A dictator I can accept; a corrupt one I tak tahan!

This is a Post writ half in jest, Okay! It does not truly reflect YL's political beliefs in essence, so take it half in FUN-d!:)

A tongue-in-chic write/'rite/writHe from Desi inspired/expired by this item sighted in The Malaysian Insider this moUrn:( I have not taken by BF, nyet! Anywan buying one for this mousey writHer? Meet me at menKe in 30m, where all the men are charitable and ...


Anwar says Najib will be a dictator
By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has predicted a dictatorial regime under Prime Minister-designate Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"If he comes into the picture, everything will be clamped down," he said to reporters in Parliament when told that the Finance Minister plans to roll out the RM7 billion stimulus package which Najib announced in Dewan Rakyat last Tuesday.

"It has not been approved by Parliament. It has not even been tabled," the Permatang Pauh MP said of the stimulus plan.

"The public is not even aware this is a problem as conveniently most mainstream newspapers have covered this up just to protect him.

"This is what we mean by arrogance of power, they control everything, dictate terms and monopolise the news and they can get away literally with murder," he said.

"This means you can anticipate the type of administration under Najib," Anwar said, referring to the transition plan whereby Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will hand over the reins to Najib after the March Umno polls.

Anwar's statement also reflected the opposition's insistence that Najib's speech last Tuesday, in which the stimulus package was announced, cannot be considered an approved policy.

"In the issue of tabling this revised budget, the fact is that it was not done according to procedures.

"If he says it will be disbursed in January, how do you disburse funds that have not been approved by Parliament?

"So I do not know from where, maybe from his savings," Anwar quipped.

Najib, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said earlier today that he expects the first projects under the stimulus package to "start to move on the ground" by the first quarter of 2009.

On Wednesday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had ruled that Najib's proposals were not part of the Budget to be debated at the committee stage.

However, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah had insisted in Parliament that the monies allocated in the stimulus plan only required an administrative order from the ministry and were not considered an amendment to the Budget Bill.

"If you ask me what would I do in that position, last week after being told, I will just table it — what is the problem?" Anwar concluded.


DESIDERATA:

* If some developing countries have a dictator for a Prime Minister but a "benign" or "benevolent" one -- does Singapore come to mind at one time? -- I can accept it. At the end of the day, the country most likely deserves the Government it gets/got/will get and if a dictator is to rule to obtain the maximum good in terms of development, both economic and social, jest LET IT BE! But with the caveat that the government of that dictator does not send people to the gallows for the slightest opposition to the dictator's views.

** But I "can't tahan" a CORRUPT LEADER FOR A PRIME MINISTER!
And Corruption does not just include the monetary type; more importantly, it includes the moral plane -- and breaches would surely cover (even in the steal of the night:) the following:

+ Tainted reputation preceding said PM in sexual escapades, caught yet freed because the authorites are also equally corrupt or tainted; even by association.

+ Tainted by high criminal incidents involvement/activities, especially a high-profile killing of a foreign national in Malaysia which means NegaraKu and Desi pay a hig price for negative international press. And I value such press. Even by association.

+ Tainted by corruption in which a BIG PROPORTION of monies for government contracts, procurement etcetera, etcetera (as said by Yul Bryner as a King, and I...) amounting to billions are syphoned into private cronies' pockets. E.g. RM500million paid as commissions for acompany acting as go-between in buying submarines. The principal thief is of course highly placed. Even by association.

UPDATEd @3.23PM:

From The Malaysian Insider ~~~~~~~


Why Singapore can afford to wait


SINGAPORE, Nov 11 - One after the other, governments in the Asia Pacific have been pledging big money to stimulate their slowing economies: China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and Malaysia.

But Singapore is not doing that just yet.

On the Sunday China unveiled a 4 trillion-yuan ($586 billion) bonanza of tax cuts and infrastructure spending programmes — which yesterday sent Asian stocks to their first rally in three trading days — Singapore offered, instead, a sneak-peek of what’s to come.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam promised that next year’s Budget, scheduled for March, would be an “expansionary”, pro-business package.

What is behind Singapore’s decision to stick to the schedule, so to speak? How is it that the Republic can afford to wait while others feel they can’t?

Segments of society are split over whether the country can wait for some pump-priming to happen.

In one camp are economists who feel :the Government should be given time to come up with more calibrated and sustainable solutions.

Standard Chartered economist Alvin Liew said this is especially since current data, although weak — such as the third quarter’s economic contraction of an estimated 0.5 per cent and jobless rate of 2.2 per cent — does not reflect a dire situation yet.

“The Government wants to think through the policies it wants to put forward, instead of simply giving handouts to businesses and individuals. If they just use the money, then what happens in the next quarter?” said Liew.

Other governments may feel more urgency for various reasons, such as political pressure in countries undergoing leadership changes, say analysts.

Singapore’s private-sector spending, especially in construction, has been so strong that costs have risen, said CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun. This is unlike in China, where private-sector spending has slowed and prompted the need for public spending.

Here, Song expects the :private sector to cut back next year — and that’s when Government largesse will be timely.

Irreparable toll by then? Some disagree with such a view.

According to OCBC economist Selena Ling, any spending projects contained in the Budget can only be realistically implemented by April at the earliest, given the time lag for debate in Parliament. By then, the
effect of the slowdown would probably have taken its toll, she said.

Patrick Chia, a businessman in his 60s, wished the Government would not wait till March, “as this very weak and fragile economy may suffer irreparable damage by then”.

Another who feels the severity of the recession and the sharp correction in financial markets warrant a faster Government response is Dr Chua Hak Bin, head of research for Citi Singapore. “Sentiment is poor and you need some sort of action to provide some hope and confidence.”

For example, given the credit crunch facing small and medium enterprises now, the Government could consider immediate measures to help them manage their cash flow positions, added Dr Chua.

Ling suggested interim measures, such as a freeze on government fees like the foreign worker’s levy.

“There are levers the Government can move now if they choose to. But of course, if they want to do a big-bang package, then the Budget is a more appropriate time to roll out,” she said.

The Budget, Tharman has said, will “focus especially on helping businesses with their costs and cash-flow, and supporting them in their efforts to stay competitive”.

His words led businesses to trot out their wish lists. In a media statement, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry spelt out hopes including a slash in the Goods and Services Tax from the current 7
per cent to 3 per cent to encourage greater spending, training grants for Singaporeans, and tax rebates on commercial and industrial properties.

Two measures Song feels could come are lower corporate taxes and a cut in Central Provident Fund contributions from employers, which currently stands at 14.5 per cent.

“A cut in CPF is the most direct way. But would you want to see that happen now as a worker? People are more cautious, but they are still spending. If you want to tell them (about a CPF rate cut), tell them after the Chinese New Year,” said Song. - TODAY