Threading a few bloggers' homes

with a nigh-Common Rebuttal by lazy, but humble-lah, (hamba) servant serving a few goblets of tehtarik to lace thy unique brain with some tonic or arSENic.

Thread1:

Salute1 to a Commenter Anon @www.bakrimusa.com making a challenge to the host and a regular fellow guest writer Din Merican in Bakri's Post titled:
“Little Limp Napoleons and Mighty Ming Emperors” and I threaded to two Comments, one by an ANON responding to this, whose piece was pretty long but eye-opening and worth your trouble to traverse there to read in full, as I serve thee some extracts.

Firstly, Bakri's few opening paras:

" Little Limp Napoleons and Mighty Ming Emperors

If Prime Minister Abdullah cannot handle the Little Limp Napoleons in the bloated Malaysian bureaucracy, there is little assurance that he could deal with the Mighty Ming Emperors of the competitive world.

We had a preview of this in the bungled negotiations over the proposed crooked bridge to replace the causeway. That was an embarrassingly graphic demonstration of the administration’s ineptness. If that was Abdullah’s performance in dealing with representatives of only a Little Ming Emperor, imagine if the adversary had been the big Ming Emperor!

In the negotiations with Singapore over the proposed bridge, Abdullah nearly gave away the store after being indulged with effusive flatteries. Malaysia is currently deliberating a Free Trade Agreement with America; that treaty will have major social, economic, and foreign policy implications. If the recent experience with Singapore is any indicator, I reckon that with only a brief visit to the White House, minus a state dinner, would be enough for America to secure whatever it wants from Malaysia."

Secondly, please indulge a pretty long extract:

"malaysia is no future Says: January 29th, 2007 at 6:22 pm

"The citizens of Bolehland ended the year 2006 in high spirits. Even though things did not quite work out for the work-with-me Prime Minister (PM), the government of the day took us to great heights in various ways.We were also kept high-minded by former PM Dr Mahathir (Dr M), who instead of riding off into the sunset, got on his high horse and refused to come down from it - even after his manhood had been questioned.Dr M felt it was high time to highlight to the PM that the latter had sold the country, stooped before his neighbours, stopped listening to ‘My Way’, stabbed him in the back and scrapped his pet projects……….He was not interfering, merely asking Pak Lah to step down, that is all.It was difficult to differentiate between the annual haze and Dr M’s high-end smokescreen. ..."

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"Sharing Pak Lah’s prize for hypocrisy was Dr M who complained that he had been denied the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and that he was a victim of a police state - a legacy which he had so proudly left behind.He even very humbly claimed that he never had anyone arrested under the ISA for political reasons and blamed the mass arrests of Operation Lalang in 1988 on the police. A highly-incensed Lim Kit Siang reminded Dr M, who was also the then Home Minister and Justice Minister, that he was the ‘mastermind’ of the 1987 dragnet.He complained that the mainstream press had spurned him and spiked his statements. He even alleged the existence of spin doctors. Dr M was given a taste of his own medicine.
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"It was also a year when the chickens came home to roost. Ani Arope, ex-chief of Tenaga, enlightened us on the role Dr M played in the higher electricity rates we are paying for. Anwar highlighted Dr M’s contribution to Bolehland RM30 billion loss as a result of forex speculations.One-time corporate high-flyer Tajuddin Ramli disclosed details in a court document regarding his “national service” duty to Dr M. Former High Court judge Syed Ahmad and former Lord President Salleh Abbas provided more disturbing information on the 1988 judicial crisis and other scandals in the judiciary which still stink to high heaven.The Pricewaterhouse Cooper Report on the Mismanagement of Proton Holdings (1996 - 2005), which The Edge had called “Proton’s Can of Worms”, provided a revealing glimpse into the worsening saga faced by the auto industry in Bolehland and exposed how the citizens had been taken for a ride.


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"Alas, 2006 was a year when Pak Lah and his half-past-six-government functioned at half throttle, displaying half-measures against corruption and half-hearted efforts in the public service delivery system, and often indifferent to how the other half lives.It was also a year when we had to endure sky-high prices (resulting in high cost of living), high and scandalous wastage of government funds, high destruction to the environment (which resulted in a big flood in Shah Alam in early 2006 and another at the end of the year in Johor), high death tolls of 6000 a year on our roads, etc. The citizens of Bolehland were paying the high price of believing in the tell-me-the-truth government led by Pak Lah. There is, however, a high probability that they will still vote in the BN government in the next general elections in spite of all the ‘high points’ of 2006, being as absent-minded as they usually are! "

Thirdly, Anon wrote, and I reproduced his comment in full:


anon Says: January 29th, 2007 at 8:27 pm

"Well written piece with great commentary by “Malaysia is no future”.
The question remains: QUO VADIS, Malaysia!! Vested interests are very entrenched everywhere in business, civil service, and GLCs in particular (exempt PETRONAS) and at the grassroots level. If not, why did Tun Dr. Mahathir attack Badawi, his anointed successor!!
Tun Dr. Mahathir has no right to comment because he had destroyed institutions, including the judiciary, and weakened UMNO by “killing off” smart leaders like Tunku Razaleigh, Tun Musa Hitam, Anwar Ibrahim and others, leaving behind a huge leadership mess in UMNO. He did that in order to stay in power. To his political credit, he was successful for he ruled like a dictator after removing people who could stand up to him intellectually and in politics.
Look at the main thoroughfare in Putrajaya. It reminds me of Hitler’s dream for Berlin, which, as we all know from history, was a disaster. Cyberjaya is too a serious state of disrepair and parts of Putrajaya are badly maintained. For all these, Tun Dr, Mahathir should be impeached or taken to court for abuse of power. Even our education system is a a huge mess.
Just in case we forget, who introduced money politics and KKN (Korupsi, Kronynisme, Nepotisme) in Malaysia? Who started this Islamisation programme, if not Mahathir. Corruption is now a budaya in our country.
I wonder what people like PaK Din Merican and California-based Dr. M Bakri Musa have to say about this. I feel when it comes to Mahathir, both these critics of the Badawi Government have a blind spot.
Both Badawi and Najib are mediocre. It is true, but we can confidently say that Mahathir had a big hand in their rise to power today. Mahathir is the supremo of the “blowing out the candles of others” syndrome. But in an attempt to protect his legacy, Mahathir is screwed up. What he has done in the last 22 years is being systematically dismantled and replaced by the father of Islam Hadhari.
So it is no wonder we as a nation are in the dumps and hopes of getting out of it are slim. No political will or just plain incompetence now?

LazyDesi's comment (C&P1):

ylchong Says: January 29th, 2007 at 10:16 pm

"Bravo to (Anon) for an articulate summary of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his successor Pak Lah, focuing on their weaknesses mainly.
Wrt:” Tun Dr. Mahathir has no right to comment because he had destroyed institutions, including the judiciary, and weakened UMNO by “killing off” smart leaders like Tunku Razaleigh, Tun Musa Hitam, Anwar Ibrahim and others, leaving behind a huge leadership mess in UMNO. He did that in order to stay in power. To his political credit, he was successful for he ruled like a dictator after removing people who could stand up to him intellectually and in politics. ”
I would say Dr Mahathir should not be dismissed from such a forum or discourse. He should answer the charges. I would add that not only DR Mahathir destroyed all the four Estates. He turned the Executive (fFrst Estate) into a Dictatorship, lessened in magnitude by anointed successor no doubt, but the inherited “supreme power” vested in the PM’s office largely remains; Dr M also disembowelled the Legislature (Second Estate), enhanced by Pak Lah’s massive 90% mandare so it has become equally weakened and has become sycophantic to the PM chiefly;and as mentioned by“anon Says: January 29th, 2007 at 8:27 pm “, Dr M also dstryed the Judiciary (Third Estate). My reading after three years is that Pak Lah has slighly improved the Judiciary, but it’s early days yet to be positive it will be across-the-borad progress or merely cosmetic and selective. Whatever semblance of the Fourth Estate that existed was a compliant, sycophantic Press (mainstream) with some online alternatives starting to bloom as New Kids On The Blog! On this last field, Pak Lah’s performance is premature to find a Verdict. Even if the Fourth Estate rises to a freer performance, I believe it’s driven not by Executive wishes but forced on the arrival of the infant “Fifth Estate” represneted by Internet-enabled citizen-journalism and blogging. JUst an aside. The outcome of the current defamation suits by NSTP plus associates against two Bloggers would have a landmark impact on Malaysian Blogsworld future direction.
To be fair, I must accord to ex-PM Dr Mahathir his contributions to putting Malaysia on the world map. He performed superbly in his first 10-12 years. My judgment is that it was in the second half of his helming the ship called NegaraKu was mis-directed by “over-staying his welcome” as the country’s CEO, compounded by his children’s involvement in “BIG” businessness. The writers’ reference to “K,K and K” is relevant, but I won;t dwell long in this field lest I be seeen as promoting the clarion calls of ex-DPM Anwar and his Reformasi movement. Cronysim, Corruption and Nepotism” remians well entrenched thanks to Dr M’s 22 years’ moulding and cast-ironing, yes?
I have also written aboutr the next point, and benefited through (later) discussion with Sdr Din Merican, wrt Anon’s next point I had also thrown at the two “gentlemen”. Gentlemen because Din still bought me kopi and nasi kandar while I traded with my terhtarik. I look forward to –ditto– with Sdr Bakri, but California is still ….s-miles away:)
“I wonder what people like PaK Din Merican and California-based Dr. M Bakri Musa have to say about this. I feel when it comes to Mahathir, both these critics of the Badawi Government have a blind spot.”
I echo Anon’s Q in Hi-desibels so that Bakri would still buy Desi grapefruit when I visit with a HelLo- and Behold, and we can continue our banter in Bazk Malay!:) I know Din will still belanja Nasi Kari Ikan Kepala Tenggeri or Kepala Ikan Yu!:)

PS: I will engage you (Anon) Amore if you ID yopurself, preferably with A* link to your webpage if you are a fellow Blogger?


Thread2:

Salute2 to hoRst @www.xpyred.textfiend.net in his post I'm reprising in full:

« disengagement and the batu talam boycott are bloggers partisan mouthpieces?! »

pm badawi says bloggers spread lies I can’t help but feel that the whole national media is being geared toward a full scale war on prevailing opinion. The latest salvo comes from this Sunday’s edition of the New Straits Times with a supposedly exclusive interview with PM Badawi. When the NST says “exclusive interview”, they make it sound like they stumbled upon PM Badawi during the WEF summit and dragooned him into speaking with them, don’t you think. Quite like happenstance. I looked through the write up in the online version of the interview, and saw a picture showing Hishammudin Aun with other NST stalwarts. Wait a second, isn’t En Hishammudin one of the plaintiffs in a suit against Jeff Ooi and Rocky? So what is he and his fellow NST top brass doing when they ask questions like this: Q: But do you think the criticism against you has gone overboard? If previously there were people who disagreed with certain matters the leaders did, the government did, today there seems to be more integrated efforts from a particular group to discredit you. This is most evident in cyberspace. Why is this happening? A: Seems that these people are captivated by these tools, the SMS, electronic media. They feel they are free, they cannot be disturbed and they can say whatever they wish to say. They do it (post comments) anonymously. This sort of freedom had made them resort to such action (of spreading lies and making unfounded allegations). Even bloggers or those who maintain websites use this opportunity to create stories. Lies after lies are being told. To them, everything is not right, everything is not good. If I allow myself to be distracted by all this, I will not be able to do any work. That is what they want, that I not focus on my work. My focus now is to ensure the 9MP is successful and I am confident that the nation is on the right track and is moving forward. The economy is expected to grow. I feel more energised to fulfil Malaysians’ ambitions. I don’t know. Fighting his case in the media via PM Badawi? I’m not sure. I’m sure its purely speculative at this juncture, and Hishammudin certainly didn’t say those things above. It’s just funny that’s all. I mean, what does it mean when the Editor-in-Chief allows comments from the PM which discuss, if tangentially, “lies” spread by bloggers in general (and the defendants in particular)? Maybe nothing at all. In any case, I wonder if bloggers do report lies. See, the way I see it, bloggers comment on news articles in the mainstream media. They then speculate but don’t assert. Sure, bloggers ask rhetorical questions like: “Is the government paranoid?” or “Is PM Badaw failing the people?” Parties are free to puncture holes in bloated speculations with truth, of course. But truth is a valuable resource in Malaysia… especially when everything from arrangements with toll concessionaires and water deals are shrouded with blanket imprimaturs from a Cabinet which classifies these issues “official secrets”. I’m not saying the government or its representatives tells lies. I’m saying that some people might interpret classifying everything as “secret” as avoiding the responsibility to tell the truth - they don’t need to lie, if they’re so inclined, you see? Talking about secrets, why are arrangements with toll concessionaires secret? How do details of such arrangements constitute, if revealed, a threat to national security? I’m not saying that “secret” details are potentially damaging to people in the government, of course - I’m just saying that obscurity leads to speculation and speculation cannot be controlled. The very fact that speculation cannot be controlled should, logically, influence a non-tyrannical, democratic and just government to champion transparency. Especially where it concerns money leaking out of the collective wallets of the rakyat. As I was saying, truth is a valuable resource, but hard to find in Malaysia. There are white lies, grey lies, multi-coloured lies, etc., but no stark truth. Maybe PM Badawi should do the following: De-classify documents pertaining to toll arrangements, etc. Allow public discussion, not merely in the official media, of matters arising from details of such agreements. Reveal details of the 880 projects completed under the 9MP, including allowing the independent audit of the RM 35 billion spent. In the meantime, I’ll not be holding my breath for any of the above to happen.No Tags

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LazyDesi's comment (C&P2):

# ylchong wrote: xpyre minus d d: Hope you indulge me lots today as I just traversed from http://www.bakrimusa.com/ and I added my 3sen worth’s to an ANON commenter’s two main points: Holding ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad accountable for 22 years reign during which he destroyed, disembowelled all the four Estates — Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and Media/Press. I comented birefly on the infant Fifth Estate involving Bloggers. The “more relevant” point was Anon’s challenge to Bakri and a regular Guest Writer Din Merican for their “sycophantic” support for Dr Mahathir in their writes, which I too echoed and called on the two to reply/rebut. Similarly this point of “Sycophancy” in news treatment by the MSM, esp UMNO-controlled The New Straits Times, and several of the former GEICs and senior Editors from NSTP have taken to Blogging (one is now involved in one of the two defamation suits). The test again I would ask of these ex-NSTP-turned-Bollgers is: Are they not equally, if not more, guilty of propagating the news in their MSM heydays just akin to present “being geared toward a full scale war on prevailing opinion”.I have voiced my opinions strongly in Bakri’s blog, so I won’t bore repeatiung similar views on your current “mainstream” media review ~~ Times remain almost the same, it’s chganging of the casts…. PS: APologise for slight Digression/aggresion, my bad habit even as a Guest! To show Repentance, I would like to render assitance to help thee in starting an Onion…I do the peeling, OK!:)January 30th, 2007, at 1:47 pm #

Thread3:

Salute3 to the hoRst @jelas.info who wrote, only initial paras reproduced here:

Mahathir’s War Tribunal - Research on Participants Reveals Complete Lack of CredibilityPublished by nathaniel tan February 1st, 2007 in International, Judiciary and TELITI. 6 Comments

"Tun Dr. Mahathir wants to set up a war crimes tribunal? This looks like some of the least credible collection of “judges” ever.
Justice cannot come from the unjust, and TDM - the man who singlehandedly destroyed Malaysia’s judiciary - cannot possibly be expected to place justice above personal politics.
If Saddam was tried in a kangaroo court whose outcome was always known, do we think that George Bush and Tony Blair stand any chance of being found innocent (a fundamental aspect of true justice) by this so called Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission? Don’t make me laugh..."

LazyDesi's comment C&P3:

Feb 1st, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Nat, borrowing thy words: EVERYTHING IN THIS LIFE ON the good earth is “… about credibility, objectivity, and a true sense of justice; without which we are left with a situation in which the unjust attempt desperately to outkangaroo one another while the truth rots alone in some sad corner…”
“If you really want people like George Bush or Tony Blair to go down in history as war criminals, get some people with cleaner slates to do the judging. Don’t get the guy who manufactuared finding Anwar Ibrahim guilty of sodomy to lead the way.”
I have said it many times at other forums — the ex-PM who destroyed or disembowelled all the Four EStates of NegaraKu, what locus standi does he and his cahoots stand on to preach Peace, Justice and Transparency?I say Amen: God save us from more of these self-serving souls.

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DESIDERATA: Somehow in blogosphere many writers forget the past and its lessons. Maybe as a journalist by training, I fall back too much into the past to put into perspective the present happenings and those reporting on the current goings-on. I see patterns of old guard/prder versus the new guard/order defining the divides, and I also make my stand after considering the past and present with a view to improving things for a better future NegaraKu.
Sadly, I detect much displays of sycophancy, and more subtly, the protection and perpetuation of "old interests" -- but who is Desi to judge?
I note the goings-on and try to alert my ESteemedReaders to see beyond the surface. Yes, there is much more than meets the eye, I have intimated to readers like allofhelen.blogspot.com who reluctantly stepped into Desi's cyber home at the beginning, but like curiosity cat not from Catsville, has come back for aMore, and I thank her for staying the course to see theorugh the mists and maze and haze. Hopefully to find some starlinght in the darkness of the Malaysian night. If now, blame this knight for not riding in with a shining armour on a white horse with a laser beam-light, will try harder, my promise with not a Brownie's honour. Scout, be it boy or girl, never mind as Desi preaches promoting a Malaysain society transcending Colour, Race and Creed, regardless of gender and age.