My Anthem

Monday, January 31, 2011

CSM: Calling fRiends of BERSIH2.0...

Friends of Bersih 2.0 Meeting

Dear friends,

Be involve for a clean and fair elections.

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!!!

You are invited to join the Friends of Bersih 2.0 meeting.

Date : 1 February 2011
Time : 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.
Location : Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower), No. 13, Lorong 4/48E, Seksyen 4, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

AGENDA :
- To follow-up with volunteers and to involve them into Bersih 2.0’s work.
- To recruit volunteers for Friends of Bersih 2.0

Clean & Fair Election!!!

Please contact Bersih 2.0 @ 603-77844977

Please RSVP here. Thank you

More info:
http://bersih.org/?p=3708
http://bm.bersih.org/?p=2543

--
Empower

(Pusat Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor)
Address:13, Lorong 4/48E,
Seksyen 4,
46050 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 03 - 7784 4977
Fax: 03 - 7784 4978
Email: empower05@gmail.com
Website:www.empowermalaysia.org
__._,_.___

YL Chong says: 'RPK, You are a liar and a coward'

To put into CONTEXT the subject at hand, I recap, from my own "relevant" posts here (including TYPOS and all) as follows, with only the relevant extracts I wish to focus on:

(Post 1)

Thursday, December 30, 2010
FOR THE RECORD wrt to RPK's highly inaccurate acusations of Desi

I had sent off an email just past midnight to raja petra kamarudin and/or web admin of malaysia-today.net to straighten out "totally false and inaccurate" points about my role by RPK in his latest column. I don't look for fights with anyone -- I believe in civil engagement with fellow writers and readers/commenters whether here or at certain, very selective websites I read.

Following is the official email I sent FOR THE RECORD:

_______________________________________________

Below is what YL Chong wrote about me. It appears like he is going out of his way to try to bring me down for whatever reason only he knows. I don’t know what I did to him to make him so full of vile. Anyway, if it is a fight he wants then it is a fight he is going to get.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Maybe YL Chong has forgotten that when he got his hands on those Official Secrets Act documents from the MACC regarding the investigation of Khir Toyo and other matters his portal, Malaysia Chronicle, was too scared to run the story.

Chong then contacted me and I agreed for Malaysia Today to run it while assuring him I would protect the source of the documents -- which was Malaysia Chronicle and himself.

Anyhow, now he and Malaysia Chronicle have declared war on me and have decided to fight dirty and take no prisoners. In that case, since they have decided on the rules of engagement, I am only too happy to take them on...


_______________________________

I'm reprising only the above paragraphs, and if I need to comment further on other parts of your post, I reserve the right to, and I will keep malaysia-today.net posted CC malaysia chroniclesince you have made allegations that I had acted on behalf of malaysia chronicle.

My reply FOR THE RECORD:

WRT: "Maybe YL Chong has forgotten that when he got his hands on those Official Secrets Act documents from the MACC regarding the investigation of Khir Toyo and other matters his portal, Malaysia Chronicle, was too scared to run the story."

How can I forget something that I never did with respect to your reported OSA incident?


WRT: "Chong then contacted me and I agreed for Malaysia Today to run it while assuring him I would protect the source of the documents -- which was Malaysia Chronicle and himself."

WHEN HAD I EVER CONTACTED YOU regarding following up on "documents" -- I had never received any documents I had to refer to you RPK!



WRT: "Anyhow, now he and Malaysia Chronicle have declared war on me and have decided to fight dirty and take no prisoners. .."
I thought we bloggers read each other's writings and have the right to exchange views based on the principle of "Let's be agreeable in our disagreement."

Signing off: YL Chong, Desi






(Post 2)

Monday, January 03, 2011
FOR THE RECORD 2: I have just sent RPK an email demanding a retraction of an offending article he published ...

PLUS A PUBLIC APOLOGY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS.

____________________________________


Dear Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK), and webadmin of malaysia-today.net:

I further refer to your posting of my response to RPK's FALSE ALLEGATIONS against me (relating my personal role and also my role on behalf of malaysia-chronicle.com...), the article of which was subsequently also published by the New Straits Times (NST).

I waited a few days to see if you would retract these false allegations against me and to tender a PUBLIC APOLOGY to me, but thus far,I did not sight any.

From now about 2.40PM Monday January 3, 2011, I am giving you notice to RETRACT THE SAID OFFENDNG ARTICLE and TENDER A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO ME, in both your web portal, as well as in the NST, WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

Your failure to abide by my request may see legal action being taken against you -- and/or other parties lending weight to spreading such allegations flowing from your offending article against me.

YL Chong, Desi



posted by desiderata

*****************************************

MY CURRENT VIEWS FOLLOW NOW:

My dear readers, NOTE THAT THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTIONS ARE MY REBUTTALS TO RPK'S FALSE ALLEGATIONS WHICH HE HAD TODATE NEVER RESPONDED TO!


After a few days of waiting for a response from RPK, and there was none that I know of, I posted up the DEMAND for a RETRACTION of said allegations against me by RPK accompanied by a PUBLIC APOLOGY from him in my post dated January 3, 2011.


I am hence calling Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) a "liar" because of the "false allegations" he made against me which I rebutted as HIGHLIGHTED above in my blogpost dated December 30, 2010 and his failure to provide evidence to his allegations means these allegations had been deliberately "manufactured" by RPK, and I believe, for sinister reasons, including getting me into trouble with the government authorities.

He's a "coward" for not being brave enough to admit "wrong" to making "false allegations" against a fellow Blogger who once held him in high esteem from his days as Director of "FreeAnwarCampaign"(FAC) going back more than a decade.Just by the way mention, in the early days of Reformasi, starting early Jan 2000, I was then News Editor at malaysiakini.com for a year, and hence followed writings at FAC regularly. (This esteem of RPK as an iconic blogger began to wane from mid-2010 after I noticed a "change of character" in him,highlighted in my article published by "Malaysia Chronicle" titled "Why is RPK acting so out of character?" dated October 14, 2010, also reprised at my blog on the same day.)

Back to the current issue: since the deadline for RPK to withdraw his false allegatons and tender a public apology has long passed, today I place on record that my opinion of him is that he has lost all credibility as a blogger, once hailed by many as a key fighter for a Better Malaysia.

I would like to now refresh RPK's mind that the last time I interacted with him was in Seremban at a candle-light vigil held to protest against the Internal Security Act at Dataran Seremban (which I am proud to state for the record I helped to co-organise for three consecutive Saturday evenings...) as recorded in my post Saturday, November 08, 2008 titled: "JUBILATION at Seremban Vigil Last Night!"

Soon after, RPK self-exiled himself to the United Kingdom -- enjoying the benefits of a writer living the high life, on donations from diehard fans? -- writing with lots of consistencies and contradictions (as contrasted with RPK's lieutenant in Malaysia, Haris Ibrahim's, at People's Parliament, on the MCLM for instance...) and in the past year, many readers including my own reading, RPK's no more championing the cause of a change in government at Putrajaya which he advocated for a long time, evidenced by his constant attacks on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) the better part of 2010! Yes, now I deem him a coward for running away from NegaraKu -- for a real Malaysian fighter would return to the homeland to carry on the fight for a BetterMalaysia, not "and like many other Malaysians including an MCA Minister holding Australian PR, playing safe by having one foot here and another foot there!" I don't know IF a Chines saying is apt here: Having one leg in two boats?

So RPK's allegations against me could not hold water as the "alleged actions" by me were supposedly very recent i.e. in the course of last year (2010) and were in association with malaysia-chronicle.com which was only started by its founder-editor, Ms Wong Choon Mei, on June 1, 2010. And I was not, am not, a shareholder or staff at the online web portal.

What worries YL Chong more is also what some readers have commented about, is that malaysia-today.net editor had breached the ethics of secrecy by "exposing" whistle-blowers' identities, like mine just because we differed on several current issues. Worse yet, how can anyone trust RPK anymore when he's capable of cooking stories up and he had indeed threatened to do so to those who had passed on "classified government documents" to him in good faith but now stand the risk of being exposed just because of differences of opinion on issues that cropped up later. (In my case, the sin of RPK is compounded because the allegations against me were unfounded and false, and yet he "threatened" my safety with his unfounded allegations. I believe that bearing false witness against a fellowman is a "great sin" for Muslims, and I trust Raja Petra remains a follower of the Islamic faith, yes?)



Last, but not least, I was heartened to read from an anonymous reader at malaysia-chronicle.com who posted a comment on my "Demand for retraction of allegations and tender an apology from RPK", as many of his sentiments struck a chord with me, a freelance writer who has been a member of PKR since January 2005, and my writings are focused on committing my fight for the birth of a two party/coalition system. I will continue my quest to ensure Pakatan Rakyat's efforts to replace the 54-year-old Barisan Nasional government, undeterred by RPK's false stories about me.

I close by reproducing the said Commenter's views in full:

* Comment Link AN Monday, 03 January 2011 19:38 posted by AN

RPK is a ruthless liar. Many time what he wrote is absolutely rubbish lies. At one time he wrote about this Sarawakian Yb for Ngemah who got many wives and that he is running out of money so he jump back to BN. This are all lies as I'm a personal friend of the YB's family.
RPK, with the setting up of this MCLM shows he is a opportunist. He desperate wants attention after making the wrong move of going into exile to run away from all the false allegations he made against some top umnp guys.
RPK was at his best when he went to ISA and everyone treat him as their idol. But not now as he have shown his true colors by taking on PR to show that he is the kingmaker.He can't be what he think he want to be. He is just like you and me except that he have a Petra in his name.
RPK must not try to be the people's leader. We have Anwar and he is the true champion for all the people of malaysia. If RPK wants to steal that title with the help of Zaid, Jeffery or anyone else then he is absolute wrong. He will only earn the hatred of the people in Malaysia.
RPK must repent and come back to show he can contribute to the change of gov't and to make the road to Putrajaya smoother, not rougher.
RPK 's MT was a MUST read blog in those days when he was hot after the Altantuya's murder. All malaysian follow his posting 7/24.He make us all cry when he posted Anwar's daughter speech at UN, makes us all us when he posted 'Dear Pete', makes us all hate umno when he posted all the corruption in umno,particularly Khir Toyo broad daylight robbery of Selangor coffer.He was indeed my icon if not yours. But today I seldom visited his blog and to be honest I don't care much whether he survive or not.I have practically lost all interest in this man . I hope he just fade into sunset.
When he was in Kamunting I also help to keep his blog alive and entertaning by writing hilarious posting about Altantuya's murderer. I was so glue to MT that I could have die for MT.Even after the police raided my house and took away all my computers, I still adored RPK. I even took a doctored photo from Zorro's blog showing RPK been handcuffed and escorted by former IGP Musa Hassan, Najib and Badawi.That photo was placed right infront of my computer to act as a rallying point for me to blast umno/BN. The police took that best doctored photo away but I made another one.
But after the RPK fire die down, I'm back to earth and seeing my former idol belittling PR and using MCLM to open up another front, I lost all hopes in this man,RPK.
This will be my last criticism of RPK and I shall kept my hate in my heart and my mouth shut."



DESIDERATA:
I updated the post with some slight amendments @9.39AM 31 Jan 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

This Is KNOT the Next Change I Promised Yesterday...

Surviving the Coming Hard Time!

By Stanley Koh

Stanley Koh was the head of research unit at MCA.
COMMENT


It turns out that the government you voted in will not hold your hand to see you through hard times. Instead, it will make sure to add to your suffering because that is the easiest way it can avoid going bankrupt.


Barisan Nasional has apparently decided that the time has come to remove or cut subsidies — the kind of subsidies that poor people depend on, not the kind enjoyed by big corporations and monopolistic suppliers of utilities and infrastructural support.

So what is the use of a government that will eagerly shake your hand during election time but will not hesitate to pull the rug from under your feet when it needs to save itself?

Few believe that the removal of subsidies on essential food items and fuels can save the Malaysian government from possible bankruptcy. If it does go bankrupt, it will be because it has failed to cleanse a corrupt system.

It is better for Malaysians to be rich and to control a bankrupt government than to be poor and controlled by a corrupt government. Many countries have rich citizens with bankrupt governments.

You do not need an economist to tell you that RM100 in Malaysia today does not buy as much as it did last year.

In what we may call the Malaysian Misery Index, we can see that food prices have been spiralling upwards for years. For example, fresh tenggiri, which was RM13.23 a kilo in 1997, now costs RM40 a kilo. A roasted duck cost RM13.47 in 1997, but is now at least RM38. And Malaysians have become used to the doubling in price of some food items during festive seasons.

Most Malaysians do not expect the situation to improve. Food prices will continue to go up and there is little hope that they will come down again.

Two years ago, the BN government announced that it had set up a US$1.25 billion fund to increase food production and that it was targeting 100% self-sufficiency in rice consumption. What has happened to the fund and the target?

Double whammy

When the GST (goods and services tax) is fully implemented in 2011, it will be a double whammy for poor and middle-income households, pensioners, the unemployed and single parents.

Some have argued that imposing GST on Malaysian does not make much economic sense when only 6.8% of the population are taxpayers and a large majority earn low incomes. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that most of us are paying hidden taxes in highway tolls and electricity tariffs.

Indeed, the future looks bleak.

Yet, quite a number of us are gullible enough to think that the government will protect consumers. Are we not being stupid? Isn't it better to be wiser and brace for tougher times ahead?

Instead of believing the promises of a government that has a dismal performance record, we should believe the law of inflation, which says, “Whatever goes up will go up some more.”

Ronald Reagan once described inflation as a violent mugger, a threatening armed robber and a deadly hit man. In the Malaysian context, that is an apt description not of inflation, but of the BN government’s behaviour and policies.

So how do we fight the inflation of food prices?

Economists generally agree that the average Malaysian household spends about 75% of its income on food. Food price hikes will therefore have an adverse impact upon disposable income and force us to make a lifestyle change.

To fight inflation

Here are some of the things we can do:

- Stop eating at expensive restaurants.
- Boycott traders, hypermarkets and hawker stalls that charge unreasonable prices.
-Shop intelligently for value and do not be too impressed by branding.
-Work out a budget before buying. Look out for special sales.
- Prevent wastage by not buying more than you can eat.
- Tell friends and acquaintances about shops that charge excessively.
- Avoid buying expensive beverages or foodstuff and find alternatives for nutritional value.
- Boycott chained markets and fast-food joints. They are monopolised by a few large companies and can therefore raise prices at whim.

Perhaps economist Milton Friedman was right when he said, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara desert, in five years there will be a shortage of sand.”

Malaysians do not take the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) seriously. They know it does not accurately reflect price rises in essential foodstuffs.

Many suspect that the government uses it as an instrument to deceive the public into thinking that things are hunky-dory when they are not. The government develops statistics so that the inflation-weary public would direct its hostility towards businesses, and not blame official mismanagement.

The average household consumption expenditure over the last 20 years has increased by 181.8%. In 1973, it was RM412. By 1993-94, it had gone up to RM1,161. In 1999, it touched RM1,631.

According to Prof Lim Teck Ghee, real household income has been growing, but at the snail-pace rate of 0.9% per year. More than half of the population are in the low-income category.

Today, a family of five spends 50% to 60% of household income on food compared with 20% in 1998 and 15% in 1988.

Not long ago, there was official acknowledgement that 95% of families are finding it hard to cope with the rise in food prices.

In fact, the biggest failure of the Ninth Malaysia Plan is that it did not help Malaysians improve their quality of living. Inflation, whether it is imported or locally generated, raises the cost of living and lowers the quality of living.

'Why not change the government?'

In 2006, when Najib Tun Razak was Deputy Prime Minister, he asked Malaysians to change their lifestyle in the face of the rising cost of living.

A blogger by the name of Chong wrote in response: “Perhaps, the prime minister should have done some simple calculations himself. People like us basically have no lifestyle, just merely surviving with our earnings. So how are we going to change (our lifestyle)?

“Inflation has gone up 4.5% (and above) and the government is pushing the cost of living higher by increasing electricity tariffs, but our income remains the same.”

Others felt it would be easier to change the government than to change a non-existent lifestyle.

“Instead of listening to Najib asking us to change,” one critic remarked, “why not we change the government at the next general election?”

To me, that makes a lot of sense. Any government that is willing to build air-conditioned toilets around a city at more than RM100,000 each has no business planning a national economy.

When such a government decides to cut subsidies, many of us will wonder whether the so-called “savings” will instead go towards more majestic arches, fanciful lampposts, refurbishments of VIP residences, luxurious government bungalows and fruitless overseas trips by ministers.

Any government that stands accused of having wasted RM320 billion in 20 years — through corruption, wastage and mismanagement — definitely does not deserve to be re-elected.

Stanley Koh was the head of research unit at MCA.

DESIDERATA:
Desi meets him, the writHer I mean, often enough --especially at expensive restaurants in the expensive city of koala lumpuh for a Jinjian Joe like Desi from outskirts Furong! -- but someone VVIP foots the bill. Who sayeth there is no such thang as a fleelunch?

THAT "You Are a Liar and a Coward" peAce will follow next when Desi gets his inspiration after a soft prayer from within his heART. Yes, I still have one, aweways fearful of the ONE above, so I strive on Sundays to seek that inner SELF to know Desi baddder, badder, badder... (Refrain is from Hey Jude)

Be patient OK!, for as the greAt Desi of10 preaches, Ms Patience is also Ms/Mr/In-between Virtuous!:)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

RUMiNATION

Yes, I recommend Malaysians to spend time for reflection, not necessarily with Ho, ho ho, and a bottle of Rum!

We have to take time-off from the hustle bustle of modern life
EVen from your lovin' or naggin' wife
Cliched reminder of 'Take time to smell the roses'
Afore the year-end confrontation they call assessment by thy bosses

One month bonus, or two, or zero
Hey maybe three, did I carry thy balls enuf? hello
No, I didn't even care if you own one
Mine two is heavy enough wan!

So Desi spends time for RUMiNATION

Planned first for one week

Extended to two

Finally eexxtended to three

You are allowed you know

To break free

For tomorrow I face an enemy

Forced on Desi

So I shall meet him at Hi Noon

Do I get out from my comfort zone?

Or lie/die me a coward

You be patient eh

My ER will know quite soon!

COMING: Next Change!

I Call Someone a Liar and a Coward


PS: I surfed the Net and sighted this item****,and I whispered:

****Friday, January 28, 2011
Gobalakrishnan quits all PKR posts

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Renegade PKR leader N. Gobalakrishnan today quit all party posts, and said he would focus on a new organisation, after months of agitating party leaders.

The announcement by the Padang Serai MP was made this morning on micro-blogging site Twitter.

“Good morning to all Malaysians. I hereby resign from all PKR party posts. I will continue my work through a new NGO,” Gobalakrishnan said.

The former MIC Youth leader in recent times has been critical of PKR and its top leaders, consistently attacking de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Azmin Ali on Twitter and accused them of corruption.

PKR had earlier this month slapped him with a show-cause letter over his attacks against the party leadership.

FROM: Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH at 9:23 PM

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish
Not soon enuf, Gobala! Should have happened
along with Zaid I, Jeffrey K


May I advise such "men of integrity"?
Go set up another NGO, prepare to contest GE13
Ask DAPand PKR to let you fight 13 Parliament seats
Like what ex-Hindraf rookies did
Or you can tie-up with MCLM?
They seek out 30 men, 4 done
26 remains, I'm sure they have room
for
Wan Great Gobala!
~~ YL, Desi

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

You hardly get a GoOD CONversationalist nowadays...

ADVISORY: Some Da Desi Code used here. DDC is a play with words to entertain, if not my esteemed readers, at least myself. If there is no joy in blogging, why bother?

Another privilege I've constantly preached at the annual Bloggers Universe Malaysia -- and BUMmer is one who attends BUM regularly, you nit, if you still don't know! -- is that one can digress as much/mush as he likes at his own cyber-home, otherwise, what's the point eh? And that last question, my fRiend, is rhetorical Okay! But if you choose to respond, who am I to stop ye, yeah!in the psot title


GoOD
is writ thus because in Desi's vocab, thou art a good person IF YOU HAVE "GOD" in Thee. CON in the chat room is a concession I give myself in engaging strangers =- even in a crowded bar-room where it's tehtarik, not whisky they serve in Furong! -- and ENJOYING the talk that follows, even if after some time, you realise the other party is a CONman or CONwoman; but at least you don't have to pay for his/her/inbetween's drink. In modern times like now -- though olde philosophers may counter we don't have a claim to modernity when our thoughts are so mundane and cliched -- Desi often feels lonesome and lonely in a clouded bar-room.

Often we resort to profanity to try win a debate, including an infamous botakhat and his worsheepers like wan Zollo. This wan sells himself as a "reformist" like the Anwaristas of the 1990s decade plus 2, but in the 2008 GE campaign trail/trial, he was proudly scissoring a life-long MCA membership card. I told aVoiz just Yesterday -- when all our troubles seem'd so far away -- that's the trouble with aJohnnny=cometh=lately. His quikkie reply: More than Alackeycoming latey, 'his Johnny could not rise to the occasion!:)

You wanna knoweth who this Voiz is?
Come down Serembanway, giving 24 notice and we will meet at Lingam's down Paul Street -- jest don't bring the CJ K! -- and Desi will buy the tehtarik, and thou payeth for the bestA kambing around my Peytonesque town. Kambing?

Why "Peytonesque" you dare aRsEk?
WellA, try flagging a new gal in Furong and C, Lo and Behel', the following moUrn thou becometh the story on everyone's lips, especially the YoungChics, at the wet market. Wet indeed, even on a greAt moUrn like now when I had downed the best Mamak mee cooked by a Chinoserie at FuYoong stall. Wanna jom? Bring a few greenbacks OK! I like Americanised malaysians who speak impeccable English like John Wayne or Gary Cooper. Okay,I'm of the sixties gene like on newly minted Datuk Din Merican who I chatted wit' lust night. No, I didn't call him Datuk -- I greAted him as Saudara. He was lucky I didn't subs "a" wit' an I! Aye, aye! says the gOod Lord, To err is human, to lust is Miss Devine.

May I end with

Man proposes,
God disposes.


(Long Pause, Desi dareth add:) Woeman exposes. I will justify this Tomollo when I receiveth my long awaited cheque for RM2,000. Ooops, take away one zelo, says the chinaman in me, Ae lord, I drank too much teh-C this moUrn! Forgive me if I sinneth, BUT WHO HAVEN'T? Even that bas.... who donned a white cloth once who came into Midnight Voice's abode and calling me a fRiend. I told him off: Just drop that "R", you are not oneOFmGf!:( (Scowl,howl, mowl, zowl:(:(

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Among men, it seems, historically at any rate, that processes of co-ordination and disintegration follow each other with great regularity, and the index of the co-ordination is the measure of the disintegration which follows. There is no mob like a group of well-drilled soldiers when they have thrown off their discipline. And there is no lostness like that which comes to a man when a perfect and certain pattern has dissolved about him. There is no hater like one who has greatly loved. -- John -- knot Asman! -- Steinbeck, novelist, Nobel laureate (1902-1968)

Monday, January 24, 2011

CSM: for Kim Quek, a PKR Warrior...

After Desi's heART!:)

FROM
The Star Online > Nation
Published: Monday January 24, 2011 MYT 11:42:00 AM
Updated: Monday January 24, 2011 MYT 2:51:04 PM

Author, publisher allowed to challenge seizure of books

BY M. MAGESWARI

KUALA LUMPUR: Political analyst Yong Thye Chong and a book publisher succeeded Monday in their bid to get a court order to challenge the Home Minister, police and Government over the seizure of 33 books.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Rohana Yusuf granted leave application to both on the grounds that there was an arguable case.

Justice Rohana also dismissed a preliminary objection raised by the Attorney-General's Chambers against the leave application.

The court set Feb 24 for mention of substantive application for judicial review.

The applicants were represented by lawyer K. Shanmuga while senior federal counsel Noor Hisham Ismail acted for the respondents.

Yong, also known by his pen name Kim Quek, is the author of a 361-page book titled The March to Putrajaya: Malaysia's New Era Is At Hand.

He said the minister had banned the book on Sept 27 last year as being prejudicial to public order.

The applicants said they were not given an opportunity to be heard before the minister banned the book.

They are seeking a declaration that the seizure of the books on Aug 19 last year at four locations was invalid and contravened various provisions of the Federal Constitution.

CSM: Dr Lim Teck Ghee's Latest Statement

from cpiasia.net, where YL Chong is proud to have served as its inaugural Editor for one year-plus.


Investigate Why Malaysia Has Attained World Ranking in Illicit Outflows

Press Statements

Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee

Sunday, 23 January 2011 11:04
Share Link: Share Link: Bookmark Google Yahoo MyWeb Del.icio.us Digg Facebook Myspace Reddit Ma.gnolia Technorati Stumble Upon

I refer to a report by Washington financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity which found that Malaysia lost US$291 billion or RM889 billion through illicit outflows between 2000-2008.

The report written by GFI economists Karly Curcio and Dev Kar, who is a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund is deserving of attention from everyone in the country – the Prime Minister to the lowest of our citizenry.

This finding of massive illicit capital outflow for Malaysia is the strongest confirmation of sustained capital flight from the country during the past decade, even if one wants to dispute the definition of "illicit" used. What is especially worrying is that the outflow has tripled in the short period of eight years from 2000-2008

There can be no dispute that a major part of this outflow is due to financial gains accumulated through corruption, kickbacks and other illegal means. How much can be disputed and can only be determined by a thorough investigation such as through the establishment of a Royal Commission to determine the extent and the reasons for the outflow. Without an independent panel or Commission looking into this and having access to banking and other financial data, there will be no end to finger pointing and needless speculation as to who are the parties implicated in these outflows.

No country can afford the outflow that Malaysia is experiencing. It will bankrupt the country, impoverish the general population and lead to social and political instability and chaos.

Should the Government choose to maintain silence on this issue or attempt to spin it in other ways, then it will be a monumental error which will come back to haunt it forever through accelerating the decline - and ultimate downfall - of the country.

My Face-Off with the "Great" RPK -- Something Awaits...

I was heartened to read the last Comment to my article "Why is RPK acting so out of character?" dated Oct 14, 2010 published by Malaysia Chronicle:


14 Comments

* Comment Link Anon Friday, 14 January 2011 10:47 posted by Anon

Is there going to be an apology from RPK to YL Chong for "revelation of the source of information, denied by YL Chong?

This betrayel of trust to anyone supplying info to RPK wont be forgotton/swept away so easily. it is stil very fresh on my(our?) mind.

We are waiting fo an unconditional apology from RPK....14 Comments

* Comment Link Anon Friday, 14 January 2011 10:47 posted by Anon

Is there going to be an apology from RPK to YL Chong for "revelation of the source of information, denied by YL Chong?

This betrayel of trust to anyone supplying info to RPK wont be forgotton/swept away so easily. it is stil very fresh on my(our?) mind.

We are waiting fo an unconditional apology from RPK....


**********************************************

Your humble host here/hear YL Chong, Desi, promises his esteemed readers here and also at malaysia-chronicle.com that I haven't forgotten, Oh No! since that the "great" RPK had not retracted his allegations against me, nor had he tendered any public apology as demanded officially by me of his FALSE ALLEGATIONS, and the deadline had long passed.

NO, THE ISSUE IS NOT FORGOTTEN, I ASSURE MY ER! I urge my ER to exercise some patience: I will follow soon (By coming Friday?...InsyaAllah!:) a final "peAce" tentatively titled "RPK -- You Are a Liar and Coward".

"Anticipate YOUR enjoyment!BestR, YL, Desi"REMEMBER: The fun of undertaking a travel is in enjoying the journey -- breaking away into the byways and nooks and corners -- NOT in arriving at the destination!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

While the world grapples with BIG issues...

Malaysia is trapped with four-decades-old time-wasting and energy-sapping diversions. Who weeps for NegaraKu?

I buy the NST and The Star as part of my job is media-monitering, including of the mainstream media (MSM), much derided by the populace and declining in circulation the past decade.

TWO ITEMS in the NST WORLD scetion today page 26 headline the following:

'Young immigrants will save S'pore economy',
and Desi in saving time for his lazy, crazy and mazey readers goodled afp for its full version, whith NST rnning all but the last two paras. (Paras in press jargon means paragraphs,-- SEE how Desi pampers his Ignoramuses here/hear!:(

Back to Google News
Singapore needs young immigrants: Lee Kuan Yew

(AFP) – 23 hours ago

SINGAPORE
— Singapore needs young immigrants to save its economy from long-term decline as a result of a falling birth rate, elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew said in remarks published Wednesday.

"At these low birth rates, we will rapidly age and shrink," the 87-year-old Lee said in comments released to the local media after the government disclosed that the city-state's birth rate fell to a record low in 2010.

"So we need young immigrants. Otherwise our economy will slow down, like the Japanese economy. We will have a less dynamic and less thriving Singapore. This is not the future for our children and grandchildren," he added.

Lee's defence of immigration came amid increasingly vocal criticism in web forums and local media directed at foreigners, who now make up more than 20 percent of the population of five million.

Most of the foreign workers and immigrants come from China, Southeast Asia and India, reflecting Singapore's own ethnic mix.

Lee stepped down as prime minister in 1990 after leading the city-state since 1959, when it gained self-rule from colonial ruler Britain, but remains a powerful figure as an adviser to his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The former leader said immigrants should be welcomed and integrated.

"The first generation will take some time to integrate, but their children will be completely Singaporean," he said.

"They will increase our population and talent pool. Singapore will be vibrant and prosperous, not declining and ageing," he added.

The resident fertility rate -- or number of babies born per woman -- dipped to 1.16 in 2010, down from the previous record low of 1.22 in 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, who coordinates population policy, said Monday.

The rate, which has fallen as more couples choose to have just one child and more people opt to remain single, is well below the 2.1 babies per woman needed for the population to replenish itself naturally.

Singapore rolled out the welcome mat for foreign workers during the 2004-2007 economic boom.

But after the 2008 global financial crisis, the government took a fresh look following complaints from citizens that foreigners were increasingly competing for jobs, housing, medical care and even space on metro trains.

The inflow of foreign workers has slowed and full citizens were given more social and other benefits over foreigners.

Copyright © 2011 AFP

******************************************

Item 2 in NST with a pic of the top two leaders of the superpowers of the world, is headed:

Obama, Hu strike RM140b deals


My Googling efforts did not yield the NST print version, so I hope my ER will jest make do with The Star online edition, OK! Beggars cannot be choosers, my Ipohlang helen whispers from afar...

Wednesday January 19, 2011
Obama, Hu vow cooperation, strike $45 bln in deals
By Chris Buckley and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters)
- The United States and China unveiled $45 billion in export deals on Wednesday as Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao sought to paper over deep rifts about trade, currencies and security.
U.S.President Barack Obama (L) and Chinese President Hu Jintao shake hands during an official South Lawn arrival ceremony for Hu at the White House in Washington January 19, 2011. (REUTERS/Larry Downing)

Amid the pomp of a state visit, Obama and Hu vowed to seek common ground as they launched talks aimed at easing the strains of the past year over North Korea, economic imbalances, human rights, Taiwan, Tibet and a host of other issues.

Welcoming Hu to the White House, Obama hailed the event as a chance to demonstrate that the world's two biggest economic powers "have an enormous stake in each other's success."

"Even as our nations compete in some areas, we can cooperate in others," Obama said at the choreographed welcoming ceremony. "Let us seize these possibilities together."

The two countries used the summit to unveil a series of deals, including China's purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft. U.S. officials said the $45 billion in deals would support an estimated 235,000 American jobs.

"ENHANCE MUTUAL TRUST"

Obama wants the visit to help highlight his efforts to boost the struggling U.S. economy and cut unemployment that has been persistently above 9 percent.

Offering another tangible achievement, the United States and China plan to announce a deal to create a jointly financed security center in China.

Obama and Hu were also due to attend a meeting of U.S. and Chinese business leaders at the White House.

But in a major concern for U.S. companies and lawmakers, Beijing has so far resisted demands for faster appreciation of its currency, the yuan , that would possibly help lower China's trade surplus with the United States, which Washington puts at $270 billion.

Gently raising China's human rights record, Obama said: "History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are successful and the world is more just when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all people are upheld, including the universal rights of every human being."

Hu said he had come to "enhance mutual trust" and open a new chapter in relations but signaled he would bristle at any effort to push China on its currency practices, human rights and other disputes that it deems to be domestic matters.

"China and the United States must respect each other's choices in development and each other's choices in development paths and each other's core interests," Hu said.

Hu was greeted with a 21-gun salute, honor guards and the playing of both national anthems in a show meant to convey recognition of China's growing international stature.

The ceremony went off without a hitch. The last time Hu came to Washington, in 2006 during the Bush administration, the arrival ceremony was marred by heckling from a protester from the Falun Gong spiritual sect who had infiltrated the event.

But while handshakes and smiles set a positive atmosphere, the red-carpet treatment was not expected to make it any easier to achieve breakthroughs in Wednesday's talks or even narrow differences significantly.

Some in Washington and Beijing are treating the summit as a gauge of how well the two powers can work in concert as China's ambitions expand in line with its rapid economic growth.

COOPERATION AND FRICTION


U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for more cooperation from China in dealing with North Korea's nuclear program and "provocative behavior." She also said the Obama administration was pressing Beijing "very hard to gets its entities into compliance" with U.N. sanctions on Iran.

Hu has been reluctant to give ground to U.S. demands to intensify pressure on China's ally, North Korea, to abandon its nuclear ambitions. North Korea recently caused alarm by shelling a South Korean island and claiming advances in uranium enrichment that could boost its nuclear weapons capability.

U.S. lawmakers, who will host Hu on Thursday, are impatient for results about China's economic policies. A meager outcome at the summit could raise congressional pressure on Beijing over the trade deficit and the way it manages the yuan.

A group of 84 lawmakers urged Obama in a letter on Wednesday to tell Hu that "America's patience is near an end" over China's failure to play by trade rules.

Obama wants to show he is serious about leaning on China for concessions that could boost the anemic U.S. recovery and reduce unemployment -- both seen as crucial to his chances of re-election in 2012.

Obama's challenge to China's human rights comes after critics at home accused him of being too deferential on the issue in his 2009 visit to Beijing.

Hu was likely to raise his worries about U.S. economic and security policies, including arms sales to Taiwan, the self-ruled island that China deems a breakaway province.

The arms sales to Taiwan, even at the time when cross-Strait relations are improving, is the single most important factor jeopardizing U.S.-China military ties, Major-General Yao Yunzhu, a senior military researcher, wrote in the official China Daily on Wednesday.

Beijing also wants the Obama administration's reassurances that China's big holdings of U.S. government debt are not threatened because of what some critics describe as loose U.S. fiscal policies.

(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Ross Colvin, Caren Bohan in Washington, Ben Blanchard and Sui-Lee Wee in Beijing; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

*************************************************


DESIDERATA:


While the world moves on and mostly forward, in some cases by taking quantum leaps as defined by the above two news reports, I'm sad to observe that NegaraKu continues to waste enormouse time and resources on mind games and kindergarten kids' gallivanting things -- still spatting over azan prayers and "Interlok"; calling each other names like "pariah"; heaping scorn on others with challenges like "Don't like it here, BALIK TONG SAN (China) or BALIK INDIA!"

And the government goes after Opposition and NGO activists, and questioning Bloggers, using the Internal Security Act and other draconian legislative guns, but leaving out brazenly troube-generating and law-breaking Utusan Melayu/Malaysia and its shit-stirring columnists like Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Awang Selamat/s weekly spaces to again yes, stir shit. Wanna cause another May 13? You purported convert as a "slave of God" does tremendous harm to Islam, a beautiful rligion oftem corrupted by human adherents who half-understand, but that's for another day/die!

Hey,Morons and Menaces, please leave the 1960s to 1980s political baggae and rhetorics behind at the National Museum, we are supposed to be in our 54th year of Independence, and not in our teenage years or kindie school of 1957-1963 OK!:(

And remember, stop quoting Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat and other "Hangs" as super Malay heroes from the Melaka Sultanate era of the 15th century, "you misguided gurus and pretender-historians and politicians" from UMNO and Utusan -- These were Chinese eunuchs sent by the then Emperor from China to serve as security guards and escorts to pretty princesses like Hang LiPoh to present as gifts to the then Sultan of Melaka in exchange for landing at the port during their trading expeditions by the Chinese traders, sailors, maybe even some pirates.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

China and the United States Reach Important Crossroads...

when the two leaders of the leading largest trading nations (ERRATA:( read "economies" instead of trading nations...) meet in Washington today where Hu JinTao is given a red-carpet welcome and President Barack Obama hosts the Chinoserie communist boss to a a rare and rarified dinner at his official residence reserved only for VVIP arrivals.

As you know Desi also arrived at an important cross-roads some two weeks earlier.

This is this knotty blogger's laying his not-so-humble Self to fame by association. If DDC is used, it would be by aRsEsociation, but then ER (EsteemedReaders in my DDC lexicon:( who have below-16 kids peeking in at Midnight Voices would object, so I shalt restrain, and from henceforth, Cease&Desist, words I picked up interacting with TOO MANY LAWYERS WHO LATELY ALSO LAY MUCH CLAIM TO FAME -- positive examples is demigod picking two candidates to stand under PKR and/or DAP banners for GE13. Without an invitation.I am sure Hu did receive an INVITATION from the White House before leaving Beijing!:)

Yes, definitely an Invite. From blue house, or yellow house,or the White House. On the negative side, two brother-lawyers laid more than their 15minutes of media fame in their purported involvement in the slaying of four Malaysians in their posh farm house compound where the victims' bods were chopped up -- like chop-suey? -- and then BB-Queed.

Desi's ground is that having arrived at the crossroads, and after rumination for 17days (or dies if Aussie slang is used as we are constantly reminded for two weeks the massive floodings in Queensland took away many unlucky victims in an act of God, followed by the terror spread southwards into Victoria, still proceeding...) May God protect my many GOoD friends plus a brother migrant and family Down Under...

OK, sorry for the digression -- it's a wandering into less travelled path while the main journey needed a break...Now back to Chino-Americano relations.

The country which only a few months ago beat Japan into second place as leading economy in the world has a population of 1.3 to 1.4billion people, which account for one fifth of the world's. Just in sheer numbers alone, that nation's domestic market ensures their country would have a ready market for anything the people produce. Only "Communist" by central command, the country has become one of the most-free markets -- laissaire-fare?, please check the spelling, OK! -- after boss Deng XiaoPing opened up the bamboo-curtained introverted party-cum-nation. And staggerring GDP growth of above 10% every year for the past two decades ensured the US look up to China.

WHY? By sheer basic economic alone -- the US owes the cpommunist-country-in-name only the largest debt, some 40% of its accumulated IOUs; the last I heard US borrowings from China along amounted to more than USD1 trillion.:) OR :( (One trillion for the Ignoramuses here/hear! is ONE, followed by NINE ZEROES!) And Malaysia's budget,let me remind you, is still counted in the double -digit billions, which is one followed by six zeroes! :( OR :)I'm prettyNdemocratoc,I let you choose thy own emotional reaction! (To myself: As if Desi careth...!?)


Besides food on their plates, diplomats in Obama and JinTao will quietly whisper currency woes on US side countered by the guet's promise to look into the matter. The US alleged in public many times the oriental "Jewish" state purposely keeps its reminbu (yuan) low so that its exports would be relatively cheaper than if the RMB/yuan is exchanged at a higher rate with the greemback. )DDC aside: Is dare some green-eyed White monster staring at the communist BackORwhiteKingcat? MaoZedong says it doesn't matter in his communist RedBook whether thir cat is black or white as long as it catches the mice!Desi's knottily adds: whether fed on unpolished white lice or CondoLiaza polished rice:) OR :(

The Chinese leader would whispe back that western institutions like the Norwegian Nobel Prize Awarding Committee --much influenced by the US? -- should not have encouraged "dissent" in the communist people-friendly nation by gifting Liu XiaBau the Peace Prize which the detained recipient could not leave house to receive the award. What "human rights", Mr President, do you want to exchange for in one citizen? Bloodshed by the thousands again at TianANNmen square? ANN in Mandarin means "peace", BTW!

Obama would then draw attention to win-win situations the host-and-guest share besides both havong Asian bloddlines...That China has [aid lots of attention to World Trade Organisation issues like tariffs control, Intellectual Copyrights, and Green technology stress.

One parting word:

Obama: Please understand why we need to print more Greenbacks okay? You also please continue to subscribe to out bonds, OK! (That last world is followed by an exclamation mark, not a question. You guess why...)

JinTao: It;s okay... it's not for us oitsiders to interfere into your domestic life-styles -- if the average American wants to borrow from us Chinese to continue your lavish styles,it's fine by us! As long as you give us the prim, and proper, and prime collaterals? (That last world is followed by a Q but it's what Desi deems a rhetotical question, NO ANSWER NEEDED!)

...as they bowed politely in toasting to both countries' health and well-being.......


May God bless both these leaders they don't talk about nuclear arms and rocket missile deals, and the knotty Koreas and Taiwan issues -- both are NON-issues.

Then we of the rest of the world Homo sapiens can say our prayers, let's have a GOoD night's sleep that next year 2012 won't see what the doomsayers predict: The end of the world is nigh, nigh, rimes with sigh, sigh...

May God -- however you deem Him to be -- BlessUSawe:) Amen. ~~ YL, Desi

Sunday, January 16, 2011

a fRiend's concern and advice ...:)

THANKS, SDR JON ASMEN!:)

This former school mate of mine and I used to ... the class from Forms 1 to 3, then we arrived at crossroads at the young age of 15. Read ROBERT FROST's The Road Not Taken I posted up a few days back.

When he read about my FACE-OFF with the Great RPK, he was among the first few concerned fRiends to ring me to "check if Desi is OK?" I humbly told him I am a used to travelling "lonely and lonesome" journeys as a WRIThER. Survival is definitely in the genes of even a church-mousey wan like me who started earning pocket money in Form 2 owing to great inspiration of TWO GREAT ENGLISH TEACHERS, Mr CP Rajah and Mr V Thillainathan -- I hope thou art fine and wellA, wherever thou art!

Jon moved on to RMC and I stayed back at our common Secondary School in Furong. I envied Jon, but God is always greAt because where I missed out,a younger brother made it to Royal Military College, but that's another story...

What binds our fRiendship is that we NEVER FORGET THAT "R" among fRiends:), and often we kept in touch through good and bad times, through the crests and ebbs of human waves of coursng through this physical world, and also the spiritual.

Jon dropped by in Seremban to meet at the clean and fRiendly Temiang Corner where it's my usual water hole. No, we did KNOT down beer and ale and eat the chocolate and cheese cakes they serve the Lords and Rajas at London hotels. We bantered a while and then became serious in common debate about Frostie's crossroads -- the poem says there were ONLY TWO ROADS AHEAD to pick one at this important junction.

Jon, after seeing that Desi's quite quiet because he's (YES, I OFTEN REFER TO MYSELF IN THE 3rd person when not functioning as a Journalist, and especially writing as a Blogger or creative pieces as well peceived by those who have been reading my cyber-pieces from that fateful Ides of March -- March 15, 2005.)

I suggest newer readers to read my posts in that first year from FIRSTofMAY, especially the Sunday columns I started writing every week for an East Malaysian newspaper to supplement my freelance income. Desiderata.English, anywan?Jon, after seeing that Desi's quite quiet because he's (YES< I OFTEN REFER TO MYSELF IN THE 3rd person when not functioning as a Journalist, and especially writing as a Blogger or creative pieces as denoted by those who have been reading my cyber-pieces from that fateful Ides of March -- March 15, 2005.)

I suggest newer readers to read my posts in that first year, especially the Sunday columns I started writing every week for an East Malaysian newspaper to supplement my freelance income. Hey, we can't eat Roti Canai and drink tehtarik everyday, though Everyday milk is good for you. I occasonally indulge myself in the bestA kambing rendang at Lingam's where tow Blogger buddies who used to sail the se7en seas and Desi often meet
Hey, we can't eat Roti Canai and drink tehtarik everyday, though Everyday milk is good for you. I occasonally indulge myself in the bestA kambing rendang at Lingam's where two Blogger buddies who used to sail the se7en seas and Desi often meet. YES, BUMmers here, dare, and everywhere! ~~<>Ancient Mariner and Mindful Mariner. Bless the former soulmatey not with us physically for real BUMmer Capt Yusof Ahmad, departed to be with The Lord (Allah) just slightly more a year ago. But Sdr Stuart R. is still around to sometimes keep Desi company -- but we aweways miss AM's heartful guffaws and jokes, sometimes salty.
Okay, back to reality world. After periods of silence in between shared rumination, he said: "Desi, you are not facing just TWO roads ahead. There is a third!"

I'm still pondering my THIRD OPTION. "We will see," I smiled as Jon took leave as he went back to his kampong in Rembau to do a needful detour.






PS: I'm not inviting public Comments for this Post; any close buddies -- you know where to post Desi -- who wish to say Hi-Lo can emale Desi!:)

********************************************************

The Face of A Tiger
(or The Face of An Anarchist)

A was aged about 21
He came from the Village
They think all villagers were Morons

B must be a year older
He camefrom B'g, B'd City
I know this one was aMenace

Bee spoke of socialism
That we must take care ofhumankind
Therefore be kind to your fellow men

Aye told Bee to take his social elitism
with him back to his toilet
Bee was furious
So he sent Ayea lawyer's letter

"My client wanted to be your fRiend, Aye.
But you had the audacity to reject him.
That's not very socialistic.
That's not what humankind should be.
Furthermore, we are both .......(*+*+blogger/Christian/atheist) brothers."

Yeah, Aye replied:
"We are both Homo sapiens butnot brothers.
Don't call everyone you meet Brother,
Or fRiends."

"Drop that 'R', Tiger."


*+*+NOTE the above contains a slight variaion from the Original Poem
from 'Midnight Voices and Other Poems'
Published May 2007.

PPS:********************* ZORRO, DON'T CALL ME YOUR fRiend!*************

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

CSM for Leader of the Opposition, DS Anwar Ibrahim

PRESS STATEMENT


PAKATAN ONLY NEEDS RM19 BILLION TO IMPLEMENT 100-DAY REFORM PROGRAMS

Prime Minister’s repudiation of Pakatan’s 100-day reform programs on financial ground will further highlight UMNO/BN’s reluctance to spend the national wealth for the people.

It is a bit presumptious for the Prime Minister to claim that Pakatan’s 100-day reform program will bankrupt the country, since it is UMNO/BN-led government that had borrowed excessively each year. The Auditor General’s Report released on 25 October 2010 cautioned Putrajaya that the national debt to GDP ratio has breached the 50% mark for the first time in our history.

Malaysia government’s debt for 2009 rose to RM362.39 billion or 53.7% of GDP. The level of national debt in fact worsens under the stewardship of the current Prime Minister. The government undertook 19 bond programmes with a combined value of RM58.1 billion in 2010.

On 14th December 2010 Bank Negara Malaysia announced that the government will launch 29 additional bond programmes in 2011. RHB Research Institute estimates that this will involve a combined value of RM83 billion of new debts to be undertaken by the Federal Government.

Therefore, the Prime Minister’s criticism in rejecting Pakatan’s 100-day reform program should be viewed in this perspective. Malaysia is en route to bankruptcy at the rate that it is raising debts to fund UMNO/BN’s addiction to wasteful spending and corruption that is endemic in the crony capitalism structure that it props.

The public is generally privy to such examples of excesses are well known to the people. Instead of providing homes to the poor and young people, the Prime Minister is more obsessed with his 100-storey tower costing RM5 billion. The UMNO leadership will scream bankruptcy each time Pakatan fights for better pay for the teachers, yet it has no qualms to pay RM77 million for a one year contract to APCO. The list is endless.

Thus, the first action of a Pakatan Federal government is to announce an all out war against corruption at all levels in the government, starting with the political leadership. This will save an amount of RM28 billion for the national treasury as estimated by the Auditor General, believed to have been lost each year due to corruption and leakages.

Next, a Pakatan Federal Government will restructure the national subsidy system to abolish corporate subsidies that had bled the people and enriched only a few cronies. The RM19 billion of subsidy to IPP borne by PETRONAS each year will be reverted to the national treasury. Similarly, we will undertake an overhaul of the toll concession system to return the RM4 billion’s worth of compensation paid to concessionaires back to the national treasury.

These two quick actions will yield an additional RM51 billion financial muscle for a Pakatan Federal Government to implement our 100-day reform programs, whose cost is only a third of the amount:

1. The new RM500 a month teaching allowance for teachers and educational officers will cost RM3.2 billion annually

2. Our guarantee that fuel subsidies will be maintained for lower income group will involve a restructuring of the subsidy system, so that only the lower income group enjoys fuel subsidy. The cost estimate for maintaining fuel subsidy under a restructured subsidy system is RM4 billion annually

3. Pakatan Federal Government will continue to subsidise LPG, at an estimated cost of RM4 billion annually

4. The restructuring of the toll system under PLUS is expected to cost RM23 billion, based on the current offer made by Khazanah and EPF. The additional cost to acquire minority shareholders is approximately RM8 billion.

The additional cost required to fund Pakatan’s 100-day programs is only RM19.2 billion, an amount equivalent to the existing corporate subsidies fed to IPPs each year. This is a pittance compared to the RM51 billion stolen from our national economy to keep the cronies afloat and fat.

The other people-centric programs such as free water and free wi-fi schemes have been implemented in Pakatan states. This has been proven to be viable and sustainable.

The onus is for the Prime Minister to come up with a complete explanation of his reluctance to implement these programs, when rakyat knows that we can afford it. It is utterly irresponsible to continue piling debts for future generations to bear but refuses to utilise the money for the welfare of the people.

DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

LEADER OF OPPOSITION

11 JANUARY 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Another piece of GOoD reading, from MI:)

Breaking Views

‘Have ears, hear not! Have eyes, see not!’ — Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

January 11, 2011

JAN 11 — Since the very first day when Datuk Seri Najib Razak took over as the prime minister of Malaysia on April 3, 2009, I have yet to realise whether he hears and sees what is happening in the country. Every time he utters anything, it seems to be out of context of what is actually happening. I am wondering whether he is living in his own make-believe world. Or is it the custom of any top leader in Malaysia to be in denial mode and believe that everything is rosy.

The actual situation in the country is not without due concern to everyone and yet the PM seems to be oblivious to all this. That racism is on the rise seems to have missed his notice. The diversity in culture is not a hindrance definitely but racism is. This is the fundamental problem that the PM must come to grips with and act in a sensible and responsible way.

Many incidents have occurred that give rise to instability in the country. All these incidents have not been attended to although in one case, the Cabinet made a decision on the matter. This is in relation to children below age being converted by the spouse who had converted to Islam. This was done without the consent of the other party who did not convert to Islam.

It is the fate of these innocent children that is of concern to everyone. The tussle between the party who remains with the original status as against the party who has converted to Islam who also had the backing of the Islamic religious authority and other enforcement agencies can create undue stress on the children.

The Cabinet issued a ruling that children below the age of maturity must remain in the original religion but this was never enforced. The law itself must be amended to give effect to this ruling. That has not been done.

These cases have been mentioned on numerous occasions in the media but there seems to be no effective solution to the cases. The aggrieved party failed to get a fair hearing and thus resorted to actions that bring uncertainty to the future of the children.

The case of Indra Gandhi and her children is one case in point.

Children were kidnapped and taken away as the process of seeking a just solution was not available. Must this go on endlessly?

The cases of body snatching will astound Hollywood filmmakers. There must be a sensible and fair method to these charades. Converts to Islam who reverted back to their original religion find it difficult to convince the Islamic religious authorities of their new status. It is an impossible situation in Malaysia; one who is a Muslim cannot opt out of Islam.

Suffice to mention the cases of Gan Eng Gor, where the police took away the body from a Chinese funeral parlour to give him Muslim burial rites and so was the case of Mohan Singh. A solution needs to be found to avoid such cases in the future.

Then there is this unnecessary emphasis on ketuanan Melayu which is creating unease among the non-Malays. The media controlled by the party in power never cease to highlight this issue. The PM did not caution this group to either tone down their obsession or divert them to other more productive topics that will benefit the people as a whole.

The MCA under Chua Soi Lek has voiced out a number of contentious issues. Even the Gerakan became more daring in giving support to these issues brought out by Soi Lek.

Possibly, all these outbursts are just fodder for the forthcoming general election. After the elections, the MCA and the Gerakan, like the PM, will close their eyes and cover their ears to the ramblings and complaints by the people.

Now suddenly even the political parties in east Malaysia which are members of BN had also voiced their dissatisfaction on certain actions of the government.

All these problems have not been attended to. Nothing can materialise if all these grievances and incidents are not resolved. This is the stark reality facing the country.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, although the Cabinet was about a third of the size of the present Cabinet, issues were tackled and not allowed to linger on. There was a very effective monitoring system put in place by the late Tun Abdul Razak. Thus issues did not go out of control.

The various government agencies were effectively carved in their roles to avoid them creating empires and become unduly powerful. The Islamic religious authorities and the syariah courts were never above other agencies. Civil law was supreme.

The government then was effectively practising “people first, service now” without resorting to unnecessary sloganeering.

The government then listened and gave recognition to what the people said about their needs in seeking justice and a fair treatment to conflicts. The government did not pose itself as being all knowing.

The leaders too talked within the context of reality.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

As Desi is still on HI-atus, it's C&P from DSAI's...

As posted by Malaysia Chronilce:) ~~
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 15:33

Pakatan only needs RM19bil to implement 100-days reform plan

Written by Anwar Ibrahim
(0 votes)

Prime Minister’s repudiation of Pakatan’s 100-days reform programs on financial ground will further highlight UMNO/BN’s reluctance to spend the national wealth for the people.

It is a bit presumptious for the Prime Minister to claim that Pakatan’s 100-day reform program will bankrupt the country, since it is UMNO/BN-led government that had borrowed excessively each year. The Auditor General’s Report released on 25 October 2010 cautioned Putrajaya that the national debt to GDP ratio has breached the 50% mark for the first time in our history.

Malaysia government’s debt for 2009 rose to RM362.39 billion or 53.7% of GDP. The level of national debt in fact worsens under the stewardship of the current Prime Minister. The government undertook 19 bond programmes with a combined value of RM58.1 billion in 2010.

On 14th December 2010 Bank Negara Malaysia announced that the government will launch 29 additional bond programmes in 2011. RHB Research Institute estimates that this will involve a combined value of RM83 billion of new debts to be undertaken by the Federal Government.

Therefore, the Prime Minister’s criticism in rejecting Pakatan’s 100-day reform program should be viewed in this perspective. Malaysia is en route to bankruptcy at the rate that it is raising debts to fund UMNO/BN’s addiction to wasteful spending and corruption that is endemic in the crony capitalism structure that it props.

The public is generally privy to such examples of excesses are well known to the people. Instead of providing homes to the poor and young people, the Prime Minister is more obsessed with his 100-storey tower costing RM5 billion. The UMNO leadership will scream bankruptcy each time Pakatan fights for better pay for the teachers, yet it has no qualms to pay RM77 million for a one year contract to APCO. The list is endless.

Thus, the first action of a Pakatan Federal government is to announce an all out war against corruption at all levels in the government, starting with the political leadership. This will save an amount of RM28 billion for the national treasury as estimated by the Auditor General, believed to have been lost each year due to corruption and leakages.

Next, a Pakatan Federal Government will restructure the national subsidy system to abolish corporate subsidies that had bled the people and enriched only a few cronies. The RM19 billion of subsidy to IPP borne by PETRONAS each year will be reverted to the national treasury. Similarly, we will undertake an overhaul of the toll concession system to return the RM4 billion’s worth of compensation paid to concessionaires back to the national treasury.

These two quick actions will yield an additional RM51 billion financial muscle for a Pakatan Federal Government to implement our 100-day reform programs, whose cost is only a third of the amount:

1. The new RM500 a month teaching allowance for teachers and educational officers will cost RM3.2 billion annually

2. Our guarantee that fuel subsidies will be maintained for lower income group will involve a restructuring of the subsidy system, so that only the lower income group enjoys fuel subsidy. The cost estimate for maintaining fuel subsidy under a restructured subsidy system is RM4 billion annually

3. Pakatan Federal Government will continue to subsidise LPG, at an estimated cost of RM4 billion annually

4. The restructuring of the toll system under PLUS is expected to cost RM23 billion, based on the current offer made by Khazanah and EPF. The additional cost to acquire minority shareholders is approximately RM8 billion.

The additional cost required to fund Pakatan’s 100-day programs is only RM19.2 billion, an amount equivalent to the existing corporate subsidies fed to IPPs each year. This is a pittance compared to the RM51 billion stolen from our national economy to keep the cronies afloat and fat.

The other people-centric programs such as free water and free wi-fi schemes have been implemented in Pakatan states. This has been proven to be viable and sustainable.

The onus is for the Prime Minister to come up with a complete explanation of his reluctance to implement these programs, when rakyat knows that we can afford it. It is utterly irresponsible to continue piling debts for future generations to bear but refuses to utilise the money for the welfare of the people.

DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

LEADER OF OPPOSITION

11 JANUARY 2011