SPM 2006 Exam Result: 16 A-1s - Could She Be THE TOP Student in Malaysia ?

Read Here full article

The Education Ministry has said there is NO single “top” Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidate.

But Yeo Jie Ming, from Bukit Mertajam High School, scored SIXTEEN A-1s (16 A- 1 s).


Yeo Jie Ming
She scored As in Bahasa Melayu, English, Moral Studies, History, Mathematics, Science, English Literature, Additional Mathematics, Commerce, Principles of Accounts, Basic Economy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English for Science and Technology, and Sports Science.

She also score 1A for English 1119.

Her childhood dream is to become a CARDIOLOGIST

She said, " My mind is focused on doing well in my studies so that I can take up Medicine. I hope to get a national scholarship to study at Cambridge University, in England.”

Jie Ming's father, Dr Yeo Ting Chuan, is a paediatrician , and her mother, Dr Goh Peng Peng,is a GP (general practitioner)

“My elder brother Tian Ming, who is pursuing a Medical degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, also encourages me,” she said.

Jie Ming, who jogs and bowls in her free time, said she hoped to convince her parents to reward her with a trip to Switzerland.

Asked for her advice to other students, she said: “Constant revision and paying attention in class are important if you want to do well.”

Mongolian Woman's ( Altantuya Shariibuu) Murder: Justice MUST Be Done and Be SEEN to be Done

From Susan Loone's Blog: Read Here and HERE

Flash Back: Read here earlier posting on the murder of Altantuya Shariibuu in Malaysia

READ HERE - Guide to the Facts on Altantuya 'Murder Case' (a fairly comprehensive compilation of media reports/cuttings on the case)

Read HERE Background of Razak Baginda, one of the accused in the murder case

Read here related article on Malaysia Today
Excerpts:

"...The Razak Baginda murder trial will not augur well for Najib (Deputy Prime Minister).

Evidence that Najib issued a letter asking the Immigration Department to issue the murdered girl a visa is in the possession of those who want to send Najib into early retirement.

Evidence that Najib, Razak and the murdered girl made an overseas trip together is also in these same hands.

This evidence can of course be quashed if Najib makes a voluntary exit. Then again, if he resists, this evidence can be adduced in court and Najib may risk more than just his job as Deputy Prime Minister.

One thing that would be most difficult to explain is the meeting the Chief Inspector and Razak Baginda, now both facing murder charges, had in Najib’s office where the former admitted he had killed six people before this. In spite of this confession he was still engaged to assist Razak Baginda in solving his problem with the Mongolian girl. This, plus the overseas trip they made together and Najib’s letter to the Immigration Department point to a conspiracy at the highest level ..... " Read here for more

CLICK HERE: SEE VIDEO IMAGES/PHOTOS AND A SHORT STORY OF ALTANTUYA SHARIIBUU'S LIFE. (And a short video clip of her sick, young child , Atanshagai, 3 years old AT THE END OF THE VIDEO CLIP,) - or, if unable to view video clip, click HERE

This is what her father, Setev Shariibuu, said, in his own words:

“(Altantuya) is a nice and young Mongolian girl who got killed by cruel murderers, terminating her young life.

She was born as a dear child to her moderate parents, and like other children, she grew up, by spending ordinary days, day after day.

She grew up playing with her sister, who is so much like her, as birds of a feather.

The picture of the girl sitting on the lap of her Russian teacher in the remote Chimkent city of the Soviet Union shows the beginning of her educational path.

It was in the secondary school of Leningrad city that she began to get acquainted with the great history of humankind.

“By giving birth to her first child, she became a mother to experience happiness of motherhood, although her livelihood burden increased as well.

Besides bringing up her son she strived to learn Russian, English and Chinese.

Her master’s, bachelor’s degrees and diplomas in Chinese Language and many other certificates bear witness to her increasing knowledge, certify her good command of those languages.

But life is full of surprises, and to overcome all possible difficulties in life, she often overloaded herself with work, trying to repay her parents goodness, to rear her children and educate her sister.

She had a rare nature, she did not begrudge her friends and sacrificed herself for the sake of others.

But her lifespan was limited, yet the success she achieved in this 20+ years of life, will make you think, that she lived her life, racing to be ahead of time.

“Later, Altantuya gave birth to her second child, and put in enormous effort to bring him up as a healthy boy. This is a witness of what an extremely good mother and unique good-hearted girl she was.

The Mongolian girl who departed from this life so sensationally, deeply distressed her parents, orphaned her dear children and reminded the world of the realities of modern life.

She will be remembered by all honest people, and frankly she will serve God after her death”.
- Stev Shariibuu

Commentary by Susan Loone in her blog

"...The only stories we hear about Altantuya Shariibuu were the ones told by the police, by Abdul Razak Baginda in his affidavit, and by the local newspapers.

The only pictures we have seen about the young mother of two, were the passport photos in the local newspapers, always depicted alongside her alleged murderer, whenever her case had news value.

Curious about her, I traced her life back to the exotic land of Mongolia, where she hailed from, and tried to understand the woman behind all the sleazy, unsubstantiated stories. It was not an easy task.

I tried speaking to her father, Mr. Setev Shariibuu, personally, but he speaks very little English.

He promised, through friends in Ulanbataar, that he would send some information about his daughter. After several weeks of waiting, her father, finally sent this video clip to me.

In his agony, and to preserve whatever memory he has of his beloved daughter, Shariibuu put together several pictures of Altantuya, followed by a brief narration about her life.

There is also a short video clip about her sick, young boy - Atanshagai, 3 years old, whose DNA is being sought now, by experts who want to determine whose child he is.

I would like to request my dear readers to help ease the pain of the Shariibuu family by leaving some words of comfort in the comments section. Click HERE to go to Susan Loone's 'Comments' Section on her Blog

These words will be compiled (by Susan Loone) and sent to Altantuya’s family as a gesture of goodwill, from Malaysians, who feel their pain and empathise with the Mongolians, who though so far away, now have a lasting bond with us, because of Altantuya.

We, too, have mothers, daughters, sisters, wives and girlfriends.

And it is simply too heart-wrenching to have not only been shocked with news about her death, but to be left wondering if the late Altantuya will receive the justice she so rightly deserves....."
-Susan Loone

Sniffer Dogs Against Optical Disks (DVD, CD, VCD) Piracy at Malaysian Custom CheckPoints

From ZNET News: Read HERE



Malaysia deployed two sniffer dogs in its battle against music and movie piracy on Tuesday, becoming the first country in the world to use the animals to hunt for disks of illegal recordings hidden in cargo.

Malaysia would try out the dogs for a month, carrying out searches at border posts, in cargo hangars and storage centers to see where they functioned best before the government made a decision on setting up a permanent dog unit.

Two female Black Labradors, Flo and Lucky, demonstrated their technique by sniffing through piles of sealed cartons in an air cargo hangar and then signaling their handler about a suspect package by sitting down in front of it.

"It's cost-effective, and in terms of time, it's very effective too," said Domestic Trade Minister Shafie Apdal, adding that the dogs took only 10 minutes to check boxes that security officials would have needed a day to plow through.

"The arrival and deployment of Lucky and Flo will make Malaysia the first country in the world to test the capability of dogs in detecting optical disks in hidden compartments or shipments," he said at Malaysia's biggest air-cargo center, in Sepang outside Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia, which figures on a U.S. watchlist on piracy, has dramatically stepped up efforts to rein in copyright pirates as it negotiates a free-trade pact with the United States.

The trial is a joint effort of the Malaysian authorities and the Motion Picture Association, which groups six major Hollywood movie companies.

The MPA has spent $17,000 on the dogs, including eight months of training to detect the chemicals used in optical discs, one official said.

"No one's ever trained dogs to sniff polycarbonate before," Mike Ellis told reporters. "These dogs were taken from scratch and trained how to sniff these chemicals."

Trained by a handler in Northern Ireland who usually teaches dogs to find bombs, Lucky and Flo are both 3 years old and can find, but cannot distinguish between, CDs and DVDs, burned and replicated disks, or legitimate and pirate disks.

"However, the dogs will be valuable in locating disks being shipped in unlikely or unregistered containers," the MPA said.

The grouping estimates that copyright theft cost its members about $1.2 billion in lost revenue in the Asia-Pacific region last year, a fraction of annual worldwide losses of $6 billion.

In 2006, Malaysian authorities seized 25 VCD replicating machines capable of turning out 87 million pirated disks a year.

Handler Dave Mayberry said Lucky and Flo would start work alongside Malaysian officials on Wednesday, despite feeling the heat after moving from temperatures of 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit in Britain to 96.8 degrees in Malaysia.

"They have a very thick coat for the cold weather at home," he said. "The longer they stay here, the thinner that will get."

Appeal Court to NON-Muslims : Go to Islamic Sharia Court to Resolve Family Quarrels With Your Muslim Spouses

Read here article from REUTERS by Clarence Fernandez

Excerpts: Read here for more

"... (The Appeal Court) told non-Muslims to approach Islamic religious courts to resolve quarrels with Muslim spouses over family matters.

The Appeal court also said a Muslim could seek to convert underage children WITHOUT the consent of the non-Muslim spouse.

Two of the judges were Muslim and the third, an ethnic Indian.

The ethnic Indian judge disagreed with his colleagues, saying sharia courts only had authority over Muslims, and changing that position would infringe Malaysia's constitution.

(Read here Malaysian Federal Constitution, see Article 4)

The move appears to give Muslims a privileged status over other Malaysians, stoking the latter's fears about what they see as an erosion of their religious freedoms.

The decision has stirred the concern of religious and rights groups.

(This is a case of) an ethnic Indian woman fighting her businessman husband for custody of their toddler sons after he converted to Islam last year.

"It is a gross injustice to ask Hindus to submit to the jurisdiction of the sharia court," said A. Vaithilingam, chief of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam, which speaks for Hindus, who are mostly ethnic Indians and form about 8 percent of the population.

"The sharia court administers Islamic canonical law, to which Hindus do NOT subscribe," Vaithilingam said in a statement.

"This is not an unprecedented position and the federal court has recognised it before," said Haris Ibrahim, one of the lawyers representing the wife. "Beyond that the pronouncements of the other two judges are really somewhat baffling."

Haris said his client wanted to take her case to Malaysia's top court, the Federal Court, if it agreed to hear it.

The decision also drew fire from rights groups, which said many non-Muslim women whose spouses convert, or plan to convert, to Islam worry about issues such as divorce and maintenance.

"These apprehensions are well-founded as the law governing such situations is unclear, inadequate or has been interpreted inaccurately or unjustly," a group of six Malaysian women's and social organisations said in a statement.

Malaysia's inter-faith council, which groups Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs and Taoists among others, is meeting within a week to hammer out plans to oppose the move, he told Reuters.

LEGAL AMBIGUITY

Many non-Muslims fear legal ambiguities could subject them to the jurisdiction of Islamic courts, but many Muslims see efforts to settle those uncertainties as an attack on religious courts.

Wider coverage in the mainstream media of sensitive topics such as conversion, apostasy and Malay rights has stirred tension in the Muslim community by provoking fears that it represents an attempt to erode the distinctive place of Islam in Malaysia.

Non-Muslims became unsure of their rights in 2005, when state Islamic authorities gave a former soldier a Muslim burial against the wishes of his Hindu widow, and the High Court said it had no jurisdiction over such religious matters.

In a similar case last December Islamic authorities had a legal tug-of-war with the Christian widow of a Muslim convert, but dropped their claim to his body when faced with evidence he was not a Muslim. ..."

Must Read Article: The Future of Malaysian Chinese

From Opinion Asia -Read HERE

by

Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob
(Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob is a broadcast journalist and trained lawyer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Quote:

"....The Chinese community in Malaysia has reached a crossroad - one that will determine its future role in the country.

....the older generation and the current generation of Chinese are intent to force a change in the way their country treats them.

The undercurrent of discontent is now so evident that.... two out of every three, or sixty percent of eligible Chinese voters would vote an Opposition Party.

The Chinese community is furious over the apparent silence of the MCA when faced with a barrage of accusations from UMNO over concerns of Chinese chauvinism.

National elections, expected sometime in 2008, could see the community coming out in full force to register their disapproval viz. the state of race relations in Malaysia

The issue of discrimination however has arisen in the form of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

.... the NEP has (created) a strong middle class of Malay professionals (who) share the same concerns of the Chinese community with regard to the NEP.

The fact that there are many Chinese who are poor and struggling to make ends meet, casts a different spotlight on the NEP - there have long been demands that the NEP take into account the poor, regardless of race, and provide disadvantaged and marginalized Malays, Chinese and Indians the all important leg-up.

The unwillingness of not only the Chinese, but also the Malays to withdraw from demands that have chauvinism at their very core, make it easier for the nation's leaders to maintain the status quo along racial lines.

Malaysia can forget about fostering a national identity when generation after generation grows up with an entrenched notion of being either Malay or Chinese or Indian BEFORE even being considered MALAYSIAN...."
- Imran Imtiaz Shah

The Chinese community in Malaysia has reached a crossroad - one that will determine its future role in the country.

National elections, expected sometime in 2008, could well see the community coming out in full force to register their disapproval viz. the state of race relations in Malaysia.

The altered political landscape of the post-Mahathir era as well as the liberal administrative style of the Abdullah Badawi government has spawned a renewed crusade to redefine the status of this immigrant community.

More than ever, the older generation and the current generation of Chinese are intent to force a change in the way their country treats them. This agenda has not and will not be without great travail and strife.

Ominously, Feng Shui masters predict that the year of the pig will be a turbulent one as it is dominated by the conflicting elements of fire and water.

The latest United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) General Assembly, which hosted allegedly seditious racial speeches and the brandishing of the ubiquitous Malay dagger or "keris" amid chants of bathing it in Chinese blood, punctured the perception of racial unity in Malaysia.

The undercurrent of discontent is now so evident that the Merdeka Centre, an independent research outfit in the country predicted that two out of every three, or sixty percent of eligible Chinese voters would vote an opposition party.

The first casualty of such a scenario would almost certainly be the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the Chinese-based political party which is in alliance with the ruling Malay party, UMNO.

The Chinese community is furious over the apparent silence of the MCA when faced with a barrage of accusations from UMNO over concerns of Chinese chauvinism. MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting defended his party, countering, "The MCA has its constraints because, on one hand, we have to safeguard the interests of the community, and on the other, we have to maintain racial harmony and national unity."

Thus, for the majority of Chinese, maintaining the delicate balance as citizens of Malaysia while submitting to policies that discriminate against non-Malays is becoming more of a political non-starter.

As far as they are concerned, Malaysia is their home and for many of the younger Chinese, it is the ONLY country they have ever known.

The unfortunate reality of not only Malaysia, but other regional countries too, is that the race card is used by political friend and foe, for a variety of purposes. Frustrations of yesteryear continue to dominate as evidenced by Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's accusation last year against Malaysia and Indonesia of systematically marginalising their Chinese communities.

The reality on the ground is much more layered and revealing.

In Malaysia, the Chinese community has always enjoyed a higher per capita income and possesses greater wealth when compared against their Malay-Muslim countrymen.

The Chinese community continues to dominate various sectors of the economy.

They are better educated by far, and more highly skilled when they apply for job vacancies that are open to all.

In real terms, the Malaysian Chinese are not second-class citizens, as they enjoy a higher quality of life when compared with the majority of Malay-Muslims who are still lagging behind in many respects.

The issue of discrimination however has arisen, as after three decades of affirmative action in the form of the New Economic Policy (NEP), the anticipated transformation of Malaysian society has been fitful at best, and a dismal failure at worst.

Nevertheless, what the NEP has done is to create a strong middle class of Malay professionals. These professionals share the same concerns of the Chinese community with regard to the NEP.
The dishing out of contracts to the same few elite businessmen, on the grounds of political patronage, angers the Malay middle class too.

In that sense, the Chinese and Malays share common sentiments about the NEP.

The fact that there are many Chinese who are poor and struggling to make ends meet, casts a different spotlight on the NEP - there have long been demands that the NEP take into account the poor, regardless of race, and provide disadvantaged and marginalized Malays, Chinese and Indians the all important leg-up.

Malaysia can forget about fostering a national identity when generation after generation grows up with an entrenched notion of being either Malay or Chinese or Indian before even being considered Malaysian.

In this context, the issue of teaching subjects in vernacular languages, as championed by the Chinese-educated Dong Jiao Zong movement for example, further impedes progress towards dismantling institutionalised racist policies.

The Chinese in Malaysia are among the most liberated in the region having preserved their identity and never been subject to an assimilation policy as evidenced in Indonesia or Thailand.

How can any ruling government be expected to deal with groups like the Chinese-educated Dong Jiao Zong, when a chasm exists between the latter and the MCA, whose leaders are purportedly the English-educated Chinese?

The UNWILLINGNESS of not only the CHINESE , but also the MALAYS to withdraw from demands that have chauvinism at their very core, make it easier for the nation's leaders to maintain the status quo along racial lines.

The Feng Shui faithful will tell you that according to Chinese astrology, people born in year of the pig are born lucky. Hence, many Chinese chose to have their babies this year. It is perhaps also for these children that their parents will fight for a better future.

And if luck has anything to do with it, they will live in a nation that is at peace with its very diversity and secure from racial discrimination.

The New Economic Policy (NEP): THE Mother of ALL Corruption

From Malaysiakini -Letter to Editor. Read HERE

Quote:

"....The NEW ECONOMIC POLICY (NEP) has now been perverted into an INSTITUTIONALISED COMMUNAL BRIBERY SCHEME of sorts.

It has degenerated into blatant handouts and bailouts to satisfy and feed the patronage machine those props up Putrajaya.

.... to a Bumiputera, any challenge against the NEP is now contorted as a challenge to ‘Ketuanan Melayu’.

....to the NON -bumiputera, the NEP is now viewed as a seemingly never-ending bondage of forced gratitude; almost a ransom for civil order.

.... it becomes a fertile vehicle for corruption.

The sense of hopelessness among the ordinary rakyat is pervasive indeed.

Let's walk to that polling booth to say goodbye to all that.

Then and only then will we really feel good.
-Umar Mohktar

by

Umar Mukhtar

Never in the course of our nation's history has corruption been as rampant as it is today.

And never has the country been as racially polarised in peace time as it is today.

These two scourges are now so intertwined, thanks to the fine art of BN political opportunism.

The New Economic Policy (NEP) which was first conceived as an affirmative action of socio-economic engineering has now been perverted into an institutionalised communal political bribery scheme of sorts.

It has degenerated into blatant handouts and bailouts to satisfy and feed the patronage machine those props up Putrajaya.

It has come to a point that subliminally to a bumiputera, any challenge against the NEP is now contorted as a challenge to ‘Ketuanan Melayu’; whatever those words are supposed to mean. It is a BN creation - to rationalise with a distorted sense of communal tenancy.

And subliminally to the non-bumiputera, the NEP is now viewed as a seemingly never-ending bondage of forced gratitude; almost a ransom for civil order. All in the name of the have-nots, who remain not having much.

When a public policy of such import is twisted through its subjective and almost discretionary powers of distribution, it becomes a fertile vehicle for corruption. One feeds the other, and so the wheel goes on a never-ending cycle.

The sense of hopelessness among the ordinary rakyat is pervasive indeed.

The net results are what we see today. From top to bottom, the government machinery and delivery system is fueled by corruption. Unlike Pak Lah, we should not be in denial anymore.

Let's walk to that polling booth to say goodbye to all that. Then and only then will we really feel good. .."


Read here article on "Malaysia's Corruption Index" on Limkitsiang blog



Excerpts

".... The Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) 2007 corruption table in Asia is released every year based on a poll of expatriates working in Asia on their perceptions on corruption.

In a grading system with zero (0) as the best possible score and TEN (10) as the worst, Malaysia was ranked sixth in Asia with a score of 6.25 by PERC Corruption Asia 2007.

In 1996, Malaysia was ranked No. 4 with a score of 5, a reflection of the relentless deterioration of the corruption problem in the country over the years.

As the PERC annual corruption ranking is one of the polls used by Transparency International (TI) for its annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI), this is very bad news .

The PERC 2007 Corruption Table is a forewarning that Malaysia is heading south towards No. 50 placing in TI CPI 2007 on the occasion of Malaysia’s 50th Merdeka anniversary this year.

Deepening the RACIAL DIVIDE: PRO-UMNO Blogger Opposes NON-Race Based Policies and Questions Democratic Principles as Against Malay Rights

BACKGROUND: ( see news article in Star below):

..... The Government and UMNO should seriously consider issues relating to the economy and education that were raised by the non-Malays, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Citing an example, he said that of the more than 15 public universities, at least three or four should be headed by non-Malay academicians.

"Personally, I think this is a reasonable demand in line with the concept of sharing and putting the best brains at the helm," he added.

Anwar said it is high time the Government and UMNO review existing obsolete policies and make the necessary adjustments.

The policies such as the New Economic Policiy had failed to achieve its objectives simply because wealth did not reach to the majority of Malays, "but the selected few''.

Read Here Related Article by Dr. Bakri Musa, "Our (Malays') Obsession with Trivia"

Excerpts:

"...If I were to do a similar study on Malays, the results would be equally disturbing. We constitute half of the population of Malaysia, but our contribution to the economy, intellectual, scientific and artistic life does not match our numbers.

We regard ourselves as “special,” content with our privileges.

Our mindset to solving problems must change...."
-Dr. Bakri Musa

COMMENTARY

Read here "Penjualan hak - mengaut undi kaum lain" by ANUAR MOHD NOR in Arah Kita" Blog in response to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's comments .

Anuar Mohd Nor
- Blogger at "Arah Kita" and at "UMNO-Reform Website"

Excerpts: Read here for more

".... Hapuskan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (NEP) - dasar yang menguntungkan segelintir orang - orang Melayu, berkongsi dengan bangsa lain dalam isu ekonomi dan pendidikan dan sekurang - kurangnya 4 dari 15 Universiti Awam harus di tunjangi oleh bukan Melayu.

Ini sekarang ini menjadi perjuangan Parti Keadilan Rakyat dalam usaha untuk mendapat sambutan masyarakat bukan Melayu dalam pilihanraya akan datang.

Perjuangan yang ada dikatakan adalah untuk kesamarataan sesama bangsa, antara bukan Melayu dan Melayu.

.... Hari ini, Melayu juga memperjuangkan hak BUKAN Melayu dengan bersembunyi disebalik perjuangan demokrasi dan agenda nasional.

Inilah yang sebenarnya menjadi masalah kepada kita.

Perpecahan yang mengakibatkan hak orang - orang Melayu terhakis. Sejarah membuktikan perpecahan ini merugikan orang - orang Melayu kerana kita gagal membezakan antara perbezaan idealogi politik dengan keutamaan bangsa.

Maka perpecahan itu terus merugikan bangsa bilamana kita merujuk kepada bangsa lain untuk tujuan sokongan.

Kesilapan dan pengkhianatan kepimpinan Melayu dalam melaksanakan DEB harus dipandang serius. Kesalahan dan kesilapan ini sengaja atau tidak merugikan Melayu. Kepimpinan yang terlibat dalam membolot keuntungan dari polisi DEB dengan mekamisma rasuah harus ditentang dan dipenjarakan.

Tetapi apa bezanya mereka - mereka ini dengan mereka yang mahukan kuasa politik lantas menjual hak yang ada. Apa beza mereka ini dengan mereka yang memperjuangkan penambahan hak bukan Melayu hanya kerana politik diri?

Akhirnya Melayu terbabit dalam delima baru dan bayangkan setelah mereka - mereka ini berjaya memperjuangkan agenda politik mereka dengan meraih sokongan segelintir Melayu dengan sentimen agama dan raihan simpati khususnya era refomasi kemudian memperoleh sokongan kaum lain dengan penjualan dan menghakis hak, apa akan jagi pada bangsa kita.

Terlampau banyak insiden elitis Melayu membelakangkan Melayu kerana agenda politik dan inilah punca akhirnya Melayu menghadapi delima baru, alaf baru....."
-Anuar Mohd Nor

Read related article here by ANUAR MOHD NOR, "Amaran untuk Melayu'

Excerpts:

"....Apa yang mahu kita sama - sama fikirkan adalah perjuangan atas nama "demokrasi tulen" yang TIDAK semestinya memberikan keadilan kepada kaum Melayu dan tidak kelihatan pun kehadiran tuntutan "demokrasi tulen" itu akan menjaga hak orang - orang Melayu.

Malah yang jelas ianya hadir sebagai satu perjuangan menuntut kesamarataan kaum yang akan gagal memberi keadilan kepada bumiputera.

Kita tidak mahu Melayu tersedut dalam putaran perjuangan demokrasi tulen akhirnya menjayakan perjuangan "chauvinist" sesuatu kaum.

Kita jangan hanya duduk mendengar tuntutan kerana takut bersuara menegakkan hak.

Kita harus sedar bahawa kita perlu bangkit untuk mempertahankan hak kita sebagai bumiputera, sebagai rakyat Malaysia dan sebagai manusia." Read here for more
-Anuar Mohd Nor

Malaysian Political and Bureaucratic System: Corrupt to the Core

by

Dr. Azly Rahman
(Dr. Azly Rahman is a Professor at Columbia University, USA. Born in Singapore, grew up in Kampong. Melayu Majidee, Johor Bahru, Dr. Azly Rahman was a pioneer of Maktab Rendah Sains MARA/MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) Kuantan, a Malaysian school system modeled after amongst others, The Bronx School for the Gifted in Science (in New York City). Besides holding a Columbia University doctorate in International Education Development (Columbia University, 2004) and producing a dissertation on the development of hypermodern Malaysia as a "cybernetic" nation, Dr. Rahman completed his fourth Masters in International Education specializing in Peace Studies/Education (Columbia University, 2005). He holds the degrees Bachelors in Education (Ohio University, 1985), Masters in Education specializing in Curriculum and Instruction (Ohio University, 1987), Masters of Arts in International Affairs specializing in Politics of Southeast Asia (Ohio University, 1987), and Masters of Arts in Communication and Education (Columbia University, 2000) specializing in the broad cultural, philosophical, and political aspects of new communications technologies. He also holds certificates in multicultural education, teaching social studies, and teaching and learning with teachnology. Read Here Dr. Azly Rahman's Profile



"Kerajaan 3 Beranak"
(photo and caption courtesy of Sang Kelembai Blog)

Quote:

"... We NO longer have any shame as a nation. Even worse, we still vote for vultures.

Corruption runs in the veins of the body politic - in business, politics, religion, education, culture, etc.

Like many citizens, I now do not have much trust in the ACA (Anti Corruption Agency).

I do not think the government is interested in investigating how agencies like Biro Tata Negara are corrupting the minds of youth in a systematic pogrom, programme and process of closing of the Malaysian mind.

.... we are turning into the Philippines of Marcos and the Indonesia of Suharto. Or into a Colombia. Or a Nigeria.

Conferences in public universities are about discussing feel-good themes, presenting papers to make feel-good communalistic ideologies feel elevated, and going into academic detail of how to parrot government propaganda better.

How do we expect to produce critical thinkers among graduates when critical analyses about our society are seldom produced and presented.

From our public universities to our think tanks, we see lethargy in the way we view society and politics....''
- Dr. Azly Rahman

Read here full article by Dr. Azly Rahman posted on LimKitSiang Blog

"Hai orang-orang yang beriman, makanlah di antara rezeki yang baik yang Kami berikan kepadamu dan bersyukurlah kepada Allah, jika benar hanya kepada-Nya kamu berserah ." (Al-Baqarah:172).

This comes from the website of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), whose slogan is Tingkatkan integriti, Hapuskan rasuah.

I am tired of contradictions. And of slogans. The nation is tired of them too.

Who but the ACA can we turn to report corrupt people, corrupt practices?

We have become a pathetic nation made helpless by the revelations we are reading daily.

Things are falling apart.

Yet we have a general election coming - one in which even the Election Commissions itself cannot claim to be independent.

How many dozen ‘Royal Commissions’ of Inquiry have we asked to be set up since Independence to help us uncover truths - how many have materialised?

We no longer have any shame as a nation. Even worse, we still vote for vultures.

Corruption runs in the veins of the body politic - in business, politics, religion, education, culture, etc. Even in our mind. Even in our language.

Consider the Approved Permit issue, the half-bridge to Singapore, the ECM Libra-Avenue Capital merger, you name it…we do not know where these cases are going.

History tells us that we will not see consequences, nor see anyone resigning voluntarily.

We do NOT have any SHAME. Unlike the Japanese.

Even our universities are seeing corrupt practices. We see students thrown out for speaking up, academicians axed for taking a stand, lecturers made to feel good about how moral and benevolent the government is, and how academic-cronyism is taking shape.

Conferences in public universities are about discussing feel-good themes, presenting papers to make feel-good communalistic ideologies feel elevated, and going into academic detail of how to parrot government propaganda better.

How do we expect to produce critical thinkers among graduates when critical analyses about our society are seldom produced and presented. From our public universities to our think tanks, we see lethargy in the way we view society and politics.

Our consciousness has been corrupted by the fear, fantasy and fetish we have structured into our mind though a funneling process of depthlessness of thought. Only if we had the Malaysian version of the great Argentine medical-doctor turned social messiah, Che Guevara, as education minister, we would see true transformation of the education to fight corruption of the soul, mind, and flesh.

Experience with ACA

Two years ago, I wrote a letter to the ACA head calling for an investigation into possible corrupt practice and abuse of power of the administration of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

I asked for investigation into

the nature of promotion of academic staff

how personal preferences are made, and

into the composition of committees responsible for dismissal.

I wanted to know what transpires during meetings and how political the decisions are.

How could a committee consisting of learned men and women throw out lecturers who were merely seeking explanation of the contents of a letter that demand their kowtowing to leaders known to be abusing power?

How could the Higher Education Minister refuse to deal with the issue and allow the universities to breed fear?

I am still waiting for the ACA director-general to reply.

I want him to carry out investigations.

As a citizen, I have the right to know what happened in those two instances in my career.
I wanted to go this route before seeking legal help.

My claim was that abuse of power had been committed in the two cases. I knew that I could not get any help from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, prime minster nd several other ministers I had written to, requesting investigation into the political nature of the dismissals.

Like many citizens, I now do not have much trust in the ACA. I do not think the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Rulers, prime minister and elected representatives are interested in seeing UUM being investigated for corruption of power and abuse of privileges.

I do not think the government is interested in investigating how agencies like Biro Tata Negara are corrupting the minds of youth in a systematic pogrom, programme and process of closing of the Malaysian mind. I do not think these people are interested in fighting corruption. I do not know what they are interested in, for that matter.

Are agencies such as the ACA and National Integrity Institute merely interested in helping the government blind the people with the idea that corruption need to be battled?

I think we are turning into the Philippines of Marcos and the Indonesia of Suharto. Or into a Colombia. Or a Nigeria. This is frightening. Especially when the system has evolved into a corrupt one.

Our nation does not even know where to begin in dealing with this issue. People are busy making ends meet while the powerful are busy satisfying their greed.

What then must we do? Dare we dismantle this system entire?

I am tired of contradictions and slogans. So is the nation. '

- Dr. Azly Rahman, Educator & Adjunct Professor, Foundations of Civilizations, Education, & Politics, Columbia University

Now the GOOD NEWS !! Malaysian Doubles Pair Wins All-England Badminton Championship 2007 - After 25 Years

Tan Boon Heong and Koo Kien Keat
All-England Badminton Champion-20007
(photo- courtesy of NST)

UPDATE (13 March) : Read here for more

Three titles in just five tournaments over a period of five months is an incredible achievement for any pair by any standards.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong claimed the first Asian Games gold medal for Malaysia in 36 years in Doha last December.

In the Malaysian Open in January – they became the first qualifiers to lift the title.

Another good showing in the Swiss Open this week could see the world number 32 edging inside the top 10.

But doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is determined to keep the young hotshots level-headed in their pursuit for more glory.

Rexy said that he was pleased to see that Kien Keat-Boon Heong have their feet firmly on the ground despite claiming one of the most prized trophies at stake.

“There was no arrogance. They were humble as they accepted wishes from many people and I hope they will continue with this attitude. There will be all kinds of distractions for champions and I hope they will remain focused,” he said.

Rexy said that Kien Keat-Boon Heong would now be under great scrutiny in every tournament.

END OF UPDATE

Read here for more and Here and Here

Read Here Commentary in "Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin" Blog:

".... I believed doubles chief coach, Rexy Ronald Mainaky, should be given the full credit for grooming this pair of All England champion and a possible world champion. Nobody since 1982 had been able to drill a player to such great height.

.....Rexy was so dedicated to winning and totally focused on his mission. He doesn't care about power and politics; he doesn't care about what he earns; he wants results and nothing short of a championship medal at the All England and the World Championship.

Did Malaysia win? Ya; but it was the Indonesian that had given us the win. Thanks Rexy and congrats Koo and Tan, for without a combined and sustained effort, there can be no winners. Will all the other players and coaches learned a lesson? Will other sports learned from this?..."

(Rexy Ronald Mainaky - born 9 March 1968- is a male badminton player from Indonesia who is known as Rexy. He is a former world Champion and Olympic champion in the men's double with his partner Ricky Subagdja. He and his partner Ricky won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA and they won in the final Badminton World Champion in Laussane 1995, they defeated Denmark men's double J.H.Christensen/Thomas Lund. Now he is coaching Malaysia men's double. He was coaching for England before Malaysia. )

Malaysians Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong ended Malaysia’s 25-year wait for a men’s doubles title in the All-England badminton championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham , UK after beating world champions and top seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China 21-15, 21-18 in a 38-minute battle.

The title was last won by the Sidek brothers – Jalani and Razif -- in 1982.

The Malaysian pair did not drop a single game in the competition.

Jalani Sidek said the Malaysians won because of their superior tactical game.

"I knew this pair would win the title for us. The Chinese were good in attacking too but our Malaysians were superb in both attacking and tactical play. Kien Keat played brilliantly and Boon Heong certainly did not show his inexperience at all playing in his first All-England," said Jalani.

National chief coach Yap Kim Hock was thrilled over the outstanding achievements of the pair, who were playing in only their fifth international tournament.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has congratulated Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong for bringing home the All-England men’s doubles title after 25 years.

An aide said the Prime Minister called the pair soon after the match played in Birmingham, England, was over.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said said the pair’s triumph was exciting “ because the players are not ranked and are newly-paired.”

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting congratulated the pair in a statement released on Monday. Ong said that the 'Malaysia Boleh' spirit show-cased by the duo, coupled with excellent techniques, professional collaboration, confidence as well as determination, were factors that led to the victory. Ong said the overwhelming support shown by the people of Malaysia during the game, regardless of race and religion, was a big boost to the national pair's confidence level.

Razif Sidek, who with his brother Jailani were the last Malaysians to win the title 25 years ago, said: “I have waited for this moment for too long. This is one record that I am happy to have broken.”

Tourism Minister,Tengku Adnan Says:"ALL Bloggers Are Liars. 80% are Unemployed Women "

From J-Talk Blog. Read HERE

WHAT AN IDIOT !! A MINISTER, TO BOOT.

UPDATE:

16th March: TENGKU ADNAN EXPLAINS WHAT HE SAID.. CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO via Malaysiakini Video

13 March: Read here article from Associated Press (AP) reported in Jakarta Post for more

"...Malaysia's Tourism Minister refused to respond Monday to accusations that he had insulted women by reportedly saying that Internet bloggers are liars, and many are jobless women.

On Monday, Tengku Adnan refused to comment or confirm whether he had been quoted accurately by the newspaper. "I don't have anything to say right now," Tengku Adnan told The Associated Press.

END OF UPDATE

Translated from Sin-Chew Chinese Newspaper by J-Blog

Tengku Adnan: Bloggers are Liars : 80% are Unemployed Women

Datuk Tunku Adnan bin Tengku Mansor, Tourism Minister. (click here for more information)

(Kuala Lumpur) The Tourism Minister, Datuk Tunku Adnan bin Tengku Mansor lashed out today (Mar 8, 2007) that all bloggers on the Internet are liars, out of which 80% are unemployed women.

“All bloggers are liars, they cheat people using all kinds of methods. From my understanding, out of 10,000 unemployed bloggers, 8,000 are women.”

Tengku Adnan was addressing the media at the 2007 Malaysia GP Sales when he was asked about allegations made on a blog by a female TV presenter.

The guests present were shocked at first, but burst into laughter.

He said he may lose some female voters but did NOT retract his statement or indicate that he was just joking.

He said that bloggers spread rumours, disrupt social harmony and many bloggers are slanderous and are cheating people with their blogs.

“All bloggers are not in favour of national unity. Our country has been successful because we are very tolerant with each other, if not, there will be civil war, the Malays will kill the Chinese, the Chinese will take revenge and kill the Malays, and the Indian will kill everyone.”

He urged the rakyat not to simply trust bloggers, and gamble our future away because the achievement we gain in the 50 years of independence is not an easy task.

“We have to show the world our positive attitude, if the world learn to be as tolerant as us, the world will be peaceful, without war or civil war.”

He said that the tourism ministry has been promoting the country for the rakyat’s benefit, not just to benefit his own ministry.

He stressed that the Malaysian tourism industry is now in a critical moment as the competition from the neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines will be stiffer and Malaysia must respond proactively."

The Original Article in Sin-Chew Jit Poh



Commentary:

Update: 12th March.: From "The Scribe A. Kadir Jasin - Read here for more

Excerpts:

"Blogger Pembohong.

..... Saya tidak ambil hati dan tidak marah kepada pembesar Umno itu. Sekarang zaman pembesar melatah, marah-marah dan berang-berang.

Jahat sungguh para blogger ini!Saya Cuma hendak tanya bapak menteri soalan-soalan berikut:

1. Mengapa banyak rakyat jelata Malaysia, khasnya wanita, menganggur?

2. Bukankah lebih baik orang menganggur atau separuh menganggur (wanita atau lelaki) menjadi blogger daripada menjadi penyalahguna kuasa, perasuah, penyamun, penyangak dan penagih dadah?

3. Kalau semua blogger “pembohong” kenapakah pembesar seperti Tengku Adnan perlu layan atau takut kepada “pembohongan” mereka?

4. Kenapa pembesar perlu takut dengan apa yang dihujahkan oleh pembohong blog sedangkan para pembesar mempunyai media massa arus perdana untuk membela dan mempertahankan mereka?

5. Adakah para pembesar khuatir bahawa tidak semua blogger penganggur dan pembohong?

Saya tidak hairan jika masanya tiba apabila mereka menafikan laporan media dan menyalahkan media kerana kononnya tersalah lapor atau memutar-belitkan hujah.

From Marina Mahathir's Blog Read Here RantingsbyMM

"..... My, my, what a generalisation-full rant! How's this from a supposedly sober person in high office: "Bloggers are liars. They use all sort of ways to cheat others. From what I know, out of 10,000 unemployed bloggers, 8,000 are women.Bloggers like to spread rumours, they don’t like national unity. Today our country has achievements because we are tolerant and compromising. Otherwise we will have civil war. "

What leadership! What rational statements! And on International Women's Day, women bloggers are defamed as liars and cheats. Fabulous!

From Elizabeth Wong's Blog: Read here for more

"....Mr Minister,

Did you realise Thursday was a quasi-sacred day for feminists and women’s rights activists? A most inappropriate time to be going around calling women liars, anti-national unity etc. etc.

And to be going after Nila when her partner was killed in the Yogya Garuda tragedy only yesterday? Don’t you even have a heart? Weren’t you taught manners and etiquette in school or at home?

Oh. I forgot. Umno (cut to scene:- unsheath keris, wave in the air. Read here for more).




Updated:
Bloggers who normally write in Chinese caught wind of this and are up-in-arms. See Smoothriver, and JerryWho has also translated the news article in full here, but not including Tengku Adnan’s rant about Bumitera in the last few paras.)
Sin Chew Online (Chinese) version here.

From Susan Loone's Blog. Read Here for more

"...You are NOT fit to be Tourism Minister with this attitude. You are bias, rude, patronising and stupid.

But going by your analogy - of one makes all - I don’t blame foreigners for thinking that all of us are stupid or Malaysia bodoh.

You have set a bad example and I am not surprise if Malaysia fails in its Visit Malaysia 2007 project. With a Tourism Minister of your stature, it is sure to be a disaster. ...."

Where is Malaysia’s Reform Agenda Going?

by Dr. Farish A. Noor: Read here in Khaleej Times

Quote:

Being a country with excessively high degrees of control on the state media, Malaysians have taken to cyberspace for alternative sources of information instead.

.... there exist several noteworthy blogs that have turned themselves into reliable sources of information. What is more, this information is often correct — thanks to the numerous ‘leaks’ coming from within the government itself.

.... the Internet is proving to be the one space where disgruntled and frustrated Malaysians, tired of empty promises and lack of concrete results, have turned to information for collective action and lobbying.

How will the Malaysian state cope under these new pressures?

So far the government’s reaction has been to lambaste and demonise bloggers as a group of miscreants and subversives bent on damaging the country’s reputation.
But as the latest scandals have shown, the real miscreants have been none other that the politicians and senior government figures of the country themselves...
- Farish Noor

Excerpts: Read here for more article by Farish Noor

"....It is NOT often that the Malaysian police force asks for assistance from the country’s blogging community — those who spend their time jotting down their thoughts and opinions on the Internet.

Until recently, ‘bloggers’ as they are called were deemed at best, a pest, and at worse, even a threat to national security.

......at present some of Malaysia’s most noted and well-known bloggers have been called to court instead, accused of posting libelous postings that were seen as damaging to influential figures in the country.

Yet today, the Malaysian police force has called on the country’s blogging community to help them with investigations related to a senior politician who it is said to have accepted around five million ringgit ($1.2 million) in bribes, to help release prisoners from jail through the Emergency Ordinance Act (EOA) of the country. Three former prisoners have been identified — and it is said that all three have close links to violent gangs involved in violent crimes as well as prostitution syndicates in the country. Read here for MORE

What, one might ask, is going on in Malaysia?

.... Mohamad Shukri Abdul, Director of Investigations of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) (announced) that the ACA is currently investigating the claim that a senior politician in the Malaysian government has been bought, and has used his power to release prisoners from jail, albeit for a hefty price.

What has spurred the investigation, however, was the revelation of detailed information relating to the alleged bribes on two independent websites operating in the country.

.....2006 and 2007 have been the years of scandals for the Badawi administration in Malaysia .

With the ACA bearing down on senior government figures, another scandal has erupted with Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau Zulkipli Mat Nor being accused of corruption himself.

What makes matters worse is the fact that the allegations against Zulkipli Mat Nor have come from the retired director of the ACA, Muhammad Ramli Manan, no less.

....Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has ruled out any suggestion of a possible future cover-up and insists that all these accusations will be taken seriously and duly investigated.

.....the entire affair has added yet another stain on the reputation of the Badawi administration.

Prime Minister Badawi came to power with an overwhelming public mandate because of his reform agenda and the fact that many Malaysians believed he was sincere.

He promised to clean up the corridors of power in the country, end the spate of corporate bail-outs and look closely at the dubious links between the state and the private sector, ruling political parties and crony businesses in Malaysia.

... Malaysia’s corruption scandals go back to the 1970s and thus far few major cases have been visibly and successfully settled in court.

While foreign investors may factor into account local corruption as a hazard of investment, in the end it is the public’s perception that counts for Badawi as his image has taken several major blows over the past three years.

Many Malaysians still believe in his sincerity, but have begun to doubt his effectiveness as a leader and a man of action.

.... a politician’s promises are only as good as the institutions that serve him; and in the case of Malaysia it seems that there is a lot of institutional inertia and invested interest to pay lip service to talk of reform, without actually taking any politically risky and painful measures to correct the problem.

What doubly embarrasses the Malaysian government, however, was the fact that the allegations first materialised on the Internet.

Being a country with excessively high degrees of control on the state media, Malaysians have taken to cyberspace for alternative sources of information instead.

While much of what is posted on personal blogs may be humdrum trivia having more to do with diets, fashion and relationship problems, there exist several noteworthy blogs that have turned themselves into reliable sources of information. What is more this information is often correct — thanks to the numerous ‘leaks’ coming from within the government itself.

The Malaysian public may be jaded by now by promises of institutional reform, anti-corruption campaigns and transparency.

There remain long, drawn-out corruption cases related to major corporate figures like Eric Chia (former head of Perwaja Steel, Malaysia’s steel-making giant of the 1980s) that have plodded along in the courts at a snail’s pace.

But what is clear today is that the Internet is proving to be the one space where disgruntled and frustrated Malaysians, tired of empty promises and lack of concrete results, have turned to information for collective action and lobbying.

How will the Malaysian state cope under these new pressures?

So far the government’s reaction has been to lambaste and demonise bloggers as a group of miscreants and subversives bent on damaging the country’s reputation.

But as the latest scandals have shown, the real miscreants have been none other that the politicians and senior government figures of the country themselves..."

Ministers with Third World Mentality

From Malaysiakini - Letters to Editor, Read HERE

Excerpts: Read here for more

"..... Recent events in the last few weeks show that our beloved nation is still way off to achieving a FIRST -class mentality.

Ironically, PM was the first to kick off the train of events.

The Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi

On Chinese New Year, he predicted that our KLCI would “soon” breach the 1,350 point level.

Being prime minister and finance minister, he certainly was aware of consequences of such a statement. Gullible punters would take his words for real and would thus have betted heavily hoping to make a kill. It was not to be. Instead, many lost a big sum in that short period of time.

Then when the share prices fell, he even went on to tell the public ‘to be confident’ in our own stock exchange and ignore the tumble in overseas market.

This further showed that he is very ignorant of the elements of economics even though he is the minister of finance. In this era of globalisation, the economies of the world are interdependent. Any collapse of economy of a country will definitely affect the others.

I wonder how Pak Lah dared to venture to vocalise his type of comments. Even the president of the United States does not give such advice.

Then we have Works Minister S Samy Vellu and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz coming out with remarks befitting that of loafers in the streets.

Works Minister Samy Vellu

Vellu said those who threatened to file a police report against him over alleged discrepancies in the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) project to 'go to hell'.

Minister in PM Dept, Nazri Abdul Aziz

... Nazri branded as ‘stupid’ those NGOs calling for an independent investigation into the ACA chief over corruption allegations.

Such uncalled and crude remarks.... to come out from the very mouths of supposedly 'respected' ministers made me sick to the core.

They are suppose to lead the nation and show a good examples of themselves.

The ministers would, more often than not, talk down to the journalists. If the going gets tough, the ministers would be like a bull in a china shop and come out with remarks as exemplified by Samy Vellu and Nazri.

They are typical of Third World ministers with a Third World mentality.

Bribery in Malaysia: Non-Malays are the Main Bribe-Giving Culprits

From Malaysia Today - READ HERE article by Lim Guan Eng


Excerpts: Read here for more, 'The Non-Malay Community Should Learn From The Malays' by Lim Guan Eng


Lim Guan Eng (Chinese : 林冠英; pinyin: Lín Guānyīng) is the Secretary-General of the Malaysian Democratic Action Party (DAP). He is the son of Lim Kit Siang, the Opposition Leader in the Malaysian Parliament. Lim was arrested by Malaysian police in 1994, following his criticism of the government's handling of allegations of statutory rape of one of his constituents by former Chief Minister of the state of Melaka, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. Read here for more

"...... Malaysia Transparency Perception survey(from Nov 30 2006 to January 12 2007) (showed) problems relating to integrity and transparency in government agencies remain "acute and serious".

When respondents were asked whether they have given bribes over the last one year, those who said YES:

14% of Malays,

58% of Chinese and

23% of Indians

Malay civil servants would not dare to ask or receive bribes from another Malay because Malays would NOT only refuse to give bribes but is more likely to report such bribery to the authorities than a non-Malay.

....... the non-Malay community should learn from the Malays by refusing to give bribes and lodging reports of such attempts to the authorities.

Of more concern is that levels of integrity and transparency in both the public and private sectors have not changed over the last 12 months.

Both the public and corporate sector listed the POLICE as the MOST corrupt.

For the SECOND worst offender, the public had listed JPJ whilst the corporate sector picked political parties.

The Customs Department as the THIRD worst offender.

JPJ was listed as the fifth worst offender by the corporate sector.

... all efforts by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi infighting corruption has been fruitless. Failure to check corruption would have an economic cost of frigthening away foreign investors. ..."

Read here Transparency International Corruption Index 2006.

"....The country’s ranking for perceived corruption by Transparency International (TI) has worsened, dropping five positions from last year to now rank 44 out of the 163 countries surveyed. The country’s position last year was 39 out of 158 countries. Malaysia only achieved five points out of a maximum of 10 this year, from 5.1 points from last year." Read here for more

Allegations on Internet: Dato Johari Baharom -"The Most Powerful But Corrupted Deputy Minister for Internal Security"

Read HERE on FREE-WEB

Read HERE for more on related articles and HERE and HERE

Click Below:

2006

- Cabinet Ministers

- Deputy Ministers

- Parliamentary Secretaries

- List of all 2006 Ministerial Portfolios

Dato Johari Bin Baharom,
Deputy Minister of Internal Security.

Transcribed from the original posting on FREE-WEB:

"..... This Deputy Minister is the most powerful Deputy Minister because firstly he works under a very busy minister so all power has to be delegated to him. Secondly, he has got prerogative executive power to order a person to be detained without trail or to be released on his own fancy.

Here are 3 classic cases we can see how YB Dato Johari Bin Baharom, the Deputy Minister of Internal Security had abuse his power and breach the trust from his boss. ie. The Prime Minister. His abuse of power must be seen to have interfering police investigation and a larger extent had also jeoperdise police effort to maintain peace as well as law and order in the country. The abuse of power by YB Dato Johari must be tantamounted to a corrupt practice and must be stop immediately.

Anti Corruption Agency should be called upon to investigate on both money transaction and also abuse of power that amounting to corrupt practice.

Kong Cho Heng

Kong Cho Heng also known as Panjang from Setiawan, Perak, was arrested in Dec 2006 under Sec 3(1) Emergency Ordinance. Panjang is the leader of a Chinese Secret Society. He leads a gang collection protection money from businessmen in Setiawan.

His gang members often use threat, criminal intimidation as well as force and violent to achieve their objective. They are responsible in several cases of assault and causing severe injuries in Setiawan.

Panjang is the younger brother of YB Dato’ Kong Cho Ha, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. Sources said police applied to detained Panjang under Sec 4(1) Emergency Ordinance was rejested in the mid Jan 2007 and he was ordered by YB Dato Johari Bin Baharom to be released immediately with no further reasons.

Chin Shui On

Chin Shui On, also known as Robin or Tian Wong from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was arrested in Dec 2006 under Sec 3(1) Emergency Ordinance. Robin is involving in organized illegal gaming and book keeping in the district of Penampang and Kota Kinabalu.

Robin is the leader of a gangster group and often uses threat and violent to retain his control over his illegal business empire. Sources said police applied to detain him under Sec 4(1) Emergency Ordinance but unfortunately it was rejected in Mid Jan 2007 and he was ordered to be released with immediate effect. It was believed that a CEO of a private medical centre in Kota Kinabalu had made a payment of RM3 million to Dato Johari Bin Baharom for his unconditional release.

Moo Sai Chin

Moo Sai Chin, aka Ah Yau from Cemor, Perak was arrested in Oct 2006 under Sec 3(1) Emergency Ordinance. Ah Yau is a well known leader of the secret society in the state of Perak.

His gangsters often use force and violent to gain control of territories.

Ah Yau also runs the business in vice by using threat and force on foreign women working in massage parlour known as Big Sister Massage Parlour, Jalan Kampar, Ipoh Perak. Sources had that police applied to detain Ah Yau under Sec 4(1) Emergency Ordinance but failed. He was later ordered to be place under restricted residence in Tampin Negeri Sembilan for 1 year under Sec 7B(1) Emergency Ordinance.

Subsequently in the mid Jan 2007, the restricted residence order was cancelled by YB Dato Johari Bin Baharom, the Deputy Minister of Internal Security and Ah Yau was ordered to be released immediately. Sources and closed associates of Ah Yau confirmed he settled with YB Dato Johari Bin Baharom for a sum not less than RM2.5mil...."

Profile - Johari bin Baharom

Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's political secretary.

He became Kubang Pasu Umno committee chairman. The first timer won the Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat which used to be held by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department in 2004 and is currently a Deputy Minister in the Internal Security Ministry.

MCA Cabinet Minister's Blow-Back at UMNO Youth on Issue of Bumiputra Graduates Driving Taxis

From The Aisehman Blog - Who's Job Is It? - Read HERE

Background

Feb 1: UMNO YOUTH Public Complaints Bureau chairman Datuk Subahan Kamal said many Bumiputra graduates had resorted to driving taxis as they could not find employment in the private sector. He said the Human Resources Minsitry should enforce a 30 per cent quota for Bumiputeras at all levels in the PRIVATE SECTOR and ensure that locals were given preference over foreigners. Read here for more




Feb 2: The Human Resources Minister, Fong Chan Onn said most of the students enrolled in retraining schemes are Bumiputeras. And Bumiputera youth also receive the HIGHEST number of retraining loans given out by the ministry’s Skills Development Fund."We don’t distinguish between Bumiputeras and others, but it so happens that the vast majority of those who take up our retraining programmes and loans are Malays," he said.

Fong Chan Onn said:

that about 50,000 people have attended retraining programmes in information technology, English proficiency and other skills since 2001, and 96 per cent were Malays.

Some 500,000 youths had received loans from the Skills Development Fund, of which 95 per cent were Malays.

And more than 90 per cent of applicants to the industrial training institutes each year are Malays.

At job fairs, the interviews organised for job-seekers are largely attended by Malays .

On Subahan’s call that the ministry impose a 30 per cent quota for Malays at all levels in the private sector, Fong said setting quotas did not come under the ministry’s purview.

"It’s not our responsibility to impose quotas," he said, adding that although there was no policy on Bumiputera employment in the private sector, the vast majority of workers in places like hypermarkets were Bumiputera youths. Read here for more


Commentary: by The Aisehman: Read here for more

Excerpts:

"... It would seem Subahan did not check his facts BEFORE he opened his mouth.

This sort of unthinking and unfounded criticism more often than not backfires.

Subahan looks pretty stupid now, doesn’t he?

And please, tuan — drop the demand for Bumi quotas in the private sector.

We Malays have to learn to assert ourselves by projecting our capabilities and our potential, NOT by throwing our political weight around.

Cukup. Jangan bagi malu orang Melayu lagi.

Maybe Subahan can offer some of them a job at KFC? And if some of them prefer to drive taxis, what can you do?

I would rather have unemployed graduates become entrepreneurs, with the Government providing support in the form of access to training and capital. ..."