heard enough promises for the last 51 years that would last them the next 3 generations of the Government’s promises that it cared for the plight of the Indian community and that they “would look into it”. The statement of the DPM is yet another eyewash during the festive Deepavali period to pacify and mislead the Malaysian Indian community as usual.

Every Deepavali open houses and MIC annual general assemblies the Indians are made to believe and given the assurances that their “plight are being looked into” and “help is just around the corner”. We have been hearing this for the past 51 years now and no Malaysian Indian would believe this apart from the MIC cronies who live and thrive on the “biscuits” thrown at them by UMNO.

The DPM must have thought the Indians could be fooled as usual and perhaps he would have received a “thunderous applause” for his “goodie announcements” which no doubt must have come from all the planted MIC cronies. The DPM who is also the Finance Minister should stop the “empty talk” and instead make a concrete announcement of an allocation of funds to uplift the socio economic condition of Indians in the country.

We want to know how serious the Government is in solving the woes of the Indian community in dollars and cents. Enough of setting up Special Cabinet committees and all the years of empty promises. The Malaysian Indians have woken up and can no longer be cheated with mere bare promises. The Government of the day has to be serious and solemn, come up with a concrete plan of how to address the issue instead of giving piecemeal solutions and empty promises.

P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
HINDRAF

Anwar says Ketuanan Melayu only benefits a minority

Anwar: Only a small group benefiting from ketuanan Melayu. — Picture by Choo Choy May

IPOH, Nov 3 — The “ketuanan Melayu” or Malay supremacy concept as advocated by certain groups, benefits and enriches only a small group of Malays, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

“I believe that the Malays and Bumiputeras should not be sidelined,” he said.

“We should do all we can to help them together with the Chinese and Indians,” Anwar told reporters after a talk at the Bangunan Darul Ridzuan today.

He said, however, that fighting for Malay supremacy to enrich a small number of Malays while a larger section of the community were still in deplorable condition, was unacceptable.

On the remark by former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim recently that the Malay supremacy concept had failed, Anwar said, the statement should be studied by all.

At the 21st LawAsia Conference in Kuala Lumpur last week, Zaid said the Malay supremacy concept had failed and distracted from the real issues confronting the country.

The remark irked several Umno leaders, including Perlis Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who described Zaid’s statement as excessive, while Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar called on Zaid to apologise to the Malays.

Meanwhile, Anwar said that certain media had been manipulating the appointment of Low Siew Moi as the acting general manager of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) and turned the matter into a racial issue.

He said the appointment was only temporary until a new one was made by the Pakatan Rakyat. — Bernama

Three Higher Education Ministers in 4 years while universities continue plunge in international rankings and losing out to Indonesia after left behind

Three Higher Education Ministers in four years while Malaysian universities continue the plunge in international university rankings – this is the second consecutive year Malaysia is excluded from the Times Higher Education Supplement’s (THES-QS) World’s Top 200 Universities.

Are these two matters inter-related?

This is the question I posed to the third Higher Education Minister in four years, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in Parliament this morning when he replied during the winding-up of the 2009 Budget debate, but as expected, he could not throw any light on the conundrum.

It is a sad reflection of the “paradigm shift” in university quality and excellence in Malaysia that while the first two Higher Education Ministers (Datuk Dr. Shafie Salleh and Datuk Dr. Mustapha Mohamed) talked about how to defend Malaysian university rankings in the Top 200 World Universities, Khaled spoke with pride this morning at the inclusion of Malaysian universities in the Top 500 world universities!

I warned this morning that Malaysia is seriously losing out in competitiveness, with our univerisites not only left behind by Singapore [National University of Singapore (NUS) ranked 30th and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore ranked No. 77] and Thailand (Chulalongkorn University ranked No. 166), we are beginning to straggle behind Indonesian universities!

Until last year, Malaysian universities were all ranked well ahead of the Indonesian universities, but in the 2008 THES-QS World Top Universities ranking, Indonesian universities are catching up with Malaysian universities in leaps and bounds.

Last year for instance, the three top Indonesian universities were all ranked behind the Malaysian universities – University of Indonesia (UI) No. 395, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) No. 369 and Gajah Mada University (UGM) No. 360, as compared to the three top Malaysian universities University of Malaya (UM) No. 246, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) No. 307 and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) No. 309.

In this year’s ranking, University of Indonesia has improved by 108 placings to be ranked as No. 287, Bandung Institute of Technology No. 315 and Gajah Mada University No. 316.

This means that in the 2008 THES-QS Ranking, University of Indonesia (No. 287) has narrowed the gap with University of Malaya (No. 230) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (No. 250), while ahead of Malaysia’s apex university, Universiti Sains Malaysia (No. 313), University Putra Malaysia (No. 320) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (No. 356).

RM5b + RM5b = RM10b worth of questions

The first 5 billion ringgit question is of course related to state investment company Valuecap. That’s the RM5 billion taken from our EPF money to be used by Valuecap to “invest” in the stock market.

But Malaysian Insider raises a new question. It claims that Valuecap owes its three shareholders RM5.1 billion, which is due to be repaid in February 2009.

This debt, in the form of interest-bearing unsecured bonds, raises questions over plans for the Employees Provident Fund to lend RM5 billion to Valuecap to invest in the stock market.

In March 2003, Valuecap borrowed RM5.1 billion from shareholders Khazanah, Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen and Permodalan Nasional Bhd to invest in the stock market. At the time, world stock markets were bracing for a looming war in Iraq which followed on the September 2001 attacks on the US.

Valuecap’s bonds were due to be repaid in February 2006, but the company was given another three years to this coming February. At the end of 2006, the three shareholders each held RM1.7 billion in these bonds, according to documents obtained by The Malaysian Insider.

Since these debt instruments were not listed and are not tradeable, the three shareholders are probably still holding these bonds today.

Recently, the government proposed that EPF lend Valuecap RM5 billion to invest in the stock market. In view of its impending obligation to repay its shareholders, however, questions arise over whether the loaned funds will be used to redeem the bonds.

As at the end of 2006, Valuecap’s investments were valued at RM4.8 billion. Since then, the stock market has lost 21 per cent of its value. If Valuecap’s investments have tracked the stock market, these could be worth RM3.8 billion currently.

Then there is Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua’s call on the Finance Ministry and Khazanah to explain their involvement in Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which lost RM1 billion last year. This is compounded by the alleged loss of RM5.17 billion that Khazanah Nasional is said to have invested in the semiconductor wafer manufacturer since 1994, reports Malaysiakini.

Tony is concerned that Silterra is now seeking an additional RM8.5 billion for its expansion efforts.

I think the Finance Ministry has some serious explaining to do. It should come clean and make public the accounts of these two entities - Valuecap and Silterra - and tell us exactly how much, if any, has been lost. The Ministry should also explain to the public exactly what it intends to do with the RM5 billion from EPF.

PAC SAYS NO WRONGDOING BY GOVERNMENT ON EUROCOPTER DEAL

Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid announced today that the committee has cleared the government of wrongdoing in the suspended billion-ringgit Eurocopter deal although they were concerned with the fact that there was no physical examination on the 12 Eurocopter helicopters which the government wanted to purchase.

It was proposed that the PAC wanted the government to be more transparent in all future dealings, and recommended that an independent review panel be set up to look into at all major purchases before the government commits.