Guan Eng saves his tongue... for now

Lim Guan Eng gets to keep this tongue for now. The next time, he might lose it.

As the Malay proverb goes, "Cakap siang, pandang-pandang; cakap malam, dengar-dengar". In English, it could mean something like "Look before you leap".

The Penang Chief Minister finally apologised to the Sultan of Johor and his subjects for 'the disparaging remarks' he made about the State during a function in Singapore recently (here).

"The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, had said he was offended by the statement made by me against Johor. Out of respect to the Johor Sultan, I wish to fully apologise to the Johor Sultan and his subjects, the people of Johor. I have no intention whatsoever to discredit Johor or any other state,” he said.

Lim, however, did not admit making the statement and said he was still trying to locate the recording of what he said in Singapore.

I thought I have seen and heard what he said on TV3 Buletin Utama a few days ago. And I believe millions of Malaysian saw it too.

Lim should be glad that no legal action is taken against him, maybe not just yet. A simple apology may just suffice, he thought. Elsewhere, some parties are also him to make amends to what he said in the Republic.

Some people suggested he should be banned from entering Johor for a stipulated period. "If he can ease himself over a simple apology, he will do it again... and offer another apology."

DAP should contest in Malay areas... ada berani ka?

Ah-haa!!! MCA President Chua Soi Lek threw a challenge to DAP. "Kalau lu berani, cubalah contest di kawasan Melayu in the next general election!"

I think DAP should. What's wrong if Kit Siang tries Hulu Terengganu, Karpal stands for Dungun parliamentary seat while Guan Eng opts for Jerlun! They should... if they have just the right big balls for it.

In his blog, Tun Faisal quoted Chua as saying in Kluang on Sept 26 (as published by Nanyang Siang Pau) DAP was boasting about the support it gets from the multiracial society but the fact that it only attracts the Chinese remains.

"They said they want to teach Umno a lesson... so if that's the intention, DAP should come to the Malay areas and compete with Umno, instead of putting up a challenge with MCA in the Chinese majority constituencies.

"Each time they come to the Chinese majority areas, they will blame Umno for a party too slow in its actions, a party that practices graft, and a party led by a group of snobbish politicians... they said they want to teach Umno a good lesson.

"So, DAP should come to the Malay majority areas if they really want to teach Umno. Now is the time. Let's see if they dare to contest in such areas in the next national poll."

As the Malay version goes: "DAP pernah terlepas cakap, selepas DAP memerintah, mereka berjanji mahu selaraskan peruntukan sekolah rendah Cina, mahu bina lebih banyak lagi sekolah menengah Cina swasta, tetapi selepas Pakatan Rakyat mentadbir 100 hari dalam buku warna Oren tiada tertulis langsung projek-projek tersebut..."

I agree with Chua, especially on the part when he said "a party that fails to ensure a peaceful multiracial society does not deserve any kind of support from the rakyat, especially from the Chinese community".

Yup! MCA, Gerakan and MIC have contested in some Malay majority areas. They won some and lose some. However, I dont think DAP have entered any Malay-dominated constituency 'seriously' by having their heavyweights as the candidates.

Steady doc!

The Economist - a parrot of foreign media

Yes, they are! Those working at The Economist are just parrots of international Press; at worst, its plainly demeaning.

Its special blog for Asia, namely Banyan (not sure whether the writer is based in Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok or Phnom Penh) is good at fabricating facts and figures - typical of any foreign journalists who would find ways to tamper with actualities.

Reading its analysis about Najib's reforms simply indicates how easy it is to undermine a government without the writer having to be there. Not only Malaysia but any policy introduced by the Asia governments are deemed as 'backward' and not parallel to what is being practiced in the US and Europe.

(I remember the internationally-known CNN journo Peter Arnett whom I met in Baghdad in 1983. He only reported from the lobby of El-Rashid Hotel, gathering info from other journalists and military personel).

Excerpt:

"Some on the extreme Malay wing of the (Umno) party grumble that all this reform stuff is going too far, but they will go along with it as long as it does not touch on the most profound sources of oppression and grievance in the country, the institutionalised ethnic discrimination that privileges Malays over the country’s other races, mainly Chinese and Indians (here). It is the system of ethnic quotas and divisions that is really holding the country back—if Mr Najib started to take an axe to all that, then absolutely nobody would question his credentials as a radical reformer."

I am not sure what does the writer mean by 'institutionalised ethnic discrimination' but the label comes from the Opposition.

But I am glad that there are Malaysians who are willing to stand up for the country, if not for the government. Some of the comments are not defensive of the government (in some ways) but are logically linger to the true picture of the country.

Excerpts:

(1) "I'm not sure why The Economist - specifically, Banyan - keeps trying to imply that bumi Malaysians, or rather Malays, will blindly vote for any party just for financial gains or religious necessity. It's a bit insulting that The Economist thinks that the ethnic Malays are unable to see pass immediate financial gains or religious dogma - i.e. thinking of progressive growth reforms - when it comes to the polls..."

(2) "The reforms that will be implemented by Prime Minister Najib Razak in Malaysia will hopefully serve as an example to the rest of the developing countries in the region, such as Singapore and Indonesia. It seems as though this article was penned a little to early because it is awarding a great deal of optimism for a leader who is described as an "indecisive technocrat."

(3) It seems like Malaysia is going through some major dynamic changes in several sectors of their society. The economy is in a boom due to the cheap, but effective medical procedures that are drawing in "medical tourists", and now the slight power shift from the government to the people on the political scene. With these changes, they will probably draw more attention on the international scene. This may cause some larger powers to invest in this smaller country, causing an even greater boom, which could then create an even greater shift of power to the people. I'm going to keep a watchful eye on Malaysia for this domino effect."

However, there are also some batterings:

(1) "And to those that criticized Singapore have the similar ISA laws, check this, Singapore GDP in 2009 is 182bil while Malaysia is 193bil but Singapore GDP per capita in 2009 is USD$36,537, Malaysia is $7,030, in another word, Singaporean made FIVE times more than Malaysian. While 2 countries start at the same starting line and Singapore has much more disadvantage Lee Kuan Yew make all the right law to protect their country while Mahartir made all the law to protect his own people (excluding most Chinese). Najib is just another dog from Dr Mah kampung whilst he can be more brutal than Dr Mah, just ask Ms Mongolian lady."

(2) "Race based discrimination does more harm than good in every country where it is practiced - Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, China, USA. Those who benefit from it will never give it up voluntarily. Malaysia will never be able to rid itself of its greatest cancer without bloodshed. This country has no place to go but down. It's better the government just does a population swap with China and India, 7 million Chinese-Malaysians for 7 million Chinese muslim-Uighurs, and 3 million Indian-Malaysian for 3 million muslim-Indians. That way 100% of its all-muslim population can benefit from affirmative action, win-win!"

PS, why hasn't anybody (bloggers, journalists, politicians, others) commented on Najib's statement about 'Bumi quotas'?

Koh Tsu Koon 'jatuh basikal'. Hmmm.....

Alamak! Either it was not a lucky day for former Penang Chief Minister and Gerakan President Tan Sri Kon Tsu Koon or... it really was a jinx!

He fell off his bicycle during PM Najib Tun Razak's 1Malaysia Charity Ride for Education 2011 in Penang last week. It was simply a 7km route and the riders merely took about 30 minutes to finish what was essentially a fun ride on a Sunday.

"But it came as no surprise that our Koh Tsu Koon aka Durian With No Seeds could not finished the race.

"He tumbled, claming two bikers tried to overtake him and he fell off his bike. Well, we feel sorry for him but we could not help speculating if he was too clumsy, too slow and just too incompetent," said Stopthelies.

I wonder what is the 'message' behind the posting...

Bad omen? Sorry... dunno lar!

No hudud, no apology, no en mass resignation...

Pakatan Rakyat leaders will convene today to find an amicable solution to their infighting over hudud and other boiling issues. The chairperson will be none other than Anwar Ibrahim, whose PKR is caught in between.

At the height of our guessing game, the nation can expect just this:




Nik Aziz - no hudud (for the time being...) PR needs to win the next general poll first... PAS will bring it up again once a PR govt is formed. I will teach DAP a good lesson if PAS gets more seats this this around.








Guan Eng - sorry folks! No apology for making 'running-down-Johor' statements (here). What the heck. I will stick to my own standpoint. Did I really say it? You guys misreported me... I am not going to Johor either...also, no explanations (here)







Kit Siang - (to his son) you scored on making headlines about threatening to resign en mass. The media love it, so are the pro-BN bloggers. Don't worry, we will keep Penang, no need for you to go back to Malacca (Ali is not easy to handle). Gerakan is dying in Penang, so is the MCA. Now you can go on patronising the Malays.







Anwar - Enough is enough. Let's compromise to attain our objective of taking over Putrajaya. I got so many video issues to attend. So, please don't add to my headache!










Karpal - jangan main sama saya!









Mat Sabu - it's OK Guan Eng. I was in Bukit Kepong. No hudud there, except the communist. They are worse than hudud, they severe your hands with a hand grenade.








Hadi - betul ke Mat Sabu ni? Macam nak sabotaj PAS je...








You don't believe aarrr??? Just wait!

Let's take up Mandarin

In Georgetown yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak praised the role and contribution of the Chinese in improving education in Malaysia (here). Their attribution in enhancing the standard of knowledge to all quarters of the community is not to be disputed.

Agree. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad had said, "Tuntutlah ilmu walaupun sampai ke negeri China". It was a testament that the quest for knowledge should not be confined to one's race, religion and culture.

In this world without border, knowledge comes in many forms and from many directions, and is easily accessed. Those without sufficient knowledge in various disciplines will find themselves clad in a corner with the non-achievers.

In this context, language is also part of knowledge. Malaysians are blessed with racial and culture assimilation that offer them a great opportunity to explore and acquire each others' language without any fee. However, while the Chinese and Indians are able to converse in Bahasa Malaysia - including 'bahasa pasar' - the Malays are not keen to learn Mandarin or Tamil.

During a dinner talk with some senior journalists and a Tan Sri MP (from MCA) about three months ago, I did raise the issue. The notion was well-seconded. I was serious about it and even told the MP to get his party recommend it to the Cabinet.

The proposal was to introduce Mandarin subject in all Sekolah Kebangsaan. It is to encourage non-Chinese students to take it up. The Malays, especially, must start to learn and understand the language from its basic.

Perhaps for a start, there is no need to make it compulsory, not to be included in examination. Just an elective for the co-curriculum.

I believe many Malay educationists are against this idea. The chauvinistic Malays may find it awkward and will do anything to oppose it. And I believe it will trigger anti-government sentiment as well.

However, I personally believe it will augur well in the 1Malaysia context. The Tan Sri and a Dato Seri who was also there agreed that it will eventually bring the Malaysians together. As language barrier could be brought down (give it 5 to 10 years from its implementation), Malaysia will be more united and integrated.

Why not? While the government made it compulsory for the non-Malays to pass the Bahasa Malaysia subject - and Bahasa is taught in SRJK(C) and SRJK(T) - the Malays should at least learn their languages.

The country has achieved Independence for 54 years now. Like it or not, Malaysians are still divided. I believe the Chinese, Indians and other races do understand the Malay community very well because they understand the language. And I do not think the Chinese and Indians harbor any ill-feeling towards the Malays, unlike the askance and prejudice the Malays have about other races.

I am not a realist but I am a Malaysian who have grown up with the Chinese and Indians in my kampung. We grew up and mingled together, went to the same school, shared the same 'padang' for football and other events and in fact celebrated Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali together. Just like the Malays, they too want to live in harmony alongside the Malays and share everything in common.

However, it is sad to note that the Malays' inability to understand Mandarin and Tamil has thickened their prejudice against the Chinese and Indians. Whenever some Chinese sit at a table next to them in a coffee shop (for instance), they Malays can't help but thinking the Chinese are talking bad about them.

Just imagine Malaysians who understand each others' language. It doesn't matter if they don't master it; understand and able to speak a broken language will be good enough. And as Mandarin is among the world's major languages, it is also a lingua franca of business and higher studies.

A big step has to be charted from now. The Education Ministry should look into it and discuss it in depth with educationists while we have the political power to introduce and implement it. The 1Malaysia slogan will remain meaningless should we fail to unite the rakyat via language.

While Bahasa Malaysia will forever be the official language, others must be considered. The Malay-Chinese ratio is almost equal. While the Chinese find it comfortable to live with the Malays and other races, the Malays would still find problems to accommodate themselves into a multi-racial society.

Ron Liu is so lonely... might join MCA

Ronnie Liu is a fallen hero. At the Selangor State Assembly, the DAP rep seems to be on the sideline. Even his other party reps are shying away from him.

Some people described him a loner now. Once the blue eye boy of Lim Guan Eng, Ronnie is losing much of his bosses' attention. Looks like they are drifting apart.

What has befallen this 'massage parlor tauke'?

The latest news are that, he was contemplating of leaving the Opposition and joining either the MCA or Gerakan. Good la, YB! A politician like you deserves a better place, don't you agree?

He is losing the backings of his party, and its leaders. What is there left for him?

Manyak kesian lor...


Continue reading...

Malaysia is too dangerous!

I will go on writing about the same issue - UNHCR refugees in Malaysia. We have been battered all around for being the nice guys, all because of bad reporting and badmouthing by some 'double agents', including few Malaysians who play chummy to the international organisations and foreign governments.

Please bear in mind that we have yet to ratify the UN Refugee Convention but we play host to so many refugees.

This refugee camp is so close to the KLIA

We even signed a swap deal with Australia with the intention to help those refugees but here they go again, labeling Malaysia as the most dangerous country (here) for refugees. Why in the first place we signed up with them?

If we are not a signatory to the Convention, can can always chase them from our territory or flush them out. But we have been too kind enough. I think we should review out stand on this. Rather than being diplomatically-abused over the matter, we should from now on refrain from opening our doors to them.

As a non-signatory, we have every rights to say NO to them.

Nonetheless, the government should also inspect the living atmosphere of the refugees in the country. As long as they are here, it is our responsibility to ensure their welfare is being taken care off. Otherwise, the whole world will never stop pointing fingers (esp their middle fingers) towards us.

Please investigate the allegations that the refugees are living in a very poor condition, with not enough food to eat, no clean water.... and that some of them had to become thieves to survive. This is humiliating.

So, if we really want to help them, give them some assurance that they will get proper treatments to suffice their living here until another country agrees to accept them.

Our PM and the respective ministers rarely spoke about the refugees. I don't think members of the Press have visited the refugee camps, one of which is near the KLIA. Or they didnt find issues pertaining to refugees a burning point to write of...

We cannot depend much on the UNHCR. They are only tasked to find faults in countries like us, rag our goodwill and tarnish our image. We can always question how many times in a year that their officials visited the refugees camps.

And if we don't care about them, leave them to rot!

Teresa Kok talks coc....k!

It was so disgusting to read in the Chinese newspaper (I didnt read it but someone who is very angry with a politician) on what Teresa Kok, the Selangor state executive councilor had said regarding a Chinese school ‘grabbing” land from an Indian school.

The way she puts it gives the impression that the land was snatched through dubious means when it was not the case. To put the record right and things in perspective... the story goes like this.

SJK (C) Kheng Chee sought approval from the Education Ministry in 2008 for its school to be relocated to Puchong because of dwindling student enrollment.

In July this year, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin granted approval for the relocation and Teresa Kok, who is the MP for Seputeh, apparently was quoted in newspapers as welcoming the decision.

Today this two-face politician seemed to be speaking a different lingo or singing a different tune altogether.

She has been harping on the SJK (c) Kheng Chee issue to create anger among the Indian community that a Chinese primary school had gotten the piece of land which SJK (T) Castlefield had applied for.

To put the record straight, Castlefield only applied in September last year for relocation to a similar site as Kheng Chee. In all fairness Kheng Chee applied first and got the approval first.

So what’s the problem with Teresa – trying to stir up shit instead of finding solutions for Castlefield.

To Teresa, dont 'cucuk here, cucuk there...'

Continue reading...

Non-UNHCR Burmese: FLUSH 'em out!

We play host to about 95,000 refugees, most of whom are Burmese, the rest are Bosnians, Sri Lankans, Somalians and others. We are not even a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and yet the country has been the subject of bad disposition by the world, including the UNHCR for what was described as Malaysia's shortcoming in treating them.

Even our agreement with Australia was met with opposition. The matter was referred to court and it looks like there would not be any deal after all (here).

Yes, we have yet to ratify the Convention but Malaysia is among a few countries which received the most numbers of refugees over the last three decades. Since the arrival or the Vietnamese boat people on the Hai Hong during the late 1970s, followed by the Palestinians, Bosnians and the Rohingyas, we became the epicenter of world attention.

However, our goodwill was never appreciated. Even most signatories of the Convention were mum over our calls for their assistance to 'extract' some of the refugees from our compound. A few did it only on special grounds - age, race and religion.

Worst still, the UNCHR does not seem to bother much about our treatment. Their agents here are more driven to find faults in our treatment to the refugees, especially the Burmese (here). Some NGOs and Malaysians working for the Commission are also taking our goodwill to rag, expecting the government to give the refugees equal treatment as the locals - provide them with good housing scheme, work, education, etc.

While our laws forbid the refugees from working and doing business, there have been calls for the laws be amended. But those who made such calls failed to notice how many of these refugess, especially the Burmese, have been living comfortably since their arrival. Many of them are into business (few of which do employ locals).

Our punishment by canning a few refugees who flouted the laws was blown out of proportion by foreign media. The Burmese, especially, are getting UNHCR special attention to the extent that the non-refugees Burmese are riding on the advantages.

There are a few hundred thousands Burmese in Malaysia, most of whom are illegal immigrants. They are not refugees. However, the UNHCR treats each and every of them as 'in its custody'.

This has led to some complications during the 6P program launched by the government recently. Only a handful of the illegal Burmese immigrants was registered. Why? Almost all of them would flush their UNHCR card at appointed 6P agents and also at the Immigration officials. They already become big-headed.

I wonder where did the UNHCR cards come from? If not from the Commission itself, it must be the work of some bogus agents trying to lucre and take opportunities from the complexity of the situation. And the UNHCR should be blamed for failing to monitor and distinguish who - among the Burmese - should be accorded the card with.

So, what is our next move?

I think its time to go back to enforcement, I mean full enforcement. First, the Home Ministry should identify the illegal immigrants among the UNHCR cardholders, nab them and send them home.

Its our rights to do so. The UNHCR must acknowledge the fact that only 90,000 Burmese are refugees, the rest are those who entered the country to work, do business and reside illegally. And parallel with the immigration procedures of other countries, they must be deported.

Reading a report by Free Malaysia Today, more needs to be done than just identifying and separating them. The Embassy of Myanmar in Kuala Lumpur, which usually refuses comments of such issues, must give full cooperation.

We have and are doing our best to accommodate them - the refugees and the illegals. While the world is not saying 'thank you' to us, we must stop being the 'nice people' around. This is our country, and as much as we are made to respect the laws in other countries, we expect them to reciprocate.

To KDN, just FLUSH THEM OUT... (Unless we want to grant them with full citizenship and enable them to vote in the next general election!)

PS: Do you know that some UNHCR refugees (who got special treatment from the authorities) are among major employers in the Klang Valley? Superb, isn't it?

Sinchew dep-editor is PR campaign manager...

There are pro-Opposition supporters among the government's civil servants. We can distinguish some of them. And there are also journalists serving Umno, MCA and MIC newspapers (and TV stations) writing 'supportive' news and articles for the DAP, PAS and PKR.

No doubt about it. This is a democratic country. The only thing is, they should not 'shit where they eat'. And of late, we have heard about a few former Cabinet Ministers who publicly avowed their support for the Opposition - some even joined the PR while surviving on government's pension.

This one is about Sinchew's deputy editor Lim Swee Guan. Pemuda Umno Exco member and blogger Tun Faisal was fast to detect some elements of 'pro-PR' in an article produced by the newspaper today.

I don't write Mandarin or Cantonese, just a little bit of Hokkien (I got it during my 4-years stint in Penang). Neither do I read Chinese. However, Tun Faisal's posting, Timbalan Editor Sinchew pengurus kempen PR? is a worth reading.

Snippets:

BN telah memerintah lebih setengah abad. Mereka mempunyai banyak pakej. Apabila mereka bergerak kelihatan lambat; bagaimanapun Pakatan Rakyat adalah sebuah gabungan yang baru, dan boleh ambil tindakan secara cepat. Ia boleh menyebabkan BN mahu hidupkan suasana politik akan tergendala, dan setiap kali rancangan BN selalunya kehilangan peluang yang baik.

UMNO paling takut kehilangan kuasa kerajaan, sebab itu UMNO tidak berani berbincang ataupun mengusik tentang penjagaan mereka terhadap polisi ekonomi Bumiputera, dan tidak mungkin meminta maaf kepada mangsa tahanan ISA ataupun memberi mereka pampasan ganti rugi; MCA tidak mampu ubah polisi negara ini, termasuk pertahankan hak sekolah-sekolah rendah dan isu pengiktirafan sijil sekolah menengah swasta Cina, sebab itu MCA hanya mampu berlegar dalam perkhidmatan dan kebajikan sahaja sebagai pakej mereka, MCA hanya mampu wujudkan dana kebajikan perubatan dan melancarkan projek biasiswa pendidikan; Gerakan pula tidak dapat rampas kembali kawasan yang telah hilang, asyik marah-memarahi bagi menutup keaiban sendiri.

I am not sure who did the translation. Could be by Google Translate but it's not 100 per cent perfect. However, it's easy to understand.

I am not if I know this Lim Swee Guan but as a citizen, Lim has every rights to support any political party. But for any journalist who works with pro-govt media organisation, he or she will always be reminded that his or her duty is to support the legitimate government.

Who owns Sinchew anyway? I hope Lim can write another piece to clarify 'the actual intention of the article'.

And to those senior government officers who also 'work' for the Opposition, they should by now reconsider their positions. It's not nice biting the hands that feed you. Berdosa ke agaknya tikam belakang orang yang bagi kita makan?

Johan Raslan, PwC, SC scandals and contempt of courts

I've been reading (and following) this blog about a year now. I believe Zarinahtakesapaycut is the results of 'flaws and loopholes' at the Securities Commission, its clients PriceWaterhouseCoopers and discontentment among its senior staffs, it seemed (here).

From 'Zarinah Anwar should take a RM100 pay cut' to 'Contempt of court leaves application filed against Dato Seri Johan Raslan and two senior partners of PwC Malaysia at the KL High Court', the postings are very much supported with tangible proofs. Most are too detailed.

I am not sure if Prime Minister and the regulators of the SC and auditing firms are aware of this blog but its 'mission to weed out the misconduct' at the Commission, needs some attentions.

Chin Kwai Fatt, the MD of PwC is also named as among conspirators to the scandals. Not forgetting a few senior officials of PwC allegedly forming an illegal business cahoot with Maxis, Celcom and other telcos (here) in exposing clients' calls and text messages.

And of course, Ananda Krishnan has every reason to be fuming red at them.

Earlier this year, the Audit Oversight Board (AOB) was also ragged for its intriguing implementation (here and here).

I believe the people behind the blog are the ones very close to the inner circle of the SC. Otherwise, such documents and proofs would not be easily accessed.

Hmmm.... looks like Johan and Kwai Fatt (pic) got some explanations to make. The way some postings were written did not fit them as 'office boys' or 'clerks'. They are professionals.

So, do check it out!

International Day of Peace: Is it for real?

Today marks the International Day of Peace. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

This year - on its 30th anniversary - the Day’s theme is “Peace and Democracy: Make your voice heard”.

The Preamble to the UN Charter states that the Organisation was founded to prevent and resolve international conflicts and help build a culture of peace in the world.

Peace and democracy are inextricably linked. Together, they form a partnership that promotes the well-being of all. Embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, democracy supports an environment for a host of political rights and civil liberties.

However, some member countries are not observing the Day. Israel is still terrorising the Palestinians; the American and Nato troops are still attacking the citizens of few Middle East nations plunged in civil wars; the US marines are still pursuing their dirty tactics over the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, while insurgency in various nations is not subsiding.

Washington too is being caught in a diplomatic tug-of-war with its allies like Israel, Britain and Australia over the recognition of a free Palestinian State, having to veto whatever resolution condemning the atrocity of the Israeli regime.

And Sec-Gen Ban Kim-moon will forever (during his tenure) remain as the American puppet at the world body, without a definite authority to interfere in what the US and Allies are doing in many parts of the world.

The General Assembly only listens to the US and its veto-in-hand permanent members. The plight of famine and hunger victims in Africa is taken for granted. Even the distribution of food to the victims is being politicised by aid agencies - no thanks to the threatening remarks made by US officials that such aids should be given more to the non-Muslims.

We are seeing profoundly remarkable happenings taking place in the world. Young women and men everywhere are demonstrating the power of solidarity by reaching out and rallying together for the common goal of dignity and human rights.

This powerful force brings with it the potential to create a peaceful and democratic future. We should add it to ours but still, one question remains - are we really being heard?

Kementerian Tiga Abdul...

"Bro. I joined the ministry a few years ago with a few others. They put us at the info unit in PJ. Our job is to monitor blogs and report it to the section head. We also contribute writings to the ministry's news portal.

"Part of the job is also to cover general election and by-elections. We are not journalists but we tried to be as good as you and your journo friends. Yes, we enjoy this job. Everything looked okay until the Sarawak election.

"I started with a RM3,800 monthly wage. A year later, it went down to RM2,800 and since early this year, it was reduced to RM1,800. Worse still, our status has been redefined to 'artis berjadual', meaning that our salary is on daily basis. I think sooner or later, we will have to bring our family to the sec-gen or minister's house for lunch and dinner everyday..."

Alamak! Pity them.

I was told there are only three of them, on temporary basis. However, where on earth can you find such a treatment being accorded to government servants? Temporary or not, salaries or wages normally goes up, if not maintained as offered.

And this ministry is in charge of the government's propaganda - Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan. I personally believe this few guys have done their job well. I have seen them at work.

Please la YB Datuk Seri Utama and Ybhg KSU Datuk Seri. Takkanlah kito nak aniayo duo tiga pekerja yang baik ni. Kalau ikutkan lojik, gamai kakitangan totap kementerian ni patut dibuang jo!

This is not 'Kerajaan Tiga Abdul'. Small matter. However, some small matters can rally into big upleasant issues.

If we cant handle small and petty issues like this, how are we going to face the rakyat?

Thanks but no thanks, Mr Ambassador!

To US ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Paul W. Jones - thank you for suggesting your willingness to share your country's experience in formulating the anti-terrorism law with Malaysia (here).

For one very good reason - Malaysia will not adopt an 'aggressor-type' set of law to put the country under control. Naturally, we are two different nations. And for you information, we had never been and will not become an aggressor in defending our shores. Even during the Confrontation with Indonesia, we never did enter their territories like they did on us.

We are fully aware of our domestic problems. We understand the nature of our multiracial and multi-religious society and the challenges which had prompted the Internal Security Act (ISA) been enacted in 1960 to weed some elements of subversion from ruining the nation.

We had been under foreign occupation but we never harbored any desire to occupy others. Our foreign policy puts good and sincere diplomatic relations above all, and demands all international disputes to be amicably settled via negotiations.

Your ancestors settled down in America and mistreated the natives but we welcomed others to the country and share everything with them. There were problems, some of which will remain to be redressed but our well-balanced Cabinet integration will ensure that even teething problems get to their attention.

America, Australia or Britain are one-race countries that look upon foreigners with askance and prejudice. Here in this country, we do not separate mosques from churches and we don't simply point fingers at any race and religion over any issue. And of course, we don't burn the Bible as how they burnt the al-Quran in your courtyard.

Tell me, why should we subscribe to your anti-terrorist law when you accused, attacked and killed the wrong people? You even sent innocent people to Guantanamo and treated them like beasts. Under ISA, we treated them well and made them better persons. We rehabilitated them... and never erased their memories like what you did in Guantanamo and some detention centers.

You described the ISA a 'draconian' law but what is your anti-terrorist law called? A 'dragonian'? Or a 'barbaric' law as it allows you to terrorise other countries on the pretext of a 'pre-emptive action'.

Another thing. Do you still accuse the Iraqis as being part of 9/11 attacks on your soil when a decade later - after Saddam and gang were hanged, more than a million Iraqis were killed and no WMD was found - the whole world began to realise that your pre-emptive plan was totally wrong?

Nope! Thanks a lot, Your Excellency. We are Malaysians. We will formulate our law by taking into consideration all domestic prerequisites and conditions. Of course, in this globalised era which saw many cross-border crimes getting rampant, we are still capable of containing them.

After all, we are a small house. We are not as strong as your and your allies. And being small and simple, we must take care of our words and actions. That is how we made so many friends and almost no enemy. That is our best approach.

And back home, we know our people well enough. We do not watch them via satellite because we understand their character well enough to comprehend and digest their actions. Similarly, the plan to abolish the ISA was a gesture that our community is getting more aware of such consequences should they fail to observe the law and order.

I personally believe they are more prepared to work hand-in-hand to defend the country under 1Malaysia. We also recognise the fact that the threats to our security today and tomorrow are not from within but from the outside.

Your anti-terrorist law is very much suitable to your own needs, not ours.

And thank you for scrapping your Star Wars program! Otherwise, all nations will become one as the United States of America!

The best Negaraku... in Sembrong

My day trip to Sembrong was rewarded. Not in the form of food fiesta or the entertainment by famous artistes like Ajai, Aishah or Mawi but a song I learnt since my first day in primary school.

I have sung the national anthem Negaraku a thousand times throughout my life, joining others at various functions at home. I have also heard people singing it abroad, also on some special occasions. It has been a part of me, a part of you and a part of them (who are no longer with us).

I am always proud of it. Singing it in a big crowd normally produces a feeling only we ourselves could explain. The patriotic that chills our veins all over.

The last time I felt that was during Umno General Assembly some years ago (of course not during Pak Lah's era).

And again, I felt it in Sembrong during Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein's Aidilfitri open house on Sunday. It was more than just a patriotic feeling. I was moved at how the 10,000 crowd sang it in harmony.

People from all walks of life - Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs and others - became one. No religions, no races and no colors. That's what moved me. They sang it perfectly and beautifully.

I think people like Mat Sabu, Namewee and those who belittled their own country, should go down to Sembrong and learn how to appreciate and sing Negaraku in its real spirit. Let them share the joy of being Malaysians and recognise the sacrifices of those who had paved them the way for a peaceful and prosperous nation.

And as the Home Minister, I believe Hisham has succeeded in instilling that to his constituents...

9/11 remembered, 9/17 forgotten...

Twenty-nine years have past, my goodness. Their families will never forget them. Neither will they forget the extremes of inhumanity and human compassion, the ugliness and beauty, the laughter and grins while murdering with a disregard for humanity and life impossible to comprehend, and the tears and cries of deepest despair and suffering no human being, not even an animal should experience.

It was the day when the world failed the Palestinians. To the 4,800 victims (official figures by the ICRC in 1983) of Sabra and Shatilla massacre, we still remember...

ISA: Najib delivers his promises

Anwar was fast to lash out at Najib's announcement on dismantling of the ISA. Kit Siang, Guan Eng and gang had yet to make any remarks about it while PAS leadership just couldn't find the right words for their comment.

Only Karpal made a statement earlier today, calling the repeal of the ISA as 'the breath of fresh air'.

The Opposition bench was taken by surprise, actually. They were the ones shouting around for the ISA to be abolished. They were the ones who had been telling the whole world about how 'draconian' the law was.

Even the NGOs were tight lips about it. Where is Ambiga who led the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9? Where are the patrons of 'strip the ISA', including a few members of the Bar Council? Aren't they happy that they are now 'free' to do anything - organising more street demos, badmouthing the nation and government, and belittling the judiciary and our democracy?

Najib's announcement on Thursday was not meant to please the Opposition. In fact, many strong upholders of the ISA were disappointed. Some BN leaders, pro-govt journalists and members of the ruling party were also shocked at the bold move.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein regarded the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 as a journey of the country's transformation (here), and efforts to modify existing laws was necessary to keep abreast with changing times and to safeguard the people's interest and national security.

In a commentary 'Making Way for Civil Liberty', the Star newspaper says "...Together, this exercise at democratisation is the biggest and most significant change in the country since independence and advances personal freedom and civil liberties for citizens. Clearly, Najib has decided that the time is long overdue for combating communism and racial and religious extremism to make way for personal liberties and civil rights."

Many have forgotten that Najib, in his first speech as the premier in 1999, had avowed his intention to review the ISA which was also not favored by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The abolition of the Internal Security and Banishment Acts is part of a journey which started two years ago and not because of the opposition's pressure tactics. And the Opposition's claim that the announcement was meant to lure voters in the next national poll, is also unfounded.

The process started when the prime minister announced that he was looking at the ISA in a holistic way. And as such, he has fulfilled part of what he had promised in the Political Transformation Programme.

The people can judge for themselves the courage needed in doing something unexpected, which was not leaked, politicised or exploited over the past two years. The opposition can claim anything but they too have to mirror themselves with regard to their promises during the 2008 general election.

The Opposition, NGOs and the rakyat must also be aware that the government in all honesty and goodwill have also met key stakeholders to address the issues involved and how to move forward, which is a brilliant thing to do provided.

Many countries have altered or changed their domestic security laws in the wake of 9/11 and ours too will have to be redefined to meet greater challenges posed by a new kind of threats to the nation.

So, if the Opposition and NGOs are not pleased, please be kindly reminded that it was not meant to please them at all!

In my opinion, the dissent by some quarters, including from the pro-ISA camp, is normal. When the ISA was introduced 51 years ago, it sent shocks and shivers to many too but it began to gain support when it started to give positive impact in dealing with the insurgency and other threatening elements to the national security.

Dismantling the ISA - A way to remember Najib...

The Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 will be abolished and two new laws will be introduced to safeguard peace and order, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today (here).

The government would also repeal the Banishment Act 1959 and reviewing other laws to be in line with current needs while a comprehensive study will be carried out on the Restricted Residence Act 1993 and the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 where annual renewals would be done away with, and replaced with issuance of licence until it is revoked.

Perhaps by dismantling the 'draconian and unjust ISA' (a reference by the Opposition and foreign governments who hail US-style of pre-emptive law which allows detention without trial at Guantanamo Bay), Najib would forever be remembered in Malaysia's history as the man who went that 'extra mile' despite dissent within party, politics, power and policy circles, to get rid of a legislation unfit for a civilised society and country like Malaysia (here).

Our PM will certainly then add a new dimension and stature to his position and win the accolades from all sides of the political divide, including the Opposition. But will this decision get to the Opposition's satisfaction?

I am not sure how others - the rakyat, politicians, the media and bloggers - would react to this but I have my own standpoint.

While supporting the dismantling of the ISA - and while waiting for the new two set of laws being introduced - the government, via the Home Ministry, should hold key grips on some elements of the ISA, especially with regards to religion and race.

I am totally against a 'free country' where freedom of speech and freedom of the Press would be used as vehicles by certain quarters to incite disharmony among our multiracial community and to challenge the authorities (esp the police and army) if the alternative laws contain more loopholes.

I remember that amendments to the ISA were supposed to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat earlier this year but was postponed, not realising there was already an agenda to abolish the whole system. However, the announcement today fell short of a government guarantee that while the replacement laws will be suffice enough to maintain law and order in the country, the 'transition period' prior to its introduction will also be put under tight surveillance.

As our politics are under heavy influence from recent international events, we should forget that our multiracial politics differ much from that in the West or the Middle East. Our politics is not as easy to handle as that in the one-race country.

The Opposition will look out for flaws in the dismantling of ISA although they were the ones who wanted it. And now that they do not have any more quests, their attention would be focused on the new laws to be introduced.

And let us imagine Malaysia without ISA or similar laws. A free country? I don't think so. A free country will expose our citizens to a more marginalised social structure in the sense that no action could be taken against those who make disparaging remarks that belittles each others' race, religion and color.

And since our politicians are fond of riding on such sentiments, things could get even worse than before.

So, there are pros and cons to the disbanding of the ISA. Just like the disbanding of the English medium school in the late 1970s, we may take many years from now on to realise that there is a need to uphold such a system... and going back to where we had started.

Personally, I do not agree with some provisions of the ISA but some are still very much suitable in our Malaysian context.

And I also wonder what will be the function of the Home Ministry. Will the PM abolish the portfolio as well or change its name, say... to Ministry of Immigration (like Australia and some Commonwealth nations)?

Whatever it is, everything is up to the premier. Its his prerogative rights!

Meet Namewee and we will bring you down - Mahaguru58 warns Najib

Zainol Abideen aka Mahaguru58 is really fuming. This protem president of Muslim Bloggers Alliance - a strong supporter of PM Najib's government - has issued a stern warning to the prime minister in his latest posting here.

"Saudara Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak! Sekiranya mahu melihat Kerajaan Malaysia Barisan Nasional jatuh tersungkur di dalam Pilihanraya Umum ke-13 akan datang, silalah saudara menerima Namewee masuk bertemu saudara di mana-mana tempat sekalipun! Saudara bebas berpeluk sakan dengan mana-mana syaitan sekiranya saudara bukan lagi menjadi Perdana Menteri kami! Namun selama saudara berada di tampuk pemerintahan satu-satunya kerajaan pimpinan Melayu Semenanjung ini, saya dan berjuta-juta lagi umat Muhammad tak akan rela kamu berjumpa si pengkhianat laknatullah seekor ini..."

He also warned Najib that he and the rest of the bloggers (I am not sure who else) would launch a 'war' against the government should Najib opens the door to Namewee.

I have not decided to join him or not but I believe many Malaysians, especially the Malays, have labeled Namewee as a traitor. However, the latest news about this young man is that, he is now supporting the government and is on a road tour to instill the 'Semangat 1Malaysia' among the youths.

And I am not sure how true the saying 'Once a thief is always a thief' goes...

However, I am taking Mahaguru58 seriously.

Bursa Malaysia will be closed down!

Ah-haaa!!! Malaysia will be doomed if Pas and DAP takeover the government. Its economy will dwindle and the rakyat will get poorer and poorer. Even the rich will have to steal from the poor... in the end.

Our fundamentals would be charted by Pas. What fundamentals would there be under Hadi Awang, Nik Aziz and Mat Sabu, and Kit Siang, Guan Eng and Karpal?

It's an interesting piece posted by Stopthelies - Hadi promises to shut down the Bursa if Pas forms the Federal Government! Wah lan neh! How are we going to survive?

"Come on, you did not expect the past to haunt you right, Taliban Hadi? But stopthelies is out to remind Malaysians, especially the pork-eating Chinese, that PAS president Hadi Awang aka Taliban Hadi will never stop his extremist ways until he gets his way. Of course, the power crazy morons from the DAP and their groupies will help Hadi win because they actually believe that PAS has changed. PAS hasn’t said they will change," writes stopthelies.

Heh heh! Means that everything that is 'haram' to the Muslims will also be imposed on the non-Muslims, except for DAP members.

The Chinese will be barred from eating pork, no more Genting Casino and all Magnum, Toto and PMP Kuda outlets will be closed down.

Pas will also amend all banking, insurance and investment policy as to make it free from interest-takings. If you borrow RM1,000 from the bank, you will have to pay back the same amount. All banks will be regulated is such a manner that their position is only to help those in need.

Bursa Malaysia, which attracts billions of ringgits every year, will see its demise. No more stockbroking firms to operate and thousands of jobs will be lost.

Oh my! What a disaster!

By the way, can Hadi translate and define what 'Lakum dinukum waliyaddin' means?

India grills top executive of Maxis; MCMC plays dumb

In New Delhi, a top executive of the Maxis company on Monday was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in spectrum allotment during the tenure of former Indian Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran (here).

Ralph Marshall, CEO of Astro which invested in Sun TV and also a Board member of Malaysia-based Maxis, appeared before the agency officials for clarifying on allegations that the company was favoured by the Minister in the takeover of Aircel and in return investments were made in Sun TV owned by Maran family.

I am impressed with the speed of action by the CBI and the government of India in dealing with such an irregularity.

But back home, Maxis is on a prowl. Some of its senior executives were alleged to have leaked customers' call-and-SMS record to auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers and no action has been taken to investigate it, at least (here).

It's a major offense when it comes to breaching customers' P & C, and I guess it's similar to opening up government's white papers in the public.

They had betrayed the trust of not only the clients of Maxis but also trampled all over the privacy rights of the clients of the other telco companies in Malaysia, with total disregard for the law and the principles of good governance.

What has the MCMC done thus far to protect telcos customers from being treated like a bunch of morons? And where is the minister in charge again?

However, I think I know the reason why. The MCMC will not move without any directive from the minister. Not only the MCMC... most of our government's departments and agencies are such!

Where is the Minister?

It needs a deputy minister to issue a reminder to the telcos - seek approval first before imposing whatever new charges to consumers.

I am not questioning or disputing anything BUT in boiling issues like this, the minister himself should attend to it. When a ministry regulates certain policies, it has to keep it firm, and the minister in charge must ensure that every party adheres to it.

But in this telcos issue, it was the deputy minister who broke the one week silence. The 6 per cent additional charges on prepaid charges was already taking center stage and journos and bloggers alike have written a lot about it. Where was the minister?

Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Maglin Dennis D'Cruz said Sunday telcos could not raise the service tax at short notice as it would burden consumers (here).

However, I believe Maxis, Celcom, Digi and others will proceed with the plan to impose the six per cent service tax on all prepaid sales as planned starting next Thursday. Whether the consumers are against it, they got no choice. If they don't like it, stop using prepaid.

I am not belittling minister Rais Yatim but in issues like this, he should come forward and clear the air. Even the MCMC which is under his jurisdiction, was tight lip about it although it regulates the telcos from A to Z.

The MCMC too has yet to comment on allegations that Maxis personnel have been leaking customers private calls and SMS to auditing company PriceWaterhouseCoopers. While the minister himself was aware of it, no directive was issued to start investigation.

Or... the telcos are so BIG and powerful that even ministers cannot interfere in their decisions?

9/11 - Bush administration did it!

Ten years after 9/11, the doubts linger on - how and why such acts were perpetrated against the US and who was actually responsible.

Doubts about the 9/11 attacks seem to fall into three main categories: How these attacks were orchestrated without foreknowledge by the United States’ massive intelligence apparatus, the physical improbability of the anomalous collapse of the Twin Towers, and the exact role (if any) played by Osama bin Laden in planning and executing the assaults.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrote in his blog that the attacks on the World Trade Center was not the act of Muslims but from 'inside America'.

"The planning must have taken a considerable length of time. The candidates had to learn to fly in tiny aircrafts. Unless they were already airline pilots familiar with big passenger aircraft, their pupil pilot licenses would not be of much help to fly the four aircrafts to their targets which were not on the route of the planes..."

There are two main points that raise doubts about the official explanation of the collapse of WTC 1 and 2 - the total collapse of a steel-framed high-rise building due to fire is unprecedented, and the near free-fall speed at which the structures collapsed is consistent with controlled demolition. In addition, the collapse of WTC 7 remains unexplained.

The South Tower was struck at 9:03 a.m. and collapsed at 9:59 a.m. despite the fact that fire has simply never before caused the total collapse of a steel-framed high-rise building.

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Robert Shea, testified before a committee of the US House of Representatives on the collapse of the World Trade Center, “No one who viewed it that day, including myself, believed that those towers would fall.”

Experienced firefighters testified that just before the collapse, they heard regularly timed explosions, which could not have been made by the jet fuel since it would have burned out within the first 10 minutes. Firefighter Kenneth Rogers said, “One floor under another after another and when it hit about the fifth floor, I figured it was a bomb, because it looked like a synchronised deliberate kind of thing.”

World Trade Center Building 7, which was not struck by a plane but allegedly was damaged by falling debris, collapsed at 5:20 p.m. on the same day, September 11, in seven seconds, near free-fall speed.

Again, many testified that they heard regularly timed blasts before the building collapsed. It is also noteworthy that the Emergency Management Center was on the 23rd floor of WTC 7. Perhaps the building was “pulled” to get rid of evidence.

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Maxis betrays its customers' P & C!

Ananda Khrishnan must be fuming red over allegations that some Maxis senior personnel have been breaching telcos' privacy and confidentiality policy by 'selling off' customers calls-and-SMS record to auditing company PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC).

It was not the right thing to do. Revealing such info is against all principles of service. Such details should not be transferred to other parties without prior prior approval from the respective customers.

The MCMC regulates that "service providers must be open, transparent and meet generally accepted fair information principles including providing notice as to what personal information they collect, use and disclose..."

But Maxis officers like Miss Lai Choon Foong (picture-sitting extreme right), Maxis' Senior General Manager and Head of Management Accounting and Procurement and a few more are said to be responsible for the 'leak' as they work closely with the external auditors PwC Malaysia on all kinds of matters (read here and here).

Lai,, according to sources, has betrayed the trust of not only the clients of Maxis, but also trampled all over the privacy rights of the clients of the other telco companies in Malaysia, with total disregard for the law and the principles of good governance.

"And how much longer are Maxis going to retain PwC Malaysia as their external auditors, when PwC Malaysia can just waltz in and take whatever data they need, for their nefarious purposes?"

Yeap.... I agree that Maxis cannot disclose the incoming phone records to any third party without the consent of the Consumer. And for PwC Malaysia to actually attempt to use this illegally obtained documents in the KL High Court is an act of total disregard for the laws of the country.

A full investigation cannot be discounted here. Let us hear to what Info Minister Rais Yatim got to say about this...

To Maxis customers, you got nowhere to hide... heh!

US envoy rags our role in Mindanao

All American diplomats are spies. Yes, they are. Deploy them anywhere around the globe, and they will feed Pentagon and the White House with 'good unscrupulous' reports - some of which are lies - for the sake of 'doing their job'.

Malaysia is of no exception. They spy on you to your bedroom and washroom, and don't be shocked if they know exactly how many times you have sex overnight! But of course, they would not report anything about how many times their friend bugger someone of his own sex.

Former US Ambassador to Malaysia, Christopher J LaFleur (pic) did a fine job in screwing us by lambasting our peace misson in Mindanao, the Philippines. Our arbitrator function to bring about stability and peace in the region was spun in such a way that most Filipinos are hating us.

Our role to work out a truce between the government army and the Moro liberation force was misconstrued as a 'Malaysian effort to expand its influence in southern Philippine and cashing out its economic potential'.

And once again, Wikileaks exposed everything. Malaysia is now the subject of prejudice in the Philippines. Our soldiers and other personnel could be made to pay a heavy price for this badmouthing by LaFleur and his team.

"Malaysia has shown interest in expanding its influence in Mindanao and cashing in on the region by acting as a facilitator in peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," the envoy said via several US embassy cables published online by anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

I think Wisma Putra and the Defense Ministry should address this issue. If possible, leave Mindanao to the Americans.


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Don't belittle the Chinese, Nazri!

Sometimes an understatement may lead to eruptive consequences. And when this happens, those who made it could easily say that 'it was unintentional' or 'I didn't mean it' or 'the media misquoted me'. In other words, there is no need for an apology.

Some politicians are prone to making comments deemed to stir the good inter-relations among parties, notably Barisan Nasional. Leaders and MPs of various parties in the political pact had in the past involved in unpleasant exchange of words while quite recently, they tried to outdo each other.

What benefit would it bring to the future of BN and the nation if such domestic issues found prominent headlines in local and foreign media? Surely, the Opposition will enjoy all the political advantages that open up.

Minister in PM's Dept Nazri Aziz took center stage again by making an understatement that the Malaysian Chinese need not worry should they lose in the general election as there are always seats allocated for their representatives in the Cabinet.

In simple words, the Prime Minister will continue with the tradition of electing Senators among them before they are made Ministers 'according to the agreeable quotas'.

Yes, we have more ministers and deputies from among members of the Senate under Najib's administration, and I personally agree that it should be reduced by the next government. We have so many elected reps from among the ruling party and it is not fair to deny them the rights to serve the rakyat.

I do not know what was Nazri's motive in making such a comment but the Chinese, especially in MCA and Gerakan didn't find it amusing. A direct interpretation would mean that MCA and Gerakan are irrelevant - and their existence is not important.

It could also mean that the ruling party can make it without MCA and Gerakan, and should BN wins the next national poll, a few of their leaders would be appointed Senators and take up positions in the Cabinet. In this manner, the Chinese members in MCA and Gerakan can be rest assured that winning or losing any State or Parliamentary seats is too secondary - they will still be represented!

It was a dangerous and provocative understatement.

There is no subsidy in politics, sir! BN has long accepted the importance of strength and unity among its components. BN recognises the need for all components to strive and cooperate in the spirit of Malaysians, irrespective of race and religion.

The Malays too have recognised the Chinese, Indians and other races as having their own role in national integration. A commonly-strong politic will ensure them with continuous prosperity and stability.

But of course, there are subsidies under the New Economic Policy. The Malays and Bumiputeras were told to work hard in order to elevate their economic standings and ratings. They were not allowed to take away what the Chinese and Indians had economically achieved. This is a noble way to advance.

In politics, Umno holds supremacy because it is the largest party with the biggest number of membership in the country. Umno has been leading the Cabinet since Independence but this has been well-accepted by the Chinese and Indians.

However, the Chinese in MCA and Gerakan, and the Indians in MIC must also seek a noble landmark of politics. They must strive to win as many seats allocated to them in the general election. They should not depend on the Umno Cabinet to appoint their representatives to the Senate as a pre-requisite before being made ministers or deputy ministers.

Just like how the Malays are encouraged to work hard to improve their living, the non-Malays too should prove their worth in politics. There is no two way about it, and BN needs all that to retain its control in the next national poll.

Nazri failed to realise the fact that BN will collapse without the Chinese support. In no circumstances BN will be able to maintain its position without the strong support of the Chinese in MCA. Unless if Nazri wants to see DAP or PAS reign supreme!

Journalists at war: A simple digest

Noramfaizul is the 35th journalist killed in direct relation to his job in Somalia. I share the losses, as a journo and as a Malaysian.

Elsewhere and since World War II, at least 5,000 journalists - reporters and photographers - were killed, intentionally and unintentionally while expediting their duty to keep about 3 billion people worldwide well-informed about what is going on in the planet.

Noramfaizul was one of the unfortunates. However, this news that he was shot by the African Union Mission in Somalia or AMISON (here) near Mogadishu Airport draws my attention.

The Committee to Protect Journalists in New York has called on the African Union to ensure the safety of civilians operating in Somalia after witnesses reported that AU forces fired on a Malaysian humanitarian convoy on Friday, killing one journalist and injuring another.

I believe the convoy was trapped in a crossfire between the rebels and the army. It has happened many times before, not only in Mogadishu but around the globe. There had been incidents where many civilians were killed by strayed bullets from both sides. They were there at the wrong time and the wrong place.

The Malaysian media is still very much a 'newcomer' to this nature of coverage. The practitioners were never really exposed to covering high risk areas such as wars. We only started to send them out for the Desert Storm in Iraq-Kuwait in the early 1990s. Even that, they were well-protected and did not encounter with the actual situation.

I remember when I first stepped foot in Baghdad to cover the Gulf War between Iraq and Iran in 1982, another Berita Harian reporter Mahfar Ali was despatched to Afghanistan a few years later to 'team up' with the Mujahideen. Rosnah Majid of Utusan Malaysia was also in Iraq for a short while.

So, when Info Minister Rais Yatim suggested for a standard operating procedure (SOP) be created to serve as a guideline for all parties (here), including media practitioners, before embarking on or taking part in any humanitarian mission abroad, I feel glad about it.... and of course, I second the notion.

The time has come for the SOP to be put in place to prevent any untoward incident during such mission.

It's a good idea although is should have been introduced many years ago. Ask Mahfar or ex-NST senior journo Ben d'Cunha (who joined me in Iraq during my third visit in 1986) and Petrus Suryadi of Indonesian Kompass about our mission then.

In 1982, I volunteered for it since nobody else wanted to take up the role of a war journalist. And war journalism was something very new and odd to our media at that particular time. I had to apply leave to go to Baghdad (a socialist-ruled country), and being a Socialist nation, only a few of my stories were used as we were still depending heavily on news from Reuters, AP, Afp, etc.

The Iraqi Embassy in KL arranged everything, including an insurance amounting to RM500,000 should I fail to return (my parents were the beneficiary because I was still single). My employer did not provide anything, not a single sen and was told that I would be 'on my own'. I did not blame them because reporting during that era was mainly focused on local issues. Almost all newspapers only published foreign news fed by wires.

In Baghdad, I spent a week in an army camp co-managed by the Iraqi and the United Nations Forces in Khanaqin, north of the capital, for a 'special intensive training', among which was how to handle a Russian-made Kalashnikov (AK47) for self defense, how to duck should a hand grenade was thrown at you, to distinguish types of jet fighters and to dig a bunker under a tank.

Together with about 35 local and foreign journalists, we were told to pass the test or being left out from going to the war zones. I passed, and so did Petrus. We were also taught how to escape crossfire and from situations like that. Most importantly is how to pull the AK47 trigger.

Journalism has gone through evolutions. When the Malaysian Press started to despatch reporters to Iraq (via Jordan), Kuwait, Palestine and other areas of conflict, I began to realise that the time has come for us to source the news ourselves, and from our very own context. It is time to avoid exploitation by the Western media.

I have seen some journalists lost their lives in Iraq. The internationally-known CNN journalist Peter Arnett was also with me in 1982 but I disagreed with his style of working as he preferred 'lobby'reporting' too much.

It was a common scenario for journalist got trapped in between the warring factions. If you are lucky, you escape. Otherwise, your parents or next of kin would be richer by the amount insured on you.

Many believe a few more wars would erupt. In fact, the conflicts in some Middle East countries such as Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria and Syria would be worth-reporting if we have the budget and a well-trained team to select for the job.

I am saddened by Noramfaizul's death. He was a brave man. But we have to take the risk, sometimes, when attending to such a place and event. "Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya... Amin!"

And so..... they come in support of Mat Sabu

I learnt history and I read history. During our struggle for the Independence, there were heroes - the Malays, Chinese, Indians and others. Some were traitors too. However, communism was not accepted back then, long before and after Merdeka.

And Mat Sabu's remarks that declared the communists as heroes (and not the Malayan people who served the colonial master British) is opening up more polemics.

Some parties have deplored Mat Sabu while the rest seemed to have supported him.

Here are some excerpts from comments in Malaysiakini:

"Our history is viewed through Umno's racial lenses. Had those in the Bukit Kepong police station were British, the attackers would be heros. After all, local Malay chief Maharajalela was a folk hero in the annals of our history for killing British Resident in Perak, JWW Birch. But Bukit Kepong serves Umno's Malay versus Chinese agenda. Mat Sabu sought to turn the issue on its head by arguing that the leader of the attack was actually a Malay, Mat Indera."

"Let's get this straight. The attack on the Bukit Kepong police station was before Merdeka - Aug 31, 1957. The country was colonialised by the British and all personnel who worked for the administration were under the payroll of Her Majesty, the Queen of England. Those who went against and fought the British colonialists then are nationalist, irrespective of their party orientation. Those under employment of the British government, irrespective of their racial background, worked for the colonial masters. If Mat Indera (Muhammad Indera), a nationalist with the communist party and his comrades, had successfully driven out the British occupiers, they would have been hailed as war heroes just like the communists in China and Vietnam who had driven out their own countrymen in the Koumintang and the South Vietnamese Army respectively as they were aligned to the American imperialists. Victors get to write their version of history."

"The communists were of course the true heroes of Malaya (then). They fought against the British colonialists, then the Japanese, then the British again and got 'independence' for Malaya. They are patriots. Those local police and soldiers were cannon fodder, employed by the British and the ruling aristocrats and their running dog, MCA, to protect themselves. The communists had no choice - it was either to attack or be attacked."

"Even Karpal Singh, a very principled politician had criticised Mat Sabu. I am aware that many Chinese Malaysians died at the hands of the communists just because they refused to help the communists, especially those who worked for the government. Government teachers, including Chinese teachers, were killed directly in front of their students in broad daylight back in those days."

I believe we will read more varieties pretty soon. So many factions, including politicians are riding on it. And our rakyat could be split into two (especially our young ones) over the 'actual heroes and villains' issue. How strong and adequate are our text books and documents?

I am also of the opinion that the communist were/are heroes in the countries of their origin... but NOT in the case of Malaysia.

Should I blame Mat Sabu? I guess he didn't pay much attention to this subject...

Malaysiakini is not 'terkini'

We all know how Malaysiakini hates Najib so much. Anything that the Prime Minister did for the country is for the news portal to spin adversely. It seems that nothing is good about the government and the Cabinet.

I guess Malaysiakini's editors and writers could make better ministers. And for that, I strongly recommend them to stand in the next national poll, hoping they would win to form the Cabinet with the Opposition.

Najib should be flying home from Perth tonite after canceling his other programs Down Under. He will receive the slain Bernama TV photo-journalist body in the morning.

The way how Mkini spins Najib's 'vacation' in Australia did not reflect the maturity in its editorial team. Everybody knows the premier was undergoing a physio-therapy in Perth as Australia offers one of the best place for sports therapy.

After his knee surgery last month, Najib chose Hari Raya and Merdeka holidays for that purpose. That was the only time he could pick for the knee job.

We are not celebrating Merdeka on Aug 31 as it 'clashed' with Hari Raya. So, the government has decided to defer its celebration for Sept 16 in conjunction with Hari Malaysia. And what is wrong with that?

Relax, bro.

When Karpal was absent many times from Anwar's hearing, did you spin anything about it? I dont think so. Why? Because we know your duty is to support the Opposition and to bring down the government.

And... just look at how you played up the churches and Christianity issues of late. I believe you also want to incite racial chaos in the country.

Who are the good guys around? You?

Mainstream media tearing the country apart - Tony PuaKA

Come on lar! Use your brain before saying anything, especially to the foreign media.

There is no stopping for Tony Pua who told the Jakarta Globe that “BN is willing to not only spread false news, but also use highly charged religious sentiments to tear the country apart," and that the mainstream media is actually stoking racial and religious sentiments to tear the country apart.

"... the reports were calculated to inflame sentiment and anger among Malays and Muslims in the country, especially towards the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance."

Knowing him, and knowing how the Opposition loves turning to foreign media for some publicity is perhaps something we could push aside.

That applies well for Suaram too, which said the recent reports on television and in Malay newspapers are playing on Malay fears for political gain, as the general election draws near.

It said in a statement on Monday: “Suaram is concerned that this incident points to an escalation in fear-mongering by the mostly government-controlled mainstream media by propagating the idea that Islam is under threat.”

Check your points please. Who is actually provoking the Muslims and the Malays? Umno? MCA? Or MIC?

However, I am not certain about the agenda behind political columnist Karim Raslan's jottings in The Star on Tuesday that the 're-emergence of the apostasy issue suggests a deep-rooted anxiety among Malay-Muslims over their future and identity'.

Looks like everybody wants to be heard... and me too!