Will His Presence be Instrumental for Corruption Eradication?

Theory sans practise?

Paul Low, the man who helmed Transparency International Malaysia has been elevated to be a Minister in the PM's Department specifically to be in charge of the problem of corruption in government.

Will he be effective or be akin to that man with 'bo hood' of the earlier cabinet?

While many has reservations of him fighting a possibly private war against big C, is he that man of steel that can  get the ear of the PM who has also been lackluster thus far in anti-corruption reforms.

I think the general feeling is that unless there is  political will to catch the big fishes, more of the same can be expected.

No amount of paperwork and fancy charts as well as data massaging ala Idris Jala will please an already discerning and impatient public.

So, can Paul create surprises?

Parker-Simple Plot,Brute Action

Screen Brute

So, what could you possibly get from watching a Jason Statham movie?

Action, action and more action.

Then there is the graphic violence and blood-letting.

Whatever it is, even justice among thieves can be held high as values for today's movies. The lesser evil, that is.

Charming Latino

Jennifer Lopez was the additional eye candy and she still has the form and beauty to flaunt!

Quite enjoyable movie and you can enjoy the skyline and sights of Florida.

Equality & Betrayal in Political Malaysia

A Lost Generation

Allan CF Goh's  article on the soul of the Chinese in the face of political adversity is a real eye-opener. He does not mince his words and brings out the crying concerns for their next generation of children and grand-children.

Here is his unabridged article.

Are Chinese “entitled to equality”?

Is voting against the ruling party a “betrayal”?

The logic and argument of non-entitlement of equality of non-Malay citizens are groundless. As usual, when discussion of this nature begins, the race bogey is raised. May 13 is resurrected. Emotions replace reasons. Everything becomes racist.

An increasing number of educated, thinking Malaysians, cutting across the racial lines, do not accept this tunnel-vision.

The ‘Chinese’ whom some wanted to be deprived of equality are born in Malaysia, raised here, and most likely will die here. This is our country, and our home, too. Let us never doubt that. Most of the Malaysian Chinese families were here long before Malaya’s merdeka. The same applies to Sabah and Sarawak. Many families have history stretching nearly a hundred years. How many instant ‘Malays’ can honestly make that claim?

However, I digress. A Malaysian is a Malaysian. Period. There can never be a lesser Malaysian in this land, not by law, not by choice. When a person is granted the Malaysian citizenship, either by naturalization or operation of law, he/she is entitled to the full benefits and protection of the country. This is the universally accepted norm for citizenship. Is there any moral justification for a reduced citizenship for any Malaysians? A three-quarter Malaysian?

Merdeka came to Malaya in 1957. All communities welcomed it with joy amidst constant assurances from the Alliance leadership of UMNO, MCA and MIC that all Malayans would be treated equally under the Malayan sun. However, special rights for the poor Malays were necessary to bridge the social and economic gaps. Most Non-Malays accepted that, even though there were, and still are, a lot of poor Indians and Chinese around.

After May 13, special rights become Malay rights. It becomes obvious that aid is given to those Malays with the strongest connections, not to the weakest in the community. It does not matter if the person from a rich family is needless of the financial largesse. It is given and accepted all the same because it is his/her right. Hence, much aid-money is diverted from the poor. Rampant cronyism is established as the order of the day. This illogical practice becomes the weapon of deprivation, not only to the Non-Malays, but also to the poor Malays themselves.

The Chinese Malaysians have always been a self-reliant people with immense pride that precludes them from stretching out their hands to beg. The wealth that is often associated with the Chinese community, (a wrong assumption, really, as most Chinese in Malaysia are not wealthy), is earned through sheer hard work and frugality, with nary a cent of help from the government. That wealth is accumulated through unrelenting, uncomplaining blood, sweat and toil. It is not a handout from any government. Today, the Chinese Malaysians contribute the largest share of the country’s income tax.

Chinese Malaysians, by and large, do not grudge anybody becoming rich, even those ready-made tycoons who receive massive capital help from the government. It is a matter of public record that much of this money has been foolishly squandered. Successful Chinese Malaysian businessmen are self-made, and are made of sterner stuff. They have always found ways to overcome business challenges, no thanks to the government of the day. Why then are they not happy with the government? Quite a lot of Chinese Malaysians are angry with the government policies of reducing and constricting their economic opportunities, and limiting them to a particular race. Is this a correct way to inculcate a viable competitiveness of a nascent business community among the Malays?

For years and years, Chinese schools receive little dismal help, tokenism if you like, from the elected government. (This is also true for the Indian schools.) Luckily for the schools, they were ardently supported financially by the local towkays. Though disappointed by the government’s uncaring attitude, the Chinese community shrugs off that indifference, and soldiers on. However, things become bad when gifted and intelligent Non-Malay youths are denied opportunities to study at the universities, not because they are not good enough, but because of their race. Education holds a very sacred place in the Chinese community. Chinese Malaysians are not likely to forgive any government that denies their children a place to further their education. The government must understand that most Chinese Malaysian families cannot afford to send their children overseas for further studies. Most cannot even afford the local, private universities and colleges.

The vernacular schools are not a reason or cause for Malaysia’s divisiveness. Unfair policies are! When the young sees blatant discrimination taking place in front of his/her eyes, when his/her place at the university is denied him/her, and given to someone less qualified simply because of colour, deep dissatisfaction and disaffection take hold. When a poor and needy youth’s application for job is rejected, and given to someone else less deserving, he/she cannot love that government’s race policy. When a citizen’s ability is not given proper recognition by a government agency, instead, someone less capable is being promoted because of ‘directives from above’, that citizen is not likely to admire the government. And so on, and so forth……………….

Discrimination as a policy is faulty by any logic. It is ugly, and has no moral imperative. It divides people into ‘them’ and ‘us’. Affirmative policy should help everyone who needs it, the Malays, Indians, Chinese, Kadazan and Dusun. It is never meant to deny rightful opportunities to other deserving citizens.

Aggrieved citizens have only the General Election to seek redress, fairness and justice. The majority of citizens have obviously made their views clear in the recently concluded election.

When a citizen goes to a polling station, he/she votes according to his/her conscience to choose the best people/party to lead the country. Elections are never meant to perpetuate a divisive, incompetent, corrupt, and inefficient system of governance from whichever political party.

In a democracy, a government is beholden to the people, not the other way round. The government holds the mandate to govern at the pleasure of the people. When that elected government does not perform to the expectation of the majority, the people have the absolute right to vote against that ruling party. This is the beauty and sanctity of democracy. There is nothing racial about the hallow practice. To say or imply that the action is a ‘betrayal’ or an ‘ingratitude’ is the most ignorant and malfeasant interpretation of election in a democracy.

No country can build a true one-nation out of inequality! No government can instill national unity through discriminations! Malaysia can only achieve its highest destiny when all Malaysians, regardless of racial origins, are pulling and pushing as one towards the same direction to greatness. Nothing else can replace that

The New Cabinet-Calling a Spade, A Spade

Love him or hate him, he is 'worldly wise' when he wants to. And that is Kadie Jasin for you.

But he is in his element in his incisive analysis of the new PRU Cabinet just sworn in.

After reading his article, I think there was gross spatial and demographic misrepresentation in this cabinet and manifest a classic-lose-lose for everyone.

Why, oh why has the nation's new government touch the nadir of all times?

The writings are on the wall for a possible implosion with two Sarawkian winning parties beackpeddling on their appointments.

Would they become PKR friendly to keel over the BN victory boat?

Do read this article which I have pasted in verbatim.

SIDE VIEWS

Doing ‘congak’ on transformational Cabinet — A. Kadir Jasin
MAY 18, 2013

MAY 18 — When I came across a Star newspaper report of May 16 headlined “A well-balanced Cabinet of 32 ministers” my brain went into rewind mode, taking me back to my Malay school days in the 1950s when “congak” and “ujian akal” were both loved and loathed by the pupils.

“Congak” was mental arithmetic and a regular subject. We would be given, in quick succession, questions concerning addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. We would have to answer them without the aid of any instrument — not even a pencil. We had to do the calculation in our mind and answer verbally.

The “ujian akal” was a general knowledge test. We were asked on subjects that were not often taught in the classroom. Only if we did extra reading and observed everyday events would we be able to answer them.

Using the basic principle of “congak” and knowledge of general affairs, for which I did not fair badly, and applying them to, "The Star’s “well-balanced Cabinet” labelling, I came up with the following mathematics:

1. The Indians, who account for 7.1 per cent of the population, according to the 2010 Census, are represented by two ministers. In addition they have four deputy ministers.

2. The Chinese, who account for 22.9 per cent of the population, are, by choice and by their dismal contribution to the BN election victory in the May 5 polls, are not represented. There is, however a nominated Chinese in the transformational Cabinet.

3. There are 32 Cabinet ministers and 24 ministries, including the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD). In the PMD, there are eight ministers. Deputy ministers are not Cabinet members.

4. Sarawak, with the population of 2,506,500 where the state BN won 25 out of 31 seats, was awarded six Cabinet posts. It works out to one minister for every 417,750 Sarawakians. Counting deputy ministers, the “Bumi Kenyalang” (Land of the Hornbills) has 10 federal posts.

5. Sabah with the population of 3,214,200, where the BN won 22 out of 25 seats, was also given six Cabinet jobs, working out to one minister for every 535,700. Counting deputy ministers, the “Negeri Di Bawah Bayu” (Land Below the Wind) has 10 federal posts.

6. On the contrary, Johor, which has the population of 3,305, 900 and contributed 21 parliamentary seats (out of 25), has only three full ministers, working out to one minister for every 1,101,966 proud Johorians.

7. But the Johorians can spare their handkerchiefs. They are not the ultimate victims of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “congak”. The real “anak tiri” are the Selangorians of whom I am one. There are 5,037,600 of us and five BN MPs but not a single minister. Talk about “congak” and about regaining Selangor in future elections! (I am not counting Paul Low Seng Kuan because I am not sure who he represents.) This is perhaps the prime minister’s way of teaching Selangorians a lesson.

8. But Selangorians need not shed tears. The two million Kedahans are no better. After returning the state to the BN and contributing 10 Dewan Rakyat seats (out of 15), they get only one minister post.

9. Perakians are luckier. They gave 12 out of 24 parliamentary seats to the BN and got three ministers in return. The people of Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang and Negri Sembilan can count themselves lucky. They have more menteris despite having fewer MPs.

10. Perlis (3 seats, 1 minister), Kedah (10/1), Kelantan (5/1), Terengganu (4/2), Pahang (10/2), Penang (3/0), Perak (12/3), Selangor (5/0), Wilayah Persekutuan (4/1), Negri Sembilan (5/2), Malacca (4/0), Johor (21/3), Sabah (22/6) and Sarawak (25/6).

11. Women, who make up 49 per cent of Malaysia’s population and are a rising force in the economy, are represented by only two ministers and both of them are from Sarawak.

12. And Wanita Umno members, the backbone of Umno’s campaign machinery and the most loyal to the party, are the ultimate losers. They were left out in the cold for the first time in decades. They have no representative in the Cabinet.

In short, the “congak” does not quite add up and the mathematical logic is lost in what appears to be a haphazard arrangement that disregards the key elements of our demography and in the distribution of seats won by the BN. And the Cabinet could only become larger and unruly despite the BN winning proportionally fewer seats in the House of Representatives since the 1969 general election.

Then again, who are we to complain? Our peasant way of looking at things counts for nothing against the brilliance and cleverness of the people who make up the prime minister’s council of advisers — the political secretaries, the special advisers, the special officers and the Blue Ocean consultants. Wallahualam. —

kadirjasin.blogspot.com

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

The New Malaysian Cabinet-New Warriors or Wooden Horses?

All the President's Men

So much has been said and commented on Najib's new Cabinet line-up. Some in jest.

I will also give my personal take on this matter.

No comments on PM as he doubles up for the Finance portfolio. I guess he needs to hold on to this critical position as money is power!

As for Deputy PM Muhyideen, I think he should have moved on to Defense as he had his chance at the Education portfolio which he has showed little headway except for studies and semantics.

For Ahmad Zahid Hamidi , I think he has inherited a very powerful ministry with its obligations and responsibilities to ensure that the country continue to open up and be on the route firmly to become  a more open democracy; with less rein over public debate and engagement as well as over the mainstream media. If he continues with the earlier stoic unwieldy stance of Hishamuddin, then he will not see any progress either. Apparently he has started on the wrong foot after his swearing in. Wonder whether his outburst was rightly reported.

Ismail Sabri has been promoted to the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, replacing the inept Nor Omar. This should be a challenge to him after his quite high profile stint at the Domestic Trade portfolio. If he does well here, he should go further up the UMNO leadership ladder unlike his predecessor who was inadvertently caught in the hairy quagmire of bird nests and plastic fish buckets.

Shabery Cheek has been promoted to the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia after procuring a Olympic medal through badminton and a bronze in diving to boot! . Let us see how he can deal with the fast moving pace of ICT now that he has left the sporting arena. As for Nazri Aziz, he has taken over a portfolio finally though it may have just be a junior Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Wonder whether he can make headway at this post as he has shown himself as too uptight for a job of selling the country to tourists.

Shafie Apdal is cocooned once more in his old Ministry of Rural and Regional Affairs and so is Anifah Aman in Foreign Affairs. Maximus Ongkili moved on the Energy, Green Technology and Water while a new man, Ewon Ebin, takes over his Science Technology Portfolio. Will Ongkili solve the Langat 2 problem this time around when Peter Chin failed miserably due to political pressure?

Deputy MIC President, S.Subramaniam went on the carousel and got shunted off to deal with doctors, pharmacists, nurses and the medical profession at the Ministry of Health while his boss G.Palineval took on the Natural Resources and Environment post. With the poor oral skills in Bahasa Malaysia, I think he may have some teething problems dealing with the the NGOs in this area. It will be worse for him if he is not good on the international stage as this is a high profile post.

Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah stayed put as Finance Minister II and so did Mustapha Mohamad in International Trade. The same goes for Jamil Baharom in the PM's Department.

There are just too many Minister in Najib's Department  Unless we have viable and useful portfolios for them,they will just be cutters of ribbons and ceremonial decorations. Idris Jala seems to be omnipresent in spite of shifting premises for his PEMANDU programmes and predicting a bankrupt nation by 2019. The inclusion of two so-called experts in Paul Low and that wizard CEO from Maybank, Wahid  seems appealing but will they contribute meaningfully in fighting corruption and upping the economy?

Shahidan Kassim and Joseph Kurup also made their return to higher positions in the PM's Department along with newbies, Nancy Shukri  and Joseph Entulu  from Sarawak.

New blood in the form of Fadillah Yusoff of Sarawak took over the Works Ministry. In  youth and sport, we see Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar helming the Youth and Sports Ministry.  His deputy, Razali Ibrahim is now placed away at the PM's Department. Similarly, Douglas Uggah Embas is now shifted over to the Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Meanwhile Richard Riot, representing the non-Chinese component of SUPP bagged the Manpower Ministry while new man, Hasan Malek was chosen as the new Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism. Another Sabahan, Abdul Rahman Dahlan clinched the former Ministry of Well-being,Housing and Local government which was under the MCA.

Yet another Sarawakian took over the Women, Family and Community portfolio while Tengku Adnan was resurrected to his former Federal Territories Ministry despite the Lingamgate fiasco.

PPP found political survival despite being wiped out totally in the 13th GE. A token member, Loga Bala Mohan was made a Deputy Minister to assist in the Ministry of Federal Territory. So, I guess there is also a role for PPP in the up-coming Taipusam festival at Batu Caves now.

Controversial Waytha Moorthy, the disputed Hindraf head was rewarded with a Deputy Ministership in the PM's Department. Wonder what he can do now that he is possibly on solo mode. Will he take away the thunder of Indian affairs from the MIC?

As much as the opposition dislike them, they are sighing relief that the likes of Jamaluddin Jarjis, Ali Rustam  and Isa Samad did not make it into the Cabinet and political office this time around.

It's still early days and the KPI's are just about to be drawn out.................

Najib's New Team

Love them or hate them, but live with them for five more years.

This is the list of political administrators (The Executive) of the 13th Parliament of Malaysia.

The Tour de Force A Team  or lame duck?

Prime Minister

Najib Razak (UMNO)

Deputy Prime Minister

Muhyiddin Yassin (UMNO)

Prime Minister’s Department:

Ministers:

1. Jamil Khir Baharom (UMNO)

2. Abdul Wahid Omar (Senator)

3. Idris Jala (Senator)

4. Joseph Kurup (PBRS)

5. Shahidan KAssim (UMNO)

6. Nancy Shukri (PBB)

7. Paul Low Seng Kwan (Senator)

8. Joseph Entulu Belaun (PRS)

Deputy Ministers:

1. Razali Ibrahim (UMNO)

2. Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy (Senator)

Ministry of Finance

1. Minister of Finance 1: Najib Razak (UMNO)

2. Minister of Finance 2: Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah (UMNO)

Deputy Minister of Finance

3. Ahmad Maslan (UMNO)

Ministry of Transport

1. Minister: (Acting – post being held open pending MCA decision) Hishammuddin Hussein (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Ab Aziz Kaprawi (UMNO)

Ministry of Defence

1. Minister: Hishammuddin Hussein (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Abdul Rahim Bakri (UMNO)

Ministry of Home Affairs

1. Minister: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (PBB)

Ministry of Education & Higher Learning

1. Minister 1: Muhyiddin Yassin (UMNO)

2. Minister 2: Idris Jusoh (UMNO

3. Deputy Minister 1: Mary Yap Kain Ching (PBS)

4. Deputy Minister 2: P. Kamalanathan (MIC)

Ministry of Works

1. Minister: Fadillah Yusof (PBB)

2. Deputy Minister: Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin (UMNO)

Ministry of International Trade & Industry

1. Minister: Mustapa Mohamed (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Hamim Samuri (UMNO)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Minister: Anifah Aman (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Hamzah Zainuddin

Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism

1. Minister: Hasan Malek (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Ahmad Bashah Mohamad Hanipah (Senator)

Ministry of Communication & Multimedia

1. Minister: Ahmad Shabery Cheek (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Jailani Johari (UMNO)

Ministry of Human Resources

1. Minister: Richard Riot Jaem (SUPP)

2. Deputy Minister: Ismail Abdul Muttalib (UMNO)

Ministry of Rural & Regional Development

1. Minister: Shafie Apdal (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB)

Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing & Local Government

1. Minister: Abdul Rahman Dahlan (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Halimah Mohamad Saddique (UMNO)

Ministry of Youth & Sport

1. Minister: Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: M. Saravanan (MIC)

Ministry of Health

1. Minister: S. Subramaniam (MIC)

2. Deputy Minister: Hilmi Yahaya (UMNO)

Ministry of the Federal Territories

1. Minister: Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: J. Loga Bala Mohan (Senator)

The Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities

1. Minister: Douglas Uggah Embas (PBB)

2. Deputy Minister: Noriah Kasnon (UMNO)

Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water

1. Minister: Maximus Johnity Ongkili (PBS)

2. Deputy Minister: Mahdzir Khalid (UMNO)

Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry

1. Minister: Ismail Sabri Yaakob (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (UMNO)

Ministry of Tourism & Culture

1. Minister: Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (UMNO)

2. Deputy Minister: Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS)

Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

1. Minister: Ewon Ebin (UPKO)

2. Deputy Minister: Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah (UMNO)

Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment

1. Minister: G. Palanivel (MIC)

2. Deputy Minister: James Dawos Mamit (PBB)

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development

1. Minister: Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB)

2. Deputy Minister: Azizah Mohamad Dun (UMNO)

Ministers: 30

Deputy Ministers: 27

Total: 57

Total ministries: 24

Senators reappointed: 1

New Senators: 5

Backbenchers: 82

The Moon is a Balloon

See the moon at its best as it arises over Mount Victoria Lookout in New Zealand.

The Moon to Behold!

Such a wondrous sight to behold!

For David Niven, his world was a balloon!