I kinda like Kayveas ...

To those who know my political thoughts intimately, and you don't need to be my Biz sleeping partner to know that! -- just read my thoughts, which is quite contradictory advice, like the Post's Title -- okay, I digress.

Starting the new year with my first -- maiden, virgin, tho Desi has not acquired Virginia's looks or PR status -- political rant or cant, I must declare by nature, I'm an anti-establishment guy. Is that good or bad? mGf, tell me over a cuppa, so that I live to the ripe olde age of 110! I leave that to history, or some poor bloke trying to write a money-making biography of this poet-aspiurant daring to call himself after Max Ehrmann -- I think I'll leave this Introduction alone, even it it hangs, like the access to Blogger.com for the gooder part of Tuesday, Jan 3, 2006.

Yes, for those who owe people large sums of money and are writing out a cheque, you have an easy way out "buying" some time -- date your cheque rite and the 'ear wlong, like 2005. An dishonoourable advice based on an nonest mistake years back.

So trying to RATionalise my title, I must say I have had more negative things to blast the Barisan Nasional-controlled Government than the few occasions its leaders give me grounds to "praise" them. But giving credit back where credit is due - like writing out a cheque that doesn't bounce! -- today I've come to praise one -- not once, but twice. If required, three times.

But to keep the record straight, I've applauded the Prime Minister several times since he took over the august office from Dr Mahathir Mohamad slightly two years and two months ago -- like when he pronounced the War Against Graft, like the case of A State MB being sacked for an UMNO-defined crime of committing "money politics";Directed some recalcitrant ministers or chief ministers to walk straight -- you have not forgotten the AP Minister or The "Semuanya Okay!" MB, have you?

These elected representives have a prefix before them -- not to be taken lightly -- YB, which is Yang Berhormat, which is The Honourable ... "sorry" if I insulted some ER' intelligence with the need to explain, butt I do get an occasional strayer bumping into Desi's Place, from USA and India, yes, it's on record.

Getting to the point, let's re-look at:

New Straits Times of Jan 2, 2006

Kayveas: Speak out against corruption

SUBANG, Sun
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People’s Progressive Party president Datuk M. Kayveas said he was not "shooting blind" when he blamed politicians for not speaking up on corruption in local councils.

"People who are frustrated with local councils came to see me. They provided data and information of who was delaying projects or benefiting from their positions. But these people do not want to come forward. They are businessmen and are afraid of not getting more projects in the future," he said.

This was why, he said, he had not investigated further the information he received.

He added his recent statement on politicians "playing safe" by not speaking up against corruption in local councils was not to pinpoint any individual or council, but to encourage politicians to speak out to reduce corruption.

"I am not pointing at any Mr A, B or C," he said. "Names alone will not reduce corruption. But if everyone co-operates by speaking out and reporting the matter to the authorities, we can scare off these culprits."

"I know it’s tough to fight corruption, but there is a need to check and correct the situation," he said. "Furthermore, politicians prefer not to get involved in speaking out on corruption."

He said the response from Bentong MP Datuk Liow Tiong Lai recently was unfair.

Liow had said that not all local councils were corrupt and that by making such statement on politicians, Kayveas was also pointing the finger at himself , a politician.

"That is why I said politicians. I am a politician and I am speaking for myself."

Kayveas said he made the statement based on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s call to fight corruption.

"Due to that, I do not want to challenge Liow".

However, he added: "If Liow wants to challenge me, I can provide the information.

"He, too, should look into who is corrupt and highlight it so that I can help him identify the culprits."

He added it was easier to allow such practices to continue. "Let’s not bluff ourselves," he said. "It’s common knowledge that many councillors are involved in corruption and we need to speak out to stop such practices."

And the earlier report,which I reprised partially, especially read in between the l;ines from one BN "buddy" to another "less buddy" also from the BN:

New Straits Times

Kayveas under fire over comments


KUALA LUMPUR, Tues.

People’s Progressive Party president Datuk M. Kayveas has walked into another controversy.
His allegation that politicians were "playing safe" by not speaking up on corruption in local authorities because they might have an interest in projects approved by these authorities has raised the ire of some politicians and elicited comments from others.

Barisan Nasional MP for Bentong Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the statement was unfair.

"Not all local councils are like that," he said. "By making such a statement, he is also pointing the finger at himself, as he is a politician. He should reveal the names of those people he implies are keeping quiet about corruption.

"We need to work together to fulfil the Prime Minister’s call for a more transparent Government.

"As MPs, we are given a mandate by Parliament to run the local government according to the basic principles of honesty and integrity.

"We need to put in a lot of effort, it is not enough just to talk about it. Action speaks louder than words.

"We need to encourage more people to come forward and speak out against corruption."


DAP MP for Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai suggested that local council elections be brought back.

"In 1965, local council elections were suspended because of the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation. The Government promised to bring it back when the country was stable. Forty years on, it has not made a comeback.

"I think it is time. Bringing local council elections back would bring transparency into local governments and help eliminate corruption and abuse of power," Tan said.

Desiderata has a soft spot for political lessons from The Bard's works. Today, I can visualise Mark Antony, a Caeserian loyalist, addressing the Roman crowd of common citizens on that Ides of March when Brutus and his compatriots -- all honourable men -- including one lean and hungry-looking Cassius, gathered at the Capitol building to meet the Emperor-to-be Julius Caesar. But behind their honourable fronts lurked less than honourable intentions, but who are the common folks like you and me who made up the Roman crowd to question such "patriots". Brutus was held in high esteem, and Cassius the schemer had managed to swing him over to the conspirators' side, appealing to his "loving Rome more", and not that he loved Caesar any less sentiment. One UMNO politikus had indeed plucked this flowery line to use it cleverly on the UMNO Great Stage and won himself a national seat -- see, knowing Shakespeare can win you sum!

First ChallengiA of 2006: Name this smart fella, give some details like the Five Ws and One H, as seplt out in Journalism 101. I had given quite many lessons the year past, did they work?
PRIZE? An autographed copy of a Shakespeare's play.


Recapping:

Earlier, at the Capitol, at the foot of the statue of Caesar’s old enemy, Pompey, the conspirators surround Caesar and each, in turn, stabs him. Seeing Brutus’s thrust, Caesar exclaims “et tu, Brute” (you too, Brutus) and dies.

Brutus speaks first at the funeral and says that love of Rome alone made the murder necessary, a sentiment which is hailed with enthusiasm by the crowd. Antony follows, praising Caesar, while calling Brutus and the conspirators “honorable men”. Indeed, Antony truly knows Brutus is “the noblest Roman of them all",but has been persuaded by Cassius to turn assasin. Hence the famous "Et tu, Brute" rhetoric being used to describe the "highest betrayal" in human relationships, between friend and "best" friend.

And Tiong Lai and Kayveas are Barisan Nasional brothers, are they not? they are both honourable men. They are both elected by the people in the March 2004 general elections, are they not? Yes, there are honourable members of that august House, hence they are both honourable men.

Tan Kok Wai is also a Wakil Rakyat, also elected in tghe GE2004, is he not.

All those named MPs , they are all honourable men. Yang Berhomat led by Yang Amat Berhormat (Most Honourable), Prime Minister Pak Lah, who I continue to hold in the highest esteem. Our PM is God-fearing, has an honest heart, he cares for the citizens of Malaysia.

So all these 219 Members of Parliament are all "honourable men".

But I don't see them speaking up as challenged by the Honourable Deputy Minister Kayveas -- I kinda like him, don't you? though a fellow member from the Barisan Nasional, the 'love' of the majority of the electorate in GE2004 -- much except for the Opposition MPs like mGf the Honourable Wakil Rakyat for Cheras -- I can call you thus mGf, can't I, saudara Kok Wai?

I hear the cock crow, and see the reds, yellows and oranges of beaut sunset beguling me to rest. So I must oblige to the call of the farawat hills, not to the echose of the most honourable chamber along Jalan Parlimen. That place is only for honourable men.