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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.