Dad had catch the 6:05am flight to Kota Kinabalu so that means I had to wake up at freakin' 4:30am just to be able to send him to the airport. Well what must be done, must be done I always say.
Anyway, after I dropped my dad off I decided to visit the Lido market to get some food. It's quite a new experience for me although I've been here a couple of times. I also found out that Jesselton doesn't only have the best sunsets, it's also got the best sunrise! I've made up my mind to try getting up early tomorrow to snap a few good ones..hopefully I can wake up though!
So the PM will meet up with our CM Musa next Monday, NOT to discuss the worries and issues affecting general Sabahans but rather Sabah BN politicians only. Even the Sarawakians are demanding more positions in the federal cabinet. You know it's quite funny how they say Sabah BN 'deserves' more places in the federal cabinet. I mean surely they don't 'deserve' it. Have they even worked for it? In fact, Sabah BN didn't really do well but rather the Peninsula BN did bad. In any case, Sabah politicians have done quite a lot of damage to the image of Sabahans projected to the rest of Malaysia. Remember 'bocor'? Isn't he the orang utan from Kinabatangan? I wouldn't even call him an orang utan because at least the orang utans are bringing in a lot of much needed tourism money. What has this guy done for the orang Kinabatangan except plunder the forest reserves? What about Shafie Apdal? Wasn't he the one who messed up domestic trade with all these restrictions on cooking oil and diesel? Is he even QUALIFIED to be Minister of Domestic Trade? And now when he is 'relegated' to Culture, Heritage and Arts, Sabah BN is making all these big hoo hah.
And the poor uneducated masses do not even know the political realities facing them by still voting for these idiots. But I don't blame them really. Malaysia's democratic system only requires the politician to make his electorates happy to stay in power. And mind you, these people in the rural areas of Sabah are quite easily contented and manipulated by these cunning people.
This has got to do with the education system in the country and state. Raja Petra wrote on his blog today asking why Malaysia cannot spend just a fraction of the petroleum money to build more schools and good universities. Here's the answer: The reason why Malaysia and Sabah do not improve on their education system is because they know that if that happens, the citizens will rise up and vote AGAINST them because the educated people see through Barisan Nasional's lies and folly crystal clear.
It remains to be seen what will transpire from the much-anticipated meeting between the CM and PM. Sabah BN leaders claim to want more cabinet positions on the pretext that they want a bigger Sabah voice to voice our Sabahan concerns. Bullshit! You could have voiced out Sabah concerns a long time ago. In the end, we still have dogs running the country and state. The only question is, which dog will win the dogfight?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Time For KL To Review 'Unfair' Policies in Sabah
DAILY EXPRESS
Monday, 31st March 2008
Kota Kinabalu: It is high time the Federal Government review some of the current policies that are extremely unfair and are impoverishing Sabah, said former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Tham Nyip Shen.
This includes the present requirement for Sabah to export its commodities such as cocoa and palm oil through ports in Peninsular Malaysia, besides paying a higher price for consumer goods.
Speaking to reporters here Sunday, Tham, who is also State Science Advisor Datuk Tham Nyip Shen highlighted that due to the an unfair policy, the State is currently estimated to lose about RM300 million of revenues from palm oil export (of an estimated six million tones) alone per annum, based on the current market price of between RM40 - RM50 per tonne.
"With such an unfair policy, how can we not be poor?" he asked.
He pointed out that the lost revenues were actually sufficient to increase the development fund for each MP in the State to RM3 million for them to help improve their constituencies.
And while welcoming the recent statement made by the recent Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Ahmad, Tham who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) 'think-tank' chief reiterated his previous call to implement a 'uniform pricing policy' for goods across the nation, in order to be fair to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
Sharir had said that consumers in the country can expect major changes in the demand and supply mechanism, including doing away with controlling the prices of essential goods.
"When Datuk Shahrir assumed the post of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, he made a few interesting announcements and this certainly gives fresh hope to Malaysians, Sabahans included. This, I say syabas! (well done!) to Datuk Shahrir.
"But, I am particularly keen to pursue an old topic - uniform national pricing policy across the nation. It is never the fault of Sabahans and Sarawakians that we are being separated by the largest sea in the world - the South China Sea. Unfortunately, we are severely punished as a result i.e. paying a higher price for consumer goods (between 20 per cent - 50 per cent )," he said.
He said the case of America which is about 28 times larger than the size of Malaysia, to further illustrate his point. [USA: Area (Land): 9,161,923 SQ KM. Malaysia: Area (Land): 328,550 SQ KM]
"To put it in perspective, traveling from east to west of United States of America requires 5 hours compares to just 2Þ hours in Malaysia. Yet, there is no price difference in most items between New York and Los Angeles when they are 2,462 miles apart compare to that of only 1000 miles between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.
"I can quote a few other countries having no price difference. In Malaysia, even national newspapers are more expensive in Sabah, compare to Kuala Lumpur!" he said.
Tham asserted that the renewal of such call for a 'uniform pricing policy' is timely, especially when the people of Sabah and Sarawak had given so much support to the BN Government.
"Sabah is still being recognised as the poorest state in Malaysia, we are not asking for special privilege, what we want is not much, we just want a fair price, the same price that a Malaysian should pay! We hope to live like a Malaysian.
"I am confident that something positive can be done to give a fair treatment to Malaysians residing in Sabah. I would also like to reiterate my call for the Federal Government to equal the export price of commodities from Sabah too," he said.
"Without a fair treatment and a level playing field, Malaysians in Sabah will always be at the losing end and perhaps it is also part of the reasons why today Sabah is still being widely recognized as the poorest state in Malaysia. Why must we suffer all these injustices?" he stressed.
*************************************
The Jesseltonite Review
So finally some BN bigshot from Sabah dares to stand up and tell the Feds that it's time to review unfair policies towards all Sabahans. Isn't this a case of too little too late? For years, and without fear and prejudice I say this was especially so during Mahathir days, Sabahans were treated as second class citizens in Malaysia. Even the Bumiputeras here were treated as second class Bumiputeras.
Sabahans yearn for the days where race does not come into the political equation and the Chief Minister was selected based on the person leading the victorious party irrespective of race. There used to be Chief Ministers from the Chinese, the Kadazans, the Malays and it didn't really matter to us because most important, they were orang kita - orang Sabah.
Then came Dr. Mahathir with his big bags of cash promising a fucked up rotation system which was meant to systematically kill off Sabah. Many people did not support Barisan as an endorsement for the rotation system. In 1994, Sabahans voted not for Barisan, but against a corrupt and incompetent PBS government. In fact, Sabahans voted for a hope of 'Sabah Baru' MINUS the rotation system. PBS won by a majority of 2 seats then. But it was only too unfortunate for them that after the elections, PBS politicians were overwhelmed with greed that they forgot their sense of loyalty (the existence of which is still very much in doubt) and thus began the exodus of the kataks and the rotation system. The rotation system was a failed system. A Chief Minister from different race ruling for two years? This is the passport to legal theft. A gang rape of Sabah so to speak. With only two years, what can a Chief Minister achieve except to quickly fill up his pockets and leave for the rapist to go through the rounds. Osu Sukam lost all his ill-gotten gains in a UK casino. Yong Teck Lee sold off a few pieces of good land and even signed of the sea (the beautiful Likas Bay which fortunately was reviewed). In his overzealous attempt to stay in politics got caught moving in some illegal voters into his constituency Likas (I will write on this at a later date - for now I think this man with hideous sideburns should keep his mouth shut because he is not respected in Sabah as much as he thinks he is). Anyhow, the rotation system stopped just when UMNO was holding it. Coincidence? I don't think so. But UMNO or not, it doesn't matter because at the very least, the fouled rotation system has finally stopped. A federal minister (I forgot his name) even got the nerve to say that it is such an effective and fair system that it should be implemented in Penang. To this ignorant bastard I say, if it is SO effective and fair, why not rotate the post of Prime Minister amongst the races? Fool!
So, Mr Tham, bravo for speaking up but please don't stop there. It does not just end at forcing Sabah businesses to do their exporting to China and East Asia via Port Klang which is a stupid policy to begin with. It is not just making consumer goods the same price. It is about ending this 'big brother' attitude and viewing Sabah the way it should be..as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia. And this can start by reviewing Malaysia's history books. Sabah and Sarawak DID NOT join Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners together with Singapore and Malaya to form the federation of Malaysia. I will write on this topic a little later.
Monday, 31st March 2008
Kota Kinabalu: It is high time the Federal Government review some of the current policies that are extremely unfair and are impoverishing Sabah, said former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Tham Nyip Shen.
This includes the present requirement for Sabah to export its commodities such as cocoa and palm oil through ports in Peninsular Malaysia, besides paying a higher price for consumer goods.
Speaking to reporters here Sunday, Tham, who is also State Science Advisor Datuk Tham Nyip Shen highlighted that due to the an unfair policy, the State is currently estimated to lose about RM300 million of revenues from palm oil export (of an estimated six million tones) alone per annum, based on the current market price of between RM40 - RM50 per tonne.
"With such an unfair policy, how can we not be poor?" he asked.
He pointed out that the lost revenues were actually sufficient to increase the development fund for each MP in the State to RM3 million for them to help improve their constituencies.
And while welcoming the recent statement made by the recent Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Ahmad, Tham who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) 'think-tank' chief reiterated his previous call to implement a 'uniform pricing policy' for goods across the nation, in order to be fair to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
Sharir had said that consumers in the country can expect major changes in the demand and supply mechanism, including doing away with controlling the prices of essential goods.
"When Datuk Shahrir assumed the post of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, he made a few interesting announcements and this certainly gives fresh hope to Malaysians, Sabahans included. This, I say syabas! (well done!) to Datuk Shahrir.
"But, I am particularly keen to pursue an old topic - uniform national pricing policy across the nation. It is never the fault of Sabahans and Sarawakians that we are being separated by the largest sea in the world - the South China Sea. Unfortunately, we are severely punished as a result i.e. paying a higher price for consumer goods (between 20 per cent - 50 per cent )," he said.
He said the case of America which is about 28 times larger than the size of Malaysia, to further illustrate his point. [USA: Area (Land): 9,161,923 SQ KM. Malaysia: Area (Land): 328,550 SQ KM]
"To put it in perspective, traveling from east to west of United States of America requires 5 hours compares to just 2Þ hours in Malaysia. Yet, there is no price difference in most items between New York and Los Angeles when they are 2,462 miles apart compare to that of only 1000 miles between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.
"I can quote a few other countries having no price difference. In Malaysia, even national newspapers are more expensive in Sabah, compare to Kuala Lumpur!" he said.
Tham asserted that the renewal of such call for a 'uniform pricing policy' is timely, especially when the people of Sabah and Sarawak had given so much support to the BN Government.
"Sabah is still being recognised as the poorest state in Malaysia, we are not asking for special privilege, what we want is not much, we just want a fair price, the same price that a Malaysian should pay! We hope to live like a Malaysian.
"I am confident that something positive can be done to give a fair treatment to Malaysians residing in Sabah. I would also like to reiterate my call for the Federal Government to equal the export price of commodities from Sabah too," he said.
"Without a fair treatment and a level playing field, Malaysians in Sabah will always be at the losing end and perhaps it is also part of the reasons why today Sabah is still being widely recognized as the poorest state in Malaysia. Why must we suffer all these injustices?" he stressed.
*************************************
The Jesseltonite Review
So finally some BN bigshot from Sabah dares to stand up and tell the Feds that it's time to review unfair policies towards all Sabahans. Isn't this a case of too little too late? For years, and without fear and prejudice I say this was especially so during Mahathir days, Sabahans were treated as second class citizens in Malaysia. Even the Bumiputeras here were treated as second class Bumiputeras.
Sabahans yearn for the days where race does not come into the political equation and the Chief Minister was selected based on the person leading the victorious party irrespective of race. There used to be Chief Ministers from the Chinese, the Kadazans, the Malays and it didn't really matter to us because most important, they were orang kita - orang Sabah.
Then came Dr. Mahathir with his big bags of cash promising a fucked up rotation system which was meant to systematically kill off Sabah. Many people did not support Barisan as an endorsement for the rotation system. In 1994, Sabahans voted not for Barisan, but against a corrupt and incompetent PBS government. In fact, Sabahans voted for a hope of 'Sabah Baru' MINUS the rotation system. PBS won by a majority of 2 seats then. But it was only too unfortunate for them that after the elections, PBS politicians were overwhelmed with greed that they forgot their sense of loyalty (the existence of which is still very much in doubt) and thus began the exodus of the kataks and the rotation system. The rotation system was a failed system. A Chief Minister from different race ruling for two years? This is the passport to legal theft. A gang rape of Sabah so to speak. With only two years, what can a Chief Minister achieve except to quickly fill up his pockets and leave for the rapist to go through the rounds. Osu Sukam lost all his ill-gotten gains in a UK casino. Yong Teck Lee sold off a few pieces of good land and even signed of the sea (the beautiful Likas Bay which fortunately was reviewed). In his overzealous attempt to stay in politics got caught moving in some illegal voters into his constituency Likas (I will write on this at a later date - for now I think this man with hideous sideburns should keep his mouth shut because he is not respected in Sabah as much as he thinks he is). Anyhow, the rotation system stopped just when UMNO was holding it. Coincidence? I don't think so. But UMNO or not, it doesn't matter because at the very least, the fouled rotation system has finally stopped. A federal minister (I forgot his name) even got the nerve to say that it is such an effective and fair system that it should be implemented in Penang. To this ignorant bastard I say, if it is SO effective and fair, why not rotate the post of Prime Minister amongst the races? Fool!
So, Mr Tham, bravo for speaking up but please don't stop there. It does not just end at forcing Sabah businesses to do their exporting to China and East Asia via Port Klang which is a stupid policy to begin with. It is not just making consumer goods the same price. It is about ending this 'big brother' attitude and viewing Sabah the way it should be..as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia. And this can start by reviewing Malaysia's history books. Sabah and Sarawak DID NOT join Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners together with Singapore and Malaya to form the federation of Malaysia. I will write on this topic a little later.
Malaysia Wasted Taxpayers' Money Up In Space
Hello Sabahans! Guess where some of your petroleum money has gone too?
"RESULTS OF SPACE TEST OUT SOON" - Opinion
[Dr. Lee Wei Lim, a a Marie Curie Fellow and Malaysian brain scientist in Maastricht University, the Netherlands, has several queries on today’s Star report “Results of space tests out soon” re: Angkasawan Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
[Dr. Lee’s comments (in bold) accompanies the Star report viz:]
Results of space tests out soon
PENANG: The results of experiments carried out in space by Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will be released next month.
The experiment was carried out at the International Space Station or in the “Space” ?
The results of various experiments with proteins and the effects of micro-gravity and space radiation on cells and microbes would be shared with international researchers soon, the country’s first cosmonaut said during the closing of Brain Awareness Week 2008 at Universiti Sains Malaysia yesterday.
How can an Orthopaedic surgeon carry out protein research in the field of molecular biology? Why do we have to focus on space radiation on cells and microbes since we are living on the earth? How does this contribute to the science?
“I have spoken to the scientists and researchers involved in the project and they said the results will be published soon – in about a month’s time,” he said, when responding to questions by students attending his talk on Brain in Space: Our New Frontier.
The results will be published in which international peer reviewed journal? What is the significant scientific background of it?
His talk on the “Brain in Space”, is he qualified to speak about that? Has he been trainned as a neuroscientist? Does he have strong background on the brain? Please see www.pubmed.com and type in “Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor”, no scientific publication related with the brain!
Asked why the experiments had to be carried out in space, the 35-year-old orthopaedic surgeon said it was because zero gravity allowed the specimens to be studied in their 3D form.
Just because to study the specimens in 3D dimension?? Would it be too costly? First of all, how can an orthopardic surgeon involves in scientific neuroscience research? What is the link between the brain and bone (orthopaedic)? Similarly, would you send a dermatologist to study the brain? “Zero gravity allows specimens to be studied in 3D form”, why did this study have to be carried out in the “space” or the space station just for the cell 3D form investigation? In fact, on the earth, we have such “vacuum chamber model” to carry out research on the morphology of cells with “confocal microscopy”, “two-photon microscopy” or “electron microscopy” approach, this will give us even a better control view of the cells in terms the cell morphological changes and technical manipulation aspect. And again, how can an orthopaedic surgeon carry out such complicated and high technique on cells manipulation in the “space”? Is he a cellular biologist? Please look at the Harvard University website on Neurobiology.
“If studied on earth under a microscope, the cells would have been flattened slightly because of the effects of gravity. In space, we can view the specimens as if they were in the human body,” he explained, adding that he was keen on returning to medical practice.
And again, the research was carried at the “International Space Station” or in the “Space”, there is a clear distinction between these two!
Cell flattened??? Please see my previous opinion on vacuum chamber model.
What type of cell did he want to study? What is the hypothesis and scientific support for such a huge cost of investment? “In space, we can view the specimens as if they were in the human body,” based on which scientific publication to support this notion of sentence?? If so, how about carry out such experiment in the vacuum chamber (low cost) of zero gravity with better manipulation on the cells and more scientifically grounded?
“I miss seeing my patients and being in the operating theatre. I also hope to one day find the cure for cancer,” he said.
Miss seeing patients? When a person left his medical career for more than 5 years, is he still eligible to perform his clinical works efficiently? May be, he is exemption.
To find cure for cancer? What is the link between his work in space and cancer as well as the brain?
The experiments were conducted while he was on the International Space Station. On Oct 10, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar made history by becoming the first Malaysian to fly to space.
The experiment was conducted at the International Space Station and not in the “Space”? What sort of experiment? Why can’t it be carried out in the scientific laboratory, with lower cost, more reliable internationally-accepted methods for scientific publication? He is an orthopaedic surgeon with no scientific publication in brain and cellular research, how on earth he knew the works of a professional histologist or cell biologist or brain scientist?
Later, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the book Reaching for the Stars, which was written by Sheikh Mustapha, also known as Ajil, the late brother of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.
No comments.
The book is Ajil’s personal account of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s journey from the time he was short-listed, trained, and selected as Malaysia’s first astronaut to his journey into space late last year.
No comments.
But Ajil had a fall and slipped into a coma while his brother was still in space and died days after Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s safe return to earth.
No comments.
"RESULTS OF SPACE TEST OUT SOON" - Opinion
[Dr. Lee Wei Lim, a a Marie Curie Fellow and Malaysian brain scientist in Maastricht University, the Netherlands, has several queries on today’s Star report “Results of space tests out soon” re: Angkasawan Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
[Dr. Lee’s comments (in bold) accompanies the Star report viz:]
Results of space tests out soon
PENANG: The results of experiments carried out in space by Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will be released next month.
The experiment was carried out at the International Space Station or in the “Space” ?
The results of various experiments with proteins and the effects of micro-gravity and space radiation on cells and microbes would be shared with international researchers soon, the country’s first cosmonaut said during the closing of Brain Awareness Week 2008 at Universiti Sains Malaysia yesterday.
How can an Orthopaedic surgeon carry out protein research in the field of molecular biology? Why do we have to focus on space radiation on cells and microbes since we are living on the earth? How does this contribute to the science?
“I have spoken to the scientists and researchers involved in the project and they said the results will be published soon – in about a month’s time,” he said, when responding to questions by students attending his talk on Brain in Space: Our New Frontier.
The results will be published in which international peer reviewed journal? What is the significant scientific background of it?
His talk on the “Brain in Space”, is he qualified to speak about that? Has he been trainned as a neuroscientist? Does he have strong background on the brain? Please see www.pubmed.com and type in “Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor”, no scientific publication related with the brain!
Asked why the experiments had to be carried out in space, the 35-year-old orthopaedic surgeon said it was because zero gravity allowed the specimens to be studied in their 3D form.
Just because to study the specimens in 3D dimension?? Would it be too costly? First of all, how can an orthopardic surgeon involves in scientific neuroscience research? What is the link between the brain and bone (orthopaedic)? Similarly, would you send a dermatologist to study the brain? “Zero gravity allows specimens to be studied in 3D form”, why did this study have to be carried out in the “space” or the space station just for the cell 3D form investigation? In fact, on the earth, we have such “vacuum chamber model” to carry out research on the morphology of cells with “confocal microscopy”, “two-photon microscopy” or “electron microscopy” approach, this will give us even a better control view of the cells in terms the cell morphological changes and technical manipulation aspect. And again, how can an orthopaedic surgeon carry out such complicated and high technique on cells manipulation in the “space”? Is he a cellular biologist? Please look at the Harvard University website on Neurobiology.
“If studied on earth under a microscope, the cells would have been flattened slightly because of the effects of gravity. In space, we can view the specimens as if they were in the human body,” he explained, adding that he was keen on returning to medical practice.
And again, the research was carried at the “International Space Station” or in the “Space”, there is a clear distinction between these two!
Cell flattened??? Please see my previous opinion on vacuum chamber model.
What type of cell did he want to study? What is the hypothesis and scientific support for such a huge cost of investment? “In space, we can view the specimens as if they were in the human body,” based on which scientific publication to support this notion of sentence?? If so, how about carry out such experiment in the vacuum chamber (low cost) of zero gravity with better manipulation on the cells and more scientifically grounded?
“I miss seeing my patients and being in the operating theatre. I also hope to one day find the cure for cancer,” he said.
Miss seeing patients? When a person left his medical career for more than 5 years, is he still eligible to perform his clinical works efficiently? May be, he is exemption.
To find cure for cancer? What is the link between his work in space and cancer as well as the brain?
The experiments were conducted while he was on the International Space Station. On Oct 10, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar made history by becoming the first Malaysian to fly to space.
The experiment was conducted at the International Space Station and not in the “Space”? What sort of experiment? Why can’t it be carried out in the scientific laboratory, with lower cost, more reliable internationally-accepted methods for scientific publication? He is an orthopaedic surgeon with no scientific publication in brain and cellular research, how on earth he knew the works of a professional histologist or cell biologist or brain scientist?
Later, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the book Reaching for the Stars, which was written by Sheikh Mustapha, also known as Ajil, the late brother of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.
No comments.
The book is Ajil’s personal account of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s journey from the time he was short-listed, trained, and selected as Malaysia’s first astronaut to his journey into space late last year.
No comments.
But Ajil had a fall and slipped into a coma while his brother was still in space and died days after Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s safe return to earth.
No comments.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Power Cuts in Sabah? Boring!
Power cuts in Sabah again? Isn't that old news? The electricity problem in Sabah has been getting so serious that Sabahans are getting 'sensitized' to the fact that powercuts are just part and parcel of life in what was once the richest state in Malaysia after Selangor.
I remember in 1994 when the BN was shouting around their slogan Sabah Baru! where poverty was to be eradicated in 15 years and powercuts will be a thing of the past. Now in 2008, we have still not seen any major improvements. And by major improvements I mean no more power cuts! I have been in Australia for three years to do my degree in Melbourne University and I have never ever experienced a power cut except for once when they had to fix up the fire alarm system in the apartment I was staying in. If Sabah can achieve that, then it will truly be a Sabah Baru.
So why is Sabah facing so many power failures? Who is responsible?
Here's one example of the causes of power failures (taken from Daily Express):
Power Thefts in Sandakan Rampant
Sandakan: District Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) Manager Madeline Chu regretted that power theft had been rampant in the municipality, despite regular surveillance by her personnel.
I remember in 1994 when the BN was shouting around their slogan Sabah Baru! where poverty was to be eradicated in 15 years and powercuts will be a thing of the past. Now in 2008, we have still not seen any major improvements. And by major improvements I mean no more power cuts! I have been in Australia for three years to do my degree in Melbourne University and I have never ever experienced a power cut except for once when they had to fix up the fire alarm system in the apartment I was staying in. If Sabah can achieve that, then it will truly be a Sabah Baru.
So why is Sabah facing so many power failures? Who is responsible?
Here's one example of the causes of power failures (taken from Daily Express):
Power Thefts in Sandakan Rampant
Sandakan: District Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) Manager Madeline Chu regretted that power theft had been rampant in the municipality, despite regular surveillance by her personnel.
She said the "phenomenon" had been a regular feature in the squatter colonies dominated by foreigners and illegal immigrants.
She hoped that the relevant authorities would take firm action to curb illegal connections of power lines, by providing power the legal way to avoid such activity.
Chu was responding to numerous complaints by local residents of power theft activities in the Sedco industrial area, Mile 3, which they said had become increasingly rampant.
Obviously, the culprits, said to be illegal immigrants, took no heed of the action by SESB personnel in disconnecting illegal supplies and connections in the squatter areas, she said.
She warned that the thieves might not be aware that they could be electrocuted when come in contact with the wrong wires.
So here's another one of the reason why Sabahans strongly reject giving these illegal immigrants permanent residency and citizenship! If the Americans and the human rights groups wanna talk, they can gladly take them all in. Sabah does not need these illegal immigrants. It's a different story if they come as legal workers, pay tax, pay for water and other facilities, pay for education etc. As of now, Sabah does not have enough healthcare and education facilities to cater for true Sabahans what more share with these illegal immigrants.
Anyway, back to the topic of electricity and other facilities, my message to the Government of Sabah is this. We don't need dictators like Dr. M to bring progress to Sabah. What we need are leaders who are willing to go that extra mile to provide and mantain the basics of civil society such as clean water supply, power supply, good roads and transportation system, good and established healthcare and education, rule of law..and with meritocracy, the rest will come on the back of highly motivated and educated Sabahans.
You Forgot Who Voted For You
Malaysia-Today.net
No Holds Barred by Raja Petra Kamarudin
Added 26th March 2008
This was what one mainstream newspaper reported on Monday:
NGOs 'concerned over fate' of Perak Malays
By HAH FOONG LIAN
IPOH: A group of some 20 Perak Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has voiced its concern over the fate of Malays under the new DAP-PKR-PAS government in the state. The group, which held a special meeting at Tambun Heights here on Sunday, will submit a memorandum to the Sultan of Perak.
Among those who attended the meeting were leaders of the Perak Malay Teachers Association, Perak Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Perak Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Perak Association of Muslim Students, Perak 4B Youth movement, Perak Council of Former Barisan Elected Representatives (Mubarak), Perak Malay Traders Association and Perak Wanita NGO.
Nonee Ashirin Mohd Radzi, who chaired the meeting, said they could not accept the six-three-one formula to be used in the make-up of the state executive council. Nonee Ashirin, one of the founder members of Perak Pertubuhan Profesional dan Pewaris Bangsa (Prowaris), said the formula did not reflect the composition of the state population where Malays are the majority.
The formula agreed upon by the new state government would see the DAP taking up six exco posts, PKR three and PAS one. “There should be more Malays in the exco line-up,” Nonee Ashirin said, adding that the exco should instead have six Malays and four non-Malays, like the representation under the Barisan Nasional rule.
She said the NGOs also rejected the creation of two Deputy Mentri Besar posts because it was not provided for in the state Constitution. “The two positions are there just to fulfil the DAP's political interest,” she claimed.
No Holds Barred by Raja Petra Kamarudin
Added 26th March 2008
This was what one mainstream newspaper reported on Monday:
NGOs 'concerned over fate' of Perak Malays
By HAH FOONG LIAN
IPOH: A group of some 20 Perak Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has voiced its concern over the fate of Malays under the new DAP-PKR-PAS government in the state. The group, which held a special meeting at Tambun Heights here on Sunday, will submit a memorandum to the Sultan of Perak.
Among those who attended the meeting were leaders of the Perak Malay Teachers Association, Perak Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Perak Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Perak Association of Muslim Students, Perak 4B Youth movement, Perak Council of Former Barisan Elected Representatives (Mubarak), Perak Malay Traders Association and Perak Wanita NGO.
Nonee Ashirin Mohd Radzi, who chaired the meeting, said they could not accept the six-three-one formula to be used in the make-up of the state executive council. Nonee Ashirin, one of the founder members of Perak Pertubuhan Profesional dan Pewaris Bangsa (Prowaris), said the formula did not reflect the composition of the state population where Malays are the majority.
The formula agreed upon by the new state government would see the DAP taking up six exco posts, PKR three and PAS one. “There should be more Malays in the exco line-up,” Nonee Ashirin said, adding that the exco should instead have six Malays and four non-Malays, like the representation under the Barisan Nasional rule.
She said the NGOs also rejected the creation of two Deputy Mentri Besar posts because it was not provided for in the state Constitution. “The two positions are there just to fulfil the DAP's political interest,” she claimed.
Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who represented Perak Wanita NGO, said the popular votes showed that more voters supported the Barisan instead of the Opposition. She said the Barisan garnered some 333,000 votes compared to 282,000 that went to the opposition front. Based on this, she said Barisan had a simple majority and should be allowed to form a minority government.
********************
These 20 Malay NGOs and movements are talking with their heads up their ass. Based on their arguments, considering that the three opposition parties garnered more than half the popular votes in Peninsular Malaysia, would it not therefore be correct to say that the opposition should form the Federal Government in West Malaysia while Barisan Nasional should only form the ‘Regional’ Government in East Malaysia?
Since when is the number of votes the factor to decide who gets to form the government? Malaysia practices the first-past-the-post system. Over 50 years since Merdeka, the opposition has been winning a higher number of votes in some states, but because it is seats and not votes that count, it always ends up with Barisan Nasional instead of the opposition that forms the government.
The issue as to who won more votes than whom can be laid to rest. It is pointless to argue this point as every man and his dog knows that the opposition garnered more votes than Barisan Nasional. There were an additional one million votes that were stuffed into the ballot boxes, about a quarter of those in the form of postal votes. If the postal votes system had been abolished, as what the opposition had been clamouring for all these many years, and if the electoral roll had been cleaned up and purged of phantom voters, today the opposition would no longer be an opposition because it would have formed the federal government and the Prime Minister would probably be Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. And let us admit that Wan Azizah is, by far, more attractive than Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – or even compared to Rafidah and Sharizat.
Let us make one thing very clear. There is only this Houdini and David Copperfield type perception that Barisan Nasional won more votes than the opposition. Barisan Nasional actually won less votes but their votes were padded with one million ‘additional’ votes. That is how they created this perception of ‘win’. And in spite of all that and in spite of the gerrymandering and in spite of the many other transgressions and violations like threatening another ‘May 13’ if Barisan Nasional loses its two-thirds majority, they still got their ass kicked real hard. Imagine what would have happened if it had been a level playing field. Let me repeat that: the opposition and not Barisan Nasional won the 8 March 2008 general election.
And do you know what was one of the key reasons why the opposition won? Okay, there were the rampant and blatant corruption, the arrogance of the Barisan Nasional leaders, the keris-waving, the ‘go back to China’ shouting matches in Parliament, and much, much more, that made most Malaysians just plain nauseous But what really moved the voters was the ‘we-are-one’ campaign of the opposition. The opposition did not talk as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. They talked in a ‘we are Malaysians’ tone of voice.
Malaysians have just about had it with all this racial slur and rhetoric. Not only the Chinese and Indians have had their fill with racism but a fair percentage of Malays as well can no longer stomach the race politics, which is the hallmark of Barisan Nasional. These people just don’t get it. They still have not woken up to the realisation that it was race that lost them the election. They blame the blogs and the internet. They say it was the blogs and the internet which caused the Barisan Nasional defeat. No, the blogs and internet just played the role of providing an alternative source of news to the voters. The blogs and internet could not manufacture the news. The news had to be there in the first place. The blogs and the internet were just the medium to deliver this news to the voters which would not have been available to them otherwise.
And today they still scream about race and racial quotas. Just read what these 20 Malay NGOs and movements said on Sunday. It is still about racial quotas. Why stop at this? Why not just demand that 100% of the positions be reserved for Malays? After all, this is a Malay country, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, and the Chinese and Indians are pendatang, as Umno constantly reminds us. So would not 100% of the positions be given to Malays be more apt? Furthermore, the Chinese and Indian parties got wiped out in the last election. The Chinese and Indian parties did not deliver the votes. Without the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, Barisan Nasional would have been totally wiped out. So it makes more sense that 100% of the positions go to the Malays with none at all for the Chinese and Indians.
Barisan Nasional has to be rudely woken up if it has not already done so. The more they harp on race and racial quotas the deeper into the rut they will go. What’s so wrong if the Chinese or Indians get an extra seat, or vice versa? This is not a number’s game anyway. And, unfortunately, even those in the opposition appear to have fallen for the Barisan Nasional trap by echoing the same sentiments about racial quotas in the government. This is a Barisan Nasional game. If the opposition also tries to play this same game they will lose their pants. Barisan Nasional is an expert at race politics and this is their cup of tea. The opposition enters this gelanggang at its own peril. Rest assured the opposition will lose the race game if it tries to engage Barisan Nasional in its arena.
The opposition has to fight in a different arena. They have to create a new arena and force Barisan Nasional to come engage them in this new arena. And this new arena is non-race-based politics. This is what the opposition is good at and this is where Barisan Nasional will be like a fish out of water.
Hey, I don’t care how many Malays, Chinese and Indians sit in the EXCO. Let it be 100% Malays or 100% Chinese or 100% Indians or whatever. If it has to be 100% Chinese just so that Malaysia can be like Singapore, an extremely successful country that is run by almost 100% Chinese, then so be it. I care a damn about what race is running this country. I just want to see the emergence of the best country on earth. And if we have to go to Mars to find these people then so be it.
Whoever sit as Menteri Besar/Chief Minister and whoever happen to be their ten EXCO Members is not important. What is would be that these people look after the interests of all the races. If we need five Malays in the EXCO to ensure that the Malays are looked after and three Chinese and two Indians to sit in the EXCO to ensure that the Chinese and Indians are also looked after then something must be terribly wrong with this government.
Why must it be Malays look after the Malay interest and Chinese after Chinese interest and Indians after Indian interest? We have only one Prime Minister, a Malay, and is he the Prime Minister of only the Malays who will only look after the interests of only the Malays or is he a Prime Minister for all Malaysians? The Malay candidate did not win this election on just Malay votes while the Chinese won on Chinese votes and the Indian on Indian votes. All candidates, never mind of which race and whether from the opposition or Barisan Nasional, won on a combined Malay-Chinese-Indian votes.
Every candidate, irrespective of party and race, won because of the votes from all the races. So the Malay, Chinese and Indian in government DOES NOT represent his or her community. He or she did not get into government because of the votes from his or her own community. So, once in government, why do they now talk about representing their community? Is this not a violation of the vote that we gave you? We did not vote for you so that you could get into government to serve, represent or protect your community. We voted for you so that you can serve Malaysia. So do just that and enough with this 5:3:2, 4:4:2, 4:3:3, 6:2:2 argument. Even if it is 10:0:0 also never mind as long as you Malay, Chinese and Indian in government know that you serve me and the country and not your own race or community.
Aiyah, itu pun kena ajar ke? Kayu sungguh!
Yet Another Food Blog
Alright guys, I've found yet another food blog on Jesselton makan. This one's quite intensive and I believe the blogger handling this one is quite experienced with food in and around Jesselton. Yummy!
http://kkfood.blog.com/
Do check it out.
http://kkfood.blog.com/
Do check it out.
Abdullah to Hear Views of Sabah BN Leaders
The Daily Express
Saturday, 29th March 2008
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders will be presenting their views and feelings on the current political situation in the State to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during his visit to Sabah.
Among the issues the State assemblymen/women, members of Parliament and BN leaders will raise will be Sabah's representation in the Federal Cabinet.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said the Prime Minister had informed him during Umno Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday that he (Abdullah) will be coming to Sabah soon.
Speaking after attending Kolej Yayasan Sabah 13th Convocation at Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort here, Friday, Musa, who is also Sabah BN chairman said: "He (Abdullah) will be meeting with all BN leaders including assemblymen and MPs to listen to their views and feelings about the current political situation in Sabah."
Musa also said that while it is the PM's prerogative to appoint the number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers from the BN component party members, Sabah had initially harboured high hope for more posts in the Federal Cabinet.
However, what the State get was only a raw deal with the post of three Ministers being retained and Deputy Ministers raised from two to four while Sarawak, the posts of two Ministers were retained and the number of Deputy Ministers increased from four to seven.
Musa stressed that Sabah attained a huge victory during the parliamentary election in the March 8 general elections by winning 24 of the 25 seats it had contested.
However, Sabah is now left with only two Deputy Ministers when Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman rejected the post of Transport Deputy Minister and Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh quitting as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for personal reasons.
"We will discuss this issue with the PM. I believe they (Anifah and Ghapur) will be replaced by our (pool of Umno) MPs who do not have position in the Government."
"But we had really hoped for additional Minister posts (to be given to Sabah MPs)," he said.
Musa said the State would request the two Deputy Minister's posts to be given to Sabah Umno since the quota is exclusively for Sabah Umno MPs.
Several State BN leaders including MPs and Assemblymen have openly articulated the people's desire to have more Sabah representation in the Federal Cabinet.
This being as a gratitude to the State after winning 24 of the 25 parliamentary seat it had contested in the recent elections.
Anifah who was offered the post of Transport Deputy Minister rejected it on grounds that he wants to make way for a younger person.
Ghapur on Wednesday quit his post giving the excuse that he did not want to be tied down with official duties as a government officer.
Sabah Umno assistant secretary Datuk Masidi Manjun did not mince his words when he said that Sabah had been dubbed Barisan's fixed deposit (bastion).
"At the moment, we feel that we are not getting enough interest from our fixed deposit."
"If the interest is not good, people will put it elsewhere," he said adding that many people in the State were disappointed with the current representation.
Masidi also said that many also felt that less significant posts were given to Sabah.
Meanwhile, Musa said that Keadilan's de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had not met with any of the Sabah 24 BN's Mps.
He expressed belief that all the leaders including Assemblymen and MPs have high integrity and believed that "that they will be faithful to the leadership of the BN."
Among the issues the State assemblymen/women, members of Parliament and BN leaders will raise will be Sabah's representation in the Federal Cabinet.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said the Prime Minister had informed him during Umno Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday that he (Abdullah) will be coming to Sabah soon.
Speaking after attending Kolej Yayasan Sabah 13th Convocation at Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort here, Friday, Musa, who is also Sabah BN chairman said: "He (Abdullah) will be meeting with all BN leaders including assemblymen and MPs to listen to their views and feelings about the current political situation in Sabah."
Musa also said that while it is the PM's prerogative to appoint the number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers from the BN component party members, Sabah had initially harboured high hope for more posts in the Federal Cabinet.
However, what the State get was only a raw deal with the post of three Ministers being retained and Deputy Ministers raised from two to four while Sarawak, the posts of two Ministers were retained and the number of Deputy Ministers increased from four to seven.
Musa stressed that Sabah attained a huge victory during the parliamentary election in the March 8 general elections by winning 24 of the 25 seats it had contested.
However, Sabah is now left with only two Deputy Ministers when Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman rejected the post of Transport Deputy Minister and Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh quitting as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for personal reasons.
"We will discuss this issue with the PM. I believe they (Anifah and Ghapur) will be replaced by our (pool of Umno) MPs who do not have position in the Government."
"But we had really hoped for additional Minister posts (to be given to Sabah MPs)," he said.
Musa said the State would request the two Deputy Minister's posts to be given to Sabah Umno since the quota is exclusively for Sabah Umno MPs.
Several State BN leaders including MPs and Assemblymen have openly articulated the people's desire to have more Sabah representation in the Federal Cabinet.
This being as a gratitude to the State after winning 24 of the 25 parliamentary seat it had contested in the recent elections.
Anifah who was offered the post of Transport Deputy Minister rejected it on grounds that he wants to make way for a younger person.
Ghapur on Wednesday quit his post giving the excuse that he did not want to be tied down with official duties as a government officer.
Sabah Umno assistant secretary Datuk Masidi Manjun did not mince his words when he said that Sabah had been dubbed Barisan's fixed deposit (bastion).
"At the moment, we feel that we are not getting enough interest from our fixed deposit."
"If the interest is not good, people will put it elsewhere," he said adding that many people in the State were disappointed with the current representation.
Masidi also said that many also felt that less significant posts were given to Sabah.
Meanwhile, Musa said that Keadilan's de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had not met with any of the Sabah 24 BN's Mps.
He expressed belief that all the leaders including Assemblymen and MPs have high integrity and believed that "that they will be faithful to the leadership of the BN."
Sabah Rhinos Scramble Point Off Leaders KL Plus
30th March 2008
Malaysian Premier League
Sabah vs KL Plus
Result: 2-2
Goals:
8' Sindih (SAB)
44' Agbo (KL PLUS)
80' Hanif (KL PLUS)
83' Dalibor (SAB)
Go SABAH!
Malaysian Premier League
Sabah vs KL Plus
Result: 2-2
Goals:
8' Sindih (SAB)
44' Agbo (KL PLUS)
80' Hanif (KL PLUS)
83' Dalibor (SAB)
Go SABAH!
The Jesseltonite Review: Headlines on Daily Express Today
So I got to the office early today, picked up the Daily Express lying on the floor and started reading today's headlines.
"If Anwar Becomes PM..."
Let's sum the article up. It's basically our former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed saying that Anwar Ibrahim is, quote, 'a man of many parts' end quote. He says Anwar has a glib tongue and could draw the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Not only that, Anwar will supposedly be 'led by the nose' by the 'EVIL' West and Malays will be forced to kowtow.
The rest of the article talks about his defense of other accusations laid out by his critics such as the clause in UMNO's constitution requiring support from 60 divisions to contest a President's post, etc etc.
Let's focus on what he said about Anwar though. Yes perhaps it IS true that Anwar has a glib tongue and that he could attract the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Isn't this the true Malaysian leader? Isn't this what we want..somebody who can listen and take into account the rakyat's grievances and act upon it for the rakyat's well-being? And mind you, the rakyat does not mean the Malays. The rakyat does not mean the UMNO cronies or the Mahathirism cronies. The rakyat means - in Mahathir's words - ALL MALAYSIANS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND BACKGROUNDS.
And kowtow-ing to the Evil West? Come on Mahathir, you know all about the power of kowtow. I mean, look at all the rich businessmen and cronies who have kowtow-ed to you. While it is true the West especially by the USA (George W. Bush specifically) is an arrogant lot with their constant bullying of smaller nations and their somewhat biased support of Israel, but that does not mean we, Malaysia, cannot look to the West to learn and adapt democratic ideals and good governance to our political system. Australia can be an example for good governance. Former PM John Howard stepped down with grace and has rarely spoken up because he knows that a democratic country allows for a change of government and that his time is over. Mahathir doesn't know that because during his time, Malaysia wasn't a democratic country but rather an autocratic one. A country controlled by a semi-dictator where opposition to his power was stifled (examples, Ops Lalang, 1988 Judicial Crisis, Revision of UMNO Constitution to make challenge to Presidency near impossible, getting rid of his popular Deputy the list goes on). My challenge to Mahathir and Mahathirist, why not open up to the West just as Japan did during the Meiji Revolution NOT to kowtow to them but to learn from them? The West does not mean the 'Evil' USA, it could mean the 'Good' USA. The West could mean the British and Australia where good governance prevail. The West could mean Germany where engineering and technological advances can be imported. The West could mean Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe where adapting local culture into architecture at a high standards could be learnt from. It could mean many things.
So if Anwar becomes PM:
1) He could be a PM for ALL MALAYSIANS since he can impress upon and garner votes from Malaysians of different race and religion. Mahathir is blinded by UMNO and the politics of the past. Malaysians especially the younger ones are fed-up with racial politics and want to move on to a two-party system where issues such as rising prices of commodities, shaky governance, corruption, weak education system can be discussed rather than race, race, race. Of course we wouldn't know how well Anwar will perform but if he is the PM I'd put my money on a more liberal and open political system released from the bondage of racial politics.
2) He could adapt Western principles. Ultra conservative critics such as Mahathir could accuse him of kowtowing. But Malaysians need to break away from this fear of the West and instead open up to them and learn their 'good' stuff to adapt into the country. Japan opened up to the West but I don't see the Japanese giving up their culture. Nor do I see them kowtowing to the West. Singapore and Hong Kong too. They did pretty well by working WITH the West. They're still doing well. So if Anwar becomes PM, perhaps Malaysia will finally open up to the West and learn things such as good governance, the importance of eradicating corruption, an efficient police force, a trustworthy and independent judiciary, and good healthcare and education system, the list goes on.
Again I say and stress, we won't know how Anwar performs until he has. On the other hand, we've already seen Mahathir as PM.
When Mahathir was PM:
"If Anwar Becomes PM..."
Let's sum the article up. It's basically our former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed saying that Anwar Ibrahim is, quote, 'a man of many parts' end quote. He says Anwar has a glib tongue and could draw the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Not only that, Anwar will supposedly be 'led by the nose' by the 'EVIL' West and Malays will be forced to kowtow.
The rest of the article talks about his defense of other accusations laid out by his critics such as the clause in UMNO's constitution requiring support from 60 divisions to contest a President's post, etc etc.
Let's focus on what he said about Anwar though. Yes perhaps it IS true that Anwar has a glib tongue and that he could attract the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Isn't this the true Malaysian leader? Isn't this what we want..somebody who can listen and take into account the rakyat's grievances and act upon it for the rakyat's well-being? And mind you, the rakyat does not mean the Malays. The rakyat does not mean the UMNO cronies or the Mahathirism cronies. The rakyat means - in Mahathir's words - ALL MALAYSIANS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND BACKGROUNDS.
And kowtow-ing to the Evil West? Come on Mahathir, you know all about the power of kowtow. I mean, look at all the rich businessmen and cronies who have kowtow-ed to you. While it is true the West especially by the USA (George W. Bush specifically) is an arrogant lot with their constant bullying of smaller nations and their somewhat biased support of Israel, but that does not mean we, Malaysia, cannot look to the West to learn and adapt democratic ideals and good governance to our political system. Australia can be an example for good governance. Former PM John Howard stepped down with grace and has rarely spoken up because he knows that a democratic country allows for a change of government and that his time is over. Mahathir doesn't know that because during his time, Malaysia wasn't a democratic country but rather an autocratic one. A country controlled by a semi-dictator where opposition to his power was stifled (examples, Ops Lalang, 1988 Judicial Crisis, Revision of UMNO Constitution to make challenge to Presidency near impossible, getting rid of his popular Deputy the list goes on). My challenge to Mahathir and Mahathirist, why not open up to the West just as Japan did during the Meiji Revolution NOT to kowtow to them but to learn from them? The West does not mean the 'Evil' USA, it could mean the 'Good' USA. The West could mean the British and Australia where good governance prevail. The West could mean Germany where engineering and technological advances can be imported. The West could mean Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe where adapting local culture into architecture at a high standards could be learnt from. It could mean many things.
So if Anwar becomes PM:
1) He could be a PM for ALL MALAYSIANS since he can impress upon and garner votes from Malaysians of different race and religion. Mahathir is blinded by UMNO and the politics of the past. Malaysians especially the younger ones are fed-up with racial politics and want to move on to a two-party system where issues such as rising prices of commodities, shaky governance, corruption, weak education system can be discussed rather than race, race, race. Of course we wouldn't know how well Anwar will perform but if he is the PM I'd put my money on a more liberal and open political system released from the bondage of racial politics.
2) He could adapt Western principles. Ultra conservative critics such as Mahathir could accuse him of kowtowing. But Malaysians need to break away from this fear of the West and instead open up to them and learn their 'good' stuff to adapt into the country. Japan opened up to the West but I don't see the Japanese giving up their culture. Nor do I see them kowtowing to the West. Singapore and Hong Kong too. They did pretty well by working WITH the West. They're still doing well. So if Anwar becomes PM, perhaps Malaysia will finally open up to the West and learn things such as good governance, the importance of eradicating corruption, an efficient police force, a trustworthy and independent judiciary, and good healthcare and education system, the list goes on.
Again I say and stress, we won't know how Anwar performs until he has. On the other hand, we've already seen Mahathir as PM.
When Mahathir was PM:
1) Freedom was curtailed. Opposition to his power was stifled. The ISA, which our Tunku promised will not be used to shut opposition up, was deliberately used to kill off all opposition to his arrogance and examples include Ops Lalang. He also removed Tun Salleh Abbas, the Chief Judge and started the rot of the Malaysian judiciary which at one point of time was well-known for its independence. In true derhaka fashion, he reduced the power of the Royals because the Royals were getting on his nerves.
2) Money politics prevailed. It was during Mahathir's time, the Opposition in Sabah crumbled because money was withheld on the argument that 'the Opposition will misuse the Federal funds' and the money was instead used to buy politicians over to BN. Excuse me, a big chunk of Federal Funds come from Sabah through the black gold that you steal from us. So now BN is shitting in their pants just thinking about the pending retribution. Money was also used to win UMNO grassroots support. His policy is simple. You make me like you, I give you money. You make me hate you, I hold money. You vote for me, I give you money. You vote for Opposition, I don't give you money.
3) Patronage system enhanced. Need I say more? "You got connections, you go up. I don't care you good enough or not. You lousy also I will take care of you because I like you." That's how it is in Mahathir's Malaysia.
4) Racial politics was improvised to control his own people in UMNO and to create fear so that voters will vote for BN.
5) Corruption was so high that anybody could get rich as long as you knew somebody up there. Police were at their worse state. Not to mention the judiciary as proven by the Lingam case. The Lingam case is a joke..everybody knows the video clip is real and the Royal Commission should cover the rot of the Malaysian judiciary all the way back to 1988 when Mahathir removed Tun Salleh.
6)
7)
8)
9)
10) The list is too long....it goes on and on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
