Some UMNO PROgressives...

besides JB Member of Parliament Sharir Samad,
there is Kota Baru MP Zaid Ibrahim, whose full report in theSun today, page 6 is heart-lifting, despite it being Bluesey Monday.

Abdullah right man to
bring about reforms: Zaid


KUALA LUMPUR: Some may see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi as weak and unassertive, but for Kota Baru MP
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, he is still the best leader to push
democracy forawrd in Malaysia.

Speaking on "Democracy mattwers to Malaysia" at StraughtTalk,
a dinner talk organised by the Public Relations Consultants'
Association of Malaysia last Thursday, Zaid listed what he
believes are important factors for a strong and haelthy democracy.

:
:
:
(DESI: I ain't gonna spoonfeed my ER on the rest of the contents,
which I had planned to C&P but the item's still not available
on the Sun online, so you just have to do with this, plus
the closing paragraphs:)

:
:
In a global world, he said, it is important for the people to be
united and share resources in order to compete with outside "enemies".

"Malaysia is justv a small country, so why not give priority
to multi-racial harmony and reduce policies which are divisive?
We still talk about affirmative policy, but this must be seen
in the context of politics," he added.

DESIDERATA:
Zaid has realised that it's no more a "katak dibawah tempuriong" world out there -- it's a GLOBAL VILLAGE, and people and talents will sell goods and services and skills across all borders. Indeed, while the elephants back hokme fight over terrotorial turfs and realproperty gains, while the mousedeer sit hapless and helpless being entertained tarnsfiexed and in transition by the Sandiwara on the PWTC Stage, the neighbours around NegaraKU are laugfhing their way quietly to the banks.

Zaid's "...reduce policies which are divisive?
We still talk about affirmative policy..."is discerning, and he must in his heart realise the impediments in racial harmony are embedded in the New Economic Policy, championed so aggressively by UMNO Youth, which DISCRIMINATES -- not affirms! --on RACE. I wonder if Zaid is too scared to think aloud that he agrees with Anwar Ibrahim that the days of the NEP -- latter transformed into National Economic Policy -- are truly over and haveno place in a blobalised environement.

For harmony and that sense of belonging, we need to replace RACE-BASED WITH NEEDS-BASED POLICIES. Zaid, tell OPak Lah that when you see him next, will you?

The competition does not come just from across the Cuaseway, but from 1.3billion-populated China, and 1billion-populated India and of course, First World Economies like Japan and Germany. I'm leaving out USA because it's the greatest debtor nation and is in fact the cause of much of the world's economic woes, but that's another story, for another day.


From one of my earlier postings, I wrote about the "discrimination against women during a raid by FT Islamic Religious Department at a nightclub in January", and the setting up of a spy squad by Malacca 4B Youth (incidentally, launched by Malacca CEO Ali Rustam).

Among the NGOs listed protesting the authorities actions were the Sisters in Islam, Malaysian Aids Council (MAC), Women's Aid Organisation, and Suara Rakyat Malaysia. I also applaud the presence of Kota Baru MP from Barisan Nasional, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, at the press conference in KL on March 22 to launch the campaign, calling for, among others:

* The repeal of provisions in religious and municipal laws that deny their fundamental rights; and
* The strengthening of pluralism through community dialogue on morals in society."

So like Sharir, Zaid is able to see issues from a wider perspective, and on principles, speak their mind, and dare to break party (UMNO) conventional lines. I laud such PROGRESSIVES, and I agree in general that for the meantime, Malaysians have to pray that Pak Lah acts tough in the next 2-1/2-years before GE2009 beckons, though indications the General Elections will be called much earlier before time. The previous regime&cronies won't let Pak Lah rule in peace.