Tolerance for scandalous behaviour ...

Whether abroad or on the homefront, the moment the country's citizens resign themselves generally to a state of acceptance and tolerance for scandalous behaviour in the nation's public service, and especially among their national leaders, that's when we descend into the pathway to hell paved with well expressed, angelic sounding intentions.

I quoted one example yesterday~~~

"Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: Allegations that a senior former government leader was behind an attempt to issue some 600,000 Identity Cards to illegal immigrants in Sabah makes it even more important for Sabahans to add their names in large numbers to the signature campaign seeking a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the matter.

Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (CASH) President Datuk Patrick Sindu said Sunday the allegation cannot be taken lightly because it involves the nation's sovereignty.
::
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I draw your attention to two items in The People's Paper, one from a local, and the other from a visiting foreigner ~~ is there a thread among the two? You tell Desi!:



The Star, page N3, June 23, 2006


Probe into false tsunami claims charge completed

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has completed its investigation into allegations of false claims on the tsunami aid funds. Its director Ja'afar Mahad said the report on the investigation was submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's (DPP) office last month.

The agency was now waiting for a directive from the DPP's office on whether the case would be brought to court.

He was speaking to reporters after attending a programme on integrity organised by Universiti Teknologi Mara and the ACA here yesterday.

In June last year, he said, former ACA state director Abu Kassim Mohamed had stated that he had received nine complaints of tsunami victims not receiving aid.

Four of the nine complaints were found to have some basis for investigation, he said.

The tsunami, which struck on Dec 26, 2004, resulted in loss of RM100mil worth of property in Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak.

Following the incident, the Government provided funds to assist those who had lost members of their family, homes and fishing boats. However, there were allegations that the names of some victims were not included in the list. – Bernama



'Stand up
against violence'


KUALA LUMPUR: People have the responsibility and obligation to stand up to their governments if they are guilty of great violence, said former UN assistant secretary-general Denis Haliday.

He was concerned that Americans had been hijacked by the system, and their “misplaced patriotism” made the United States one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

There was a mad dash, he said, to intrude and provide the so-called freedom and democracy “even if we have to kill you.”

By accepting the situation and keeping silent, he said, the people were in fact collaborating with their leader.

“That’s a very uncomfortable feeling. We have a duty to stop it,” he told the Perdana Global Peace Public Forum.


(STOP THE KILLING: Dr Mahathir delivering a speech at the Perdana Global Peace Public Forum while a projector screen shows pictures of the Middle East conflict. — APpic : Just iMAgine lah!)


Haliday’s former colleague at the UN Hans Von Sponeck said the “global blood pressure” had gone up.

The reason, he said, was “incredible double standards” that exist in the UN and the Security Council.

Citing an example, Von Sponeck said it was despicable to see how a powerful president of one of the permanent members of the Security Council (the US) could go to New Delhi to discuss a nuclear deal while at the same time condemn Iran
for its uranium enrichment programme.

“They said Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes (but there were none) and now they are saying that Iran could be a nuclear threat in three to four months,” he said.

He also pointed out that the US contributes 22% of the UN’s budget, and this made the organisation vulnerable to its demands.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described the global arms race as “horrendous,” noting that it would cost US$200mil (RM730.8mil) just to keep one F-18 fighter plane flying.

“We don’t need killing machines which are more costly than the earlier ones. It is a waste of huge sums of money to buy an aircraft which we hope not to use,” he said.

To a question, Dr Mahathir admitted that it would be impractical at the moment to try US president George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair as war criminals for the lies they told to go to war in Iraq.

He said it was up to the “court of the people” to decide whether to re-elect such war-mongers.

In his speech earlier, he voiced his concern over war preparations on Iran, now under way. -- The Star (Ends Item2 for rumination, my dear ER, please Don't Switch Off, okay!)

DESIDERATA: Just reproduce a few paragraphs, my Thinking Allowed tells me I hear some ECHOES (softly, softly...the walls have ears!) of the foreign voices on the home front -- or isIT AFfront?

~~~He was concerned that Americans had been hijacked by the system, and their “misplaced patriotism” made the United States one of the most dangerous countries in the world.


~~~The reason, he said, was “incredible double standards” that exist in the UN and the Security Council.

In closing, just reprising a relevant quote, for its content only, not that I'm besotted with everything American!~~~

When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people
are poisoned. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and
dishonesty. Our strength lies in spiritual concepts. It lies in public
sensitiveness to evil. Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign
armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by
complaisance with evil, or by public tolerance of scandalous
behavior. -- Once US President Herbert Hoover



Desiderata:

Ponder my EsteemedReaders, who are the leaders and countries leading us up the garden path.

Who are your National and State leaders leading you up the road to Hell, described as "...a path paved with good intentions".

Dera ER: Can you cite me one such good example ... no need leader's name, just his well expressed intentions!

Have a niCe die, if it's possIble~~~
A teh-C from Desi, plus Ha!lia! no more suGAR!
Make Sweet peAs, knot Whore!