A Good Idea to FOSTER Multi-Culturism for 1Malaysia but WRONG APPROACH....

We always seem to have much fanfare to launch show-case projects but to me it is the wrong approach for a sustainable program that will truly transform Malaysia.
The NST has the story Multiracial hostel to foster integration but this hostel idea is merely like a drop in the ocean.
To promote better racial understanding among young Malaysians, we really need to get rid of those many exclusive boarding schools that young Malays are sent to, usually after Secondary One.
So instead of building this "publicity" hostel, we should slowly increase the intake of non-Malays into the exclusive boarding schools so that it simply reflects the racial composition of Malaysia.
But before that can happen, all the school heads and admin staff should be sent for further training to start thinking without their racist bias.
And those in the BTN who spout the wrong messages on "ketuanan" should be sent to rehab or sacked.
Only then will Malaysia be successful in the 1Malaysia agenda. So are we really serious about treating all our citizens properly?

malaysiakini and the LATEST on KUGAN'S DEATH...

After such a long delay and apparent stalling by the PDRM..remember how the official autopsy put the cause of death as one that did not include possible foul play, malaysiakini now reports that Kugan's death: Cop to be charged tomorrow.
It seems to be a case of "too little, too late" and to me the AG's office should be probed for negligence or even obstruction of justice.
After almost two years and that is the best they can do? As the AG's office is one that is appointed by the PM, he should be asked to resign for gross incompetence.
Kugan was probably beaten up by teams of enforcers and it is surprising that only one person will be charged.
It definitely provides the opportunity to create doubt as to who actually struck the lethal blow to Kugan.

That is why Malaysians so desperately need the IPCMC that was given the death blow by the PDRM. That should be the first task of any new government that wins the next General Elections.

malaysiakini on DIVORCING the MIC....

malaysiakini has this interesting article The 'conspiracy' against MIC in which the writer describes how "A political wedlock that has spanned for more than five decades is now at the brink of a divorce".

The BN is now having to make such desperate moves as the government may fall in the next general elections and follow the Japanese scenario.
The next important step is for the voters to also divorce themselves from the BN government that is incapable of any meaningful reforms that will help Malaysia progress.

MISSING PERSON ALERT

MISSING!
Please forward this to as many people as possible



Name : Tang Hooi Jen
Age : 19 years old
Height : 154cm
Location : Jenjarom, Selangor
Appearance : Dark-complexioned with short hair

She was last seen in Jenjarom on 10 June 2009 wearing a red t-shirt and pink short pants.
Anyone with information please call Mr. Tang (016-3989366) or Ms Kelly (016-2199458)

YOUR PROMPT ACTION MAY SAVE A LIFE…

If Ms Tang can read this, please contact your parents. Whatever problems you have can be settled with the family. At least tell them you are OK.

malaysiakini and the PKFZ Scandal...You Mean MINISTERS Cannot Be Questioned?

Life is quite confusing in Malaysia. We have an IGP who should seems to be forgetful of what he says. First of all he gave a press conference as reported by malaysiakini and then the following day issued a denial IGP denies saying minister to be quizzed on PKFZ leak.
Is the moral of the story that ministers cannot be touched by the law?
The is the perception that one gets as this mega-scandal has been news for months now and the AG's office is still organising their papers.
It is so easy to verify what was said or not said at any press conference. All reporters use voice recorders and all that is needed is to listen to the play-back. Unless the MCMC is going to ask everyone to erase all the tapes and deem them sensitive to ministers' careers?
As for the IGP, he has reached the age when trying to remember everything is impossible and making a mistake is common. But just denying is not going to work for a top official.

A Day on the Farm...

My brother-in-law has a hobby farm near Karak and we decided to spend a day there as we were visiting our son who is doing his CLP in KL.
The drive up was good with little traffic on Saturday as most of the traffic was heading out of Kuala Lumpur in the Raya exodus.
So I had a go at the ATV(all terrain vehicle)- at first I was too hesitant to squeeze the throttle but after a few minutes, I was able to do a solo ride without any incidents.
It's quite fun really but the throttle is not like a normal motor-bike as you use your right thumb to squeeze on the gas.
Anyone for a ride?

Photo: thanks to my daughter Jean

malaysiakini and a MISLEADING HEADLINE....

I wrote in my blog a few days back about the death of Mohamed Top, one of the leading bomb experts in the JI and malaysiakini published the letter under the heading Why bury a criminal?.
The heading is quite misleading as it implies that criminals do not deserve a burial according to the wishes of the family.
My objection was to the Malaysian government's offer to bring back the body as he was a Malaysian.
I believe that the government should not spend taxpayers' monies on such items, whether or not the person is a terrorist.

malaysiakini relates the PKFZ to the Iron Law of Oligarchy....

I believe this law can be applied to the connivance of the Malaysian Cabinet in the PKFZ billion ringgit scandal where one can find many examples of criminal breach of trust, abuse of official positions and acting in concert to conceal such dastardly acts.
The malaysiakini article is headed Leaked 'cabinet paper' tells an alarming tale but to me it is expected as the government always makes decisions collectively and you can be sure that the leaders are aware of what exactly is happening, especially with the mega-projects where political influence is most evident.
My opinion is that ministers should be allowed to make the final decisions in their own area and if any major scandal erupts, that minister has to face the music and even resign to save the government - that acts as a safety valve.
However after many years of the so-called "collective decision" system, we have probably have a government that practises the
Iron Law of Oligarchy.
The is the reason for the government being upset about the papers being leaked. Instead of taking action against those who have caused millions to be pilfered, they want to take action against the whistle-blowers.

Let's all learn a new slogan for change in the next General Elections:
"Any party OK BUT BN NOT OK"

malaysiakini and the DEATH of a MALAYSIAN TERRORIST....

"Those who live by the sword die by the sword" and that is what happened to Malaysia's most famous terrorist who was killed by Indonesian police yesterday.
According to the malaysiakini article Terror mastermind Noordin dead: Indonesia police he was killled in a police ambush in Solo, central Java.
I find the Malaysian government's response to the killing strange for they want his body to be returned to Malaysia for burial.

I don't support such a return to Malaysia for burial policy for a known criminal as it will give the wrong message.

Here are my reasons:
1.It incurs unnecessary costs for taxpayers.
2.It gives them more publicity and glosses over their evil deeds.
3.It provides a shrine for those who want to want to recruit members for the cause.

Only recently we had another known terrorist icon Chin Peng who had to turn to the courts in a bid to return to Malaysia but unfortunately he did not have the proper documents to prove he was a Malaysian.
My view is that Chin Peng was a more deserving case for the trip back as the story of his struggle would have been more educational.

Chin Peng is a Chinese but Mohammed? Go figure.

malaysiakini and MALAYSIA'S FORMULA1 RACE....?

Do we really need such extravagance?
According to this article in malaysiakini Najib launches Malaysia's own F1 team Malaysia will be entering the competitive sport of Formula1 racing next year.
Of course companies related to tourism and travel will like Formula1 as it does bring in the high-rollers who can spend their tourist dollars on hotels and luxury goods.
After so many years of PETRONAS involvement in Formula1 with little success, it appears quite fool-hardy for Malaysia to jump into this sport that has seen the withdrawal of even the big companies like Toyota and Honda.
According to this article the annual budget for taking part ranges from US$66mil to US$400mil. Just imagine how many students could be granted a proper education with that kind of money.

We have all heard about the common compliants about Proton's power windows that breakdown within a year. Are we to believe that this foray into racing will somehow solve that technical problem?
This expensive project should not be for taxpayers' account but instead we should let the private individuals and companies take the risks and enjoy the rewards if they are successful.
Maybe this is one way some ministers will get to enjoy the perks of Formula1 racing -the girls are pretty and the booze is plentiful too.

photo: thanks to http://www.cartuningcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/formula-1-race-car-girl.jpg

malaysiakini PUBLISHES DAMAGING REPORT on PKFZ SCANDAL....

The PKFZ scandal will be considered by some to be the father and mother of all scandals in Malaysia but the malaysiakini article RPK on PKFZ: Cabinet knew but condoned everything gives even more damaging details.
The practice in Malaysia has been for the Cabinet to make collective decisions on all and sundry so that quite possible we can even appoint a few monkeys in cabinet as ultimately no one is held responsible for bad decisions.
I disagree with the collective decision concept though I believe consultations may be useful. That way, if a really incompetent guy makes a bad decision as a minister, he resigns and the integrity(?) of the Cabinet remains intact.
Otherwise, after a few years of bad decisions and no resignations, the entire Cabinet is full of poorly-performing ministers.
Maybe we have reached or gone beyond that point now with the PKFZ scandal. Hence the need for the CUC.
That stands for Cover-Up Committee!

malaysiakini on the Bagan Pinang By-Election

Finally the Elections Commission has done something very practical and that is to arrange the voting to be done on a Sunday according to this malaysiakini article Bagan Pinang residents will vote on Oct 11 .
This should be the standard procedure for all by-elections as schools will not be disrupted on Sundays and also more voters will be given the opportunity to get to the polling stations during the week-end.
Maybe the presence of a few thousand postal voters may have been the deciding factor as perhaps the EC feels that this is a safe BN seat.
Let us hope that those postal voters will decide their ballots in a responsible manner and vote according to their conscience.

malaysiakini Endures the TYRANNY of GOVERNMENT....

The concept of "the tyranny of government" is not my idea but it comes from the Constitution of the USA, the nation that earned its freedom and independence after a bloody revolution with Great Britain.

Just google "tyranny of government" and you will find this interesting passage.

"Unless restrained, all governments devolve to tyranny."

"It can never be assured, nor should we ever believe, that government could never become oppressive and devolve into tyranny."

If I am not mistaken it was Jefferson or one of the other drafters of the USA Constitution who wrote this.

That was part of the argument in the USA for the Second Amendment which is about the right to bear arms but that right does not exist in Malaysia.

One could get the impression that malaysiakini is now experiencing the "tyranny of government" when the MCMC raids their offices and conducts long interviews that definitely will interfere with business for the online portal.
The government can afford the costs as they run on over-budget paid by taxpayers but definitely malaysiakini's operations will be adversely affected.

But since March 2008, many Malaysians have woken up to the fact that the government is a confusion of bungling, blundering and badgering bureaucrats who simply act without rhyme nor reason. You can read the readers' response in this malaysiakini article The minister vs the messenger .
Well done, guys. Now take the next step:-

1.Get ten of your friends or relatives who have not registered to vote to do so and ask them to get another 10 other friends to duplicate the efforts.

That is one important way we can defeat the tyranny of government.

Another MINISTER Afflicted with "COW-HEAD" Disease....

When a person makes a blunder, you could say he "put his foot in his mouth".
That expression is rather old and maybe they don't teach that in schools anymore.
So perhaps it is timely to introduce a new expresssion.

How about "cow-head disease" for people who simply do not know how to express themselves properly?
If you read the 60 plus opinions expressed in this malaysiakini article in which the MCMC deputy minister claims public expect action, the ordinary folks are telling this poor chappie that he has "cow-head disease" or a more virulent strain.

MOO, MOO Minister!

malaysiakini and the PKFZ SCANDAL - A FINAL Solution?

malaysiakini continues with the PKFZ with this article Ong's PKFZ mission far from over.
Most readers perceive the inaction to be stalling as a means of damage control. Malaysia is truly suffering from poor governance.

Meanwhile our PM has other things on his mind.

malaysiakini and the UMPTEENTH Task Force for PKFZ

It seems as if the PM believes that the PKFZ scandal will not come crashing down on the BN government if he establishes another task force to keep the dirt circulating.
According to the malaysiakini article PM: High-powered task force to probe PKFZ after at least 2 other committees have already conducted official probes and the PDRM have even supended the accounts of the company doing the project.
I don't buy the idea of another "so-called high-powered committee" as it smacks more of damage-control and cover-up.
At this stage even a Royal Commission becomes an academic exercise as we have already seen how the nation has been damaged when ZERO action is taken by the A-Gs office when sufficient evidence was available to take action.
It seems that Malaysians must take the hard decision that the BN government cannot be trusted or relied upon to do the right and just thing.
To obtain justice, Malaysians will need to change their government just like what the Japanese have done.

malaysiakini and DISMAL Home Ministers....

Once we thought that Syed Hamid was hopeless as a Home Minister when he allowed the detention of the Sin Chew journalist and Teresa Kok. Both were detained under the ISA and surprisingly no was else was charged for the incident that was reported.
The latest "cow-head" incident in which the Home Minister has incurred the wrath of several NGOs according to this malaysiakini article NGOs want Hisham's head over flip-flop as they are angry about the Home Minister being "cowed" as the protesters were UMNO members or instigated by UMNO and the police did not lift a finger to stop the bloody demonstration.
It can be perceived that the Home Minister does not act on any principles of law and order but purely on expediency and convenience.
At worst, the government now appears to be changing its tune as the latest death of an elected rep once again gives the voters the chance to provide tangible feedback on the government's performance.
I will give them 25% for the KPI on maintenance of law and order and public security.