In 1991 the then prime minister of Malaysia launched Vision 2020. The nine challenges spelt out in this vision that promised to propel Malaysia onto the platform of the developed world, seized the nation with fervent hope comparable perhaps to the spirit that marched the nation to Merdeka in 1957.
Today, after almost two decades we witness how that same political party that served the Tun Dr Mahathir has placed the Vision 2020 in a precarious dilemma. With two decades under the bridge and hardly a decade to the grandeur goal of Year 2020, we witness how far we have drifted from the much acclaimed Wawasans nine challenges.
One of the nine challenges which we cannot deny butchering mercilessly and incessantly is the fourth challenge.
For the millions who do not even recall any of the nine challenges, the fourth challenge is about establishing a fully moral and ethical society, whose citizens are strong in religious and spiritual values and imbued with the highest of ethical standards (Malaysia: The Way Forward, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, February, 1991).
Let us take a quick cursory tour of the all too familiar episodes these past several years:
We have witnessed the ugly Sodomy I that split people along religious, moral and ethical values.
We witnessed cow head marches; the Bible stamping (or defacing as how the rakyat have come to regard the incident); the outcry over race and religion at UMNOs assembly; the re-instatement of sex-tainted politicians within BN while crusading against others; and many more incidents that echoed the desecration of moral and ethical principles synonymous of a civilized society.
Today we are still struggling under the strangulating Sodomy II accompanied by a free-fall of porn tapes flooding the country without any restrain or punitive action.
Today the battle cry for political power is one that is based on the dangerous boundaries of race and religion. And money politics is the standard operating procedure.
!
The fourth challenge of Vision 2020 is demanding the establishment of a strong and fully moral and ethical society. But going by the numerous cases of corruption that are being dragged slowly through the hallways of justice or still waiting outside the very fences of justice, raises more questions than providing answers.
So many individuals within the corridors of power and wealth have brazenly continued their plundering antics without any cares for this fourth challenge that was chiseled by the same government two decades ago.
Just look at the way a top public servant drove up in his Rolls Royce to cast his vote recently. Just look at the way we are hearing of how politicians are spending huge sums of money. How about the eyeball-popping amount of money being splurged to renovate ones home? What about the still missing link of having C4-ed a foreign national and having her entry-egress immigration records vanish?
Illicit sex and corruption - the very enemy of an ethical and fully moral society has taken its root, thereby butchering one of Malaysias nine challenges originally designed to seeing the nation rise to ride the big waves of developed status.
And we are till this day continuing with more sleaze, sins of sex, corruption, flimsy accounting of national expenditure, and what have you.
Even the Bersih 2.0 rally which in essence is all about propping-up and propelling the fourth challenge of Vision 2020 is instead being resisted and arm-twisted with all kinds of jeopardizing threats.
Meanwhile, if you took a tour of PAS controlled territories, for example, you see a different picture. Every effort is being taken to strengthen the morals within the society - its followers and leaders. The most recent appointment of PAS leaders and the successful endorsement of its Welfare State principle of governance are to be noted.
Visiting a PAS managed state will give one a first-hand appreciation of how citizens live respectfully of each others religious and spiritual! values. You never get to hear of cow head marches or discrimination issues invoking God; nor the peddling of sex-porn videos to discredit anyone.
BN should re-appraise itself. Rather than take a defensive position with retaliation, it serves well for serious reflection. Sincere accountability in a transparent manner with a generous sprinkling of humility and admissibility can serve BN better. Even the very principle architect of our nations Wawasan till this day is of no help either especially with his cynical and divisive and deeply entrenched responses in the media.
The question that matters is: Since it was the BN government that originated the Vision 2020 and spelt out so clearly the nine challenges for every Malaysian, why is it today, that same BN is butchering the very challenges especially the fourth of the nine benchmarks of a developed nationhood?
Or has Vision 2020 been dumped?
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Social Political Buzz & Bulls
The undoing of point no 4 of Vision 2020
Agong arah batalkan pilihan raya masjid di P Pinang...
Hasrat Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (MAIPP) bagi mengadakan pemilihan jawatankuasa kariah masjid bagi sesi 2012-2013 dengan kaedah pilihan raya terpaksa dibatalkan.Keputusan itu dibuat di Istana Negara di Kuala Lumpur pagi ini apabila Yang di-Pertua Negri Abdul Rahman Abbas dan Yang Dipertua MAIPP Ellias Zakaria menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Mesyuarat agung masjid-masjid di Pulau Pinang yang dijadualkan esok dan Ahad ini sepatutnya memilih jawatankuasa kariah di 151 daripada 200 masjid tetapi kini ditangguhkan sehingga notis lanjut. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Agama, Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Abdul Malik Abul Kassim berkata keputusan menangguhkan pemilihan itu dibuat selepas perjumpaan di Istana Negara pagi ini.
"Saya baru diberitahu melalui telefon oleh Ellias bahawa hasil daripada satu pertemuan yang telah diadakan di Istana Negara pagi ini, Yang di-Pertuan Agong telah menitahkan pemilihan Jawatankuasa Kariah Masjid ditangguhkan buat sementara waktu," katanya.
Pemilihan ala pilihan raya yang dicadangkan itu bagi membolehkan anak kariah mengundi secara sulit untuk memilih pemimpin kariah yang sebelum ini dipilih oleh MAIPP.
"Kami akan buat pengumuman rasmi selepas mesyuarat MAIPP pad Isnin ini. Selepas itu, kami akan memutuskan sama ada untuk meneruskan atau membatalkan pilihan raya berkenaan, kata Abdul Malik.
source:malaysiakini
King orders halt to Penang mosque polls
UMNOlah yang menjadi dalang utama membantah pilihanraya masjid dan hari ini mereka bersorak sakan kerana permintaan mereka agar DYMM Agung membatalkannya berjaya.UMNO sangka dengan pembatalan pilihanraya masjid itu maka mereka berpeluang sekali lagi untuk pegang Pengerusi dan AJK Masjid.
Semasa pemerintahan BN dulu, UMNO memang berkuasa bagi tentukan siapa yang patut menjadi Pengerusi dan ahli AJK Masjid. Lantaran itu, banyak masjid2 di negeri ini, nampak tersergam indah tapi tanpa ada aktiviti2.
Tapi UMNO harus ingat, kerajaan sekarang adalah kerajaan PR. Tak kan kerajaan PR akan berdiam diri.
Dulu Ketua Bahagian UMNO mencadangkan nama2 yang terdiri daripada ahli2 UMNO yang hendak dilantik untuk MAIPP luluskan sebagai Pengerusi dan AJK Masjid. MAIPP pula, hari ini takkanlah akan menjadi pak turut UMNO lagi seperti zaman pemerintahan Koh Su Khoon dulu.
Sudah tentu, MAIPP akan pilih calon2 yang terbaik. Tak kan MAIPP nak lantik kaki tak solat, kaki judi, kaki betina,kaki botol untuk menjadi Pengerusi dan AJK Masjid macam dulu?
Jadi,tindakan UMNO membantah proses pemilihan secara demokratik menerusi pilihanraya nampaknya akan sia2 saja, kerana dengan pembatalan itu tak akan bererti orang2 UMNO akan dipilih mengisi AJK2 masjid. Apakata kalau MAIPP menolak cadangan mereka? Kecualilah dalam MAIPP itu masih terdapat saki baki UMNO totok.
Tapi,menerusi perlantikan cara pilihanraya,sekurang2nya ahli2 UMNO yang bertanding masih ada peluang juga untuk menang beberapa jawatan secara demokratik, dan masyarakat tak akan persoalkan nanti.
UMNO takut mengadakan pilihanraya secara demokratik dan telus.
UMNO takut kerana mungkin tak seekoq daripada ahli UMNO tak akan terpilih menanggotai masjid2 di Pulau Pinang.
UMNO takut pilihanraya masjid secara demokratik ini kerana tak dibantu oleh SPR yang kerapa menjadi barua UMNO bagi menang cara penipuan....
cheers.
July 9 - Hishamuddin says NO, KJ says YES....
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein reiterated today that any rally held without a police permit will be deemed illegal, including the one planned by Umno Youth to counter the Bersih 2.0 gathering.Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said yesterday that the movement will organise a gathering on July 9 to strengthen the democratic system and rival electoral reform group Bersih 2.0s rally on the same day.
Hishammuddin, who was Khairys predecessor, said the Youth wings decision did not represent Umnos stand.
When it comes to that, it doesnt matter whether Im former Pemuda chief or not. They will have to face whatever consequences [for] their action and its purely Pemudas stand, the Umno vice president told reporters here today.
They will have to deal with the police. I expect them (the police) to do the same [with the three rallies]. We are looking it at a legal standpoint. Nobody is above the law. Thats always been my position, he added.
Bersih is an election watchdog group that is pushing for electoral reforms to provide for free and fair elections in Malaysia.
Meanwhile,Khairy Jamaluddin said today that Umno Youth will still march on July 9, in defiance of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Husseins warning that police will act against the illegal gathering.The Umno Youth chief said that his predecessor can warn us all he wants but Pemuda will continue come what may.
My Pemuda and I are ready to face whatever! consequ ences. This is a new Malaysia. We have a right to assembly guaranteed by the constitution. Umno Youth will be marching on 9 July. And thats that, he told The Malaysian Insider.
The Rembau MP said yesterday that the movement will join the fray on July 9 to strengthen the democratic system and rival electoral reform group Bersih 2.0s rally on the same day.
Perkasa has also claimed that 36 NGOSs will join the Malay rights group in an anti-Bersih march on the same day.
Today, MCA Youth also refused to join its Umno counterpart's rally, maintaining that such activities would be detrimental to the national economy.
On the other hand, Bersih 2.0 welcomed Umno Youth to hold a counter-rally as it is the rights of every citizen to assemble peacefully.
However, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar had said the police would not approve any permit for the rally or any counter-rally on Jul 9. He did not rule out the possibility of launching preventive arrests before or during the rallies.
Despite the police warning, Bersih 2.0 have reiterated that they will proceed with the rally.
source:malaysia insider
Himpunan Pemuda Umno pun haram, kata Hishamuddin
9 Julai: Hisham kata jangan, Khairy kata terus
MCA Youth dah chicken out, kita tunggu dan lihat sama ada Pemuda UMNO dan Perkasa akan turut jejak MCA youth.
Problemnya,Hishamuddin dah pening kepala. Kalau dia bagi permit kat Pemuda UMNO, maka dia juga kena bagi permit kat Bersih 2.0. Beranikah polis make premptive arrest on Khairy.
Drama oh drama.......
cheers.
Bloggers' Solidarity at BERSIH 2.0 Walk on July 9?
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, current BERSIN chairperson, was being teased by Desi who questioned whether she would have compromised her official position by accepting the Datukship award while serving some years back as Bar Council president. I was asking in the context of noting that many -- or all -- of the group editors of the MSM/mainstream media, were awarded the Datuk title, and it was my opinion that they would then feel obligated to toe -- or even promote -- the Government's line in all key "policies", right or wrong. I had earlier also recalled former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad having said at two public fora that the government of the day (at least speaking of his 22 years at the BN Government's helm) did not instruct the MSM editors on how to run their (political) stories. It was the editors themselves who tried to read their political masters' or press oweners' mind and then "spin" the stories to please their masters (No, mistresses are not involved here/hear!).
Ambiga assured that she accepted the royal award based on her stewardship of the national law ppractitioners'body and that he would continue to serve professionally in whatever organisation she chose to be involved in, including the now-hot-in-the-news BERSIH, who stands for a coalition of NGOs promoting clean and fair elections.
Desi assured her he had no doubt about her integrity to professional conduct once she chose to wear the captain's hat at BERSIH, even assured her he would bring some Kentucky Fried Chicken for her if she became a guest at the famous/notorious Kamunting! Ambiga quickly revealed she's a "vegetarian". So now Desi must be prepared like a girl guide to look for brinjals, cucumber,lettuce and ladies' fingers to steal in his neighbourhood gardens. Emcee Dr Mave Yeoh -- you grow some men's fingers at thyKoala Lumpuh garden?
Okay, enough ! digressi on, which I as BUM organising committee chair has been promoting as among the privileges to freely abuse for anyone joing the Bloggers' bandwagon -- B2B anywan? -- back to that rally on July 9.
Ambiga said it would be a peaceful march for fair, clean and transparency in the conduct of the forthcoming 13Th General Elections, and that all parties,including from the Barisan Nasional components and the Pakatan Rakyat, are welcomed to join.
To desi, this July 9 walk for NegaraKu,is clearly a citizens' effort which can only benefit the country by moving it forward to a greater democratic nation, so there is no need for any third party to protest or organise a counter-rally.
As a blogger, let me tax my ER (esteemedreaders') indulgence a little to a pint which Ambiga elaborated on athe BUM Forum which I felt full empathy with. So I shall now "paraphrase" with some of my own addition which I had no opportunity to add on too that night, so "minta maaf" if I digress or even wrongly postulate again!
The "talkative" MC that evening had noted earlier whether there was any solidarity among the bloggers themselves -- hwhat more they were ambitious of sowing solidarity with the Press (MSM)? In fact that was the reason for ending the forum theme "Bloggers' Solidarity with the Press?" with a question mark, not a fullstop. Mave noted in a frank post that bloggers had gone off into (at least three) different groups, and so he concluded it was toomuch to in fact expect solidarity.
Ambiga then expanded on the point of solidarity in the sense that bloggers can empathise with the Press/ print media when they gree on common grounds involving good media practice,including the commitment to truth, fair and honesty reportig and blogging. Desi couldn't agree more, and I would even add that I would join my "rival" bloggers from Blog House Malaysia or Malaysian Civl Liberies Movement (MCLM) by putting aside our personal differences, and waling in solidarity with BERSIH2.0 cometh July 9.
So I as! sure my BUMmers and fellow bloggers and B2B based in Kuala Lumpur that Desi will round up a few Serembanknights to make up the numbers from diverse and different groups from the whole country to march in solidarity. For common ideals of free assebly and promoting clean and fair elections so essential a desideratum for a developed nation status -- nine yaers away is quite a near horizon, and every citizen must rise up to the occasion, YES!
Malaysias stupidity sizzles Internet
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia, it seems, is fast becoming the purveyor of laughs on the worldwide web.
On the heels of the Obedient Wives Club which aimed to turn good wives into first class whores, theres now the Malaysian government spending RM1.8 million (US$590,000) on six Facebook, which incidentally is free, applications.
The Internet application (app) developer world is abuzz with humour and bewildement at the stupidity of the move.
The common view across the web is that the move to spend just over half a million US dollars is seriously stupid and an utter waste of tax-payers money.
Speaking in Penn Olson The Asian Tech Catalogue site Willis Wee said in an article headlined Spending US$100,000 For a Facebook App is Just Plain Stupid and many other experts in the business think so too.
Wee said he forwarded the news about the Malaysian governments largesse to Preetham Venkky, the Business Head at KRDS India, one of the Facebook authorized app development firms in Asia, to seek his opinion on the matter.
Preethams reply was that spending RM1.8 million (USD$590,000) to develop six Facebook applications was impossible and seriously unjustified.
He said: For an app like Citrawana (one of the six) to costs close to US$100,000, this is impossible since the app is pretty straight to the point.
The money paid is seriously unjustified. It should cost anywhere between US$12,000 US$15,000 inclusive of two iPads being given away as prizes.
He added that these costs would include (to quote directly) creative works, concepts and ideas, design, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching of application, system server development and maintenance, and development of database from the contest.
Potentials not exploited
Earlier this week, the Tourism Ministry, through Deputy Min! ister Ja mes Dawos Mamit, set off a storm when it revealed it had paid that amount for the Facebook apps.
In his reply, Venkky said it was important to note that based on the ministers statement cost did not include campaign management, monitoring, Facebook ads, or fan recruitment through Facebook and Google.
In most cases, the costs can escalate quite rapidly if a key deliverable is fan count.
If theres a target to acquire one million US fans for the page (this could be a realistic expectation since the client is a tourism client) where the CPC (cost per click) is US $1.10 (on average) then it might be a good deal.
If I were to make a guess, I think it would make sense if $90,000 includes the development of six apps with the remaining money spent on media (buying ads) to propagate and rapidly increase engagement, he added.
Venkky was also shocked at the quality of the apps that were developed which, he said, did not fully utilise the full potential of the social network site and was not encouraging more fans to like the pages of the Tourism Ministry.
The agency hasnt used the basic mechanics involved in Facebook fans acquisition.
For instance, a user can play the game without liking the page. Theres a micro-leaderboard but no global leaderboard.
How would the user be motivated if he doesnt know where he stands globally?
And honestly, its extremely difficult to get 50,000 points which will only encourage the users to give up soon.
Also, the developer hasnt used any virality at all in the app.
For instance it doesnt prompt the user to share their score as an update, it doesnt have an option to challenge and invite your friends to join the game etc.
Theres a lot that couldve been done with the app, but it looks like the development agency has missed out on the core features to make the app go viral and hence increase fans and awareness, he said.
Zoos and their flexible friend, the minister
FMT LETTER: From Sean Whyte, via e-mail
It was good to see Malaysian NGO groups become more vocal, even encouraging the thoroughly discredited and despised Perhilitan to be more proactive is no bad thing. But, to suggest Perhilitan have their claws out for lawbreakers is, I fear, wildly optimistic.
Perhilitan have a well deserved notoriety along with their paymasters at the Ministry of Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, for complicity in the illegal wildlife trade and their cozy relationship with some zoo owners who participate in the trade as well as keep their animals in horrific conditions.
Just today, the illegal traders and zoos flexible friend minister Douglas Embas, announced he has given bad zoos yet another six month extension to comply with the new wildlife protection law.
So this means it will be 12 months before the new law, much heralded by Douglas Embas last year will be enforced unless the minister provides the zoos with another generous keep out of gaol card.
When it comes to protecting wildlife the minister and his staff appear to model themselves on the three brass monkeys: Hear no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil
Such is the contempt with which the minister is held, no one now really believes he will close down the wretched Saleng Zoo, let alone rid Malaysia of its reputation as a hub for the illegal wildlife trade.
It remains to be seen if the minister has enough backbone to enforce the law. Up until now he has been all talk and no action, which, of course, suits down to the ground illegal wildlife traders and zoos.
The writer is Chief Executive of Nature Alert
Also read:
Claws out for zoos brazenly flouting laws
Kalau BERSIH 2.0 Berjaya, UMNO Tutup Kedai
Himpunan Bersih diteruskan seperti jadual
SAMM ada mengeluarkan kemeja T BERSIH dengan imej SAMM
Kolar bulat RM15 sahaja
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stiker kereta RM 3.50 sahaja
berminat hubungi 0123696474 (Azizi), 0129781707 (Sani), 0123573012 (komeng)
untuk pembelian secara pos, kos pos (RM5/sehelai baju) ditanggung sendiri
PIDATO Bicara Rakyat 18 Jun 2011 di Rembau
Bersama :
YB Hj Taufek, Pesuruhjaya PAS N.Sembilan
Adly Zahari, Pesuruhjaya PAS Melaka
Chegubard, Pengerusi SAMM
Ustaz Shamsul Firdaus Al-Hafiz, bekas Imam Masjid Saidina Omar AlKhattab, Bukit Damansara
Tarikh : 18 Jun 2011 , SABTU
Masa : 9 mlm
Tempat : Kg Astana Raja, Rembau, N.Sembilan
Semua dijemput hadir
*ust Shamsul ialah individu yang memberikan tazkirah mengingatkan trio Dato T mengenai perbuatan salah sumpah guna Al Quran baru ini
Behave or face consequence, opposition reps warned
The 10th Sarawak Legislative Assembly begins its sitting on Monday and Barisan Nasional leaders will, like hawks, closely watch the opposition for any slips which would justify throwing the book at them.
KUCHING: The 16 elected representives forming Sarawaks opposition front will not have much room to manoeuvre themselves in the inaugural 10th State Legislative Assembly sitting begining Monday given the warnings issued by Barian Nasional leaders in recent days.
One can only assume that despite public declarations of confidence, the ruling coalition is somewhat rattled by the heavy presence of the artilery-filled opposition in the August house.
During the last sitting more than half of opposition assemblymen were suspended for minor mistakes committed during the debates.
The newest reminders to behave came from Second Finance Minister Wong Soon Koh and Assistant Minister Daud Abdul Rahman.
Daud, who is attached to the Chief Ministers Department, warned that all opposition reps who failed to observe and comply with the standing orders in the house will face the consequences.
They must understand the etiquette and standing orders of the Dewan.
If they refuse to abide by the standing orders we will take action, Daud, who is also Tupong assemblyman, warned.
He also urged BN elected representatives to behave in view of the increased number of opposition members in the assembly.
Wong, meanwhile said, BN reps will observe and comply with the standing orders.
All elected representatives must strictly follow the standing orders.
We from the Barisan will definitely observe and comply with the standing orders, we wont abuse it.
But if they (the opposition) choose not to, we will have our way to deal with them, he said.
Main targets
Wong said he and another Sarawak United Peoples Partys elected representative, Lee Kim Shim, are expecting to be the primary targets of the opposition.
It will ! not be a problem. We know how to deal with them.
We have 55, and they have 16 (including one independent). How can you say they are strong? he asked.
In the last Dewan, the opposition which had eight state elected representatives had caused havoc in the assembly. More than half of them were suspended for minor mistakes.
Watching and monitoring them closely at that time was none other than Wong himself, who on various occasions had proposed actions be taken against the opposition reps.
The opposition at that time accused him of trying to stifle the voice of the people.
Lets walk together!
I see no good reason for anyone to block a walk which has good intentions. In fact I still believe that the police should coordinate with the organizers to make the event a well coordinated and with minimal disruptions to non-participating bystanders and make it like a carnival affair.
Utusan Malaysia Sudah Setaraf Dengan Akhbar Denmark
Beberapa tahun yang lepas, dunia telah dikejutkan dengan kontroversi beberapa akhbar Denmark menghina Nabi SAW secara terang-terangan.
Beberapa hari yang lepas, Malaysia dikejutkan dengan sebuah karikatur yang menghina hukum Qazaf yang jelas termaktub dalam Al Quran Al Karim (seperti di atas).
Tidak di sangka-sangka, akhbar Utusan Meloya telah mengikut jejak langkah akhbar Denmark dengan menghina hukum Allah SWT yang jelas termaktub di dalam Al Quran al Karim.
Oleh kerana kandungan Utusan Malaysia ditentukan oleh Biro Politik UMNO, maka UMNO juga bertanggungjawab ke atas karikatur ini.
Tidak hairanlah UMNO beriye-iye menghina Islam sebegini rupa kerana hukum Qazaf di dalam Al Quran jelas merosakkan rancangan mereka untuk memfitnah Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Video Blue Rahim Thamby Chik yang mereka dipopularkan oleh media mereka nampaknya ditolak oleh majoriti orang Melayu Islam yang beriman dengan hukum Qazaf di dalam AlQuran.
Mengikut kajian terbaru, tidak sampai 30% orang Melayu Islam yang mempercayai video blue tersebut.
Faktor utama penolakan ini adalah kerana hukum Qazaf di dalam Al Quran mewajibkan 4 saksi yang adil dalam perkara Zina.
Adapun kartun di atas membicarakan soal jenayah "rogol|" yang tidak disentuh oleh Hukum Qazaf di dalam Al Quran.
Ini kerana jenayah rogol diletakkan di bawah Hukum "Taazir" dan bukannya "Hudud" di bahawa hukum jenayah Islam.
! In i kerana beban bukti dalam jenayah rogol adalah lebih ringan berbanding Zina.
Akhbar2 di Denmar sudah tentu gembira kerana mempunyai kawan sefikrah di Malaysia dalam bentuk UTUSAN MALAYSIA.
Tulang Besi
Pas’ ‘welfare state’ gives Umno the shivers - Aliran
Pas’ espousal of a welfare state, its new leadership line-up and a more inclusive vision have set off alarm bells in BN circles. Ronald Benjamin writes that the party has adopted enlightened positions of late.
Pas leaders - Photo credit: Pas Pusat via Facebook
The new political line up of Pas and the focus on a ‘welfare state’ is good news for Pakatan Rakyat because in it, a common understanding of justice is realised: the welfare of ordinary citizens would take precedence in the formulation of policies.
This common understanding is vital for the survival of Pakatan Rakyat not only before it attains federal power but also if it is given a mandate to rule.
Good governance is always linked to policies that are based on the common good of the nation. The ‘welfare state’ concept has an inclusive character that would be welcomed by all Malaysians irrespective of ethnicity and religion.
This why Umno and its Utusan mouthpiece have become worried ever since the welfare state concept was articulated. This pair never cease to condemn Pas through their common irrational ethnic-religous rhetoric in the belief that ethnic Malays would continue to support race-based policies if ethnic emotions are kindled to the maximum.
Looking back at Pas as a political party over the years, it has taken a principled stand against ethnic bigotry played up by Umno. For example, in the 1990 general election when Umno was embarking on the propaganda about the so called tengkolok salib and the media propaganda for Pas to join hands with Umno to break the so-called diabolical threat posed by non-Muslims supposedly bent on taking over the country, the Pas leadership stood its ground. It did not succumb to such evil and false propaganda.
In the current situation, where extremists linked to Umno have told Christians not to use the word Allah, Pas has taken a principled stand that Christians can use the term even though such a stand could be regarded as politically damaging for the party. The interesting part here is the party was objective in coming to a decision; it was not a political decision based on expediency.
Through this action, Pas showed its religious credentials, which are far more enlightened than the exclusive identity-based ‘Islamic state’ in which forms and ritual predominate and which could in turn lead to a dichotomy between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Ronald Benjamin is an Aliran member based in Ipoh.
KJ : Sayalah Bapa Segala Beruk di Jalan raya.....
"Saya cabar pembangkang jangan keluar di jalan raya, jangan cuba jadi hero di jalan raya, jangan buat seperti beruk di jalan raya." - KJ, 2007Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia memutuskan untuk mengadakan perhimpunan pada tarikh dan tempat yang sama dengan perhimpunan BERSIH di ibunegara pada 9 Julai depan.
"Kami akan berarak ke Istana Negara pada 9 Julai. Butiran lanjut akan diumumkan kemudian.
"Kami menyokong sistem pilihan raya sedia ada dan mahu bekerjasama dengan SPR untuk melakukan penambahbaikan," kata ketuanya Khairy Jamaluddin.
Sebelum ini, PERKASA juga mengumumkan akan menganjurkan perhimpunan pada masa dan tempat yang sama. Jika semuanya menjadi kenyataan, maka tiga kumpulan tersebut akan bertembung pada hari berkenaan.
Setakat ini, pihak polis telah menyatakan bahawa tiada permit akan dikeluarkan bagi perhimpunan BERSIH dan pihak-pihak yang menentang perhimpunan itu. Sebelum itu, keputusan mesyuarat Pemuda Umno sebentar tadi diumumkan Khairy dalam laman Twitter beliau.
Umno Youth today resolved to hold a major street rally that will coincide with the Bersih 2.0 movement's rally on July 9. Like the Bersih 2.0 movement, Umno Youth seeks to march to the Istana Negara. But while Bersih 2.0 said it is rallying to call for electoral reforms, the Umno Youth rally seeks to support the current electoral system.We are supporting the present electoral! system and want to work with the (Election Commission) to improve it further, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said told Malaysiakini. The matter was decided during the Umno Youth exco meeting this afternoon.
Khairy said that among others, Umno Youth was concerned about allegations that opposition parties are transferring voters. He said that Umno Youth will not be joining the Bersih 2.0 rally because they feel that this group was supporting the opposition parties.
Asked if this was a counter-rally against Bersih 2.0, Khairy replied: This has nothing to do with Bersih. We want to make our stand on democracy.
source:malaysiakini
cheers.
Whenever a BUM event cometh around, Desi misseth (late) Ancient Mariner...
PS: Latest "bollowing" (Desi sometimes is a typical chinoserie, mixing up his "l" and "r":( from rockybru's house of fire, earth, rain dan water...
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The late Captain Yusof, who ran the blog The Ancient Mariner, never claimed to be a prophet but his posting Another PKFZ In the Making now feels like an epic Nostradamus prediction. The shit has hit the fan down south. The Singapore Business Times reported on Wednesday (read here) that Asian Petroleum Hub Sdn Bhd, which runs the RM1.4 billion Asian Petroluem Hub (APH) in Johor, has fallen under receivership. A trail of sub contractors are facing bankruptcy and if some RM 2 billion is not pumped into the project, at least two state-linked public listed banks will be forced to make hundreds of million ringgit in writedowns.
If they had listened to the Captain and taken action then, perhaps today APH won't be facing a complete nervous breakdown and Malaysia wouldn't be a laughing stock in Singapore.
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The late Captain Yusof, who ran the blog The Ancient Mariner, never claimed to be a prophet but his posting Another PKFZ In the Making now feels like an epic Nostradamus prediction. The shit has hit the fan down south. The Singapore Business Times reported on Wednesday (read here) that Asian Petroleum Hub Sdn Bhd, which runs the RM1.4 billion Asian Petroluem Hub (APH) in Johor, has fallen under receivership. A trail of sub contractors are facing bankruptcy and if some RM 2 billion is not pumped into the project, at least two state-linked public listed banks will be forced to make hundreds of million ringgit in writedowns.
If they had listened to the Captain and taken action then, perhaps today APH won't be facing a complete nervous breakdown and Malaysia! wouldn' t be a laughing stock in Singapore.
Sabah, Sarawak may lose oil, gas forever
The two states have already experienced 100% loss of their natural resources under the Umno-controlled Petronas, according to UBF.
Sabah and Sarawak will lose their oil and gas resources forever if the Petroleum Act 1974 is not amended, United Borneo Front (UBF) leader, Jeffrey Kitingan, said.
He said that the two states have already experienced 100% losses of their oil and gas resources under the Petroleum Act.
He added that unless MPs and party leaders in the two states compel the federal government to amend the Act now, the states will lose forever their reserves.
He said both the Sabah and Sarawak governments have absolute rights to seek a review or even a repeal of the Petroleum Act.
But whether the Petroleum Act itself is constitutional, given the position of Sabah arising from the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the safeguards given to the state by the founding fathers of Malaysia, is debatable.
If the Act is to be continued, Sabah and Sarawak should be entitled to nothing less than 50% of the profits derived from the oil and gas assets.
The Sabah government should be entitled to a share in Petronas, given that the state is a stakeholder in the profits derived by Petronas compared to non-oil producing states.
The monies invested by Petronas in Sudan, Iran, Iraq and other overseas ventures are derived partly from profits obtained from Sabah and Sarawaks oil and gas assets.
Similarly, profits from Sabahs assets have helped Petronas establish its subsidiaries, some of which are now listed on Bursa Malaysia and generate more profits for Petronas , he said.
Urgent steps
Jeffrey said that so far the two states had not been benefiting from the oil-related industry and must take urgent steps to address the issue with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
If they failed to so, he said, both states will continue to lose rights to profits from oil and gas derived from their territories.
In reality,! Sabah a nd Sarawak have suffered a 100% loss of their oil and gas because under the Petroleum Act, all the oil and gas reserves in the states are lost forever they are vested in Umno-controlled Petronas.
In return, Petronas pays the state governments a measly and miserable 5% of the revenue reaped by Petronas.
The 5% so-called oil royalties cannot adequately compensate the total loss of the oil and gas assets which, by right, should benefit all Sabahans and Sarawakians first and not Petronas, Jeffrey said in a statement to FMT.
He said that the revenue of Petronas is based on operational profits and as such, it is a gross injustice to Sabahans and Sarawakians that they only get 5% of the profit while 95% of it goes to Petronas.
Jeffrey also said that in January 2011, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman had announced that the state contributed 26.9% of the 637,000 barrels of crude oil produced per day in Malaysia.
In the 2011 Sabah state budget, the chief minister projected the oil royalties (5%) to be RM721.7 million, of which all will be used for the annual expenditure of the state.
Not a single sen is saved or invested for the future of Sabah and Sabahans.
In Norway, the bulk of the oil revenue from its North Sea oilfields is saved and invested, making Norway one of the largest investors in the whole of Europe.
This means that every Norwegian owns the asset (oil) extracted long before he or she is born, he said.
Mind-boggling
Jeffrey said that the oil and gas problem in Sabah and Sarawak was compounded by the lack of transparency in the dealings.
He added that there was also a lack of political will to establish an oil and gas industry, especially in Sabah.
The latest arrangement to divert Sabahs natural gas from Kimanis, Papar, to Bintulu, Sarawak, for processing is mind-boggling.
The RM4 billion Kimanis-Bintulu gas pipeline and the billions spent on expanding the Bintulu LNG plant could very well have been invested in a! new pro cessing plant in Sabah where Sabahans could reap the benefits of the future spin-offs from such an investment, Jeffrey said.
Walk For Justice
To be honest, these guys organising the BERSIH 2.0 aren't my cup of tea. They're too mild-tempered and overly well-behaved.
I personally like the firebrands.
But BERSIH 2.0 has all the legal-eagles it can find, and they know their law. This is civil disobedience standing up in the face of tyranny, albeit quietly.
So if you're the average citizen who has had enough of an incompetent government, that is desperate to go to any length just to stay in power - this is your walk!!
It may not be my cup of tea, but I'll still be walking anyway.
CERMIN UMNO/APCO RETAK SERIBU
Bragging room for NST oldtimers
grapevine
NST oldtimers gathering for a reunion next week plan to start a blog in which to showcase their memories and reminiscences. These old war stories will be compiled for a book to be published later and will feature icons of Malaysian journalism according to a note sent to a group of NST oldtimers on Facebook. These icons will include Felix Abisheganaden, David Tambyah, Dahari Ali, Leslie Hoffman, Lee Siew Yee, A Samad Ismail and Noordin Sopiee, among others.
It is not known when the blog will be opened, but Malaysian internet users, who have an appetite for inside stories, will certainly flock to the site to read about the heroic exploits of old Malaysian journalism. Quite a few huge egos are about to be massaged, as reporters and editors bend the old rule not to become the story. Now they are the story and while most will try to conduct themselves with the same professionalism they approached news stories, not a few will relish the spotlight, with glee.
No doubt therell be a few tall tales, like the one about the reporter who flung a typewriter through the editors glass window. And beyond doubt there will be a good deal of accounts in the pattern of I was the one who and I was there when and Did you know that
Stand by for some massive bragging.
Filed under: Journalism
