Monday, June 30, 2008

The unbecoming of Nazri

In my previous entry on the Fourth Estate, I mentioned the media boycott at the Parliament House was a victory for the journalists. The members of BN BBC as well as the opposition were against the rule and removed the barricade.

Following that Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Aziz had chided by calling the BN BBC members 'childish' to which BN BBC chair has responded. To add salt to the wound, the minister is now challenging the BN BBC chairman to get him (Nazri) sacked by the prime minister as reported by The Star and The New Straits Times (28.6.2008).

I am sure now that it is Nazri who is acting 'childish'. More like a spoilt brat actually. Representing the executive has made him forget that he too is a legislator.

The problem in the Malaysian context is there are no separation of powers between the legislative branch and the executive as practiced in the US or the UK.

The issue of making Parliament a First World institution has been pioneered by former Opposition Leader, Lim Kit Siang. I opine that for this to happen the legislative and executive branches must be made independent of each other.

Knowing Prime Minister Abdullah's non-action policy, Nazri Aziz would be off scot free in a breeze.

Social Contract

A vital piece of history that affects Malaysians from every strata of society is the social contract. To debate on its very existence and everything's that's connected to it, Bar Council of Malaysia organised a forum on June 28 2008. The details are as the following:

Title: The Social Contract

Speakers: Dr Mavis Puthucheary

Dr Kua Kia Soong

Dr Farish A Noor

Tommy Thomas

Having heard from the learned speakers, this is my notion on the social contract. The social contract is an agreement amongst the founding fathers of Malaya resulting in the contract to be enshrined in the Federal Constitution. However due to ultras within political circles what was enshrined and agreed upon was never turned into action. The inaction of the civil administration as well as the failure of UMNO to lead by upholding the social contract has led to conditions.

I am what I am, is a result of these chauvinistic thinking politicians in the government.

P.S. I was a passive audience simply because duty calls.

Commenting on the forum, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in a press conference (Buletin Utama, 29 June 2008) stated that there is no need for such a forum to be held since component parties within the BN has been having good relations with one another. In addition, the contract has already been agreed upon.

Mr PM, I beg to differ. Had UMNO upheld the contract it would not have been the “Big Brother” in the BN, toeing its coalition partners. Had BN upheld the contract, it would not have performed badly in the 12th general election.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The power of the Fourth Estate

All media covering Parliament has boycotted coverage at Parliament following a ruling by the Speaker to disallow journalists from moving around freely in Parliament.

The reason given by the Speaker is definitely nonsensical- "for security reasons". Why didn't the government think of all this when they expanded the number of parliamentary constituencies from 193 to 222?

Its good that the Fourth Estate has shown its mettle on this issue even though Bernama did continue covering Parliament according to the rules stipulated.

On another note, I wonder why some print media do not know how to prioritize their news. While most papers covering this boycott put its news within the five pages, Makkal Osai carried this news on its back page with more coloured photos. Crazy....

Monday, June 23, 2008

More on Petrol... Abroad

Saudi Arabia have decided to increase petrol production by 200, 000 barrels a day to ease soaring world petrol prices. In the US, Democrat's candidate for President, Barack Obama is endorsing the usage of ethanol as an alternative to petrol. It is an issue that deepens the divide between the democrat and his opponent, Robert McCain from the Republican.

Makes me wonder whether Pak Lah would encourage the transition to ethanol.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Game

http://www.pictogame.com/game.php?game=UbYqL5wMVX4H

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Re: Kedudukan Istimewa Orang Melayu

Merujuk kepada beberapa persoalan yang telah dikemukakan di dalam Saka Bangsa, saya ingin mengutarakan pandangan saya dari beberapa perspektif.

Secara keseluruhannya isi kandungan blog adalah berlandaskan kepada Perkara 153, Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Jika dilihat dari perspektif lain, saya berpandangan bahawa bangkangan Pemuda UMNO adalah tidak berasas sekali kerana ketika kita di ambang sambutan kemerdekaan ke - 51, pemikiran dan kenyataan dari pihak Pemuda UMNO dan kumpulan organisasi bukan tertentu mencerminkan bahawa usaha perpaduan dan menjamu selera pada hari-hari perayaan tertentu hanya merupakan 'wayang kulit' semata-mata.

Melalui pemberian biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) sebanyak 45% kepada penuntut bukan Melayu, kita juga boleh meningkatkan bilangan kakitangan bukan Melayu di dalam sektor awam. saya percaya pada ketika ini peratusan kakitangan bukan Melayu
kini tidak menggambarkan peratusan jumlah penduduk bukan Melayu di Malaysia. Tambahan pula, komposisi kaum kakitangan dalam sektor perkhidmatan awam perlu 'diMalaysiakan'. Secara peribadi saya pernah berurusan dengan jabatan/agensi kerajaan tertentu yang mempunyai lebih 95% kakitangannya ialah Melayu. Akibatnya kantinnya tidak beroperasi semasa bulan Ramadhan.

Saya memahami kegusaran yang bermain di akal fikiran saudara - saudara yang membangkang pemberian biasiswa tersebut. Apakah kedudukan dan hak istimewa akan terganggu gugat melaui pemberian biasiswa ini? Tidak sama sekali. Ini kerana majoriti rakyat Malaysia sejak dulu kini dan selama-selamanya adalah orang Melayu.

Adakah Perancis kehilangan identitinya sebagai negara Barat, Kristian dengan kehadiran kumpulan minoriti terbesarnya yang terdiri dari orang Muslim? Tidak sama sekali.

Bagaimana pula dengan suara - suara lantang dari kumpulan minoriti rakyat Malaysia yang kedengaran pada penghujung tahun lepas? Bagaimana pula dengan penentangan masyarakat Penan di Sarawak berikutan dengan pembukaan hutan? Kes - kes sebegini sebenarnya mencerminkan kegagalan dasar - dasar tertentu untuk menjaga kepentingan kumpulan rakyat Malaysia yang tertentu. Antara isu yang telah dibangkitkan oleh kumpulan Hindraf 5, umpamanya adalah kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu. Sebenarnya perkara ini boleh difahami dari perspektif pusat dan "periphery". Oleh kerana bilangan yang berkurangan dan ditambah pula dengan dasar yang menyokong kumpulan masyarakat majoriti, persoalan -persoalan sebegini timbul meskipun dasar sedemikian dipanggil diskriminasi positif. Isu-isu ini turut berlaku di negara lain tetapi dasarnya adalah berbeza. Umpamanya di negara India, dasar diskriminasi yang pro minoriti memastikan semua kumpulan masyarakat mewakili sektor perkhidmatan awam dan sebagainya. Dengan ini, semua kumpulan masyarakat dapat meningkatkan taraf ekonomi mereka.

Persoalan yang ingin saya lontarkan kepada pihak Pemuda UMNO pula adalah penggunaan terma kedudukan dan hak. Di dalam 'posting' ini secara kata 'kedudukan' telah digunakan. Ini adalah benar kerana rujukan saya mendapati perkataan yang sepatutnya digunakan adalah 'kedudukan'. Namun lipatan sejarah membuktikan perkataan 'hak' digunakan. Hak atau 'rights' dan kedudukan atau ''position' adalah dua perkara yang berbeza sama sekali. Namun peristiwa - peristiwa yang nyaris menjadi titik hitam dalam perkembangan sejarah negara kita jelas menunjukkan bahawa 'hak' dan bukannya 'kedudukan' menjadi pilihan utama.

Dasar Ekonomi Baru turut diketengahkan sebagai hujah untuk membidas langkah yang diambil JPA. Hakikatnya selepas 37 tahun, dasar ini gagal meningkatkan taraf ekonomi rakyat Bumiputra kerana salah guna dalam perlaksanaan dasar tersebut.

Losing political power

"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely" - Lord Acton

The above saying goes to show acquirement of power can change not only an individual but also large groups of people. The problem only crops up when the group of people are no longer in power.

In the article "Restructuring federal-state relations" (Aliran Monthly Vol 28 No 4 2008) Francis Loh, listed 8 instances where the Barisan Nasional bungled in conducting their business amicably with the Pakatan Rakyat state governments in the PR governments. Among them are the decision by Azalina Othman, our Tourim Minister to cancel the memorandum of understanding between her ministry's Tourism Action Council (TAC) with the PR State TACs.

On the other hand, the smaller BN parties that were literally crucified in the recent elections have become much more active in raising issues. Leaders in the Gerakan, MCA and MIC have called for the release of Hindraf 5 from detention in Kamunting, Perak.

Datuk Ong Ka TIng raised the issue of faith and inter racial relations in Malaysia during his maiden speech in the newly convened Parliament session. His counterpart from the MIC has been raising issues such as the low intake of Indians within the Malaysian civil service. In fact the Datuk Samy Vellu has even campaigning modernise the party by attracting the professionals and the younger generation.

Had they did this earlier, these smaller members of the BN wouldn't have been massacred by voters in the General Election.

The loss of five states and the traditional 2/3 majority have definitely created an impact to the BN and Prime Minister Abdullah has had to schedule his transfer of power just 100 days after entering his second term in office. This definitely for more professionalism from the BN government since Malaysians would be more aware and would definitely compare the efficiency of the BN against the PR. Also all elected representatives must remember that they are elected by the people. Policies and decisions must take into consideration the needs of the people. Priority should be given to the rakyat and this must be beyond party priorities.

Power transfer or an impending loss of power?

The time line of the transfer of power from Badawi to Najib is confirmed. While no time line was given, the voices from the grass roots indicate the unhappiness over the dismal performance in the March 8, 2008 general elections.

The question that looms, however, is whether Najib would be able to take over the presidency as he wuld have to face a contest from current vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin and several other UMNO personalities.

Externally would Anwar Ibrahim, the de-facto leader of PKR be the spoiler by regaining the control of Parliament. After all the Pakatan Rakyat is only 30 seats short of a simple majority in the Parliament.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Demonstrations in a new phase

Friday the 13th has brought in a new phase into the development of demonstrations. For the first time the police did not go after the 2,000 0dd demonstrators as they did during the Hindraf and Bersih rally last year.

Would this mark a new phase in policing matters in Malaysia? It is yet to be seen but I am putting the Hindraf's attempt to give flower's to the Agong in conjunction of the Father's Day as a litmus paper test for the police.

Would they pass or fail?

Update: Apparently the men in blue couldn't resist from arresting people after all as evidently reported here. The only difference this time around was they were released a couple of hours later.

GDP per capita vs Petrol price per litre


Above is a chart that shows GDP per capita and petrol price per litre in 21 nations.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Petro politics

UMNO Youth Exco leader Sazmi Miah proposed that a ten percent salary cut for all ministers, their deputies and civil servants be imposed in line with unpopular Cabinet decision to increase petrol prices. Currently ministers and deputies would take a ten percent reduction off their entertainment allowance.

I don't agree with the notion that there should be salary cut for the civil servants and those working in the private sectors simply because the executive seem to earn much much more. Ten percent off the premier's entertainment allowance is RM1,886.50. This amount alone can be an average pay for an average Malaysian working in Kuala Lumpur. A PTD officer's first salary could be slightly lesser than that.

In this case Sazmi was definitely off track in calling the rakyat to take a salary cut.

Another point of argument is there should be no reason for the increase to take place when Malaysia is part of OPEC. In USD, Malaysia's current petrol price is 0.84 cents, whereas Kuwait's is 0.21 cents.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Malay unity or UMNO Unity

With reference to report on PAS ending their talks on Malay unity with UMNO as reported in Malaysian I noted that the notion of Malay unity occurs only when there are a lot of disagreements and challenges to UMNO to the the extend that the party loses the confidence of the Malaysian population, especially the Malay community.

The union of PAS within UMNO under the leadership of Dato' Asri Muda in the 1970s. In this
case, I would like to emphasize that the UMNO is misusing the concept of Malay unity to strengthen. The electoral results on March 8, 2008 does not and will not in any way affect Malay unity simply because the number of Malaysia Chinese and Indians are far much lesser than the Malays.

The only difference in the Malays today compared to previously, is their minor swing created an impact in Perak, Penang, Selangor, WPKL and Kedah as shown by the survey done by Merdeka Center on the recent general elections. The overall presentation can be seen here.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

People's right to protest fuel price hike

The effects of fuel price hike is felt every where. Even in Malaysia, mate. The effects are so bad that people are coming to protest. It is also happening in India. Interestingly when people from different nations are facing similar problems they seem to act similarly.

In India the CPI (M) has organised street protests right smack in the capital and some nearby towns and are even burning effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Unfortunately, right here at home Malaysians are still not free to voice out their dissatisfaction through a street demonstrations. All over Klang Valley there has been mass protest in a smaller scale compared to their Indian counterparts. And in Malaysia it was organised by the DAP. Janice Lee the assemblywomen for Teratai was even arrested as she too joined the protests. PAS and PKR activists joined the protests too.

There were even demos in Penang and of all the places Sarawak. This developments are good in the sense that the people are becoming more vocal in expressing their dissatisfaction. However the arrest of the above mentioned assembly person is totally uncalled for. The police should only take action when there is clear and present danger. Plus the rakyat are the ones who elected the government, regardless whether it is a National Front or People's Alliance.

Rakyat the Boss. Hidup Rakyat

Friday, June 6, 2008

MIC or MTC?


An IANS report stated that Datuk Samy Vellu is planning to bring in more non-Tamil Indians into the party.

The Indian community is a heterogeneous community. And going by the history of the MIC itself , the party actually had non - Tamil Indians during the initial stages of the party.

This call by the current MIC president makes me wonder whether there is a Indian party to represent the 1.8 millian Indians in Malaysia. Apparently this move comes a minute too late since the electorate has moved beyond race based politics.

Lastly, the Indians here have been duped into believing that there is Malaysian Indian Congress when in fact there has been Malaysian Tamil Congress.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Education inequality

I am very much disturbed by the statement of Umno Youth education bureau chief Ahmad Ikmal Ismail as well as the support it has received from ABIM and other similarly narrow minded organisations.

There is no necessity to invoke the Article 152 and 153 of the Federal Constitution on UMNO's part. Thus the statement from Ahmad Ikmal's counterpart in MCA who is also Deputy Education Minister I is justified. After all Dr Wee Ka Siong is in a much better position to come with a statement to clarify. I wish he had done so in his capacity as Deputy Education Minister I instead.

Ahmad Ikmal's statement goes on to show that they are certain people who can't live without government assistance. How sad that is.

Governmental assistance should be viewed as temporary relief not staple diet.