Hantu Laut
It's good news that the government has started a crackdown on PKFZ but those arrested today are only ikan bilis. The tip of the iceberg.
Let's hope it's the beginning of a major crackdown.The government must get the sharks, the ones that benefited the most from the debacle.
This is the biggest financial scandal so far and no stone should be left unturned to nap the biggest thief of them all.
Read full story here.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Nazri Darling Of The Oppositions
Hantu Laut
Is Mahathir a bloody racist?
Going by his record as prime minster for 22 years would any of you (except those the likes of Nazri and Pakatan Rakyat) think that Mahathir is a racist?
Didn't the Chinese businesses prosper during his time inspite of the NEP? Did the Indians complained they were marginalised? Sure, the antagonists would say those were under wraps during his time but the fact remains that the non-Malays didn't ditch Mahathir and the BN, which they could have if they wanted to during any general elections.Instead, they voted overwhelmingly for the BN during his time.
So, how can a man accepted by the non-Malays as their leader for 22 years be called a racist?
Nazri can shout till kingdom comes and should put the money where his mouth is.He should be honest and say who was actually rejected by the non-Malays.
Why are the press giving credence to this uncouth Malay man called Nazri calling former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad a 'bloody racist'.What exactly has he done to this country to put himself on the high pedestals?
In June 2005, this grandstanding attention seeking maniac shouted the phrase 'bloody racist" 28 times in Parliament.Here is a line of his antics in Parliament when he asked another minister to sit down. Racist, racist duduk, racist duduk. Hei, duduk, perkauman duduk, bloody racist, duduk.
In July 2006, he caused a big stir in Sabah by saying the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah does not contribute to any social ills or disrupt the lives and economy of the Sabahan people. Sabahans asked him to go to hell and called him a bloody racist.
Has he ever said the right thing? The man shoots his mouth faster than his brain could work. His political grandstanding is a reflection of his insecurity and frustrations.
Suddenly, he becomes a darling of the oppositions.They love him and agree with him that Mahathir is a bloody racist.They say he has paid penance by admitting UMNO is a racist party and the mother of all racists is Mahathir.
Below is a comment from eddy, a regular commentator of this blog.
I share eddy's sentiments except the sacking.
Is Mahathir a bloody racist?
Going by his record as prime minster for 22 years would any of you (except those the likes of Nazri and Pakatan Rakyat) think that Mahathir is a racist?
Didn't the Chinese businesses prosper during his time inspite of the NEP? Did the Indians complained they were marginalised? Sure, the antagonists would say those were under wraps during his time but the fact remains that the non-Malays didn't ditch Mahathir and the BN, which they could have if they wanted to during any general elections.Instead, they voted overwhelmingly for the BN during his time.
So, how can a man accepted by the non-Malays as their leader for 22 years be called a racist?
Nazri can shout till kingdom comes and should put the money where his mouth is.He should be honest and say who was actually rejected by the non-Malays.
Why are the press giving credence to this uncouth Malay man called Nazri calling former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad a 'bloody racist'.What exactly has he done to this country to put himself on the high pedestals?
In June 2005, this grandstanding attention seeking maniac shouted the phrase 'bloody racist" 28 times in Parliament.Here is a line of his antics in Parliament when he asked another minister to sit down. Racist, racist duduk, racist duduk. Hei, duduk, perkauman duduk, bloody racist, duduk.
In July 2006, he caused a big stir in Sabah by saying the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah does not contribute to any social ills or disrupt the lives and economy of the Sabahan people. Sabahans asked him to go to hell and called him a bloody racist.
Has he ever said the right thing? The man shoots his mouth faster than his brain could work. His political grandstanding is a reflection of his insecurity and frustrations.
Suddenly, he becomes a darling of the oppositions.They love him and agree with him that Mahathir is a bloody racist.They say he has paid penance by admitting UMNO is a racist party and the mother of all racists is Mahathir.
Below is a comment from eddy, a regular commentator of this blog.
I share eddy's sentiments except the sacking.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Loose Cannons Playing To The Gallery: Nazri versus Mahathir
Hantu Laut
Nazri's outburst against former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on the BTN issue was nothing more than playing to the gallery.An attempt to redeem himself from his usual brand of antics.
There are better ways to response to Tun Mahathir's comment on the issue and branding him as a racist certainly is not one of them.
Nazri needs to learn some table manners and learn how to use the right tools for the occasion.
If it takes a thief to catch a thief than Nazri is a bigger racist than Mahathir.
All of a sudden you find all kind of maggots crawling out of the woodwork and claimed to have inside information on the racist policy of Mahathir.
Was it an indoctrination of racism or a programme to instill patriotism? This man, a former director of the agency says Mahathir transformed the BTN into a super-racist agency.
On the other hand, this man who is a Chinaman seems to have more finesse and decorum than those Malays that attacked Mahathir.He tells a different story.
Gerakan President Dr Koh Tsu Koon revealed the more plausible side of the story.
Koh admitted he himself has attended one such course with other political and corporate leaders, presided personally by Mahathir and said the former prime minister may not be aware of the latest slant in the BTN courses.Below is what he said.
“The content of the courses emphasised on unity and understanding as well as the need to handle all issues with great care and sensitivity.
Nazri's outburst against former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on the BTN issue was nothing more than playing to the gallery.An attempt to redeem himself from his usual brand of antics.
There are better ways to response to Tun Mahathir's comment on the issue and branding him as a racist certainly is not one of them.
Nazri needs to learn some table manners and learn how to use the right tools for the occasion.
If it takes a thief to catch a thief than Nazri is a bigger racist than Mahathir.
All of a sudden you find all kind of maggots crawling out of the woodwork and claimed to have inside information on the racist policy of Mahathir.
Was it an indoctrination of racism or a programme to instill patriotism? This man, a former director of the agency says Mahathir transformed the BTN into a super-racist agency.
On the other hand, this man who is a Chinaman seems to have more finesse and decorum than those Malays that attacked Mahathir.He tells a different story.
Gerakan President Dr Koh Tsu Koon revealed the more plausible side of the story.
Koh admitted he himself has attended one such course with other political and corporate leaders, presided personally by Mahathir and said the former prime minister may not be aware of the latest slant in the BTN courses.Below is what he said.
“The content of the courses emphasised on unity and understanding as well as the need to handle all issues with great care and sensitivity.
“However, recent feedback from participants since last year showed that the BTN course has diverted from its earlier version.
“Participants, including JPA scholars, felt very upset and disheartened,” he said and added that the need to revamp is based on such feedback.
By the statement above it appears that Mahathir was right that there was nothing wrong with the BTN courses.Someone, must have changed the syllabus after he stepped down as prime minister.
It would also be interesting to know how the racist syllabus is conducted, pitting the Malays against other races when there are Chinese,Indians and other non-Malays participants attending the course.
Calling Mahathir a racist is a gross injustice when his 22-year rule proved otherwise.Most Chinese and Indians voted for the BN during his time.The Chinese and Indians jumped ship after Pak Lah took over.
So, who is the racist and the liar here?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Will History Be Kind To Mahathir?
Hantu Laut
Mahathir still carries that mixed aura of love,hate and fear.This is the man you either love or hate and both feelings can be just as intense. He has had the greatest influence over the lives of Malaysians, more than any other prime minister before him. He has been the longest serving prime minister and one that have brought the nation to greater height.
As long as Mahathir lives, friends and foes , will not hear the last of him.His blog, is a testimony of his popularity.Whatever the political pundits say or write about him, he is an indelible icon of Malaysian politics.
Malaysians will remember him, in awe or in contempt, but the fact remains that he has done more for this nation than any of his detractors.
As long as Mahathir lives, friends and foes , will not hear the last of him.His blog, is a testimony of his popularity.Whatever the political pundits say or write about him, he is an indelible icon of Malaysian politics.
Malaysians will remember him, in awe or in contempt, but the fact remains that he has done more for this nation than any of his detractors.
When he became prime minister in 1982 I was still in my youth. Now, almost 27 years later I must admit I have less stamina than our octogenarian ex-premier, a man endowed with so much energy and sound mental faculty, putting many younger men to shame.
Many books have been written about him, favourably or otherwise.The latest addition to the realm of Mahatirism was written by former Asian Wall Street Journal reporter Barry Wain.A review of the book was done by John Berthelsen of Asia Sentinel, which you can find in my earlier posting below.I have yet to get a copy.
Many books have been written about him, favourably or otherwise.The latest addition to the realm of Mahatirism was written by former Asian Wall Street Journal reporter Barry Wain.A review of the book was done by John Berthelsen of Asia Sentinel, which you can find in my earlier posting below.I have yet to get a copy.
I wrote the article below in September 2007, a few months after I started blogging.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
A TRIBUTE TO MAHATHIR; ARCHITECT OF MODERN MALAYSIA
HANTU LAUT
Tun Mahathir had his second heart bypass a week ago, eighteen years after his first. Not many man of his age could physically and emotionally be strong enough to go through such operation without fear of complications.The doctor operating him proclaimed him an octogenarian in a sexagenarian body. A man endowed with good physical and mental health that can only come from someone who leads a disciplined lifestyle.A close friend once joked and told me "Mahathir refuses to die before he sees Badawi out of office".
The day he was sacked from UMNO by the the late Tungku Abdul Rahman and his controversial book, the 'Malay Dilemma', which the Tungku took as an insult to the Malay race, was actually a book of self-examination and self-criticism... where and why the Malays have gone wrong and how to correct the social imbalance with other races in the country. He hasn't stopped trying ever since.
Mahathir, probably didn't realize that he has gone against the natural flow of Malay culture. The culture of subservience. An 'adat' of not questioning the elders, no matter how wrong they were. Such 'adat' exists, not only in the Malay culture, but in many other Asian culture as well.
Mahathir, probably didn't realize that he has gone against the natural flow of Malay culture. The culture of subservience. An 'adat' of not questioning the elders, no matter how wrong they were. Such 'adat' exists, not only in the Malay culture, but in many other Asian culture as well.
During his tenure as Prime Minister he was probably the most misunderstood man. He has become an enigma to his own people.During his twenty two years in power he was also not short of controversies.He has thrown in prison opposition leaders, politicians to professionals and anyone whom he perceived as subversive element endangering security of the nation.Many Malaysians took this as an unpleasant behaviour of a dictator.As those who read Shakepeares would remember what Brutus told the people of Rome "Not that I loved Ceaser less, but that I loved Rome more." Mahathir has the same notion. He is prepared to sacrifice your personal liberty if he thinks you are a risk to the bigger number.
Any deviant Islamist movement that posed threats to national security would be nipped in the butt during his time.On hind sight, we may have to thank him for his foresight and prompt action to arrest those deviant groups before they become too influential and irretrievably entrenched in the Muslim community. Malaysia, so far had been spared from terrorist's attacks. Al-Qaeida had not been able to make any foothold here. The Philippines and Indonesia weren't as lucky.Pakistan, a country with strong Islamist movement is now becoming a hot bed for terrorism and a potential candidate of a failed state. Civil disobedience and suicide bombing are growing with each passing day.
On the 19th November 1985, a chartered MAS Airbus full of government officials, politicians and Malaysian businessmen was on it way to Beijing, China. Also on board was Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.It was a trade mission and the first visit by a Malaysian Prime Minister to China.I was one of the passengers on that aircraft.
Two hours out of Kuala Lumpur we received a terrible news about a massacre in Memali.The initial report was sketchy and gave heavy casualties on both sides. A much clearer picture emerged when we arrived Beijing.The toll was 14 Islamists dead, 4 policemen killed and an unknown number injured.
Mahathir, by the stroke of good luck escaped the tragic moment and the eventual blame. Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam has to carry the burden for the tragic loss of lives and was accused of gross negligence and mishandling of the crisis. Incidentally, the leader of the group, Ibrahim Mahmud, also known as Ibrahim Libya used to worked as a prosecutor in the Religious division of the Prime Minister's Department.A graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo he pursued further religious courses in India and Libya. He must have picked up the extreme version of Islam while in Libya. He was also an active member of PAS.
Two hours out of Kuala Lumpur we received a terrible news about a massacre in Memali.The initial report was sketchy and gave heavy casualties on both sides. A much clearer picture emerged when we arrived Beijing.The toll was 14 Islamists dead, 4 policemen killed and an unknown number injured.
Mahathir, by the stroke of good luck escaped the tragic moment and the eventual blame. Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam has to carry the burden for the tragic loss of lives and was accused of gross negligence and mishandling of the crisis. Incidentally, the leader of the group, Ibrahim Mahmud, also known as Ibrahim Libya used to worked as a prosecutor in the Religious division of the Prime Minister's Department.A graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo he pursued further religious courses in India and Libya. He must have picked up the extreme version of Islam while in Libya. He was also an active member of PAS.
Another dark chapter in the nation's political history was the Sabah state elections in 1985 where PBS, an opposition party in the state won the elections with a simple majority. A power grab ensued,engineered by sore losers in Berjaya. Having won only 6 seats the dawn raiders used Tun Mustapha of USNO which won 16 seats giving them a coalition of only 22 seats to justify Mustapha to be sworn in as Chief Minister. The rightful candidate Joseph Pairin whose party garnered 26 seats was barred from entering the Istana for swearing in as the rightful chief minister.
By a stroke of good luck, Mahathir was again outside the country.It fell on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Musa Hitam to deal with the crisis. With a clear conscience and respect for democracy Musa averted an international outcry by advising the Yang Dipertuan Negeri to swear in Joseph Pairin. Mustapha, who has been sworn in earlier took the case to court but lost.After 11 months in office, PBS decided to call a fresh election and won with a bigger majority, collecting 34 out of 48 state seats.
Mahathir, certainly has not been free from faults. The rotation system for the Chief Minister of Sabah was a bad political decision.The system had put back the development of the state significantly behind other states in Malaysia due to break in continuity of a stable administration.If not for his high-handed ways people like Yong Tet Lee, Bernard Dompok and Chong Kah Kiat would never had a chance to be Chief Minister.
The constant bickering amongst the Sabah leaders and their selfishness were probably the reasons for the unconstitutional decision. I wouldn't completely blame Mahathir for it, he probably saw it as a suitable solution to the Sabahan problems.It's the greedy Sabah leaders who should take much of the blame. Even now, they are still harping on the issue of rotation. More ridiculous, there are people in Sabah UMNO who think the seat should be rotated amongst UMNO state leaders, a kind of Sabah UMNO musical chair.
The constant bickering amongst the Sabah leaders and their selfishness were probably the reasons for the unconstitutional decision. I wouldn't completely blame Mahathir for it, he probably saw it as a suitable solution to the Sabahan problems.It's the greedy Sabah leaders who should take much of the blame. Even now, they are still harping on the issue of rotation. More ridiculous, there are people in Sabah UMNO who think the seat should be rotated amongst UMNO state leaders, a kind of Sabah UMNO musical chair.
Whatever wrongs he has done during his tenure as Prime Minister, he has done more for the good of the nation.The accelerated development of Malaysia from a tropical backwater into a modern nation was due to his visions and efforts. The whole GDP outlook changed during his time, from an agricultural based economy to multi-sector economy. Great emphasis was given in infrastructural developments. Major development of highways, ports, airports and other infrastructures were given priority.
The Penang Bridge at one time condemned and criticised by the oppositions as a megalomania and wasteful project has now reached maximum capacity. A second bridge is now needed to ease traffic congestion. Some of his seemingly grandiose projects, the butt of jokes and unfair criticism, are now the pride of the nation.
The Penang Bridge at one time condemned and criticised by the oppositions as a megalomania and wasteful project has now reached maximum capacity. A second bridge is now needed to ease traffic congestion. Some of his seemingly grandiose projects, the butt of jokes and unfair criticism, are now the pride of the nation.
In 1982, when he took over office of Prime Minister, the Malaysia's GDP(at official exchange rate) was US$26.79 billion.In 2006, the GDP was US$138 billion.Much of the momentum for growth was set during his time.
In the early eighties, travel time by car from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore would take six hours or more.A nightmarish drive behind endless convoy of slow moving trucks and cars with little space for overtaking. A depressingly tense journey.Overtaking another vehicle is a risky business and a gamble with your life. Now, with the new highways, Singapore is just a stone's throw away from KL, a drive of less than 3 hours. When he first announced a toll system for the highways there were huge uproar from the opposition political parties and general public.Would anyone complain now that the new highways have cut down their travelling time and safer than before? Yes, they do.Malaysians want everything free.
Mahathir, is a man who learned a lot from observations.Things he sees on his visits to other countries which he thinks benefical to Malaysia would be introduced. His never ending search to pull the country out of the rut and on to the world stage have been met with scepticism, not only at home but also from the international community, particularly the West, whom were not exactly friendly with him.
Mahathir is a man of true grit. He will do what he had to do.No amount of criticism can discourage or stop him.
This man has a burning desire to rehabilitate the Malays.He had diagnosed the problem and believed he has the right prescription. He wanted them to excel in every fields particularly in commerce and industry.He wanted them to be good businessmen and leaders of industry. He wanted to build up the number of wealthy Malays in the hope that they would one day be the biggest contributor to the Malaysian economy and would then help other Malays to climb the corporate ladder. Many government owned companies were privatised to selected Malays whom he believed to have entrepreneurship qualities.He wanted them to be respected by their non-Malay peers.Unfortunately, many of those he helped had disappointed him. Good companies given on the platter were eventually wrecked by mismanagement, incompetence, greed and selfishness. MAS was one of his biggest mistakes. Others, like Pewaja, UEM and many others have incurred huge losses due to mismanagement and corruptions.
Towards the end of his fifth term in office, Mahathir had become very unpopular with his own people. The very people he tried very hard to help to change their mindset and progress with the time.The Malays have no more room for him.They have had enough of his domineering ways and often insulting remarks about his kinships. They wanted him out but nobody has the balls to tell him. Nobody knew how much support he stills has.Many complained that he had become a liability to the party but none dare tell him in his face.
On June 22, 2002, Mahathir dropped the biggest bombshell and made a big sacrifice by announcing his resignation as prime minister at the 56th UMNO General Assembly. The delegates were caught by surprise and were in shocking disbelief as there wasn't even a whimper of what they just heard.There was chaos on the floor as delegates tried to make sense of what they just heard.
Sobbing Mahathir was quickly surrounded by senior UMNO officials. The first to reach him were Rafidah Aziz and Hishammudin Onn, pleading and sobbing that he reconsiders his decision. Abdullah Badawi, his deputy requested the delegates to reject his resignation. Mahathir was shunted out of the hall to a closed door meeting. Behind closed doors deals were worked out.
The 'sandiwara' ended with slight deferment to the date of his stepping down. It was later announced that Mahathir will stay on until October 2003 after hosting the OIC Summit.
Sobbing Mahathir was quickly surrounded by senior UMNO officials. The first to reach him were Rafidah Aziz and Hishammudin Onn, pleading and sobbing that he reconsiders his decision. Abdullah Badawi, his deputy requested the delegates to reject his resignation. Mahathir was shunted out of the hall to a closed door meeting. Behind closed doors deals were worked out.
The 'sandiwara' ended with slight deferment to the date of his stepping down. It was later announced that Mahathir will stay on until October 2003 after hosting the OIC Summit.
Mahathir finally stepped down in October 2003 and was replaced by his anointed successor, Abdullah Badawi. Within less than two years the two men have drifted apart.Mahathir continually attacking Badawi for having reneged on his promises.
Mahathir, once the most powerful man in the country, revered and feared by some, hated and feared by some, had become a thorn in the flesh of Abdullah and members his cabinet.The very same people who kissed his hand when he was the giver and the Prime Minister. Mahathir lamented "Melayu senang lupa"(Malays easily forget)
Mahathir, once the most powerful man in the country, revered and feared by some, hated and feared by some, had become a thorn in the flesh of Abdullah and members his cabinet.The very same people who kissed his hand when he was the giver and the Prime Minister. Mahathir lamented "Melayu senang lupa"(Malays easily forget)
Mahathir didn't have to resign.With his good health he could still carry on for at least another term or two.
Without the slightest doubt, the man resigned to save UMNO from the humiliation of not doing well at the poll because of him. A good leader knew when his tenancy has expired, the one who didn't tend to overstay.
Abdullah's government is now fighting an uphill battle to keep its creditability.The recent exposure by the the Auditor-General of massive mismanagement and corruptions in a number of Ministries and the costly bail-out of the PKFZ would have serious repercussions on the BN in future general elections.
Whatever his enemies say, history will be kind to Mahathir.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Nazri should be sacked from UMNO and sacked from the Najib Cabinet immediately. What is the point of keeping a cabinet Minister whose very words and actions are being used as ammunition by Pakatan to attack the Barisan Nasional Government. Nazri is a liability for UMNO and Barisan Nasional, PM Najib has a duty of care to get rid this dirty thorn in the flesh of BN.The sooner Nazri is thrown out the better is it for UMNO, otherwise Najib will be bogged down in a battle that he would not want and could not win.
Furthermore if Dr Mahathir is branded a racist, then UMNO is racist for defending and promoting Malay rights, then MIC, MCA and Gerakan are also racist parties. Lim Kit Siangs's DAP are also racist for defending and promoting the rights of the Chinese, Hindraf is also racist, hell even the Malay,Chinese and Indian educationist are racist for promoting and defending their race's language interest. With this kind of benchmarking are all of us racist in one form or the other? Nazri is worse than a racist he is an extremist.
December 9, 2009 1:27 PM