Look Muhyiddin, Who is Playing Too Much Politics?

Posted by Khoo Kay Peng

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said excessive politicking gave an impression that Malaysia is too preoccupied with political bickering that more important things are being neglected.

Muhyiddin should walk his talk on curbing excessive politicking in his own backyard too. He should immediately put a stop to making a pass of the history subject a compulsory at the SPM level.

He should order a review of the history curriculum and contents to reflect a true and comprehensive account of the national history. Repeated calls for an immediate review were ignored by him and his ministry. The fact is the history subject aims to promote certain distorted views/facts about the making of this nation.

It is one of the worse abuses of Malaysia's diversity and national history by trying to corrupt the minds of young Malaysians.

On the same breath, he asked for Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim's resignation for failing to obtain 2/3 majority to pass the motion to amend the state constitution to empower the state top executive on appointment of top state civil servant.

This is another form of politicking. Muhyiddin has resorted to poor politicking as quick as he has asked for it to be curbed.

Although I am appalled by the Selangor Pakatan's government fiddling with feudalism, I support the amendment on the basis of power decentralisation. Malaysia is a federation of states. In the true spirit of the federal constitution, a state government should be allowed to appoint its own top civil servant.

Over the last few decades, the federal government has usurped almost the entire state autonomy. It was allowed to happen because the same ruling regime has been controlling both the federal and most of the state governments since independence.

For the sake this country, Muhyiddin should support the amendment and return the state power to the state executives. It is obvious that BN state representatives had been partisan in their rejection of the motion to return the power to appoint a top state civil servant back to the state.

Muhyiddin should walk his own talk. He should not over politicize his own ministry of education and look into the grouses on the recent controversial book 'Interlok'

Political Hypocrisy

Posted by Khoo Kay Peng

I met a Malaysian who has been living in Taipei for the past 20 plus years. He came back to Penang recently for a short visit.

In 2004, he was tempted back to Malaysia by the government's brain gain promises. He is an engineering consultant. His 3 years stay in Penang ended up with nothing. In 2006, he packed and left Penang for good.

He told me that Taiwan is set to become the next high growth state in the new decade. Taiwan's lacklustre past decade was due to its politics. A number of my Taiwanese friends lamented to the same fact that ex-premier Chen Sui Bian was more interested in playing up political rhetoric than mending the economy and find a new area of growth for the city state. Chen's tenure is now known as the lost decade.

Malaysia may end up with the same fate if politicians continue to play up unhealthy political rhetoric, stoking racial and religious sentiments and use the monarchy for their political mileage. Our politicians should respect the spirit of the federal constitution and not meddling with the monarchy and accuse one another with 'treason'.

Adding the monarchy element into the already messy political situation muddled by race and religion will turn our politics into a dangerous cocktail.

It is sad to note that Malaysia is slipping down a slop of regression. We are no longer a top destination for FDIs. I wonder how top brains can be attracted to come to Malaysia if politicians behave like feudal lords.

We continue to quarrel over Islamic state, history textbooks, a simple handshake of a Muslim woman, personalities etc.

Politicians in Malaysia are probably the biggest hypocrites. Imagine a leader who was caught in a private sex video questioning a married Muslim woman on her choice not to have any skin contact with other men. Imagine a former activist dumping his party and his principles to join another race based party just because he was unhappy with its leadership. Malaysian politics is too personality centric but lacked principle and sincerity.

I am afraid that our politics is going to fail us. Bad politics, poor public institutions, corruption, poor governance and policy direction are among the ingredients of a failed state.

Until and unless the voters can think straight and focus on quality of governance, this country may not turn its declining fortune around.

Sadly, more talents and frustrated people are going to leave the country before the Talent Corp can even start its full operations.

The Economic Debate

Posted by Khoo Kay Pen

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has challenged PM Najib Razak to a debate on the economy. Anwar had proposed a 100-day reform which includes giving additional RM500 to teachers, abolishing all tolls and others. He claimed that it will cost the country 'just' RM19 billion.

Najib said that the Pakatan proposal will turn Malaysia into the next Greece. However, he is set to spend RM67 billion on various ETP projects this year. Among the projects include the RM43 billion new LRT lines and a RM5 billion 100-storey buildings. Will Malaysia become make the Greece financial crisis look like a storm in a tea cup?

Of course a civilised, intellectual and constructive debate is always encouraged. Politicians need to learn how to debate effectively without needing to stroke racial or religious tensions. There are some serious economic issues in Malaysia which we hope the two leaders would not only focus on how much we need to spend or to build to develop the economy.

Anwar's proposal does not is not convincing enough. While Najib has criticized the move to give additional allowance to teachers, he had done the same for Felda settlers and others. Abolishing tolls is another no brainer strategy.

It is obvious that the Malaysian economy is no longer on the regional and global investors' radar. First, we are not part of a group of emerging economies which are touted to become hop spots of growth in the 21st century.

The Next Eleven (or N-11) are eleven countries—Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam—identified by Goldman Sachs investment bank as having a high potential of becoming the world's largest economies in the 21st century along with the BRICs. The bank chose these states, all with promising outlooks for investment and future growth, on December 12, 2005.

Goldman Sachs used macroeconomic stability, political maturity, openness of trade and investment policies, and the quality of education as criteria. The N-11 paper is a follow-up to the bank's 2003 paper on the four emerging "BRIC" economies, Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

BRICs economies has been growing rapidly since 2003 benefited from the attention and weight given by investment houses following the lead of Goldman Sachs.

Instead of wasting on rhetoric, both Pakatan and Barisan leaders should focus on issues such as:
1) Jobs creation - how to create more higher value and knowledge centric jobs
2) Income per capita - how to double Malaysia's income per capita of USD8,100 so that we do not have to double the population to achieve growth in aggregate demand?
3) Lack of skills & quality of education - how to enhance the skills of Malaysian labour through a quality education system. The ministry of education should stop the fixation with the history subject and politicizing the issue of citizenship.
4) Public institutions - how to enhance the transparency, effectiveness and productivity of a politically impartial public institutions and civil service?
5) Nationhood - how to achieve a real nationhood with a holistic and responsible social engineering agenda? If the Barisan government and the likes of Perkasa continue to brand all non-Malays as migrants after 53 years of independence then there is very little hope for Malaysia to be included in any category of emerging economies.

The debate should also focus on issues related to innovation, competitiveness and productivity.

Without a taking a serious look at the economic issues, the Malaysian economy will suffer the same malaise like our political system. Both Pakatan and Barisan should accept positive and constructive criticism that there many useless, irresponsible, manipulative and insincere politicians within their ranks who are apt at using religion and race to achieve their political ends. The recent manipulation of constitutional monarchy in their political contestation is going to hurl this country backward.

Both parties might as well bring back absolute monarchy, dump democracy and send Malaysia back to the feudal era.

We should take note that Malaysia is a small and not so significant country in the region. We should do our best to attract investment and talents to our country. There are many examples on how to do so. Just take a look at how Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland and other smaller countries are doing it.

They did it by putting a key focus on citizenship and value contribution of each individual and not colour of the skin or creed.

Meeting with Prof Dr Fauzias of UKM after 38 Years (1973-2011)

By: Cucu Hj Mat Amin

Ampang Selangor (14.01.2011): I took LRT from Cahaya Ampang to Chan Sow Lin. Then I changed train to Bandar Tasik Selatan. It was 9 am. When reached BTS I took a shuttle bus to enter UKM Campus. Before that I had asked a man at that station how far was the campus. He said the distance was about 2 km. At first I decided to walk, and then changed my mind to board the bus. In the bus I joined with other students who were also on the way to UKM Campus.

Yes, the distance is about 2 km. But upon reaching the UKM’s gate, then only I realized the distance from one campus to another quite far. Along the road in the campus still covered by the rain forests. Unlike IIUM in Gombak and USM Campus in Penang where the students could walk from one faculty to another. Luckily I boarded the bus; otherwise I would be really exhausted. When reaching the Faculty of Economics and Business a student told me it was. Yeah, it is near the Campus Library. So I dropped there. Straight away I walked into and took lift to 6^th Floor to meet the Professor of Finance, Dr Fauzias Mat Nor. When I reached there, the staff told me she was at her room at the 3^rd Floor, and she was no more the Dean.

Yes she was there with a Palestinian doctorate student. Ah, I have forgotten his name. Yeah, she was the one that I searched for. Patiently I sat on one of the chairs in her room waiting the student finishing his discussion with Prof Fauzias. In the meantime she gave me her book to read titled Merger and Acquisition.

Before left us, he was asked by her about Masjidil Al-Aqsa. He informed us that, the Palestinians are not permitted to enter the mosque unless they are above 50 years of age. The others could enter the mosque by getting special visas from the Israeli’s authority. To the Palestinians those who are given visas like they are have accepted the Israeli’s authority on the mosque.

Half an hour later it was my turn. We started the conversation with our stories for the past 38 years we that never met, and really have lost contact. She told me she was graduated in PhD in 1991 from a university in Dublin. Prior to that she had obtained her BBA and degrees MBA from universities in Miami Florida, USA.

She had married twice. The first husband was divorced, and the second husband died during their marriage. She gave me some tips to do the doctorate dissertation. Among others:

1) What the student really interested in.

2) Do not listen to many opinions and people.

3) The research has not been done before.

4) Get the really expert supervisor (s) in the research field.

5) Once approved by the university; start to focus on the case topic.

6) If can, try to seek for the refereed journals. SSRN.com.

7) Try to present the topic at colloquiums of the university.

8) Underlying theory and underpinning theory are the same.

During our discussion entered a student named Midon, who was also a doctorate student who waited for her for a short discussion after meeting with Dr Adenan who is expert in Organizational Behavior. Then one Associate Professor whose hometown is Kuala Kangsar, Perak also suddenly stood outside the door with a broken voice, just started to recover from the sickness.

After a short discussion with Midon, I continued chat with her. She asked me few questions. The only she remembered about me was both of us were prefects at SMIS, Parit in 1973. I told her that I knew some of her closed relatives in Parit such as Pakcik Latif Hj Mat Adil at the KAMRI Bazaar, Parit. And few of my late father’s relative such the Late Cikgu Abd Rahman Ibrahim, and the Late Hj Abdullah Ibrahim of Kg Baru, Parit. Hj Abdullah was the former Chairman of Majlis Tempatan Parit.

Unaware the time was already 1 pm., and it was Friday. I had to go to mosque for prayer. She sent me there by her daughter’s BMW car. The car that she ordered still not arrived yet. While in the car I told her about our friend, Mr. Ahmad Fauzi Mohamad, the former Head Prefect of our alma mater. He was some where around Shah Alam at a shop doing a business printing. She told me that it is near her place, but never have met. If met might be he would not recognize her any more because she was already ‘old’. Hahaha…

After finished praying, I made my way back. I waited a bus from the campus to go to the Commuter Station. Suddenly a bus numbered 666, arrived, and one student girl told me that I could also boarded the bus to the nearby commuter station. Without wasting time I boarded the bus. Five minutes after travelling I saw the UKM Commuter Station but the bus did not stop. To drop there then was already quite far a distant. So I just continued the journey to Bandar Kajang. When reached Kajang, I took a Rapid Bus which on its way to Pasar Seni Kuala Lumpur. After an hour I saw the bus was travelling along Jalan Pudu, and I saw the LRT station nearby. I just dropped there and waited for the LRT towards Ampang.

When reached Taman Dagang, I took an hour rest at seafood stall. I ordered meehoon-soup and Ice-tea. While waiting for the food (the chef not yet arrived), I re-played the recorder to hear the discussion then.

Apabila KSN diLuncaikan

Oleh: Subky Latif

LANGKAH kerajaan Selangor mempertikai perlantikan Datuk Khusrin Munawi sebagai Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor dikira oleh pentadbiran tinggi pusat sebagai mempertikai dan memperleceh penjawat awam atau PTD seluruhnya.

Menteri-menteri beranggapan begitu. Maka begitulah juga pendirian sekalian penyokong Umno seluruhnya.

Bahkan itulah reaksi awal Istana Selangor atas reaksi awal kerajaan Selangor atas perlantikan itu. Kira-kira reaksi istana itu ialah jangan pertikai perlantikan Khusrin kerana ia boleh merendahkan penjawat awam.

Kesimpulan dari keadaan itu telah menjadikan semua pihak di Selangor – dari istana ke gobok usang, dari kerajaan dan pejabat Menteri Besar hingga ke rakyat jelata telah diluncai oleh keadaan.

Siapa yang menjadikan semuanya luncai?

Mari kembali kepada pemikiran Perdana Menteri Dr. Mahathir ketika berlaku kejadian 11 September ke atas menara kembar Pusat Dagangan Dunia di New York. Presiden George W. Bush mengecam ia angkara keganasan Islam. Reaksi Dr. Mahathir ialah jangan mudah menyalahkan keganasan tetapi salahkan dulu punca keganasan. Apa puncanya? Carilah punca itu.

Beramok Bush dan Dr. Mahathir atas persoalan itu. Dan rasionalnya ada di pihak Dr. Mahathir.

Maka apabila penjawat awam di Selangor dan sekaliannya telah diluncai, apa puncanya dan siapa puncanya?

Puncanya ialah Ketua Setiausaha Negara. KSN telah jadi luncai yang pertama. Dia diluncaikan oleh penguasanya iaitu Perdana Menteri Najib. Perdana Menteri itu ada politiknya. Justeru politiknya dia meluncai KSN dan seluruh sistem pentadbiran awam 1Malaysia.

Apabila merojok kepada pentadbiran awam 1Malaysia, maka ia satu pentadbiran luncai. Tindakan KSN dalam melaksanakan kuasanya mengikut undang-undang yang ada, telah meluncaikan perlantikan Khusrin. Ia dibuat mengikut undang-undang tetapi tindakannya tidak bijaksana. Undang-undang adalah satu hal tetapi kebijaksanaan adalah hal yang lain.

Gara-gara mengikut undang-undang semata-mata tetapi mengenepikan aspek bijaksana menjadikan SUK Selangor yang baru Luncai yang kedua.

Khusrin diluncaikan oleh Luncai pertama iaitu KSN. Reaksi kerajaan Selangor yang dikira meluncaikan penjawat awam telah menambahkan suasana luncai Khusrin.

Gara-gara reaksi kerajaan Selangor itu telah terbongkar Khusrin bukanlah pegawai PTD jusa yang ada kelas. Kelas jusa Khusrin belum layak jadi SUK. SUK jusa kelas tinggi.

Bukan senang untuk jadi jusa dari satu kelas ke satu kelas. Mesti melalui ujian. Mesti lulus ujian dulu.

Ramai lagi penjawat awam di Selangor yang sudah ada kelayakan jusa bagi menjadi calon SUK itu. Tetapi mereka tidak dipilih oleh KSN. KSN memilih pegawai jusa yang lebih rendah. Ini bererti penjawat awam seluruhnya, bukan sekadar di Selangor saja, telah diluncaikan oleh pentadiran luncai itu.

Di mana letak moral jusa kelas tinggi hendak duduk di bawah ketua jusa kelas rendah? Tidakkah mereka sudah dikartunkan iaitu sudah diluncaikan?

Inilah yang melambatkan Presiden Jerman dulu dalam melantik Hitler untuk menjadi Censelor. Hitler adalah bekas koperal tentera, sedangkan Presiden itu adalah pesara Fieldmarshal. Bagaimana Presiden yang berpangkat panglima hendak mendengar nasihat Censelor yang hanya seorang koperal?

Oleh kerana politik itu begitu, panglima terpaksa menerima kperal menjadi penasihatnya iaitu ketua kerajaannya. Censelor Jerman itu ada kedudukan politik. SUK Selangor bukan jawatan politik. Ia jawatan awam.

Hanya dalam suasana luncai saja seorang penjawat awam boleh dilantik menjadi SUK seperti melantik penjawat politik.

Bukan sekadar maruah Khusrin dipersoal dan direndahkan, tetapi maruah penjawat awam yang layak tetapi diketepi juga ikut terleceh. Semua menerima malu. Bukan Khusrin saja malu, habis semua orang lain malu sama. Ada yang malu kerana tidak terpilih dan ada yang malu kerana status jusya telah diluncaikan.

Apabila marauh sudah tercemar, bayangkan bagaimana anak Khusrin hendak berdepan dengan kawan-kawannya? Kawan-kawannya tahu, inilah anak orang yang perlantikannya telah dipertikai. Isterinya yang hendak menghadiri majlis rasmi yang dihadiri sama oleh isteri lain. Mereka akan merenung wajah isteri yang suaminya dikata begitu dan begini.

Apa masing-masing hendak kata apabila melihat Raja yang terperangkap dalam politik luncai itu?

Seronokkah KSN dengan tindakannya yang mengikut undang-undang tetapi tidak bijaksana? Dia sepatutnya bersara dalam suasana aman tetapi menjelang persaraannya dia menempuh alam luncai. Itulah pentadbiran 1Malaysia.