Garth Brooks may not feel flattered by this rendition of his 1989 hit but give her a break will you! I am sure she sings better than at least half the population of Negri Sembilan and she must think she renders "If Tomorrow Never Comes" well enough to produce this karaoke cover version:
No one should fault Rosmah for serenading her Man although her choice of song may have been better. She is after all human and if she were not "The First Lady" but an ordinary Malaysian wife, then viewers of this now infamous You Tube may even be kinder and give her bouquets instead of brickbats for her efforts as a wife adulating her husband.
But the fact remains, she IS the wife of the current Prime Minister and people will not look at her any other way. I tried searching You Tube for another rendition by an ordinary singer to compare Rosmah's effort but after only finding a Lulu duet with Ronan Keating, I gave up looking for another women's version of the song. Looks like the consensus is that the song is meant to be sung by a man to a woman. Anyway, this karaoke version may be the most fair to compare against Rosmah's version.
My beloved Jeannie would never sing me a song like "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and her favorite song dedication to me was Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" which I unfortunately do not have on video record. Anyway, this old recording was in Fraser Hill years ago. Man In The Net anyone?
Thursday 28 October 2010
Saturday 23 October 2010
Boundaries And Transitions; Differing Values
Haris Ibrahim's sister, Farida wrote a touching piece as re-produced below from the SABM E-Group and in Haris' blog, The People's Parliament. I would assume the boy Farida refers to is Haris' son.
BOUNDARIES AND TRANSITIONS
My late mother had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. One grandson, the youngest among them, brought her much fun and joy in her latter years.
They were so in tune with each other despite the 73-year gap that it was such a pleasure to see them together. Grandson adored his Nenek and she cherished him with all her heart.
It pleased Mum when he came by and shared with her the things he had done at home and in school. In many ways he had inherited her business acumen and her artistic talent. While in primary school, he had sold pencils and his Star Wars-like drawings to classmates and it took almost a year before his parents found out about this clandestine activity.
My mother would laugh heartily at his tales and when he told how he stood up for what was right, she would beam with pride. This boy belonged to her. He was hers in the twilight of her years.
I was usually around when he came to stay or when the lovely phone conversations between them took place. Those calls always went something like this before the two said their goodbyes and hung up:
Mum: I love you.
Grandson: I love you too, Nenek.
Mum: I love you more than you love me. My love for you is taller than the tallest tree.
Grandson: Nenek, my love for you is higher than the clouds….
And this would go on and on and include dinosaurs, the seas, the stars and planets but invariably Grandson would top it all with “Nenek, I love you to infinity.”
And that was where Mum got stuck, without any answer to give back.
During the December holidays two years ago, he came again to stay for about a week. But this time he found a much frailer grandmother waiting for him.
Several diseases had plagued her body over long, long years and Mum had borne the pain and discomfort with remarkable fortitude. But time had taken its toll on her health and an aging body made it so much harder to battle the diseases.
On the first day of his visit, Grandson looked at Mum’s food and couldn’t believe what she was having - cooked vegetables, rice and chicken all blended finely into a flavoured porridge for her to take in easily.
In his great love for her, he asked, “Can I taste?” and he took a spoonful. The look on his face was telling.
“Poor Nenek,” he said, a sad finality in his voice that could only mean he wished he could do something about it but couldn’t.
The pattern of fun had to be scaled down, with outings no longer a regular feature as in former times. Mum needed help going up and down the stairs and he was always ready to offer a steadying hand. While Mum had her late morning and afternoon naps, he spent his time reading or on the computer or talking to me.
On his fourth day, I decided to take him out for breakfast at a kopitiam, and then for an art class. We had just finished eating when his dad called to ask if he wanted to stay on or follow him back. I passed the phone to him and saw a flash of discomfort on his face.
I caught on when I heard his “ er...er…” and “ I’ll talk to you later.”
“You need privacy,” I said. “I’ll go out and you talk to your father.”
He protested so we stepped out, went to the lift area at the back of the mall and I stood away from him so he could have his private moment. To my astonishment, he went into a remote corner, sat on the floor and spoke in hushed tones, and all I could see was a pair of feet sticking out.
He kept me waiting for about 20 minutes and when I thought I had had enough of this and was about to haul him up, he stepped out. And what I saw was a distraught face.
“What’s the matter?” I asked quickly.
“Nothing,” he said but his voice was choked with emotion.
“Tell me,” I practically begged as my arm went around his shoulder to console him.
Tears streamed down his face and he said brokenly, “I want to go back…but …but I don’t want to hurt you and Nenek.”
This was it? No, the unspoken words said more.
It was very hard for him to stay and see the one he loved so dearly reduced to a pale shadow of her former self – his Nenek, who had told him stories, painted with him, given him clay to work with, taught him songs and sums, and inspired him to better himself.
It was just too much for someone so young to bear. It dawned on me then that a tender heart was breaking under the strain.
Behind the tears was an unspoken longing for the open spaces around his home and its surroundings, where he could wade amidst frolicking fish, climb fruit-laden trees, catch an insect or two and run like the wind down a slippery slope with nothing to rein him in.
He needed to be free and happy, not stay behind the prison walls of our home with its grills and gate and locks. And deep in his heart he must surely yearn to free his Nenek from the prison of her bed and wheelchair and medicine.
He didn’t see the parallels. I did.
I wanted so much for him to understand what I was saying: “Sayang, you are not responsible for Nenek’s happiness and you are not responsible for mine. Whatever you choose to do, Nenek and I will accept happily because we love you. Can you understand that?”
He nodded dumbly. When he was ready, we went off arm in arm for his batik-painting class.
I watched him engrossed in dabbing bright and beautiful colours onto the plain fabric with its waxed lines that ensured colours kept their integrity and didn’t merge into one another.
To me he was himself those bright and beautiful colours and the plain piece of cloth, the situation at home. The waxed lines were boundaries, there to maintain integrity, define safe space, protect him and enable him to enjoy his role as a youngster.
But somewhere along the way, a breach had occurred amidst those boundaries.
The unthinkable had happened - the youngest among us had felt it his responsibility to keep two adults happy, though we had never expected it of him.
And this being responsible for someone else’s happiness has its echoes around the world but with expectations often enforced in the most heartless of ways: a child having to get straight A’s so his parents can be happy; an adolescent forced to pursue a particular field of study to make her parents happy; a man wanting to end a marriage because the wife does not keep him happy; a woman not allowed to follow the faith she believes in because to do so makes her community unhappy. And so it goes on.
In truth, no one can make us happy but we ourselves. Happiness is a choice and that choice rests with us and us alone, no matter what the circumstance.
He left that evening and I could only hope that the breach had been repaired and that he was convinced no child should be made to feel responsible for an adult’s happiness.
A few months later, Mum passed away. It was very hard for us. It always is when a loved one whose life has been such a wonderful testimony to courage, resilience and faith makes an exit.
Almost a year after, I received a stirring poem from my nephew about his Nenek. It had been birthed from the depths of a loving heart that remembered her well. It convinced me that he had found his peace.
On his birthday this year, I called to wish him. In the midst of our conversation, before I knew it, I found myself saying, “I love you more than …” and he responded in the same way he had done with his Nenek.
It was a moment of transition for both of us – the same stage but with one new player.
I took a chance.
“I love you to infinity,” I said, seizing his prized clincher.
Was there anything left to say? Yes, there was.
“I love you to infinity plus one!” he said and it was a voice of triumph.
He had hit upon a continuum of his own making, willing to defy the facts to do just that.
“No such thing,” I declared. “Infinity is infinity.”
On his side I heard very clearly a wonderful chuckle.
Yes, we were on to something new.
He was my mother’s special one in the twilight of her years.
He is mine now.
*****************************************************
I can appreciate Farida's perspective; her very noble and sincere intentions for her nephew. But reading it as a Chinese I would differ slightly.
"Sayang, you are not responsible for Nenek’s happiness and you are not responsible for mine. Whatever you choose to do, Nenek and I will accept happily because we love you. Can you understand that?”
I believe in the above context, the youngster could also be taught that he is partially (not totally) responsible for his Nenek's happiness and that choosing to stay can also be an option. It would then become a lesson in sacrifice and expediency rather than one of absolute responsibility. Alas, the boy was very young and it remains a beautiful love story.
Perhaps the following clip from the movie, "The Joy Luck Club" (from Amy Tan's novel of the same title) can illustrate my point and perspective. I do not know how many times Jeannie and Krystyn watched the movie together but I do know Jeannie often used it to guide the kids on certain aspects of what is termed, "Chinese Values".
BOUNDARIES AND TRANSITIONS
My late mother had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. One grandson, the youngest among them, brought her much fun and joy in her latter years.
They were so in tune with each other despite the 73-year gap that it was such a pleasure to see them together. Grandson adored his Nenek and she cherished him with all her heart.
It pleased Mum when he came by and shared with her the things he had done at home and in school. In many ways he had inherited her business acumen and her artistic talent. While in primary school, he had sold pencils and his Star Wars-like drawings to classmates and it took almost a year before his parents found out about this clandestine activity.
My mother would laugh heartily at his tales and when he told how he stood up for what was right, she would beam with pride. This boy belonged to her. He was hers in the twilight of her years.
I was usually around when he came to stay or when the lovely phone conversations between them took place. Those calls always went something like this before the two said their goodbyes and hung up:
Mum: I love you.
Grandson: I love you too, Nenek.
Mum: I love you more than you love me. My love for you is taller than the tallest tree.
Grandson: Nenek, my love for you is higher than the clouds….
And this would go on and on and include dinosaurs, the seas, the stars and planets but invariably Grandson would top it all with “Nenek, I love you to infinity.”
And that was where Mum got stuck, without any answer to give back.
During the December holidays two years ago, he came again to stay for about a week. But this time he found a much frailer grandmother waiting for him.
Several diseases had plagued her body over long, long years and Mum had borne the pain and discomfort with remarkable fortitude. But time had taken its toll on her health and an aging body made it so much harder to battle the diseases.
On the first day of his visit, Grandson looked at Mum’s food and couldn’t believe what she was having - cooked vegetables, rice and chicken all blended finely into a flavoured porridge for her to take in easily.
In his great love for her, he asked, “Can I taste?” and he took a spoonful. The look on his face was telling.
“Poor Nenek,” he said, a sad finality in his voice that could only mean he wished he could do something about it but couldn’t.
The pattern of fun had to be scaled down, with outings no longer a regular feature as in former times. Mum needed help going up and down the stairs and he was always ready to offer a steadying hand. While Mum had her late morning and afternoon naps, he spent his time reading or on the computer or talking to me.
On his fourth day, I decided to take him out for breakfast at a kopitiam, and then for an art class. We had just finished eating when his dad called to ask if he wanted to stay on or follow him back. I passed the phone to him and saw a flash of discomfort on his face.
I caught on when I heard his “ er...er…” and “ I’ll talk to you later.”
“You need privacy,” I said. “I’ll go out and you talk to your father.”
He protested so we stepped out, went to the lift area at the back of the mall and I stood away from him so he could have his private moment. To my astonishment, he went into a remote corner, sat on the floor and spoke in hushed tones, and all I could see was a pair of feet sticking out.
He kept me waiting for about 20 minutes and when I thought I had had enough of this and was about to haul him up, he stepped out. And what I saw was a distraught face.
“What’s the matter?” I asked quickly.
“Nothing,” he said but his voice was choked with emotion.
“Tell me,” I practically begged as my arm went around his shoulder to console him.
Tears streamed down his face and he said brokenly, “I want to go back…but …but I don’t want to hurt you and Nenek.”
This was it? No, the unspoken words said more.
It was very hard for him to stay and see the one he loved so dearly reduced to a pale shadow of her former self – his Nenek, who had told him stories, painted with him, given him clay to work with, taught him songs and sums, and inspired him to better himself.
It was just too much for someone so young to bear. It dawned on me then that a tender heart was breaking under the strain.
Behind the tears was an unspoken longing for the open spaces around his home and its surroundings, where he could wade amidst frolicking fish, climb fruit-laden trees, catch an insect or two and run like the wind down a slippery slope with nothing to rein him in.
He needed to be free and happy, not stay behind the prison walls of our home with its grills and gate and locks. And deep in his heart he must surely yearn to free his Nenek from the prison of her bed and wheelchair and medicine.
He didn’t see the parallels. I did.
I wanted so much for him to understand what I was saying: “Sayang, you are not responsible for Nenek’s happiness and you are not responsible for mine. Whatever you choose to do, Nenek and I will accept happily because we love you. Can you understand that?”
He nodded dumbly. When he was ready, we went off arm in arm for his batik-painting class.
I watched him engrossed in dabbing bright and beautiful colours onto the plain fabric with its waxed lines that ensured colours kept their integrity and didn’t merge into one another.
To me he was himself those bright and beautiful colours and the plain piece of cloth, the situation at home. The waxed lines were boundaries, there to maintain integrity, define safe space, protect him and enable him to enjoy his role as a youngster.
But somewhere along the way, a breach had occurred amidst those boundaries.
The unthinkable had happened - the youngest among us had felt it his responsibility to keep two adults happy, though we had never expected it of him.
And this being responsible for someone else’s happiness has its echoes around the world but with expectations often enforced in the most heartless of ways: a child having to get straight A’s so his parents can be happy; an adolescent forced to pursue a particular field of study to make her parents happy; a man wanting to end a marriage because the wife does not keep him happy; a woman not allowed to follow the faith she believes in because to do so makes her community unhappy. And so it goes on.
In truth, no one can make us happy but we ourselves. Happiness is a choice and that choice rests with us and us alone, no matter what the circumstance.
He left that evening and I could only hope that the breach had been repaired and that he was convinced no child should be made to feel responsible for an adult’s happiness.
A few months later, Mum passed away. It was very hard for us. It always is when a loved one whose life has been such a wonderful testimony to courage, resilience and faith makes an exit.
Almost a year after, I received a stirring poem from my nephew about his Nenek. It had been birthed from the depths of a loving heart that remembered her well. It convinced me that he had found his peace.
On his birthday this year, I called to wish him. In the midst of our conversation, before I knew it, I found myself saying, “I love you more than …” and he responded in the same way he had done with his Nenek.
It was a moment of transition for both of us – the same stage but with one new player.
I took a chance.
“I love you to infinity,” I said, seizing his prized clincher.
Was there anything left to say? Yes, there was.
“I love you to infinity plus one!” he said and it was a voice of triumph.
He had hit upon a continuum of his own making, willing to defy the facts to do just that.
“No such thing,” I declared. “Infinity is infinity.”
On his side I heard very clearly a wonderful chuckle.
Yes, we were on to something new.
He was my mother’s special one in the twilight of her years.
He is mine now.
*****************************************************
I can appreciate Farida's perspective; her very noble and sincere intentions for her nephew. But reading it as a Chinese I would differ slightly.
"Sayang, you are not responsible for Nenek’s happiness and you are not responsible for mine. Whatever you choose to do, Nenek and I will accept happily because we love you. Can you understand that?”
I believe in the above context, the youngster could also be taught that he is partially (not totally) responsible for his Nenek's happiness and that choosing to stay can also be an option. It would then become a lesson in sacrifice and expediency rather than one of absolute responsibility. Alas, the boy was very young and it remains a beautiful love story.
Perhaps the following clip from the movie, "The Joy Luck Club" (from Amy Tan's novel of the same title) can illustrate my point and perspective. I do not know how many times Jeannie and Krystyn watched the movie together but I do know Jeannie often used it to guide the kids on certain aspects of what is termed, "Chinese Values".
Saturday 16 October 2010
Friday 15 October 2010
Ketuanan Apa Ini? Just A Bunch Of Crooks But WE Voted Them In Everytime!
This was in the Asia Sentinel. Read it and puke! Viva NEP!!!
UMNO's Corporate Cornucopia
Written by Our Correspondent
WEDNESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2010
The House that Mahathir Built
How Malaysia's companies funneled money into the country's biggest political party
In the 1980s and 1990s, Halim Saad and Tajudin Ramli were two of Malaysia's brightest stars, picked by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to lead the country's ethnic Malays onto the national stage as exemplars of a new Bumiputera business culture that would catch up with the ethnic Chinese who had dominated commerce as long as Malaysia had been in existence.
When Mahathir took office, insiders say, his plan was to create a cadre of 100 super-rich bumis who in turn would help rural Malays into prosperity under a konsep payung, or umbrella concept routed through the United Malays National Organization, much the way he envisioned driving the country into industrialization through massive projects. But greed intervened. Once the privileged got rich, there was little incentive to share it with the kampongs, the Malay rural villages. Many of the companies eventually collapsed and are being supported by government institutions such as Kazanah Nasional, the country's sovereign investment fund, or the Employee Provident Fund.
Although the Umno connection was widely assumed during Mahathir's 22 year reign as prime minister, today a flock of explosive court documents filed in different Kuala Lumpur courts appear to be breaking open conclusively the open secret that Tajudin and Halim and others were essentially front men for the United Malays National Organization, the country's biggest ethnic political party and part of a class of rentier businessmen who became known as Umnoputras, a play on the word Bumiputera, or native Malaysians, predominantly ethnic Malays.
Nor were they alone. Others included Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary, one of Malaysia's richest men, as well as Yahaya Ahmad, who headed Mahathir's national car project and who tragically was killed with his wife in a helicopter crash, and Samsuddin Abu Hassan, introduced by Mahathir to the government of Nelson Mandela but who had to flee South Africa after being accused of misappropriating millions and evading South African debts totaling about R50 million (US$7.233 million at current exchange rates). Samsuddin left behind his glamorous wife, Melleney Venessa Samsudin, along with a failed Durban bank, and returned to Malaysia.
Samsudin ultimately ended up on the board of directors of Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd., another Umno-linked company that has played a significant role in major national projects including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KL's Light Rail Transit System, the CyberJaya Flagship Zone and numerous other projects.
At least 23 of Malaysia's biggest companies (see list below) appear to have been vehicles for Umno to siphon off vast amounts of money in government contracts as Mahathir's plans went awry. The companies and the people who run them are so hard-wired into Umno, the government and its investment arms that de-linking them would probably destroy the party. That in effect makes a mockery of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's widely publicized speech in July in which he promised to root corruption out of his party.
Much of the ownership appears to have been channeled through a mysterious company that emerged in 1993 to stage an RM800 million management buyout of a major chunk of Malaysia's media including the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and TV3. Realmild already owned a controlling interest in Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd, which got the contract to develop the massive Kuala Lumpur Sentral transport hub. It also acquired ownership of the Labuan and Sabah Shipyards, which supply the Malaysian Navy, as well as Redicare and Medivest, which were awarded lucrative contracts to supply medical supplies to government hospitals.
In September, Syed Anwar Jamalullail, the brother to the Sultan of Perlis, and others testified in a tangled court battle in a Kuala Lumpur High Court that Daim Zainuddin, the prime minister's close associate, often told Malay businessmen to act as nominees in the management of Malaysia's top companies. The long-running suit was launched five years ago in2005 by Khalid Ahmad, a former Realmild director, who alleged he had been cheated out of a RM10 million payment for five percent of Realmild's shares by Abdul Rahman, thought to be the beneficial owner.
According to the testimony, Abdul Rahman paid out the RM10 million but later reneged after he learned from Mahathir that the shares actually belonged to UMNO. The trustees for Realmild in fact were Mahathir himself as well as former Berita Harian Group Editor Ahmad Nazri Abdullah, New Straits Times Group Editor Abdul Kadir Jasin and Mohd Noor Mutalib. Another witness, Ahmad Nazri, said in a deposition that he held the majority share of 80 percent in Realmild, although 70 percent of the shares were actually in trust for Mahathir.
The companies others ran included Faber Group Bhd, a member of the UEM Group, now involved in integrated facilities management and property solutions sectors; KUB Malaysia Bhd. A holding company dealing in information, communications & technology, property, engineering & construction and food related industries.
The companies have been involved a wide variety of activities including media, property development, construction, toll roads, hospital equipment, logistics and distribution, cellular telephony and other businesses. What they had in common was that most of them benefited from government contracts doled out by the Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition that has controlled Malaysia since its inception as a country. The other thing they had in common was that at some point most of them were mismanaged into financial trouble of one kind or another and had to be bailed out or bought out by the government.
Realmild unloaded Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd onto the Employee Provident Fund in late 2005 as part settlement for an outstanding Rm500 million loan. Putera Capital Bhd, is threatened with bankruptcy. It formerly owned the Putra World Trade Center, Umno's headquarters, which rents out office space to businesses. UEM Builders Bhd, an offshoot of United Engineers Malaysia (UEM), along with UEM World Bhd, was dumped onto Kazanah Nasional, the investment holding arm of the government and the government's strategic investment vehicle.
Kazanah Nasional now also owns PLUS, which held the tollway contract for the national north-south highway, as well as Pharmaniaga, a former UEM subsidiary dealing in hospital supply and other services. Court documents show that MAS, then the state-owned flag carrier, was taken over and privatized by Tajudin Ramli only to lose an estimated RM8 billion (US$2.77 billion at current exchange rate), with a major part of that being funneled into a Frankfurt, Germany cargo logistics company whose directors were closely connected to Tajudin.
According to the website Malaysia Today, Tajudin's lawyers revealed that Tajudin had only been a front man for Umno and that Umno "not only has to protect him from prosecution but that they also had to ensure that the government bought back the shares at the same price that they were sold to him although the shares were only worth a portion of the real value."
Other depositions made available in recent weeks have listed a long series of documents detailing misdoings in UEM/Renong, once headed by Halim Saad, which has long been accused of looting the government treasury through vastly overpriced construction contracts. Halim told the press in September that he had left the UEM/Renong board in 2001, saying authorities wanted Kazanah to take it over "to prevent a systemic risk to the banking system in Malaysia and to enable a sustained restructuring of the group."
UEM itself is still at it. The government-linked company was given the contract to build a second bridge from the mainland to the northern city of Penang at a price estimated in 2007 at Rm2.7 billion. It has since climbed to RM4.3 billion without figuring in a variety of ancillary costs including compensation for fishermen and project development costs of RM285 million, with the total now nearing RM5 billion.
Other documents show how completely the country's press was in the thrall of UMNO. Media Prima Bhd, a listed company, apparently took over the ownership from Realmild of TV3, 8TV, ntv7 and TV9 as well as 90 percent of the equity in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, which publishes three national newspapers; the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro. It also owns three radio networks, Fly FM, Hot FM and One FM. Other cross media interests of Media Prima include content creation; event and talent management.
It also owns outdoor advertising companies Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd, UPD Sdn Bhd, Right Channel Sdn Bhd, Kurnia Outdoor Sdn Bhd and Jupiter Outdoor Network Sdn Bhd. It is online through a digital communications and broadcasting subsidiary, Alt Media, with the Lifestyle Portal gua.com.my and the newly launched TonTon, a cutting-edge video portal with HD-ready quality viewing experience that offers the individualism of customized content and interactivity of social networking.
The companies:
UMNO's Corporate Cornucopia
Written by Our Correspondent
WEDNESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2010
The House that Mahathir Built
How Malaysia's companies funneled money into the country's biggest political party
In the 1980s and 1990s, Halim Saad and Tajudin Ramli were two of Malaysia's brightest stars, picked by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to lead the country's ethnic Malays onto the national stage as exemplars of a new Bumiputera business culture that would catch up with the ethnic Chinese who had dominated commerce as long as Malaysia had been in existence.
When Mahathir took office, insiders say, his plan was to create a cadre of 100 super-rich bumis who in turn would help rural Malays into prosperity under a konsep payung, or umbrella concept routed through the United Malays National Organization, much the way he envisioned driving the country into industrialization through massive projects. But greed intervened. Once the privileged got rich, there was little incentive to share it with the kampongs, the Malay rural villages. Many of the companies eventually collapsed and are being supported by government institutions such as Kazanah Nasional, the country's sovereign investment fund, or the Employee Provident Fund.
Although the Umno connection was widely assumed during Mahathir's 22 year reign as prime minister, today a flock of explosive court documents filed in different Kuala Lumpur courts appear to be breaking open conclusively the open secret that Tajudin and Halim and others were essentially front men for the United Malays National Organization, the country's biggest ethnic political party and part of a class of rentier businessmen who became known as Umnoputras, a play on the word Bumiputera, or native Malaysians, predominantly ethnic Malays.
Nor were they alone. Others included Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary, one of Malaysia's richest men, as well as Yahaya Ahmad, who headed Mahathir's national car project and who tragically was killed with his wife in a helicopter crash, and Samsuddin Abu Hassan, introduced by Mahathir to the government of Nelson Mandela but who had to flee South Africa after being accused of misappropriating millions and evading South African debts totaling about R50 million (US$7.233 million at current exchange rates). Samsuddin left behind his glamorous wife, Melleney Venessa Samsudin, along with a failed Durban bank, and returned to Malaysia.
Samsudin ultimately ended up on the board of directors of Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd., another Umno-linked company that has played a significant role in major national projects including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KL's Light Rail Transit System, the CyberJaya Flagship Zone and numerous other projects.
At least 23 of Malaysia's biggest companies (see list below) appear to have been vehicles for Umno to siphon off vast amounts of money in government contracts as Mahathir's plans went awry. The companies and the people who run them are so hard-wired into Umno, the government and its investment arms that de-linking them would probably destroy the party. That in effect makes a mockery of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's widely publicized speech in July in which he promised to root corruption out of his party.
Much of the ownership appears to have been channeled through a mysterious company that emerged in 1993 to stage an RM800 million management buyout of a major chunk of Malaysia's media including the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and TV3. Realmild already owned a controlling interest in Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd, which got the contract to develop the massive Kuala Lumpur Sentral transport hub. It also acquired ownership of the Labuan and Sabah Shipyards, which supply the Malaysian Navy, as well as Redicare and Medivest, which were awarded lucrative contracts to supply medical supplies to government hospitals.
In September, Syed Anwar Jamalullail, the brother to the Sultan of Perlis, and others testified in a tangled court battle in a Kuala Lumpur High Court that Daim Zainuddin, the prime minister's close associate, often told Malay businessmen to act as nominees in the management of Malaysia's top companies. The long-running suit was launched five years ago in2005 by Khalid Ahmad, a former Realmild director, who alleged he had been cheated out of a RM10 million payment for five percent of Realmild's shares by Abdul Rahman, thought to be the beneficial owner.
According to the testimony, Abdul Rahman paid out the RM10 million but later reneged after he learned from Mahathir that the shares actually belonged to UMNO. The trustees for Realmild in fact were Mahathir himself as well as former Berita Harian Group Editor Ahmad Nazri Abdullah, New Straits Times Group Editor Abdul Kadir Jasin and Mohd Noor Mutalib. Another witness, Ahmad Nazri, said in a deposition that he held the majority share of 80 percent in Realmild, although 70 percent of the shares were actually in trust for Mahathir.
The companies others ran included Faber Group Bhd, a member of the UEM Group, now involved in integrated facilities management and property solutions sectors; KUB Malaysia Bhd. A holding company dealing in information, communications & technology, property, engineering & construction and food related industries.
The companies have been involved a wide variety of activities including media, property development, construction, toll roads, hospital equipment, logistics and distribution, cellular telephony and other businesses. What they had in common was that most of them benefited from government contracts doled out by the Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition that has controlled Malaysia since its inception as a country. The other thing they had in common was that at some point most of them were mismanaged into financial trouble of one kind or another and had to be bailed out or bought out by the government.
Realmild unloaded Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd onto the Employee Provident Fund in late 2005 as part settlement for an outstanding Rm500 million loan. Putera Capital Bhd, is threatened with bankruptcy. It formerly owned the Putra World Trade Center, Umno's headquarters, which rents out office space to businesses. UEM Builders Bhd, an offshoot of United Engineers Malaysia (UEM), along with UEM World Bhd, was dumped onto Kazanah Nasional, the investment holding arm of the government and the government's strategic investment vehicle.
Kazanah Nasional now also owns PLUS, which held the tollway contract for the national north-south highway, as well as Pharmaniaga, a former UEM subsidiary dealing in hospital supply and other services. Court documents show that MAS, then the state-owned flag carrier, was taken over and privatized by Tajudin Ramli only to lose an estimated RM8 billion (US$2.77 billion at current exchange rate), with a major part of that being funneled into a Frankfurt, Germany cargo logistics company whose directors were closely connected to Tajudin.
According to the website Malaysia Today, Tajudin's lawyers revealed that Tajudin had only been a front man for Umno and that Umno "not only has to protect him from prosecution but that they also had to ensure that the government bought back the shares at the same price that they were sold to him although the shares were only worth a portion of the real value."
Other depositions made available in recent weeks have listed a long series of documents detailing misdoings in UEM/Renong, once headed by Halim Saad, which has long been accused of looting the government treasury through vastly overpriced construction contracts. Halim told the press in September that he had left the UEM/Renong board in 2001, saying authorities wanted Kazanah to take it over "to prevent a systemic risk to the banking system in Malaysia and to enable a sustained restructuring of the group."
UEM itself is still at it. The government-linked company was given the contract to build a second bridge from the mainland to the northern city of Penang at a price estimated in 2007 at Rm2.7 billion. It has since climbed to RM4.3 billion without figuring in a variety of ancillary costs including compensation for fishermen and project development costs of RM285 million, with the total now nearing RM5 billion.
Other documents show how completely the country's press was in the thrall of UMNO. Media Prima Bhd, a listed company, apparently took over the ownership from Realmild of TV3, 8TV, ntv7 and TV9 as well as 90 percent of the equity in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, which publishes three national newspapers; the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro. It also owns three radio networks, Fly FM, Hot FM and One FM. Other cross media interests of Media Prima include content creation; event and talent management.
It also owns outdoor advertising companies Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd, UPD Sdn Bhd, Right Channel Sdn Bhd, Kurnia Outdoor Sdn Bhd and Jupiter Outdoor Network Sdn Bhd. It is online through a digital communications and broadcasting subsidiary, Alt Media, with the Lifestyle Portal gua.com.my and the newly launched TonTon, a cutting-edge video portal with HD-ready quality viewing experience that offers the individualism of customized content and interactivity of social networking.
The companies:
- Faber Group Bhd
- KUB Malaysia Bhd
- Malaysian Resources Corp. Bhd
- Media Prima Bhd
- New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
- Putera Capital Bhd
- UEM Builders Bhd
- UEM World Bhd
- PLUS
- Pharmaniaga
- Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd (partly owned by Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, another Mahathir crony and one of Malaysia's 10 richest men according to the Forbes List
- Renong Bhd
- Realmild Sdn Bhd
- Mahkota Technologies (Also a partnership with Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary
- Malaysian Airlines
- Celcom
- Malaysian Helicopter Service
- Temasek Padu Sdh Bhd
- Sabah Shipyard
- Labuan Shipyard
- Redicare
- Medivest
Is Islam A Religion Of Peace (Comments)
With reference to the previous post "Is Islam A Religion Of Peace" the following are just two comments. The first is by my friend Mike Naser Taib and the other is by blogger Syed Akbar Ali:
From MNT:
Nic,
TQ for downloading the Debate. Although, it is well known that no ulama will take part in a debate of that openness coz in the 11th century C.E. they closed the gates of "ijtihad" meaning the application of the mind to the verses of the Qur'an and Ahadith for applying them to particular situations or problems. What surprised me was that all the debaters were bantamweight. They shud have scoured for heavyweights. I would have loved to hear a Chinese Islamic scholar from China defending Islam. The Chinese Muslims of China are, without a shadow of a doubt to my mind, are the true practitioners of the philosophy of Islam in this world of persistent religious conflicts. I think Ms Ayaan Histi Ali, who was caught for cheating in her citizenship application in Holland, was rather shallow and a rabble rouser.
From the days when I was an inquisitive child in RMC until today, I have had no trouble debating with non-Muslim friends. I had serious problems with, in particular, Indian Muslims!!
The article below is interesting and good for continuing enlightenment.
The Meaning of the Koran
By ROBERT WRIGHT
Robert Wright on culture, politics and world affairs.
Test your religious literacy:
Which sacred text says that Jesus is the “word” of God? a) the Gospel of John; b) the Book of Isaiah; c) the Koran.
The correct answer is the Koran. But if you guessed the Gospel of John you get partial credit because its opening passage — “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God” — is an implicit reference to Jesus. In fact, when Muhammad described Jesus as God’s word, he was no doubt aware that he was affirming Christian teaching.
Extra-credit question: Which sacred text has this to say about the Hebrews: God, in his “prescience,” chose “the children of Israel … above all peoples”? I won’t bother to list the choices, since you’ve probably caught onto my game by now; that line, too, is in the Koran.
I highlight these passages in part for the sake of any self-appointed guardians of Judeo-Christian civilization who might still harbor plans to burn the Koran. I want them to be aware of everything that would go up in smoke.
But I should concede that I haven’t told the whole story. Even while calling Jesus the word of God — and “the Messiah” — the Koran denies that he was the son of God or was himself divine. And, though the Koran does call the Jews God’s chosen people, and sings the praises of Moses, and says that Jews and Muslims worship the same God, it also has anti-Jewish, and for that matter anti-Christian, passages.
The regrettable parts of the Koran — the regrettable parts of any religious scripture — don’t have to matter.
This darker side of the Koran, presumably, has already come to the attention of would-be Koran burners and, more broadly, to many of the anti-Muslim Americans whom cynical politicians like Newt Gingrich are trying to harness and multiply. The other side of the Koran — the part that stresses interfaith harmony — is better known in liberal circles.
As for people who are familiar with both sides of the Koran — people who know the whole story — well, there may not be many of them. It’s characteristic of contemporary political discourse that the whole story doesn’t come to the attention of many people.
Thus, there are liberals who say that “jihad” refers to a person’s internal struggle to do what is right. And that’s true. There are conservatives who say “jihad” refers to military struggle. That’s true, too. But few people get the whole picture, which, actually, can be summarized pretty concisely:
The Koran’s exhortations to jihad in the military sense are sometimes brutal in tone but are so hedged by qualifiers that Muhammad clearly doesn’t espouse perpetual war against unbelievers, and is open to peace with them. (Here, for example, is my exegesis of the “sword verse,” the most famous jihadist passage in the Koran.) The formal doctrine of military jihad — which isn’t found in the Koran, and evolved only after Muhammad’s death — does seem to have initially been about endless conquest, but was then subject to so much amendment and re-interpretation as to render it compatible with world peace. Meanwhile, in the hadith — the non-Koranic sayings of the Prophet — the tradition arose that Muhammad had called holy war the “lesser jihad” and said that the “greater jihad” was the struggle against animal impulses within each Muslim’s soul.
Why do people tend to hear only one side of the story? A common explanation is that the digital age makes it easy to wall yourself off from inconvenient data, to spend your time in ideological “cocoons,” to hang out at blogs where you are part of a choir that gets preached to.
Makes sense to me. But, however big a role the Internet plays, it’s just amplifying something human: a tendency to latch onto evidence consistent with your worldview and ignore or downplay contrary evidence.
This side of human nature is generally labeled a bad thing, and it’s true that it sponsors a lot of bigotry, strife and war. But it actually has its upside. It means that the regrettable parts of the Koran — the regrettable parts of any religious scripture — don’t have to matter.
After all, the adherents of a given religion, like everyone else, focus on things that confirm their attitudes and ignore things that don’t. And they carry that tunnel vision into their own scripture; if there is hatred in their hearts, they’ll fasten onto the hateful parts of scripture, but if there’s not, they won’t. That’s why American Muslims of good will can describe Islam simply as a religion of love. They see the good parts of scripture, and either don’t see the bad or have ways of minimizing it.
So too with people who see in the Bible a loving and infinitely good God. They can maintain that view only by ignoring or downplaying parts of their scripture.
For example, there are those passages where God hands out the death sentence to infidels. In Deuteronomy, the Israelites are told to commit genocide — to destroy nearby peoples who worship the wrong Gods, and to make sure to kill all men, women and children. (“You must not let anything that breathes remain alive.”)
As for the New Testament, there’s that moment when Jesus calls a woman and her daughter “dogs” because they aren’t from Israel. In a way that’s the opposite of anti-Semitism — but not in a good way. And speaking of anti-Semitism, the New Testament, like the Koran, has some unflattering things to say about Jews.
Devoted Bible readers who aren’t hateful ignore or downplay all these passages rather than take them as guidance. They put to good use the tunnel vision that is part of human nature.
All the Abrahamic scriptures have all kinds of meanings — good and bad — and the question is which meanings will be activated and which will be inert. It all depends on what attitude believers bring to the text. So whenever we do things that influence the attitudes of believers, we shape the living meaning of their scriptures. In this sense, it’s actually within the power of non-Muslim Americans to help determine the meaning of the Koran. If we want its meaning to be as benign as possible, I recommend that we not talk about burning it. And if we want imams to fill mosques with messages of brotherly love, I recommend that we not tell them where they can and can’t build their mosques.
Of course, the street runs both ways. Muslims can influence the attitudes of Christians and Jews and hence the meanings of their texts. The less threatening that Muslims seem, the more welcoming Christians and Jews will be, and the more benign Christianity and Judaism will be. (A good first step would be to bring more Americans into contact with some of the overwhelming majority of Muslims who are in fact not threatening.)
You can even imagine a kind of virtuous circle: the less menacing each side seems, the less menacing the other side becomes — which in turn makes the first side less menacing still, and so on; the meaning of the Abrahamic scriptures would, in a real sense, get better and better and better.
Lately, it seems, things have been moving in the opposite direction; the circle has been getting vicious. And it’s in the nature of vicious circles that they’re hard to stop, much less reverse. On the other hand, if, through the concerted effort of people of good will, you do reverse a vicious circle, the very momentum that sustained it can build in the other direction — and at that point the force will be with you.
Postscript: The quotations of the Koran come from Sura 4:171 (where Jesus is called God’s word), and Sura 44:32 (where the “children of Israel” are lauded). I’ve used the Rodwell translation, but the only place the choice of translator matters is the part that says God presciently placed the children of Israel above all others. Other translations say “purposefully,” or “knowingly.” By the way, if you’re curious as to the reason for the Koran’s seeming ambivalence toward Christians and Jews:
By my reading, the Koran is to a large extent the record of Muhammad’s attempt to bring all the area’s Christians, Jews and Arab polytheists into his Abrahamic flock, and it reflects, in turns, both his bitter disappointment at failing to do so and the many theological and ritual overtures he had made along the way. (For a time Muslims celebrated Yom Kippur, and they initially prayed toward Jerusalem, not Mecca.) That the suras aren’t ordered chronologically obscures this underlying logic.
From SAA:
This is an interesting debate between some young people in the United States on the topic 'Is Islam A Religion Of Peace'.
What interests me most is that one of the speakers is Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali, originally from Ethiopia, the famous author of the now famous book 'Infidel'. Ayaan Hirsi Ali became totally disillusioned with the religion of Islam and that is why you can see her speaking on the side that does NOT agree that Islam is a "religion" of peace.
By the way, it will be difficult for me to partricipate in this debate because I dont see Islam as a "religion." This is the main problem. People see "Islam" as a religion. Religion is an English word, with Christian Biblical connotations. The Quran uses the Arabic word 'deen' to describe Islam. Deen means a 'way of life', not a religion.
What interests me is that Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali is appearing in public. After she wrote her book "Infidel", she received death threats and went into hiding in the United States.
I communicated with her through e mail once and received a reply 'from an associate'. My point to her was that the whole episode of anger, confusion and hate that besets so much of the Muslim world is because of an almost complete ignorance of the Quran. (My little point about Islam being a 'deen' versus calling it a "religion" is just one tiny example).
Miss Hirsi Ali was disillusioned with the 'religious people' and the "religious practises". Like many millions of people around the world, she has not been given the opportunity to look at Islam as the deen or way of life that it really is. That is an open secret that is found in the Quran.
To conclude, they seem to be conducting themselves intelligently enough. This is New York. How I wish the Muslims can sit down and speak intelligently like this. Somehow that does not seem possible.
My view is that all these speakers here are weighing fish in the market with a 36 inch ruler. Instead of asking for a kilo of fish, they are asking for a foot of ikan tenggiri. Or instead of asking for three metres of cloth to make a dress, they are asking for 750 grams of cloth to make a dress.
They are using the wrong weights and measures for the wrong things.
They all claim to be talking about Islam, but none of them is quoting the Quran at all. This is what I have seen so far in the three videos.
The first (pro Islam) speaker Zeba Khan says that "few things in the Quran are agreed upon. She says that other than these few things, everything else in the Quran is still subject to debate" (or words to that effect). And this young woman claims to speak FOR Islam. Have you heard of the phrase : "With friends like these, we dont need enemies". This is a good example.
How can you talk about Catholicism without referring the Catholic Bible? How can you speak about the United States Constitution without opening and reading from the United States Constitution?
So how can you speak about Islam without opening and reading from the Quran? The answer is very simple : Muslims generally (that is you too my friends) do not know their own Quran. They do not even bother to read and understand a translated version of the Quran - whiuch is so easily available, translated by "respected authorities" like the scholars and such.
Yet they want to go and debate about Islam without even referring anything from the Quran. This includes Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali who has chosen to reject Islam without knowing what is inside the Quran. None of what she dislikes about the "religion" can be found in the Quran. And nothing of what the other two proponents (Zeba Khan and Maajid) are saying about Islam in these three videos are also from the Quran.
[Surah 22:8] "Among the people there is the one who argues about GOD without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an enlightening scripture"
My fellow Muslims please consider this : if (according to Zeba Khan) the scholars are still arguing about the meanings of what is INSIDE the Quran, then surely they will be throwing chairs and tables at each other and fighting over the meanings of what is found OUTSIDE the Quran? This is what has been going on for the past 1000 years now.
So please think.
[Surah 3:66] You have argued about things you knew; why do you argue about things you do not know? GOD knows, while you do not know.
Now anyone want to join me for one square metre of teh tarik? Or a yard of roti canai ? Please dont say that I am being nonsensical ok. I am using your terms of reference.
By the way, it will be difficult for me to partricipate in this debate because I dont see Islam as a "religion." This is the main problem. People see "Islam" as a religion. Religion is an English word, with Christian Biblical connotations. The Quran uses the Arabic word 'deen' to describe Islam. Deen means a 'way of life', not a religion.
What interests me is that Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali is appearing in public. After she wrote her book "Infidel", she received death threats and went into hiding in the United States.
I communicated with her through e mail once and received a reply 'from an associate'. My point to her was that the whole episode of anger, confusion and hate that besets so much of the Muslim world is because of an almost complete ignorance of the Quran. (My little point about Islam being a 'deen' versus calling it a "religion" is just one tiny example).
Miss Hirsi Ali was disillusioned with the 'religious people' and the "religious practises". Like many millions of people around the world, she has not been given the opportunity to look at Islam as the deen or way of life that it really is. That is an open secret that is found in the Quran.
To conclude, they seem to be conducting themselves intelligently enough. This is New York. How I wish the Muslims can sit down and speak intelligently like this. Somehow that does not seem possible.
My view is that all these speakers here are weighing fish in the market with a 36 inch ruler. Instead of asking for a kilo of fish, they are asking for a foot of ikan tenggiri. Or instead of asking for three metres of cloth to make a dress, they are asking for 750 grams of cloth to make a dress.
They are using the wrong weights and measures for the wrong things.
They all claim to be talking about Islam, but none of them is quoting the Quran at all. This is what I have seen so far in the three videos.
The first (pro Islam) speaker Zeba Khan says that "few things in the Quran are agreed upon. She says that other than these few things, everything else in the Quran is still subject to debate" (or words to that effect). And this young woman claims to speak FOR Islam. Have you heard of the phrase : "With friends like these, we dont need enemies". This is a good example.
How can you talk about Catholicism without referring the Catholic Bible? How can you speak about the United States Constitution without opening and reading from the United States Constitution?
So how can you speak about Islam without opening and reading from the Quran? The answer is very simple : Muslims generally (that is you too my friends) do not know their own Quran. They do not even bother to read and understand a translated version of the Quran - whiuch is so easily available, translated by "respected authorities" like the scholars and such.
Yet they want to go and debate about Islam without even referring anything from the Quran. This includes Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali who has chosen to reject Islam without knowing what is inside the Quran. None of what she dislikes about the "religion" can be found in the Quran. And nothing of what the other two proponents (Zeba Khan and Maajid) are saying about Islam in these three videos are also from the Quran.
[Surah 22:8] "Among the people there is the one who argues about GOD without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an enlightening scripture"
My fellow Muslims please consider this : if (according to Zeba Khan) the scholars are still arguing about the meanings of what is INSIDE the Quran, then surely they will be throwing chairs and tables at each other and fighting over the meanings of what is found OUTSIDE the Quran? This is what has been going on for the past 1000 years now.
So please think.
[Surah 3:66] You have argued about things you knew; why do you argue about things you do not know? GOD knows, while you do not know.
Now anyone want to join me for one square metre of teh tarik? Or a yard of roti canai ? Please dont say that I am being nonsensical ok. I am using your terms of reference.
From MNT:
Nic,
TQ for downloading the Debate. Although, it is well known that no ulama will take part in a debate of that openness coz in the 11th century C.E. they closed the gates of "ijtihad" meaning the application of the mind to the verses of the Qur'an and Ahadith for applying them to particular situations or problems. What surprised me was that all the debaters were bantamweight. They shud have scoured for heavyweights. I would have loved to hear a Chinese Islamic scholar from China defending Islam. The Chinese Muslims of China are, without a shadow of a doubt to my mind, are the true practitioners of the philosophy of Islam in this world of persistent religious conflicts. I think Ms Ayaan Histi Ali, who was caught for cheating in her citizenship application in Holland, was rather shallow and a rabble rouser.
From the days when I was an inquisitive child in RMC until today, I have had no trouble debating with non-Muslim friends. I had serious problems with, in particular, Indian Muslims!!
The article below is interesting and good for continuing enlightenment.
The Meaning of the Koran
By ROBERT WRIGHT
Robert Wright on culture, politics and world affairs.
Test your religious literacy:
Which sacred text says that Jesus is the “word” of God? a) the Gospel of John; b) the Book of Isaiah; c) the Koran.
The correct answer is the Koran. But if you guessed the Gospel of John you get partial credit because its opening passage — “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God” — is an implicit reference to Jesus. In fact, when Muhammad described Jesus as God’s word, he was no doubt aware that he was affirming Christian teaching.
Extra-credit question: Which sacred text has this to say about the Hebrews: God, in his “prescience,” chose “the children of Israel … above all peoples”? I won’t bother to list the choices, since you’ve probably caught onto my game by now; that line, too, is in the Koran.
I highlight these passages in part for the sake of any self-appointed guardians of Judeo-Christian civilization who might still harbor plans to burn the Koran. I want them to be aware of everything that would go up in smoke.
But I should concede that I haven’t told the whole story. Even while calling Jesus the word of God — and “the Messiah” — the Koran denies that he was the son of God or was himself divine. And, though the Koran does call the Jews God’s chosen people, and sings the praises of Moses, and says that Jews and Muslims worship the same God, it also has anti-Jewish, and for that matter anti-Christian, passages.
The regrettable parts of the Koran — the regrettable parts of any religious scripture — don’t have to matter.
This darker side of the Koran, presumably, has already come to the attention of would-be Koran burners and, more broadly, to many of the anti-Muslim Americans whom cynical politicians like Newt Gingrich are trying to harness and multiply. The other side of the Koran — the part that stresses interfaith harmony — is better known in liberal circles.
As for people who are familiar with both sides of the Koran — people who know the whole story — well, there may not be many of them. It’s characteristic of contemporary political discourse that the whole story doesn’t come to the attention of many people.
Thus, there are liberals who say that “jihad” refers to a person’s internal struggle to do what is right. And that’s true. There are conservatives who say “jihad” refers to military struggle. That’s true, too. But few people get the whole picture, which, actually, can be summarized pretty concisely:
The Koran’s exhortations to jihad in the military sense are sometimes brutal in tone but are so hedged by qualifiers that Muhammad clearly doesn’t espouse perpetual war against unbelievers, and is open to peace with them. (Here, for example, is my exegesis of the “sword verse,” the most famous jihadist passage in the Koran.) The formal doctrine of military jihad — which isn’t found in the Koran, and evolved only after Muhammad’s death — does seem to have initially been about endless conquest, but was then subject to so much amendment and re-interpretation as to render it compatible with world peace. Meanwhile, in the hadith — the non-Koranic sayings of the Prophet — the tradition arose that Muhammad had called holy war the “lesser jihad” and said that the “greater jihad” was the struggle against animal impulses within each Muslim’s soul.
Why do people tend to hear only one side of the story? A common explanation is that the digital age makes it easy to wall yourself off from inconvenient data, to spend your time in ideological “cocoons,” to hang out at blogs where you are part of a choir that gets preached to.
Makes sense to me. But, however big a role the Internet plays, it’s just amplifying something human: a tendency to latch onto evidence consistent with your worldview and ignore or downplay contrary evidence.
This side of human nature is generally labeled a bad thing, and it’s true that it sponsors a lot of bigotry, strife and war. But it actually has its upside. It means that the regrettable parts of the Koran — the regrettable parts of any religious scripture — don’t have to matter.
After all, the adherents of a given religion, like everyone else, focus on things that confirm their attitudes and ignore things that don’t. And they carry that tunnel vision into their own scripture; if there is hatred in their hearts, they’ll fasten onto the hateful parts of scripture, but if there’s not, they won’t. That’s why American Muslims of good will can describe Islam simply as a religion of love. They see the good parts of scripture, and either don’t see the bad or have ways of minimizing it.
So too with people who see in the Bible a loving and infinitely good God. They can maintain that view only by ignoring or downplaying parts of their scripture.
For example, there are those passages where God hands out the death sentence to infidels. In Deuteronomy, the Israelites are told to commit genocide — to destroy nearby peoples who worship the wrong Gods, and to make sure to kill all men, women and children. (“You must not let anything that breathes remain alive.”)
As for the New Testament, there’s that moment when Jesus calls a woman and her daughter “dogs” because they aren’t from Israel. In a way that’s the opposite of anti-Semitism — but not in a good way. And speaking of anti-Semitism, the New Testament, like the Koran, has some unflattering things to say about Jews.
Devoted Bible readers who aren’t hateful ignore or downplay all these passages rather than take them as guidance. They put to good use the tunnel vision that is part of human nature.
All the Abrahamic scriptures have all kinds of meanings — good and bad — and the question is which meanings will be activated and which will be inert. It all depends on what attitude believers bring to the text. So whenever we do things that influence the attitudes of believers, we shape the living meaning of their scriptures. In this sense, it’s actually within the power of non-Muslim Americans to help determine the meaning of the Koran. If we want its meaning to be as benign as possible, I recommend that we not talk about burning it. And if we want imams to fill mosques with messages of brotherly love, I recommend that we not tell them where they can and can’t build their mosques.
Of course, the street runs both ways. Muslims can influence the attitudes of Christians and Jews and hence the meanings of their texts. The less threatening that Muslims seem, the more welcoming Christians and Jews will be, and the more benign Christianity and Judaism will be. (A good first step would be to bring more Americans into contact with some of the overwhelming majority of Muslims who are in fact not threatening.)
You can even imagine a kind of virtuous circle: the less menacing each side seems, the less menacing the other side becomes — which in turn makes the first side less menacing still, and so on; the meaning of the Abrahamic scriptures would, in a real sense, get better and better and better.
Lately, it seems, things have been moving in the opposite direction; the circle has been getting vicious. And it’s in the nature of vicious circles that they’re hard to stop, much less reverse. On the other hand, if, through the concerted effort of people of good will, you do reverse a vicious circle, the very momentum that sustained it can build in the other direction — and at that point the force will be with you.
Postscript: The quotations of the Koran come from Sura 4:171 (where Jesus is called God’s word), and Sura 44:32 (where the “children of Israel” are lauded). I’ve used the Rodwell translation, but the only place the choice of translator matters is the part that says God presciently placed the children of Israel above all others. Other translations say “purposefully,” or “knowingly.” By the way, if you’re curious as to the reason for the Koran’s seeming ambivalence toward Christians and Jews:
By my reading, the Koran is to a large extent the record of Muhammad’s attempt to bring all the area’s Christians, Jews and Arab polytheists into his Abrahamic flock, and it reflects, in turns, both his bitter disappointment at failing to do so and the many theological and ritual overtures he had made along the way. (For a time Muslims celebrated Yom Kippur, and they initially prayed toward Jerusalem, not Mecca.) That the suras aren’t ordered chronologically obscures this underlying logic.
From SAA:
This is an interesting debate between some young people in the United States on the topic 'Is Islam A Religion Of Peace'.
What interests me most is that one of the speakers is Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali, originally from Ethiopia, the famous author of the now famous book 'Infidel'. Ayaan Hirsi Ali became totally disillusioned with the religion of Islam and that is why you can see her speaking on the side that does NOT agree that Islam is a "religion" of peace.
By the way, it will be difficult for me to partricipate in this debate because I dont see Islam as a "religion." This is the main problem. People see "Islam" as a religion. Religion is an English word, with Christian Biblical connotations. The Quran uses the Arabic word 'deen' to describe Islam. Deen means a 'way of life', not a religion.
What interests me is that Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali is appearing in public. After she wrote her book "Infidel", she received death threats and went into hiding in the United States.
I communicated with her through e mail once and received a reply 'from an associate'. My point to her was that the whole episode of anger, confusion and hate that besets so much of the Muslim world is because of an almost complete ignorance of the Quran. (My little point about Islam being a 'deen' versus calling it a "religion" is just one tiny example).
Miss Hirsi Ali was disillusioned with the 'religious people' and the "religious practises". Like many millions of people around the world, she has not been given the opportunity to look at Islam as the deen or way of life that it really is. That is an open secret that is found in the Quran.
To conclude, they seem to be conducting themselves intelligently enough. This is New York. How I wish the Muslims can sit down and speak intelligently like this. Somehow that does not seem possible.
My view is that all these speakers here are weighing fish in the market with a 36 inch ruler. Instead of asking for a kilo of fish, they are asking for a foot of ikan tenggiri. Or instead of asking for three metres of cloth to make a dress, they are asking for 750 grams of cloth to make a dress.
They are using the wrong weights and measures for the wrong things.
They all claim to be talking about Islam, but none of them is quoting the Quran at all. This is what I have seen so far in the three videos.
The first (pro Islam) speaker Zeba Khan says that "few things in the Quran are agreed upon. She says that other than these few things, everything else in the Quran is still subject to debate" (or words to that effect). And this young woman claims to speak FOR Islam. Have you heard of the phrase : "With friends like these, we dont need enemies". This is a good example.
How can you talk about Catholicism without referring the Catholic Bible? How can you speak about the United States Constitution without opening and reading from the United States Constitution?
So how can you speak about Islam without opening and reading from the Quran? The answer is very simple : Muslims generally (that is you too my friends) do not know their own Quran. They do not even bother to read and understand a translated version of the Quran - whiuch is so easily available, translated by "respected authorities" like the scholars and such.
Yet they want to go and debate about Islam without even referring anything from the Quran. This includes Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali who has chosen to reject Islam without knowing what is inside the Quran. None of what she dislikes about the "religion" can be found in the Quran. And nothing of what the other two proponents (Zeba Khan and Maajid) are saying about Islam in these three videos are also from the Quran.
[Surah 22:8] "Among the people there is the one who argues about GOD without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an enlightening scripture"
My fellow Muslims please consider this : if (according to Zeba Khan) the scholars are still arguing about the meanings of what is INSIDE the Quran, then surely they will be throwing chairs and tables at each other and fighting over the meanings of what is found OUTSIDE the Quran? This is what has been going on for the past 1000 years now.
So please think.
[Surah 3:66] You have argued about things you knew; why do you argue about things you do not know? GOD knows, while you do not know.
Now anyone want to join me for one square metre of teh tarik? Or a yard of roti canai ? Please dont say that I am being nonsensical ok. I am using your terms of reference.
By the way, it will be difficult for me to partricipate in this debate because I dont see Islam as a "religion." This is the main problem. People see "Islam" as a religion. Religion is an English word, with Christian Biblical connotations. The Quran uses the Arabic word 'deen' to describe Islam. Deen means a 'way of life', not a religion.
What interests me is that Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali is appearing in public. After she wrote her book "Infidel", she received death threats and went into hiding in the United States.
I communicated with her through e mail once and received a reply 'from an associate'. My point to her was that the whole episode of anger, confusion and hate that besets so much of the Muslim world is because of an almost complete ignorance of the Quran. (My little point about Islam being a 'deen' versus calling it a "religion" is just one tiny example).
Miss Hirsi Ali was disillusioned with the 'religious people' and the "religious practises". Like many millions of people around the world, she has not been given the opportunity to look at Islam as the deen or way of life that it really is. That is an open secret that is found in the Quran.
To conclude, they seem to be conducting themselves intelligently enough. This is New York. How I wish the Muslims can sit down and speak intelligently like this. Somehow that does not seem possible.
My view is that all these speakers here are weighing fish in the market with a 36 inch ruler. Instead of asking for a kilo of fish, they are asking for a foot of ikan tenggiri. Or instead of asking for three metres of cloth to make a dress, they are asking for 750 grams of cloth to make a dress.
They are using the wrong weights and measures for the wrong things.
They all claim to be talking about Islam, but none of them is quoting the Quran at all. This is what I have seen so far in the three videos.
The first (pro Islam) speaker Zeba Khan says that "few things in the Quran are agreed upon. She says that other than these few things, everything else in the Quran is still subject to debate" (or words to that effect). And this young woman claims to speak FOR Islam. Have you heard of the phrase : "With friends like these, we dont need enemies". This is a good example.
How can you talk about Catholicism without referring the Catholic Bible? How can you speak about the United States Constitution without opening and reading from the United States Constitution?
So how can you speak about Islam without opening and reading from the Quran? The answer is very simple : Muslims generally (that is you too my friends) do not know their own Quran. They do not even bother to read and understand a translated version of the Quran - whiuch is so easily available, translated by "respected authorities" like the scholars and such.
Yet they want to go and debate about Islam without even referring anything from the Quran. This includes Miss Ayaan Hirsi Ali who has chosen to reject Islam without knowing what is inside the Quran. None of what she dislikes about the "religion" can be found in the Quran. And nothing of what the other two proponents (Zeba Khan and Maajid) are saying about Islam in these three videos are also from the Quran.
[Surah 22:8] "Among the people there is the one who argues about GOD without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an enlightening scripture"
My fellow Muslims please consider this : if (according to Zeba Khan) the scholars are still arguing about the meanings of what is INSIDE the Quran, then surely they will be throwing chairs and tables at each other and fighting over the meanings of what is found OUTSIDE the Quran? This is what has been going on for the past 1000 years now.
So please think.
[Surah 3:66] You have argued about things you knew; why do you argue about things you do not know? GOD knows, while you do not know.
Now anyone want to join me for one square metre of teh tarik? Or a yard of roti canai ? Please dont say that I am being nonsensical ok. I am using your terms of reference.
Sunday 10 October 2010
Is Islam A Religion Of Peace
This debate took place in New York two days ago. For the motion were Zeba Khan and Maajid Nawaz, and against the motion were Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Douglas Murray. A debate Malaysians must watch too:
ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE from Intelligence Squared US on Vimeo.
ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE from Intelligence Squared US on Vimeo.
Friday 8 October 2010
DSAI Vs Najib
This is from a good buddy of mine. Read and think what you will...
Dear KS,
At this "moment critique" in PKR's political and organizational history, DSAI went to Europe to continue projecting himself as a hero bedevilled by Najib's conspiracy to finish him. On the other hand, Najib is bringing back investments to help elevate our meltdown. DSAI shud think of bringing back investments to Kelantan, Penang, Kedah and Selangor immediately.
It is really good to have the direct election of leaders for PKR without the corrupt Cabang system of other political parties. DSAI and his close lieutenants do not understand "Command & Control" in higher management. He shud have established early enough a "Tactical HQ" with the following depts under the overall commander:
1. Personnel - to impose discipline and answer all queries and solve problems quickly.
2. Intelligence - to collect, collate, analyse and disseminate timely intelligence to officials on the ground.
3. Operations - To know the voting situation intimately and brief the commander on all voting ops.
4. Comptroller (Finance) - keep a close watch on money dispensed to the officials and to eradicate and or diminish financial bottlenecks.
5. Communications - to ensure instant flow of info up and down and sideways, and to keep info records.
Bro, DSAI is a good gift to UMNO. He is, through lack of leadership, putting blocks on the approach to Putrajaya. PR will never arrive with DSAI as the general-in-command. He is a yaada, yaada specialist. I know who financed him in MU and ABIM. Despite all the money, he got 3rd class hons in Malay Studies. Not very smart!!
Dear KS,
At this "moment critique" in PKR's political and organizational history, DSAI went to Europe to continue projecting himself as a hero bedevilled by Najib's conspiracy to finish him. On the other hand, Najib is bringing back investments to help elevate our meltdown. DSAI shud think of bringing back investments to Kelantan, Penang, Kedah and Selangor immediately.
It is really good to have the direct election of leaders for PKR without the corrupt Cabang system of other political parties. DSAI and his close lieutenants do not understand "Command & Control" in higher management. He shud have established early enough a "Tactical HQ" with the following depts under the overall commander:
1. Personnel - to impose discipline and answer all queries and solve problems quickly.
2. Intelligence - to collect, collate, analyse and disseminate timely intelligence to officials on the ground.
3. Operations - To know the voting situation intimately and brief the commander on all voting ops.
4. Comptroller (Finance) - keep a close watch on money dispensed to the officials and to eradicate and or diminish financial bottlenecks.
5. Communications - to ensure instant flow of info up and down and sideways, and to keep info records.
Bro, DSAI is a good gift to UMNO. He is, through lack of leadership, putting blocks on the approach to Putrajaya. PR will never arrive with DSAI as the general-in-command. He is a yaada, yaada specialist. I know who financed him in MU and ABIM. Despite all the money, he got 3rd class hons in Malay Studies. Not very smart!!
Tuesday 5 October 2010
You Should Be Proud Of Azmin Now, Anwar! Screw You!
Nothing more to say. Just go home to UMNO, Anwar and Azmin! Bloody asshole bandits!!!
Those Were The Days
The wonders of Facebook. As we go through life we never know who has recorded our passage in photos taken that we may never know about. Today, an old school mate, Tiger Nashri Idris posted some photos on Facebook and tagged me. He simply labelled them, "some very rare photos of friends in King Edward VII" but some of the photos meant more to me than he realized. Thank you Nashri. Brought back old/fond memories of 1978. Do not miss the full head of hair but sorely miss the physique though...
These are the photographs:
These are the photographs:
Monday 4 October 2010
A Malaysia I Could Live With
Forget about PKR, DAP, PAS, UMNO, MCA, MIC and ALL other political parties in Malaysia. Just erase them from your mind for a moment and look at the Malaysia we have today. Stop pointing fingers and blaming this and that, and asking why and what; just imagine the Malaysia that we want. In the ultimate analysis, most of us just want to LIVE happily and DIE peacefully (the reverse applies too) but Malaysian society today is swamped by politics and politicians. We are told by politicians on both sides of the divide that they know better and everything is for the Rakyat's own good.
It is a perpetual tug-of-war for public opinion whether it be Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional. Screw the politicians, they ALL cannot be trusted.
Below are two Pakatan Rakyat documents called the Common Policies Framework and the People's Consensus. They contain ideals for a Malaysia that I could live with... a Malaysia that I could live happily in and die peacefully knowing my children and theirs will have a fair break for a decent life.
But can Pakatan Rakyat be trusted to deliver on something apparently sacrosanct to their existence as a formal alliance? The numerous antics the last two and a half years since 8th March 2008 suggests they cannot. Not in toto anyway.
So let's forget that those are Pakatan Rakyat documents and remove ALL reference to "Pakatan Rakyat" therein and replace it with "the Government". Hell! If Barisan Nasional CAN show me it WILL give us THAT Malaysia, I WILL be willing to say, "to hell with Pakatan Rakyat!". What is 1Malaysia in comparson?
The Government's Common Policies Framework and People's Consensus
Here are the Government's list of its Common Policies Framework headings and sub-headings, and People's Consensus.
COMMON POLICIES FRAMEWORK
1. Transparent and Genuine Democracy
1. Transparent and Genuine Democracy
a. Defend the Federal Constitution, Islam as the religion of the Federation while other religions can be practiced peacefully anywhere in the country and protecting the special position of the Malays and the indigenous peoples anywhere including Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate interests of other races in accordance to Article 153.
b. Defend the role and responsibility of the institution of Constitutional Monarchy.
c. Uphold the use of Bahasa Melayu in accordance to Article 152 of the Constitution and promote Bahasa Melayu as the regional lingua franca, while protecting and strengthening the use of mother tongue languages for all races.
d. Abolish the Internal Security Act and other laws that allow for detention without trial while simultaneously propose that all existing emergency declarations are rescinded.
e. Abolish or amend all other oppressive laws and regulations that are repressive and contravene fundamental rights.
f. Guarantee the spirit of Federalism and a just relationship between the Federation and states especially Sabah and Sarawak.
a. Restore the integrity of the judicial system and guarantee transparency and full independence of the Judicial Appointment Commission.
b. Restructure the workings in Parliament to make it more transparent, democratic and able to perform its role to check and balance.
c. Guarantee the direct accountability to Parliament of bodies such as the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Human Rights Commission, Petronas, Khazanah and others.
d. Ensure that the appointment of positions such as the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner and the Auditor General requires the approval of Parliament.
e. Create a National Ombudsman Department.
f. Strengthen local government democracy and democratically enhance the competency and effectiveness of the delivery system and guarantee transparency at all levels.
g. Free all media, amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, enact a Freedom of Information Act and ensure Internet freedom.
h. Enhance the performance of public service sector and ensure the welfare of its members. Ensure that the institution remains independent and able to perform its responsibilities competently.
i. Empower and enhance civil society. Increase the participation of people through dialogues and consultations
a. Enable all citizens age 18 and above to vote via automatic registration.
b. Eliminate all weaknesses in the electoral system by cleaning the electoral roll; abolish postal votes for voters within the country, ensure all citizens outside the country can vote; and introduce the use of indelible ink.
c. Ensure the media provides political parties fair and just space, reasonable campaign period and a clean and free election process.
d. Re-delineate constituencies to mirror the principle of One Citizen, One Vote in order to guarantee a more fair and just representation.
e. Grant political parties campaign expenditures based on the percentages of votes in general elections. f. Enact more effective laws to punish candidates or political parties that are involved in corruption or vote-buying practices.
2. Driving a High Performance, Sustainable and Equitable Economy
The Government is determined to create a national economy with high performance and sustainable growth. To ensure national competitiveness, it is critical that effective distribution of national resources and wealth in key and strategic fields or sectors of the economy. Stimulating local investment and generating strong domestic demand as well as attracting continuous foreign direct investments will foster an economy that is progressive and resilient. The Government is committed to create a ‘People’s Economy’ to ensure prosperity and wealth generated will be reaped by people of all classes. Whilst reducing the gap between rich and poor, as well as overcoming the disparity of development between regions, as a consequence of mismanagement that failed to prioritise the interests of the majority.
a. Guarantee opportunities of higher education and training based on competency are provided in all service, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
b. Ensure every worker who wants to improve his or her skills is given an opportunity to obtain continuous training to enhance productivity.
c. Encourage citizens who are professionals and skilled living overseas to return home by creating a professional and attractive work environment.
a. Reform the tender system so that it becomes open, fair, transparent, and gives the best value for the people’s money.
b. Reject privatisation which burdens the people. Re-negotiate unfair concessions and contracts that profitted cronies, including IPPs, highway tolls and water infrastructure.
c. Implement a progressive taxation system and reject any taxes that burden the people. This includes putting a stop to the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) until the people and the country are ready for it.
a. Implement grants for development and equalisation based on a formula of total population, poverty rate, development area, cost, human development and gross revenue per capita indices that will ensure that the poorer states are not left behind.
b. Redistribute economic and administrative power and the implementation of infrastructure works to the state governments, for example an equitable negotiation rights in ascertaining public transportation design and network.
c. Generate a more balanced geographical development, thereby creating productive secondary cities nationwide in order to reduce development centralisation in the Klang Valley.
d. Prioritising policies that generate high and long term growth, based on an economic understanding where the state governments are in a better position to determine and implement socio-economic strategies.
a. Ensure equitable economic assistance and distribution to all based on need.
b. Assist marginalised groups from all races.
c. Provide cash assistance directly to target groups to end hardcore poverty.
d. Provide education scholarships based on need and merit.
e. Ensure social mobility by guaranteeing more equitable and equal economic opportunity for all.
f. Use the savings from leakages and wastage and the fight against corruption as additional resources for programmes to eradicate poverty.
a. Introduce minimum wage for all Malaysian workers.
b. Defend workers’ rights to form trade unions according to their needs and choice; and ensure that they are given the same rights and protection in accordance with international standards.
c. Introduce an Equal Opportunity Act to ensure that work opportunities are open to all.
d. Support entrepreneurs and businessmen of Small and Medium Enterprises by providing access to loans, adequate infrastructure and further reduce bureaucracy.
e. Facilitate assistance to fishermen and farmers to drive increased productivity.
f. Re-structure an integrated foreign workers policy and reduce national dependence on foreign labour.
g. Provide support system to groups involved in the informal economic sector such as small businesses, hawkers, farmers and those who are self employed.
a. Strengthen the Employees’ Provident Fund system and introduce a pension scheme for private sector employees.
b. Set up a National Retrenchment Fund to provide temporary financial support to those who have lost their jobs, subsidy for on-the-job training and retraining of workers
c. Extend the retirement age to 60 years in order to provide opportunities to those who wish to continue contributing to society.
a. Set up a Perbadanan Perumahan with the mandate to increase the number of affordable housing and achieving the goal of One Family, One House.
b. Overcome the problems concerning ‘squatters / urban settlers’ as far as possible through in situ housing development and/or land sharing and through low interest loans to assist the squatters/urban settlers to purchase their own houses.
c. Coordinate a negotiation system between ‘squatters / urban settlers’, developers and the authorities to achieve a win-win solution for matters concerning housing and land;
d. Providing assistance to upgrade low-cost houses and Projek Perumahan Rakyat in order to meet the increased number of household occupants;
e. Invest in public amenities in the apartment surroundings to ensure a balanced and healthy environment.
f. Encourage transparency and competition in the financial sector in order to make housing loans more accessible and affordable.
g. Cooperate with state governments to safeguard housing policy and ensure that affordable housing is provided for those in need.
a. Guarantee clean water and electricity at reasonable rates to every family in Malaysia.
b. Review and re-negotiate all highway toll agreements and study the possibility of purchasing back the PLUS highway with the objective to eliminate tolls in 7 years.
c. Improve the efficiency of the public transport system through the establishment of the Commission of Public Transport which comprises of government and community representatives.
d. Introduce a half fare scheme for elderly citizens, the disabled, students and retirees for all types of public transport.
e. Re-assess the granting of taxi permit to large companies and prioritise individual entrepreneurs and their associations.
f. Provide efficient broadband internet service for free in order to reduce the digital divide.
a. Entrench the practice of recycling as part of our culture by providing the necessary infrastructure and a comprehensive system.
b. Ensure all logging activities and deforestation are carried out in a controlled and sustainable manner.
c. Build the foundation and technological expertise to enable a smooth transition to the use of alternative energy resources.
d. Restrict the development at hill slopes and hazardous areas.
e. Reduce carbon emission rate to conform with international standards and increase the ability of the ecological system to absorb carbon.
a. Introduce modern, comprehensive and appropriate infrastructure for a low carbon economy, including a world-class, integrated public transport system and a comprehensive recycling programme.
b. Develop industries based on green technology such as manufacturing solar panels and hydrogen cell fuels.
c. Lead the development of alternative energy systems and renewable energy in the Asian region. d. Strengthen the agriculture sector with the latest methods and technology to ensure that the national food supply is secured.
3. Social Justice and Human Development
a. Focus on efforts to mend the deteriorated relationships between the races and religions.
b. Consolidate the efforts of all stakeholders in order to restore the good will, mutual respect and trust which have long been practiced by the multi-racial and multi-religious people of Malaysia.
c. Enact a Race Relations Act to safeguard unity and harmony of the people and to eliminate discrimination between the races.
d. Generate support from every level of the society so that it can hold fast to all the principles and norms that should be upheld by an open society.
e. Strive to eliminate the practice of racial politics through various means including education, mass media, dialogues and consultations.
f. Cultivate a Malaysian culture based on moral values and excellence that is accepted by all races. This will require an open attitude towards cultural diversity that is practiced by the various races and ethnic groups in Malaysia. The Government will do this whilst taking consideration the country’s history and evolution.
g. Improve the welfare of Orang Asli, Orang Asal and other minority groups in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak besides defending their fundamental, economic and social rights.
a. Defend the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation and guarantee freedom of religion for every Malaysian.
b. Organise dialogues and consultations between cultures and religion in order to strengthen the understanding between them.
c. Set up a comprehensive mechanism to provide just resolution to cases which involve the overlap of civil and Syariah laws, including a Royal Commission to deeply study all the relevant issues.
d. Strengthen the management of Islamic institutions such as Baitul Mal and Tabung Haji to ensure that they are administered effectively and efficiently to achieve their objectives.
e. Ensure suitable areas for places of worship and burial grounds for all religions.
a. Make the national school system as the foundation of the nation’s education system. Ensure the equitable support and funding to religious schools, Chinese and Tamil national schools, mission schools and vocational schools in a concerted effort to increase the standard of national education.
b. Balance the emphasis from an examination-oriented system to a learning system based on critical and analytical thinking in search for the truth.
c. Ensure that every eligible student will have an opportunity to be placed in public institutions of higher learning regardless of their backgrounds.
d. Amend the University and University Colleges Act 1974 in order to create a conducive climate that guarantees academic freedom and university autonomy which increases the quality of education comparable with developed countries.
e. Ensure the appointment of vice chancellors, rectors, and other high ranking academic officials are based on qualification and approval of the Senate Council.
f. Improve the quality and facilities of disadvantaged schools in the interior parts of Sabah and Sarawak;
g. Increase the quality of teachers’ education at every school level and increase the number of trained teachers based on demand.
h. Provide a high level of training opportunities for teachers and lecturers so that their knowledge and professional expertise are up to date.
i. Re-examine the teachers’ service scheme and increase incentives for those who teach in the rural areas.
j. Provide scholarships based on merit and other financial aid based on need with priority given to poor students from the rural and interior areas.
k. Emphasise the importance of students mastering various languages including English, Arabic and Mandarin as leading languages in the world and also other mother tongues.
l. Provide places and training for those who drop out of school.
m. Widen the scope of the National Accreditation Board to monitor and propose the recognition of certificates, diplomas and degrees both local and international which fulfill the acceptable academic standards including the UEC certificate and Diploma Muadalah (twinning).
a. Enact an Act to ensure women obtain just treatment in all fields.
b. Emphasise to increase the Women Workforce to 60% within 10 years compared to 46% in the past 20 years.
c. Provide 30% women representation in all political and government leadership levels.
d. Combat domestic violence by institutionalising heavier punishment for offenders and ensure the effectiveness of crisis centres in every hospital and police station.
e. Ensure the creation of support systems and assistance such as childcare centres and others for mothers working in the government and private sectors.
f. Provide aid to ease the family burden of poor and needy single mothers.
g. Take into account gender perspective when drafting the national budget and policies.
h. Introduce gender sensitisation programmes into the school curriculum.
i. Recognise the role of homemakers in strengthening the family institution and their contribution to national and community development.
a. Ensure opportunity, equality and fairness for youths from all communities to realise their self potential.
b. Ensure that no youth will end his education without the opportunity to obtain adequate vocational qualification or training to contribute towards a high-skilled national economy.
c. Recognise the important role and contribution of youths through the frank dialogues with youth movements, especially on important issues concerning their lives and the national future.
a. Make the police independent and professional and revert to their original mission of crime prevention and ensuring public safety.
b. Review the deployment of the police personnel so that there is adequate workforce assigned to combat crime.
c. Provide the police with the latest equipment and training in the effort to combat crime.
d. Implement all recommendations of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Police, including IPCMC and the improvement of the welfare of police personnel who have contributed to the country.
e. Improve the working conditions of the police force especially at the lower levels in order to improve performance and morale.
f. Strengthen the role of communities in combating and preventing crime through community programmes.
g. Handle strategically and effectively the social problems that are the root cause of crime.
a. Establish a National Healthcare Commission with the aim of improving the quality of public sector healthcare to a standard comparable with private sector healthcare.
b. Ensure a public healthcare service that is efficient, extensive and of high quality to all Malaysians, at an affordable rate.
c. Increase incentive schemes for medical staff at public hospitals.
d. Monitor stringently all healthcare fascilities that have been privatised to protect the public interest.
a. Ensure the freedom of expression and artistic creation through all media.
b. The right to conduct performance or art-cultural shows without restrictions – with the realisation that each artist has responsibility to himself/herself and society.
c. The ties with our traditional cultural roots should be strengthened whilst remaining open to accept elements of other cultures from any race, continent and belief that display universal traits.
4. Federal-State Relationship and Foreign Policy
a. Guarantee to the state governments, a royalty of 20% from petroleum income with an aim to eradicate poverty.
b. Return part of the tax collection from each state based on an equitable distribution.
c. Increase the capitation grants for states.
a. Guarantee Sabah and Sarawak’s wealth are enjoyed fully by their people by the provision of 20% royalty from their petroleum income.
b. Set up a Royal Commission to find the best resolution of the immigrant issue.
c. Guarantee the Native Customary Land Rights are not violated by any party.
d. Stop immediately the oppression against those living in the interior areas caused by unethical economic activities.
a. Protect national interests by becoming a responsible member of the world by respecting fundamental rights, democratic principles and upholding understandings, agreements, declarations and international law, in line with principles of justice.
b. Active in leading inter-civilisational dialogues.
c. Strengthen diplomatic and international trade cooperation with regional partners especially ASEAN members.
d. Further strengthen Malaysia’s role in international organisations.
END
PEOPLE'S CONSENSUS
The Government hereby put forward a policy agenda to lead the people and this nation out of the current worsening crisis.
The people’s development agenda has been derailed due to a narrow understanding of race, divisive hate politics and authoritarianism. The recessive economy caused by the loss of moral conscience, the greed of corruption and archaic policies are causing Malaysia to be left behind compared to other vibrant economies in the region.
The unjust economy is all the more apparent in the widening gap between the rich and the poor, between the urban and the rural population, and between the Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak.
The rising crime rate threatens lives and property because the police force has been used for narrow political ends. The integrity and independence of the judiciary continues to be damaged by political interference and business interests.
After half a century of sovereign independence, Malaysia should have matured. This should have been realised when the people from various races, breaking down narrow and obsolete mindset, and manifest a new spirit to reject the perversion of power, the spread of corruption, the plunder of the nation’s wealth and the repression of the people’s rights.
In appreciating the people’s aspirations, The Government therefore declares our commitment to fully internalise and carry out an agenda of new politics by mobilizing the people’s power from the various races, religions and cultures as one force.
Further, we have confidence; we can change our policy framework from narrow racial approach to principles based on religious faiths, humanism, ethical and human rights, and equality before the law regardless of status, race or group. The policies that are derived from adherence to the Constitution and universal principles of justice will safeguard the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, which in turn will guarantee that the human rights and dignity of the people will continuously be defended and upheld.
The Government is confident that the Malaysian economy can be driven at a faster pace through a market based economy that is humane, leading towards a more holistic human development. Economic policies should make Malaysia competitive, maintain a healthy investment climate, implement progressive taxation, but firm in its desire to realise justice through the equitable economic distribution especially for the poor and marginalised.
The Government rejects policies that allow for corruption and other financial crimes and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.
As such, we invite the Malaysian people to create a new consensus that is founded on principles of justice for all and Constitutionalism. This is the agenda that must be done if we are to regain the nation’s respect, freedom and dignity. Only by providing justice for all can the people live prosperously and in unity.
It is a perpetual tug-of-war for public opinion whether it be Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional. Screw the politicians, they ALL cannot be trusted.
Below are two Pakatan Rakyat documents called the Common Policies Framework and the People's Consensus. They contain ideals for a Malaysia that I could live with... a Malaysia that I could live happily in and die peacefully knowing my children and theirs will have a fair break for a decent life.
But can Pakatan Rakyat be trusted to deliver on something apparently sacrosanct to their existence as a formal alliance? The numerous antics the last two and a half years since 8th March 2008 suggests they cannot. Not in toto anyway.
So let's forget that those are Pakatan Rakyat documents and remove ALL reference to "Pakatan Rakyat" therein and replace it with "the Government". Hell! If Barisan Nasional CAN show me it WILL give us THAT Malaysia, I WILL be willing to say, "to hell with Pakatan Rakyat!". What is 1Malaysia in comparson?
The Government's Common Policies Framework and People's Consensus
Here are the Government's list of its Common Policies Framework headings and sub-headings, and People's Consensus.
COMMON POLICIES FRAMEWORK
1. Transparent and Genuine Democracy
- Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law
- Separation of Powers
- A Clean, Free and Fair Electoral System
- High-Performance Economy
- Democratic and Transparent Economy
- Decentralisation and the Empowerment of the State Economic Management
- Affirmative Action Policies based on Need
- Labour
- Social Safety Net
- Housing
- Infrastructure and Public Facilities
- Environment
- Sustainable Growth and Green Development
- Unity and Social Justice
- Religion
- Education
- Women and the Family
- Youth
- Security
- Healthcare
- Culture
- The Federal System
- Sabah and Sarawak
- Foreign Policy
1. Transparent and Genuine Democracy
- Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law
a. Defend the Federal Constitution, Islam as the religion of the Federation while other religions can be practiced peacefully anywhere in the country and protecting the special position of the Malays and the indigenous peoples anywhere including Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate interests of other races in accordance to Article 153.
b. Defend the role and responsibility of the institution of Constitutional Monarchy.
c. Uphold the use of Bahasa Melayu in accordance to Article 152 of the Constitution and promote Bahasa Melayu as the regional lingua franca, while protecting and strengthening the use of mother tongue languages for all races.
d. Abolish the Internal Security Act and other laws that allow for detention without trial while simultaneously propose that all existing emergency declarations are rescinded.
e. Abolish or amend all other oppressive laws and regulations that are repressive and contravene fundamental rights.
f. Guarantee the spirit of Federalism and a just relationship between the Federation and states especially Sabah and Sarawak.
- Separation of Powers
a. Restore the integrity of the judicial system and guarantee transparency and full independence of the Judicial Appointment Commission.
b. Restructure the workings in Parliament to make it more transparent, democratic and able to perform its role to check and balance.
c. Guarantee the direct accountability to Parliament of bodies such as the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Human Rights Commission, Petronas, Khazanah and others.
d. Ensure that the appointment of positions such as the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner and the Auditor General requires the approval of Parliament.
e. Create a National Ombudsman Department.
f. Strengthen local government democracy and democratically enhance the competency and effectiveness of the delivery system and guarantee transparency at all levels.
g. Free all media, amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, enact a Freedom of Information Act and ensure Internet freedom.
h. Enhance the performance of public service sector and ensure the welfare of its members. Ensure that the institution remains independent and able to perform its responsibilities competently.
i. Empower and enhance civil society. Increase the participation of people through dialogues and consultations
- A Clean, Free and Fair Electoral System
a. Enable all citizens age 18 and above to vote via automatic registration.
b. Eliminate all weaknesses in the electoral system by cleaning the electoral roll; abolish postal votes for voters within the country, ensure all citizens outside the country can vote; and introduce the use of indelible ink.
c. Ensure the media provides political parties fair and just space, reasonable campaign period and a clean and free election process.
d. Re-delineate constituencies to mirror the principle of One Citizen, One Vote in order to guarantee a more fair and just representation.
e. Grant political parties campaign expenditures based on the percentages of votes in general elections. f. Enact more effective laws to punish candidates or political parties that are involved in corruption or vote-buying practices.
2. Driving a High Performance, Sustainable and Equitable Economy
The Government is determined to create a national economy with high performance and sustainable growth. To ensure national competitiveness, it is critical that effective distribution of national resources and wealth in key and strategic fields or sectors of the economy. Stimulating local investment and generating strong domestic demand as well as attracting continuous foreign direct investments will foster an economy that is progressive and resilient. The Government is committed to create a ‘People’s Economy’ to ensure prosperity and wealth generated will be reaped by people of all classes. Whilst reducing the gap between rich and poor, as well as overcoming the disparity of development between regions, as a consequence of mismanagement that failed to prioritise the interests of the majority.
- High-Performance Economy
a. Guarantee opportunities of higher education and training based on competency are provided in all service, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
b. Ensure every worker who wants to improve his or her skills is given an opportunity to obtain continuous training to enhance productivity.
c. Encourage citizens who are professionals and skilled living overseas to return home by creating a professional and attractive work environment.
- Democratic and Transparent Economy
a. Reform the tender system so that it becomes open, fair, transparent, and gives the best value for the people’s money.
b. Reject privatisation which burdens the people. Re-negotiate unfair concessions and contracts that profitted cronies, including IPPs, highway tolls and water infrastructure.
c. Implement a progressive taxation system and reject any taxes that burden the people. This includes putting a stop to the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) until the people and the country are ready for it.
- Decentralisation and the Empowerment of the State Economic Management
a. Implement grants for development and equalisation based on a formula of total population, poverty rate, development area, cost, human development and gross revenue per capita indices that will ensure that the poorer states are not left behind.
b. Redistribute economic and administrative power and the implementation of infrastructure works to the state governments, for example an equitable negotiation rights in ascertaining public transportation design and network.
c. Generate a more balanced geographical development, thereby creating productive secondary cities nationwide in order to reduce development centralisation in the Klang Valley.
d. Prioritising policies that generate high and long term growth, based on an economic understanding where the state governments are in a better position to determine and implement socio-economic strategies.
- Affirmative Action Policies based on Need
a. Ensure equitable economic assistance and distribution to all based on need.
b. Assist marginalised groups from all races.
c. Provide cash assistance directly to target groups to end hardcore poverty.
d. Provide education scholarships based on need and merit.
e. Ensure social mobility by guaranteeing more equitable and equal economic opportunity for all.
f. Use the savings from leakages and wastage and the fight against corruption as additional resources for programmes to eradicate poverty.
- Labour
a. Introduce minimum wage for all Malaysian workers.
b. Defend workers’ rights to form trade unions according to their needs and choice; and ensure that they are given the same rights and protection in accordance with international standards.
c. Introduce an Equal Opportunity Act to ensure that work opportunities are open to all.
d. Support entrepreneurs and businessmen of Small and Medium Enterprises by providing access to loans, adequate infrastructure and further reduce bureaucracy.
e. Facilitate assistance to fishermen and farmers to drive increased productivity.
f. Re-structure an integrated foreign workers policy and reduce national dependence on foreign labour.
g. Provide support system to groups involved in the informal economic sector such as small businesses, hawkers, farmers and those who are self employed.
- Social Safety Net
a. Strengthen the Employees’ Provident Fund system and introduce a pension scheme for private sector employees.
b. Set up a National Retrenchment Fund to provide temporary financial support to those who have lost their jobs, subsidy for on-the-job training and retraining of workers
c. Extend the retirement age to 60 years in order to provide opportunities to those who wish to continue contributing to society.
- Housing
a. Set up a Perbadanan Perumahan with the mandate to increase the number of affordable housing and achieving the goal of One Family, One House.
b. Overcome the problems concerning ‘squatters / urban settlers’ as far as possible through in situ housing development and/or land sharing and through low interest loans to assist the squatters/urban settlers to purchase their own houses.
c. Coordinate a negotiation system between ‘squatters / urban settlers’, developers and the authorities to achieve a win-win solution for matters concerning housing and land;
d. Providing assistance to upgrade low-cost houses and Projek Perumahan Rakyat in order to meet the increased number of household occupants;
e. Invest in public amenities in the apartment surroundings to ensure a balanced and healthy environment.
f. Encourage transparency and competition in the financial sector in order to make housing loans more accessible and affordable.
g. Cooperate with state governments to safeguard housing policy and ensure that affordable housing is provided for those in need.
- Infrastructure and Public Facilities
a. Guarantee clean water and electricity at reasonable rates to every family in Malaysia.
b. Review and re-negotiate all highway toll agreements and study the possibility of purchasing back the PLUS highway with the objective to eliminate tolls in 7 years.
c. Improve the efficiency of the public transport system through the establishment of the Commission of Public Transport which comprises of government and community representatives.
d. Introduce a half fare scheme for elderly citizens, the disabled, students and retirees for all types of public transport.
e. Re-assess the granting of taxi permit to large companies and prioritise individual entrepreneurs and their associations.
f. Provide efficient broadband internet service for free in order to reduce the digital divide.
- Environment
a. Entrench the practice of recycling as part of our culture by providing the necessary infrastructure and a comprehensive system.
b. Ensure all logging activities and deforestation are carried out in a controlled and sustainable manner.
c. Build the foundation and technological expertise to enable a smooth transition to the use of alternative energy resources.
d. Restrict the development at hill slopes and hazardous areas.
e. Reduce carbon emission rate to conform with international standards and increase the ability of the ecological system to absorb carbon.
- Sustainable Growth and Green Development
a. Introduce modern, comprehensive and appropriate infrastructure for a low carbon economy, including a world-class, integrated public transport system and a comprehensive recycling programme.
b. Develop industries based on green technology such as manufacturing solar panels and hydrogen cell fuels.
c. Lead the development of alternative energy systems and renewable energy in the Asian region. d. Strengthen the agriculture sector with the latest methods and technology to ensure that the national food supply is secured.
3. Social Justice and Human Development
- Unity and Social Justice
a. Focus on efforts to mend the deteriorated relationships between the races and religions.
b. Consolidate the efforts of all stakeholders in order to restore the good will, mutual respect and trust which have long been practiced by the multi-racial and multi-religious people of Malaysia.
c. Enact a Race Relations Act to safeguard unity and harmony of the people and to eliminate discrimination between the races.
d. Generate support from every level of the society so that it can hold fast to all the principles and norms that should be upheld by an open society.
e. Strive to eliminate the practice of racial politics through various means including education, mass media, dialogues and consultations.
f. Cultivate a Malaysian culture based on moral values and excellence that is accepted by all races. This will require an open attitude towards cultural diversity that is practiced by the various races and ethnic groups in Malaysia. The Government will do this whilst taking consideration the country’s history and evolution.
g. Improve the welfare of Orang Asli, Orang Asal and other minority groups in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak besides defending their fundamental, economic and social rights.
- Religion
a. Defend the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation and guarantee freedom of religion for every Malaysian.
b. Organise dialogues and consultations between cultures and religion in order to strengthen the understanding between them.
c. Set up a comprehensive mechanism to provide just resolution to cases which involve the overlap of civil and Syariah laws, including a Royal Commission to deeply study all the relevant issues.
d. Strengthen the management of Islamic institutions such as Baitul Mal and Tabung Haji to ensure that they are administered effectively and efficiently to achieve their objectives.
e. Ensure suitable areas for places of worship and burial grounds for all religions.
- Education
a. Make the national school system as the foundation of the nation’s education system. Ensure the equitable support and funding to religious schools, Chinese and Tamil national schools, mission schools and vocational schools in a concerted effort to increase the standard of national education.
b. Balance the emphasis from an examination-oriented system to a learning system based on critical and analytical thinking in search for the truth.
c. Ensure that every eligible student will have an opportunity to be placed in public institutions of higher learning regardless of their backgrounds.
d. Amend the University and University Colleges Act 1974 in order to create a conducive climate that guarantees academic freedom and university autonomy which increases the quality of education comparable with developed countries.
e. Ensure the appointment of vice chancellors, rectors, and other high ranking academic officials are based on qualification and approval of the Senate Council.
f. Improve the quality and facilities of disadvantaged schools in the interior parts of Sabah and Sarawak;
g. Increase the quality of teachers’ education at every school level and increase the number of trained teachers based on demand.
h. Provide a high level of training opportunities for teachers and lecturers so that their knowledge and professional expertise are up to date.
i. Re-examine the teachers’ service scheme and increase incentives for those who teach in the rural areas.
j. Provide scholarships based on merit and other financial aid based on need with priority given to poor students from the rural and interior areas.
k. Emphasise the importance of students mastering various languages including English, Arabic and Mandarin as leading languages in the world and also other mother tongues.
l. Provide places and training for those who drop out of school.
m. Widen the scope of the National Accreditation Board to monitor and propose the recognition of certificates, diplomas and degrees both local and international which fulfill the acceptable academic standards including the UEC certificate and Diploma Muadalah (twinning).
- Women and the Family
a. Enact an Act to ensure women obtain just treatment in all fields.
b. Emphasise to increase the Women Workforce to 60% within 10 years compared to 46% in the past 20 years.
c. Provide 30% women representation in all political and government leadership levels.
d. Combat domestic violence by institutionalising heavier punishment for offenders and ensure the effectiveness of crisis centres in every hospital and police station.
e. Ensure the creation of support systems and assistance such as childcare centres and others for mothers working in the government and private sectors.
f. Provide aid to ease the family burden of poor and needy single mothers.
g. Take into account gender perspective when drafting the national budget and policies.
h. Introduce gender sensitisation programmes into the school curriculum.
i. Recognise the role of homemakers in strengthening the family institution and their contribution to national and community development.
- Youth
a. Ensure opportunity, equality and fairness for youths from all communities to realise their self potential.
b. Ensure that no youth will end his education without the opportunity to obtain adequate vocational qualification or training to contribute towards a high-skilled national economy.
c. Recognise the important role and contribution of youths through the frank dialogues with youth movements, especially on important issues concerning their lives and the national future.
- Security
a. Make the police independent and professional and revert to their original mission of crime prevention and ensuring public safety.
b. Review the deployment of the police personnel so that there is adequate workforce assigned to combat crime.
c. Provide the police with the latest equipment and training in the effort to combat crime.
d. Implement all recommendations of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Police, including IPCMC and the improvement of the welfare of police personnel who have contributed to the country.
e. Improve the working conditions of the police force especially at the lower levels in order to improve performance and morale.
f. Strengthen the role of communities in combating and preventing crime through community programmes.
g. Handle strategically and effectively the social problems that are the root cause of crime.
- Healthcare
a. Establish a National Healthcare Commission with the aim of improving the quality of public sector healthcare to a standard comparable with private sector healthcare.
b. Ensure a public healthcare service that is efficient, extensive and of high quality to all Malaysians, at an affordable rate.
c. Increase incentive schemes for medical staff at public hospitals.
d. Monitor stringently all healthcare fascilities that have been privatised to protect the public interest.
- Culture
a. Ensure the freedom of expression and artistic creation through all media.
b. The right to conduct performance or art-cultural shows without restrictions – with the realisation that each artist has responsibility to himself/herself and society.
c. The ties with our traditional cultural roots should be strengthened whilst remaining open to accept elements of other cultures from any race, continent and belief that display universal traits.
4. Federal-State Relationship and Foreign Policy
- The Federal System
a. Guarantee to the state governments, a royalty of 20% from petroleum income with an aim to eradicate poverty.
b. Return part of the tax collection from each state based on an equitable distribution.
c. Increase the capitation grants for states.
- Sabah and Sarawak
a. Guarantee Sabah and Sarawak’s wealth are enjoyed fully by their people by the provision of 20% royalty from their petroleum income.
b. Set up a Royal Commission to find the best resolution of the immigrant issue.
c. Guarantee the Native Customary Land Rights are not violated by any party.
d. Stop immediately the oppression against those living in the interior areas caused by unethical economic activities.
- Foreign Policy
a. Protect national interests by becoming a responsible member of the world by respecting fundamental rights, democratic principles and upholding understandings, agreements, declarations and international law, in line with principles of justice.
b. Active in leading inter-civilisational dialogues.
c. Strengthen diplomatic and international trade cooperation with regional partners especially ASEAN members.
d. Further strengthen Malaysia’s role in international organisations.
END
PEOPLE'S CONSENSUS
The Government hereby put forward a policy agenda to lead the people and this nation out of the current worsening crisis.
The people’s development agenda has been derailed due to a narrow understanding of race, divisive hate politics and authoritarianism. The recessive economy caused by the loss of moral conscience, the greed of corruption and archaic policies are causing Malaysia to be left behind compared to other vibrant economies in the region.
The unjust economy is all the more apparent in the widening gap between the rich and the poor, between the urban and the rural population, and between the Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak.
The rising crime rate threatens lives and property because the police force has been used for narrow political ends. The integrity and independence of the judiciary continues to be damaged by political interference and business interests.
After half a century of sovereign independence, Malaysia should have matured. This should have been realised when the people from various races, breaking down narrow and obsolete mindset, and manifest a new spirit to reject the perversion of power, the spread of corruption, the plunder of the nation’s wealth and the repression of the people’s rights.
In appreciating the people’s aspirations, The Government therefore declares our commitment to fully internalise and carry out an agenda of new politics by mobilizing the people’s power from the various races, religions and cultures as one force.
Further, we have confidence; we can change our policy framework from narrow racial approach to principles based on religious faiths, humanism, ethical and human rights, and equality before the law regardless of status, race or group. The policies that are derived from adherence to the Constitution and universal principles of justice will safeguard the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, which in turn will guarantee that the human rights and dignity of the people will continuously be defended and upheld.
The Government is confident that the Malaysian economy can be driven at a faster pace through a market based economy that is humane, leading towards a more holistic human development. Economic policies should make Malaysia competitive, maintain a healthy investment climate, implement progressive taxation, but firm in its desire to realise justice through the equitable economic distribution especially for the poor and marginalised.
The Government rejects policies that allow for corruption and other financial crimes and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.
As such, we invite the Malaysian people to create a new consensus that is founded on principles of justice for all and Constitutionalism. This is the agenda that must be done if we are to regain the nation’s respect, freedom and dignity. Only by providing justice for all can the people live prosperously and in unity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)