Please spread the words/Tolong sebarkan maklumat ini
Manusia tertua di dunia adalah Edna
Parker yang dilahirkan pada 20 April
1893. Hanya berusia 115 tahun.
Itu sahaja? Tidak.
Sekarang apa kata tuan-tuan pula yang
semak ic-ic di bawah. Untuk
rekod. Kesemua
ic di bawah adalah dimiliki oleh
mereka-mereka yang lebih tua daripada
Edna Parker. Mereka masih hidup dan
mereka inshaAllah akan keluar
menunaikan
tanggungjawab menentukan masa depan
negara pada 8 Mac ini.
http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftar.asp
801018775059
800311086231
811028045577
830416610017
841207065917
851222740019
850513106435
851117106729
850802106378
850916086838
860320145365
861101105077
860208145701
860320145357
861217145011
860126145839
871205740015
870914105781
870418105790
871016146308
881231100432
881103750027
880505066047
880906087033
881030136332
891102740096
891129740088
890520610089
890112146416
890920076065
890403615016
910609755079
920622710069
920612740045
Edna Parker-Manusia Tertua di
Dunia. Malangnya ada sekurang-kurangnya
37 orang di Malaysia yang lebih tua
daripadanya dan masih hidup.
Tuan-tuan,
Ini baru 37 nama yang sempat di
kesan.Bagaimana pula dengan nama yang
tidak dapat dikesan?Bagaimana pula
dengan pendedahan Blog Cakap Tak Serupa
Bikin berkenaan kewujudan pengundi
berulang?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
ELECTION WATCH (12): PKR's fuel promise is Achievable!
Provided the Rakyat wake up from their half-dreamy state to realise all along the Barisan Nasional has been keeping you "in the dark" regarding Petronas' "real revenues" and its secretive spendings, and give the Alternative front a chance to give the Peole what rightfully is their right to ENJOY -- the riches in the form of natural Resources that Petronas represents -- the nation's PETROLEUM.
The BN has poured scorn over PKR's "Fuel promise" -- that is, the Opposition party pledges that even as world oil prices go up, it will deliver on its promise that the prices in general, n NegaraKu, and prices at the pump in particular, especially where it hurts the consumers the most, will go down.
Desi has averred several times at this Blog the BN has been "telling lies"about the Petronas story. The BN leaders say it can't reduce fuel (pump) prices because the subsidies keep going up. But my assertion that as world oil prices keep rising, from USD50-60 per barrel, to USD90-100 per barrel in recent years, PETRONAS -- and thus Malaysia -- IS A NETT BENEFICIARY FROM THE NEW SITUATION. This is due to the fact that our country's petroleum is of a higher grade -- they call it "sweets" not for nothing! Malaysia's oil exports command higher -- add on a premium , YES! -- prices. Meanwhile it imports cheaper-priced crudes at a lower price for domestic consumption after doing its own refining.
THE REAL STORY WHY MALAYSIA CAN'T/WON'T LOWER OIL PRICES FOR ITS CITIZENS IS THIS:
There is growing and extreme wastages and seepages in Government spending -- recall Perwaja Steel's RM10billion losses, (ERIC CHIA WAS MADE A 'FALL' GUY, but that's another tall story!) and the freshly-minted RM4.6billion Port Klang Free Zone bailout! -- and of course, the XXLARGE BIG C:orruption. Yes, mGf DIN MERICAN has told Desi that Government's wastages, seepages and "daylight robbery by UMNOputra Oligarchs of BOG ticket "Special Projects" budgets -- UP TO 50 PERCENT!
Come back for more as Desi goes up north on business to cope with INFLATION. And it's another myth the BN LEADERS LIKE PM-cum-FINANCE MINSITER and HIS DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER HAVE BEEN SPINNING THAT IT'S AT A LOW OF ABOUT 2.5 PER CENT ONLY!
Meanwhile, go read NST, page 11, (I C&P its online version, OK!) news report headlined:
PKR woos
voters with
fuel promise
PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has unveiled a five-point manifesto that promises, among others, lower petrol prices.
The manifesto, with the tagline A New Dawn for Malaysia, also carries the party's pledge to:
- Make Malaysia a truly constitutional state for all, guaranteeing basic human rights, rule of law and an independent judiciary.
- Create a vibrant economy for all, eliminating discriminatory policies, corruption and wastage.
- Make the streets and neighbourhoods of Malaysia safer for all, through creating a professional and neutral police force.
- Make Malaysia more affordable for all, by lowering petrol prices, ensuring tolls and tariffs will never be raised unreasonably and by other policies.
- Increase the standard of Malaysian education for all, including higher salaries for educators.
PKR also promised to implement a minimum wage of RM1,500 in the manifesto launched by its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. The party also plans to do away with the New Economic Policy.
Meanwhile in Ipoh, Pas and PKR have come up with a combined manifesto along the lines of a welfare state to woo voters.
Bearing the logo of both parties, the manifesto offers voters a two-pronged agenda of an "efficient, friendly and trustworthy administration that gives priority to public welfare".
MEANw'ile2, and I acknowledge I'm "borrowing" the Post, hope the Owner gifts Desi permit to C&P and I'll return compliments some Puerh tea, OK? - Desi on the run
Go read bongkersz.com and watch Video if still accessible
"Mahathir Mengaku Anwar Ibrahim Dizalimi & Tidak Bersalah
February 27th, 2008 | by bongkersz | | Posted in » Anwar, Boleh-ism, Bolehland, MISC, Mahathir, News, Politics
This is something you MUST watch.
1999 - Mahathir Bohong, 2004 - Pak Lah Bohong, 2008 - Khairy Bohong 2013 - ______ ??
A longer version (18 minutes) you can watch it here. (Please.. please watch it and listen carefully to what Tun Dr. Mahathir has said.) So, Anwar was victimised and he was not guilty. Tun Dr. Mahathir admitted it himself. It is obvious now, he wants you to deny BN a 2/3 majority this upcoming election
Updated 2.33am :
I decided to put up the longer version here for all to watch. Cheers! (deleted the video, because it no longer available)
Updated 2.45am :
Huh!! The complete video no longer to be found on google video! WTF??
Updated 2.50am :
I get another video, under different name
The BN has poured scorn over PKR's "Fuel promise" -- that is, the Opposition party pledges that even as world oil prices go up, it will deliver on its promise that the prices in general, n NegaraKu, and prices at the pump in particular, especially where it hurts the consumers the most, will go down.
Desi has averred several times at this Blog the BN has been "telling lies"about the Petronas story. The BN leaders say it can't reduce fuel (pump) prices because the subsidies keep going up. But my assertion that as world oil prices keep rising, from USD50-60 per barrel, to USD90-100 per barrel in recent years, PETRONAS -- and thus Malaysia -- IS A NETT BENEFICIARY FROM THE NEW SITUATION. This is due to the fact that our country's petroleum is of a higher grade -- they call it "sweets" not for nothing! Malaysia's oil exports command higher -- add on a premium , YES! -- prices. Meanwhile it imports cheaper-priced crudes at a lower price for domestic consumption after doing its own refining.
THE REAL STORY WHY MALAYSIA CAN'T/WON'T LOWER OIL PRICES FOR ITS CITIZENS IS THIS:
There is growing and extreme wastages and seepages in Government spending -- recall Perwaja Steel's RM10billion losses, (ERIC CHIA WAS MADE A 'FALL' GUY, but that's another tall story!) and the freshly-minted RM4.6billion Port Klang Free Zone bailout! -- and of course, the XXLARGE BIG C:orruption. Yes, mGf DIN MERICAN has told Desi that Government's wastages, seepages and "daylight robbery by UMNOputra Oligarchs of BOG ticket "Special Projects" budgets -- UP TO 50 PERCENT!
Come back for more as Desi goes up north on business to cope with INFLATION. And it's another myth the BN LEADERS LIKE PM-cum-FINANCE MINSITER and HIS DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER HAVE BEEN SPINNING THAT IT'S AT A LOW OF ABOUT 2.5 PER CENT ONLY!
Meanwhile, go read NST, page 11, (I C&P its online version, OK!) news report headlined:
PKR woos
voters with
fuel promise
PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has unveiled a five-point manifesto that promises, among others, lower petrol prices.
The manifesto, with the tagline A New Dawn for Malaysia, also carries the party's pledge to:
- Make Malaysia a truly constitutional state for all, guaranteeing basic human rights, rule of law and an independent judiciary.
- Create a vibrant economy for all, eliminating discriminatory policies, corruption and wastage.
- Make the streets and neighbourhoods of Malaysia safer for all, through creating a professional and neutral police force.
- Make Malaysia more affordable for all, by lowering petrol prices, ensuring tolls and tariffs will never be raised unreasonably and by other policies.
- Increase the standard of Malaysian education for all, including higher salaries for educators.
PKR also promised to implement a minimum wage of RM1,500 in the manifesto launched by its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. The party also plans to do away with the New Economic Policy.
Meanwhile in Ipoh, Pas and PKR have come up with a combined manifesto along the lines of a welfare state to woo voters.
Bearing the logo of both parties, the manifesto offers voters a two-pronged agenda of an "efficient, friendly and trustworthy administration that gives priority to public welfare".
MEANw'ile2, and I acknowledge I'm "borrowing" the Post, hope the Owner gifts Desi permit to C&P and I'll return compliments some Puerh tea, OK? - Desi on the run
Go read bongkersz.com and watch Video if still accessible
"Mahathir Mengaku Anwar Ibrahim Dizalimi & Tidak Bersalah
February 27th, 2008 | by bongkersz | | Posted in » Anwar, Boleh-ism, Bolehland, MISC, Mahathir, News, Politics
This is something you MUST watch.
1999 - Mahathir Bohong, 2004 - Pak Lah Bohong, 2008 - Khairy Bohong 2013 - ______ ??
A longer version (18 minutes) you can watch it here. (Please.. please watch it and listen carefully to what Tun Dr. Mahathir has said.) So, Anwar was victimised and he was not guilty. Tun Dr. Mahathir admitted it himself. It is obvious now, he wants you to deny BN a 2/3 majority this upcoming election
Updated 2.33am :
I decided to put up the longer version here for all to watch. Cheers! (deleted the video, because it no longer available)
Updated 2.45am :
Huh!! The complete video no longer to be found on google video! WTF??
Updated 2.50am :
I get another video, under different name
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
ELECTION WATCH (11): Of Princes and Scoundrels, Of Gems and Coals
Desiderata would like to rate some of the candidates and hopefully, provide a guide to my EsteemedReaders as to Who they should opt for if they hail from their Constituencies. If anything, I am sharing my knowledge gained as a Journalist for 25 years, and some three years as a Blogger (the new media!:) specialising in the categoriy mGf Dr Say Yee How now resident in the US by still as loud as before when he dwelt near Buckingham Palace -- hear his desibelles at howsy.blogspot.com.
Of Princes and Scoundrels is not for Desi to classify, but I'd try to show the signages to the Gems and Coals. At the fundamental level, they come from the same element named CARBON. But the end result of a long journey of nurture and transformation -- reformasi? -- has yielded sparkling carbons such as diamonds and emeralds, to be highly prized, contrasted with the coke and charcoal, to be burnt and nt mcuh treasured except as a source of energy to protect us from wintry cold.
Here's the list of DYNASTIES in the making for starters:
As I stated before, in principle,I am not against members of the same family contesting if they have individually proven themselves in public service and had not relied on their parents/siblings/FIL's apron strings to be nominated. A common trait I have obsrved is that Asian political families think they are anointed by the Great One Above to inherit the birthright to high political office. Equally common from Ruling parties and Opposition front.
But becoming a billionaire at 27 years, and claiming "I've worked very hard for it for two years", then disappeared when the Stock Market crashed in 1997/98 and the banks did not chase after the blardy fellow for hundreds of millions because of Daddy? YOU blardy Joe and Jane public owes any bank just RM100,000 for a House mortgage,or even RM10,000 for a Car loan, and defaulting on three payments, YOU GET A LAWYER'S LETTER OF DEMAND. While the billionaire-on-paper and near-bankrupt goes away for a holiday in Australia. If by now you don't know of whom I write, here's a HINT:
"Eat, Drink and Be Merry!" is his clarion call.
Cull from the following news report -- second time reproduced:
From The Star, online edition, I extract:
Friday February 22, 2008
Election 2008 sees many following in the political footsteps of their parents
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are set to see quite a number of children or family members either taking over from their parents or campaigning alongside them in the general election.
In some cases, the children will contest in their father's seat while some others will take on other constituencies.
Among the notable ones who will be making their debut are Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Datuk Ling Hee Leong, Chua Tee Yong, Lim Si Pin, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Mukhriz Mahathir, Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Zakaria Md Deros' daughter-in-law Roselinda Abdul Jamil.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
(Desi: Is this a local series inspired by US-made TV soap operas
ensuring RICHES FOR 'ALL IN THE FAMILIES'?)
Chua Tee Yong (Johor - Labis)
Father: Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek
Lim Si Pin (FT - Batu)
Father: Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik
Roselinda Abdul Jamil (Klang - Port Klang)
Father-in-law: Selangor exco Datuk Zakaria Md Deros
Nurul Izzah Anwar (FT)*
Mother: PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Perak - Gopeng)
Father: Former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik
Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman (Sarawak - Kota Samarahan)
Father: Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud
Lim Guan Eng (Penang - Bagan)
Father: Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang
Guan Eng's wife Betty Chew is incumbent Kota Laksamana assemblyman
Gobind Singh Deo (Johor)*
Father: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Kedah - Jerlun)
Father: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Dr Asraf Wajdi Dusuki (Kelantan - Tumpat)
Father: Former Tumpat MP Datuk Dusuki Ahmad
Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi (Perak - Tualang Sekah)
Father: Perak executive councillor Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan
Datuk Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin (Perak - Kg Gajah)
Mother-in-law: Umno Pasir Salak Wanita chief Datuk Ainon Khariyah Mohd Abas
Datuk Zein Isma Ismail (Selangor - Kota Damansara)
Uncle: Selangor executive councillor Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan
DESI: Yes, from the second largest component within BN, MCA (always kowtowing to BIG brother, UMNO) coemth a next potential Billionaire second time around, a decade after the first round. He has a chemistry with that SIL -- both are Deputy Head of their respective Youth movements.
SPECIAL APPEAL BY DESI TO VOTERS OF GOPENG:
Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Perak - Gopeng),
REJECT HIM ...
... Unless you're still in love with the rides his Father gave thee.
I can't cure your Masochism. So Physician, Heal these charges of yours who aspire to become Instant Millionaires.
Amore ratings to come from the news report list:)
Miss Patience is also Ms Virtuous.
:
:
:
Does Roselinda Abdul Jamil (Klang - Port Klang) ring a belle?
She is UMNO's flagbearer holding a torch to her greAt Father-in-Law (outlaw?) who broke municipal laws baltantly but yet no action was taken against for the illegal construction of his famous/infamous "small house" costing RM7-10million. If you have to ask Desi who he's, please getta hell outa hear! Have you been living on planet Mars for the past four years?
If you are such an Ignoramus, then Desi has failed himself in Civil Society promotion for three years. My appeal to you is that Please Move Out of Where You Are Residing Now to PORT KLANG.
Then sign up as an UMNO member, squat on State land, apply for the land title with an ENDORSEMENT BY wan Zakaria Mad Deros. Now you remember eh?
Well, if Klangites Vote for Roselinda Abdul Jamil, then I say Goode for You -- how more masochistic can Satay-gobbling Klangites get?
YOU FINALLY arsed FOR ALL THE SHIT and SHITTY SAs YOU GET, and DESERVE TOO!
Sweet FIL's gal Roselinda Abdul Jamil will proudly continue her Father-in-law's legacy -- reinforce with impunity and immunity blatant breaches of the Law, and getting away Scot-free with a mere tap on the wrist. OOch! puteri (umno-no) lilin skin she has.
MEANw'ile,
And now from olde records being rewound of bollywood and ... troupes who should have ended the singing long, long ago:(
S Samy Vellu, MIC president, fighting in Sungai Siput -- last infamous quotable quote:
"I will leave if the people do not want me anymore.
This wil be my last term."
Words to this effect, I remember reading, will take a breather to track down the original,Okay!:)
Of Princes and Scoundrels is not for Desi to classify, but I'd try to show the signages to the Gems and Coals. At the fundamental level, they come from the same element named CARBON. But the end result of a long journey of nurture and transformation -- reformasi? -- has yielded sparkling carbons such as diamonds and emeralds, to be highly prized, contrasted with the coke and charcoal, to be burnt and nt mcuh treasured except as a source of energy to protect us from wintry cold.
Here's the list of DYNASTIES in the making for starters:
As I stated before, in principle,I am not against members of the same family contesting if they have individually proven themselves in public service and had not relied on their parents/siblings/FIL's apron strings to be nominated. A common trait I have obsrved is that Asian political families think they are anointed by the Great One Above to inherit the birthright to high political office. Equally common from Ruling parties and Opposition front.
But becoming a billionaire at 27 years, and claiming "I've worked very hard for it for two years", then disappeared when the Stock Market crashed in 1997/98 and the banks did not chase after the blardy fellow for hundreds of millions because of Daddy? YOU blardy Joe and Jane public owes any bank just RM100,000 for a House mortgage,or even RM10,000 for a Car loan, and defaulting on three payments, YOU GET A LAWYER'S LETTER OF DEMAND. While the billionaire-on-paper and near-bankrupt goes away for a holiday in Australia. If by now you don't know of whom I write, here's a HINT:
"Eat, Drink and Be Merry!" is his clarion call.
Cull from the following news report -- second time reproduced:
From The Star, online edition, I extract:
Friday February 22, 2008
Election 2008 sees many following in the political footsteps of their parents
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are set to see quite a number of children or family members either taking over from their parents or campaigning alongside them in the general election.
In some cases, the children will contest in their father's seat while some others will take on other constituencies.
Among the notable ones who will be making their debut are Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Datuk Ling Hee Leong, Chua Tee Yong, Lim Si Pin, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Mukhriz Mahathir, Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Zakaria Md Deros' daughter-in-law Roselinda Abdul Jamil.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
(Desi: Is this a local series inspired by US-made TV soap operas
ensuring RICHES FOR 'ALL IN THE FAMILIES'?)
Chua Tee Yong (Johor - Labis)
Father: Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek
Lim Si Pin (FT - Batu)
Father: Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik
Roselinda Abdul Jamil (Klang - Port Klang)
Father-in-law: Selangor exco Datuk Zakaria Md Deros
Nurul Izzah Anwar (FT)*
Mother: PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Perak - Gopeng)
Father: Former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik
Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman (Sarawak - Kota Samarahan)
Father: Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud
Lim Guan Eng (Penang - Bagan)
Father: Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang
Guan Eng's wife Betty Chew is incumbent Kota Laksamana assemblyman
Gobind Singh Deo (Johor)*
Father: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Kedah - Jerlun)
Father: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Dr Asraf Wajdi Dusuki (Kelantan - Tumpat)
Father: Former Tumpat MP Datuk Dusuki Ahmad
Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi (Perak - Tualang Sekah)
Father: Perak executive councillor Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan
Datuk Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin (Perak - Kg Gajah)
Mother-in-law: Umno Pasir Salak Wanita chief Datuk Ainon Khariyah Mohd Abas
Datuk Zein Isma Ismail (Selangor - Kota Damansara)
Uncle: Selangor executive councillor Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan
DESI: Yes, from the second largest component within BN, MCA (always kowtowing to BIG brother, UMNO) coemth a next potential Billionaire second time around, a decade after the first round. He has a chemistry with that SIL -- both are Deputy Head of their respective Youth movements.
SPECIAL APPEAL BY DESI TO VOTERS OF GOPENG:
Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Perak - Gopeng),
REJECT HIM ...
... Unless you're still in love with the rides his Father gave thee.
I can't cure your Masochism. So Physician, Heal these charges of yours who aspire to become Instant Millionaires.
Amore ratings to come from the news report list:)
Miss Patience is also Ms Virtuous.
:
:
:
Does Roselinda Abdul Jamil (Klang - Port Klang) ring a belle?
She is UMNO's flagbearer holding a torch to her greAt Father-in-Law (outlaw?) who broke municipal laws baltantly but yet no action was taken against for the illegal construction of his famous/infamous "small house" costing RM7-10million. If you have to ask Desi who he's, please getta hell outa hear! Have you been living on planet Mars for the past four years?
If you are such an Ignoramus, then Desi has failed himself in Civil Society promotion for three years. My appeal to you is that Please Move Out of Where You Are Residing Now to PORT KLANG.
Then sign up as an UMNO member, squat on State land, apply for the land title with an ENDORSEMENT BY wan Zakaria Mad Deros. Now you remember eh?
Well, if Klangites Vote for Roselinda Abdul Jamil, then I say Goode for You -- how more masochistic can Satay-gobbling Klangites get?
YOU FINALLY arsed FOR ALL THE SHIT and SHITTY SAs YOU GET, and DESERVE TOO!
Sweet FIL's gal Roselinda Abdul Jamil will proudly continue her Father-in-law's legacy -- reinforce with impunity and immunity blatant breaches of the Law, and getting away Scot-free with a mere tap on the wrist. OOch! puteri (umno-no) lilin skin she has.
MEANw'ile,
And now from olde records being rewound of bollywood and ... troupes who should have ended the singing long, long ago:(
S Samy Vellu, MIC president, fighting in Sungai Siput -- last infamous quotable quote:
"I will leave if the people do not want me anymore.
This wil be my last term."
Words to this effect, I remember reading, will take a breather to track down the original,Okay!:)
Monday, February 25, 2008
ELECTION WATCH (10): A CONCERNED PARENT writes...
Since I started Blogging three years ago, I am glad to report I have befriended Malaysians first via cyerspace, then mutually we took the trouble to meet up in person. Among the mGf (myGOoDfriends) is Sdr SH TAN based in the Pearl of the Orient, who sent me this happening report which carries an important message to ALL MALAYSIANS! Later, I will also post something from SH Tan's daughter based in New Zealand or Ozland,SABRINA,a recent minted Dentist who studied under a FAma scholarship (that is, from FAther and MaMA!:)
From the senior Tan first!:
Below is an interesting response from KL based lawyer, SP Lim in his blog.
http://titthoughts.blogspot.com/
It is an undeniable fact that BN will win this election and form the next Govt. By choosing not to vote, we are denying the Opposition their much needed votes to deny the BN a 2/3 majority. Every single vote for the Opposition counts.
regards
sh tan
===========================================================
3. To vote or not to vote
I came across an opinion in one blog, where the blogger thinks that by casting our vote, we are not only casting our vote for our candidate but also a vote of confidence for the electoral process. So why vote, if you think the electoral process is tainted? So he is still considering whether to vote or not. In addition he is not sure whether the opposition parties would be much more honest when they come to power.
This was my response to him
Your reasoning is pretty similar to that of the Election Commission Chairman's. He told the Opposition parties that if they are unhappy about the electoral process, they can boycott the election.
I think we have not reached the stage where the election process is completely rigged but it will if we do not turn out to cast our votes.
If you have no confidence about the electoral process, the thing to do is to support civil society groups like Bersih and call for electoral reforms. It is not by not casting your vote. No one will know what you think by not turning out to vote. No one will hear your voice.
There are also many like you who are thinking of not voting because they have no confidence in the Opposition parties either. The reality of Malaysian politics is if you do not vote for the Opposition, you are indirectly voting for the BN. If the Opposition are not going to be honest when they are in power, we can vote them out. That's the essence of democracy. The people decides and the elected government is merely a steward of the people. The people have the right to boot them out if they turn out to be a bad steward.
****************** VOTE4CHANGE! ***********************
Second Important Message via a News Report on the International Front!
First Australia, now Pakistan, then Malaysia??
Believe in change. Have faith. Don't reinvent, renew.
===================================================================
Pakistan opposition heads toward victory
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's opposition dealt a crushing blow to allies of President Pervez Musharraf in parliamentary elections, threatening the rule of America's close ally in the war on terror, according to unofficial results cited by a private TV network Tuesday.
The party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was in the lead in Monday's parliamentary vote, with ex-premier Nawaz Sharif — who was toppled in Musharraf's 1999 coup and has emerged as his fiercest critic — running a close second.
The private Geo TV network said the two parties had so far won 139 seats, more than half of the 272-seat National Assembly.
The pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q party was trailing a distant third with 33 seats. A ream of party stalwarts and former Cabinet ministers lost in their constituencies.
"All the King's men, gone!" proclaimed a banner headline in the Daily Times. "Heavyweights knocked out," read Dawn newspaper.
Final results were not expected before Tuesday evening, but the outcome appeared to be a stinging public verdict on Musharraf, whose popularity plummeted following decisions late last year to impose emergency rule, purge the judiciary, jail political opponents and curtail press freedoms.
With the support of smaller groups and independent candidates, the opposition could gain a two-thirds majority in parliament needed to impeach the president, who also angered many Pakistanis by allying the country with Washington to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The PML-Q said it accepted the results, but party president Pervaiz Elahi stopped short of conceding defeat before the returns were more complete.
"We happily accept the verdict of the people," Elahi, the outgoing chief minister of Punjab province, told Geo TV on Tuesday.
"If our opponents had faced the same situation at a time when 60 per cent of the results are still to come, they might have started talking about rigging, and we are not doing it ... We have been sitting on opposition benches in the past, and we can do it now as well."
He said the PML-Q had elected Musharraf for five years. "We respect him, and we are still with him," he said.
Sharif has been outspoken in demanding that Musharraf be removed and that Supreme Court justices whom the president sacked late last year be returned to their posts.
The spokesman for Sharif's party, Saqiq ul-Farooq told reporters Tuesday that Musharraf "should go." But he added that if the restored justices validate Musharraf's October election to a new term, the opposition would accept the decision.
"We want to put Pakistan back on the track of democracy, constitution and rule of law, and the restoration of sacked judges is must to achieve this goal," he said.
Although fear and apathy kept millions of voters at home Monday, the elections for national and provincial assemblies were a major step toward democracy in Pakistan, which has been under military for the past eight years under Musharraf and for over half of its 60-year history.
A win by the opposition is likely to restore the public's faith in the political process and quell fears that the results would be rigged in favor of the pro-Musharraf forces.
Islamic militant violence scarred the campaign, most notably Bhutto's Dec. 27 assassination, but Monday's balloting was spared such an attack. The government, however, confirmed 24 election-related deaths in clashes between political parties.
About 18 hours after vote-counting began, Geo TV said unofficial tallies from 229 of the 268 National Assembly seats being contested showed Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party with 33.1 percent and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party with 27.5 percent. The pro-Musharraf PML-Q was third with 14.4 percent.
Contests in four assembly seats have been delayed for various reasons, including the death of candidates during the campaign.
The Election Commission had results for 124 seats, with Sharif's party holding 30 percent, Bhutto's party holding 26.6 percent and the PML-Q with 12.1 percent.
Several close political allies of Musharraf were election casualties. The chairman of the ruling party, the foreign minister and railways minister were among those who lost seats in Punjab, the most populous province and a key electoral battleground.
Musharraf, who was not on the ballot, has said a strong, democratically elected government is needed to fight a rise in Islamic militancy, and the retired army general pledged Monday to work with the new government regardless of which party wins.
"I will give them full cooperation as president, whatever is my role," he said.
Religious parties also fared badly, and were set to lose their control of the North West Frontier Province gained in the last parliamentary elections in 2002 when they benefited from Pakistani anger over the U.S.-led invasion to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The U.S. government, Musharraf's strongest international backer, was anxious for a credible election to shore up democratic forces at a time of mounting concern over political unrest in this nuclear-armed nation and a growing al-Qaida and Taliban presence in the northwest.
"Every single vote must be counted fairly, and the numbers must be transmitted so decisions can be made," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat who was one of several American lawmakers monitoring the election.
Lee said that an "effective government for the people of Pakistan" was America's "great concern."
Despite the stakes, it appeared most of the country's 81 million voters stayed home — either out of fear of extremist attacks or lack of enthusiasm for the candidates, many of whom waged lackluster campaigns.
Sarwar Bari of the nonprofit Free and Fair Elections Network said reports from his group's 20,000 election observers indicated voter turnout was about 35 percent. That would be the same as in the 1997 election — the lowest in Pakistan's history.
Bhutto's party had hoped to ride a public wave of sympathy after the former prime minister was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack but it appeared Sharif's tougher line against Musharraf also struck a chord with voters.
Bhutto had negotiated with Musharraf before she returned from exile in October, and her widowed husband Asif Ali Zardari, who now leads her Pakistan Peoples Party, has left open the possibility of working with the president.
___
Associated Press writers Stephen Graham in Lahore, Zarar Khan in Nawab Shah and Robin McDowell, Sadaqat Jan and Munir Ahmad in Islamabad contributed to this report.
From the senior Tan first!:
Below is an interesting response from KL based lawyer, SP Lim in his blog.
http://titthoughts.blogspot.com/
It is an undeniable fact that BN will win this election and form the next Govt. By choosing not to vote, we are denying the Opposition their much needed votes to deny the BN a 2/3 majority. Every single vote for the Opposition counts.
regards
sh tan
===========================================================
3. To vote or not to vote
I came across an opinion in one blog, where the blogger thinks that by casting our vote, we are not only casting our vote for our candidate but also a vote of confidence for the electoral process. So why vote, if you think the electoral process is tainted? So he is still considering whether to vote or not. In addition he is not sure whether the opposition parties would be much more honest when they come to power.
This was my response to him
Your reasoning is pretty similar to that of the Election Commission Chairman's. He told the Opposition parties that if they are unhappy about the electoral process, they can boycott the election.
I think we have not reached the stage where the election process is completely rigged but it will if we do not turn out to cast our votes.
If you have no confidence about the electoral process, the thing to do is to support civil society groups like Bersih and call for electoral reforms. It is not by not casting your vote. No one will know what you think by not turning out to vote. No one will hear your voice.
There are also many like you who are thinking of not voting because they have no confidence in the Opposition parties either. The reality of Malaysian politics is if you do not vote for the Opposition, you are indirectly voting for the BN. If the Opposition are not going to be honest when they are in power, we can vote them out. That's the essence of democracy. The people decides and the elected government is merely a steward of the people. The people have the right to boot them out if they turn out to be a bad steward.
****************** VOTE4CHANGE! ***********************
Second Important Message via a News Report on the International Front!
First Australia, now Pakistan, then Malaysia??
Believe in change. Have faith. Don't reinvent, renew.
===================================================================
Pakistan opposition heads toward victory
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's opposition dealt a crushing blow to allies of President Pervez Musharraf in parliamentary elections, threatening the rule of America's close ally in the war on terror, according to unofficial results cited by a private TV network Tuesday.
The party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was in the lead in Monday's parliamentary vote, with ex-premier Nawaz Sharif — who was toppled in Musharraf's 1999 coup and has emerged as his fiercest critic — running a close second.
The private Geo TV network said the two parties had so far won 139 seats, more than half of the 272-seat National Assembly.
The pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q party was trailing a distant third with 33 seats. A ream of party stalwarts and former Cabinet ministers lost in their constituencies.
"All the King's men, gone!" proclaimed a banner headline in the Daily Times. "Heavyweights knocked out," read Dawn newspaper.
Final results were not expected before Tuesday evening, but the outcome appeared to be a stinging public verdict on Musharraf, whose popularity plummeted following decisions late last year to impose emergency rule, purge the judiciary, jail political opponents and curtail press freedoms.
With the support of smaller groups and independent candidates, the opposition could gain a two-thirds majority in parliament needed to impeach the president, who also angered many Pakistanis by allying the country with Washington to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The PML-Q said it accepted the results, but party president Pervaiz Elahi stopped short of conceding defeat before the returns were more complete.
"We happily accept the verdict of the people," Elahi, the outgoing chief minister of Punjab province, told Geo TV on Tuesday.
"If our opponents had faced the same situation at a time when 60 per cent of the results are still to come, they might have started talking about rigging, and we are not doing it ... We have been sitting on opposition benches in the past, and we can do it now as well."
He said the PML-Q had elected Musharraf for five years. "We respect him, and we are still with him," he said.
Sharif has been outspoken in demanding that Musharraf be removed and that Supreme Court justices whom the president sacked late last year be returned to their posts.
The spokesman for Sharif's party, Saqiq ul-Farooq told reporters Tuesday that Musharraf "should go." But he added that if the restored justices validate Musharraf's October election to a new term, the opposition would accept the decision.
"We want to put Pakistan back on the track of democracy, constitution and rule of law, and the restoration of sacked judges is must to achieve this goal," he said.
Although fear and apathy kept millions of voters at home Monday, the elections for national and provincial assemblies were a major step toward democracy in Pakistan, which has been under military for the past eight years under Musharraf and for over half of its 60-year history.
A win by the opposition is likely to restore the public's faith in the political process and quell fears that the results would be rigged in favor of the pro-Musharraf forces.
Islamic militant violence scarred the campaign, most notably Bhutto's Dec. 27 assassination, but Monday's balloting was spared such an attack. The government, however, confirmed 24 election-related deaths in clashes between political parties.
About 18 hours after vote-counting began, Geo TV said unofficial tallies from 229 of the 268 National Assembly seats being contested showed Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party with 33.1 percent and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party with 27.5 percent. The pro-Musharraf PML-Q was third with 14.4 percent.
Contests in four assembly seats have been delayed for various reasons, including the death of candidates during the campaign.
The Election Commission had results for 124 seats, with Sharif's party holding 30 percent, Bhutto's party holding 26.6 percent and the PML-Q with 12.1 percent.
Several close political allies of Musharraf were election casualties. The chairman of the ruling party, the foreign minister and railways minister were among those who lost seats in Punjab, the most populous province and a key electoral battleground.
Musharraf, who was not on the ballot, has said a strong, democratically elected government is needed to fight a rise in Islamic militancy, and the retired army general pledged Monday to work with the new government regardless of which party wins.
"I will give them full cooperation as president, whatever is my role," he said.
Religious parties also fared badly, and were set to lose their control of the North West Frontier Province gained in the last parliamentary elections in 2002 when they benefited from Pakistani anger over the U.S.-led invasion to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The U.S. government, Musharraf's strongest international backer, was anxious for a credible election to shore up democratic forces at a time of mounting concern over political unrest in this nuclear-armed nation and a growing al-Qaida and Taliban presence in the northwest.
"Every single vote must be counted fairly, and the numbers must be transmitted so decisions can be made," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat who was one of several American lawmakers monitoring the election.
Lee said that an "effective government for the people of Pakistan" was America's "great concern."
Despite the stakes, it appeared most of the country's 81 million voters stayed home — either out of fear of extremist attacks or lack of enthusiasm for the candidates, many of whom waged lackluster campaigns.
Sarwar Bari of the nonprofit Free and Fair Elections Network said reports from his group's 20,000 election observers indicated voter turnout was about 35 percent. That would be the same as in the 1997 election — the lowest in Pakistan's history.
Bhutto's party had hoped to ride a public wave of sympathy after the former prime minister was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack but it appeared Sharif's tougher line against Musharraf also struck a chord with voters.
Bhutto had negotiated with Musharraf before she returned from exile in October, and her widowed husband Asif Ali Zardari, who now leads her Pakistan Peoples Party, has left open the possibility of working with the president.
___
Associated Press writers Stephen Graham in Lahore, Zarar Khan in Nawab Shah and Robin McDowell, Sadaqat Jan and Munir Ahmad in Islamabad contributed to this report.
ELECTION WATCH (9): MSM Is Doing Damned Good Hatchet Job for BN
May Their Good Intention Lead Down That Path -- to HELL:(
YL has noted some worrying signs, and when I read this piece, which was independently written by fellow PKR comrade, and a published Scribe I respect from several years back (and it was my privilege to have met him IN PERSON just last year), it confirmed my suspicion and fears.
From KIM QUEK based in Johor Bharu:
MALAYSIAN MEDIA TURNS ELECTION INTO A KILLING FIELD
21.02.2008
Unlike any election in the world, the Malaysian election is not about winning the majority, but about winning or breaking the two third majority.
This is odd, as Malaysia is an apparent democracy whose incumbent government has held on to uninterrupted powers for half a century – with two third majority no less – despite its record of being thoroughly corrupted. Other similarly corrupted and similarly aged regimes – like those in Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Mexico etc – have already crumbled under the weight of liberalizing democracy, but the corrupted Malaysian regime have withstood it all. How is it done?
In this respect, it is noteworthy that the Malaysian Government’s only claim to democracy is that it holds regular elections. It does not claim, nor is it true that its laws and institutions are democratic.
But is Malaysia ’s election democratic? Emphatically not! In fact, Malaysia is well known for its unleveled electoral playing field. Its election commission is notoriously biased in favour of the incumbent, indulging in unabashed gerrymandering, frauds in electoral rolls and oblivion to rampant breaches of election rules and ethics by the ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional (BN).
With election to be held only two weeks from now (on Mar 8), leaders of BN have already been playing Santa Clauses, profusely handing out goodies left and right. These are no ordinary Christmas gifts, however, but public funds that run into millions targeted at specific groups of the electorate to curry favour with them.
Damnable as these practices are, perhaps the blow that really knocks the opposition out is the ruthless manipulation of the media to mass-brainwash the electorate. The entire Malaysian press and all TV and radio channels are doing the biddings of BN through ownership control or legislative coercion. These media which usually polishes BN’s image through exaggeration and distortion, are turned into full-blown propaganda machines that virtually turns the electoral arena into a killing field.
While the press has launched an intensive campaign to glorify BN and denigrate or black out the opposition, local TV and radio - which churn out endless pro-BN news, commentaries and songs - are out of bounds to the opposition. The latter’s only means of reaching the masses are the Internet, ceramah (political talks) and party newsprints, which are prohibited from circulating to the public or published more than twice a month. Since Malaysia’s Internet broadband penetration is no more than ten percents of the population, there is no way the opposition can effectively carry their messages across to the population or counter BN’s offensive within the ridiculously short campaign period of thirteen days. The contest is therefore akin to a debate, umpired by a biased judge, in a hall of ten thousand audience where one contestant is given a microphone while the other is not. It is also akin to a feud where one combatant is armed, the other is not given any weapon to hit back.
PKR BLACKED OUT
It is significant to note that while the entire opposition is badly treated by the press in general, there is a vast difference in the treatment meted out to two opposition parties – the multi-racial People’s Justice Party (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is Chinese-based though having a multi-racial platform. This disparity in treatment is particularly conspicuous in the Chinese press, where DAP has been given considerable publicity (though still very small compared to those given to BN), while PKR has been virtually shut out.
Political analysts have attributed this to a shrewd strategy adopted by BN, for it is a political reality that out of the three main opposition parties of DAP, PKR and the Islamic party PAS, only PKR has the potential to replace BN, which is a coalition of 14 racial parties dominated completely by the Malay party UMNO. Neither DAP nor PAS could threaten the political hegemony of UMNO, for DAP has no significant Malay support while PAS has no significant non-Muslim (mainly non-Malays) support. In contrast, PKR is now supported by all the three main races of Malays, Chinese and Indians, and led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose distinguished leadership has been acclaimed at home and abroad.
It is not difficulty to see that PKR’s multi-racial platform of clean and enlightened governance, led by an outstanding leader and backed by the masses of all races, is the anti-dote to the present racist, corrupted and feudal regime. Given due democratic space, PKR will surely lead the opposition to defeat the incumbent power in due course to turn a new leaf for the country.
But right at this moment, PKR’s fate is precariously hanged on the publicity it can get from the Chinese press, without which PKR may not fully capitalize on the strong swing of Chinese votes against BN that is currently taking place now. And without this Chinese support, the risk of widespread electoral disappointment cannot be discounted, considering the fact that UMNO seems to be still riding on considerable popular Malay support procured through massive showering of pecuniary benefits and long term media indoctrination.
The politics of PKR offer the only hope of Malaysia breaking free from the grip of racism and feudalism perpetrated by UMNO, the perpetuation of which will doom Malaysia to a failed state in due course in this age of globalization. Hence, should PKR be politically eclipsed in the coming election, Malaysia may not get another chance for its salvation from the evil rule of UMNO for the foreseeable future. It now rests on the conscience of the Chinese press to play a constructive role that would keep the flame of hope alive to avert eventual catastrophe for this country (the Malay and English press have long been given up to play any constructive role for this purpose).
The coming election may also be a day of destiny for all stake-holders in the country – ruling parties, opposition parties, Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races – when they are given the challenge to gaze through the haze of propaganda and look beyond the immediate material inducement to discern what is good for the long term well-being of the country.
Kim Quek
DESIDERATA: I am now searching for another article in the NST which I find evidence to support Sdr Kim Quek's assertion taht the MSM are indeed undermining PKR as the BN perceive this Opposition party led by de facto chief Sdr ANWAR IBRAHIM as the chief nemesis to its iron-grip in the 14-member coalition that is dominated by UMNO. And Anwar as a former UMNO deputy President and as an experienced DPM-cum-Finance Minister poses the sole Opposition chief who can lead an alternative front to replace BN in forming the next Government.
"V"OTE4CHANGE!
"V"OTE PKR!
"V"4Victory of the Rakyat!
YL has noted some worrying signs, and when I read this piece, which was independently written by fellow PKR comrade, and a published Scribe I respect from several years back (and it was my privilege to have met him IN PERSON just last year), it confirmed my suspicion and fears.
From KIM QUEK based in Johor Bharu:
MALAYSIAN MEDIA TURNS ELECTION INTO A KILLING FIELD
21.02.2008
Unlike any election in the world, the Malaysian election is not about winning the majority, but about winning or breaking the two third majority.
This is odd, as Malaysia is an apparent democracy whose incumbent government has held on to uninterrupted powers for half a century – with two third majority no less – despite its record of being thoroughly corrupted. Other similarly corrupted and similarly aged regimes – like those in Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Mexico etc – have already crumbled under the weight of liberalizing democracy, but the corrupted Malaysian regime have withstood it all. How is it done?
In this respect, it is noteworthy that the Malaysian Government’s only claim to democracy is that it holds regular elections. It does not claim, nor is it true that its laws and institutions are democratic.
But is Malaysia ’s election democratic? Emphatically not! In fact, Malaysia is well known for its unleveled electoral playing field. Its election commission is notoriously biased in favour of the incumbent, indulging in unabashed gerrymandering, frauds in electoral rolls and oblivion to rampant breaches of election rules and ethics by the ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional (BN).
With election to be held only two weeks from now (on Mar 8), leaders of BN have already been playing Santa Clauses, profusely handing out goodies left and right. These are no ordinary Christmas gifts, however, but public funds that run into millions targeted at specific groups of the electorate to curry favour with them.
Damnable as these practices are, perhaps the blow that really knocks the opposition out is the ruthless manipulation of the media to mass-brainwash the electorate. The entire Malaysian press and all TV and radio channels are doing the biddings of BN through ownership control or legislative coercion. These media which usually polishes BN’s image through exaggeration and distortion, are turned into full-blown propaganda machines that virtually turns the electoral arena into a killing field.
While the press has launched an intensive campaign to glorify BN and denigrate or black out the opposition, local TV and radio - which churn out endless pro-BN news, commentaries and songs - are out of bounds to the opposition. The latter’s only means of reaching the masses are the Internet, ceramah (political talks) and party newsprints, which are prohibited from circulating to the public or published more than twice a month. Since Malaysia’s Internet broadband penetration is no more than ten percents of the population, there is no way the opposition can effectively carry their messages across to the population or counter BN’s offensive within the ridiculously short campaign period of thirteen days. The contest is therefore akin to a debate, umpired by a biased judge, in a hall of ten thousand audience where one contestant is given a microphone while the other is not. It is also akin to a feud where one combatant is armed, the other is not given any weapon to hit back.
PKR BLACKED OUT
It is significant to note that while the entire opposition is badly treated by the press in general, there is a vast difference in the treatment meted out to two opposition parties – the multi-racial People’s Justice Party (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is Chinese-based though having a multi-racial platform. This disparity in treatment is particularly conspicuous in the Chinese press, where DAP has been given considerable publicity (though still very small compared to those given to BN), while PKR has been virtually shut out.
Political analysts have attributed this to a shrewd strategy adopted by BN, for it is a political reality that out of the three main opposition parties of DAP, PKR and the Islamic party PAS, only PKR has the potential to replace BN, which is a coalition of 14 racial parties dominated completely by the Malay party UMNO. Neither DAP nor PAS could threaten the political hegemony of UMNO, for DAP has no significant Malay support while PAS has no significant non-Muslim (mainly non-Malays) support. In contrast, PKR is now supported by all the three main races of Malays, Chinese and Indians, and led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose distinguished leadership has been acclaimed at home and abroad.
It is not difficulty to see that PKR’s multi-racial platform of clean and enlightened governance, led by an outstanding leader and backed by the masses of all races, is the anti-dote to the present racist, corrupted and feudal regime. Given due democratic space, PKR will surely lead the opposition to defeat the incumbent power in due course to turn a new leaf for the country.
But right at this moment, PKR’s fate is precariously hanged on the publicity it can get from the Chinese press, without which PKR may not fully capitalize on the strong swing of Chinese votes against BN that is currently taking place now. And without this Chinese support, the risk of widespread electoral disappointment cannot be discounted, considering the fact that UMNO seems to be still riding on considerable popular Malay support procured through massive showering of pecuniary benefits and long term media indoctrination.
The politics of PKR offer the only hope of Malaysia breaking free from the grip of racism and feudalism perpetrated by UMNO, the perpetuation of which will doom Malaysia to a failed state in due course in this age of globalization. Hence, should PKR be politically eclipsed in the coming election, Malaysia may not get another chance for its salvation from the evil rule of UMNO for the foreseeable future. It now rests on the conscience of the Chinese press to play a constructive role that would keep the flame of hope alive to avert eventual catastrophe for this country (the Malay and English press have long been given up to play any constructive role for this purpose).
The coming election may also be a day of destiny for all stake-holders in the country – ruling parties, opposition parties, Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races – when they are given the challenge to gaze through the haze of propaganda and look beyond the immediate material inducement to discern what is good for the long term well-being of the country.
Kim Quek
DESIDERATA: I am now searching for another article in the NST which I find evidence to support Sdr Kim Quek's assertion taht the MSM are indeed undermining PKR as the BN perceive this Opposition party led by de facto chief Sdr ANWAR IBRAHIM as the chief nemesis to its iron-grip in the 14-member coalition that is dominated by UMNO. And Anwar as a former UMNO deputy President and as an experienced DPM-cum-Finance Minister poses the sole Opposition chief who can lead an alternative front to replace BN in forming the next Government.
"V"OTE4CHANGE!
"V"OTE PKR!
"V"4Victory of the Rakyat!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
CHINESE WEBPAGE: Also Aid To Improve thy Chinoserie Lingo-lah!
周日青普洱茶收藏：
堡蘭茶
六堡茶
下關普洱茶
2005年下關南昭
2006年蒼洱沱茶
勐海普洱茶
一位自從两年前成為普洱茶收藏家的馬來西亞退休高級警官─周日清，樂意與大家分享他的健康嗜好和生活方式上的個人經驗：品嚐普洱茶，以及不斷地向品茶鑒賞家求教。
就是這股動力驅使周收購了他深信具有藍籌股潛質的普洱茶。
自至今日，周收藏了數量不少的2005年下關南紹普洱茶為他主要的投資，以及一些來自勐海和下關茶工廠的得獎普洱茶。
"在雲南有不少的普洱茶茶工廠，但是勐海茶工廠和下關茶工廠就好比汽車中的嬌楚級─馬賽地和寶馬。"
目前是一位業餘保安顧問的周確信普洱茶的投資可在二、三年內取得比在財務機構定期儲蓄3.5至4.0巴仙高數倍的收益。
喝茶，加上健康的飲食習慣使周及他的家人享受悠然的生活環境；而過著半退休生活方式的周日青伉儷讓周全力投入其普洱茶研究和收藏興趣。周透露，普洱茶為他帶來第一個的好處即是讓他及他的太太從此告別折腾他們多年的背痛。
普洱茶的投資潛能
周說:
"我收購了為數不少的2005年南昭普洱茶作為投資。
馬來西亞的天氣（氣溫和潮濕）非常適合普洱茶的陳化製程。專家認為馬來西亞一年的陳化程度相當與來源地中國三年的陳化程度。
我所收藏的普洱茶目前已成長至一定的陳化程度，它所沖泡的茶色淺褐，其口感已無涩味，並有絲絲茶香。沖泡至第八壺時，其茶味帶甜。
我自認並非品茶專家。但根據一些對茶較有經驗的朋友說我所收藏的普洱茶的風味正朝向優質普洱茶的方向陳化。
我十分慶幸我收藏有如此高品質的普洱茶品茗，並且作為我的投資機器。"
周提醒，普洱茶的譍品在市場上汎濫。故此，在購買普洱茶時得多加留意。
普洱茶有如紅酒，越老越有價。一塊「紅印」茶餅可值馬幣5萬零吉（相對於美金1萬5千元）。
Since Desi started Blogging about three years ago (Yes, cometh Ides of March 2008, My Blue Haven is celebrating its Third birddae:), I have won several assignments arising from Blog writing which is deemed as Bonus; the latest ongoing is borne out by mGf resident at SL investing lots in Puerh tea AND in YL Chong's health. No-lah, I did not serve at the Health Ministry, that portfolio is jinxed and the occupant of that throne is easily sent off into Hell. As they say, "The Path to Hell Is Paved With Many Good Intentions." How the quote is relevant here, I can't tell, it's for Thee, myGOoDfriend, especially a potential nu'e wan Sdr AllenC, to figure out. Yes, it's 30-24-30 -- used to be the fashion/flavour of the year, beeshape and Puerh tea!:):)
I once wondered Why the Young&Articulates (Y&A) sometimes called each other "Banana", until Ignoramus Desi ignocently dareth to aRse wan. His/Her reply: Aiyah,it refers to a Chinaman/moi-lah, speaking only English, NOT a word of Mandarin.
Mandarin or Potonghua is the official Chinese medium promoted by Mainland China as a unifying one to transcend all those mystifying dialects like Kantonis, Hokkien,TeoChew and Yes, Hakka, said to "Hak Sie Yan"! -- which to Desi's limited Khek, which is another term, translates aSs :'flighten people to dead.'
So that explains Banana -- Yellow on the Outside, White on the Inside.
Got the insight now? OK, serve Desi a discus of Puerh tea!:)
So to make mGf with the slightest whiff of Chinoseerie blood in them,YL today is promoting a BILINGUAL post hear! SO THAT YOU ARE YELLOW ON THE OUTSIDE, A SLIGHT TINGE ON THE INSIDE AND WITH TIME, BLOOMING INTO FULL-BLOODED BERSIH COLOUR!
Choo's Collections of Pu-Erh Tea:
Nan Zhao - Wit' the most potential tea cake for value appreciation in the 21st century!
TEA COLLECTOR for two years, a senior Malaysian ex-police officer Choo Nyet Ching
周日青, would like to share his experiences in this new passion -- tasting new Pu-erh teas available in the market, and learning from the tea connoisseurs who preceded him in this healthy hobby and lifestyle. Of course, it is only logical extension that such a passionate pastime propelled Choo to start buying stocks of those teas he believes are of premium or blue chip grades. To date, Choo has a large collection of 2005 Xianguan Nan Zhao, primarily as a form of investment and several award-winning brands from the leading tea factories of Menghai and Xiaguan.
“There are many factories making a wide range of Pu-erhs in Yunnan but the Menghai and Xiaguan are what one would term the Mercedes and BMW as in automobiles as comparison,” he said with a smile as we sipped Pu-erh 7532 one fine afternoon after a lunch at his country home in Kuala Lumpur.
Though a late bloomer in appreciating Chinese teas, especially of the renowned kind, Choo, now a freelance security consultant, assured his guests that for those with some savings, Pu-erh is an investment that yields many times in return in just 2 or 3 years compared with returns on fixed deposits in the financial institutions which average 3.5 to 4.0 percent per annum.
Consuming tea in association with a healthy food diet ensures his whole family to maximum enjoyment of a soothing environment and for him and his wife, a semi-retired lifestyle that gives him time to research and build on his treasury of tea collections. He said an immediate benefit he could testify was that he and his wife, who suffered different body aches, especially in the back, now could state for the record they don’t get such aches anymore, after drinking vintage Pu-erh tea regularly, but never at night.
Pu-Erh Tea Investment Potential
In Choo's own words:
"I have a large collection of 2005 Nan Zhao as a form of investment.
The climate (temperature & humidity) in Malaysia is very conducive to tea aging. The experts say that one year of tea aging in the Malaysia is equivalent to about 3 years in temperate countries such as China where these teas originate from.
My Nan Zhao Pu-erh tea has now matured to a level where the colour of the infusion from the third round, is light brown and the taste is devoid of that of raw tea and the smoky smell is at a minimum. The flowery fragrance is very distinct.
I am not tea drinking expert but some friends who are more expert than I have told me the taste is excellent approaching that of a good aged tea. From the eight infusion onwards, it tastes sweet.
I am very pleased to have this collection of tea to savour as well as an investment vehicle."
It takes a connoisseur to be able to tell genuine Pu-erh from the fake just like there are fake wines in the market to con the average greenhorn consumer, Choo reminded.
Like French wines, Pu-erh teas become more valuable with passing time, and one piece or cake of the Red Mark Pu-erh can fetch upwards of RM50,000 (USD15,000), and one cake of 400 grammes can be good for about 50 sessions, assuming using 8 gm per session of serving for four persons over about 10 to 12 infusions.
Sunday Gets Sunnier Wit' Miss Po Lan
desiderata.english
Sub-title of Post: Health Is Wealth (2)
Who's Miss Po Lan?
Where does she stay?
Is she beaut? Is she sexy? Is she wit' Desi?
To the third question, it's awe "YES"!
To the second, she is some where in SL:) -- you no w'ear?
Miss Po Lan belongs to Liu Pau:):)
GE2008 CHALLENGIA: IF you can Guess the detailed ANSWER to Q2, email Desi.
REWARD: and one fine day, when I long for Miss Pu-erh, I'll take thee, the first RIGHT ANSWERER, dare! -- To Savour Tuan Choo's PuErhTea!
*********************************************
POH LAN
Liu Pao
TEA COLLECTOR Choo Nyet Chin reports that he's lucky to be able to obtain from another Tea Collector a substantial amount of the Lui Pau (or Luk Poh) of Poh Lan brand, produced in the late 1960s or '70s. As this class of tea is no more in production, Poh Lan is prized as a Vintage tea. Notwithstanding that it is now commanding a high premium market value, it is a collector-item and owners are reluctant to sell their collections.
As background, Choo informed that during the 1940s to the '60s, then Malaya had a thriving mining community, and the miners counted drinking Chinese teas of the Liu Pao variety as an important daily requisite to keep them up to performing the arduous task mining tin. The Liu Pao tea helped to "cool" their bodies often exposed to the pounding tropical sun, causing their bodies in fatigued and dehydrated states.
Generally, the miners took low quality Lui Po teas, but the bosses would savour the Po Lan, acknowledged as the "premium" of the lot. (Yes, a very capitalist and bourgeois trait even in those days)
The "Four-Orchids" Po Lan is now much sought after as the Company that produced it in the late 1960s and '70s is now defunct, and in Choo's proud posession is one whole carton of of this premium Po Lan.
"The Po Lan tea is still contained in the Original carton," Choo said as he proudly displayed the carton as shown in the photograph.
"This Po Lan has got all the goodness of a Vintage tea -- in taste, character and quality," Choo added as he treated us (this writer and photographer) to several infusions of the blue-chip Poh Lan.
Because of Poh Lan's premium grade, it is not surprising that there are lots of counterfeit "Four Orchids Poh Lan".
"I am reluctant to sell my Poh Lan in the retail market. However, I am prepared to share with tea enthusiasts and collectors some samples of my prized collection," Choo said with a smile, as this writer felt a great honour in tasting a rare tea, a vintage experience indeed.
In fact, Mei -- the cameragal who did the pictorials for Choo's Website -- suffered gastric pains for some weeks before, was tempted to savour the Poh Lan the kind host extended. Believe it or not! –- Mei reported to Choo the morning after that her gastric pains which she suffered for three weeks, had disappeared that very same night!
Sub-title of Post: Health Is Wealth (2)
Who's Miss Po Lan?
Where does she stay?
Is she beaut? Is she sexy? Is she wit' Desi?
To the third question, it's awe "YES"!
To the second, she is some where in SL:) -- you no w'ear?
Miss Po Lan belongs to Liu Pau:):)
GE2008 CHALLENGIA: IF you can Guess the detailed ANSWER to Q2, email Desi.
REWARD: and one fine day, when I long for Miss Pu-erh, I'll take thee, the first RIGHT ANSWERER, dare! -- To Savour Tuan Choo's PuErhTea!
*********************************************
POH LAN
Liu Pao
TEA COLLECTOR Choo Nyet Chin reports that he's lucky to be able to obtain from another Tea Collector a substantial amount of the Lui Pau (or Luk Poh) of Poh Lan brand, produced in the late 1960s or '70s. As this class of tea is no more in production, Poh Lan is prized as a Vintage tea. Notwithstanding that it is now commanding a high premium market value, it is a collector-item and owners are reluctant to sell their collections.
As background, Choo informed that during the 1940s to the '60s, then Malaya had a thriving mining community, and the miners counted drinking Chinese teas of the Liu Pao variety as an important daily requisite to keep them up to performing the arduous task mining tin. The Liu Pao tea helped to "cool" their bodies often exposed to the pounding tropical sun, causing their bodies in fatigued and dehydrated states.
Generally, the miners took low quality Lui Po teas, but the bosses would savour the Po Lan, acknowledged as the "premium" of the lot. (Yes, a very capitalist and bourgeois trait even in those days)
The "Four-Orchids" Po Lan is now much sought after as the Company that produced it in the late 1960s and '70s is now defunct, and in Choo's proud posession is one whole carton of of this premium Po Lan.
"The Po Lan tea is still contained in the Original carton," Choo said as he proudly displayed the carton as shown in the photograph.
"This Po Lan has got all the goodness of a Vintage tea -- in taste, character and quality," Choo added as he treated us (this writer and photographer) to several infusions of the blue-chip Poh Lan.
Because of Poh Lan's premium grade, it is not surprising that there are lots of counterfeit "Four Orchids Poh Lan".
"I am reluctant to sell my Poh Lan in the retail market. However, I am prepared to share with tea enthusiasts and collectors some samples of my prized collection," Choo said with a smile, as this writer felt a great honour in tasting a rare tea, a vintage experience indeed.
In fact, Mei -- the cameragal who did the pictorials for Choo's Website -- suffered gastric pains for some weeks before, was tempted to savour the Poh Lan the kind host extended. Believe it or not! –- Mei reported to Choo the morning after that her gastric pains which she suffered for three weeks, had disappeared that very same night!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
ELECTION WATCH (8): Potcurry dan Rojak
Let's enjoy some LIGHT-hearted moments even though Desi taketh General Elections seriously most times.
To put my EsteamedReaders in a good mood so you cuntinue reading my "long" pieces (to partially live up to my nama-lah!), hear's some joke a reader emailed me. If thou be the "originalor", please email me but don't send me a lawyer's ladder citing *
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have
you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity."
"Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Yang
Berhormat
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules," says St. Peter.
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of
a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front
of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run
to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they
had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly
game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the most
expensive food there is.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good
time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that
before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it' s time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the Yang Berhormat joining a group of contented
souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have
a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose
your eternity."
The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think Ai
yam better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to
hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting
it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the Yang Berhormat. "Yesterday I was here
and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar,
drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election...... Today you voted."
TO BE cuntINude, so comebackKID, for aMore!...:(
******************************************
Curry2:
From the NST, Feb 23, 2008:
Election 2008: Day of shocking announcements
KUALA LUMPUR: It was an eventful day yesterday, two days before nomination, with some shocking announcements made on changes and about-turns.
The DAP's Fong Po Kuan again starred in the day's many dramatic events when she emerged from hiding to declare she would be contesting the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat after all.
She had just six days ago at an emotional press conference said she would not be defending the seat, citing internal politicking. She had also said she would not reconsider the decision.
It was also a day when several notable names were confirmed as making their electoral debut.
Among them were Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, who was named as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat in Penang, and deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaludin, who is contesting the federal seat of Rembau in his home state of Negri Sembilan.
Another was Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was fielded by the party for the Lembah Pantai seat in the Federal Territory against incumbent Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Others include Loh Mui Fah and his son Gwo Burne, who were star witnesses in the recently concluded V.K. Lingam video clip inquiry. They will vie for parliamentary seats in the Klang Valley either for the DAP or PKR.
There was no let-up in last-minute lobbying and the possibility of last-minute changes being made to candidate lists.
But the certainty was that Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim would contest in the general election and he said he would continue as menteri besar if he wins, ending days of speculation.
Elsewhere, Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe will now contest in the Grik parliamentary seat instead of Lenggong as announced earlier. This is a direct swap with Umno's Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who will now contest Lenggong, traditionally an Umno seat.
It will be Round Two for PKR's Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Datuk Pirdaus Ismail of Umno in the fight for Permatang Pauh. Four years ago, Wan Azizah won by a slim 590 majority after several recounts.
PKR, which is reported to be facing a shortage of suitable candidates, is fielding lawyer Wee Choo Keong, secretary-general of the Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP), in the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat. Wee was formerly in the DAP.
****************************************************
Rojak3:
This is a Joke recycled from centuries ago -- Yes, even ancient Greece encountered the cancerous disease of Korupsi. They called it the EPIC PLAY by Desiderata-Erotica.
How da Emperors and Lackeys Enjoy Food and de Women W'ile The Commoners Are Fed to The Lions!
Pak Pandai invented a nude machine to test the degree of Corruption, and he unveiled it before the EC and his coterie of Yes-men and Yahlah admirers. The atmosphere had a Pesta spirit, and Elvis Presley's "Devil in Disguise" was gyrating in the air, and Desiderata-Erotica was aroused.
All the Government component political parties sent their Chiefs to be guinea pigs/rats.
MICsy Cheap1 was the first one to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to the ankle level. Ah, the level of corruption was just beginning,
said inventor Pak Pandai, the party MICsy was marked KorupC1.
Gerakanakan Cheap2 was the second to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to the knee level. Ah, Ah, the level of corruption is getting worse, said inventor Pak Pandai, and Gerakankan was marked KorupC2.
MCAah Cheap3 was the third to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to the chest level. Ah, Ah, Ah, the level of corruption is now serious, said inventor Pak Pandai, and MCAah now marked Korupc3.
Then UMNO-no Cheap4 was the fourth to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to slightly below-the-ANKLE level. Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah,
the inventor shook his head, said -- "I wonder...". He walked nearer the Test Pool
to peer at Cheap4 standing in the middle f the Test Pool. And the crowd too followed,
peeking, peeping and staring and "Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah!" went up resoundingly all round the Pool!
Then there was a ripple and some tiny bubbles rose to the water surface. A little boy near the Poolside exclaimed: "Ah Ha! I can see the guy standing on top of another man!"
Then Pak Pandai saw it -- The UMNO-no Cheap4 was seen to be standing on the shoulders of his Treasurer-cum-Finance Minister.
A concerted shout then rose up to the sky. Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah!...
That's how the Mark KorupC4 can be super "Mr Clean" if you Close One Eye, do you see?
Elvis then went onto sing the nude Anthem of NegaraKukuciao:
Long Live Rip van Wrinkled!
***************************************************
C(urry)4:
To be cuntInude...
C4 (a):
This is recycled, 2nd or 3rd dime OR 4th TIME!
*************** A long tail re-wound in Desi's style ***************
The PM on a leisurely day walked into his deputy's office at Puterijaya. He spied the DPM smiling to himself as he sat in his executive chair just one inch lower than His of course.
"Hey, why are you laffing to thyself," the chief a li'l into Shakespeare (like Desi-lah!) asked.
"Oh, chief. This office giveth me lots of perks," DPM replied,matching the Bard's (not de bastard's, OK!) lingo, "I have all the reason to guffle, don't? I -- I have had such fun thinking of all the gals I screwed in this vely office!"
A week later, on Amore lesiurely day just a weak before Parliament was to be dissolved, the DPM paid a return visit to his Boss' office, and the CEO was standing before the map of NegaraKuKu, the famous or notorious smirk about his 'hole(D)face.
"Chief, what's the BIG smile on thy hole(Y: this is silent off course!:) face?"
"Ah, my second matey. I never fail to laugh to meself how these buggers keep re-electing my gomen. I think of all the fun-D ... (now pointing at the Map) I have been having awe these years f**king up this 'hole cuntry:)", the PM laughed wit' His trademark(C) smirk. ~~ Desi
Disclaimer: This is fictional narration. Any resemblance to anybody, dead or alive, is just the reader's imagination, not Desi's nation. -- Drinks on thee for my wagging Rat's tail?:)
C4 (b):
I am sure all my EsteamedReaders by now would have in thy mind a more (s)explosive kind of C4,don't YOU? Or your memory is so short and I have to remind YOU?
Okay, hear's something from our King Of Bloggers, dear RPK:
Sorry folks, I could not track down the Ori at malaysia-today.net, but an ER sent me via Email. Since Desi is in a rush to keep Sundae date for CON BF, here's the Email version and I hope it's as genuine as korupC4:
By Little Bird
Kawan-kawan, there was much drama at the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder
trial (yesterday). Someone is trying to do a number on someone. There are no angels involved. Only devils.
For a minute the case was adjourned and the
courtroom almost cleared.
The newspapers were not allowed to report on what really went on. Only a
portion of what happened was reported in the press. Here is The Star
version:
Abdul Razak kicks and hits door at murder trial
Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who is being tried for abetting two
policemen
in murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, lost his cool on the 90th
day
on Wednesday. He had a dissatisfied look when his father Datuk Abdullah
Malim Baginda whispered something to him before the hearing began at
about
9.30am. After the proceedings were adjourned for lunch, however, the
48-year-old political analyst, surprised all those present in the High
Court
when he suddenly kicked and banged the door with his hands. He was also
seen
crying before his lawyer Wong Kian Kheong and mother calmed him down.
Before the hearing began at 9:30 am, Razak Baginda's father had
whispered
something to him. This made Razak angry the whole day.
Finally, about three
hours later, Razak Baginda could not stand it any longer and exploded.
What did he say?
Reporter friends who were there said that Razak shouted again and again,
"Matilah kau Pak Lah! Matilah Pak Lah! I am innocent! I am innocent!"
Then he went into a mad rampage and kicked the chairs and doors in the
courtroom.
Even the Judge was shocked and did not know what to do. Both the
defense lawyers and the prosecution team were also all shocked.
The story goes that Razak Baginda's father whispered instructions to
his son to incriminate his former boss Najib Tun Razak. The instruction came
from the Pak Lah camp.
:
:
:
(Desi: Go check this portion out at the host's place...:)
The Sun newspaper carried the story, complete with Razak Baginda's
outburst.
However, the Home Ministry asked The Sun to withdraw their first run
which carried the 'Matilah Kau Pak Lah!' outburst by Razak Baginda. The Sun had to withdraw thousands of copies of their print run early this morning.
Strange things are happening in the country folks. No angels are
involved. Only devils.
Rojak5:
which Desi stole from a sailor-boi @promptus.BC!:(
And the "blanks" in between are pictures you have to picturise, OK!
I'm Knot the Barwoman and thy beck-and-gall!:(:(
A tall story: Jest Wan Wish
A man walks into a pub with an ostrich
and a pussy cat.
He goes up the bar and says: "a cool Budvar for me, Old Speckled Hen for the ostrich, double Catto's whisky, no ice, for the cat."
The unlikely trio find a table, sit down and drink their drinks.
A cool 'Budvar'
Next, it's the ostrich's round.
He walks up to the bar and says: "Old Speckled Hen for me, a cool Budvar for the man, double Catto's whisky, no ice, for the cat."
Then the ostrich takes the drinks back to the table and they drink them.
A double Catto's whisky, no ice
When it comes to the cat's turn to buy a round, he simply tells his pals to "Sod off!"
So the man goes back to the bar and asks for another round of drinks.
Impressed at his generosity, the barman says: "I notice that you and the ostrich have both bought a round but the cat hasn't.
Why do you hang out with him?"
A pint of 'Old Speckled Hen'
The man replies: "I once helped a little old lady to cross the road, and she turned out to be my Fairy Godmother.
She granted me one wish, which landed me with the cat and the ostrich forever."
"What did you wish for?" enquired the barman.
"A long-legged bird with a tight pussy…"
Honi soit qui mal y pense!
Some rojak dan chopsuey bollowed from caffeinbar.com, to turn some Banana into half-yellar wan:)
"
Do you know me?
Badawi visit a mental hospital. He ask a patient whether he knew who is him. The patient shake his head. Badawi shout, “I am Badawi, the ex-ambassador of Peru for Malaysia, now I am the Prime minister of Malaysia. Do you know Mahathir? I am the current Prime Minister and extent my post next term”. The patient smile and answer, “Well, when I came in here, I speak the same thing.”
————————-
巴达维带著副首那吉,秘书，厨师以及厨师的孙子出访归来, 飞机已近吉隆坡,不巧意外发生了。飞行员告知所有的引擎均停止工作,必须紧急跳伞.说完后自己先跳了。
这时候飞机上尚有四把伞.只见那吉取下一把,对 巴达维说到:首相,您的安危关系到中国的未来,请先跳吧。乘巴达维一迟疑,那吉自己先跳了。 巴达维大怒,不想秘书手疾眼快,抢了一把伞也跳了.巴达维 情急之下,二话没说拿了 一把伞也跳了。 厨师长叹一声:孩子啊,爷爷老了,无所谓了,你还年轻,快拿最后一把伞跳吧!孙子道:爷爷,还有两把伞,我们一起跳吧.爷爷苦笑:一共就四把伞, 他们三都跳了,哪还有两把?孙子大叫:巴达维抱著我的多用途书包跳下去了。
————————-
帕瓦罗蒂，马拉多纳，巴达维三人一起过天堂。 天堂守门的圣彼得问道：
“你们能用什么方法证明自己的身份吗？”
帕瓦罗蒂说：“我是帕瓦罗蒂。”说完引吭高歌一曲《我的太阳》。圣彼得拍手说：
“不错，你就是帕瓦罗蒂。”
马拉多纳说：“我是马拉多纳。”说完取出一只足球，用手一指30米外的一扇窗户，飞起一脚，脚起球落，正好从窗口穿出。圣彼得高兴的说道：“不错，你就是马拉多纳。”
轮到巴达维了，巴达维憋了半天，最后还是只好涨红了脸说：“我，我是巴达维，可是，我什么也不会。”天堂守门员想了一想，点点头说：“不错，你就是巴达维。”
————————-
巴达维和那吉一起上中学。
一天，老师说：“明天首相会来参观我们学校，他会提两个问题。第一个问题是，你们忠于谁？”
老师指着坐在第一个位子上的那吉，“你就说，巫统，我们都是喝巫统的奶长大的。”
“第二个问题是，你们反对谁？”老师指着坐在第二个位子上的巴达维，“你就说，李光耀，民主行动党和回教党。”
当天晚上，那吉食物中毒，被送进医院去了。
第二天，首相来参观学校，看第一个坐位空着，就问坐在第二个位子上的巴达维：“同学，你们忠于谁呀？”
巴达维大声地回答：“李光耀，民主行动党和回教党。”
老师慌了，急忙提醒：“国阵，国阵的奶———-”
巴达维说“喝国阵的奶的那个人中毒了，现在还在医院里呢！”
————————-
巴达维到一所精神病院里去视察，他询问一位病人是否认识他是谁？那病人摇摇头。于是，巴达维大声地说：我是巴达维啊，先干了五年的大使，现在又当上了首相，你知道马哈帝尔吗，我是首相巴达维呀！那病人就微微地笑着说：是啊，是啊，我们刚进来时，也这么说！" -- Thanks moo_t, Desi wit' lots of Puerh, dear! 10.42pm, Mondae not so blue:)
Tags: Funs · Jokes
To put my EsteamedReaders in a good mood so you cuntinue reading my "long" pieces (to partially live up to my nama-lah!), hear's some joke a reader emailed me. If thou be the "originalor", please email me but don't send me a lawyer's ladder citing *
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have
you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity."
"Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Yang
Berhormat
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules," says St. Peter.
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of
a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front
of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run
to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they
had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly
game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the most
expensive food there is.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good
time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that
before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it' s time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the Yang Berhormat joining a group of contented
souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have
a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose
your eternity."
The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think Ai
yam better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to
hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting
it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the Yang Berhormat. "Yesterday I was here
and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar,
drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election...... Today you voted."
TO BE cuntINude, so comebackKID, for aMore!...:(
******************************************
Curry2:
From the NST, Feb 23, 2008:
Election 2008: Day of shocking announcements
KUALA LUMPUR: It was an eventful day yesterday, two days before nomination, with some shocking announcements made on changes and about-turns.
The DAP's Fong Po Kuan again starred in the day's many dramatic events when she emerged from hiding to declare she would be contesting the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat after all.
She had just six days ago at an emotional press conference said she would not be defending the seat, citing internal politicking. She had also said she would not reconsider the decision.
It was also a day when several notable names were confirmed as making their electoral debut.
Among them were Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, who was named as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat in Penang, and deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaludin, who is contesting the federal seat of Rembau in his home state of Negri Sembilan.
Another was Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was fielded by the party for the Lembah Pantai seat in the Federal Territory against incumbent Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Others include Loh Mui Fah and his son Gwo Burne, who were star witnesses in the recently concluded V.K. Lingam video clip inquiry. They will vie for parliamentary seats in the Klang Valley either for the DAP or PKR.
There was no let-up in last-minute lobbying and the possibility of last-minute changes being made to candidate lists.
But the certainty was that Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim would contest in the general election and he said he would continue as menteri besar if he wins, ending days of speculation.
Elsewhere, Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe will now contest in the Grik parliamentary seat instead of Lenggong as announced earlier. This is a direct swap with Umno's Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who will now contest Lenggong, traditionally an Umno seat.
It will be Round Two for PKR's Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Datuk Pirdaus Ismail of Umno in the fight for Permatang Pauh. Four years ago, Wan Azizah won by a slim 590 majority after several recounts.
PKR, which is reported to be facing a shortage of suitable candidates, is fielding lawyer Wee Choo Keong, secretary-general of the Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP), in the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat. Wee was formerly in the DAP.
****************************************************
Rojak3:
This is a Joke recycled from centuries ago -- Yes, even ancient Greece encountered the cancerous disease of Korupsi. They called it the EPIC PLAY by Desiderata-Erotica.
How da Emperors and Lackeys Enjoy Food and de Women W'ile The Commoners Are Fed to The Lions!
Pak Pandai invented a nude machine to test the degree of Corruption, and he unveiled it before the EC and his coterie of Yes-men and Yahlah admirers. The atmosphere had a Pesta spirit, and Elvis Presley's "Devil in Disguise" was gyrating in the air, and Desiderata-Erotica was aroused.
All the Government component political parties sent their Chiefs to be guinea pigs/rats.
MICsy Cheap1 was the first one to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to the ankle level. Ah, the level of corruption was just beginning,
said inventor Pak Pandai, the party MICsy was marked KorupC1.
Gerakanakan Cheap2 was the second to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to the knee level. Ah, Ah, the level of corruption is getting worse, said inventor Pak Pandai, and Gerakankan was marked KorupC2.
MCAah Cheap3 was the third to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to the chest level. Ah, Ah, Ah, the level of corruption is now serious, said inventor Pak Pandai, and MCAah now marked Korupc3.
Then UMNO-no Cheap4 was the fourth to enter the Test Pool.
The water rose to slightly below-the-ANKLE level. Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah,
the inventor shook his head, said -- "I wonder...". He walked nearer the Test Pool
to peer at Cheap4 standing in the middle f the Test Pool. And the crowd too followed,
peeking, peeping and staring and "Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah!" went up resoundingly all round the Pool!
Then there was a ripple and some tiny bubbles rose to the water surface. A little boy near the Poolside exclaimed: "Ah Ha! I can see the guy standing on top of another man!"
Then Pak Pandai saw it -- The UMNO-no Cheap4 was seen to be standing on the shoulders of his Treasurer-cum-Finance Minister.
A concerted shout then rose up to the sky. Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah!...
That's how the Mark KorupC4 can be super "Mr Clean" if you Close One Eye, do you see?
Elvis then went onto sing the nude Anthem of NegaraKukuciao:
Long Live Rip van Wrinkled!
***************************************************
C(urry)4:
To be cuntInude...
C4 (a):
This is recycled, 2nd or 3rd dime OR 4th TIME!
*************** A long tail re-wound in Desi's style ***************
The PM on a leisurely day walked into his deputy's office at Puterijaya. He spied the DPM smiling to himself as he sat in his executive chair just one inch lower than His of course.
"Hey, why are you laffing to thyself," the chief a li'l into Shakespeare (like Desi-lah!) asked.
"Oh, chief. This office giveth me lots of perks," DPM replied,matching the Bard's (not de bastard's, OK!) lingo, "I have all the reason to guffle, don't? I -- I have had such fun thinking of all the gals I screwed in this vely office!"
A week later, on Amore lesiurely day just a weak before Parliament was to be dissolved, the DPM paid a return visit to his Boss' office, and the CEO was standing before the map of NegaraKuKu, the famous or notorious smirk about his 'hole(D)face.
"Chief, what's the BIG smile on thy hole(Y: this is silent off course!:) face?"
"Ah, my second matey. I never fail to laugh to meself how these buggers keep re-electing my gomen. I think of all the fun-D ... (now pointing at the Map) I have been having awe these years f**king up this 'hole cuntry:)", the PM laughed wit' His trademark(C) smirk. ~~ Desi
Disclaimer: This is fictional narration. Any resemblance to anybody, dead or alive, is just the reader's imagination, not Desi's nation. -- Drinks on thee for my wagging Rat's tail?:)
C4 (b):
I am sure all my EsteamedReaders by now would have in thy mind a more (s)explosive kind of C4,don't YOU? Or your memory is so short and I have to remind YOU?
Okay, hear's something from our King Of Bloggers, dear RPK:
Sorry folks, I could not track down the Ori at malaysia-today.net, but an ER sent me via Email. Since Desi is in a rush to keep Sundae date for CON BF, here's the Email version and I hope it's as genuine as korupC4:
By Little Bird
Kawan-kawan, there was much drama at the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder
trial (yesterday). Someone is trying to do a number on someone. There are no angels involved. Only devils.
For a minute the case was adjourned and the
courtroom almost cleared.
The newspapers were not allowed to report on what really went on. Only a
portion of what happened was reported in the press. Here is The Star
version:
Abdul Razak kicks and hits door at murder trial
Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who is being tried for abetting two
policemen
in murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, lost his cool on the 90th
day
on Wednesday. He had a dissatisfied look when his father Datuk Abdullah
Malim Baginda whispered something to him before the hearing began at
about
9.30am. After the proceedings were adjourned for lunch, however, the
48-year-old political analyst, surprised all those present in the High
Court
when he suddenly kicked and banged the door with his hands. He was also
seen
crying before his lawyer Wong Kian Kheong and mother calmed him down.
Before the hearing began at 9:30 am, Razak Baginda's father had
whispered
something to him. This made Razak angry the whole day.
Finally, about three
hours later, Razak Baginda could not stand it any longer and exploded.
What did he say?
Reporter friends who were there said that Razak shouted again and again,
"Matilah kau Pak Lah! Matilah Pak Lah! I am innocent! I am innocent!"
Then he went into a mad rampage and kicked the chairs and doors in the
courtroom.
Even the Judge was shocked and did not know what to do. Both the
defense lawyers and the prosecution team were also all shocked.
The story goes that Razak Baginda's father whispered instructions to
his son to incriminate his former boss Najib Tun Razak. The instruction came
from the Pak Lah camp.
:
:
:
(Desi: Go check this portion out at the host's place...:)
The Sun newspaper carried the story, complete with Razak Baginda's
outburst.
However, the Home Ministry asked The Sun to withdraw their first run
which carried the 'Matilah Kau Pak Lah!' outburst by Razak Baginda. The Sun had to withdraw thousands of copies of their print run early this morning.
Strange things are happening in the country folks. No angels are
involved. Only devils.
Rojak5:
which Desi stole from a sailor-boi @promptus.BC!:(
And the "blanks" in between are pictures you have to picturise, OK!
I'm Knot the Barwoman and thy beck-and-gall!:(:(
A tall story: Jest Wan Wish
A man walks into a pub with an ostrich
and a pussy cat.
He goes up the bar and says: "a cool Budvar for me, Old Speckled Hen for the ostrich, double Catto's whisky, no ice, for the cat."
The unlikely trio find a table, sit down and drink their drinks.
A cool 'Budvar'
Next, it's the ostrich's round.
He walks up to the bar and says: "Old Speckled Hen for me, a cool Budvar for the man, double Catto's whisky, no ice, for the cat."
Then the ostrich takes the drinks back to the table and they drink them.
A double Catto's whisky, no ice
When it comes to the cat's turn to buy a round, he simply tells his pals to "Sod off!"
So the man goes back to the bar and asks for another round of drinks.
Impressed at his generosity, the barman says: "I notice that you and the ostrich have both bought a round but the cat hasn't.
Why do you hang out with him?"
A pint of 'Old Speckled Hen'
The man replies: "I once helped a little old lady to cross the road, and she turned out to be my Fairy Godmother.
She granted me one wish, which landed me with the cat and the ostrich forever."
"What did you wish for?" enquired the barman.
"A long-legged bird with a tight pussy…"
Honi soit qui mal y pense!
Some rojak dan chopsuey bollowed from caffeinbar.com, to turn some Banana into half-yellar wan:)
"
Do you know me?
Badawi visit a mental hospital. He ask a patient whether he knew who is him. The patient shake his head. Badawi shout, “I am Badawi, the ex-ambassador of Peru for Malaysia, now I am the Prime minister of Malaysia. Do you know Mahathir? I am the current Prime Minister and extent my post next term”. The patient smile and answer, “Well, when I came in here, I speak the same thing.”
————————-
巴达维带著副首那吉,秘书，厨师以及厨师的孙子出访归来, 飞机已近吉隆坡,不巧意外发生了。飞行员告知所有的引擎均停止工作,必须紧急跳伞.说完后自己先跳了。
这时候飞机上尚有四把伞.只见那吉取下一把,对 巴达维说到:首相,您的安危关系到中国的未来,请先跳吧。乘巴达维一迟疑,那吉自己先跳了。 巴达维大怒,不想秘书手疾眼快,抢了一把伞也跳了.巴达维 情急之下,二话没说拿了 一把伞也跳了。 厨师长叹一声:孩子啊,爷爷老了,无所谓了,你还年轻,快拿最后一把伞跳吧!孙子道:爷爷,还有两把伞,我们一起跳吧.爷爷苦笑:一共就四把伞, 他们三都跳了,哪还有两把?孙子大叫:巴达维抱著我的多用途书包跳下去了。
————————-
帕瓦罗蒂，马拉多纳，巴达维三人一起过天堂。 天堂守门的圣彼得问道：
“你们能用什么方法证明自己的身份吗？”
帕瓦罗蒂说：“我是帕瓦罗蒂。”说完引吭高歌一曲《我的太阳》。圣彼得拍手说：
“不错，你就是帕瓦罗蒂。”
马拉多纳说：“我是马拉多纳。”说完取出一只足球，用手一指30米外的一扇窗户，飞起一脚，脚起球落，正好从窗口穿出。圣彼得高兴的说道：“不错，你就是马拉多纳。”
轮到巴达维了，巴达维憋了半天，最后还是只好涨红了脸说：“我，我是巴达维，可是，我什么也不会。”天堂守门员想了一想，点点头说：“不错，你就是巴达维。”
————————-
巴达维和那吉一起上中学。
一天，老师说：“明天首相会来参观我们学校，他会提两个问题。第一个问题是，你们忠于谁？”
老师指着坐在第一个位子上的那吉，“你就说，巫统，我们都是喝巫统的奶长大的。”
“第二个问题是，你们反对谁？”老师指着坐在第二个位子上的巴达维，“你就说，李光耀，民主行动党和回教党。”
当天晚上，那吉食物中毒，被送进医院去了。
第二天，首相来参观学校，看第一个坐位空着，就问坐在第二个位子上的巴达维：“同学，你们忠于谁呀？”
巴达维大声地回答：“李光耀，民主行动党和回教党。”
老师慌了，急忙提醒：“国阵，国阵的奶———-”
巴达维说“喝国阵的奶的那个人中毒了，现在还在医院里呢！”
————————-
巴达维到一所精神病院里去视察，他询问一位病人是否认识他是谁？那病人摇摇头。于是，巴达维大声地说：我是巴达维啊，先干了五年的大使，现在又当上了首相，你知道马哈帝尔吗，我是首相巴达维呀！那病人就微微地笑着说：是啊，是啊，我们刚进来时，也这么说！" -- Thanks moo_t, Desi wit' lots of Puerh, dear! 10.42pm, Mondae not so blue:)
Tags: Funs · Jokes
Friday, February 22, 2008
ELECTION WATCH (7): Building Political Dynasties
Equally trendy in Barisan Nasional and Opposition parties, so is it a surprise at all that Malaysians find themselves caught in between THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA?
Worse yet, many SOUL'D OUT POLITICIANS still peddle their political chicanery like sidewalk medicine sellers -- or Email Scammers from NIGERIA or Timbuktu or TimBuckTtree... -- so when will the avearge Malaysian Voter wake up to DISCERN the Sandiwara or Wayang or Bollywood shows on the PWTC, Wisma MCA, even DAP or other Opposition stages?
In principle,I am not against members of the family contesting if they have individually proven themselves in public service and had not relied on their parents/siblings/FIL's apron strings to be nominated.
But becoming a billionaire at 27 years, and claiming "I've worked very hard for it for two years", then disappeared when the Stock Market crashed and the banks did not chase after the blardy fellow for hundreds of millions because of Daddy? YOU blardy Joe and Jane public owes any bank just RM100,000 for a House mortgage,or even RM10,000 for a Car loan, and defaulting on three payments, YOU GET A LAWYER'S LETTER OF DEMAND.
While the billionaire-on-paper and near-bankrupt goes away for a holiday in Australia.
Q: WHY IS IT THAT WESTERN AUSTRALIA IS SO POPULAR WITH ALL THESE SUPER-MEDICINE SELLERS?
Yes, often it is said WE DESERVE THE GOVERNMENT WE FINALLY GET (after going to the Polls every four or five years). But Desi has decried ofetn that many Malaysians are masochistic -- THEY COMPLAIN CONSTANTLY LIKE A BAD RECORD AGAINST THE BN GOVERNMENT, yet when GE comes around, they cast their ballots for the DACING. They are afraid to answer calls by the likes of Citizen Bloggers such as Raja Petra, rockybru, and zorro, et al, and Desi to vote for:
"V"4CHANGE!
How much lower do we want to see NegaraKu slide before
VVVVVVVeeeeeee
dare stand up to strive for REFORM and CHANGE?
Sometimes Miss Patience is also Ms Virtuous, Yes, I have said here many times.
But the BN keeps dealing out false medicine, and you are almost dying of cancer,
YOU DARE NOT TRY A MODERN TYPE OF MEDICINE?
After 50 long blardy years, what is stopping YOU! from changing
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES from that son-in-law'sshoppe in Pavilion, Koala Lumpuh?
"V"OTE PKR!
TO BE CONTINUED...
From The Star, online edition, I extract:
MALAYSIA DECIDES 2008
Friday February 22, 2008
Election 2008 sees many following in the political footsteps of their parents
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are set to see quite a number of children or family members either taking over from their parents or campaigning alongside them in the general election.
In some cases, the children will contest in their father's seat while some others will take on other constituencies.
Among the notable ones who will be making their debut are Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Datuk Ling Hee Leong, Chua Tee Yong, Lim Si Pin, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Mukhriz Mahathir, Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Zakaria Md Deros' daughter-in-law Roselinda Abdul Jamil.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
(Desi: Is this a local series inspired by US-made TV soap operas
ensuring RICHES FOR 'ALL IN THE FAMILIES'?)
Chua Tee Yong (Johor - Labis)
Father: Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek
Lim Si Pin (FT - Batu)
Father: Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik
Roselinda Abdul Jamil (Klang - Port Klang)
Father-in-law: Selangor exco Datuk Zakaria Md Deros
Nurul Izzah Anwar (FT)*
Mother: PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Perak - Gopeng)
Father: Former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik
Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman (Sarawak - Kota Samarahan)
Father: Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud
Lim Guan Eng (Penang - Bagan)
Father: Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang
Guan Eng's wife Betty Chew is incumbent Kota Laksamana assemblyman
Gobind Singh Deo (Johor)*
Father: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Kedah - Jerlun)
Father: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Dr Asraf Wajdi Dusuki (Kelantan - Tumpat)
Father: Former Tumpat MP Datuk Dusuki Ahmad
Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi (Perak - Tualang Sekah)
Father: Perak executive councillor Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan
Datuk Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin (Perak - Kg Gajah)
Mother-in-law: Umno Pasir Salak Wanita chief Datuk Ainon Khariyah Mohd Abas
Datuk Zein Isma Ismail (Selangor - Kota Damansara)
Uncle: Selangor executive councillor Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan
DESI: Where art thou, Zakaria's son?
For this round, the Untouchable Klangite is represented by the daughter-in-law? Oh, I see she deserves a separate story... TO COME,
SO TO BE CUNTINUED (2X) like a bad dream ...
MALAYSIA DECIDES 2008
Friday February 22, 2008
People know my father-in-law well, says Roselinda
KLANG: Barisan Nasional candidate for the Port Klang state seat, Roselinda Abdul Jamil, strongly believes that she will be well received by the constituents despite the controversy surrounding her father-in-law Datuk Zakaria Md Deros.
Zakaria found himself in the soup after he was busted for illegally building a palatial home and operating a satay restaurant in Pandamaran in 2006.
“Things were merely blown out of proportion and there was no big issue at all,” she said, in coming to Zakaria’s defence. Furthermore, he is an old timer and people in the constituency know him well,” she added.
She said that Zakaria was her mentor and had given her valuable advice to guide her in her political career.
“I will still turn to him for advice,” said Roselinda, who is married to Zakaria’s son Zaidi.
But she added, her political approach and perspective were “different.”
Zakaria and his other son Zainuri, who was earlier speculated as the candidate for Port Klang, could be reached for comment.
DESI: Yeah, I know thy father VERY THE WELL for the following:
(1) RM7-10million "small house" in Port Klang among a low-cost shanty town
(2) ALL IN THE FAMILY councillors at Port Klang Municipal Town Council to ensure
*** Daday's UNTOUCHABILITY
(3) You are considered a Charitable Wakil Rakayt building a Satay Restron illegally and earning BG bucks and donating maybe 10% back to the beggar community
(4) Yeah, it's all due to BAD FENG SHUI, so your pay the fortune teller-writer a "small" sum for his PR job,and another "small" sum for another FS CONman to re-arrange things, everything is KAU DIM!
Let's now adjourn for the sext episode of:
AWE IN THE FAMILY!
Send the bills to "Eat, Drink and Be Merry" party within the Barisan Nasional.
Worse yet, many SOUL'D OUT POLITICIANS still peddle their political chicanery like sidewalk medicine sellers -- or Email Scammers from NIGERIA or Timbuktu or TimBuckTtree... -- so when will the avearge Malaysian Voter wake up to DISCERN the Sandiwara or Wayang or Bollywood shows on the PWTC, Wisma MCA, even DAP or other Opposition stages?
In principle,I am not against members of the family contesting if they have individually proven themselves in public service and had not relied on their parents/siblings/FIL's apron strings to be nominated.
But becoming a billionaire at 27 years, and claiming "I've worked very hard for it for two years", then disappeared when the Stock Market crashed and the banks did not chase after the blardy fellow for hundreds of millions because of Daddy? YOU blardy Joe and Jane public owes any bank just RM100,000 for a House mortgage,or even RM10,000 for a Car loan, and defaulting on three payments, YOU GET A LAWYER'S LETTER OF DEMAND.
While the billionaire-on-paper and near-bankrupt goes away for a holiday in Australia.
Q: WHY IS IT THAT WESTERN AUSTRALIA IS SO POPULAR WITH ALL THESE SUPER-MEDICINE SELLERS?
Yes, often it is said WE DESERVE THE GOVERNMENT WE FINALLY GET (after going to the Polls every four or five years). But Desi has decried ofetn that many Malaysians are masochistic -- THEY COMPLAIN CONSTANTLY LIKE A BAD RECORD AGAINST THE BN GOVERNMENT, yet when GE comes around, they cast their ballots for the DACING. They are afraid to answer calls by the likes of Citizen Bloggers such as Raja Petra, rockybru, and zorro, et al, and Desi to vote for:
"V"4CHANGE!
How much lower do we want to see NegaraKu slide before
VVVVVVVeeeeeee
dare stand up to strive for REFORM and CHANGE?
Sometimes Miss Patience is also Ms Virtuous, Yes, I have said here many times.
But the BN keeps dealing out false medicine, and you are almost dying of cancer,
YOU DARE NOT TRY A MODERN TYPE OF MEDICINE?
After 50 long blardy years, what is stopping YOU! from changing
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES from that son-in-law'sshoppe in Pavilion, Koala Lumpuh?
"V"OTE PKR!
TO BE CONTINUED...
From The Star, online edition, I extract:
MALAYSIA DECIDES 2008
Friday February 22, 2008
Election 2008 sees many following in the political footsteps of their parents
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are set to see quite a number of children or family members either taking over from their parents or campaigning alongside them in the general election.
In some cases, the children will contest in their father's seat while some others will take on other constituencies.
Among the notable ones who will be making their debut are Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Datuk Ling Hee Leong, Chua Tee Yong, Lim Si Pin, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Mukhriz Mahathir, Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Zakaria Md Deros' daughter-in-law Roselinda Abdul Jamil.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
(Desi: Is this a local series inspired by US-made TV soap operas
ensuring RICHES FOR 'ALL IN THE FAMILIES'?)
Chua Tee Yong (Johor - Labis)
Father: Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek
Lim Si Pin (FT - Batu)
Father: Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik
Roselinda Abdul Jamil (Klang - Port Klang)
Father-in-law: Selangor exco Datuk Zakaria Md Deros
Nurul Izzah Anwar (FT)*
Mother: PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Perak - Gopeng)
Father: Former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik
Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman (Sarawak - Kota Samarahan)
Father: Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud
Lim Guan Eng (Penang - Bagan)
Father: Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang
Guan Eng's wife Betty Chew is incumbent Kota Laksamana assemblyman
Gobind Singh Deo (Johor)*
Father: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Kedah - Jerlun)
Father: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Dr Asraf Wajdi Dusuki (Kelantan - Tumpat)
Father: Former Tumpat MP Datuk Dusuki Ahmad
Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi (Perak - Tualang Sekah)
Father: Perak executive councillor Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan
Datuk Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin (Perak - Kg Gajah)
Mother-in-law: Umno Pasir Salak Wanita chief Datuk Ainon Khariyah Mohd Abas
Datuk Zein Isma Ismail (Selangor - Kota Damansara)
Uncle: Selangor executive councillor Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan
DESI: Where art thou, Zakaria's son?
For this round, the Untouchable Klangite is represented by the daughter-in-law? Oh, I see she deserves a separate story... TO COME,
SO TO BE CUNTINUED (2X) like a bad dream ...
MALAYSIA DECIDES 2008
Friday February 22, 2008
People know my father-in-law well, says Roselinda
KLANG: Barisan Nasional candidate for the Port Klang state seat, Roselinda Abdul Jamil, strongly believes that she will be well received by the constituents despite the controversy surrounding her father-in-law Datuk Zakaria Md Deros.
Zakaria found himself in the soup after he was busted for illegally building a palatial home and operating a satay restaurant in Pandamaran in 2006.
“Things were merely blown out of proportion and there was no big issue at all,” she said, in coming to Zakaria’s defence. Furthermore, he is an old timer and people in the constituency know him well,” she added.
She said that Zakaria was her mentor and had given her valuable advice to guide her in her political career.
“I will still turn to him for advice,” said Roselinda, who is married to Zakaria’s son Zaidi.
But she added, her political approach and perspective were “different.”
Zakaria and his other son Zainuri, who was earlier speculated as the candidate for Port Klang, could be reached for comment.
DESI: Yeah, I know thy father VERY THE WELL for the following:
(1) RM7-10million "small house" in Port Klang among a low-cost shanty town
(2) ALL IN THE FAMILY councillors at Port Klang Municipal Town Council to ensure
*** Daday's UNTOUCHABILITY
(3) You are considered a Charitable Wakil Rakayt building a Satay Restron illegally and earning BG bucks and donating maybe 10% back to the beggar community
(4) Yeah, it's all due to BAD FENG SHUI, so your pay the fortune teller-writer a "small" sum for his PR job,and another "small" sum for another FS CONman to re-arrange things, everything is KAU DIM!
Let's now adjourn for the sext episode of:
AWE IN THE FAMILY!
Send the bills to "Eat, Drink and Be Merry" party within the Barisan Nasional.
ELECTION WATCH (6: A Citizens' Initiative
Desiderata-YL Chong has always enjoyed reading King of Bloggers Raja Petra's postings; and while I may nt agree with much of what he writes in his popular Blog named malaysia-today.net, I believe I benefit from some of his"insider information" and "contrarian"views, particularly on Islam which educates non-Muslims like me. Today I extract from his latest initiative touching on GE2008 and several Blogger-Politicians' participation.
Keep a date with the Players tomorrow (Saturday) at Blog House in Kuala Lumpur.
Let's demonstrate Malaysian Solidarity
Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 21 February 2008
This election may end up the dirtiest ever in Malaysian history. But let us the rakyat show the powers-that-be that we shall no longer tolerate the rigging of our elections and the denial of our fundamental right to free and fair elections. We refuse, any longer, to be robbed of our right to determine the government that will rule over us
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
At 3.00pm (tomorrow) -- Friday, 22 February 2008 -- BERSIH is organising a rally at Batu Burok in Kuala Terengganu. This rally is even more important than before considering the Twelfth General Elections is now upon us and many incidences of fraud have been detected all over the country.
Malaysians love screaming about satu bangsa, solidarity, and all such slogans. Well, let's not confine ourselves to just screaming empty rhetoric. Let's really show solidarity in the spirit of satu bangsa in support of those who are putting life and limb on the line in Kuala Terengganu tomorrow for the sake of a better Malaysia.
Wear yellow tomorrow. Make tomorrow a YELLOW FRIDAY. And at 3.00pm tomorrow, come out from your homes and offices wearing yellow, stand on the street, and make your presence felt. Or you can get into your car, switch your headlights on, and drive around the block while honking your horn. Whatever it may be, just show solidarity tomorrow, in particular at 3.00pm.
Of course, if you can make it to Kuala Terengganu at 3.00pm tomorrow that would be even better. If not, then show your support from afar by just wearing yellow and at 3.00pm do something as a mark of support.
At 11.00am the following day -- Saturday, 23 February 2008 -- we shall be launching the PEOPLES' DECLARATION at the Blog House in Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur. The six political parties who have endorsed the declaration will be invited to attend together with civil society movements, NGOs, and members of the blogging community. Those interested to witness this event are most welcome (address: no: 66, Lorong Setiabistari 2).
Lunch will be served and we have prepared seats for 100 people. If the crowd exceeds that we may have a problem but I am sure you are not coming for the food but to see the birth of a united opposition and a better Malaysia for our children (and as for me, grandchildren).
On Wednesday, 27 February 2008, Blog House will be organising a MEET THE CANDIDATES session. The time has not yet been confirmed but considering it is a working day it would probably be at 8.00pm. This election will see the most number of bloggers contesting, so Blog House would like to introduce all those from the blogging community who will be contesting the election.
:
:
:
Dear ER,please surf to malaysia-today.net for aMore... ~~ Desi
Keep a date with the Players tomorrow (Saturday) at Blog House in Kuala Lumpur.
Let's demonstrate Malaysian Solidarity
Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 21 February 2008
This election may end up the dirtiest ever in Malaysian history. But let us the rakyat show the powers-that-be that we shall no longer tolerate the rigging of our elections and the denial of our fundamental right to free and fair elections. We refuse, any longer, to be robbed of our right to determine the government that will rule over us
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
At 3.00pm (tomorrow) -- Friday, 22 February 2008 -- BERSIH is organising a rally at Batu Burok in Kuala Terengganu. This rally is even more important than before considering the Twelfth General Elections is now upon us and many incidences of fraud have been detected all over the country.
Malaysians love screaming about satu bangsa, solidarity, and all such slogans. Well, let's not confine ourselves to just screaming empty rhetoric. Let's really show solidarity in the spirit of satu bangsa in support of those who are putting life and limb on the line in Kuala Terengganu tomorrow for the sake of a better Malaysia.
Wear yellow tomorrow. Make tomorrow a YELLOW FRIDAY. And at 3.00pm tomorrow, come out from your homes and offices wearing yellow, stand on the street, and make your presence felt. Or you can get into your car, switch your headlights on, and drive around the block while honking your horn. Whatever it may be, just show solidarity tomorrow, in particular at 3.00pm.
Of course, if you can make it to Kuala Terengganu at 3.00pm tomorrow that would be even better. If not, then show your support from afar by just wearing yellow and at 3.00pm do something as a mark of support.
At 11.00am the following day -- Saturday, 23 February 2008 -- we shall be launching the PEOPLES' DECLARATION at the Blog House in Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur. The six political parties who have endorsed the declaration will be invited to attend together with civil society movements, NGOs, and members of the blogging community. Those interested to witness this event are most welcome (address: no: 66, Lorong Setiabistari 2).
Lunch will be served and we have prepared seats for 100 people. If the crowd exceeds that we may have a problem but I am sure you are not coming for the food but to see the birth of a united opposition and a better Malaysia for our children (and as for me, grandchildren).
On Wednesday, 27 February 2008, Blog House will be organising a MEET THE CANDIDATES session. The time has not yet been confirmed but considering it is a working day it would probably be at 8.00pm. This election will see the most number of bloggers contesting, so Blog House would like to introduce all those from the blogging community who will be contesting the election.
:
:
:
Dear ER,please surf to malaysia-today.net for aMore... ~~ Desi
Thursday, February 21, 2008
ELECTION WATCH (5) Dr Syed HusinAli (Part II)
YL CHONG conducted an interview with the esteemed Politician-cum-academic recently, and reprised this to show that Dr SYED SHOULD CARRY ON THE STRUGGLE IN THAT AUGUST HOUSE that has eluded him because the Opposition front has not done such a gem true justice. And time is running out ...
So I urge my Esteemed Readers to Email or Phone (URGENT!) to Dr Syed Husin and the PKR and DAP LEADERS TO SEIZE THE MOMENT, for a principled and gentleman-politician's sake.
Gov't has reneged on election promises, says Syed Husin
KUALA LUMPUR: The present Government led by Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not fulfilled practically all that he
promised during the last elections, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy
president Dr Syed Husin Ali in an interview with SK Digest.
He mentioned as examples two important issues. Firstly, Pak Lah has
completely reneged on his promise to fight against corruption, which has
deteriorated since he became PM four years ago.
"There is grave suspicion of political interference that led to the
instructions by the AG to close investigations on corruption charges
against a serving Deputy Minister, the present police chief and an
ex-Director of ACA," Syed Husin said. The acquittal of Eric Chia has also
raised many question marks, he added.
Secondly, media control has never been as bad as it
is now, said the former academic. "The media are often instructed what
to publish and what not to. There is a standing directive to mainstream
media, owned, controlled or influenced by government parties not to
give any publicity to Anwar Ibrahim and PKR," said Syed Husin, who had
turned to become fulltime politician when University of Malaya
authorities terminated his professorship on alleged infringement of the
Universities and University Colleges Act in 1990.
Bloggers who take independent and critical positions
are hounded and detained by the police, as testified by recent police
actions against Raja Petra Kamaruddin and wife, also against a PKR
webmaster Nathaniel Tan, plus civil suits of defamation against Jeff Ooi and
Ahiruddin Atan aka Rockybru by a government-linked mainstream
newspaper and cronies.
"Although the PM had promised about ten months ago
in Parliament to issue KDN permit to Suara Keadilan, the party
newspaper, he has conveniently ignored it, despite constant reminders," he
added.
YL Chong observed that in March 2004, there was general
acknowledgement of a "feel good" factor given that it was Abdullah's first General
Elections he was leading as UMNO and BN chief, and asked Syed Husin about
the current sentiments from the grassroots for the forthcoming GE.
Syed Husin stated that the popularity ratings of both
Abdullah and UMNO have slipped since the last GE, although apparently
more with the latter than the former. "Generally, the public has become
more disappointed with Abdullah's leadership, that is perceived to be
weak, ineffective as well as without any clear policy direction, and
also with the government, which is seen to be not sensitive to the plights
of the ordinary people."
Furthermore, the cost of living has gone up, largely
as the results of increasing prices of food and
petroleum, higher charges for tolls, water and
electricity, and other factors affecting the common
folks most.
"In the run up to the next GE, the government is
trying to buy votes, by introducing all kinds of
financial incentives e.g. through pay rise of
government servants and hurried introduction of so-called
development projects," he added.
Despite all these, overall, from independent polls
carried out especially by Merdeka
Centre and results of the four previous by-elections,
there appears to be voter shift to the opposition now,
especially among the Chinese, although the situation
remains almost constant among the Malays.
"The presence of Anwar Ibrahim provides an added
advantage. Even if he is not allowed to stand as a
candidate, he will be free to campaign actively
during the elections.
Indications now show that keADILan and the other
opposition parties will fare better in the forthcoming
general elections, Syed Husin predicted. (The GE is
expected to be held by year-end or latest by March 2008 as PKR de facto
leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would still be
barred from contesting till mid-April 2008.)
YL Chong also posed to the well-respected veteran
the question that after 50 years of Merdeka, of the
state of nationhood today as compared with the first
decade on achieving Independence -- Sept 1957-1967,
requesting him to summarise the main challenges facing
Malaysians as we march towards the year 2020.
Syed Husin acknowledged that there is undoubtedly
some economic development, but the progress made by
Malaysia is way behind that achieved by Singapore,
Taiwan and Korea, although
they started almost on par in 1960.
"The per-capita income of these three countries is
respectively 5 to 3 times bigger than that of Malaysia.
"Although incidence of poverty has been reduced,
income and socio-economic inequities have widened, as a result of
concentration of wealth in the hands of a few through cronyism,
corruption and commission. Despite all the government
talk about it, environmental pollution and
destruction continue without control,” he lamented.
The national unity agenda mooted as one of the
objectives of the Merdeka struggle can be said to
have failed; ethnic tensions and divisions have become
more marked as a result of racial and divide and rule
policies. Standards of education, from the lowest to
the highest levels, have gone down; there is huge
number of graduate unemployment.
“Corruption is undermining the whole fabric of
society; social and ethical standards are sliding
down; there is increase in criminal and immoral
activities. The future of the country and the people
has become more uncertain,” Syed Husin said with
deep concern.
-----
Some Q and A extracts:
SH: The idea of merger was mooted by Anwar Ibrahim, who
was then in jail, and first discussed through secret
communications with Syed Husin Ali, as President of
PRM. The idea was deliberated upon several times by
the PRM leadership and tabled at two National
Congresses of the Party. Finally, the merger of PRM
with Keadilan Nasional to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat
was agreed upon by about 80% of delegates present at
the PRM Congress in 2002. It was accepted that through
the merger, the alternative force would be stronger to
challenge Umno-Bn, and the struggle for social justice
and democracy could be more effectively carried out.
Q2. Do you think that the present Government
administration (under Pak Lah) has delivered on its
key pledges as promised by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi in the March 2004 General Elections during
which the Barisan Nasional achieved a landslide
victory (taking some 90% of the 219 Parliament seats)?
Abdullah Badawi has not fulfilled practically all that
he promised during the last elections. I will mention
here two important issues. First, he has completely
reneged on his promise to fight against corruption,
which has deteriorated since he became PM. There is
grave suspicion of political interference that led to
the instructions by the AG to close investigations on
corruption charges against a serving Deputy Minister,
the present police chief and an ex-Director of ACA.
The acquittal of Eric Chia has also raised many
question marks.
Two, media control has never been as bad as it is now.
The media are often instructed what to publish and
what not to. There is a standing directive to
mainstream media, owned, controlled or influenced by
government parties not to give any publicity to Anwar
Ibrahim and keADILan. Bloggers who take independent
and critical positions are hounded and detained by the
police. Although the PM had promised about eight
months ago in Parliament to issue KDN permit to Suara
Keadilan, the party newspaper, he has conveniently
ignored it, despite constant reminders.
Q3. In March 2004, there is general acknowledgement of
a "feel good" factor gevn that it was Pak Lah's first
GE he was leading as UMNO and BN cheif. What is the
consensus from the ground/grasstroots this time around
for the forthcoming GE? (expected to be held by
year-end or latest by March 2008 as PKR defacto leader
DS Anwar Ibrahim would still be barred from contesting
till mid-April 2008...).
The popularity ratings of both Abdullah and Umno have
slipped since the last GE, although apparently more
with the latter than the former. Generally, the public
has become more disappointed with Abdullah抯
leadership, that is perceived to be weak, ineffective
as well as without any clear policy direction, and
also with the government, which is seen to be not
sensitive to the plights of the ordinary people. Cost
of living has gone up, largely as the results of
increasing prices of food and petroleum, higher
charges for tolls, water and electricity etc.
In the run up to the next GE, the government is trying
to buy votes, by introducing all kinds of 揻inancial
incentives?e.g. through pay rise of government
servants and hurried introduction of so-called
development projects. Despite all these, overall, from
independent polls carried out especially by Merdeka
Centre and results of the four previous bye-elections,
there appears to be voter shift to the opposition now,
especially among the Chinese, although the situation
remains almost constant among the Malays. The presence
of Anwar Ibrahim provides an added advantage. Even if
he is not allowed to stand as a candidate, he will be
free to campaign actively during the elections.
Indications now show that keADILan and the other
opposition parties will fare better in the forthcoming
general elections.
Q4. From your vast political experience and long
university career -- an academic involved in partisan
politics -- can you identify if our campuses and
acadmeic staff and the undergraduates have become
constrained and cocooned from playing a meaningful or
effective role in national affairs ...wrt Universities
and University Colleges Act, Akujanji pledge, etc...
The standards of all public universities have
deteriorated. Among factors causing it: (a) quality of
student entering university has slipped owing to
falling standards of primary and secondary education,
despite more students scoring more A抯; (b)
appointment of VCs, majority of whom are
pro-government and of questionable academic merit, who
are only too keen to serve their political masters as
government servants or even as 損olicemen? at the
expense of academic autonomy and excellence; (c)
promotion as professors/ associate professors and
deans/ heads on the basis of their political positions
and administrative loyalties, rather than recognized
scholarship and good administrative skills; (d)
constant interference if not control of the
universities through a direct political master, in the
name of Minister for Higher Education, to such an
extent that there is no more semblance of university
autonomy left; and (e) stranglehold on staff and
students through UUCA and Akujanji, for example, which
render them to be 揳cademic eunuchs? stripped of
academic creativity and critical mind.
Small wonder that the universities as academic
institutions - owing to the quality of teaching,
research and publications as well as the crippled
minds of the students - are slowly going down the
drain.
Q5. "Socialism" as an ideology did not make headway
for decades within Malaysia's parliamentary system,
yet there are pockets of believers still travelling
that path. Any messages to your (former) party mates
like those still trying to get PSM registered?
What were the chief reasons leading you to spearhead
PRM's merger with Keadilan to form the PKR just three
years back?
The PRM-PKN merger was a historical necessity, I felt.
It provided a bigger platform to fight for justice,
democracy, national unity, transparency and welfare of
the people. It was supported by vast majority of PRM
membership. The few people who are trying to continue
PRM now are going against the majority decision of the
Party Congress. Indeed a good number of them, as
delegates, voted for merger during the Congress in
2002. In fact, the person who now claims to be their
leader shed tears during his speech to persuade
delegate to support the merger plan as tabled at the
Congress. He later assumed position as Deputy
Secretary General of Keadilan Rakyat, after merger.
But suddenly and surprisingly he changed direction.
They are not making any progress. I would advise him
and his handful of friends to carry out their struggle
through the bigger political vehicle of keADILan.
Q6. In the lead up to Aug 31, 2007 celebrations
planned by the BN government, year-in-year-out we hear
minsiterial exhortations to the rakyat, corporations
and SME businesses to fly the national flag?
Are there some unerlying causes that prevent a
spontaneous demonstration of such perceived
"patriotic" spirit? -- To the extent when the
Informatin Minister has to resort with threats to
capture on camera those business establishments NOT
flying the national flag.
I think that they are demonstrating their opposition
to and disappointment with the government policies and
leadership. By the way, patriotism is not something
that is nurtured or obtained through threats and
force.
Q7. After 50 yaers of Merdeka, how is the state of
nationhood today as compared with the first decade on
achieving Indpoendence -- Sept 1957-1967?
(a) What are the main achievements positive changes we
can be proud of?
(b) What are the main drawbacks/defects?
Summarise the main challenges facing Malaysians as we
march towards the year 2020...
There is undoubtedly some economic development, but
the progress made by Malaysia is way behind that
achieved by Singapore, Taiwan and Korea, although they
started almost on par in 1960. The per-capita income
of these three countries is respectively 5 to 3 times
bigger than that of Malaysia. Although incidence of
poverty has been reduced, income and socio-economic
inequities have widened, as a result of concentration
of wealth in the hands of a few through cronyism,
corruption and commission. Despite all the government
talk about it, environmental pollution and destruction
continue without control.
The national unity agenda mooted as one of the
objectives of the Merdeka struggle can be said to have
failed; ethnic tensions and divisions have become more
marked as a result of racial and divide and rule
policies. Standards of education ?from the lowest to
the highest levels have gone down; there is huge
number of graduate unemployment. Corruption is
undermining the whole fabric of society; social and
ethical standards are sliding down; there is increase
in criminal and immoral activities. The future of the
country and the people has become more uncertain.
Q8. Some of your comrades eg Kassim Ahmad, were wooed
over by UMNO. Were you ever in two minds about joing
the establishment UMNO party/any of BN components?
Will you offer yourself as a Candidate for the
forthcomg General Elections? I will undersytand if for
strategic reasons you may not want to detail such GE
plans, but a general sharing will do:)
A number of Umno leaders (including Musa Hitam) tried
to persuade me in the sixties to join Umno. Once I
convinced them of my principled pro-people,
pro-justice and pro-democracy stands, they never
bothered me any more.
>
So I urge my Esteemed Readers to Email or Phone (URGENT!) to Dr Syed Husin and the PKR and DAP LEADERS TO SEIZE THE MOMENT, for a principled and gentleman-politician's sake.
Gov't has reneged on election promises, says Syed Husin
KUALA LUMPUR: The present Government led by Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not fulfilled practically all that he
promised during the last elections, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy
president Dr Syed Husin Ali in an interview with SK Digest.
He mentioned as examples two important issues. Firstly, Pak Lah has
completely reneged on his promise to fight against corruption, which has
deteriorated since he became PM four years ago.
"There is grave suspicion of political interference that led to the
instructions by the AG to close investigations on corruption charges
against a serving Deputy Minister, the present police chief and an
ex-Director of ACA," Syed Husin said. The acquittal of Eric Chia has also
raised many question marks, he added.
Secondly, media control has never been as bad as it
is now, said the former academic. "The media are often instructed what
to publish and what not to. There is a standing directive to mainstream
media, owned, controlled or influenced by government parties not to
give any publicity to Anwar Ibrahim and PKR," said Syed Husin, who had
turned to become fulltime politician when University of Malaya
authorities terminated his professorship on alleged infringement of the
Universities and University Colleges Act in 1990.
Bloggers who take independent and critical positions
are hounded and detained by the police, as testified by recent police
actions against Raja Petra Kamaruddin and wife, also against a PKR
webmaster Nathaniel Tan, plus civil suits of defamation against Jeff Ooi and
Ahiruddin Atan aka Rockybru by a government-linked mainstream
newspaper and cronies.
"Although the PM had promised about ten months ago
in Parliament to issue KDN permit to Suara Keadilan, the party
newspaper, he has conveniently ignored it, despite constant reminders," he
added.
YL Chong observed that in March 2004, there was general
acknowledgement of a "feel good" factor given that it was Abdullah's first General
Elections he was leading as UMNO and BN chief, and asked Syed Husin about
the current sentiments from the grassroots for the forthcoming GE.
Syed Husin stated that the popularity ratings of both
Abdullah and UMNO have slipped since the last GE, although apparently
more with the latter than the former. "Generally, the public has become
more disappointed with Abdullah's leadership, that is perceived to be
weak, ineffective as well as without any clear policy direction, and
also with the government, which is seen to be not sensitive to the plights
of the ordinary people."
Furthermore, the cost of living has gone up, largely
as the results of increasing prices of food and
petroleum, higher charges for tolls, water and
electricity, and other factors affecting the common
folks most.
"In the run up to the next GE, the government is
trying to buy votes, by introducing all kinds of
financial incentives e.g. through pay rise of
government servants and hurried introduction of so-called
development projects," he added.
Despite all these, overall, from independent polls
carried out especially by Merdeka
Centre and results of the four previous by-elections,
there appears to be voter shift to the opposition now,
especially among the Chinese, although the situation
remains almost constant among the Malays.
"The presence of Anwar Ibrahim provides an added
advantage. Even if he is not allowed to stand as a
candidate, he will be free to campaign actively
during the elections.
Indications now show that keADILan and the other
opposition parties will fare better in the forthcoming
general elections, Syed Husin predicted. (The GE is
expected to be held by year-end or latest by March 2008 as PKR de facto
leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would still be
barred from contesting till mid-April 2008.)
YL Chong also posed to the well-respected veteran
the question that after 50 years of Merdeka, of the
state of nationhood today as compared with the first
decade on achieving Independence -- Sept 1957-1967,
requesting him to summarise the main challenges facing
Malaysians as we march towards the year 2020.
Syed Husin acknowledged that there is undoubtedly
some economic development, but the progress made by
Malaysia is way behind that achieved by Singapore,
Taiwan and Korea, although
they started almost on par in 1960.
"The per-capita income of these three countries is
respectively 5 to 3 times bigger than that of Malaysia.
"Although incidence of poverty has been reduced,
income and socio-economic inequities have widened, as a result of
concentration of wealth in the hands of a few through cronyism,
corruption and commission. Despite all the government
talk about it, environmental pollution and
destruction continue without control,” he lamented.
The national unity agenda mooted as one of the
objectives of the Merdeka struggle can be said to
have failed; ethnic tensions and divisions have become
more marked as a result of racial and divide and rule
policies. Standards of education, from the lowest to
the highest levels, have gone down; there is huge
number of graduate unemployment.
“Corruption is undermining the whole fabric of
society; social and ethical standards are sliding
down; there is increase in criminal and immoral
activities. The future of the country and the people
has become more uncertain,” Syed Husin said with
deep concern.
-----
Some Q and A extracts:
SH: The idea of merger was mooted by Anwar Ibrahim, who
was then in jail, and first discussed through secret
communications with Syed Husin Ali, as President of
PRM. The idea was deliberated upon several times by
the PRM leadership and tabled at two National
Congresses of the Party. Finally, the merger of PRM
with Keadilan Nasional to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat
was agreed upon by about 80% of delegates present at
the PRM Congress in 2002. It was accepted that through
the merger, the alternative force would be stronger to
challenge Umno-Bn, and the struggle for social justice
and democracy could be more effectively carried out.
Q2. Do you think that the present Government
administration (under Pak Lah) has delivered on its
key pledges as promised by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi in the March 2004 General Elections during
which the Barisan Nasional achieved a landslide
victory (taking some 90% of the 219 Parliament seats)?
Abdullah Badawi has not fulfilled practically all that
he promised during the last elections. I will mention
here two important issues. First, he has completely
reneged on his promise to fight against corruption,
which has deteriorated since he became PM. There is
grave suspicion of political interference that led to
the instructions by the AG to close investigations on
corruption charges against a serving Deputy Minister,
the present police chief and an ex-Director of ACA.
The acquittal of Eric Chia has also raised many
question marks.
Two, media control has never been as bad as it is now.
The media are often instructed what to publish and
what not to. There is a standing directive to
mainstream media, owned, controlled or influenced by
government parties not to give any publicity to Anwar
Ibrahim and keADILan. Bloggers who take independent
and critical positions are hounded and detained by the
police. Although the PM had promised about eight
months ago in Parliament to issue KDN permit to Suara
Keadilan, the party newspaper, he has conveniently
ignored it, despite constant reminders.
Q3. In March 2004, there is general acknowledgement of
a "feel good" factor gevn that it was Pak Lah's first
GE he was leading as UMNO and BN cheif. What is the
consensus from the ground/grasstroots this time around
for the forthcoming GE? (expected to be held by
year-end or latest by March 2008 as PKR defacto leader
DS Anwar Ibrahim would still be barred from contesting
till mid-April 2008...).
The popularity ratings of both Abdullah and Umno have
slipped since the last GE, although apparently more
with the latter than the former. Generally, the public
has become more disappointed with Abdullah抯
leadership, that is perceived to be weak, ineffective
as well as without any clear policy direction, and
also with the government, which is seen to be not
sensitive to the plights of the ordinary people. Cost
of living has gone up, largely as the results of
increasing prices of food and petroleum, higher
charges for tolls, water and electricity etc.
In the run up to the next GE, the government is trying
to buy votes, by introducing all kinds of 揻inancial
incentives?e.g. through pay rise of government
servants and hurried introduction of so-called
development projects. Despite all these, overall, from
independent polls carried out especially by Merdeka
Centre and results of the four previous bye-elections,
there appears to be voter shift to the opposition now,
especially among the Chinese, although the situation
remains almost constant among the Malays. The presence
of Anwar Ibrahim provides an added advantage. Even if
he is not allowed to stand as a candidate, he will be
free to campaign actively during the elections.
Indications now show that keADILan and the other
opposition parties will fare better in the forthcoming
general elections.
Q4. From your vast political experience and long
university career -- an academic involved in partisan
politics -- can you identify if our campuses and
acadmeic staff and the undergraduates have become
constrained and cocooned from playing a meaningful or
effective role in national affairs ...wrt Universities
and University Colleges Act, Akujanji pledge, etc...
The standards of all public universities have
deteriorated. Among factors causing it: (a) quality of
student entering university has slipped owing to
falling standards of primary and secondary education,
despite more students scoring more A抯; (b)
appointment of VCs, majority of whom are
pro-government and of questionable academic merit, who
are only too keen to serve their political masters as
government servants or even as 損olicemen? at the
expense of academic autonomy and excellence; (c)
promotion as professors/ associate professors and
deans/ heads on the basis of their political positions
and administrative loyalties, rather than recognized
scholarship and good administrative skills; (d)
constant interference if not control of the
universities through a direct political master, in the
name of Minister for Higher Education, to such an
extent that there is no more semblance of university
autonomy left; and (e) stranglehold on staff and
students through UUCA and Akujanji, for example, which
render them to be 揳cademic eunuchs? stripped of
academic creativity and critical mind.
Small wonder that the universities as academic
institutions - owing to the quality of teaching,
research and publications as well as the crippled
minds of the students - are slowly going down the
drain.
Q5. "Socialism" as an ideology did not make headway
for decades within Malaysia's parliamentary system,
yet there are pockets of believers still travelling
that path. Any messages to your (former) party mates
like those still trying to get PSM registered?
What were the chief reasons leading you to spearhead
PRM's merger with Keadilan to form the PKR just three
years back?
The PRM-PKN merger was a historical necessity, I felt.
It provided a bigger platform to fight for justice,
democracy, national unity, transparency and welfare of
the people. It was supported by vast majority of PRM
membership. The few people who are trying to continue
PRM now are going against the majority decision of the
Party Congress. Indeed a good number of them, as
delegates, voted for merger during the Congress in
2002. In fact, the person who now claims to be their
leader shed tears during his speech to persuade
delegate to support the merger plan as tabled at the
Congress. He later assumed position as Deputy
Secretary General of Keadilan Rakyat, after merger.
But suddenly and surprisingly he changed direction.
They are not making any progress. I would advise him
and his handful of friends to carry out their struggle
through the bigger political vehicle of keADILan.
Q6. In the lead up to Aug 31, 2007 celebrations
planned by the BN government, year-in-year-out we hear
minsiterial exhortations to the rakyat, corporations
and SME businesses to fly the national flag?
Are there some unerlying causes that prevent a
spontaneous demonstration of such perceived
"patriotic" spirit? -- To the extent when the
Informatin Minister has to resort with threats to
capture on camera those business establishments NOT
flying the national flag.
I think that they are demonstrating their opposition
to and disappointment with the government policies and
leadership. By the way, patriotism is not something
that is nurtured or obtained through threats and
force.
Q7. After 50 yaers of Merdeka, how is the state of
nationhood today as compared with the first decade on
achieving Indpoendence -- Sept 1957-1967?
(a) What are the main achievements positive changes we
can be proud of?
(b) What are the main drawbacks/defects?
Summarise the main challenges facing Malaysians as we
march towards the year 2020...
There is undoubtedly some economic development, but
the progress made by Malaysia is way behind that
achieved by Singapore, Taiwan and Korea, although they
started almost on par in 1960. The per-capita income
of these three countries is respectively 5 to 3 times
bigger than that of Malaysia. Although incidence of
poverty has been reduced, income and socio-economic
inequities have widened, as a result of concentration
of wealth in the hands of a few through cronyism,
corruption and commission. Despite all the government
talk about it, environmental pollution and destruction
continue without control.
The national unity agenda mooted as one of the
objectives of the Merdeka struggle can be said to have
failed; ethnic tensions and divisions have become more
marked as a result of racial and divide and rule
policies. Standards of education ?from the lowest to
the highest levels have gone down; there is huge
number of graduate unemployment. Corruption is
undermining the whole fabric of society; social and
ethical standards are sliding down; there is increase
in criminal and immoral activities. The future of the
country and the people has become more uncertain.
Q8. Some of your comrades eg Kassim Ahmad, were wooed
over by UMNO. Were you ever in two minds about joing
the establishment UMNO party/any of BN components?
Will you offer yourself as a Candidate for the
forthcomg General Elections? I will undersytand if for
strategic reasons you may not want to detail such GE
plans, but a general sharing will do:)
A number of Umno leaders (including Musa Hitam) tried
to persuade me in the sixties to join Umno. Once I
convinced them of my principled pro-people,
pro-justice and pro-democracy stands, they never
bothered me any more.
>
ELECTION WATCH (5): A Politician of Principles
But He Also Opts Out From Contesting In GE2008!
That is from what I hear on the PKR grapevine is True. I would like to be proven wrong this time, of course!
One politician I have saluted and possibly used to promote subtly as an ICONIC MODEL for Malaysian youth to emulate is Dr Syed Husin Ali, and to YL Chong's knowledge, he has declined to be nominated to stand for Parliament in GE2008, from what I hear from PKR sources. WHICH IS BAD NEWS.
And as a political observer-writer, I urge the PKR Deputy President to give it a LAST SHOT! Because if there is anyone who can still shine through all the Opposition in-fighting, rivalry for internal power and control, stabbings and betrayals, it is this politician whose struggles and experience span some five decades.
I have an interesting proposalfor the Oppostion parties to demonstrate their statesmentship now and show the Malaysian public one party can sacrifice for another party's interest for the COMMON GOOD OF THE NATION! -- INVITE DR SYED HUSIN TO CONTEST THE BATU GAJAH (P) SEAT WHICH SDRI FONG PO KUAN HAD DECLINED TO RE-CONTEST!
Failing which, I urge the DAP to yield the Seremban (P) seat which its State chairman, ANTHONY LOKE, dared not contest -- even as he is defending the LOBAK State seat which falls within this Parliament (Seremban) constituency! The fact is that DAP lost by 16,000-plus votes in GE2004, and Loke dares not contest against such great odds. Instead he is sending a "nobody" politcian, known for jumping from Opposition -- he was elected State Assemblyman in Negr Sembilan once on the Rocket symbol, I hear! -- to BN component party,Gerakan, then re-joined a mosquito Opposition party called SDP, now agian emerging in DAP, to do the battle there for "show only". Instead Loke prefers to hog the less challenging contest for RASAH (P) SEAT which DAP lost by more than 5,000 votes in 2004.
I have indicated yesteday that Candidate C lost the Seremban parliament seat on DAP ticket, but Loke fully well knew that as Chairman, he should have taken on the fight to the BN-MCA here,not running to Rasah. If he wanted to Rasah, he should then quit Lobal state seat and pick one within Rasah parliament constituency. Loke has shown hmself to be a selfish politician , and not practising what his senior CHOW KON YOW, vice-president, has promoted, as reported by theSUN today, that DAP SHOULD SEND ITS SENIOR POLITICIANS TO FIGHT TOUGHER SEATS IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE PARTY'S COVERAGE. Is it just ALL TALK, NO ACTION?
Firstly, a Brief Outline of Dr Syed Husin's political journey in
chronological order.
1958, Joined PRM while student at University of Malaya
(Singapore);
1965-68: Secretary General of PRM, while lecturer at
UM(KL);
1968-70: Deputy President of PRM;
1970: Parti Rakyat Malaya (PRM ?original name of the
party, changed name to PSRM (Parti Sosialis Rakyat
Malaysia), under the leadership of Kassim Ahmad;
1974-80: Detained under ISA, following Baling peasant
and student protests;
1990: PSRM reverted to its original name Parti Rakyat
Malaysia (PRM);
1990: On being elected President of PRM, asked by UM
to leave post of Professor of Anthropology and
Sociology, for breaching UUCA;
1990-2003: President of PRM;
2003- : Deputy President keADILan.
********************* Inter:lude **************
A call by some Comrades necessitates my disAPpearance -- Sorry, not of the RM20k-generating kind, so I can't give each Parliament division RM3million to be spent over sext two weeks.
******************(TO BE CONTINUED...)************
YL Chong googled and found this interesting
INTERVIEW BY ALIRAN MONTHLYWITH DR SYED HUSIN ALI (No date of issue the monthly stated, but Dr Syed Husin was then President of Parti Rakayat Malaysia).
"We want change that will benefit the people"
Aliran Monthly interviews Dr Syed Husin Ali, president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia
Aliran Monthly: May we start with that interesting account in your book, Two Faces, of the attempt to get you to confess and to implicate Dr Mahathir and Musa Hitam? What was going on? Wasn’t Dr Mahathir then the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Musa Hitam the Minister for Education?
Dr Syed Husin Ali: Yes. Just to recollect, in January 1976, Tun Razak passed away and Tun Hussein succeeded him as PM. For a while there was rivalry for the position of DPM. Apparently Hussein preferred Tan Seri Ghazali Shafie, the Home Minister, who did not hold a senior position in UMNO. But the three UMNO Vice-presidents then - Ghafar Baba, Tengku Razaleigh and Mahathir Mohamad opposed his move. Faced with the possibility of an open rebellion within UMNO if these V-Ps were sidelined, Hussein finally decided to choose Mahathir, who was the most junior of the three, as his number two. This was a great blow to Ghazali.
We must remember that at that time the US was nearing defeat in Vietnam. Singapore government leaders, known to be pro-US and strongly anti-communist, were anxious to see the emergence of a friendly leader in the Malaysian gov_ern_ment. Hussein was considered to be a weak leader. At that time, Mahathir represented the more progressive wing within UMNO, and he was thought to be closely associated with Razak, who had earlier opened diplomatic relations with China, following his famous handshake with Mao Tse Tung. In Singapore, there were accusations that Razak was then surrounded by so-called "pro-communist" elements, which were alleged to continue to be around his successor.
Ghazali, who was a well-known anti-communist figure within the conservative wing of UMNO was a favourite candidate of the Singapore leaders. I think it was in the middle of 1976 that the Singapore government arrested under the ISA two Malay journalists, Hussein Jahidin and Azmi Mahmud. They implicated in their confession a number of people in Kuala Lumpur, including Samad Ismail, a senior journalist with the Straits Times, in what was branded as a "pro-communist conspiracy" against the Singapore government.
There were also others detained in Singapore at the same time, one of them accused of being a "Euro-communist". This person implicated the names of many politicians, who were active inside and outside UMNO. Not long after the Singapore arrests, the Malaysian government arrested a number of Malaysian journalists and politicians. They included Samad Ismail, Abdullah Ahmad and Abdullah Majid (both Deputy Ministers in the PM’s Department appointed by Tun Razak), Kassim Ahmad, President of PSRM and Chan Heng Kai and Tan Kok Kit from the DAP. They were all accused of being involved in pro-communist activities.
In July 1976, not long after these people were arrested and I had already been detained for about 18 months, I was taken to a secret holding centre and held in solitary confinement for more than six months. During the early part of that period, I was continuously interrogated and physically and mentally tortured. On one occasion, but just for a short while, I was questioned on Mahathir. One of the interrogators asked me to confess that I was a kind of interediary between Mahathir and the communist underground. I was assured of an early release if I co-operated. But I refused to be party to any false confession.
We must of course remember that, prior to this, a number of conservative UMNO leaders, especially Jaafar Albar, claimed that Mahathir, when he was in the limbo after being sacked by premier Tunku Abdul Rahman, made a speech in Australia, where he was supposed to have suggested that Malaysia could turn socialist by the end of the twentieth century. By implication he was a "socialist" or "pro-socialist". During detention, in the secret holding centre I kept on being reminded by my SB interrogators that "socialist" and "communist" were synonymous.
AM: So, you are saying, suggesting, that there was a conspiracy to unseat them, and you were to be the instrument via a false confession?
SH: I have reason to believe that at that time there could possibly have been a conspiracy, or at least a plan, to unseat Mahathir as DPM. If I had indulged in a false confession, and it was corroborated by the confession by another detainee at that time, then Mahathir could have well landed in detention too.
AM: Were you shocked?
SH: Not really. Those days it was common practice for the police to assassinate politically dissenters by accusing them to be "communist" or "socialist". It is quite different these days, after the cold war. Now they can be branded as "sodomists" instead. The accusations are different, but the methods of political assassination have not changed very much. You chose the enemies you want to destroy.
AM: Do you have any basis for believing it to have been a conspiracy?
SH: Let me remind you that not long after Mahathir succeeded Hussein as PM, his political secretary, Siddiq Ghouse, was accused of being a KGB agent and was arrested under the ISA. It so happened, if you remember, not long before that, a secretary of the German Chancellor Willy Brandt was arrested on the same allegation. Consequently, Brandt decided to resign his post. But of course Mahathir was not Brandt. Right until today, he will not give up his position for anything. The point I am trying to make is that someone had not given up trying to unseat Mahathir.
AM: As the officers doing the questioning were presumably Special Branch, do you think they were in on it, or were they just following orders? If the latter, would it be dangerous—that is, to expose yourself to possible slander or libel suits—for you to suggest whose orders?
SH: Well, well, well. I cannot imagine the SB officer interrogating me was entirely his own agent. I doubt he could have acted independently.
AM: Who was then the head of the Special Branch?
SH: I think it was one Tan Seri Amin. I cannot recall his full name.
AM: And who was the IGP at the time?
SH: None other than Haniff Omar, now Tun and many things else.
AM: We hope you don’t mind, but can we follow up a little more on this matter? Your account evidently ties in with Samad Ismail’s declaration in September that he was made to confess to trumped-up charges. We believe that was the first time that Samad has publicly declared thus. What about the other two who were detained at the same time, Abdullah Majid and Abdullah Ahmad?
SH: Actually, I have not seen Samad’s declaration that you talk about. As I wrote in Two Faces, after his release, I told Samad of the attempt to persuade me to make a false confession to implicate Mahathir. Samad said there was a similar attempt on himself. If I am not mistaken, Abdullah Ahmad has made a statement about his wrongful detention. He had followed this up with one or two articles about his detention in The Sun. Abdullah Majid has been bed-ridden for a number of years and I cannot recollect any statement by him after his release. Kassim has written a "memoir" on his detention, called The Second University.
AM: Have you all ever discussed this period with each other?SH: Other than my short discussion with Samad, no.
AM: And have you ever discussed it with Dr Mahathir or Musa?
SH: No.
AM: In the light of events over the past year and more, on which you have been very vocal, do you ever have any regrets that you did not confess as desired of you? After all, you might have ‘saved’ the country from Dr Mahathir, for he would surely have been knocked out then.
SH: No regrets at all. An evil person should be properly tried in an open court and duly punished if found guilty. I think it is wrong to make false allegation on anyone, that could lead to his detention under the ISA. After all I have always been against this draconian act and its abuse. Even if I had the opportunity to save the country from Mahathir then, there was no guarantee that he would be replaced by someone better.
AM: You have been supportive of Anwar since his dismissal, and your party has now joined a coalition with Parti Keadilan Nasional, PAS and the DAP. Yet you were rather critical of him while he was in office, and kept a fair distance from him. Why this change of heart?
SH: Let me be candid in saying that although Anwar was my friend and for some time my friend and detention mate, I do not support him now merely on that basis. Much more than just supporting Anwar, I am against the way in which he was unjustly treated and humiliated. Why was he beaten up? Why was he held under the ISA?
Why has he not been allowed bail? Why do the courts and police appear to be so one-sided against him? So, the issues have gone beyond Anwar. We support him because, to a certain extent, he has become a symbol or rallying point in the struggle for justice and democracy. For the same reason, we support Lim Guan Eng and hundreds of Malaysians who in various ways have been victims of all kinds of injustices.
It must also be emphasised that PRM has agreed to co-operate with keADILan, PAS and the DAP not merely on the basis of seeking freedom for Anwar or Guan Eng. We want economic, political and social changes, which can benefit the people. We are against concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a corrupt few; we want to reduce economic and social inequity; we want cheaper and, if necessary and possible, free housing, education and medical services; we want better management and regular supply of water and electricity; we reject the present form of privatisation, which is burdensome to the people; we reject tolls and so on; and we want change that will benefit the people at large. In other words there are many things in common shared by the opposition parties.
AM: But surely you, with all your connections, must have heard all those stories about Anwar’s boys, and about his use of money politics? Why then should you believe that Anwar’s reformasi call now is sincere, and not just an attempt to ride on popular discontent in order to return to power? Many people out there are saying Anwar and Mahathir are the same—in Malay, dua kali lima—and this is all a power struggle in which we ordinary citizens shouldn’t get involved. Either side wins, things are going to be the same. What is your response to that?
SH: Admittedly, Anwar gathered some cronies of his own when he was in power. But Anwar’s cronies were relatively much less powerful than Mahathir’s. Now, many of them have changed sides to Mahathir, where power is centred. Anwar and his supporters may well have practised money politics, when they were part of the establishment. Now Anwar has come out very strongly against cronyism, corruption and nepotism. He is paying very heavily for his opposition to his once political master. At the same time a lot of people have faith and much hope in him. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
My political philosophy and struggle are not linked to just an individual. More important, they are linked to policies, programmes and also ideology. Anwar is but a component although an important one in the wave for change. I hope this wave will become ever bigger and stronger, whatever the decisions or moves by individual leaders.
Change of, for and by the people must and should take place, whoever is the leader. If the people are the prime movers of this change, then whoever leaves it will certainly fall by the wayside. The fight now cannot be viewed anymore as a personal fight between Anwar and Mahathir. It is a fight for change of the society and its politico-economic systems. So, all citizens should be involved. I feel that after all that he has undergone, it is difficult for Anwar to go the Mahathir way. It is difficult to say that both of them are the same, especially now.
AM: OK. Say we accept your response and accept that the alternative coalition is sincere and serious about instituting changes to bring about greater transparency and accountability, justice and democracy. But many people have serious doubts. They have doubts about your ability to unite and stand together behind a programme. They have doubts about your ability to govern, given your total lack of experience.
SH: The only thing I can say is that we are trying hard and determined to co-operate and be more united this time round. People may be justified if they feel that we lack experience. But it does not take very long to gain experience. After all, a change in the government leadership through election does not involve radical changes in the structure of the bureaucracy, the army and the police, for example. If these remain intact, then certainly they will be of great help to the new government in power. Tell me, which is better? Inexperienced leaders who are willing to govern for the benefit of the people in a clean and accountable manner, or an experienced but docile and corrupt bunch of leaders who are interested only in preserving their own positions and interests, and bailing out their cronies in trouble?
AM: Many people are saying, "Look, the country is going through a rough period and we need a strong government, especially at this time. We are just not sure that the opposition coalition can provide that kind of leadership". Do you have an answer to that?
SH: Give us a chance. If we prove incompetent, then throw us out. Change of government can be good, because it can create healthy competition between the contending parties. The fear of being thrown out can spur a government to do well. It is bad when a government or a leader remains in power too long. It tends to make them more authoritarian and more negligent of the interests and fate of the people. They become more obsessed with building palaces for themselves rather than solving the housing problem of the poor. That is why we believe no PM should serve for more than two terms.
AM: But surely you don’t deny that there are significant differences within your coalition among the various parties. Won’t that be a weakness as compared to the Barisan Nasional, whose coalition members appear to be united? How do we know that PAS won’t try and push through their Islamic agenda or DAP its Malaysian Malaysia agenda or PRM its social democratic agenda, and so on?
SH: No, I don’t deny that. But for the short and medium terms, there are more similarities than differences among the different parties. As it is now, we are all committed to upholding the basic principles and spirit of the Federation Constitution, which have been abandoned or violated by the powers-that-be. The BN component parties represent different and sometimes opposite ethnic interests. What holds them together is power - being the government. If their position as a government is weakened and, worse still, when they lose power, everything will break asunder.
At the same time, I am sure that if the opposition parties form the government, then they will be united. Of course, in the long run, there might be competition and even conflicts owing to the differences in policies and ideologies. But certainly competition can be healthy and some conflicts can become very productive. Let us now build a political atmosphere that guarantees greater space and freedom for dissent and healthy competition to serve the people.
AM: What is the opposition coalition’s objective in this coming election? Is it going for a win or simply to deny the Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority?
SH: With all the power that they have and the resources that they control, the BN government has become formidable. It has control over the three M’s i.e. money, media, and (government) machinry. So it will be difficult to defeat the government. Nevertheless, nothing is impossible in politics, especially when the mood of people changes. A large section of the Malays now want change. Quite a significant number of non-Malays, especially the elderly, those in business and some professionals are quite fearful of change in case it affects adversely their business and livelihood. To ensure continuity and stability, we should be talking now about the necessity of a National Unity government consisting of politicians from the alternative parties, positive elements within the present governing parties and respected individuals within society from among NGOs.
AM: As it will be unfair for us to question you on the coalition platform, we would instead like to explore with you Parti Rakyat’s stand on a number of issues. Let’s start with capital controls and government expenditure to revive the economy. We believe it would be fair to say that Parti Rakyat is not opposed to capital controls as such nor are you opposed to government expenditure to revive the economy. Why then are you so critical of the BN’s use of these measures?
SH: There are several reasons for our criticisms. First, any form of control is difficult to implement successfully in a system based almost entirely on free market.
Second, the capital control measures were introduced too late, about 14 months after the economic crisis began. Much capital had already flown. As some people say, it was like closing the cage after the birds had flown away. Capital that chose to remain or left late, some of which was good capital, was "punished".
Third, the measures were calculated mainly to benefit big corporations and corporate figures that could be identified as cronies.
Fourth, government expenditure mainly for whom? and for what purpose? Certainly we are opposed to the revival of mega projects that are not economic, not productive. We certainly would support more expenditure on economic and productive projects and for providing social facilities like housing, health and education for the people. Why is it so little is spent on human resource development, for instance?
Finally, we have not recovered economically, but are only on the way to recovery. Signs of recovery can be seen in almost all the countries affected by the Asian financial crisis since two years ago. But the recovery is much faster in some of the countries that never exercised capital controls. For instance, during the first quarter, the growth rate in Korea was over 4.5 percent and in Indonesia it was about 1.5 percent. But in Malaysia it was about -1.5 percent (negative). What is the hoo-ha about?
AM: Is that fair? After all, Danaharta and Danamodal and the Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee was set up under Anwar. Moreover, they appear to be doing quite a good job of overcoming the bad debt problem and re-financing the banking sector. Or don’t you agree?
SH: The fact the Anwar set up Danaharta, Danamodal and CDRC was a credit to him. It proved that he was not blindly following the IMF recommendations. The idea behind the setting up of these bodies was good. But, unfortunately, under the present Finance Ministers, they are increasingly used mainly for the purpose of bailing out cronies and crony companies. For instance, Renong (under Halim Saad) and Tongkah (under one of Mahathir’s sons), have benefited from the CDRC.
AM: How do you think we should proceed on the economic front?
SH: Our economy is strongly influenced by the global process. We need to be involved, but wisely, in the global economy. Malaysia needs to have measures that can prevent itself from being a victim of the powerful global capital market. Our future depends very much on our ability to compete and to penetrate into the global market.
At the same time, there must be corporate governance that ensures transparency and is free from undesirable political intervention. The evil practices of corruption, cronyism and nepotism, which have become widespread under the BN government especially during the past 15 years, have weakened our economy and threaten the future of our country and people. They must be stopped. So too, there must be an end to the use of the country’s resources on wasteful, unproductive and uneconomic projects.
Further, we need to mobilise our economic resources for good use them to provide good and affordable social services, especially housing, health and education. Our concern should be more for the welfare of the majority of people and not the interests of a few who are rich and powerful. To modify Gandhi’s words, there should be enough for everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed.
AM: Correct us if we are wrong, but you also believe the country needs social and political reforms? Why so? We are relatively stable politically, socially the country has done pretty well compared to some others. So why rock the boat?
SH: There is still room for improving our political and social systems. Over the years authoritarian rule has increasingly crystallised within our political structure; in fact more and more power is being concentrated in the hands of a small number of people, if not just in one person. We may be able to prevent this from happening probably by limiting the tenure period of a minister, especially the Prime Minister. I think two terms is more than reasonable. We must also get rid of all repressive laws that violate human rights, especially the draconian ISA and the Publication and Printing Presses Act.
The economic system that allows for concentration of wealth has resulted not only in poverty and a wide economic gap, but also in great social differences and inequities. There is need to bridge the wide socio-economic gap, which seems to be ever widening. Furthermore, overemphasis on economic and physical development and neglect of human and spiritual values have given rise to all kinds of social problems. Values in society have become distorted. It is very difficult to provide role models for our youths, especially from the present day leaders in the country.
AM: What about the NEP/NDP?
SH: These should not be used for the purpose of enriching only a few people. In the name of the Bumiputras and their rights and privileges, the powerful few in the country have managed to monopolise power and wealth for themselves and their cronies, who consist of Malays as well as non-Malays. There is need for regular and thorough evaluation or appraisal of these policies to ensure that they will really be implemented in the best way to improve the lot of the people.
AM: Can we now turn to your personal side? You have been associated with dissident movements since your youth, in movements such as ASAS 50, then subsequently in Parti Rakyat. Why so, given that some of your concerns about wealth re-distribution were taken up by the Barisan Nasional?
SH: Let me emphasise that just redistribution of wealth has not taken place in this country. Contrary to the claims made by the BN leaders and despite the recognised achievements in economic growth, the problems of concentration of wealth and socio-economic inequity have actually deteriorated. A handful few have become dirt rich mainly through corrupt methods, and they seem to be immune from any form of action, much less prosecution.
Besides corruption, many other social and moral problems have worsened. Why concentrate only on bringing to book the small and medium sized fish? What about the big vicious sharks? In this country, they may number only around twenty. The BN leaders may have taken up our policies, but they have only turned them into slogans and rhetoric, devoid of substance.
AM: Would it be fair to say that, in some way, you too have been a beneficiary of BN government policy when you were given an opportunity to do your PhD at the London School of Economics? Is it not ingratitude to criticise the BN government?
SH: Sorry buddy. I paid for my PhD from my own pocket as a lowly paid lecturer. In fact, I even had to borrow, although I lived very modestly in London.
AM: How has your family taken to your life of dissidence? After all, there must have been times when you must have been invited to join UMNO, possibly even with a promise of a post of some prominence?
SH: Thank God, my wife has always been my strongest pillar of support. My children, who are grown up now, are full of understanding.
AM: Finally, can you summarise for us your vision of Malaysia in 2020?
SH: It is a country where our diverse people can live harmoniously with full human dignity and rights as an integrated national entity. There should be no room for ethnic-based political processes and parties which are divisive and destructive. There should be no concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a sprinkling few, which can lead to vast socio-economic inequities and an authoritarian political system.
The wealth of the country should be fairly redistributed by, among other things, better wages and working conditions for the workers (skilled and unskilled) and more and cheaper social services, especially housing, education and health. Prices of daily necessities should be reasonably controlled by fighting monopoly. And tolls which continue to increase should be reviewed, with the purpose of abolishing them. Water and electricity supply should be regular and uninterrupted. Public monopoly and inefficiency should not be transferred into private monopoly and inefficiency through privatisation or corporatisation.
This country is at the crossroads of rich cultures and civilisations of the world and we have benefited from them. We should continue creatively to further enrich our own cultures by opening to this international cultural heritage. Technological and industrial growth must be encouraged to improve the general livelihood of the people and not to encourage control and monopoly which can further widen social inequities among the people. High moral values must be drawn from our different cultures and religions and strengthened among the young through good education, so that they can serve as strong buttresses against all forms of moral decadence and corruption associated with negative westernisation.
Certainly I would like to see a much better country, society and people in 2020 than now.
AM: And why should the people support you, your party or the opposition coalition? Why not simply stick with a proven formula, warts and all? Why risk something new and untested?
SH: We believe that our policies and programmes are much better for the people than those of the BN. The BN formula has proven itself to be in favour of a small coterie of the rich and powerful and discriminates against the majority. It has made life more difficult for the common people because, as a result of privatisation and lack of reasonable control, the cost of housing, education, health, tolls and the prices of daily necessities have continued to rise and become more burdensome. It serves some people’s greed, not most people’s need. The system is ridden with corruption, cronyism and nepotism at the highest level. There is lack of morality and plenty of double standards among the leaders. It is rotting to the core. Under these circumstances, change is necessary, in fact, inevitable, whether with or without the present leadership. Isn’t life change itself? Why fear change, especially when it provides an opportunity for improvement?
That is from what I hear on the PKR grapevine is True. I would like to be proven wrong this time, of course!
One politician I have saluted and possibly used to promote subtly as an ICONIC MODEL for Malaysian youth to emulate is Dr Syed Husin Ali, and to YL Chong's knowledge, he has declined to be nominated to stand for Parliament in GE2008, from what I hear from PKR sources. WHICH IS BAD NEWS.
And as a political observer-writer, I urge the PKR Deputy President to give it a LAST SHOT! Because if there is anyone who can still shine through all the Opposition in-fighting, rivalry for internal power and control, stabbings and betrayals, it is this politician whose struggles and experience span some five decades.
I have an interesting proposalfor the Oppostion parties to demonstrate their statesmentship now and show the Malaysian public one party can sacrifice for another party's interest for the COMMON GOOD OF THE NATION! -- INVITE DR SYED HUSIN TO CONTEST THE BATU GAJAH (P) SEAT WHICH SDRI FONG PO KUAN HAD DECLINED TO RE-CONTEST!
Failing which, I urge the DAP to yield the Seremban (P) seat which its State chairman, ANTHONY LOKE, dared not contest -- even as he is defending the LOBAK State seat which falls within this Parliament (Seremban) constituency! The fact is that DAP lost by 16,000-plus votes in GE2004, and Loke dares not contest against such great odds. Instead he is sending a "nobody" politcian, known for jumping from Opposition -- he was elected State Assemblyman in Negr Sembilan once on the Rocket symbol, I hear! -- to BN component party,Gerakan, then re-joined a mosquito Opposition party called SDP, now agian emerging in DAP, to do the battle there for "show only". Instead Loke prefers to hog the less challenging contest for RASAH (P) SEAT which DAP lost by more than 5,000 votes in 2004.
I have indicated yesteday that Candidate C lost the Seremban parliament seat on DAP ticket, but Loke fully well knew that as Chairman, he should have taken on the fight to the BN-MCA here,not running to Rasah. If he wanted to Rasah, he should then quit Lobal state seat and pick one within Rasah parliament constituency. Loke has shown hmself to be a selfish politician , and not practising what his senior CHOW KON YOW, vice-president, has promoted, as reported by theSUN today, that DAP SHOULD SEND ITS SENIOR POLITICIANS TO FIGHT TOUGHER SEATS IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE PARTY'S COVERAGE. Is it just ALL TALK, NO ACTION?
Firstly, a Brief Outline of Dr Syed Husin's political journey in
chronological order.
1958, Joined PRM while student at University of Malaya
(Singapore);
1965-68: Secretary General of PRM, while lecturer at
UM(KL);
1968-70: Deputy President of PRM;
1970: Parti Rakyat Malaya (PRM ?original name of the
party, changed name to PSRM (Parti Sosialis Rakyat
Malaysia), under the leadership of Kassim Ahmad;
1974-80: Detained under ISA, following Baling peasant
and student protests;
1990: PSRM reverted to its original name Parti Rakyat
Malaysia (PRM);
1990: On being elected President of PRM, asked by UM
to leave post of Professor of Anthropology and
Sociology, for breaching UUCA;
1990-2003: President of PRM;
2003- : Deputy President keADILan.
********************* Inter:lude **************
A call by some Comrades necessitates my disAPpearance -- Sorry, not of the RM20k-generating kind, so I can't give each Parliament division RM3million to be spent over sext two weeks.
******************(TO BE CONTINUED...)************
YL Chong googled and found this interesting
INTERVIEW BY ALIRAN MONTHLYWITH DR SYED HUSIN ALI (No date of issue the monthly stated, but Dr Syed Husin was then President of Parti Rakayat Malaysia).
"We want change that will benefit the people"
Aliran Monthly interviews Dr Syed Husin Ali, president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia
Aliran Monthly: May we start with that interesting account in your book, Two Faces, of the attempt to get you to confess and to implicate Dr Mahathir and Musa Hitam? What was going on? Wasn’t Dr Mahathir then the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Musa Hitam the Minister for Education?
Dr Syed Husin Ali: Yes. Just to recollect, in January 1976, Tun Razak passed away and Tun Hussein succeeded him as PM. For a while there was rivalry for the position of DPM. Apparently Hussein preferred Tan Seri Ghazali Shafie, the Home Minister, who did not hold a senior position in UMNO. But the three UMNO Vice-presidents then - Ghafar Baba, Tengku Razaleigh and Mahathir Mohamad opposed his move. Faced with the possibility of an open rebellion within UMNO if these V-Ps were sidelined, Hussein finally decided to choose Mahathir, who was the most junior of the three, as his number two. This was a great blow to Ghazali.
We must remember that at that time the US was nearing defeat in Vietnam. Singapore government leaders, known to be pro-US and strongly anti-communist, were anxious to see the emergence of a friendly leader in the Malaysian gov_ern_ment. Hussein was considered to be a weak leader. At that time, Mahathir represented the more progressive wing within UMNO, and he was thought to be closely associated with Razak, who had earlier opened diplomatic relations with China, following his famous handshake with Mao Tse Tung. In Singapore, there were accusations that Razak was then surrounded by so-called "pro-communist" elements, which were alleged to continue to be around his successor.
Ghazali, who was a well-known anti-communist figure within the conservative wing of UMNO was a favourite candidate of the Singapore leaders. I think it was in the middle of 1976 that the Singapore government arrested under the ISA two Malay journalists, Hussein Jahidin and Azmi Mahmud. They implicated in their confession a number of people in Kuala Lumpur, including Samad Ismail, a senior journalist with the Straits Times, in what was branded as a "pro-communist conspiracy" against the Singapore government.
There were also others detained in Singapore at the same time, one of them accused of being a "Euro-communist". This person implicated the names of many politicians, who were active inside and outside UMNO. Not long after the Singapore arrests, the Malaysian government arrested a number of Malaysian journalists and politicians. They included Samad Ismail, Abdullah Ahmad and Abdullah Majid (both Deputy Ministers in the PM’s Department appointed by Tun Razak), Kassim Ahmad, President of PSRM and Chan Heng Kai and Tan Kok Kit from the DAP. They were all accused of being involved in pro-communist activities.
In July 1976, not long after these people were arrested and I had already been detained for about 18 months, I was taken to a secret holding centre and held in solitary confinement for more than six months. During the early part of that period, I was continuously interrogated and physically and mentally tortured. On one occasion, but just for a short while, I was questioned on Mahathir. One of the interrogators asked me to confess that I was a kind of interediary between Mahathir and the communist underground. I was assured of an early release if I co-operated. But I refused to be party to any false confession.
We must of course remember that, prior to this, a number of conservative UMNO leaders, especially Jaafar Albar, claimed that Mahathir, when he was in the limbo after being sacked by premier Tunku Abdul Rahman, made a speech in Australia, where he was supposed to have suggested that Malaysia could turn socialist by the end of the twentieth century. By implication he was a "socialist" or "pro-socialist". During detention, in the secret holding centre I kept on being reminded by my SB interrogators that "socialist" and "communist" were synonymous.
AM: So, you are saying, suggesting, that there was a conspiracy to unseat them, and you were to be the instrument via a false confession?
SH: I have reason to believe that at that time there could possibly have been a conspiracy, or at least a plan, to unseat Mahathir as DPM. If I had indulged in a false confession, and it was corroborated by the confession by another detainee at that time, then Mahathir could have well landed in detention too.
AM: Were you shocked?
SH: Not really. Those days it was common practice for the police to assassinate politically dissenters by accusing them to be "communist" or "socialist". It is quite different these days, after the cold war. Now they can be branded as "sodomists" instead. The accusations are different, but the methods of political assassination have not changed very much. You chose the enemies you want to destroy.
AM: Do you have any basis for believing it to have been a conspiracy?
SH: Let me remind you that not long after Mahathir succeeded Hussein as PM, his political secretary, Siddiq Ghouse, was accused of being a KGB agent and was arrested under the ISA. It so happened, if you remember, not long before that, a secretary of the German Chancellor Willy Brandt was arrested on the same allegation. Consequently, Brandt decided to resign his post. But of course Mahathir was not Brandt. Right until today, he will not give up his position for anything. The point I am trying to make is that someone had not given up trying to unseat Mahathir.
AM: As the officers doing the questioning were presumably Special Branch, do you think they were in on it, or were they just following orders? If the latter, would it be dangerous—that is, to expose yourself to possible slander or libel suits—for you to suggest whose orders?
SH: Well, well, well. I cannot imagine the SB officer interrogating me was entirely his own agent. I doubt he could have acted independently.
AM: Who was then the head of the Special Branch?
SH: I think it was one Tan Seri Amin. I cannot recall his full name.
AM: And who was the IGP at the time?
SH: None other than Haniff Omar, now Tun and many things else.
AM: We hope you don’t mind, but can we follow up a little more on this matter? Your account evidently ties in with Samad Ismail’s declaration in September that he was made to confess to trumped-up charges. We believe that was the first time that Samad has publicly declared thus. What about the other two who were detained at the same time, Abdullah Majid and Abdullah Ahmad?
SH: Actually, I have not seen Samad’s declaration that you talk about. As I wrote in Two Faces, after his release, I told Samad of the attempt to persuade me to make a false confession to implicate Mahathir. Samad said there was a similar attempt on himself. If I am not mistaken, Abdullah Ahmad has made a statement about his wrongful detention. He had followed this up with one or two articles about his detention in The Sun. Abdullah Majid has been bed-ridden for a number of years and I cannot recollect any statement by him after his release. Kassim has written a "memoir" on his detention, called The Second University.
AM: Have you all ever discussed this period with each other?SH: Other than my short discussion with Samad, no.
AM: And have you ever discussed it with Dr Mahathir or Musa?
SH: No.
AM: In the light of events over the past year and more, on which you have been very vocal, do you ever have any regrets that you did not confess as desired of you? After all, you might have ‘saved’ the country from Dr Mahathir, for he would surely have been knocked out then.
SH: No regrets at all. An evil person should be properly tried in an open court and duly punished if found guilty. I think it is wrong to make false allegation on anyone, that could lead to his detention under the ISA. After all I have always been against this draconian act and its abuse. Even if I had the opportunity to save the country from Mahathir then, there was no guarantee that he would be replaced by someone better.
AM: You have been supportive of Anwar since his dismissal, and your party has now joined a coalition with Parti Keadilan Nasional, PAS and the DAP. Yet you were rather critical of him while he was in office, and kept a fair distance from him. Why this change of heart?
SH: Let me be candid in saying that although Anwar was my friend and for some time my friend and detention mate, I do not support him now merely on that basis. Much more than just supporting Anwar, I am against the way in which he was unjustly treated and humiliated. Why was he beaten up? Why was he held under the ISA?
Why has he not been allowed bail? Why do the courts and police appear to be so one-sided against him? So, the issues have gone beyond Anwar. We support him because, to a certain extent, he has become a symbol or rallying point in the struggle for justice and democracy. For the same reason, we support Lim Guan Eng and hundreds of Malaysians who in various ways have been victims of all kinds of injustices.
It must also be emphasised that PRM has agreed to co-operate with keADILan, PAS and the DAP not merely on the basis of seeking freedom for Anwar or Guan Eng. We want economic, political and social changes, which can benefit the people. We are against concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a corrupt few; we want to reduce economic and social inequity; we want cheaper and, if necessary and possible, free housing, education and medical services; we want better management and regular supply of water and electricity; we reject the present form of privatisation, which is burdensome to the people; we reject tolls and so on; and we want change that will benefit the people at large. In other words there are many things in common shared by the opposition parties.
AM: But surely you, with all your connections, must have heard all those stories about Anwar’s boys, and about his use of money politics? Why then should you believe that Anwar’s reformasi call now is sincere, and not just an attempt to ride on popular discontent in order to return to power? Many people out there are saying Anwar and Mahathir are the same—in Malay, dua kali lima—and this is all a power struggle in which we ordinary citizens shouldn’t get involved. Either side wins, things are going to be the same. What is your response to that?
SH: Admittedly, Anwar gathered some cronies of his own when he was in power. But Anwar’s cronies were relatively much less powerful than Mahathir’s. Now, many of them have changed sides to Mahathir, where power is centred. Anwar and his supporters may well have practised money politics, when they were part of the establishment. Now Anwar has come out very strongly against cronyism, corruption and nepotism. He is paying very heavily for his opposition to his once political master. At the same time a lot of people have faith and much hope in him. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
My political philosophy and struggle are not linked to just an individual. More important, they are linked to policies, programmes and also ideology. Anwar is but a component although an important one in the wave for change. I hope this wave will become ever bigger and stronger, whatever the decisions or moves by individual leaders.
Change of, for and by the people must and should take place, whoever is the leader. If the people are the prime movers of this change, then whoever leaves it will certainly fall by the wayside. The fight now cannot be viewed anymore as a personal fight between Anwar and Mahathir. It is a fight for change of the society and its politico-economic systems. So, all citizens should be involved. I feel that after all that he has undergone, it is difficult for Anwar to go the Mahathir way. It is difficult to say that both of them are the same, especially now.
AM: OK. Say we accept your response and accept that the alternative coalition is sincere and serious about instituting changes to bring about greater transparency and accountability, justice and democracy. But many people have serious doubts. They have doubts about your ability to unite and stand together behind a programme. They have doubts about your ability to govern, given your total lack of experience.
SH: The only thing I can say is that we are trying hard and determined to co-operate and be more united this time round. People may be justified if they feel that we lack experience. But it does not take very long to gain experience. After all, a change in the government leadership through election does not involve radical changes in the structure of the bureaucracy, the army and the police, for example. If these remain intact, then certainly they will be of great help to the new government in power. Tell me, which is better? Inexperienced leaders who are willing to govern for the benefit of the people in a clean and accountable manner, or an experienced but docile and corrupt bunch of leaders who are interested only in preserving their own positions and interests, and bailing out their cronies in trouble?
AM: Many people are saying, "Look, the country is going through a rough period and we need a strong government, especially at this time. We are just not sure that the opposition coalition can provide that kind of leadership". Do you have an answer to that?
SH: Give us a chance. If we prove incompetent, then throw us out. Change of government can be good, because it can create healthy competition between the contending parties. The fear of being thrown out can spur a government to do well. It is bad when a government or a leader remains in power too long. It tends to make them more authoritarian and more negligent of the interests and fate of the people. They become more obsessed with building palaces for themselves rather than solving the housing problem of the poor. That is why we believe no PM should serve for more than two terms.
AM: But surely you don’t deny that there are significant differences within your coalition among the various parties. Won’t that be a weakness as compared to the Barisan Nasional, whose coalition members appear to be united? How do we know that PAS won’t try and push through their Islamic agenda or DAP its Malaysian Malaysia agenda or PRM its social democratic agenda, and so on?
SH: No, I don’t deny that. But for the short and medium terms, there are more similarities than differences among the different parties. As it is now, we are all committed to upholding the basic principles and spirit of the Federation Constitution, which have been abandoned or violated by the powers-that-be. The BN component parties represent different and sometimes opposite ethnic interests. What holds them together is power - being the government. If their position as a government is weakened and, worse still, when they lose power, everything will break asunder.
At the same time, I am sure that if the opposition parties form the government, then they will be united. Of course, in the long run, there might be competition and even conflicts owing to the differences in policies and ideologies. But certainly competition can be healthy and some conflicts can become very productive. Let us now build a political atmosphere that guarantees greater space and freedom for dissent and healthy competition to serve the people.
AM: What is the opposition coalition’s objective in this coming election? Is it going for a win or simply to deny the Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority?
SH: With all the power that they have and the resources that they control, the BN government has become formidable. It has control over the three M’s i.e. money, media, and (government) machinry. So it will be difficult to defeat the government. Nevertheless, nothing is impossible in politics, especially when the mood of people changes. A large section of the Malays now want change. Quite a significant number of non-Malays, especially the elderly, those in business and some professionals are quite fearful of change in case it affects adversely their business and livelihood. To ensure continuity and stability, we should be talking now about the necessity of a National Unity government consisting of politicians from the alternative parties, positive elements within the present governing parties and respected individuals within society from among NGOs.
AM: As it will be unfair for us to question you on the coalition platform, we would instead like to explore with you Parti Rakyat’s stand on a number of issues. Let’s start with capital controls and government expenditure to revive the economy. We believe it would be fair to say that Parti Rakyat is not opposed to capital controls as such nor are you opposed to government expenditure to revive the economy. Why then are you so critical of the BN’s use of these measures?
SH: There are several reasons for our criticisms. First, any form of control is difficult to implement successfully in a system based almost entirely on free market.
Second, the capital control measures were introduced too late, about 14 months after the economic crisis began. Much capital had already flown. As some people say, it was like closing the cage after the birds had flown away. Capital that chose to remain or left late, some of which was good capital, was "punished".
Third, the measures were calculated mainly to benefit big corporations and corporate figures that could be identified as cronies.
Fourth, government expenditure mainly for whom? and for what purpose? Certainly we are opposed to the revival of mega projects that are not economic, not productive. We certainly would support more expenditure on economic and productive projects and for providing social facilities like housing, health and education for the people. Why is it so little is spent on human resource development, for instance?
Finally, we have not recovered economically, but are only on the way to recovery. Signs of recovery can be seen in almost all the countries affected by the Asian financial crisis since two years ago. But the recovery is much faster in some of the countries that never exercised capital controls. For instance, during the first quarter, the growth rate in Korea was over 4.5 percent and in Indonesia it was about 1.5 percent. But in Malaysia it was about -1.5 percent (negative). What is the hoo-ha about?
AM: Is that fair? After all, Danaharta and Danamodal and the Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee was set up under Anwar. Moreover, they appear to be doing quite a good job of overcoming the bad debt problem and re-financing the banking sector. Or don’t you agree?
SH: The fact the Anwar set up Danaharta, Danamodal and CDRC was a credit to him. It proved that he was not blindly following the IMF recommendations. The idea behind the setting up of these bodies was good. But, unfortunately, under the present Finance Ministers, they are increasingly used mainly for the purpose of bailing out cronies and crony companies. For instance, Renong (under Halim Saad) and Tongkah (under one of Mahathir’s sons), have benefited from the CDRC.
AM: How do you think we should proceed on the economic front?
SH: Our economy is strongly influenced by the global process. We need to be involved, but wisely, in the global economy. Malaysia needs to have measures that can prevent itself from being a victim of the powerful global capital market. Our future depends very much on our ability to compete and to penetrate into the global market.
At the same time, there must be corporate governance that ensures transparency and is free from undesirable political intervention. The evil practices of corruption, cronyism and nepotism, which have become widespread under the BN government especially during the past 15 years, have weakened our economy and threaten the future of our country and people. They must be stopped. So too, there must be an end to the use of the country’s resources on wasteful, unproductive and uneconomic projects.
Further, we need to mobilise our economic resources for good use them to provide good and affordable social services, especially housing, health and education. Our concern should be more for the welfare of the majority of people and not the interests of a few who are rich and powerful. To modify Gandhi’s words, there should be enough for everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed.
AM: Correct us if we are wrong, but you also believe the country needs social and political reforms? Why so? We are relatively stable politically, socially the country has done pretty well compared to some others. So why rock the boat?
SH: There is still room for improving our political and social systems. Over the years authoritarian rule has increasingly crystallised within our political structure; in fact more and more power is being concentrated in the hands of a small number of people, if not just in one person. We may be able to prevent this from happening probably by limiting the tenure period of a minister, especially the Prime Minister. I think two terms is more than reasonable. We must also get rid of all repressive laws that violate human rights, especially the draconian ISA and the Publication and Printing Presses Act.
The economic system that allows for concentration of wealth has resulted not only in poverty and a wide economic gap, but also in great social differences and inequities. There is need to bridge the wide socio-economic gap, which seems to be ever widening. Furthermore, overemphasis on economic and physical development and neglect of human and spiritual values have given rise to all kinds of social problems. Values in society have become distorted. It is very difficult to provide role models for our youths, especially from the present day leaders in the country.
AM: What about the NEP/NDP?
SH: These should not be used for the purpose of enriching only a few people. In the name of the Bumiputras and their rights and privileges, the powerful few in the country have managed to monopolise power and wealth for themselves and their cronies, who consist of Malays as well as non-Malays. There is need for regular and thorough evaluation or appraisal of these policies to ensure that they will really be implemented in the best way to improve the lot of the people.
AM: Can we now turn to your personal side? You have been associated with dissident movements since your youth, in movements such as ASAS 50, then subsequently in Parti Rakyat. Why so, given that some of your concerns about wealth re-distribution were taken up by the Barisan Nasional?
SH: Let me emphasise that just redistribution of wealth has not taken place in this country. Contrary to the claims made by the BN leaders and despite the recognised achievements in economic growth, the problems of concentration of wealth and socio-economic inequity have actually deteriorated. A handful few have become dirt rich mainly through corrupt methods, and they seem to be immune from any form of action, much less prosecution.
Besides corruption, many other social and moral problems have worsened. Why concentrate only on bringing to book the small and medium sized fish? What about the big vicious sharks? In this country, they may number only around twenty. The BN leaders may have taken up our policies, but they have only turned them into slogans and rhetoric, devoid of substance.
AM: Would it be fair to say that, in some way, you too have been a beneficiary of BN government policy when you were given an opportunity to do your PhD at the London School of Economics? Is it not ingratitude to criticise the BN government?
SH: Sorry buddy. I paid for my PhD from my own pocket as a lowly paid lecturer. In fact, I even had to borrow, although I lived very modestly in London.
AM: How has your family taken to your life of dissidence? After all, there must have been times when you must have been invited to join UMNO, possibly even with a promise of a post of some prominence?
SH: Thank God, my wife has always been my strongest pillar of support. My children, who are grown up now, are full of understanding.
AM: Finally, can you summarise for us your vision of Malaysia in 2020?
SH: It is a country where our diverse people can live harmoniously with full human dignity and rights as an integrated national entity. There should be no room for ethnic-based political processes and parties which are divisive and destructive. There should be no concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a sprinkling few, which can lead to vast socio-economic inequities and an authoritarian political system.
The wealth of the country should be fairly redistributed by, among other things, better wages and working conditions for the workers (skilled and unskilled) and more and cheaper social services, especially housing, education and health. Prices of daily necessities should be reasonably controlled by fighting monopoly. And tolls which continue to increase should be reviewed, with the purpose of abolishing them. Water and electricity supply should be regular and uninterrupted. Public monopoly and inefficiency should not be transferred into private monopoly and inefficiency through privatisation or corporatisation.
This country is at the crossroads of rich cultures and civilisations of the world and we have benefited from them. We should continue creatively to further enrich our own cultures by opening to this international cultural heritage. Technological and industrial growth must be encouraged to improve the general livelihood of the people and not to encourage control and monopoly which can further widen social inequities among the people. High moral values must be drawn from our different cultures and religions and strengthened among the young through good education, so that they can serve as strong buttresses against all forms of moral decadence and corruption associated with negative westernisation.
Certainly I would like to see a much better country, society and people in 2020 than now.
AM: And why should the people support you, your party or the opposition coalition? Why not simply stick with a proven formula, warts and all? Why risk something new and untested?
SH: We believe that our policies and programmes are much better for the people than those of the BN. The BN formula has proven itself to be in favour of a small coterie of the rich and powerful and discriminates against the majority. It has made life more difficult for the common people because, as a result of privatisation and lack of reasonable control, the cost of housing, education, health, tolls and the prices of daily necessities have continued to rise and become more burdensome. It serves some people’s greed, not most people’s need. The system is ridden with corruption, cronyism and nepotism at the highest level. There is lack of morality and plenty of double standards among the leaders. It is rotting to the core. Under these circumstances, change is necessary, in fact, inevitable, whether with or without the present leadership. Isn’t life change itself? Why fear change, especially when it provides an opportunity for improvement?
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