_______________CatchUP1:____________________
Keep at date with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's generous offer to make conversations with Malaysians at large next Wednesday. From a Blogger-mate The Voice's email invite, leading to Raja Petra Kamaruddin's detailed programme, hear here:
05/08: Meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Category:
General Posted by: Raja Petra
Malaysia Today
The Jawatankuasa Ad-Hoc Warga Prihatin Malaysia (PRIMA) will be organising a meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at 10.00am on Wednesday, 15 August 2007. (More on PRIMA) The meeting will be held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya. (More on the Perdana Leadership Foundation).
According to Dato’ Kamal Amir Kamal Hijaz, Tun Dr Mahathir is expected to address the assembly. It is not known what message Tun Dr Mahathir will be delivering but it would most probably touch on the issue of the alternative media, the right to freedom of expression, and the responsibility of bloggers. This would be most opportune within the backdrop of the current controversy which the foreign media equates as a ‘war’ between Umno and the blogging community.
Members of the mainstream media, alternative media, writers, journalists and those from the blogging community who would like to attend can contact Dharmala NS (muluk47@gmail.com or gurl_wawa@yahoo.com) or Dato Kamal (012-3975055, greatest_dad56@yahoo.com or greatestdad56est@gmail.com). As the auditorium has limited space it shall have to be on a first-come-first-serve basis.
PS: The Voice in recent sms-es to Desi reminds:
R1:
"My fellow m'sian, lets pray it is 4 a better m'sia. itsnot abt my umno, yr pkr, dap orwhatever. its not abt malay, chinese, etc but
d country."
Desi's response: I endorse fully thy sentiments, brudder.
R2:
When Des shares he's mostly a Socilist by inclination, but does indulge in Kapitalist pursuits esp o'er the wickedns ~~ The Voice confides:
"I was once almost one too. Ever heard this joke ... If u r not a socialist below 40, u hv no heart. If u r stil one after 40, u hv no head ...No offence intended, for you are all heart."
Desi's confess: Just for the lust four words, I could have 'Embraced' The Voice if only I was sure "it" was fe-minine. For now, I jest Engage:)
______________________ CatchUP2_________________________
My esteemd discourse partner and mGf emailed Desi recently to keep patient Malaysian up-to-speed ~~
din merican
Press statement/ Letter to the Editor (theSun)
by Lim Teck Ghee and Din Merican
Establish a National Economic Consultative Council
to Meet Internal and External Challenges
UMNO Vice President Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin was
recently reported to have said that non-Bumiputra
leaders in Barisan Nasional have the responsibility
to make their respective communities understand the
spirit of the NEP (NST 15 July 07). He would have
demonstrated greater statesmanship had he also
stressed that it is equally incumbent upon UMNO
leaders to explain to their party supporters that a
spirit of equal accommodation by the Malay community
taking into account the concerns of other
communities including that of non-Malay Bumiputra
is equally necessary.
These concerns are especially pertinent in areas
where the Malays are well established or enjoy
dominance -- such as in the universities, the public
sector and GLCs -- and wherever NEP targets have
been accomplished or exceeded. Tolerance,
understanding, goodwill and the spirit of give and
take by all communities is needed if the country is
to prosper and meet the challenges of globalization.
A spirit of willing sacrifice and mutual
accommodation is possible if all stakeholders are
fully aware of what the NEP has achieved; what its
shortfalls are; who have benefited and who have been
left behind; what programs have worked and which
have failed; and where inefficiencies, leakages and
wastage have taken place.
An open, rigorous and transparent stocktaking of
NEP policies with regard to poverty alleviation,
restructuring of public and private sectors,
corporate equity ownership, government procurement,
education, urban development, and other contested
sectors can provide the starting point for building
a new national solidarity and consensus. At the same
time, only a new road map based on more equitable,
enlightened and inclusive principles can bring out
the best amongst all communities.
Only a new socio-economic order based on national
unity, equity, justice and growth one in which
Malay and non-Malay marginalized and vulnerable are
provided equitable assistance combined with a system
of meritocracy that rewards the best, irrespective
of race - can guarantee the future for our country.
In 1990, when the NEP was coming to an end, our
country faced a similar crossroads such as we are
facing now. At that time, the Government established
a National Economic Consultative Council (NECC) to
provide the country with a post-1990 vision and road
map. Incidentally, the final drafting committee for
the NDP was headed by Dato Seri Abdullah bin Haji
Ahmad Badawi, our present Prime Minister, in his
capacity as the head of the UMNO delegation in the
Council.
A similar consultative council is urgently needed
now to iron out differences that have arisen among
all stakeholders, including those in the Barisan
Nasional, over the necessity of continuation of NEP
policies and the new road map that is necessary to
meet the many external and internal challenges.
A new NECC under an eminent, independent and
non-politically aligned chair-person is the right
forum where the many complex issues of poverty and
wealth distribution, ethnic and other disparities
and imbalances, and other sensitive issues can be
analyzed and dissected with candor by the best minds
of the country to benefit all Malaysians.
We owe it especially to our young generation to
prevent the further hijacking and looting of public
resources, and other abuses, that have blighted past
NEP policies. We owe it to them to build an enduring
society based on principles of equity, fairness and
justice applicable and acceptable to all Malaysians.
Kuala Lumpur, July 16, 2007
____________________ CatchUP3___________________
And finally from din merican's cohort-Blogger @bakrimusa.com, -- prominent
Malaysian surgeon and prolific thinker resident in
California, USA but every byte a Malaysian:) ~~
"Anwar Ibrahim’s Media Statement Re: Raja Petra
Re: Police Action on Raja Petra
25 July 2007
"I condemn the intimidation by the government and police towards Malaysia-Today’s Webmaster, Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
The action against Raja Petra began as a police report and followed by speeches criticizing bloggers by a few UMNO leaders including Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak. This is the latest intimidation on webmasters and bloggers following the arrest of my secretary Nathaniel Tan recently.
I demand the police to use their time to investigate the numerous allegations of corruption involving government leaders published by Malaysia-Today and to fight the rising rate of crime that is plaguing the country. Various reports have been made on present and former government leaders that have not been followed up, yet a report against a webmaster is immediately investigated by the police.
Malaysians need open-minded and forward-thinking leaders, not those still trapped by an outdated political culture and unable to grasp the technological realities of today. At a time when UMNO leaders are demanding bloggers to be responsible for their writing, I urge the UMNO leaders and police not to forget their responsibilities towards the Malaysian rakyat.
Anwar Ibrahim"
MBM’s comments: I could not add to or agree more than what had been so clearly expressed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The summoning of Raja Petra to the police station was uncalled for. The police should have instead questioned this double Muhammad on the serious allegations made by Raja Petra. Surely the police do not have to be told to do their job, or are they like the rest of the civil service, menuggu perentah (awaiting orders)?
If this double Muhammad has any sense of integrity, he should have sued Raja Petra if those allegations are untrue.
M. Bakri Musa
DESI: Note that the highlights (in BOLD, thus) are made by Desi to stress the important issues under consideration. Many politicians like to pick on peripheral matters to divert the Rakyat's attention from the key problems facing NegaraKu. We need thiking Malaysians to help fellow Malaysians to focus on the important national issues as we march towards 2020 in a highly globalised, and technologically speaking, fast-changing environment. The only two constants in Life as oft said are Death and Change. Yes, dear fellow Malaysians, IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE!
6 comments:
We can have many of dialogues, but if Malaysia can't fix the cultural problem, nothing will change till the kingdom come.
- The keris incidents show UMNO just ditch the whole good Malay culture
- The MCA running dogs silent over the Islamic state show that they have nothing to do with Chinese culture of dissidents and naturalism
- Those "leaking" speech show the family and school of the MP lack of cultural teaching.
- The police pointing finger show that they are NOT raise in a cultures that uphold professionalism.
- etc
It seems Malaysia and many Islamic nation undergo the same China cultural revolution in the 60's. Except we just doing it in a slower pace.
Talk of economy,justice will NOT save us if we can't take action and instill the good value of democracy, human rights,etc in everyday life : culture.
I think the conversation with TM is just another wasting time episode.
Don't mind me here... I'm just a specatator. *reading moot_t's comment*
moo_t n sisdar Helen peeping in/popping oouch:)
Thou art in moot_ty mood, mGf of much Chinoserie cultural bent! Sis Helen and Desi are aweways learning from thy cultural standfpoints, but in the spirit of Voltaire, I beg to disagree on thy last/lustry point, can or knotwithstanding: "I think the conversation with TM is just another wasting time episode."
"Time wasting" it's not Cos be it small or BIG, individual efforts when banded together for a common, esp noble, objective will first create ripples, then waves, finally a tsunami, the last of the lusty and kind kind:):):)
Now, let's have some tehtarik; helen, where's dat pastRIES?:( You mean you sent it by S-V bullockkart? I said DHL...!
Desi, I hope this finds you fully recuperated. My last posting called for a change in climate, from the climate of discontent!
The powers do take notice of what we say but not willing to admit their inadequacies, they distract the public with police-state antics.They hope to cow us but did not realise that they picked the wrong victims. For change to happen, we have to be steadfast and walk our talk. For the meeker amongst us, if they do not want change they should step aside for those of us working towards change. Even if one does not want to change, at least step aside and dont obstruct. Go to People's Parliament for updates on 25Aug. do.Take care brother.
brudder zorro:
Right there withthee ~~ "For change to happen, we have to be steadfast and walk our talk."
This applies equally to politicians, writHers, bloggers too. I hope we can convince sdr moo -t there is HOPE yet if we band together with a Vision that goes beyond Self and narrow partisan interests, putting NegaraKu as First and Foremost.
PS to ER: remember to surf to People's Pariament for Aug 25 do.
Ahhhh .. still owe you RM15 to deposit in yr public bank account. Otherwise wud have gone for sex op to get desi to embrace me.
Lets just engage at personal level. At partisan level, to far apart ideology. Not to mention still struggling with reading of your poetry, Mr Poet man.
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