As LKY Second Fiddle WPI, Pak Lah Sleep in TENC

In the When LKY Speaks ... posting on January 8th, 2008, Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) gave a comforting but false hope on the state of the Malaysian economy. This is unusual for LKY and the fact is there is a looming global recession believed to head for a more complicated stagflation situation.

Underlying message hidden at the end of the news report was the comforting words for WPI. With his reverse psychology moves, LKY had indirectly coyed Johor UMNO leaders to support WPI. Now UMNO Johor will have to face the General Election with WPI as a major issue. Usually comfortable in their entrenched "homeground", UMNO Johor is expected to face some resistance from PAS on the issue of WPI. In addition, this issue has been a source of dissatisfaction at the ground within UMNO Johor.

The saving grace for UMNO Johor is that PKR is acting like a spoiler that will result in 3-way fight in some areas. In politics, it is not usually as straight forward as that. It could be deliberately designed to split votes?

Again, is LKY campaigning for Pak Lah? Is he not for PAP's off-spring, DAP? If there is any doubt, news report on LKY emanating from Singapore and foreign press over the weekend somewhat confirms it. Throughout this term, DAP has been noticably avoiding personal criticism on Pak Lah.

Repeating the same warning, when LKY speaks, damn it listen properly for there is some insidious intention. LKY is second fiddling but Pak Lah is asleep, naked in The Emperor's New Clothes - lost in the encore, praises and grandeur of 5th floor - and not realising the looming threat.

Second Fiddling of Malaysia

The news report from Singapore's Channel Newsasia below:

MM Lee says S'pore and Malaysia will benefit from closer connectivity

By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
1 February 2008

SINGAPORE : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said Singapore and Malaysia will benefit from closer connectivity and collaboration.

In fact, he believes Malaysia will stand to gain even more than Singapore in the long run.

Mr Lee made this point while elaborating on a comment he had made at an Institute of Policy Studies conference on Friday morning.

At that conference, Mr Lee was asked whether Singapore needs to have a hinterland, which is Malaysia, in order to grow into a global city.

Later Mr Lee told reporters on the sidelines that he wants Malaysian leaders to know that Singapore is ready to work with them to grow together.

And Malaysia should view Singapore in the spirit of cooperation and acceptance instead of competition and antipathy.

Citing Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's proposal of the Iskandar Development Region, or IDR, as a move in the right direction, Mr Lee said Singapore will do what it can to make the IDR succeed.

In this way, both countries can get maximum value out of the cooperation.

Another win-win possibility is faster rail and air travel between Singapore and Malaysia.

Although a previous proposal for a fast rail system between them has yet to materialise, Mr Lee said Singapore welcomes it. Malaysia too, he said, must believe it would definitely be a win-win situation.

In the immediate phase of closer connectivity, Mr Lee said Singapore will gain a little more because the city state is more connected to the outside world.

But in the long term, Malaysia will make the bigger gain because of its larger capital mass and bigger human resource pool. - CNA/ch

Taking the cue from the last sentence of the report, it is actually saying Malaysia will eventually gain but it is not immediate. That is what differs from Dr Mahathir's development approach.

LKY hit at Dr Mahathir for attempting to make Singapore play a secondary role to Malaysia. There is no response from UMNO to correct the objective of the time, which was "you go your way and we go our way".

If one were to recall, LKY and the Singapore leaders made an issue of Malaysian ports competing with their ports. What cock and bull talk of meritocrasy?! They actually fear competition. Malaysia was building it's own port to keep more of the services and invisible portion of our trade balance for shipping, insurance etc. from sipping out of the country. To be able to compete, it would be a bonus.

All one need to do is observe and be a bit more analytical of LKY's comments. It is becoming more crystal clear that their intention for WPI and Malaysia is to play a secondary role to Singapore.

The four areas of cooperation with Singapore are immigration, environment, tourism, and transportation only serve for Malaysia to play supporting role to Singapore. Immigration helps to assist, not so much Singaporean to work or shop here but to ease Malaysians to work there. The environment serves to keep safeguard their water supply and their eventual tourism interest. The high roller and big spender spend money at the Singapore casinos and high class tourist facility, the family tourism and affordable shopping is in Johor.

For transportation, all roads, rail and air leads to Singapore. Thanks to an impending direct rail project to Singapore, existing spoiler Air Asia and cancellation of double tracking project.

To convince further of LKY's second fiddling of Malaysia, read this news article from Reuters of the same function:

Singapore should not be as crowded as Hong Kong: Lee

Reuters Fri Feb 1, 2008

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's drive to increase its population should not leave the city-state as crowded as Hong Kong, Lee Kuan Yew, the country's former prime minister, was quoted as saying in local media on Saturday. The Singapore government said last year it wants to add another two million people to expand the island's population to 6.5 million over the next 40 to 50 years -- mostly through immigration -- to drive economic growth in the city-state, where there is a low birth rate and a graying population.

"I have not quite been sold on the idea that we should have 6.5 million," Lee, the first prime minister of modern Singapore, was quoted as saying in the Straits Times.

He said Singapore should not become as crowded as Hong Kong where it has "just solid buildings, one blocking the sunlight of the other".

"There's an optimum size for the land that we have, to preserve the open spaces and the sense of comfort," Lee said.

Singapore, which competes with Hong Kong to be the Asian headquarters for financial services firms, is seen to have an edge over the former British colony's proximity to China by being less crowded and polluted.

Singapore has a population of 4.7 million people and according to a 2003 U.N. study, was the world's third most densely populated area after Hong Kong and Macau.

Frankly, it is not for 40-50 years but much sooner than that. Singapore is expanding it's population by inviting migration from certain countries.

With a property boom and prices at exorbitant level, does Singapore have the space and economics to expand it's population at such a fast rate? This is not really a question but a self answered question.

Is it for this reason that this blogger has endlessly been calling WPI as purely a property play development? The TV campaigning on RTM highlighted WPI as Metropolis twice the size of Singapore? Is this for real or mere hype?

In his speech, LKY spoke of Singapore turning into an Asian Global City. Does it make sense to have a Metropolis and a Global City within a stone throw? It only leads to the realistic evenutality of an integrated city with WPI as the suburb or retreat for Singapore.

Other than property and the usual claim for bio-tech & agriculture, IT, education, logistic related petroleum, the much talked about economic sector promoted is creative sector. What is creative sector? It's media, communication, film making, and related activities? How much of a multiplier effect can it boost the local ecoomy compared to industrialisation?

In all those economic sectors mentioned, except petroleum logistics, whats the blueprint to develop the sector?

Tun Musa Hitam spoke of avoiding the manufacturing sector due to foreign labour issues. However, Singapore is remain focus towards it despite their more developed status. They invested in Pulau Batam and Pulau Bintan as labour intensive manufacturing centre. Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) pursue manufacturing FDI to attract EMS, Intel, Opid, and Epitary Wafer.

The Malaysian political leadership and IRDA planners of WPI are happy playing second fiddle and dreaming a big city.

Messed Up Foreign and Defense Policy

On the foreign policy front, Singapore has silently taken "leadership" of Asean, a regional grouping initiated by our Tun Abdul Razak and the recently died, General Suharto. Asean had maintained a ZOPFAN policy and hands off policy on it's members domestic affairs.

With Singapore exerting more influence on behalf of Uncle Sam, Malaysia went along to apply pressure on Myanmar's domestic issue.

Increasingly, this seige mentality state is taking more millitary leadership in Asean. With full awareness that Singapore main paranoia is Malaysia, we went along.

Strong S’pore-Malaysia ties help advance peace in region: Minister Teo

By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
30 January 2008

KUALA LUMPUR : Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean has said Southeast Asian countries need to respond to the changing strategic environment.

He added that bilateral defence cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia can contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Mr Teo was speaking at the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College on Wednesday.

The Minister also shared Singapore’s perspectives on the security challenges facing the region.

He also discussed how Singapore is promoting multilateral security cooperation such as the development of an open and inclusive ASEAN defence track.

Mr Teo also called on Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on Wednesday afternoon.

During their meeting, they discussed bilateral ties as well as regional issues. - CNA/ms

As BigDog point out, did our Defense Ministers, Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak (1990-1995), (1999-2003) and Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Al Bar (1995-1999), ever received invitation from the Prime Ministers of Singapore?

Pak Lah is not only sleeping up there but naked in The Emperor's New Clothes (TENC) and lost in the perception of grandeur and greatness.

Stagflation is Here

By Prof. Rodrigue Tremblay
Global Research, January 31, 2008

War—after all, what is it that the people get? Why—widows, taxes, wooden legs and debt.
Samuel B. Pettengill

"Armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.
James Madison, 4th U.S. President (April 20, 1795)

"Let me issue and control a nation's currency and I care not who makes its laws".
Nathan Rothschild, 1791

Last summer, I observed that there was a "solvency crisis" underneath the ongoing subprime mortgage liquidity squeeze. Central banks can alleviate a "liquidity crisis", but they cannot solve a solvency crisis.

Last year also, before the events, I warned that the U.S. was heading toward stagflation.

For a fundamental explanation on stagflation, read J. Bradford DeLong of University of California, Berkeley

This was due to three fundamental factors.

First, the structural fiscal imbalances of the federal budget in a period of prosperity, as a result of the Bush-Cheney administration's continuous deficit spending linked to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and to its large tax cuts;

Second, the over-indebtedness of the overall U.S. economy coupled with an overall saving rate close to zero (in 1981, it was 12 percent), and, as a consequence, the rapidly increasing foreign debt of the U.S.; and,

Third, the required decline in the U.S. dollar to reverse and correct the deteriorating American balance of payments. The second factor was a harbinger of less consumer spending in the coming months while the third factor would stoke the fire of overall inflation. And with already high budget deficits, there would be less leeway for an aggressive fiscal policy to sustain economic activity. The table was thus set for a bout of stagflation, i.e. slow growth and rising inflation.

Now, stagflation is here — Economic growth is slowing down, M3 money supply numbers, as a measure of overall liquidity in the economy, are in the double digits range, the yield curve has inverted and become negative (short term rates higher than longer term rates) and the U.S. dollar has become one the weakest currencies in the world. All this as American twin deficits (balance of trade and federal government budget deficits) are at record levels — As I pointed out last year, " A lower currency translates into more imported inflation and makes it difficult to maintain low interest rates," even if, in due time, it will improve the trade balance. This means that, for all practical purposes, monetary policy is also severely constrained in what it can now accomplish. For all of 2007, inflation hit 4.1 percent, which is two-thirds more than in 2006 when inflation registered at 2.5 percent. Moreover, the surge in wholesale prices announces even higher inflation in the months ahead.

With inflation being on the rise and real interest rates already in negative territory, aggressive monetary stimulus would likely be counterproductive, because too low interest rates would encourage capital outflows, pushing the dollar further down, and translating into more imported inflation. On top of that, one has to remember that monetary policy shifts take at least nine to twelve months before impacting the real economy. One has also to keep in mind that the U.S. operates, more and more, in an international environment, and is less and less capable of influencing the domestic economy by manipulating one variable only, such as the interest rate.

Of course, the Fed could have played a better preventive regulatory role if it had intervened in 2003-04 to reign in the unsound banking lending practices that have led to the subprime debacle. But the milk is out of the bottle now, and nothing can erase the damage done to the housing construction sector and other parts of the economy because of this lack of oversight.

After seven years of continuous indulging, of borrowing and debt building, the U.S. federal government is also in a fiscal bind and will find it difficult to effectively counteract the slowdown in the economy. Indeed, over the last seven years, the Bush-Cheney administration has run fiscal deficits on the average of $461.29 billion each year, for a grand total of $3,229 billion of cumulative of on-budget deficits.

This makes it harder to embark upon a new round of deficit spending to stimulate the economy. For one, fiscal policy shifts have even a longer time horizon before impacting the real economy. Secondly, the coming slowdown and recession will worsen an already high federal government deficit, as government receipts decline with the rise in unemployment and the drop in income growth. On the spending side, the Iraq war, in particular, is a black hole that siphons off more than $100 billion each year, with no end in sight. Oil prices are also very high, partly because of high world demand, partly because of geopolitical instability and partly because of the lowered dollar.

After seven years of foreign policy madness and of empire building on a mountain of debt, and of public indulging and private gouging, the financial crisis and credit crunch, the plummeting dollar, the high price for oil will all contribute to the 2008 economic slowdown, which is likely to turn into a recession, during the first half of the year, if it is not already into one since last December. The downturn in the world stock markets during this month is another clear indication that something is wrong, not only with the U.S. economy, but also with the world economy.

All that would seem to be very bad news for George W. Bush's Republicans, just as it was bad news for the Democratic Carter administration in the late '70s. Indeed, over the last century, the U.S. economy has been in a recession four times in the early part of a presidential election year, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. In each of those years — 1920, 1932, 1960 and 1980 — the party of the incumbent president lost the election.

Rodrigue Tremblay is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Montreal and can be reached at rodrigue.tremblay@yahoo.com. He is the author of the book 'The New American Empire'. Visit his blog site at: www.thenewamericanempire.com/blog. Author's Website: http://www.thenewamericanempire.com/. Check Dr. Tremblay's coming book "The Code for Global Ethics" at: http://www.thecodeforglobalethics.com/.

Just News: "One Of Us" is Lying

Like the chorus in this Abba You Tube video is playing, "One of us is crying, One of us is lying". As ex journo cum blogger Syed Imran pose it, Antara Mahathir dan Pak Lah - siapa pembohong?

Abdullah made the expected denial to Dr Mahathir's assertion that there was a Gentlemen's Agreement for Abdullah to be one term Prime Minister and later make way for Najib. It was reported in Bernama here that Abdullah mentioned twice, "no gentlemen's agreement".

Najib's response was to deny knowledge of such an agreement. Does denying knowledge means denying existence or was not informed of such agreement? That statement has it's caveat. However, he was quick to reiterate his support and loyalty to the Prime Minister. Read more in Bernama here.

Let's go back to the exact words using The Star's report:

Asked if it was true that there was a gentleman's agreement when he resigned in 2003 that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would only stay as Prime Minister for only one term, Dr Mahathir said:

“Even if I said that such an agreement was made, I cannot prove it but that was my thinking since he was older than Najib, he should be the PM for a term and then Najib should be able to take over.”

Heck ... this question sure diverted the attention from the many more relevant issues in Tun's press conference the day before. Anyway, these story serves to reiterate his call on Pak Lah to step down.

The Star's report on Tun diffuse the message by a mile with it's heading "Be more selective". He meant it to infer that there is not much credible and clean candidates worthy of his help.

Mukhriz is ready, he better campaign for him. Or what will the voters think of? More relevant, what will UMNO members think off. Hope he is healthy enough to campaign.

On a "campaign" trail yesterday, Abdullah reassure non Malays that "no race will be marginalised in the government's effort to develop the nation". Well, Tun Razak has said that since 1970s, but now you have promised a new "NEP" that is fair and equitable? What is it? Is more than four years sufficient time for thinking?

Has Abdullah solved the issues and rid off those that need ridding to safely claim "about to call" the General Election any day now?

Well, ethnic and inequality rose as a concern post Hindraf Merdeka Centre survey? Is the rising prices issue solved or merely by suppressing news? The public concern for crimes? What about the economy, as Clinton would have called, stupid?

Just News: Dr Mahathir Unplug But Electrifying

Will Pak Lah speak up this time? Or will he be the weakling he usually is to shy away with an "Elegence Silence" again?

Taken from Malaysiakini.com

Did I say "more remarks coming" yesterday? Salted mouth or "masin mulut" as the Malay would say. After yesterday's Reuter's report, it's no more remarks but a field day for the Press at the post book launch Press Conference.

You may have read comment's at Dato Kadir Jasin's, or Rocky's or Big Dog's or on Malaysiakini. Lets read the full transcript of Dr Mahathir’s Press Conference issued by his Press Secretary, Sufi Yusof.

Dr M: First thing before you begin to ask me questions I would like to thank you very much for your presence today. What my book is all about I have already explained just now so if there are anymore questions you are welcomed to ask, if I can answer, I will, if I cannot I will just shut up. Okay...

Q: Will you contest in the coming General Election?

Dr M : Well like the comedian who was talking about his girlfried, he would like to but he didn't...

Q: How much does the US recession is likely to affect Malaysia?

Dr M : Well actually today the US should close down because it had been bankrupt for several years now. It has deficits. But because the United States owns IMF (International Monetary Fund) the IMF has not taken any action. If we were in that situation we would have been crushed to the ground but this is the US where they can print money and where they can make use of other opeople's money to sustain an economy that is unsustainable.

But unfortunately too many countries have trade and investment links with the uS and some of these investments abroad are really meant to supply the US with their products. If the US is not in a position to buy their products then these companies located in other countries including Malaysia will suffer. So the fact remains that the US economy is so big that its collapse is going to affect the world. So the world is not going to allow it to collapse just like the US will not allow certain big banks to collapse. We will feel the impact, whether we like it or not. We will feel the impact. In fact we are already feeling the impact. Today we are in a state of denial and bad things are coming in the future because it is not going to be easy to ensure that the US recession does not take place. It is not easy to reverse the process

Q: Tun now Malaysia does not trade much with the US?

Dr M : I don’t know the last figure I had was about 30% of our exports still go to the US. So 80 per cent of our trade about...100 billion a year is a very big chunk

Q: Your comment on lacklustre attitude from OIC in response to the problems in Palestine

Dr M : It is usual that they are not interested in the sufferings of the people in Gaza or Palestine. They are too busy with other things. They have never shown any sympathy for the Palestinian, only verbal support but no really tangible support.

Q: Tun akan turun Padang berkempen untuk BN?

Dr M : Saya dulu saya terima iaitu saya akan bantu dalam kempen tapi pada tahun 2004 oleh kerana parti BN begitu popular saya dikehendaki tidak kempen di tempat-tempat tertentu. Saya akan kempen cuma kalau saya percaya orang yang dicalonkan itu ialah orang yang boleh membawa kebaikan.

Q: Politics is dirty because of politicians or is it that politics is just dirty?

Dr M : The politicians, because I am also a politician I don't play dirty politics but when people who have openly told lies and the whole country knows they told lies and they get re-elected...and (this) cause me to lose my respect and lose my faith in the political system as practised by them.

Q: In your book...(not audible)

Dr M : I have claimed to be a Muslim fundamentalist. This one (Hadhari) is modern Islam which is another thing altogether. I go for the fundamentals and the fundamentals of Islam is very good. It is not like the Christian fundamentalist where they are equated with extremism. To equate Muslim fundamentalist with extremism is wrong. It’s a misnomer. If you really follow the teachings of Islam, the basic teachings of Islam, you should be a very good man, a very progressive man, well-balanced person.

Q: (not audible)

Dr M : I always point out that for 1,400 years there have been many interpretations of Islam and many of these interpretations are influenced by the situation occurring at that time so the interpretation today is because we are a democratic country we will have elections and anything that we say can be used by the opposition in order to gain support.

Q: You mean current situation our interpretation is more for political reasons?

Dr M : Yes I think it is political more than religious. If its religious we need to sit down and discuss the basis of this decision and then only we can really say that it is an Islamic injunction not to do certain things.

Q: You say you will campaign for candidates...does this include opposition?

Dr M : No, I will not campaign for the opposition. But I am saying the people who support the BN should be a little bit more selective. Should think, should choose wisdom in their choice of the people they will support. If people name some deadwood, some corrupt politician as candidates even if they are from the BN, BN supporters should not support them. That way we can clean the party, BN and UMNO because there is no hope that Umno can be cleaned from within because everything is controlled now. Nobody can have an opinion and any contrary views they will make (is) sure will not be heard.

Q: Tun mengatakan bahawa pengundi termasuk penyokong BN perlu melakukan perubahan di piliharaya untuk megubah kepimpinan BN dan Umno. Itu maksud Tun?

Dr M : Ya, itu sahaja harapan kita. Itu pun bukanlah kuat sangat harapan kerana saya berpendapat pengundi-pengundi biasa pun kadang-kadang terpengaruh dengan cara yang tidak halal tetapi kita sudah hilang keupayaan untuk menukar pemimpin di peringkat parti kerana parti sekarang ini dibenar cuma mengata "Yes" kepada apa yang presiden kata. Jadi tidak ada real opinion dalam party anymore. No way you can change the leadership of the party or the way the party operates from within. If the people in Malaysia wishes to have a party that is centered on nepotism and corruption then of course they will vote for the same people and will achieve no correction

Q: Are you saying the PM for the moment can be considered in your definition as deadwood?

Dr M : I don’t know about what my opinion is but i know i have differences with him.

Q: Lepas tun lepas jawatan PM ada khabar angin tentang fail rasuah tokoh Umno kelantan yang Tun serah kepada Pak Lah untuk tindakan...

Dr M : Fail kalau ada akan diserah oleh ACA. Bukan saya punya tugas nak serah file tapi saya tahu ada kes tertentu yang harus diselidik dan tindakan diambil. Saya amat sedar bahawa kes corruption bukan mudah untuk kita buktikan. Dengan itu kita cuma akan dengar cerita yang buruk tetapi akhirnya tiada satu tindakan pun yang boleh diambil

Q: When you stepped down in 2003 you said you made a gentleman's agreement for him to stay one term. In this case macam mana?

Dr M : Even if I said I had this gentlemen's agreement there is no way I can prove it. My thinking that since he was older than Najib he should be PM for a term and then Najib should be able to take over.

Q: In the 22 years of your administration, there was fast track development, many things were done in record time...PM now needs more time beyond five years to develop his projects. What is your view?

Dr M : I know it takes time to implement plans and projects but i think if that is to be used as an excuse to stay in power for 18 years that would not be very welcome. But that time to implement...at this time only announcements are being made. He is already asking for time to do this.

Q: The PM announced economic corridor, repercussion not now...commitments made are huge. If not able to be delivered what will happen to future PM?

Dr M : What i think is that it certainly will not be delivered by the time of the election. So this is the reason why you should allow the present Government to go on so that they can implement. But the way, the things are being implemented are also questionable. Giving it to the so called GLC which then gives contracts to other people, none of which are very open that is not really the right way to do things.

Q: What is you greatest concern in 50 years looking at Malaysia?

Dr M : Well, I think the Government does not seem to know how to progress, how to implement things. It’s already quite sometime since I stepped down. (It) would have been easier perhaps to just continue with the projects already on the ground but it was decided to postpone ostensibly because of lack of funds. But what I do know is that when I stepped down there was enough money to go ahead with all the so-called mega projects. Now they have decided to go ahead with some of the mega projects but the cost is very high, as much as 50 % more simply because the cost of living, the cost of everything has gone up in the meantime. So the postponement was totally unjustified. Now they realised that these are needed infrastructure.

Q: Time to implement projects...you mean he should carry on as PM?

Dr M : It depends upon the record you have shown in some other things that doesn't need too much time. If you show that you can implement it, the smaller projects, i think you should be given more time for the bigger projects. But what you see is just a stoppage, a kind of reversal of the previous policies and projects ostensibly because there was no funds and this is not such a good judgment.

Q: Now you are complaining of cronyism and nepotism in Pak Lah's term...(question not audible)

Dr M : Well I am aware that I was not always right but those people who were called my cronies were not my cronies. As a matter of fact when I was accused of these I published, I made public the list of people who had projects etc and it was clear that they were not people I know except for the very well known figures. I was not practising cronyism but of course these (accusations) were attached to me as a kind of label to undermine my credibility (and) I cannot get away from it. But today we see nepotism creeping in. We see companies getting projects to the extent that many Malaysian entrepreneurs and contractors are now going abroad. They said there is no opportunity within the country.

Q: Tun, as ahli Umno No 1. Are you aware of current happenings within the party, do you get any updates?

Dr M : Nothing, I am completely cut out

Q: Compared to during your time the BN is no longer as united as before...

Dr M : When we have a group of people working together, we must know how to handle them. They have grouses, they have differences but if you handle them properly and tackle the grouses, I think they will sit together. But if you show any weakness, giving in, people will take advantage of your weakness.

Q: In the recent state assembly sitting in Kelantan Datuk Mustafa Mohamad admitted he asked you to stop developing Kelantan when PAS took over Government...

Dr M : Well not only Mustafa but all the rest of Umno felt you should not develop Kelantan because if you do they will tell people..."Look even if you don't vote for BN you will still get development, so why bother to vote for BN?" - that's what PAS will say and that has always been a problem with PAS even in my constituency. If a village is supportive of PAS and i were to give a bridge or whatever PAS will tell people "Look you don't have to support the Government so support us." Because of that we had to hold back.

Q: Do you think political Islam will play a big role in the next General Election?

Dr M : It will be exploited to the utmost by PAS and the Government will have its hands full trying to handle it.

Q: What about racial issues?

Dr M : It is unfortunate because we have never really achieved racial harmony but we have been able to keep it within control. But now people are not only taking action based on race but also on religion. They say Hinduism was not something that will cause a ..... (not audidble)....but now Hindus apparently feel dissatisfied with their lot and have made this demonstration. I don't say that because I agree with them. I don't agree with them. But they see a Government that is retreating and of course they want to take advantage.

Q: Apa pendapat tun tentang sekiranya anak beranak dapat jawatan utama dalam parti umno. Bolehkah orang Melayu terima?

Dr M: Psychology....attitude Melayu berbeza sikit. Dia sokong bukan kerana individu. Sokong kerana parti, kalau bagi a piece of log there or a stone they will still vote the party because this is my party and I cannot allow my party to lose. The Chinese are much more selective. They did not like me in 1969. They made sure I lost the election but they also made sure the Alliance won the election. So if you cause a person that you don't like to lose, it doesn't mean that the party will lose, the party will win.

Q: You were reported that MIC should be blamed for the Indians' plight. Were you misquoted?

Dr M : No, its not MIC as a political party. But the thing is that people, rather Indians, who may not agree with MIC but still wish to support the BN are not given ay chance at all. In their frustration, whether MIC is right or wrong is a different matter, obviously there is no opportunity for anybody else, any other Indians, to come up.

Q: What role are you trying to play in the next General Election?

Dr M : I'm trying to promote cleansing of the party by the people, because within the party it is not possible to cleanse. If I say anything there will be a chorus of people who will curse me including some of my former ministers...they will curse me...so if I'm going to be cursed by them i might as well be cursed for everything else.

Q: Strategi pukul anak sindir menantu...

Dr M : There is a risk in all these things but I hope that we will love this country enough to vote for the best candidate.

Q: Masksudnya Tun boleh terima hakikat pembangkang menang lebih?

Dr M : No, pembangkang tak mungkin menang lebih banyak daripada BN. Lebih banyak dari sekarang mungkin, tapi tak boleh jadi kerajaan.

Q: More than in 1999?

Dr M : 1999 was a different matter. A question of a black eye

Q: 99 was issues of emotion, but now isu harga barang, jenayah jadi kebimbangan pada rakyat...

Dr M : Well the issues are different. There is problem of inflation etc but more important is the quality of leadership, quality of Umno that has degenerated to the point where members cannot say anything. You say something you are hauled up and asked to choose between the PM and whoever. So there is not a slightest freedom that is allowed and in my case I was invited by many people and the people who invited me were called by the police not to go ahead with the invitation, to cancel the invitation. Of course you can use police for implementing the law but there is no law that allows police to threaten people that if they hold the meeting and invite me they will get into trouble. But this is what happened.

During my time, Tengku Razaleigh wanted to make a speech they could make a speech. Anybody who wanted to make a speech, even Tengku Razaleigh, I did not stop him. But here the moment I stepped down almost I was practically not allowed to speak.

Q: How do you plan to cleanse the party?

Dr M : Its up to the people to vote in those leaders who are clean because the party will not clean itself

Q: But what is you plan?

Dr M : I don't know all I can say is talk to you (the Press)...

Q: How about the leadership,,,

Dr M : Its up to the people to make an assessment as to who should continue or who should go.

Q: Your assessment...will there be total change in the line-up

Dr M : I think there will be no total change. There will be some people who will be retained some people who have not delivered they should not be retained

Q: The young generation?

Dr M : Unfortunately the young generation does not even bother to register

Q: Claims of vote buying, any proof?

Dr M : In my case I have proof. People were bribed not to vote for me in my constituency and I expect that to be extended, it was nothing just a small matter but still these attempts were made to prevent me from becoming just a wakil

Q: Do you think there will be outright vote buying?

Dr M : There is that possibility. I was told in the by election that thing happened.

Tun made his first attack on the malaise and negligence of the current administration on June 22nd, 2006 at Paradise Century Club, Taman Melawati, Ulu Kelang, Selangor. Since that speech, he went on a road show to explain and uncover to the UMNO members, particularly the beginning of a dangerous trend in the Abdullah adminsitration.

In Johor Bahru on 10 February 2007, he upped his tempo to tell UMNO to not fear leadership changes. UMNO has made leadership changes when the leadership has steered away from it's struggle.

The recent Royal Commission (RC) is a clear cut case of an attempt by the current administration to discredit him. With no evidence gathered by the investigation to show Dr Mahathir was making a decision based on outside influences, the administration stooped to the pressure from Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Bar Council.

No substantial outcome is expected from the RC. The crutch of it is that there is no way to show Dr Mahathir was influenced by others in his judiciary appointment, which is rightly his prerogative under the law. Yet the RC is tugging along on irrelevent issues.

In this press conference, he has indirectly called on Abdullah to step down. In the midst of poor voter sentiment and major drop in confidence in his leadership, this will be unnecessary pressure on Abdullah, who seemed desperate to have the GE the soonest possible. Tun has unreservedly call for outsiders to cleanse UMNO since it has no ability to clean the party from corruption and nepotism.

Unless something happens, in the next too distance future, Abdullah will not be able to claim he has 90% support of the people. If it is inevitable that it will be a significantly lower performance and even rumoured of losing few states, is UMNO and the Coalition not reacting to tell Abdullah times up? That is whats needed to save the party.

Is this press conference a reaction to RC? Unlikely, Tun has been consistent on his attack of Abdullah. How will Abdullah react to this? "Elegent silence"? Not this time. It will only show his inability to grasp the situation, a clear sign of weakness. This time he can't walk away from this fight. He's got to show us he's got what he has been showing Jeanne.

Just News: TDM's back, GE Campaign Period and UMNO EGM

He has not been saying much on local political issues since his operations at IJN. There was comment related to the Royal Commission after the book launch at PLF. A short cynical remark, and the attempted spin or slow reception by Dato Ali Rastam, at the launch of TDM's bread venture in KL last week.

Yesterday, Reuters reported on Tun Dr Mahathir, prior to the launch of his latest book containing selected letters to world leaders, for today. The report in full below:

Malaysia’s Mahathir sees no easing of rift with PM

Tue Jan 29, 2008 Reuters


By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday he would remain a thorn in the side of his successor in the run-up to elections, and would continue to speak his mind.

Until subdued by heart problems last year, the outspoken Mahathir was the most vocal critic of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, accusing his government of lacking “guts” and selling out Malaysian sovereignty.

“I still disagree on several of his policies, mainly allowing Malaysians to be subject to Singapore’s wishes,” the 82-year-old told select foreign media in an interview ahead of Wednesday’s launch of his new book.

The book published for the first time his personal correspondence with world leaders including U.S. President George W. Bush, on issues ranging from terrorism to Islam and Myanmar.

“We are not as independent as before in terms of our attitude towards international affairs,” said Mahathir, who ruled the nation for 22 years with an iron grip. “We tend to be very accommodative.”

DEAD WOOD

In the interview, he took Abdullah to task for “wasting (public) money”, dismissed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as a “daydreamer” and asserted that the domestic economy was in “bad shape” without a rally in commodity prices.

Mahathir said Abdullah’s ruling front would be returned with a strong majority in the polls, widely expected by March, but said voters must get rid of dead wood in the coalition.

“But there are certain people whose contribution is negative. These people should not be chosen as candidates,” Mahathir, wearing a collarless Nehru suit, said at his office in the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers.

“I still support the party and I still believe the party will win with a good majority but one must not confuse support for the party with support for the individual,” he said.

On Anwar, Mahathir said his political enemy would not be a major factor in the coming elections.

“He’s not a real factor,” he said. “There’s no more political future for him. If he thinks he’s going to be the prime minister, it’s daydreaming of the worst kind.”

A charismatic speaker, Anwar was sacked from government in 1998 after falling out with Mahathir. Anwar then led street protests before he was arrested and later jailed on what he called trumped-up charges of graft and sodomy.

Released in 2004, his corruption conviction means he cannot stand for elected office or hold political office until April this year.

Mahathir, who has a history of heart problem, underwent a heart bypass in September and doctors have advised him to cut down on travel and other activities, including horse-riding.

The operation was Mahathir’s second such surgery since 1989 and followed two heart attacks over the past 13 months.

His quarrel with Abdullah came to the fore after the government scrapped Mahathir’s idea to replace a causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore with a bridge.

Asked if Abdullah should quit, he replied: “It is up to him to decide. It’s also up to the people to decide. If the people want him to move on, if they think his administration is not benefiting them, they should make a decision.”

It surprises me to hear the repeat of his critics with the General Election expected to be just around the corner. Or will there be a General Election with Pak Lah in the most pathetic situation in the latest released Merdeka Centre survey at a 61% public approval? It seems one set of "advisers" advise him not to have it. While another set of "advisers" desperately needed the new mandate last year to justify and implement their "plans" fast. For pondering, if you read this blog Pak Lah, TDM's approval rating never got this low under the Reformasi onslaught but did some dent.

Whatever will Flip Flop Pak Lah decide of the General Election date, it will be an election of personality over party. Heard over the grapevine that it will be a short campaign period. Most likely, the public will likely vote for candidate they are personally familiar. Thus, letting the public know the candidates early will be a lead start.

Still on TDM's news report, let's not forget that UMNO needs to hold it's own party election by the latest end of June. Hmmm ... will there be a delay around the corner? Perhasp, an Extraordinary General Meeting for another 18 months? Will Pak Lah dare to attempt it when Division heads leaving the hall in midst of the UMNO President's speech? Another 18 months will add into the book of tips of how to prolong the shelf life of "defective good" by 3 years?

TDM is due to launch his latest book at the Perdana leadership foundation office at Presinct 8, Putrajaya at 10:00 pm today, Wednesday. More remarks coming?

Tuesday's Gone: Paper Free Tuesday

Train roll on, on down the line,
Please take me far, away
Now I feel the wind blow outside my door,
Means I'm leaving my woman at home.
Tuesday's gone with the wind.
Well my baby's gone with the wind.

And I don't know oh where I'm going.
I just want to be left alone.
Well, when this train ends I'll try again,
But I'm leaving my woman at home

(Tuesday's gone with the wind.) X 3
My baby's gone with the wind.
Train roll on.
Tuesday's gone.

Train roll on many miles from my home,
See, I'm riding my blues away. Yeah.
Tuesday, you see, she had to be free
But somehow I've got to carry on.
Lord And.

(Tuesday's gone with the wind) X 3
My baby's gone with the wind.

Train roll on.
Ahh on.
Cause my baby's gone.
Im riding my blues day.
Train roll on blue.
(Ride on train.) X 2
Ride my blues day.
Goodbye Tuesday. X2
Ahh Train.

-- Lynyrd Skynyrd

The People's Parliament launched the Paper Free Tuesday campaign Monday as their first step to pressure mainstream newspaper to be more ethical and honest in their news reporting. As former Malay Mail Editor turn blogger, Rocky puts it below:

I read the lies that some editors of this day stuff into their Sunday columns and into the news that their papers publish. They condone plagiarism, use the papers to shamelessly promote their own (or their friends, wives, or friends' wives') business interests, and rewrite reporters' articles to safeguard the personal interests of their political friends and masters.

Over at Mee Rebus Tuesday, I asked veteran reporter, Maria Samad about the practises of newspaper before and today. She said that newspaper like New Straits Times has clearly distinguish itself as "Government" newspaper. On that fact, there is no newspaper, even in the so-called free world, that is void of any political or ideological inclination. At least in the past, she said news and fact are reported as it is for readers to make their own conclusion and judgment.

She had a contrarian view to that of Harris and I concur on newspaper exercising public responsibility. Newspaper cannot be anarchistically free. If the need arise, newspaper could withheld news and articles that will compromise national interest and exercebate inter-racial and inter-faith relations, particularly inter-racial and inter-faith disputes.


As far as my concern on this campaign, I have been boycotting MSM, since the ridiculous and vindictive lawsuit by NST "four" on bloggers Rocky and Jeff Ooi early last year. That lawsuit has no relevant claims but was merely attempt to shut critical voices on the state of journalism in Malaysia.

Frankly, these days my information source is the free online news and socio-political blogs/portal. There is more and balanced news, article, and information online than buying from a single MSM. The MSM portals serve me to provide the leading stories but I'd search for more point of views on a given issue. Unlike the MSM reporting these days, the Internet respects me to not only give me the independence to make my own opinion but access to express it.

More information does not make me confused. By the way, confused or keliru, is the commonly used cliche by insecure politicians trying to psycho the public to fear alterntive views. I am a living example that my "self-confusion" to alternative news will not urn one into murtad or aimless liberal or unrealistic critic. It has actually strengthen my faith and ideological belief. I would believed that it will improves the depth in understanding issues by the masses.

There is more that can be done to improve alternative socio-political information. There need to be effort to agglomorate the blogs to ease and reduce scan time. The number of SoPo bloggers and partially SoPo bloggers is fast rising on the blog cum Directory SoPO Sentral of Malaysia. One blog that has risen to play this sort of role is Suara. Check this one out.

There seemed to be overload of the political party-affiliated information and it needs more independent citizen generated news and opinion. So people, boycott MSM, read blogs! Participate in the comments or even start blogging.

Muhibbah Tag

…on Aqeedah, and Thaipusam and Election Beat

I received an SMS from a friend last Wednesday expressing concern over The Star’s news coverage of the Thaipusam celebration.

It first come across as something similar to a no-Valentine-for-Muslim fatwa debate. Then I realised that it implies Malaysians have little knowledge of races and religions in this country other than their own, thus the tendencies to have perceptive than factual views and opinion of interfaith and inter-racial issues. There is insufficient interaction between the different races and religions that Muhibbah tend to be more form rather than substance.

I wish to express an honest personal view with the hope that it will ignite an honest and friendly discussion on inter-racial integration on the Internet. Subsequently, I would tag (memetag) others, and hope it will snowball into a beneficial discussion. Here goes …

Thaipusam Beat

The said The Star news written by Florence A. Samy and Fazleena Aziz reported the Muhibbah musical beat - kompang, bhangra, and lion dance and urimi melam - accompanying the procession carrying Lord Murugam diety to Batu Caves.

The accompaniment was arranged by the Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan News Vendors Association. As Association chairman Datuk N. Muneandy puts it: “This is our show of support to the devotees and Indian community.”

The Star and the Association believed that it has done a great service to nation building to promote Muhibbah or togetherness. Instead it had inadvertently touched my religious sensitivity.

I am obliged to highlight that the act by the Kampung Batu kompang group can be construed as sacrilegious. Off course, I am assuming the kompang group comprise of Malay Muslims.

The non-Muslim is not at fault for I level blame only on the Muslim reporter for not successfully highlighting to her superior and the ignorance of the kompang group. And, I wouldn’t hold back blame on some politicians’ over exuberance to appease the Indian voters, consequent to the negative political impact of the Hindraf demonstrations.

Thaipusam is purely a religious Hindu affair, thus it is strictly forbidden for Muslims to participate. It is deemed as collusion with deification, an act strictly inconsistent with the monotheistic nature of Islam and the act is syirik or sin of polytheism.

Syirik is the biggest sin in Islam. To quote the Quran, "He forgives all sins, except disbelieving in God". On issues of faith or aqeedah, Muslims are in no position to compromise. When it comes to religion, I rely on the learned and not liberal self interpretation.

Media Ignorance

The religious implication of the Thaipusam act has far more theological implication than consumption of chiuk (pork) and tani (alcohol)by Muslims. Apart from this Thaipusam report, the New Straits Times had put up a distorted Muhibbah image for last Christmas. It displayed a more controversial picture of a Muslim Malay women doing Christmas shopping with a Christian spouse.

These news reports by our English mainstream newspapers – media to the middle to upper class Malaysian - reflect the sad state of racial integration in the country. They promote a liberal view of racial integration and occasionally express critical view of Islamic practices, but the newspapers have a poor understanding in the “religion of the Federation” and tend to based it on their personal perception and judgment.

How could this happen to mainstream newspaper? It could be either negligent or lackadaisical attitude or just plain ignorance. I sure hope there is no cynical intention behind it.

Although Muslim has been unfairly and insensitively stereotyped as myopic or militant in post 9-11, it is not my intention to get even. I do acknowledge that my fellow Muslims can be particular about having non-halal food on their table, but could be negligent in serving beef or meat to non-beef eating or vegetarian Hindu and Buddhist.

The point is Non Muslims and more so Muslims should learn, sensitized and accept each other’s boundaries, even being tolerable is not sufficient. To quote the Yusof Ali translation of the Holy Quran from Sura Kafirun (Sura CIX):

“Say: O ye That reject Faith! I worship not that Which ye worship, Nor will ye worship That which I worship, And I will not worship That which ye have been Wont to worship, Nor will ye worship That which I worship, To you be your Way, And to me mine.”

Muhibbah Perspective

Thats the back"brown" bit and now on Muhibbah ...

Although there is no room for compromise on issue of aqeedah, it does not mean that Muslims do not practise the spirit of Muhibbah with those of the other faith. The spirit of Muhibbah can transcend the boundaries and diversity.

To shed a different light to The Star’s interpretation to the word Muhibbah as togetherness, the Kamus Lengkap described it as goodwill, friendly feeling, feeling of friendship and love. It makes no mention of togetherness.

Article 11 of the Malaysian Constitution guarantees non-Muslims the freedom to practise their religion with the only provision for it to be done in peace and harmony. What religion does not promote peace and harmony? This is a goodwill that we, as a nation and community, have already upheld. Perhaps the PM’s recent announcement of Thaipusam as a public holiday is politically motivated, but it is a friendly support.

Even if Muslims can’t enjoin other Malaysian to celebrate Thaipusam or Wesak, there are other race-based festivals like Chinese New Years to participate. Although it is beyond Muslims to join other Malaysians for prayers at temple and churches, I believe it is fine to make friendly visits for the more cultural and family aspect of the Deepavali and Christmas festivals.

Promoting Muhibbah

The reality is, after 50 years of Independence and more than 150 years or so of co-existence, that many Malaysians hardly know much of Malaysians of other races and religions. What has happened to the song "Muhibbah" taught in schools post Mei 13th, 1969? This underscores the need to promote Muhibbah, beyond politics and government for solution and action, and beyond lip service sloganeering, and rhetorics.


There must be more serious opportunity and effort at the individual level for inter-racial interaction. Yes ... to do more than Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional.

I am reminded of my parent’s racially mixed residential area back in my hometown and there was interaction for Muhibbah to flourish. In the evening, neighbours intermingle to chat with one another. With that there was cooperation like sharing the burden of sending the children to school and tuition, keeping an eye on each other's children and home, and in cases of emergencies. We were even settling neighbourly frictions.

I remembered of one situation during the Sikh and Indian encounter in India in the '80s. The excitement spread to our neighbourhood. My father and our Chinese neighbours came forward to calm and convince the feuding Indians and single Sikh family to leave their motherland affair behind. They are now Malayians and not Indian nationals.

In one situation that I personally got involved, one Malay neighbour of Arab descendents was burning firecrackers beyond midnight on Hari Raya night. I figured he was doing a tit-for-tat to his next door Chinese neighbour for their customary midnight firecracker on CNY. I requested them to quit for it is not our culture. And, I reminded them that we should give the Chinese neighbours leeway to practise their culture and they have been reasonable, just a token 5 minutes.

Come any festivals, my mother would be preparing muruku or cookies for her close neighbours. In return, they would chip in for our Hari Raya. Before relatives come to visit, our non Muslim neighbours are the earliest to pay respect on Hari Raya. For any wedding and function, we ensure there are non beef and vegetarian dishes for them.

While Muhibbah starts by the form of the many races celebrating festivities together and neighbourly niceties, it needs more inter-racial interactions. Generally, there is racial interaction at the middle to higher echelon of society but it has not translated sufficiently enough down to the masses.

To provide substance to the spirit of Muhibbah, segregation and stereotyping by occupation, schools, residential area, sports, recreation, and work place must be minimised. For instance, hiring Malay should not be restricted only to procure Government jobs.

In addition, we should remove any prejudicial stereotyping of other races. The common one being Malay as lazy, Chinese as self-centred cheats and Indians as untrustworthy.

The common grouse among non Bumiputera that seemed to be the stumbling block in Bumi-non Bumi integration is the "NEP"-type policies. I'm not oblivious to the complains. However, it is more complex and too long drawn for individuals to take up. What do we do in the mean time?

I heard "him" promised a fairer and more equitable "NEP" formula but after more than four years, why am I waiting? Lets's ponder over what we can do as individuals.

The first and most effective place to promote Muhibbah must be in schools. From the first day children get out of their home, they must be exposed to multiracialism and build personal interaction with other races. There must be a political will to break this barrier among children.

Personally, I like to see the end of vernacular language schools, Islamic religious-type school (actually teaching mainstream syllabus), and limit the number of Government boarding schools. For religious/theological schools, I guess it is theoretically multiracial and thats a boundary we have to accept.

For a start, boarding schools must be strictly for social elevation for the lower economic class through education. Middle-class urban Malays have abused this facility. They must begin to take charge in the up-bringing of their teenage children. Too much money is spent building residential schools. I strongly suggest a fair quota for poor non-Malays.


For communications, we must improve and encourage the use of the National language for it is THE language to unite ALL Malaysians. One set-back is the insecurity of non Malay races. My simplistic solution is to have the languages of non-Malays seriously taught as elective. I would have enrolled if I am still in school. Then, it is the reluctance of the middle to upper class Malaysians, usually English or western educated. That we have to awake them from their anglophilic fantasy.

The part involving the school system needs Government's political will but we can, at the individual level, actually begin to do something about it. If anyone saw the recent documentary of the campaign by the Naked Chef to change the diet of school canteens in Britain on Astro's Travel Channel, we can emulate that. We do not need to take the political avenue all the time. Remember Nurin Alert?

The Tag

In summary, I have touched and proposed to promote Muhibbah at the individual level by promoting Malaysians to learn more of Malaysian from other races and religions, respect the boundaries, and celebrate the diversity. I believe we need to do more at the school level and promote the use of National language. There must be a serious attempt by Malaysians to remove segregation and stereotyping, promote interaction, develop inter-racial friendship, and remove prejudice.

To promote a discussion on this subject, I like to tag Nuraina, Galadriel, Bakaq, Desi and Soon Li Tsin. They could discuss an aspect of Muhibbah – what and why – and offer how we as individuals can promote Muhibbah. Try not to be too political and blame Government mode.

From there on, they could tag at least 2 others. Be sure to alert the bloggers you have tagged. Whoever participate, drop me a comment so we could keep track of the tag.