Engaging CONversationists

I feel energised this morning to engage with my Prime Minister in conversation.
My belief system tells me I must be frank and honest, and most of all, BE SINCERE.

The headlineon page N3 of The Star on blues Monday -- and this moUrn's cloudy skies preface thunderstorm and lightning -- the kind that spells a kind of Ides of March because today might be D-DAY -- that inspires this:

What it takes to be dynamic

PM lists critical elements to achieve status

KAMPAR: Acquiring knowledge, being grounded in strong moral values and staying healthy are key elements in turning Malaysia into a dynamic nation, says Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“It must be a combination of having knowledge, a good mind and being physically healthy when developing human capital,” the Prime Minister said at the launching of the Malaysia Mental Literacy Games 2006 at Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman here yesterday.

“What is the point of being clever if we are only good at stealing because we have the know-how to open all kinds of locks?”

Abdullah said developing human capital meant being creative, intelligent, credible, good-hearted, compassionate, sincere, having a sense of fairness and justice and staying physically strong.

“With these qualities in our people, we can be a dynamic nation.”

Abdullah noted that the people should have the mental capacity to make contributions to mankind.

“Our innovations must be appropriate to the needs of the people, nation and mankind,” he added.

As such, he said, he welcomed the approach of Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik in pioneering efforts to improve the mental capacity of the people.

The move to bring about a creative and innovative mind is in line with the national mission to develop human capital, said Abdullah.

“Human capital development is crucial because we want the people to be knowledgeable and creative so that the country can progress.”


DESIDERATA:

I applaud the Most Esteemed Prime Minister for his statements which I have HIGHLIGHTED (bolded thus)..

I don't think any right-thinking Malaysians can find any fault with those positive values captured in his pronouncements.

But there is an unease among many of my fellowmen -- I hope I read them correctly -- that what's faulty is that in the translation of intentions into policy implementation, there is a growing chasm. So much so many citizens have become cynical.

Bear with me as I extract and comment~~~

*“What is the point of being clever if we are only good at stealing because we have the know-how to open all kinds of locks?”

Indeed, Mr Prime Minister: why do we see an increase in criminal activities over tha last decade?

It's NO MORE SAFE to leave your house main door and front gate open nowadays -- unlike some 10 years past, we could do so with complete ease of mind it's secure.
My persobnal experience -- leaving the front gate and door open for just 5-10 minutes, the LapTop in the living room went for a long walk!

mGf Kyels on her way to the commuter tran station to college early at 6.30AM suffered injuries when she fought off a snatch thief on motorcycle who escaped with her (borrowed) camcorder.
And you hear such stories from almost every other household at one time or another.
(Of course, not forgetting the rapes cum murders of women, teenagers and children reported so often in our dailies...)

The good thing is that I begin to see in the courts some high-profile cases to address wrong-doings from a decade ago -- SYABAS to Pak Lah, though such actions are belatedly taken. Mention a few:

~ Tajuddin Ramli sued by MAS for millions
~~ Five charged for getting easy money (RM500million) from Rashid Hussain Bank (Yaeh, one company mentioned linked to a Eat, Drink and Be Merry politikus aiming to join the iKabinet!)
~~~ Redress on some "blatantly" guided kangaroo trials linked to an ex-DPM and his adopted brother

I'll stop here as I think you get the drift, NO?
Patience, I've a constant CONversationist coming with A-more...

**Abdullah said developing human capital meant being creative, intelligent, credible, good-hearted, compassionate, sincere, having a sense of fairness and justice and staying physically strong.

Summing up -- GOD-FEARING CITIZENS, who make use of God-given talents for the betterment of self and community.
Desi has from Day 1 of Pak Lah's prime ministership saluted him for his God-fearing ways. Mr Nice Guy -- aptly monikered, but...

How do his Cabinet members fare in this department?

My dear EsteemedReaders, you tell Desi!



I sympathise with our nation's CEO that he "inherited" a lot of baggage from the previous regime, and because of Barisan Nasional traditions, it is difficult to get rid of ancient "baggage". Garbage. No, no poor cabbage.

But Pak Lah must be forwarned that the rumblings on the ground have grown louder. He "missed" a golden opportunity in the last Cabinet reshuffle to re-jig the team. Come an opportune time, he must show his "resourcefulness and God's blessing" to be bold and go against tradition -- THROW OUT THE RUBBISH WHO ARE LIKE AN ALBATROSS AROUND THE GOVERNMENT'S NECK. If you must, dismantle the myth that the head of every BN component party must be in the Cabinet. Ex-PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad proved otherwise when then MCA President Tan Koon Swan WAS NOT MADE A CABINET MINISTER!

Another well grounded reservation by many of my fellow Malaysians is that despite their personal endeavours to serve the country, they are not accorded the similar support services to hone and foster their skills. Just a summary:

~ No scholarhsips for outstanding academic performers;
yet hundreds of students had some RM1million spent on each of them for medical studeies who broke their Government bond of service by refusing to return to serve NegaraKu;

~~ While the Government bends backwards to lure Malaysians abroad e.g. medical specialists in UK to return to serve Malaysia, home-based serving government servants are NOT duly rewarded with same incentives;

~~~ Labelling Malaysians "unpatriotic" after graduating overseas for not coming home, but does the Government recognise that they studied under FAM scholarships (FAM -- Father And Mother, how can you not know whan it was Father's Dayyesterday!?) and many graduates have to work their butts out to "repay" thousands in bank loans?

Now about THAT conversationist who I promise will give A-more, he goes by F&H moniker~~~
Desi meets him often at Jeff Ooi's Screenshots, and over the weekend this took place, folowing from his Post titled:


Butcher(s) in the newsroom?

Just some nugget extracts to incite you to look up the ORI -- never settle for the copy!, remember?


About the goings-on at the NST newsroom:

"...they still have people who "do not have to do anything they do not want to do" which might tarnish their integrity and professionalism as journalists

If I hadn't read Rocky wrongly, I gather that some of these NST journalists can't stomach the spin-doctoring any more and they want Hishamuddin Aun, the Group Editor-in-Chief, to put a stop to the practice. The only problem now is that none among them could drag, to the toilet, Hisssssham by his ceroot to check on his balls.

"They are not just butchering our stories, they are butchering our names," that seems to be the story Rocky heard nowadays from his bru in the NST, or whatever remained of it."


E1 from the F&H one
Folks

"I forgot to add.. those NST journalists and reporters, if they don't realize yet, they are working for UMNO, and they are well-paid media relations officers for UMNO and UMNO Youth, via the NST, and given nice sounding titles like editors, journalists and sub-editors."

Posted by: Frank&Honest | June 15, 2006 01:11 PM


E1 from Desiderata (C&P-lah, lazy bummie!):

"folks:

Is this the first time?
They did IT during Tun Dr Mahathir's time -- with several GEICs subservience -- they do IT now, so also they will do IT in future.

So also at the Star -- serving MCA masters plus the incumbent PM's, so see how the wind blows and the pen writes accordingly in tune ... with the current GEIC the greatest crook of damned all because he has more than "vested" interests -- he has to TOP UP with his PR (Permanet Residence plus Public Relations) interests.

The only way to overcome such a longstanding Pretty Condundrum is to bar Political Parties cum individuals with interests in Political parties from holding more than 5% equity in the Media Companies.

These butchers appear more glaring and blatant because there is a Battle Royale (ex-PM vs current PM)raging with the stakes raised National high.

Posted by: desiderata | June 15, 2006 02:31 PM
C2 from F&H:

"desiderata

You said...only way to overcome such a longstanding Pretty Condundrum is to bar Political Parties cum individuals with interests in Political parties from holding more than 5% equity in the Media Companies.

Who is going to change the law? The Govt?

It is a pipe dream. Malaysian political culture has not reached that level of maturity in which citizens can effect change when voters still feel secure with the same ruling parties running the country since 1957 with ISA hanging over their heads and while watching the judiciary got raped through and through.

Its all idealistic talk with little impact on the realpolitiks. You got to give credit to UMNO and UMNO Youth for the current state of affairs in the country.

Posted by: Frank&Honest | June 15, 2006 03:33 PM


C2 by Desiderata (Yes, C&P2!):

"frank&honest:

Thanks for the reminder of "...with ISA hanging over their heads and while watching the judiciary got raped through and through..." &

"Its all idealistic talk with little impact on the realpolitiks..."
THat's why I'm no more a newsman but poor Blogger trying to earn a living as an independednt business-journo. But sometimes in discourse One must approach the subject from Press Ethics & Ideals, No?
But i hope you meant it "satirically" when you said "...You got to give credit to UMNO and UMNO Youth for the current state of affairs in the country."
If you meant lanuguage wise in its literary sense -- "straight&serious"-- I'm packing up and won't come back for anymore banter with thee!:)

Posted by: desiderata | June 15, 2006 08:14 PM

C3 from F&H, yes C&Pastry!(Helen, who's MIA for 10 l-o-o-o-n-g days! you'd like this~~~:)

"desiderata

you asked....But i hope you meant it "satirically" when you said "...You got to give credit to UMNO and UMNO Youth for the current state of affairs in the country." If you meant lanuguage wise in its literary sense -- "straight&serious"-- I'm packing up and won't come back for anymore banter with thee!:)

They did a pretty good job in creating the current blooming mess in the country, don't they? The brain drain, the schools, the University entrance, the annual scholarship fiasco, the condoning of keris wielding; the continuing mutual racial suspicions that got worse since 1957; the crony-politics, the fly-by-night millionaires with homes that are gold plated and helicopter pads; the closed tenders to undeserveing contractors...you name it. You got give them credit for them? Wouldn't you?"

DESIDERATA:

I must visit Frank&Honest@newscompass.blogspot.com and buy hims 3 tehtarik, and serve him FuRong Siew Pau and Ipohlang Pastries!:)
Seya; don't be knotty.
All you folks who creep at night to spy at Desi's Place -- Howsy, Theels, Sabrina based oversea:) a simple APpeal with no AP:

And to the locals like Yan, Anak Merdeka and Mave SM: I don't want to hear the word: MIGRATE. Desi may just collapse through speaking to the four grey Walls (Ice-Scream, anyone?)
Please come back to serve NegaraKU will you? I'll serve thee unending barrelfools of tehtarik, Tak Dak Manis!


CONversation

With
O
U
T
sincerity,
There is no true
C
O
N
versation,

So spare me a thousand sweet words,
I only wish to see one
S
M
I
L
E
from the heart.

A parting converse with my Esteemed PM:

Pak Lah, I know you are committed and sincere.

But are your Cabinet members with you?
Are your Civil Service people with you?

Can you, the Cabinet, and top Government officials
pass the Test of Sincerity?

And hence CAN SLEEP AS BABES AT NIGHT...?