Democracy is shining in the dark

Bridget Welsh

Largely driven by ordinary citizens, often connected through the social media, Southeast Asia is experiencing important and substantive political change.

In this year of the Arab Spring, attention has centered on developments in the Middle East. With street protests and elections, amidst violence, there is no question that the region has experienced a profound political upheaval.

Yet, 2011 has been extremely significant in Southeast Asia as well. The ripples of change are here. Largely driven by ordinary citizens, often connected through the social media, Southeast Asia is experiencing important and substantive political change, with the balance clearly in favour of greater empowerment of citizens, human dignity and promise.

The year the government repeatedly changed its mind

MI

A growing public demand for accountability forced the government this year to make many about-faces and policy U-turns, characterising what critics would say was a weak administration but supporters might call responsive management. And voters will get to eventually decide if they want to punish or reward Barisan Nasional (BN) when Datuk Seri Najib Razak calls elections.

The Malaysian Insider reviews some of the year’s notable changes in position and direction.

Bersih 2.0 rally

Bersih protesters making their way through Jalan Sultan in the capital city on July 9

The first Bersih rally in 2007 was credited with shrinking the ruling coalition’s voter support in Election 2008 that led to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s early exit from government and his successor, Najib, appeared keen to avoid a repeat. 

Will BN win the 13th GE?

Selena Tay

It certainly has the edge but the big question is why is Najib running scared of calling for the polls.

Yes, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is too afraid of holding the 13th general election. He is afraid that BN will not win, and in reality he has no confidence of winning.

Otherwise, why would he not immediately call for the polls to be held the moment after he had presented the Budget on Oct 7, 2011?

After all, it is blindingly obvious that the civil service, the national institutions, the rural folk and those in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak are supporting him. With this so-called overwhelming support, it is indeed amazing that he still lacks the courage to call for the general election.

Weak education system eroding talent

Stephanie Sta Maria

A powerful driving force behind the talent outflow is a waning education system that has fallen short of meeting youthful aspirations.

The state of Malaysia’s public education system has never been as insistent a topic of conversation as it is today. It is hence unfortunate that most discussions on it are often fraught with sorrow, contempt or frustration.

Even more unfortunate is that those who hold court over these discourses are predominantly baby boomers. Not the Generation X who only just escaped the series of education policy flip-flops or the Millenials who lived through those policies.

But this has less to do with the latter’s apathy or oblivion than the fact that a significant number of them are either no longer residing in the country or in the midst of migration procedures.

Equality Act better than Race Relations Act

Kua Kia Soong

What has the abolition of the Internal Security Act to do with race relations?

One wonders if the BN government is capable of reform. Soon after the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s promises of reform recently, we have seen the new ISA arrests and the new Peaceful Assembly Bill.

Now they have announced the introduction of a Race Relations Act in the coming parliamentary meeting as a replacement for the Internal Security Act. They have also announced that there will be an “Anti-Terrorism Act” to replace the ISA.

What exactly have they got in mind? Who will bear the brunt of this new legislation and what has the abolition of the Internal Security Act to do with race relations?

January 9, 2012: The start of the Najib riots

Nawawi Mohamad

It is true. A back-to-the-wall Umno is really mulling the possibility of instigating street riots not just in Kuala Lumpur but in every major city, including Sabah and Sarawak, two key states which they cannot afford to lose to the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Scare-mongering and stirring up street riots has long been a policy tool for Umno, which has ruled the country since 1957.

In fact, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s father was accused of masterminding the May 13, 1969 racial riots in Kuala Lumpur, which enabled him to seize power and oust the then premier, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Awang Selamat of the Umno-owned Utusan newspaper has been trying to instigate fear that Anwar’s supporters will riot soon after the Sodomy II verdict is announced on January 9, 2012.

Christians must fight the Good Fight: Declare war on Ibrahim Ali and Umno!

John Kashuerin

Perkasa has done it again. This self-proclaimed Malay rights group is often slammed as being racist thugs from the lunatic fringe. Now, Malaysian Christians must be asking themselves what sort of illiterates or semi-literates form its membership.

Obviously, its founder president Ibrahim Ali must have an extreme aversion to thinking, logic, rational discourse or conceding when others have been proven right. He and other Perkasa leaders are addicted to lies and speaking from the rear, to put it politely.

This is the 21st Century! The age of the information-rich Global Village ushered in by the Internet through globalization and the digital economy.

As often as Ibrahim Ali and his goons routinely distort our history, it’s important that good men and women speak out just as often against these evil-doers in our country.

Pakatan in a state of preparedness for GE

Teoh El Sen

Najib may be looking for a ‘winnable’ election date but one election strategist says that the timing of it would not matter to the opposition.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak may be rethinking an early 13th general election date to contain and put a lid on the controversies plaguing the BN-government.

But PAS national youth elections director Mohd Sany Hamzan said irrespective of the timing of the election, Pakatan Rakyat is confident of having an advantage over BN.

“I don’t think Najib can afford to hold it as early as March with issues such as the National Feedlot Centre and the Auditor-General’s report still being played up by the opposition.

Third Force to encircle Umno

Awang Abdillah

The current political landscape in the country is fertile for all minority parties in Barisan Nasional or otherwise to opt for a direct coalition system.

After the 2008 general election, what we are witnessing are structural changes in the Malaysian political landscape: the emergence of a two-party system in Malaysia – Umno the main component of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, and the opposition pact led by PKR and PAS.

But this is unlike the two-party system in some countries such as the US, where either one of the two parties can win an election and form the government and the other automatically becomes the opposition.

In Malaysia, the dual party system is unique. Firstly, it is a Malay-based two-party system and secondly, neither party can form a government on its own without forming a coalition with the non-Malay minority parties.

Najib We are not stupid

Selena Tay

As the goverment continues to ‘make don’t know’ about the string of corruption scandals, it is time for Malaysians to make a firm stand.

Is the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) going to pieces? That seems to be what is going on as corruption and cronyism still rules the day.

Recall these instances: Umno and the Feedlot-cattle-caper, MCA and PKFZ and MIC with the Maika shares issue. And yet the culprits involved are going around smiling and thumbing up their noses at the rakyat as if to say “So what?”.

They go around acting in an arrogant manner best described in Malaysian English or Manglish slang as “make don’t know”. This shows that they also “make don’t know” about the Government Transformation Programme or the Key Performance Index (KPI). Indeed, the KPI Minister Koh Tsu Koon must have very little clout as many BN politicians seems to have failed their KPI.

Disappointing ‘performance’ by politicians

Stephanie Sta Maria

A lecturer from the Monash University rated our politicians’ performance in 2011 at 59 points which he said was one mark below a Credit in the university’s examination system.

This piece was originally intended as a salute to parliamentarians who in the past year have given Malaysians a good enough reason to root for their survival in the 13th general election pipped to be held in the first quarter of 2012.

These individuals would be those who have tirelessly chased down both high profile as well as bread and butter issues.

Those who tossed out ideas, opinions and recommendations that were startling in their boldness but instrumental in setting the nation on the right track.

‘It’s really unbelievable; Taib’s family controls Sarawak’

Jessica Dacey

Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund’s revelations of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s billion dollar business empire is not going to let-up in 2012.

After two decades of environmental campaigning for Malaysia’s Penan tribe (in Sarawak) the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) is stepping up its fight against local political corruption.

BMF remains one of the few non-Malaysian organisations still campaigning on behalf of the Penan, an indigenous people living in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests in Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Two-thirds of its forests have been destroyed in recent years for logging or to build palm oil plantations.

Now the BMF is targeting the political powers behind these developments.

The choice of young Malaysians will be ABU

Moaz Nair

UMNO is singing their own praises of having over 3 million members but little do they realise that not all these members would vote for them or for that matter come out to vote in the next general election.

In politics, numbers can sometimes be deceiving, but at times quite convincing. Political parties often claim to have a big number of members and supporters thus the illusion is that they will win big in an election. More often than not, flying their own kite is but a political scheme to delude the people. Even if they have the numbers it is not always going to be the case that these members would vote for their party in an election.

There can be other pertinent variables that will determine members’ trend of voting, such as displeasure with the performance of the party, sabotage or even their lackadaisical attitude towards casting their votes. It is thus just too imaginary for any political party to assert that all members will vote for their own party.

Did not vote for BN

Umno’s politics of self-delusion

CT Ali

Even the Malays are now fed up and revolted by Umno’s lies, deceit and hypocrisy.

We recognised what Umno has been telling us in the recent past – hypocrisy, and we are revolted by it. Umno espoused character and the moral high ground and invoked the name of Allah in their search for causes to justify their existence.

They talked about focus and the need for discipline if they were to win the fight against their “enemies” – failing to understand that they themslves are not disciplined when people are not looking.

And what does Umno do when people are not looking? Steal, plunder and pillage our country’s wealth. The Umno general assembly might as well have been a lesson in hypocrisy and the politics of self-delusion.

The delusional hubris that accompanied the past 12 general election victories seems to have afflicted Umno’s ability to face reality.

Pundits’ crystal ball shows snap polls

G Vinod

This story was first published on Jan 31, 2011, just after two by-election victories for BN – in Tenang and Galas. Almost 11 months later, we still have political pundits continuing to predict that the general election will be held imminently, in the next six months at most.

In this last week of 2011, we will be re-publishing selected stories carried in FMT throughout this year. We find that these stories still remain relevant in the present context.

The ruling coalition is now riding on the wave of popular support while its rival is sinking under the weight of infighting.

And analysts predict that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will strike while the iron is hot and call for a snap general election in the next six months.

Empowering Malaysians

Awang Abdillah

 

People-backed reforms are urgently needed to stop Malaysia from becoming a failed democracy.

In a true democratic country, the people hold the ultimate political power. Hence any display or exercise of such power in the open is only to reaffirm such rights.

The Bersih rally on Nov 10, 2007 and of Bersih 2.0 on  July 9, 2011 successfully broke the barrier of fear and doubts among Malaysians – people’s power vis-a-vis the power of the Malaysian undemocratic government.

Led by S Ambiga, the lady champion of people’s power, Bersih proved to all Malaysians that the myth of the ‘Barisan Nasional power’ was false.

Mahathir, Taib birds of a feather locked in death embrace

K Suresh

Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, held in universal contempt and therefore needs no introduction, has characteristically come to Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s defence time-and-again in helping to fend off the incessant attacks against the latter for his unexplained and stupendous wealth. Taib needs no introduction either and for obvious reasons.

Simplistic as usual, Mahathir has in recent days declared Taib innocent as otherwise the authorities would have thrown the book at him. He attributes the stepped up attacks against Taib to the imminent 13^thGeneral Election which seems to always around the corner since the last two years.

Dr M’s secret files

The defence of Taib comes after Mahathir declared that he had never heard of Projek Mahathir in Sabah to place illegal immigrants on the electoral rolls in the state with MyKads which may be either genuine – but the holder not being entitled to it — or bogus. In the latter case, the details of the holder are not on record with the National Registration Department unlike in the former.

The protester and civil disobedience

David Tneh

What would life be if there is no dissent and no one takes up the causes of the minority, the marginalized or even the masses?

Recent events such as Bersih 2.0, the Bar Council’s march to protest the Peaceful Assembly Bill (PAB) 2011, and the students demonstrating against the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) amendment, have spawned a debate on whether civil disobedience and the rule of law can co-exist in a democratic system such as ours.

A recent write up by a senior lawyer in an English daily opined that this debate is irreconcilable at its heart and civil disobedience usually constitutes a minority who impose their will on the law abiding majority.

The writer also argued that the act of civil disobedience, if it goes unpunished, would lead to chaos and anarchy in society.

How the EC is in cahoots with BN

Selena Tay

Indelible ink notwithstanding, the 13th general election is going to be the biggest and dirtiest election battle in history.

In an effort to lend an air of credibility to itself, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that indelible ink will be used in the upcoming 13th general election.

But there is no reason to jump for joy just yet. A lot of hanky-panky can still go on undetected right until the day of polling itself. Listed below are several examples:

1. Name not in the voter rolls and therefore unable to vote – any perfectly eligible voter whose name is not in the voter rolls is totally helpless to do anything about it. They can lodge a complaint of course but by then the results of the polls are already secured.

The ugly face of money politics is back

Jeswan Kaur

Najib’s financial handouts show that BN and money politics go hand in hand.

It’s raining money in Malaysia. And the man who is opening the purse strings is none other than Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

This is nothing new. Everytime an election is round the corner, financial aid is given to all and sundry. The one-off handouts is an attempt to make the rakyat think favourably towards Barisan Nasional.

First, he targetted the students.Najib decided to give an estimated 1.3 million students in private and local higher learning institutions book vouchers worth RM200.

While primary and secondary school students have been offered RM100 cash allowance. And beginning next year, education in government primary and secondary schools in the country will be provided at no cost.

Christmas and New Year Message from Baru Bian

A Time to Give

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

                                                                                 John 3:16

As we take time out from our busy schedules to celebrate the birth of Christ, I would like to reflect on the essence of Christmas and what it means to Christians who give thanks for the gift of Christ from God our Father. The biblical quotation above captures perfectly the message of Christmas – it is about giving. Just as God gave his Son to us, we too, out of love for our neighbours and friends, should think about, and practise giving to our family and friends, and our brothers and sisters in this State, and even in the country.

The 1997-98 Malaysian economic crisis: A mess of Mahathir’s making

Ismail Dahlan

Mahathir Mohamed has been in the news recently denying that he took loans from the World Bank. He also offered to swear, unsolicited, on the Quran that he had done no such thing.

Presented with documentary evidence that Malaysia had taken a multiple of loans from the World Bank, Mahathir responded that he had not personally asked for the loans. He did not however, say he was unaware of the loans.

As Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years, Mahathir would like to be accountable only for those actions which he had ‘personally’ done. Clearly, Mahathir has a different understanding of the word ‘Accountability’ than the rest of the world. Although it may very well explain the culture of irresponsibility that so afflicts Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional today.

Najib is desperate for answers

Awang Abdillah

Malays are convinced that there are too many things not right about Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s leadership abilities.

In the 2008 general election, Barisan Nasional (BN) won 140 seats compared to 198 in the 2004 polls. Of the 140 seats, Sabah and Sarawak contributed 54 seats, giving the BN coalition a simple majority.

If you do not count Sabah and Sarawak, then Peninsular Malaysia only won 86 seats in the 2008 election.

MIC and Gerakan only managed to retain three and two seats respectively while MCA won a face-saving 15 seats. In the 2004 general election, MCA won 31, MIC took nine and Gerakan 10 seats.

What was obvious is that BN component parties in the Peninsula took a heavy beating in 2008 compared to in 2004.

The tragedy that is Umno

Mariam Mokhtar

Umno is not for the Malays. Umno exists only so that its leaders will thrive to the detriment of the normal, ordinary Malay.

Umno is full of Malays who are afraid to say “No”. “No” to corruption. “No” to power abuse. “No” to seeking as well as giving patronage.

Perhaps one can add, “No” to Mahathir, “No” to Najib.

Umno has been in power for over 54 years. Not all Malays wish to be in Umno, but Umno does need all of the Malays for it to be a potent force. Today, Umno refuses to accept that Malays are abandoning Umno.

Around the time of independence, Umno may have had people of quality within its ranks. Today, it is alleged that loyalty is determined by money. Is that what Umno think the Malays are proud of? That their allegiance is easily bought? Umno strips Malays of self-worth and self-respect.

Taib locked in death embrace

Joe Fernandez

In Mahathir’s case, as with Taib, there is no punishment as yet devised for the enormity of their crimes against the state and people.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who needs no introduction, has characteristically come to Taib Mahmud’s defence in helping to fend off the incessant attacks against the latter for his unexplained and stupendous wealth. Taib needs no introduction either and for obvious reasons.

Simplistic as usual, Mahathir has declared Taib innocent as otherwise the authorities would have thrown the book at him. He attributes the stepped up attacks against Taib to the imminent 13th general election which seems to be always around the corner since the last two years.

The defence of Taib comes after Mahathir declared that he had never heard of “Projek Mahathir” in Sabah to place illegal immigrants on the electoral roll in the state with MyKads which may be either genuine – but the holder not being entitled to it – or bogus. In the latter case, the details of the holder are not on record with the National Registration Department unlike in the former.

Sarawak’s BN in dilemma !

Joseph Tawie

Defiant Mas Gading MP Tiki Lafe’s insistence on defending his seat will benefit the opposition.

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) will not give up its Mas Gading parliamentary seat. It will instead nominate a new candidate for the constituency.

The Mas Gading parliamentary seat is currently held by Dr Tiki Lafe who was formerly a SPDP vice-president.

Lafe, who is a member of the infamous SPDP 5 who defied party president William Mawan, was stripped off his post recently.

Mawan today confirmed that the party will be fielding another candidate for the Mas Gading seat in the next general election.

Umno-BN (1956 to 2011): The kleptocratic government

Nawawi Mohamad

For 54 years UMNO/BN has been exploiting our resources both natural and man-made.

Water

We have a lot of rain and many rivers but still we have water shortages and many villages still have no piped water and for those who have piped water it is of poor quality because it is tainted with high ferric compound and very fine blackish dirt. Is it impossible to provide hundred percent to the entire nation wherever it may be after 54 year of independence and being able to send an angkasawan (astronaut) to the international space station? Has not Malaysia been portrayed by UMNO-BN as everything “Boleh” (within reach)?

The UMNO-BN government has on several occasions warned us of the possible water crisis and that huge amounts of money is needed to transfer raw water from Pahang to Selangor. Melaka is also getting its raw water supply from the Muar River in Johore and Sungai Linggi in Negeri Sembilan. But is it really necessary to spend huge amount of money to transfer water from one state to another? Does it mean that the UNO/BN government has admitted failure when even after the privatization of our water treatment and supply system, we are going to face a water crisis?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Sim Kwang Yang

A turbulent year in brief review

ONCE again we have come to the end of an old year as we brace ourselves for the beginning of another new year.

Will BN recapture Selangor?

Selena Tay

The situation is quite dire for Pakatan as it has taken no steps whatsoever to counter Umno’s lies and propaganda.

There have been grassroots reports that Umno party workers have been campaigning in the Malay rural heartland in Selangor by telling the rural folk two simple lies. The first is that if Pakatan Rakyat wins the 13th general election, DAP will “Christianise” the country and turn Malaysia into a republic like Singapore.

The second big lie spread by the Umno campaigners is that PKR’s revelations on the (National) Feedlot (Corporation) issue are all baseless. Of course, all these are falsehoods by Umno campaigners and it reveals that Umno’s desperation has already come to the fore.

Nevertheless, this is a very effective two-pronged attacking method employed by Umno in capturing the hearts and minds of the Malays so that they will give their vote to Barisan Nasional (BN).

BN man pockets RM1m in Salcra dividends

Joseph Tawie

While hundreds of Salcra landowners have seen pittance in dividends, a local politician has laughed all the way to the bank.

A prominent Barisan Nasional (BN) politician in Bau, some 150km from here, has allegedly received at least RM1 million in dividends from Sarawak Land Custody and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra).Disclosing this today, a PKR Mas Gading division leader, Boniface Willy Tumek, said: “He is the single biggest recipient of dividends from Salcra’s Bratak and Undan estates in Bau.“It means that the BN politician has a big acreage of land in these two estates to be able to receive RM1 million.

“It means he has been buying up land at low cost from poor people when they are at their weakest point.”

Who to hold torch for Pakatan if Anwar jailed: will Umno be annihilated ?

Moaz Nair

Malaysians have taken in that the Pakatan Pact has grown larger than Anwar’s image. With or without Anwar’s physical presence, Pakatan is on the road to make a big impact in the next general election, expected to be held in early 2012. Conviction of Anwar will assist the Opposition make deeper inroads into the voters’ psyche. If this is properly strategized, Pakatan can win big in the next general election.

January 9, 2012 will determine Anwar’s fate in the court of law. Guilty or not guilty, Anwar’s fervour and charm will keep haunting Barisan Nasional. If Anwar is convicted, the Pakatan torch – according to many political observers – will be passed on to astute Nurul Izzah, his daughter. To UMNO and BN this will be nightmarish. The sympathy for Anwar is then going to help the Opposition more and Nurul will gradually measure up to be made the political icon for Pakatan. The young generation, in particular, is bound to give unparalleled support to Nurul.

Taib probe: Swiss govt won’t reveal details

FMT Staff

An international NGO is disappointed with the Swiss government, saying that it’s sending out a wrong message with regard to its banking policy.

Looks like there’s no quick solution to international calls for disclosures on Taib Mahmud’s wealth, believed to be stashed or invested in other countries.

Swiss environmental and human rights campaigners were dismayed at the Swiss government’s latest stand not to disclose its findings of its investigation into Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s secret bank accounts in Switzerland.

Yesterday, Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf refused, in Parliament, to disclose whether Taib had assets in Swiss banks, citing the country’s banking secrecy laws.

Suspicious Secrecy From the Swiss!

Sarawak Report

Snowy silence from the Swiss won’t shut up the corruption campaigners!

Taib did not get the response that he wanted from the Swiss Government yesterday.  But he did buy some time.

In answer to questions from MP Maya Graf in the Bern Federal Parliament, the Swiss Finance Minister, Evelyn Widmer Schlum, fell back on traditional Swiss secrecy!

The country’s financial regulators FINMA would not be able to publicise the findings from their investigations into Taib’s assets, Widmer-Schlumpf explained, owing to Swiss confidentiality laws.

She announced that FINMA has ”no possibility, nor the right“ to disclose any information on its findings to the public. Rather, it ”will inform the directly affected persons only“ on the results of its investigations.

Taib hits the roof at ‘daring’ reporter

Joseph Tawie

It appears the chief minister is not entirely unaffected by the allegations of corruption against him.

Is Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, whose US$1.46 billion wealth made global media headlines, beginning to feel the heat at home?

Already stacked against him are a series of local and international reports of alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Topping the list is the most recent and globally published report submitted by a group of international and Malaysian non-governmental organisations on the alleged corruption committed by him.

The allegations, it appears, are affecting him after all if his violent reaction to a reporter’s question last weekend was any indication.

Another Lie by BN’s Minister

Malaysiakini 

Bank Negara did not contact us, says GFI

Washington-based think-tank Global Financial Integrity dismisses remarks by Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim that it is in touch with Bank Negara.The Global Financial Integrity has dismissed remarks by a deputy minister that the Washington-based think-tank is working with Malaysia’s central bank on the issue of the nation’s staggering illicit capital flight.”While I wish that I could say that we’d been in touch with Bank Negara, it is not true. They have not reached out to us, and we have not spoken with them,” said GFI communications director Clark Gascoigne (left) in an email response toMalaysiakini.