Here's a timely ANALYSIS by a Reuters correspondent which Malaysians must sit up and take note.
Next, I reprise a Joint Press Statement issued by a group of Malaysians which we not must only take note but act on by standing up for our rights as Citizens of NegaraKu we call Malaysia.
We hope Malaysian leaders show true leadership after a General Elections some two months later and get on with the job of preparing the country to face up to Global Challenges instead of being diverted by unproductive -- many rhetorical -- issues that benefit no one in the long run. Letno party fight to win the battles, and finally the country as a whole loses the war.
The rival forces are from outside the Malaysian physical borders, and we mustwake up to the fact it's been a Borderless World for a few decades now since the dawn of the Internet. ~~ YL Chong, the newshound in Desi, maybe an escapee from Jurassic Park?
Reuters
http://uk.reuters.com/
Sun May 11, 2008 6:15am BST
Malaysia poll promise turns into ugly money fight
ANALYSIS By Jalil Hamid
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Reuters) - Malaysia's recent elections promised
a new era of democracy and reform, but instead have ushered in an ugly
fight for power and money that has turned off investors.
Malaysia's ruling coalition suffered a humiliating setback in the
March 8 polls, losing a two-thirds parliamentary majority for the
first time in 40 years and yielding control of an unprecedented five
of the nation's 13 states.
But in an apparent tit-for-tat, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's
government is refusing to disburse development and tourism funds
directly through the five opposition-controlled state governments.
Some state welfare funds have also been stripped off and discreetly
transferred to a national association comprising wives of federal
ministers, opposition leaders said. Abdullah's government is reviewing
key infrastructure projects approved earlier in those states, adding
further risks to investors. The opposition, accusing the government of
being a sore-loser, has meanwhile complained that some official files,
money and even furniture, have gone missing.
"Perhaps the biggest risk is that the government starts to undermine
state governments controlled by the opposition," global banking giant
HSBC said in a research report on Malaysia. "There are some signs that
this is already happening."
SLOWING ECONOMY
Some would-be foreign investors are already skipping the industrial
states of Penang and Selangor, two of the five states ruled by the
opposition, due to political concerns, one Asian diplomat said.
This is a worrying sign for the slowing economy, reeling from a
possible global slowdown and soaring energy and food prices.
The stock market .KLSE, which has gradually recouped all its losses
since the elections, isn't going anywhere now due to what one top
brokerage house called overhanging political uncertainty.
"We remain neutral on Malaysian equities," the brokerage said in a
report released last week.
Analysts said holding back big construction projects could scuttle the
economy, where growth is seen slowing to 5-6 percent this year from
6.3 percent in 2007.
A leading banker drew parallels with Thailand where prolonged
political uncertainty has hurt consumer sentiment in the country.
"We hope the political landscape clears up quickly," said Nazir Razak,
head of the country's second-largest banking group, CIMB (BUCM.KL:
Quote, Profile, Research). "I think a lot of business people are
saying now they are anxious to put the political environment to bed so
that we can get on with business."
POLITICAL SEA-CHANGE?
Although the elections brought about a political sea-change, some
things just don't change in a nation where a system of patronage is
well-entrenched and many compete for a share of political spoils.
"The crux of the problem is Malaysia's nation-building is so much
about politics and politicking and not about building strong
institutions and dealing with the economy," said Ooi Kee Beng, an
analyst at Singapore's Institute of South East Asian Studies.
Stemming from the need to distribute political spoils to the three
ideologically disparate parties in the opposition "Pakatan Rakyat"
front, their respective state governments have began handing out
positions to their supporter
They range from directorships in state firms to city hall councillors
and village heads.
Rubbing salt in the wound, federal housing minister Ong Ka Chuan said
last week his government would set up special federal offices in the
five states to handle funds.
"Since these states come under opposition rule, we need to set up
Federal development offices to handle the allocations," he said.
Veteran politician Koh Tsu Koon, who ruled Penang for 18 years until
he was ousted in the polls, blamed the new government for sitting on
projects that were approved during his time.
"But if the state government wants to play its own game, how is the
federal government going to work with the state?" he said.
The bedrock of Malaysia's ruling coalition is Abdullah's United Malays
National Organisation (UMNO), which marks its 62nd birthday on Sunday
deeply divided after the election. Even Abdullah's own political
future is in doubt.
"Getting the act together has to start with UMNO and UMNO is very
split at the moment and Abdullah doesn't exude confidence in
governance," said Ooi, the political analyst.
************************************************
A group of Concerned Malaysians have issued the following Press statement, and it's
worth your while to read and digest it, perhaps then circulate it as widely as possible ~~ YL, Desi
Respect for Loyal Opposition Essential for Democracy
The Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) stresses that a loyal opposition is a legitimate and necessary part of any system of democracy, including our constitutional monarchy.
We strongly criticise the threatened use of the Sedition Act 1948 and the leveling of accusations of treason against anyone who has a critical view of our political system, regardless of whether the person is a parliamentarian, a member of the royalty or an ordinary citizen, especially by those who would take offence for purely populist or politically-partisan purposes.
CSI-Parliament stresses that the democratic space for debate and deliberation on issues of national interest is now more important to protect as the country makes its ways through uncharted waters of deeper democratization and more extensive political plurality at the state government level.
The initial sacking of Perak Religious Department Director Datuk Jamry Sury by the Pakatan Rakyat state government, the subsequent order by HRH the Sultan of Perak to reinstate him, and the consequent criticism by Karpal Singh MP of HRH the Sultan of Perak’s order have resulted in different perspectives of the law and constitutional convention brought to public attention.
Let us not forget a similar situation faced by the Barisan Nasional in attempting to nominate its candidates for the post of Menteri Besar in Perlis and Terengganu. Political convention and processes in the latter cases - hitherto taken for granted - were then called into question by many, including Government and Barisan leaders. While at the end of the day there can only be one lawful position on the matter, there must be sufficient room for legitimate public discussion and deliberation of what exactly that position is.
In connection with the new controversy over various statements of Parliamentarian Karpal Singh, CSI-Parliament condemns political manoeuvres which are bent on manipulating a complex though legitimate difference of opinion on constitutional law and the position of the Malay Rulers into a so-called stand-off between the palace and the opposition.
Just as dangerous is the attempt by some quarters to portray this incident as a potentially seditious and treasonous questioning of royal prerogatives, and consequently a perceived slighting of the position of one particular community.
CSI-Parliament is confident that wise counsel shall prevail and that the unacceptable attempt by certain parties to take advantage of this situation to promote ill-will and hostility between the races will fail miserably. It is these irresponsible parties who are the real threat to peace and stability in this country.
To ensure an inclusive process of democratization and the liberty to engage in healthy and open debate free from threats of sedition and accusations of treason, CSI-Parliament takes this opportunity to echo the longstanding call by the Bar Council and other civil society organizations to abolish the Sedition Act 1948. More pertinent legislation to bring genuine threats against the public order before the courts of our land is already available in our statute books.
Press Statement issued jointly by:
Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Wong Chin Huat
Edward Lee
Andrew Khoo
Haris Ibrahim
Kuala Lumpur
12 May 2008
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