Malaysia 101

Post Elections Malaysia (14) – Arrogance setting in?

2008-07-21T16:50:00.001+08:00

Prior to the 12^th General Elections, the Barisan Nasional Government has always been on the attack, with statements such as arrogance, high-handedness etc being hurled against it. I read with interest this piece of news that came from Selangor and from the mouth of the state's chief minister (read the underlined part), which I find very surprising... Then when do they listen the people?

Hi-Tech pig farm proposed for Selangor

By BERNAMA

2008/07/21

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today the proposed high-tech pig farm in Kampung Tumbuk, Sepang was to resolve the problems of illegal pig-rearing farms scattered around the state. He said apart from Kampung Tumbuk there was no other area suitable for the project.

Asked on the protest by non-governmental organisations and residence associations towards the project, Abdul Khalid said, "They have the right to protest but it's not necessary that we listen to them." The state government, however, had not decided whether to go ahead with the project, he said after launching a workshop on "Liveable Cities" here today.

Yesterday the Malaysian Islamic Unity Movement Organisation (PPPIM) President Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad slammed the government for the transfer of 200,000 pigs from Bukit Pelanduk, Port Dickson to Kampung Tumbuk even though the project had not started yet.

Zulkifli said with the transfer, there were now 600,000 pigs in the area and this would affect lives of about 20,000 people who had to put up with a foul odour and water pollution.

He urged the state government to discuss with the residence and obtain advice from the Department of Environment before proceeding with the project.

Zulkifli said PPPIM would submit a memorandum to the state government to object proposed farm.

© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

Human Rights and the Asian Values

2008-07-20T12:03:00.002+08:00

I have always admired Prof Khoo Kay Kim. His ideas are sound and realistic. Today he wrote at length about Human Rights and I take the liberty of reproducing it here. Give it some thought.

KHOO KAY KIM: Human rights and our Western value system
By Khoo Kay Kim

2008/07/20

IN Malaysia, between the two terms, it was "integrity" that was given constant attention for the longest time. Although the term itself was seldom used in the past, the two words which convey the same meaning -- "'honesty" and "ethics" -- were repeatedly emphasised in schools and during talks on religions. In English-medium schools in particular, children were constantly reminded of the saying: "Honesty is the best policy". Even in the University of Malaya (Singapore) where philosophy was one of the disciplines taught in the early years of its existence, logic and ethics were compulsory subjects.

In short, morality was considered one of the main principles governing human relationships. Between two people or, for that matter, two parties or more, there was need for transparent conduct to ensure harmony and enhance happiness. When friendships developed, it was expected that one should be able to trust one's friend or friends implicitly.

However, in past Asian societies, in general, between the ruling class and the subject class, the principle did not really apply for while the subject class was not allowed to tell lies, the ruling class enjoyed almost total power. It could not be penalised if it did not tell the truth because it performed the functions of "judge, jury and executioner". The move against unjust rulers and governments occurred gradually. Even in the Malay peninsula, although a ruler was assassinated in Johor as early as 1699, no move was made then to change the system of government. Absolute monarchy continued to exist.

In other words, the values governing the relationship between one individual and another or between two groups were very different in the days of the ancient regime.

The situation began to change in the peninsula only after Western systems and values were progressively introduced to the locals. The subject class was gradually, and rather indirectly, encouraged to ask questions and to speak up for themselves when councils at the local and state levels were introduced towards the latter half of the 19th century.

Some of these values were subsequently consistently disseminated in local schools after modern education had been introduced. Equally effective as agents of change was the media -- newspapers (increasingly since 1806) and cinematography (beginning from about 1930). But it was not society as a whole which benefited. The more educated did; the less educated did not always manage to grasp ideas and ideals disseminated directly or indirectly.

Still, undeniably, the coming of the West unavoidably led to more radical social change. The process took a long time; it differed greatly from one ethnic group to another. Educated leaders in India had acquired sufficient Western ideas and a legal system to challenge British colonialism by 1857. Indian political activists had appeared in this country by the time of World War 1.

Japan, too, had begun to convulse socially before the end of the 19th century. The Meiji restoration witnessed the beginnings of modernisation. When Japan defeated China in a war in the 1890s, it inspired a part of Malay society to work towards modernisation as well. But China was then still in the throes of Manchurian hegemony. But the onslaught of modern ideas eventually led to the end of monarchy and republicanism has remained to this day.

Here, change began at a faster pace on the fringes of the peninsula where the British had established the Straits Settlements in 1826. English education was introduced in the Malay states about half a century later.Also after the British had begun to interfere in the administration of the Malay kingdoms, the Straits population steadily moved into the western part of the peninsula, attracted by employment opportunities as the English language became increasingly important in all aspects of administration.

However, although English education exposed the younger generation to modern socio-political developments, Western ideas were not quickly accepted with open arms. There was always the call to preserve traditional values. Socialist and communist ideas arrived after WW1 but leftist ideas were critical of Western domination although it preached egalitarianism, which was itself a Western idea.

The result was that leftist ideas managed to penetrate, surreptitiously, even the Malay community. It gave rise to a conflict between those who steadfastly defended the status quo and those who wanted change. This was particularly evident after World War 2 when two Malay political parties, with ideologically different views, emerged -- the Malay Nationalist Party (in late 1945) and Umno (in early 1946).

Britain, meanwhile, following trends set by the United States which called for decolonisation -- by first freeing its own colony (the Philippines) in 1946 -- began to encourage the formation of nation-states among territories which it had previously colonised or extended protection to. A policy of liberalisation ensued in the then Malaya after 1945. Political parties were allowed to be formed, also trade unions. The first major constitutional change -- the introduction of the Malayan Union -- was to introduce democracy after a nation-state (Malaya) had been formed.

The process was beset with problems as the existing political structures which existed were very complex, not the least important of which was the need to merge the nine sovereign Malay kingdoms with the British Crown Colony comprising Penang and Malacca.

The idea of human rights ingrained in the concept of democracy -- "government of the people, by the people, for the people" -- was primary in the minds of the educated British subjects residing in Penang and Malacca. But Britain had also, over several decades, by treaties, undertaken to preserve the sanctity of the Malay kingdoms. Trying to find a win-win situation was more than doubly difficult. The local leaders felt that they could perhaps solve the problem progressively once Malaya had become a nation-state. But they were mistaken. The subject is debated even today.

But it has gone beyond the need to provide fairly among the citizens of the country irrespective of race, religion and creed. Since becoming a member of the United Nations after Malaya became a nation-state, Malaya (then Malaysia) has had to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.

Human rights cover a broad range of subjects among the most basic of which are that human beings are born equal and they have certain god-given rights such as the right to education, basic amenities and the choice of who should be entrusted with the responsibility of running the country.

Elections, in fact, had been introduced in Malaya beginning from late 1951 -- the Penang municipal elections were held then -- and the first nation-wide elections were held in 1955. Since then Parliament, established in 1957, was suspended only once in 1969.

Like many other countries, this country has had to balance between democracy and national security. While the government has not openly dispensed with democracy, in most instances when faced with a choice between observing the principle of human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ensuring national security, it is the latter which consistently gains priority.

But ultimately to uphold human rights, there must be integrity in the management of the country, from the upper echelon of society to the grassroots level.

Stability in a society and progress can become a reality only when each person behaves correctly rather deviously. Every action must be transparent and the old adage of "love thy neighbour as thyself" is not outdated.

Then and only then can it be expected that a nation will always give priority to the interests of the people irrespective of race, creed or religion. Few people realise that the Penang Free School was founded in 1816 with that in mind for "free" meant that the school would not be encumbered by "race, creed or religion".

Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Khoo Kay Kim is a commissioner of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia

© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

In passing... A friend passed away...

2008-07-17T11:44:00.004+08:00

May Allah bless his soul... Al Fatihah.

The Star Online > Nation
Thursday July 17, 2008 MYT 11:25:00 AM

PM's former press sec Azhar dies

SHAH ALAM: Azhar Osman, former press secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, passed away at 9.09am Thursday morning after a long illness.

Azhar, 48, will be buried this afternoon in Shah Alam, according to his wife Marzita Mansor.

He leaves behind seven children.

His remains have been taken back to his home in Bukit Jelutong here.

© 1995-2008 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Post Elections Malaysia (13) - Due dilligence.

2008-07-16T19:25:00.001+08:00

Give it some thought.

ZAINUL ARIFIN: We've made our choices, so spare us the demos
By ZAINUL ARIFIN

2008/07/16

NOW, of course, many living and working in the Klang Valley would have experienced Gridlock Monday, a consequence of police action in anticipation of a mass demonstration outside Parliament. The police, based on intelligence, set up roadblocks for three days at several roads and highways leading into Kuala Lumpur to flush out troublemakers bent on causing chaos.

Extra police personnel were also guarding Parliament with barbed wire snaking around it. These were not comforting images, at least to me, suggesting something dastardly was going to happen to the very symbol of our one-man-one-vote democracy -- on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille that changed France forever, no less.

The Home Ministry, while apologising for the gridlock, was however not apologetic for the police action. It said the opposition was planning a large protest in Parliament to coincide with the notice by the opposition to file a motion of no confidence against the prime minister in the Dewan Rakyat.

Of course, both never happened.

So were the torturous misadventures in our cars and buses in vain? Well, in a way, no, since there was no protest.

But was a demonstration ever planned, anyway? Was the intelligence flawed or had the pre-emptive move by the police a few days before discouraged a turnout?

We will never know, I suppose, but based on my unscientific cursory survey, people were blaming the government and the police for being paranoid. Obviously, the police top brass and politicos are now obliged to share with us some of the intelligence that led to the action.

Obviously, too, after the massive traffic jams that turned our highways into parking lots, no one, least of all politicians, would be willing to admit being associated with the protest, real or imagined.

However, there is a penchant by some members of the opposition to hold street protests, which is so 1970s. Dudes and dudettes, get over it, man. The general election is over and the people have decided to give the opposition a trial run, on a limited scale of course, to see if it could handle a few states. But please do not tax our patience, lest we remember it in 2013. Do not act like a self-indulgent child, stomping your feet and shouting for attention.

Please also stop all this talk of coveting MPs to cross over. That is called subverting democracy. It is a surprise that such an undemocratic idea is coming from the opposition, the very group of people who claim to be the "true" democrats.

It is also ironic that non-governmental organisations and academics, and even institutions like the Bar Council who claim to champion rights and democracy, would choose to be rather mute on this attempt to dismiss the will of the people and undermine democracy.

If ever such a crossover were to happen, what kind of political animal would we have unleashed? How could we be assured that it could and would not be resurrected again and again in future?

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you can get what you need, so sang the Rolling Stones.

We know what Pakatan Rakyat wants -- the prime ministership and Putrajaya. But what PR needs is to show that it can govern before getting what it wants. Take baby steps. It cannot be demanding, whining, plotting or taking to the streets.

Malaysians have no stomach for mass demonstrations a la People Power, like our neighbours, especially if it is to bring down an elected government.

If protesting means having to be out in the sun, or rain, not to mention being tear-gassed or sprayed with spiced-up water, we would rather stay home and watch some pirated DVDs.

We get easily hot and bothered by the heat, and would stay away if we have to sweat.

We prefer our revolution at the ballot boxes, even if it is slow. We believe in the democratic process and are not about to subvert it for someone's personal agenda.

And, this continuous attempt to bully us with self-entitlement, self-indulgence and self-righteousness is getting rather tiring.

© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

Post Elections Malaysia (12) - 10 things to do before coming into power

2008-07-15T08:25:00.005+08:00

1. Remember that you are above the law - no matter what police reports made against you, you don't have to turn up for questioning or give a statement to the police. If the police use the process of law to get your statement, tell them to get an appointment.
2. The people are fodders - do as you like to the people, let them get drenched by water cannons, risk arrest by the police or even battle the police. You only turn up after the fighting had taken place.
3. Everything is a conspiracy - what else is new...
4. Disregard the laws - after all, you are going to be the next leader, probably the first thing to do will be do away with the Constitution.
5. Ruin the economy - prior to taking over. It does not matter whether the people suffer so long as you achieve what you want. The ends justifies the mean. O yes... blame everyone else for things that go wrong in the country.
6. Sue everyone who make statements you do not like - that's what the courts are for. But if the charges are against you, then seek refuge at the nearest embassy.
7. Play dumb - when the city is gridlocked because of an alleged demonstration. You did not call for it, you just ask your supporters to turn up and witness.
8. Organise gatherings on behalf of the people - even when the people did not ask for it.
9. Tell everyone you were acquitted of your sentence - but conveniently forget the part that the appellate courts is of the opinion that you did the act, the only problem was when and where it was committed.
10. You are right and everyone else is wrong - see all above.

Post Elections Malaysia (11) - Signs of things to come

2008-07-12T21:54:00.002+08:00

These are the kind of news that I really despise reading. Bad enough that fuel is not cheap. Bad enough trying to stay alive is becoming more and more expensive. And it gets worse when I read this kind of news.

There's no prizes for guessing which political party that the police is talking about. And I won't even give the party the honor of naming it here but I would say enough is enough.

Dear de facto leader. Walk the talk and stop talking rubbish. Stop proclaiming that you have all kind of magical formulas in your pocket to resuscitate what you think and ailing the country but when asked, you keep giving excuses for everything under the sun.

This rally, even if it does not take place, will surely irritate the heck out of people. You have proclaimed that the current government is useless, and has ismanaged the economy to the point of disaster. Your solution is to create chaos? That's works if I have problems trying to feed myself but what I have now is enough to get by, without the added dramas.

Mr de factor leader, have you ever thought the consequences of your action? Everybody knew what you did when a report was made against you... You took refuge at the nearest embassy. Everybody should know that at another rally where yellow t-shirts were the in thing, you arrive to grab the limelight at the palace after everybody was drenched by water canons. Why weren't you at the latest protest concert earlier? Why did you come at 10pm? Why does everything that happens in this country is a conspiracy to you?

Reading this kind of news makes my blood boil. You have said that your party's fight is about the country, not about you. Are you sure? Judging from what is going to happen on Monday, it is about one of two things - the fact that you have been asked to give a statement to the police concerning the report made against you or the motion of no confidence tabled against the current government.

For heaven's sake, if you do love this country, why are you doing this? Only you can answer that and it better be a damn good one. One that is factual and devoid of conspiracy theories. May be you would like to see this country go asunder, destroyed and people living in distrust of each other.

The Star Online > Nation
Saturday July 12, 2008 MYT 8:25:10 PM

All roads leading to Parliament to be blocked on Monday

By RASHITHA A. HAMID

KUALA LUMPUR: All main access points into the city and several major spots are under police observation in anticipation of an illegal rally in Parliament on Monday.

Information gathered by the police showed that a political party would be organising the rally.

City police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman said as of Saturday the police had yet to receive any official application for a permit from any party on the rally.

However to avoid any untoward incidents, the police have set up 12 road blocks on several major roads within all four districts in the city staring 2pm Saturday.

Muhammad Sabtu said about 15 policemen are stationed at each location.

In addition, all roads leading to Parliament will be totally blocked to road users from 7am Monday.

“Only those working in Parliament and with valid passes or Members of Parliament are allowed access to the area,” he said Saturday.

He also warned members of the public that police would not hesitate to take action under the Police Act 1967 against those who participated in the rally.

When asked, Muhammad Sabtu said they have enough policemen and will be backed by enforcement officers from other government agencies.

"I apologise to city folks who will have to bear with traffic congestion expected around the city and call on the public to stay calm and not be swayed by rumours," he added.

He also warned the public against spreading rumours through SMS or other means which is an offence that can be punished under the Penal Code.

© 1995-2008 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

A break from humdrums

2008-07-12T17:50:00.003+08:00

Once in a while, you come across a gem while sifting through the sands... Sometimes, we cannot see what is in front of us, it takes another set of eyes to see and understand... Enjoy...

Malaysian Road Rules

A guide for expatriate drivers in Malaysia

Since arriving in Malaysia in 1997, I have tried on many occasions to buy a copy of the Malaysian road rules, but have come to the conclusion that no such publication exists (or if it does, it has been out of print for years). Therefore after carefully observing the driving habits of Malaysian drivers, I believe I have at last worked out the rules of the road in Malaysia. For the benefit of other expatriates living in Malaysia, and the 50% of local drivers who acquired their driving licenses without taking a driving test, I am pleased to share my knowledge below:

Q: What is the most important rule of the road in Malaysia?
A: The most important rule is that you must arrive at your destination ahead of the car in front of you. This is the sacrosanct rule of driving in Malaysia. All other rules are subservient to this rule.

Q: What side of the road should you drive on in Malaysia?
A: 99.7% of cars drive on the left hand side, 0.2% on the right hand side, and 0.1% drive in reverse (be on the look out for drivers reversing at high speed in the left hand lane of freeways, having just missed their exit). Therefore on the basis of 'majority rules', it is recommended that you drive on the left. However, be aware that only 90% of motorcyclists travel on the left hand side - the other 10% ride in the opposite direction or on the sidewalk. Fortunately, motorcyclists traveling in reverse are rarely seen.

Q: What are the white lines on the roads?
A: These are known as lane markers and were used by the British in the colonial days to help them drive straight. Today their purpose is mainly decorative, although a double white line is used to indicate a place that is popular to overtake.

Q: When can I use the emergency lane?
A: You can use the emergency lane for any emergency, e.g. you are late for work, you left the toaster plugged in at home, you are bursting to go to the toilet, you have a toothache or you have just dropped your Starbucks coffee in your lap. As it is an emergency, you may drive at twice the speed of the other cars on the road.

Q: Do traffic lights have the same meaning as in other countries?
A: Not quite. Green is the same – that means “Go”, but amber and red are different. Amber means “Go like hell” and red means “Stop if there is traffic coming in the other direction or if there is a policeman on the corner”. Otherwise red means the same as green. Note that for buses, red lights do not take effect until five seconds after the light has changed.

Q: What does the sign “Jalan Sehala” mean?
A: This means “One Way Street” and indicates a street where the traffic is required to travel in one direction. The arrow on the sign indicates the preferred direction of the traffic flow, but is not compulsory. If the traffic is not flowing in the direction in which you wish to travel, then reversing in that direction is the best option.

Q: What does the sign “Berhenti” mean?
A: This means “Stop”, and is used to indicate a junction where there is a possibility that you may have to stop if you cannot fool the cars on the road that you are entering into thinking that you are not going to stop.

Q: What does the sign “Beri Laluan” mean?
A: This means “Give Way”, and is used to indicate a junction where the cars on the road that you are entering will give way to you provided you avoid all eye contact with them and you can fool them into thinking that you have not seen them.

Q: What does the sign “Dilarang Masuk” mean?
A: This means “No Entry”. However, when used on exit ramps in multi-storey car parks, it has an alternative meaning which is: “Short cut to the next level up”.

Q: What does the sign “Pandu Cermat” mean?
A: This means “Drive Smartly”, and is placed along highways to remind drivers that they should never leave more than one car length between them and the car in front, irrespective of what speed they are driving. This is to ensure that other cars cannot cut in front of you and thus prevent you from achieving the primary objective of driving in Malaysia, and that is to arrive ahead of the car in front of you. If you can see the rear number plate of the car in front of you, then you are not driving close enough.

Q: What is the speed limit in Malaysia?
A: The concept of a speed limit is unknown in Malaysia.

Q: So what are the round signs on the highways with the numbers, 60, 80 and 110?
A: This is the amount of the ‘on-the-spot’ fine (in ringgits - the local currency) that you have to pay to the police if you are stopped on that stretch of the highway. Note that for expatriates or locals driving Mercedes or BMWs, the on-the-spot fine is double the amount shown on the sign.

Q: Where do you pay the ‘on-the-spot’ fine?
A: As the name suggests, you pay it ‘on-the-spot’ to the policeman who has stopped you. You will be asked to place your driving licence on the policeman's notebook that he will hand to you through the window of your car. You will note that there is a spot on the cover of the notebook. Neatly fold the amount of your fine into four, place the fine on the spot, and then cover it with your driving licence so that it cannot be seen. Pass it carefully to the policeman. Then, with a David Copperfield movement of his hands, he will make your money disappear. It is not necessary to applaud.

Q: But isn’t this a bribe?
A: Oh pleeease, go and wash your mouth out. What do you want? A traffic ticket? Yes, you can request one of those instead, but it will cost you twice the price, forms to fill out, cheques to write, envelopes to mail, and then three months later when you are advised that your fine was never received, more forms to fill out, a trip to the police station, a trip to the bank, a trip back to the police station, and maybe then you will wish you had paid ‘on-the-spot’.

Q: But what if I haven’t broken any road rules?
A: It is not common practice in Malaysia to stop motorists for breaking road rules (because nobody is really sure what they are). The most common reasons for being stopped are: (a) the policeman is hungry and would like you to buy him lunch; (b) the policeman has run out of petrol and needs some money to get back to the station; (c) you look like a generous person who would like to make a donation to the police welfare fund; or (d) you are driving an expensive car which means you can afford to make a donation to the police welfare fund.

Q: Does my car require a roadworthy certificate before I can drive it in Malaysia?
A: No, roadworthy certificates are not required in Malaysia. However there are certain other statutory requirements that must be fulfilled before your car can be driven in Malaysia. Firstly, you must ensure that your windscreen is at least 50% obscured with English football club decals, golf club membership stickers or condo parking permits. Secondly, you must place a tissue box (preferably in a white lace cover) on the back shelf of your car under the rear window. Thirdly, you must hang as many CDs or plastic ornaments from your rear vision mirror as it will support. Finally, you must place a Garfield doll with suction caps on one of your windows. Your car will then be ready to drive on Malaysian roads.

Q: What does a single yellow line along the edge of a road mean?
A: This means parking is permitted.

Q: What does a double yellow line along the edge of a road mean?
A: This means double parking is permitted.

Q: What does a yellow box with a diagonal grid of yellow lines painted on the road at a junction mean?
A: Contrary to the understanding of some local drivers, this does not mean that diagonal parking is permitted. It indicates a junction that is grid-locked at peak hours.

Q: Can I use my mobile phone whilst driving in Malaysia?
A: No problem at all, but it should be noted that if you wish to use the rear-vision mirror to put on your lipstick (women only please) or trim your eyebrows at the same time as you are using a mobile phone in the other hand, you should ensure that you keep an elbow free to steer the car. Alternatively, you may place a toddler on your lap and have the child steer the car whilst you are carrying out these other essential driving tasks.

Q: Is it necessary to use indicator lights in Malaysia?
A: These blinking orange lights are commonly used by newly arrived expatriate drivers to indicate they are about to change lanes. This provides a useful signal to local drivers to close up any gaps to prevent the expatriate driver from changing lanes. Therefore it is recommended that expatriate drivers adopt the local practice of avoiding all use of indicator lights. However, it is sometimes useful to turn on your left hand indicator if you want to merge right, because this confuses other drivers enabling you to take advantage of an unprotected gap in the traffic.

Q: Why do some local drivers turn on their left hand indicator and then turn right, or turn on their right hand indicator and then turn left?
A: This is one of the unsolved mysteries of driving in Malaysia.

Post Elections Malaysia (10) – An interesting letter

2008-07-11T12:11:00.001+08:00

I found this letter at the Malaysia Today website. Read it and form your own judgment.

Shahidan Said

The March 08 general election result could be described as hinting at a historical conjuncture, a term used by a French philosophical school to describe the coming together of social forces and conditions when a major departure in social change occurs. Though not quite meeting the full criteria of a historical conjuncture, the election result was nonetheless mould shattering. The uninterrupted evolution since independence of a form of bureaucratic capitalism, characterized by capital accumulation through state institutions and crony capitalists who are closely linked to the agencies and institutions of the state, was called into question by an electorate tired of crony capitalism, corruption and the arrogance of power exhibited by the power holders. Though not articulated in a coherent way, the electorate has challenged the assumptions on which power has been shared since independence by the elites and the cozy accommodation established at the top of the social pyramid at the expense of the masses languishing in a structure designed to divide along ethnic and religious lines. This demonstration of the maturing political consciousness of the Malaysian electorate is itself a reflection of the changed economic base.

The role of the individual and social change is at the heart of our discussion when we examine the role of Anwar Ibrahim, a leader who is gaining cult status among those politically disillusioned with the status quo, the young and especially netizens in blogosphere. In the ongoing political ferment, the burning question of the day is whether Anwar is a value-adding factor raising the bar of political consciousness, or is he opportunistically tapping into this awakening political reservoir and is aiming to channel it into a self-aggrandizing agenda in a populist flourish? Examining and dealing with this issue is critical lest we get led down the garden path as many South populations who have been duped by populist leaders riding on the tide of popular demand for change.

To get to grips with this issue we need to examine Anwar's core political beliefs. In his own website, http://www._anwaribrahim.com, he is credited with guiding Malaysia through the Asian Financial Crises (sic) of 1997 and earning many accolades, '…including the title "Asian of the Year" by Newsweek International in 1998.' Recalling this same magazine welcoming the massacre of almost 1 million Indonesians in a US-sponsored coup in 1965 which ushered in the Suharto dictatorship as '…the best news to come out of Asia', one may be forgiven for not putting too much store on the Asian of the Year accolade from this source.

The write-up on the Anwar site also proclaims, "He backed free market principles and called for "creative destruction", highlighting the need to reconsider the proximity of business and politics in Malaysia. He advocated for greater accountability and refused to offer government bail-outs to companies facing bankruptcy. He also instituted widespread spending cuts and cut government expenditure on mega projects. These prescriptions saved the Malaysian economy…"

The IMF structural adjustment paradigm, which Anwar wanted to implement, would have resulted in massive price hikes of basic necessities and job layoffs affecting the poorest segments of our population. These would no doubt have led to public protests leading to further racial tensions to which our colonial designed political structures are so susceptible. Had such an agenda been successfully executed, it is not inconceivable that we would have been fully hitched to the US in the subservient role ala the Philippines. In such a scenario US corporatocracy and other predator European and Japanese capitalists would certainly have taken over strategic local corporations at basement bargain prices, including banks and the dynamic sectors of our economy.

We should be thankful there was resistance to the IMF prescriptions which were not allowed to see the light of day. So why does Anwar boast of implementing these policies when his efforts at implementing the IMF agenda was in fact thwarted? This sounds like an effort at ingratiating himself to his US sponsors by proving to them that he is on the same page of free market economics with them, even as IMF and World Bank economists, including Joseph Stiglitz, admitted that their one size fits all prescription for the 1997 financial crisis was unworkable and Malaysia's home grown innovative solutions proved more relevant.

Anwar is also aligned with institutions that are notorious instruments for buttressing a world order in which global corporatocracy, particularly from the US, rules the roost. According to his website, 'Anwar was Chairman of the Development Committee of World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 1998.' Such a position was owed totally to US sponsorship. The IMF and the World Bank are among the key instruments for ensuring the continued reverse flow of wealth from the developing to the developed world since their founding after the 2nd World War. Their conditionality for loans to South countries, which Anwar was eager to implement in the wake of the 1997 financial crisis, have caused devastation to the lives of the poor in these countries as basic social welfare nets have been done away with to satisfy the neo-liberal agenda of these institutions.

He has also taken on a key role in the Forum for the Future which is a G8 (Group of Eight) inspired institution to promote open market economics and democracy in the 'Broader Middle East and North Africa'. The Forum was launched at the 2004 Sea Island summit held in Georgia, USA, in which the G8 industrialized countries showed their commitments to promote reform in the region.

His credentials as a Muslim leader and activist also leads him to make pronouncements that are not flattering to Muslim leaders who want to implement secular political systems in which the followers of all religious faiths are equals.

Thus in his public lecture at Queensland University, 'Ode to Democracy', it is reported,

"Professor Ibrahim offered Indonesia as an example of a predominantly Muslim nation in Australia's region that began as a democracy. The Indonesian election of 1955 was relatively free and fair, but "was hijacked by the secular nationalist Sukarno."

"People tend to forget this fact: it was not hijacked by the Muslim parties in Indonesia," Professor Ibrahim said.

The 'secular nationalist Sukarno' fought the good fight against Dutch colonialism and unified his country and attained independence. The national language this secular nationalist adopted is from a minority group, the Rhiau islands, and not from the majority Javanese. Though a predominantly Muslim nation, he ensured minority religions were respected and given equality with the major religion precisely because he was a Muslim with a secular nationalist political agenda. Together with the other secular nationalist leaders, Gamal Abdul Nasser and Pandit Nehru, a formidable bloc among nations of the South, the Non-Aligned Movement, was established. For Anwar to dismiss Sukarno so derisively as a secular nationalist is very telling indeed.

Having cast himself as a champion of free market neo-liberal economics by making public speeches lauding the gurus of unbridled capitalism - Joseph Schumpeter, whose concept 'creative destruction' Anwar uses approvingly, and Friedrich Hayek, founder of the Austrian School of economics for whom state restraint on the decisions of producers was unacceptable and for whom only market capitalism was capable of managing a complex modern economy - Anwar declared at the Bechtel Conference Centre, Stanford University, in October 2006, that the New Economic Policy was no longer relevant and applicable in Malaysia. The NEP clearly viewed as militating against his free market principles and opposing it thereby being consistent with his free market ideas.

In Malaysia, however, Anwar has been advocating an interventionist policy diametrically opposed to the free market principles he champions when he speaks to a different audience, especially in the US. The free marketeer can advocate the following without flinching: "Programmes for public investment in quality education and human resources, healthcare, and social security including minimum wage are critical to achieving the goal of justice for all. Poverty eradicating schemes will be founded on needs, not race or class."

It would clearly be politically inconvenient to present to the local electorate a free market paradigm when the lower income enjoy various subsidies in total conflict with free market principles. When he wears his World Bank and IMF hat he champions the removing of subsidies from the lower income, but to gain popularity at home in his quest for the premiership he wears the hat of a state interventionist. Thus, he even declares he will rescind the recent price hike on petrol and diesel and restore fully the subsidies which consumers have enjoyed in the past.

Anwar is also prone to presenting his fall from the pinnacle of political power in theatrical dramatic terms. His assertion that, "My own struggle against those who seek to keep humanity shrouded in tyranny led to my incarceration for six years…" is a figment of his imagination. His ouster was certainly not the result of holding steadfast to some anti-tyranny high principle. As we all know, Anwar was brought into the political mainstream from his student activist organization, ABIM, by his mentor and latterly nemesis, Mahathir. His path to the very top echelons of political power was laid out and smoothened by Mahathir who paved the way for a series of quick promotions from Minister of Youth and Culture, then on to Agriculture, to be followed by Education and finally to Finance and DPM.

Anwar's impatience and unbridled ambition at wanting to become Prime Minister was his undoing. He began to extend his power base in UMNO by cultivating divisional leaders across the country with the hope of ousting Mahathir through a challenge in the party congress. That he had mustered a clear majority of supporters among the divisional leaders was beyond doubt. His pro-IMF stance in the 1997 financial crisis was also a weapon in the armoury to dismantle the economic power of Mahathir cronies (Malay and Chinese) and replace them with his own cronies. This was a classic attempt at a power grab by Anwar from the hand that fed him and nurtured his political career and guided his rise to the very pinnacles of political power. The 1997 financial crisis was seen by Anwar as the opportune moment to strike.

Unfortunately for Anwar, Mahathir proved a better strategist and turned the tables on him. All the leaders and cronies who had aligned themselves with Anwar for the changing of the guard abandoned ship once they realized Anwar's plans of ousting Mahathir were derailing and coming unstuck.

Din Merican, who has written on Anwar in laudatory terms, noted in one of his essays on Anwar that, "Abroad, he is respected as one of the most outstanding leaders from our region."

Anwar counts among his close friends some of the most unsavoury political leaders in the world, including neo-con, Paul Wolfowitz, former Deputy Secretary of Defense and one of the main architects of the Iraq war. Wolfowitz said of Anwar in TIME magazine he hoped "…that this courageous leader will continue to play a leading role on the world stage." Indeed. The stamp of approval from Pax Americana reminds one of other colonial leaders who are sponsored by Empire, but whose performance and track records in the service of their own people never match the image built for them by their sponsors.

One such Asian hero Anwar is fond of referring to is Filipino leader, Jose Rizal. Thus in his speech, Asian Democracy and Its Discontents, in Manila on 20 September 2007, Anwar said of Rizal, "More than a century ago, here on this land, an Asian hero sacrificed his life on the altar of freedom and democracy…the martyrdom of Jose Rizal became the catalyst that precipitated the Philippine Revolution and it was in the Philippines that the first democratic republic in Asia was declared on June 12, 1898." Elsewhere on Malaysia-Today, the Philippine Daily Inquirer describes Anwar '…as a friend of the Philippines, an avid student of Rizal and an articulate voice of moderate Islam.'

The 'avid student of Rizal' would be well advised to study Renato Constantino's devastating critique of the veneration of Rizal by his compatriots and learn something from it. The great Filipino nationalist writer, Constantino, described Rizal as an American-sponsored hero in his essay "Veneration Without Understanding". This essay is to be found in his book Dissent and Counter Consciousness.

Constantino writes, "We have magnified Rizal's role to such an extent that we have lost our sense of proportion and relegated to a subordinate position our other great men and the historic events in which they took part. Although Rizal was already a revered figure and became more so after his martyrdom, it cannot be denied that his pre-eminence among our heroes was partly the result of American sponsorship."

"It was Governor William Howard Taft who in 1901 suggested to the Philippine Commission that the Filipinos be given a national hero. The Free Press of December 28, 1946 gives this account of a meeting of the Philippine Commission:

'And now, gentlemen, you must have a national hero.' In these fateful words, addressed by then Civil Governor W. H. Taft to the Filipino members of the civil commission, Pardo de Tavera, Legarda, and Luzuriaga, lay the genesis of Rizal Day…..

'In the subsequent discussion in which the rival merits of the revolutionary heroes were considered, the final choice-now universally acclaimed as a wise one-was Rizal. And so was history made.'

Theodore Friend in his book, Between Two Empires, says that Taft "with other American colonial officials and some conservative Filipinos, chose him (Rizal) as a model hero over other contestants - Aguinaldo too militant, Bonifacio too radical, Mabini unregenerate."

Constantino further says, "The public image that the American desired for a Filipino national hero was quite clear. They favored a hero who would not run against the grain of American colonial policy. We must take these acts of the Americans in furtherance of a Rizal cult in the light of their initial policies which required the passage of the Sedition Law prohibiting the display of the Filipino flag. The heroes who advocated independence were therefore ignored. For to have encouraged a movement to revere Bonifacio or Mabini would not have been consistent with American colonial policy."

Anwar can choose to be relevant to Empire's agenda or he can be his own man by de-linking from the deadly embrace of US corporatocracy. This de-linking implies he throw away his IMF/World Bank paradigm and truly embrace his stated objective of 'public investment in quality education and human resources, healthcare, and social security including minimum wage. He can't have it both ways, be a neo-liberal free marketeer and a state interventionist at the same time. There is a great deal he can learn from the way that 'heroes' are foisted on the people in the South by the US. He should wince at any hint of praise from the US leaders who want to foist him on Malaysia as a 'hero' who would do their bidding. Can he break loose from the embrace of US imperialism, and does he want to break loose from that embrace? That is the question to which thinking Malaysians should seek answers.

Post Elections Malaysia (9) Getting to grips with reality

2008-07-10T11:03:00.002+08:00

I was somewhat perplexed by the Malaysian mob mentality – of how one man's promise that he can reduce fuel prices became the rallying cry to mobilise the people to go against the current government and oust them – in whatever way.

I am no big fan of the current government. Yes, in certain aspects, the government appears to be moving in the right direction (though far and few in between) but in many things, it appears that a mighty shove is needed to get things moving.

Politically, the current government, which has been in power for almost five decades, appears to be the best suited government for this country. This is my opinion and I believe that many will disagree, especially on the issues of Malay rights, bumiputera status etc.

In practise, this government's capability in uniting its people has been exemplary, to the extent that it has become the role model of what things should be in a multi-cultural society. Unfortunately, since the 12^th General Elections, things have gone anyway but up. Divisive and racist politics comes into play an unfortunately, the government danced to the tune of their challengers.

The single most unpopular decision made by the government since being returned to power with a 50.2% majority was the 41% increase in fuel prices. This has become the battle cry of the wannabe government-in-waiting, especially their leader who styled himself as the "prime minister-in-waiting" (believe or not, it is the second time this fellow has become the prime minister-in-waiting, perhaps he is doomed to wait forever).

This fellow has now become like a medicine seller at Chow Kit Road (to know what that is, you have to come here and find out). He promises the people that he can bring down fuel prices with the help of a formula that he has devised. Strange, this was the fellow that in the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis almost brought the country to ruins, no thanks for his admiration of the merciless International Monetary Fund austere measures.

Let's look at this AP report about Saudi Arabia, which has among the cheapest fuel prices in the market.

Yahoo! News
Back to Story - Help
Amid oil boom, inflation makes Saudis feel poorer

By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer

Tue Jul 8, 2:25 PM ET

Sultan al-Mazeen recently stopped at a gas station to fill up his SUV, paying 45 cents a gallon — about one-tenth what Americans pay these days.

But the Saudi technician says Americans shouldn't be jealous. Inflation that has hit 30-year highs on everything else in the kingdom is making Saudis feel poorer despite the flush of oil money.

"I tell the Americans, don't feel envious because gas is cheaper here," said al-Mazeen, 36. "We're worse off than before."

While Saudis don't feel the pain at the pump, they feel it everywhere else, paying more at grocery stores and restaurants and for rent and construction material. While the country is getting richer selling oil at prices that climbed to a record $145 per barrel last week, inflation has reached almost 11 percent, breaking double-digits for the first time since the late 1970s.

"Gas prices are low here, so what?" said Muhammad Abdullah, a 60-year-old retiree. "What can I do with gas? Drink it? Take it with me to the supermarket?"

Al-Mazeen says his monthly grocery bill has doubled — to $215 — compared to last year, when oil was at around $70 a barrel. During that time period, the price of rice has doubled to about 72 cents a pound, and a pound of beef has gone up more than a third to about $4.

Other Gulf nations have been hit even worse by inflation. In the UAE, inflation is expected to reach 12 percent this year, and in Qatar it's at 14 percent, according to a Merrill Lynch report earlier this year.

But those nations have much smaller populations and so can spread their oil, gas and financial riches faster and in bigger quantities to ease the pain. As a result — contrary to their image in the West — Saudis are far from the wealthiest people in the Gulf. The kingdom's per capita income is $20,700 — compared with $67,000 for Qatar, which has a population of around a half million citizens.

In a recent interview with Kuwait's Al-Siyassah newspaper, King Abdullah said "officials have suitable solutions" and plans to fight inflation.

"The government can use its money to offset the soaring prices of basic commodities. The kingdom will also use its financial reserves to combat inflation and bring everything back to normal," the king asserted, without elaborating on how.

Economists say the main source of inflation is higher domestic demand for apartments, office space and food — at a time when world prices for food and raw materials are rising. A statement issued last week by the Economy and Planning Ministry said the rental index, which includes rents, fuel and water, has soared 18.5 percent, while food and beverage costs have increased by 15 percent.

Saudi inflation is also exacerbated by the weak dollar, because the riyal is pegged to the U.S. currency, increasing the cost of imports — and the kingdom imports most of its essential goods.

The influx of oil money into the economy also is a factor, but it is not as major a cause of inflation as the other issues, said Sfakianakis and other economists.

In a sign that inflation will not dissipate any time soon, the Saudi Cabinet decided on March 31 to reduce customs duties on 180 major foodstuffs, consumer goods and construction materials for at least three years, according to a report Sfakianakis wrote for the Saudi British Bank.

Still, the kingdom is set to enjoy a large budget surplus because of high oil prices this year. Oil export revenue is expected to reach $260 billion this year, according to a report last month by Jadwa Investment, a private Saudi firm. This compares with an average of just $43 billion per year throughout the 1990s, the report said. It forecast the budget surplus will be $69 billion in 2008 compared to $47.6 billion in 2007.

But Saudi Arabia puts much of its oil income into investments and assets abroad, in part as a hedge in case oil prices drop in the future, squeezing the budget.

Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, the kingdom's grand mufti and top religious authority, has urged the government to fix prices on essential commodities.

"Every effort should be made to contain rising prices of goods all over the kingdom," the mufti said during a sermon in Riyadh in February, according to the Arab News daily.

Do take note that even in oil-rich Saudi; the real issue is not about fuel prices. It is about everything else that is related to the escalating price of oil. The prices in Saudi are artificially cheap because it is heavily subsidised. But the price of goods (Saudi almost imports everything), that is the burden to the people.

Therefore, when a politician makes a promise that he will reduce fuel prices, is he being objective about it? Is he concerned about the extenuating circumstances related to our daily livelihood? My thoughts on this matter probably a strong maybe. This politician could easily promise that he has a bagful of formulas to put right what is wrong.

To date, the coalition led by this politician, which has taken five states away from the ruling government in the last general election, has somewhat become a failure to deliver the goods.

For instance, in Selangor, the state government has some strange things going on. The mix of the executive council which runs the state is somewhat unbalanced in terms of racial composition. And also, the manner in which projects is approved – if the projects were unpopular, the blame would go to the previous government. This is peculiar as the whole point of being in government is the ability to change things according to your will, not blame at will.

Then we take Penang, the current government, which has been vociferously against two major projects – the Penang Outer Ring Road and the Second Penang Bridge which has since been shelved or delayed – now wants those two projects. This is the same bunch which had criticised the first Penang bridge as being a white elephant, now the bridge is operating at maximum capacity. Does the current Penang government have ever given any thoughts about what the people want? Now that they are in power, again the favourite past time is digging up dirt. Nothing has been done about fixing the problem; instead they chose to blame the previous government for the problems they inherited.

Also, it is quite peculiar as to why the current Penang Government want to appoint the members of the previous government to critical posts in the current government. Or is it simply because they do not have the talents

Now we come to Perak, topsy turvy and everything is haywire. From politicians defying the Sultans to simply insolent behaviour. There are also instances of the acts of favouring one race too much (this concerns land lease... One particular race gets 999 years lease whereas another just gets 99 years – this is justice?) Also, rumours of an agreement which prohibits the current chief minister from doing things unless endorsed by the party with the most majority in the state. Want to see a lame duck government? I think this is it.

Now on to Kedah... The chief minister is no big fan of the federal government and neither is he a fan of the environment – especially after threatening to log water catchment areas for revenue. Now, this water catchment area does not only serve the state but also two others. It makes you wonder why.

There is no need to go further; I am for one has yet to be impressed by the five governments led by the People's Coalition. All I see is bickering, the art of passing the buck and myopic leadership.

At the federal level, I hope that the self-style prime minister-in-waiting knows what he is doing. Promise after promise were made but are these promises the right solution to the problem?

Post Elections Malaysia (8) - Saudi Arabia in perspective

2008-07-09T16:14:00.002+08:00

In perspective, the promise to rollback the increase of fuel prices may sound good to Malaysians, who cannot fathom the idea of living without their beloved cars. Now, cheap fuel prices is one thing. What about other factors that is related about living and breathing, like food for instance? Which is more important? Food? Fuel? You decide after reading this.

Yahoo! News
Back to Story - Help
Amid oil boom, inflation makes Saudis feel poorer

By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press WriterTue Jul 8, 2:25 PM ET

Sultan al-Mazeen recently stopped at a gas station to fill up his SUV, paying 45 cents a gallon — about one-tenth what Americans pay these days.

But the Saudi technician says Americans shouldn't be jealous. Inflation that has hit 30-year highs on everything else in the kingdom is making Saudis feel poorer despite the flush of oil money.

"I tell the Americans, don't feel envious because gas is cheaper here," said al-Mazeen, 36. "We're worse off than before."

While Saudis don't feel the pain at the pump, they feel it everywhere else, paying more at grocery stores and restaurants and for rent and construction material. While the country is getting richer selling oil at prices that climbed to a record $145 per barrel last week, inflation has reached almost 11 percent, breaking double-digits for the first time since the late 1970s.

"Gas prices are low here, so what?" said Muhammad Abdullah, a 60-year-old retiree. "What can I do with gas? Drink it? Take it with me to the supermarket?"

Al-Mazeen says his monthly grocery bill has doubled — to $215 — compared to last year, when oil was at around $70 a barrel. During that time period, the price of rice has doubled to about 72 cents a pound, and a pound of beef has gone up more than a third to about $4.

Moreover, Saudis are grappling with unemployment — estimated at 30 percent among young people aged 16 to 26 — and a stock market that is down 10 percent since the beginning of the year.

Many Saudis are realizing that this oil boom will not have the same impact as the one in the 1970s, which raised Saudis from rags to riches. This time, the wealth isn't trickling down as fast or in the same quantities.

One reason is the kingdom's growing population, says John Sfakianakis, chief economist at the Saudi British Bank. In the 1970s, the population of Saudi Arabia was 9.5 million. Today, it's 27.6 million, including 22 million Saudi citizens.

That means the state, which controls nearly all oil income, has to spread the wealth among more people. Besides a generous social welfare system that includes free education from pre-school through university and other benefits for citizens, the public sector employs some 2 million people and 65 percent of the budget goes to salaries.

"The state, yes, is wealthier, but the state has close to three times the amount of people it has to cater for," said Sfakianakis. "Even if Saudi Arabia had lower inflation (in the 1970s), the country and the needs of the country are bigger than what they used to be."

So the government has less room to raise wages to help people deal with higher prices. The United Arab Emirates recently hiked public sector wages by 70 percent — but if the Saudis did the same, they would have been hit by budget deficits, Sfakianakis added.

Other Gulf nations have been hit even worse by inflation. In the UAE, inflation is expected to reach 12 percent this year, and in Qatar it's at 14 percent, according to a Merrill Lynch report earlier this year.

But those nations have much smaller populations and so can spread their oil, gas and financial riches faster and in bigger quantities to ease the pain. As a result — contrary to their image in the West — Saudis are far from the wealthiest people in the Gulf. The kingdom's per capita income is $20,700 — compared with $67,000 for Qatar, which has a population of around a half million citizens.

In a recent interview with Kuwait's Al-Siyassah newspaper, King Abdullah said "officials have suitable solutions" and plans to fight inflation.

"The government can use its money to offset the soaring prices of basic commodities. The kingdom will also use its financial reserves to combat inflation and bring everything back to normal," the king asserted, without elaborating on how.

Economists say the main source of inflation is higher domestic demand for apartments, office space and food — at a time when world prices for food and raw materials is rising. A statement issued last week by the Economy and Planning Ministry said the rental index, which includes rents, fuel and water, has soared 18.5 percent, while food and beverage costs have increased by 15 percent.

Saudi inflation is also exacerbated by the weak dollar, because the riyal is pegged to the U.S. currency, increasing the cost of imports — and the kingdom imports most of its essential goods.

The influx of oil money into the economy also is a factor, but it is not as major a cause of inflation as the other issues, said Sfakianakis and other economists.

In a sign that inflation will not dissipate any time soon, the Saudi Cabinet decided on March 31 to reduce customs duties on 180 major foodstuffs, consumer goods and construction materials for at least three years, according to a report Sfakianakis wrote for the Saudi British Bank.

Still, the kingdom is set to enjoy a large budget surplus because of high oil prices this year. Oil export revenue is expected to reach $260 billion this year, according to a report last month by Jadwa Investment, a private Saudi firm. This compares with an average of just $43 billion per year throughout the 1990s, the report said. It forecast the budget surplus will be $69 billion in 2008 compared to $47.6 billion in 2007.

But Saudi Arabia puts much of its oil income into investments and assets abroad, in part as a hedge in case oil prices drop in the future, squeezing the budget.

Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, the kingdom's grand mufti and top religious authority, has urged the government to fix prices on essential commodities.

"Every effort should be made to contain rising prices of goods all over the kingdom," the mufti said during a sermon in Riyadh in February, according to the Arab News daily.

Post Elections Malaysia (7) - Music soothes the beast..

2008-07-08T21:57:00.003+08:00

It had to happen... From butt-bearing thrashers to politicians' unending dares (though what relevance there is between the two, I have absolutely no idea). Anyway, this op-ed written by Syed Nazri of The New Straits Times is worth reading...

SYED NADZRI: Face the music, everyone

2008/07/08

SOMEONE obviously piqued with what's happening around us and desperately looking for a respite the other day wondered aloud as to which song best describes the current state of affairs in the country. He came out with It's a Sin to Tell a Lie almost instantly and said the title of this old tune aptly illustrates the dirty politics, deception and hatred that have left Malaysians in utter disbelief.

He noted that there should be scores of other songs to reflect the current mood and brashly proposed that I draw up a Top 20 list in this peculiar category.

So, at the risk of being accused of trivialising the ill wind blowing at us, here goes (not necessarily in order of relevance or preference).

1. What's Going On? The Marvin Gaye classic is spot on and asks the question exactly on the minds and lips of almost every Malaysian in the wake of the past week.

2. Say You Say Me. The title of this Lionel Ritchie song seems smugly appropriate too, given the way some issues are gossiped and blown up based on mere hearsay .

3. Apo Nak Dikato. Blues Gang's timeless hit which means, wearily, "What else is there to say?"

4. Games People Play. Joe South's provocative song sounds so relevant even after 40 years.

5. Help! I think some of the main players in the Malaysian political scene today need an inspiration from this Beatles number, particularly the line which goes "I need somebody, not just anybody."

6. Before You Accuse Me. I like this Bo Diddley blues original because of the repetitive but very relevant words "Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself."

7. Menghitung Hari. The popular Kris Dayanti ballad means "Counting the days" which probably can be applied to Pakatan Rakyat's confidence (misplaced or otherwise) of taking over the Federal Government by getting some parliamentarians to switch camps.

8. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. The U2 hit, which is related in circumstances to (7) above.

9. Dazed and Confused. Try to listen to the 16-minute version of this Led Zeppelin song at full blast and you will get a real feel of what's happening around us. Certainly one of my favourites.

10. I Swear. These words in the All-4-One tune have no meaning anymore here since statements made under oath can be absurdly changed at the drop of a hat.

11. Oops, I Did It Again. The Britney Spears song speaks for itself and can be referred to in various ways to poke fun at certain personalities. But I shall not elaborate.

12. Turn, Turn, Turn. The Byrds classic. For obvious reasons, I will not venture to elaborate on this one either.

13. Hips Don't Lie. That's right, Shakira. But people do.

14. Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Tears For Fears couldn't be more precise, and in Malaysia's case now, everybody wants to rule the country too.

15. Nothing Else Matters. Exactly. When everybody wants to rule the country, nothing else matters as rendered so forcefully by Metallica.

16. Paranoid. Black Sabbath made it quite clear about this psychological hang-up in their 1969 hit. And as the political temperature gets hotter, many people in Malaysia are getting rather paranoid. They see shadows everywhere.

17. Keliru. Ajai and Nurul sang about being confused. So is three quarters of the country now.

18. Everybody's Talking. Yes, everybody hasn't stopped talking about one thing or another on Malaysian politics since the start of the year. And be reminded that this song by Harry Nilsson, an all-time favourite, was featured (so significantly) in the hit movie Midnight Cowboy.

19. Brain Damage. Pink Floyd song. I think this is what will happen to you if you try to figure out what is actually happening to the country.

20. Subterranean Homesick Blues. The title of this rattling Bob Dylan song doesn't make any sense at all. But then, many things taking place around us make no sense too.

The above selection is best left open to each individual's own interpretations. And there are, of course, dozens of other songs that fit the bill.

But for good measure, let me add one more -- All I Can Do is Write About It. It is my favourite Lynyrd Skynyrd number which describes what journalists like me do -- write about it. Sometimes.
© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

Post Election Malaysia (6): Even the Aussies are confused...

2008-07-08T11:28:00.002+08:00

Australia, especially the media, have always been a keen watcher of Malaysia (though there are other countries in the region, Malaysia seemed to gain more real estate in the print media there).

Below are two stories about the recent gathering of a self-proclaimed non-partisan NGO in protest of the fuel hike. It is pretty amazing to read stories that goes both ways (not in the biblical sense) but as had been said before, stranger things are known to happen.

The Australian Financial Review described the Pakatan Rakyat the People's Coalition(the new coalition established to oppose the Barisan Nasional or National Front) described the alliance as a marriage of convenience that is testy at best.

Now, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation gives an entirely different perspective. It paints a scenario where unrest and uncertainties are a certainty. This is quite peculiar as every day when I go to work, things look peaceful enough... I am not sure where the unrest part comes about. As for uncertainties, well, all I can say is that the uncertainty is caused by external factors. By alluding uncertainty, is the ABC saying that the Malaysian Government can influence what goes on the in the world? To a certain extent may be but again this is an uncertainty. Go ahead and read the stories and the points raised.

From the Australian Financial Review

JULY 8 — As an underground rocker, Joe Kidd ticks all the boxes — long hair, black jeans, angular features and an undergraduate sense of humour. He's unhinged and has no recognised songs.

But he does have a signature move. When performing “Licking Ass to Get Ahead”, he usually shows his own bottom in a highly choreographed move to demonstrate disdain for the government.

By all accounts, it's often a crowd pleaser but as all performers know, choosing your audience is vital.

An anti-government rally in Petaling Jaya on Sunday was not the occasion. Kidd and his band, Carburetor Dung, were halfway through their third song when the moment arrived. The pants came down, and in an apparent display of modesty, he left the boxer shorts up. If this is a regular feature of things to come in Malaysia if the People's Coalition is to rule, then I think it is not an environment I want my daughter to live in.

It was pretty tame stuff, but not to the hardline Islamists in the crowd. They rushed the stage, threw bottles and, despite the best efforts of security staff, landed a few blows. Showing boxers shorts, which part of an inner garment, is pretty tame stuff? Hello!!! Ever heard of decency?

The carnival atmosphere at the Kelana Jaya Stadium quickly turned ugly. The entertainment programme was wisely "suspended" and a good Muslim rushed to the stage and called for evening prayers.

In one moment all the problems of Malaysia's resurgent opposition were on display. The incident showed how the opposition coalition, headed by de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had little common ground and, like all marriages of convenience, would be difficult to sustain.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation transcript of the opposition-led rally at the Kelana Jaya Stadium on Sunday.

JULY 8 ─ Mark Colvin: Malaysians are bracing for more political turmoil after the country's Opposition ignored a government ban on public meetings. It just goes to describe about the behaviour of the opposition mentality. Defy and be damned with other people's rights.

Thousands of people gathered to protest against inflation and a recent fuel price hike. The meeting was organised by Anwar Ibrahim's loose coalition of Opposition parties. ABC may not be aware of this but the protest is claimed to be led by a non-partisan non-governmental organisation. Well, actually the NGO lied and if lying is be the norms of followers of this People Alliance, then what truth can we expect from this coalition if they ever come to power?

Last week, Anwar was accused of sodomising an aide, a charge he dismissed as politically motivated. Read the previous posting. With this fellow, everything is a conspiracy.

In a signal that the Government was preparing to take the hard line, the country's Inspector-General of Police also announced plans to bring in the military to stop protests if necessary. There was an ongoing command, communication and control (C3) exercise between the police and the army then.

Edmond Roy: In the end, the police left them alone and Anwar Ibrahim's supporters got to hear their man rail against the Government one more time. And they were not disappointed. Ever heard about children throwing tantrums?
(Sounds of protesters chanting)

Anwar Ibrahim (translated): You say, we cannot lower the price of petrol, I say it's possible. Okay, let's challenge. You say you have governed the country well, we say it is not good. Arrange it now. Let's challenge, through ways that will bring benefit to the people. Don't try to divert attention from the people, this is what I want to convey tonight. Friends, tomorrow we continue, we continue in Parliament, we continue with information. We might rise to save Malaysia. How can you lower the price of petrol without subsidies, the very thing that this fellow has been railing against? And he is fond of challenging people and saying that people are trying to divert attention. In the end, the probability of the nation becoming bankrupt is higher with this coalition in power... All because of wanting to introduce a false sense of security, or a populist movement, by lowering the price of petrol with the use of subsidies. Or is this fellow saying development be damned?

(Sounds of protesters shouting and clapping)

Edmond Roy: Wearing red shirts with a slogan "Protest" written on them, the crowd, a mixture that reflected the coalition of parties that make up the Opposition, had come knowing that gathering was illegal.

A day before the nation's Inspector-General of Police had threatened to use the army to stop the protests. Again, the police threaten? I thought this police officer announced a C3 exercise between the police and army.

It's a reflection of just how popular the Opposition leader has become. But popularity doesn't necessarily equate to power. Truer words were never said...
(Clive Kessler is professor sociology at the University of New South Wales and one of Australia's foremost Malaysia watchers.)

Clive Kessler: The situation in Malaysia at the moment is remarkable and that the brave hopes of independence have turned into an unbelievably sordid soap opera and the popular feeling among many people on the streets is precisely that. That in the sense they find the politics unbelievable, damaging and destructive and they see that more clearly than many of the political principles themselves.

Edmond Roy: He's got a point. Consider this: the Opposition leader of the country is accused of sodomy.

The country's Deputy Prime Minister is accused of conspiring to quash a murder investigation involving his private secretary and two of his bodyguards.

And last week, the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was accused of having sex with the murder victim, Mongolian translator Altantuya Sharribuu, whose body was blown up with weapons-grade explosives in a forest outside the capital. These three paragraphs I like. These two mouthpieces lending credence to hearsay and slanders. I see, it is okay to repeatedly highlight accusations while the matter is being heard in court? Ever heard of subjudice?
Clive Kessler argues this political quagmire has its roots in the past.

Clive Kessler: In a sense, that Dr Mahathir's legacy was to create a very strong personalistic corporate state that was held together by his strength. Now that he's gone, there isn't his strength to hold it together. And the longer-term cost of the... creating that kind of state has to be paid, the bills are falling due and it's a question whether, whether that is sustainable.

Edmond Roy: If recent events are any guide, it is clearly not sustainable.

Since independence from Britain in 1957, Umno, the ruling party has been steadily losing support.

This despite such innovations as the Bumiputera or “sons of the soil” policy that enabled the majority Malays to take a strangle hold on the political and economic life of the country.

Today minority groups have successfully challenged the status quo and in March this year, three main opposition parties won a record number of seats and control of five states in the union.

But all of this doesn't necessarily mean that Malaysia's democratic institutions are safe from attack.

Clive Kessler: The likelihood of a coalition misunderstanding becoming a political understanding and political crisis becoming a public, public order crisis seems to be fairly high. And it's in that context that the police and army came out last week publicly to say well they've already got the contingency plans in place and they're doing the dry run, more or less, to have a polite authoritarian solution to the politicians and the chaos they've created. I think that is the prospect that seems to me to be in the offing, rather than continuing democratisation. Be careful for what you wished for... A destabilised region is not going to be of help to the world. Or is it just the Australian Way to see everything go assunder? Judge not others lest ye will be judged upon. Anyway, Malaysia has been independent for the past 51 years and I believe the majority of Malaysians are optimists, unlike some people I know.

Post Elections Malaysia (5) - Something that I wrote 10 years ago

2008-07-06T10:44:00.003+08:00

This was what I wrote almost 10 years ago in The Star, also on the same issue - corruption of power and alleged sodomy and at the height of the Asian Currency Crisis... Noticed any similarities in the areas italicised and in bold?

September 24, 1998
Foreign media prefer drama to the dull facts
Comment by Rohaizad A. Rahim

THE situation in Malaysia is indeed alarming, if one believes foreign reports.

There seem to be two Kuala Lumpurs. One -- if you are reading foreign reports and following their news broadcast over Mega TV and Astro -- racked by riots and "massive unrest." The other -- the one that we Malaysians know -- is a city going about its daily business as usual.

Unfortunately, it is the first picture that the rest of the world seems to be seeing, compliment of satellite TV.

The situation in the country, as the wire agencies report it, has degenerated from peaceful to "massive unrest," a parallel seen in the downgrading of Malaysia's credit rating to near junk bond status.

There is no doubt that the latest political developments have generated much excitement for the press, especially the foreign "para-reporters" who become experts after living here for just six months. There are also those who become experts on the country's affairs the minute they arrive.

When Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave a ceramah at the National Mosque on Sunday, all news agencies reported the "high drama" and "tension" in the area.

The fact was that the only drama came from his supporters apeing demonstrators in Indonesia and the tension came from irate motorists, out for a Sunday outing, caught in traffic jams caused by the drama.

Agence France Press (AFP) yesterday quoted one of Anwar's lawyers, Zulkifli Nordin, as saying that Anwar would be charged in a Sessions Court on Wednesday and the case would be transferred to the High Court. There was no verification from the authorities reported.

This was peculiar as in high profile cases, the Attorney-General would make the announcement. Instead, AFP chose to quote a lawyer.

Reuters yesterday reported that Thailand had indicated its readiness to co-operate with Malaysia to prevent Malaysian opposition figures from fleeing the country. In the same report, it said the "the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur has seen two days of sometimes violent protests by Anwar supporters since his arrest."

Fact: at no point did the Malaysian Government announce it would impose "strict measures" to prevent opposition figures fleeing to Thailand.

As for the electronic media, CNBC has been replaying at half-hourly intervals two-day-old footages of Anwar's supporters provoking the police, his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail saying there was no transparency in the Government while its reporter keeps on repeating that there will certainly be more unrest. Right.

CNN has been harping on how there was "massive unrest" in Malaysia and aired footages of what had happened over the weekend.

A reporter with a wire agency who declined to be named and insisting that his employers not be identified, said the foreign reporters were only trying to be objective and fair in their reports.

"We have tried to bend backwards to cover all sides of the story. It is a very complicated story with two very polarised camps.

"We have devoted much space for the PM's point of view and those of his senior colleagues as well as Anwar himself and his supporters," he said.

He went on to say that the protests had been reported in a fair way and the agency was extremely careful in the choice of words used.

Inevitably, the foreign wires need to put things in a global perspective.

Reuters' reports linked Queen Elizabeth II's state visit to Malaysia, described by the agency as "a crucial royal tour of Asia designed to spruce up her image as a more modern monarch," to local politics.

Apparently, there is little regard for facts. Like Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who read some skimpy wire reports and suddenly found his voice to accuse Dr Mahathir of authoritarianism when he could not bring himself to reprimand One Nation Party's Pauline Hanson for her racist policies.

It is true that investors have viewed South-East Asia as a whole when making investment decisions, even though such generalisations are inaccurate.

Still, many of these foreign reporters continue to see similarities between the situation in Malaysia and that in Indonesia.

They come hoping to see the fall of Dr Mahathir, whom they keep referring to as the longest serving leader in Asia after the toppling of former Indonesian President Suharto.

And they have the gall to report on the "one-sidedness" of the local press.

Perhaps someone can answer this question: If the local press is one-sided, what are the foreign agencies doing on the other side?

Post Elections Malaysia (4) - A mainstream media perspective.

2008-07-06T10:30:00.004+08:00

THESE are the times I wish that I owned a newspaper. Despite what people in Malaysia say about the mainstream media, they still read it (whether physically or on the Internet, it does not matter)... The opinions penned down are some time gems. As for blogs, it has it's limitation.

A blog can be popular for the wrong reasons, that is disseminating information that is influenced by perceptions. Forget about bloggers who claim that they only write the truth (you want to buy the Penang bridge? Sell you cheap cheap for US$2 million). Bloggers often taken the populist stand and eventually, their ego will get inflated when they get fascinated over page hits and whatever... Of course page hits are like a badge of honour to these bloggers but then, what do they serve? Apart from using profanities and wanton acts of slur, I don't think I want my daughter to read these blogs. Sometime I wonder, do the bloggers themselves allow their children to read their blogs? So much for talks about civil society. Even these bloggers don't walk their talk.

Granted, bloggers do lend a different perspective on issues but being the usual case, it is just their thoughts on the issue. To say their writing are balanced, I do not think so. Some bloggers just condemn because it is in them, resentment to authority or worse, they are the only one who are right... Perhaps this should be taken into perspective - History is written by the winner of the event.

Mainstream media, on the other hand, operates within rules and ethics established throughout the age of the newspaper. Of course no newspapers are completely free, even in the great old US of A. There is some form of control, directly or indirectly.

For today, I just came across this piece written by a friend. Read it and give it some thought.

Thursday July 3, 2008

Let’s get straight down to the truth

ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
By M. VEERA PANDIYAN

Emotions should not stand in the way of investigations into the sodomy accusation against de facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim which has once again polarised the nation.

The Four Non-Blondes have been in my head for several days now, screaming “What’s going on?” at the top of their lungs. That chorus of the hit single What’s Up? from the feisty all-girl band sums up my sentiments of the moment.

What’s going on?

Too much, actually.

We are certainly living in interesting times. Never before has the country been such a cauldron of chaos, whichever way you look at it.

Just how much of the recurring emotional assaults – shock, disbelief, outrage and exasperation – can Malaysians take before the proverbial straw snaps the camel’s back?

The latest jolt struck with a dose of deja vu.

Allegations of sodomy have again smitten a man who was until last week dubbed “Prime-Minister-in waiting”.

Nine years ago, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the undisputed Prime Minister-in-waiting too, before he was sacked by his former boss Tun (then Datuk Seri) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty caused by the regional currency crisis, Anwar took on the might of his mentor’s political clout and his control of the administration to stage his Reformasi street protests, accusing the then Prime Minister of political conspiracy.

In spite of the masses moved by his charisma and fiery tirades against the Government, Anwar was arrested and beaten up by the then IGP Tan Sri Rahim Noor before being charged and jailed in a highly controversial process that divided Malaysians and sapped their confidence in the police and the judiciary.

Now after having risen from the ashes and re-branded himself as the country’s bellwether for change and champion of multi-racial politics, it's back to square one again for the de facto leader of PKR.

Last Saturday, a new party volunteer Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, filed a police report claiming Anwar had sexually violated him on several occasions.

The accuser, a university drop-out and wanna-be pilot, has since been labelled a louche guy set up to engineer Anwar’s second fall from grace.

He is engaged to the young and pretty television personality Syariza Janna, who is also a blogger. Their lives are never going to be the same again.

In a histrionic move that made headlines around the world, Anwar took refuge in the Turkish Embassy, from where he declared that his life was in danger and that he was a victim of yet another heinous political conspiracy.

He only left the embassy after securing assurances from the Government that he won’t be harmed like the last time, when he was beaten unconscious and appeared with a black eye that eventually became a symbol to rally hate against Dr Mahathir’s rule.

Like it did a decade ago, the United States warned Malaysia against any “politically motivated” probe of Anwar, stressing that there should be no charges of sodomy.

The Government responded by protesting against the superpower’s “meddling” in the country’s internal affairs and telling it to get its facts right.

The drama is still unfolding and no one knows how it will play out yet, but the battle lines have been drawn.

As of now, it looks like a huge mismatch with Anwar’s legions of supporters having already conquered cyberspace, the current court of public opinion.

Unlike the swift acceptance of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s statutory declaration claiming that three people, including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s wife were at the scene of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder, the latest allegations against Anwar have only been met with utter disbelief, disgust and derision.

The reason? When it comes to credibility, the country’s administration, enforcement and justice systems have become so blighted that the first reaction of people is cynicism.

By now, the Government should know that the most vital element for the image of an effective government is credibility.

Once lost, it's hard to recover.

As former US vice- president Walter Mondale once put it: “Political image is like mixing cement. When it’s wet you can move it around and shape it, but at some point it hardens and there is almost nothing you can do to reshape it.”

It sure looks hard for the Government to turn the tide in its favour but it has no other choice.

To make matters worse, Anwar has made serious allegations against the IGP and the Attorney-General, accusing them of conspiracy in covering up the near-death assault on him a decade ago.

Emotions are running very high among Anwar’s supporters and detractors and that is part of the problem.

They must come to terms that we have to get to the truth of the matter. If the allegations are false, the accuser and the conspirators, if any, must be punished severely.

Similarly, if the allegations are true, however ridiculous they seem – given the ages and physical conditions of the personalities involved – the perpetrator, too, must face the rap.

With the credibility of the police being part of the problem, perhaps the Government should invite a neutral, reputable foreign agency, like Scotland Yard, for example, to participate in the probe and help restore faith in the system.

Let’s leave our emotions out in the interest and pursuit of truth and justice.

M. Veera Pandiyan, Deputy Editor, New Media, likes this quote of leadership attributed to 1960’s Black Panther Party radical Eldridge Cleaver: “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.”

Post Elections Malaysia (3) - Fascination with numbers...

2008-07-05T19:09:00.003+08:00

On July 6, 2008, there will be an event that is unparalleled anywhere else in the country, that is, if it can even be mobilised.

July 6 will go down in the annals of Malaysian history as the gathering of 1,000,000 Malaysians to protest against the government for the fuel price hikes. To each and everyone their own opinion. I think this protest is misdirected. To protest about something that is beyond the control of any government in the world, except for the traders at the New York Mercantile Exchange. You got it. The protest, to me, should be directed at Nymex.

Then again, to deny people their fundamental rights to assemble and protest would be a hindrance on their rights. Fine, I can accept this. But apart from these 1,000,000 Malaysians who want to gather, what about the 24-odd million Malaysians who may have made the choice of accepting reality and try to find ways to improve their lives... Don't they count.

Then comes the question about Mathematics, in particular additions. The organiser said the gathering of the 1,000,000 Malaysians will be held at a venue that can accommodate 50,000 seated and another 50,000 standing. So, 50,000 + 50,000 = 1,000,000. No wonder my maths teacher, a long long time ago, told me that I had no future as a mathematician.

Coming to the bigger question. This so-called protest, all this while, is said to be organised by a non-partisan non-governmental organisation called Protes. I have no problems with that, until the following:

The co-coordinator - a certain personality from an Islamist Party which has joined forces with the Opposition Front.

The venue - at first it was to be a public field in Petaling Jaya. The police said "Please don't hold it, anyway, you guys never applied for a permit." The weird thing is, the advice was given to the chief minister of Selangor (Petaling Jaya is in Selangor by the way). My mind begin to wonder about this development... I thought it was a non-partisan NGO.

Comes the next announcement... the protest has been moved to Kelana Jaya... that I am not very happy with. It is just a three-minute drive from my home. What caused further intrigue to me is that the announcement was made by the the Youth Chief of an opposition party after a meeting at the residence of the party's de-facto leader (what is a de-facto leader? Devoid of fact?)

Then another announcement was made... it will be moved to another stadium in Shah Alam (also in Selangor). The announcement was posted in the opposition party's website and the leader of the party which operates the website will lead the protest... Huh???? So much for being a non-partisan NGO. I conclude that these people have lied to the people of Malaysia. Correct me if I am wrong.

Anyway, prior to writing this, I was in a state of shock when I went to a hypermarket to buy some stuff... The price of rice has gone up by nearly 50%, cooking oil by about 70%... Now, instead of protesting about the hike, shouldn't this self-proclaimed non-partisan NGO address this issue instead. I guess I am fortunate enough that I can afford to buy those stuff (although I have to cut down on the amount purchased... my money just won't go that far anymore and I hate plastics).

These are the real fundamental issues besetting a nation. Protesting against the hike in the price of fuel is like, well, trying to put out an inferno using a garden hose. These are real issues. The price of oil, while related, requires a coordinated effort to weed out the greedy traders at NYMEX. And also, I hate being lied to.

In this post, I wish to reproduce a note sent to me by a friend from Australia, who was so kind to comment on the price issue which I brought up in another forum. Thank you Jin for your remarks. At least, this problem is not just confined to our part of the planet.

Yep, prices are skyrocketing here too ... oz is in for big changes sooner than folks might have thought. Prof Ross Garnaut is talking about early extinction of the Great Barrier Reef.

Glad I live where it rains a lot, where we didn't chop down the trees and can grow our own food. For me, it's gonna mean more work ... more people will be buying stuff and 'visiting' their friends on the net ... and it seems to be happening already.

I believe Jin can deal with the issue at hand constructively. Read about her here. So Malaysians, stop whining and do something about it and politicians, especially those who fancy themselves as leader-in-waiting.... stop spreading hate and lying to the people... Times are already bad, we don't need it to become worse.