"For Attention Mr Chris:- Education's Prestation Under DEB"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(please click on images for full size)

11 August 2007 BANGI:
The "Kampung Boy" is now Dr Lat.
Cartoonist Datuk Mohamad Nor Khalid, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Anthropology and Sociology by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on Saturday.
"I've never heard of a cartoonist being awarded with an honourary doctorate before.......
"But we don't really work for this (honourary doctorates)," said the soft-spoken man, who has been "doodling" ...., even before he started school.
- eTawau

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Malaysia Today had me "bowled" - they published a link to Pragmatic Revelations, which showed an advertorial in NST (Aug. 26) as above.
I was totally unaware of it, as I gave up on the MSM newspapers long ago for "news" - gave up on NST 5 yrs ago, & the Star- three yrs. I confess however, that I kept buying Star for a daily dose of Calvin & Hobbes ....

That advertorial on the Honorary Degree, definitely had me laughing my pants off! Not so much because of the horrendous Kampung English coming from an Institution of higher learning, but that NST could have actually published it at all!!
And they actually published an apology stating that it was unfit to be published in the first place saying, "The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad, as publisher and printer, hereby expresses deep regret for inadvertently printing the advertorial, which was unfit to be published. The advertorial was produced by University Tun Hussein Onn....."
Was NST trying to do a Nasty on Mr. Chris, in illustrating the quality of the "educational excellence" under the NEP "education blueprint", or were they simply stating that the Editorial board is made up of knuckleheads?

It reminded me of the doctorate awarded by UKM to Lat - that genius of a cartoonist - and his response to it (above).
How I loved his caricatures of politicians - still remember his caricature of the race for the DPM post during Hussein Onn's time. In it, he had Mahathir, Ku Li, Ghazali Shafie and one other character. His caricature of Tan Sri Kadir was hysterical. Mahathir however, probably wasn't much of a fan - Lat caricatures of Mahathir were totally classic, but became increasingly rare and "tame" as Mahathirism took hold.
I really wonder what Lat would've had to say through his cartoons in these interesting times with interesting characters ......

Getting back to the point - it appears to me that dishing out degrees or paper
"quali-fictions" under the NEP since the Mahathir era has become some sort of joke. They almost treat it like the tin cans with titles which they dish out for a fee .....

I wonder if it is because Mahathir had no respect for the sancitity of any institution (be it the Media, Royalty, Judiciary, Security or the academia) or simply that he was turned off by intellectuals and the idea of freedom.
The "rise of the kangkungs" definitely was propelled to the mainstream institutions during his time .....

That is the legacy of the man touted as the father of "modern Malaysia" today - mediocrity at the extreme.
However, he always blamed the people for his failures - although it was he who set the stage for it, and led all the kangkungs by their noses, to satisfy their greed for status, riches, "glory" and power.
They accepted his arguments, and happily admitted to be failures ...
Using their religion/skin as "merit points", he made sure that they were uncompetitive, and would be eternally indebted to him for the "rights" granted. He created a whole generation of "drug addicts", living in their psychological ghettoes, waiting for their "right" to the next NEP/ Ketuanan "fix"....

That being the case, they were easily manipulated and twisted to suit Mahathir's political ambitions. Just as he made them, he believed that he was entitled to break them .....
When their "durian" disappears into thin air or into pockets of "pseudo-entrepreneurs", they always have the industrious "Nons" to blame, threaten or whack as scapegoats (despite having paid their taxes) - maybe even call for blood, as a rallying call.

It therefore comes as no surprise that any intellectual who did not "fall in line" was somewhat scorned, ridiculed, victimised or penalised for various "misdemeanors" through the MSM (like you know which).
Is it any wonder that he appeared to despise intellectuals and their opinions?
Is it any wonder that they have come to believe that it was their right to be walking with crutches for eternity?
Is it any wonder that after 25 yrs of indoctrination, that they believe that "the nons" are simply squatters, whose job is to pay taxes, so that it may be squandered by the rent/favour seeking "tuans" who wave their kris, call for "Chinese blood" or threaten a May 13? That too, the education ministers ....

What we have seen is a pattern/ trend of events, which has worsened over time. They had every intention of shaping the minds of the future generations to think in such a manner - right from Razak's time, when Mahathir was propelled to the education portfolio. Then came the AUKU, Najib, Bahasa Baku and the one & only Mr. Chris.

So, the vulgarity of "Altantuya", Chris, The Bung, Adnan Yaakob, Syed Yusof (ex-Jasin), Zulkifli Nordin, Ahmad Ismail, Bulbar, Nazri, Fairuz, Lingam, UiTM VC etc etc etc - are simply the manifestation of a legacy crafted over a generation ago.
Even if they were to apologize, I seriously doubt that they would actually understand what they were doing, let alone mean it.

Just like constipation which is relieved with much pressure- Najib's delayed apology ("if it offended the sensitivities of .....") on behalf of the culprit, stinks.
Those who fall for it must be so totally deluded and devoid of any self respect. Should their allies have any sense of self respect, they would demand at least a public apology and resignation from the culprit, even if criminal charges aren't made against him for questioning the citizenship of Malaysians.

Nothing less than a total overhaul/revamp of the decadent system which is perpetuated by pirates of the constitution would do - and that can only come about by booting out these pirates!

We have 14 days to Malaysia Day on September 16 ....... let's hope for the best!

"Merdeka" & The Haunting Spectre of May 13.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"A good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot."
- Thomas B. Macaulay

If the Constitution is worth anything, if the Declaration of Independence is worth anything, if the boys who died on the field of battle did not die in vain, fair employment practices are correct and necessary."
-Dennis Chavez (1888-1962)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Somehow, watching the video clip above, didn't quite get me "all misty eyed".
It actually gave me goose-bumps!

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Declaration of Malayan Independence - "Merdeka" was shouted out seven times by The Tunku, along with the crowds at Stadium Merdeka. It was an "independent" Malaya - at least, that's what it was supposed to mean.
At that time, Sabah & Sarawak didn't fit in the equation, and didn't matter at all. Six years on - on 16 September, 1963, Malaysia came to be, with the incorporation of Sabah & Sarawak.
It is rather odd that this day, when the nation came to exist isn't a National Holiday, but Merdeka Day or some other festivals are - I wonder why .....

Could it be becos Umno/BN wouldn't be able to take total credit for it, and indulge in its shameless narcissism? The absence of Parliamentary Opposition members in the "celebrations", despite being partners in nation building, is quite telling .....
Anyway, I do wish there would be more information about the pre-Malaysia Sabah/Sarawak politics and leadership, and terms of agreement with their counterparts in the Peninsular, is made available to the public to enhance national integration.

Although Tunku helmed the leadership, he was just the compassionate face of Umno. Tunku was the "happiest Prime Minister in the world" oblivious to the workings of Razak's Umno - just as required by the powers that be at the time.
The Malay leadership was however quite discontented with the lack of 'progress' on the part of the Alliance leadership (read, Tunku), which was made to be seen as "bourgeoisie".
Razak on the other hand, had decided that the time was ripe for 'change' - and what is perceived by many as a political coup.

He may have been (relatively) right to do what he did, considering the circumstances at that time - so as to realize the vision which he had for the future - although the foundation upon which he built, was flawed.
He possibly had to "trim" the divisive "chauvinism" that existed among certain quarters at that time.
He needed to prevent the perception that the "Malay identity" of Malaya would be lost, had Umno not asserted their "dominance" in Malaysian polity and Razak wasn't entirely wrong, nor was he to be blamed entirely for this scenario.
Without a doubt, there were "pirates" within Umno, who saw a "pie" in the hegemony. But then again, there were "capitalistic" elements in other parties as well which sought to disregard/look down upon the Malays (as being "Kampung/backward"), and dominate the economic sphere - they never really cared for the Malay sentiments or "nationhood", being absorbed in their immigrant industry and mindset of "survival/progress".

It resulted it May 13, 1969 - the day that lives in infamy in our minds and hearts.This was the "foundation" upon which Razak built, to reshape/re engineer society using the affirmative action of NEP, which was meant to be one of "compassion" (although discriminatory to a certain extent).It was meant to be an instrument to reassure the Malay stake in nation building - and not as an instrument of arrogance and pride.

It was why he always had learned men of calibre around him, who were by and large quite liberal by today's standards. The cabinet had many lawyers (I remember Tan Sri Kadir ...) who understood the law, unlike the many spin doctors and imbeciles of today. Razak himself made efforts to be called to the bar, despite being in power - couldn't say the same for anybody in the post-Hussein Onn era, though .... and at one time, we even had a Medical Doctor telling people he knew the law better than the best legal minds!

This "May 13" is however, used time and again by certain quarters to intimidate, threaten and rule, like it is a "feather in the Cap", an "achievement" to be proud of - when it should be a day of shame - to rally their unthinking followers into "asserting their rights" (which are actuality, only 'privileges' with an expiry date).
Merdeka Day as we know it, is "celebrated" as the achievement of one party, the BN/Umno/MCA/MIC - and not that of the people, which includes the Opposition.

I have my doubts that Tun Razak intended the politics of Malaysia to evolve into one, that is as today, dominated and corrupted by Pride, Arrogance, Piracy, Racism and Religiosity - under the guise of NEP. It is my belief, that although the NEP was well intentioned, in that it sought to "restructure society" towards a more equitable distribution of wealth and knowledge. It was never intended to go beyond what it was designed to do - i.e. to give the Malay populace a foothold in the economic sphere, beyond which they were expected to hold their own, and rise to the challenge of competition.

Beyond it's expiry date, although it was renamed by Mahathir (MDP, was it?), it set the stage for chauvinism, greed, corruption and "money politics". Umno Baru survived on the premise of its "Fascistic" ideas, although the idea of a "Bangsa Malaysia" as per wawasan 2020, was used to pull wool over our eyes.

A recent 'idealistic' post ("Affirmative Action") on CheDet.com made lots of sense - which I'm sure he knew during his time as a "political animal". It is sad that it was not put into practice, as it would have cost him plenty of "mileage", considering the hegemony that was perpetuated in his era.
Dr. Mahathir said, "There is a tendency among Malays to regard the discrimination in their favour as a privilege,
as a recognition of their superior status.
I think this is wrong....".
Well Dr. Mahathir, I've got news for you, Sir - You Think Wrong!
At best, it's an "inaccurate" description of the Umno Baru members' conviction/ psyche. It definitely was a privilege the Malays were accorded in the post-May 13 policies - but not a "right", as claimed by many an Umnoputra, Racist and crony capitalist.
For the truth of the matter, allow me to rephrase it -
"Many Malays do regard the discrimination in their favour as a RIGHT
("HAK bumiputra" , mind you - and not a "privilege"),
as a recognition of their superior status.
I think this is wrong...."
There's a big difference between what is claimed and what Mahathir says - privileges can be taken away, unlike "rights".

These are the ideas we see blooming today, and it has led to the destruction of all sense of righteousness and goodwill among the Umno community.
It has stripped them of all conscience, and the sense of right and wrong. Money is all that matters. Umno believes that it is their right to "close one eye" to the corruption that has been eating the party from within.
It is apparently their right to award contracts to the highest bidders with inflated prices, so as to enrich themselves - not the most competitive prices. They believe that it is their right to be Ali Babas!

To question it, is to "question Malay Rights"! They do not see it as corruption or "haram".
Religion has to be observed, though - and they'd be quick to ban meetings of other faiths on their campuses in the IPTA, lest it doesn't reflect well on their religious credentials.
On the other end of the spectrum, we get the clueless who seek out antidotes in religion/"Arabism" and fascistic ideas, like as if, it is the panacea to cure all the ills brought on by the post May 13 politics, laws/justice & NEP crony-capitalism.

The post May 13 Laws are meant to be passed only if they are beneficial to the "crony" list of a "strong government" with a two-third majority in parliament, or if it serves to suppress dissent in a "strong, but toothless opposition" or the people.
Ali Baba's are unblushingly "advised" year-in year-out by drooling politicians, not to "sell their licences/APs", but are never prevented from doing so via legislation.
Such laws "aren't practical", as they don't give leaders any political mileage - so they never come to be.
The concept of "separation of powers" is scorned upon - instruments of state are meant to be used by the executive - so say the the wise leaders.
Instruments of state are used to deprive the people of their right to voice out opinions or have civil discussions.
That's why MCMC (SKMM) can pull the plug on Malaysia Today, "as and when it sees fit" under the governing Act, without explicit instructions from the Mr. Shaziman - they are now experts at ICT laws and have the right to do as they please ...... they are the cyber police, I guess (read ‘SKMM not ordered to block access to website’).

The Auditor General comes out with reports to show the level of corruption, for the sake of drama & hype, while bureaucrats laugh their way to the bank, or go on "lawatan sambil belajar" to Switzerland.
The Election Commission tells the contesting parties about the laws that govern elections - but who cares - "they" just see it as an opportunity to spend on "goodies", "scrap-metal licences", set a stage to demonize the opposition, and pocket monies with impunity at the same time.
The ACA goes on the occasional spurt of activity to justify their "role" in keeping the country free of corruption, but nothing really happens (unless of course, you've "crossed somebody's path") ..... everything is about "enriching yourself", and everything can be "Kowtim-ed" with an "envelope".

Come what may, it's business as usual, while the cost of living escalates exponentially for the common man, and the Govt get's to play the role of the "Good Samaritan" by dishing out 'goodies'.
Is it any wonder that we have record budgets year after year, which is praised ad nauseaum by every unthinking member of the ruling elite, as "compassionate" and a "people's budget"?

For what it is worth, "Happy Merdeka" to all West Malaysians.
No offense intended- but I shall include our Sabahan & Sarawakian brothers in my "Happy Malaysia Day" wishes, come 16 September.

This is the shadow of May 13, under which we live.
It is the flawed foundation/philosophy upon which our politics, economy and country was built, for the past 38 years.
If the foundations be flawed, is it too surprising to see Umno and its core BN allies become the schizophrenic Frankensteins that they are today?
I guess not.

I have little doubt that tomorrow, we would have been celebrating Merdeka for Malaya, and not Malaysia - had we engaged Sabah & Sarawak in 1963 with policies in existence today.

This is the "Merdeka" we celebrate - or is it actually "May 13" that we celebrate?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“You do not win races with money in your pocket but you win it with courage in your heart and a dream in your head.”
- Emil Zatopek, Czech 3 time gold-medallist at Helsinki Olympics

=======================================
Related:
-Petronas Merdeka Ad

-Spirit of Merdeka Movement Declaration on Restoring Democracy and Advancing Freedom in Malaysia

-Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?

-Jalur Gemilang or Stars and Stripes?
.............................................................................................

Politically Aligned Judiciary = FASCISM

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Petisyen Kepada KeBawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong berkenaan pemulihan Badan Kehakiman
Let's get more signatures! Do it now!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"When a democracy is in decline, the increasingly illegal and immoral acts of its leaders will be justified by the same arguments used by the Nazis to justify their illegal and immoral acts."
- at-Largely, by Larisa Alexandrovna

“Where there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, we vigorously prosecute”.
“But not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime.”
—Attorney General Mukasey - in acknowledging the “Justice Department in the past few years failed to observe professional standards and violated civil laws ....”

Ahmad, the Bukit Bendera Umno division head, had allegedly said Chinese were "squatters" in the country, who were both selfish and unjust, at a ceramah on Aug 24 whilst trying to buttress support for BN candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah in the by-election contest against opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.
- Malaysiakini

“In the name of freedom, these websites allow the broadcast of slander, lies and swearing, the use of harsh, degrading language and racial slurs without regard for the reader or those concerned”
- Najib Abdul Razak, Al jazeera

In the midst of UMNO's internal crisis in 1987, a rally by UMNO Youth led by Najib was held in Kampung Baru. Anti-Chinese sentiments were expressed openly during the rally with placard carrying slogans like "May 13 has begun", and "Soak (the kris) in Chinese blood". This precipitated existing ethnic tensions leading to fears of a repeat of inter-ethnic violence and eventually resulted in a security operation known as Operasi Lalang, where administrative detentions were made on hundreds of individuals ^[1].
- Wikipedia, Asia Times Online

Among the culprits of Ops Lalang left living and standing right in the power corridor today is none other than Najib.
- Screenshots


The Nuremberg Trials: The Justice Trial
"In the Justice trial, American prosecutors sought to demonstrate a pattern of judicial and prosecutorial support for Nazi programs of persecution, sterilization, extermination, and other gross violations of human rights....

Two features of German law combined to facilitate the Nazi's evil schemes.
The first was that German law, unlike the law of the United States and many other nations, lacked "higher law" (constitutional or ethical standards) that might be resorted to by judges to avoid the harsh effects of discriminatory laws adopted by the Nazi regime.
The second difficulty was that there was no separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches of government.
Hitler declared, and the Reichstag agreed, had the power "to intervene in any case."
This was done, legally, through what was called "an extraordinary appeal for nullification of sentence."
The nullification invariably resulted in a sentence the Nazis thought was too light being replaced by a more severe sentence, often death.
If these features of German law weren't enough, the Nazis also assigned a member of the Security Service to each judge to funnel secret information about the judges back to Hitler and his henchmen.....

The excerpt from the decision of the tribunal (printed on this page) includes the judgments for two of the Justice trial defendants, Franz Schlegelberger and Oswald Rothaug.
Schlegelberger is the more sympathetic of the two defendants. He served in the Ministry of Justice from 1931-1942. For the last seventeen months of his service, Schlegelberger was Director of the Ministry of Justice.
He wrote several books on the law and was called at the time of his retirement, "the last of the German jurists." Schlegelberger argued in his defense that he was bound to follow the orders of Hitler, the "Supreme Judge" of Germany, but that he did so only reluctantly. Schlegelberger pointed out that he did not join the Nazis until 1938, and then only because he was ordered to do so by Hitler......

In its decision, the Justice trial tribunal considered what it called Schlegelberger's "hesitant injustices." The tribunal concluded that Schlegelberger "loathed the evil that he did" and that his real love was for the "life of the intellect, the work of the scholar."
Despite its obvious sympathy with Schlegelberger's plight, the tribunal finds him guilty.
It pointed out that the decision of a man of his stature to remain in office lent credibilty to the Nazi regime.

Indeed, once Schlegelberger did resign, brutality increased.
The tribunal found "no mitigating circumstances" in the case of Oswald Rothaug. In its decision, the tribunal calls Rothaug "a sadistic and evil man." Rothaug, unlike Schlegelberger, had no reservations about enthusiatically supporting the Nazi pattern of human rights abuses.......
In the special court, high-ranking Nazi officials--in uniform--took the stand to express their opinions that Katzenberger was guilty. Rothaug's real trick, however, was getting Katzenberger's punishment increased from life in prison (the normal punishment for violations of Article 2) to death.
This he did by a creative construction of a law that prescribed death for breaking certain laws "to take advantage of the war effort".
Most German judges over-identified with the Nazi regime.
They came to see themselves as fighters on the internal battlefront, with the responsibilty to punish "the enemy within."
-Doug Linder, A Commentary on the Justice Case, The Nuremberg Trials: The Justice Trial
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Let's get more signatures! Do it now!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Toasts of Permatang Pauh.

MT Blocked!!??

Malaysia Today is being blocked by TMNet.
I wonder why .... everybody know that they flunked out bigtime in Permatang Pauh!
Maybe they need a scapegoat to vent out their anger or frustration on?
With "these guys", anything ridiculous is possible, I guess ....

This was what I found from another blog:

takizo says:

Silly thing to see that MCMC instructed Malaysia’s ISP - TMNet to block off malaysia-today.net through DNS null routing. Below is the result we found through TMNET’s DNS Servers;

dig @202.188.1.5 www.malaysia-today.net

; <<>> DiG 9.4.2 <<>> @202.188.1.5 www.malaysia-today.net
; (1 server found)
;; global options: printcmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NXDOMAIN, id: 55057 ;; flags: qr aa rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 0

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.malaysia-today.net. IN A

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
malaysia-today.net. 3600 IN SOA ns1.blocked. blocked.tm.net.my. 1 900 600 86400 3600

No censorship on internet? F*** ME.. It’s now happened in Malaysia. I strongly suggest user switch over to opendns for better surfing. Visit the website for more info.

Soon or later I think MCMC will block chedet.com too

===========================================

OPEN DNS!!
DO USE IT! It works real great!!
To access Malaysia Today please click on the following links for more info:

http://mtadmin.livejournal.com/#item2720
http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com/2008/
http://202.75.62.114/2008/


Alternatively, you may use
Anonymouse.org or
OnlineAtSchool.com to get there!
But OpenDNS is still the best!!
(My Tor/Privoxy doesn't work with FF3.1 which I use, so I donno if it'll work .....)

BTW, to those who are paranoid about snoops coming to check on your PC,
if you guys want extra security on your PCs, I recommend "Sandboxie"
- check it out. It's cool.

Happy surfing guys ....
Down with Dictators & "Moral Guardians"!!!
Down with the Sore LOSERS!
Barisan Rakyat, RPK & MT forever!!!
MERDEKA!!!

These guys - I Swear ....

Don't have Much to say - Just some pics I was looking at .....

And Now, for a sad song I caught on YouTube on the reality of Umno rule.......

People, Politics & Philosophy - Bridging The Gap

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Are these the subjects that padi farmers, food stall holders and hawkers, the rubber tappers, the Class F contractors talk in the coffee shops at "intellectual" levels? ....... Go down to the very "unintellectual" level of these ordinary voters and try talking to them about your ideas.
- Dr. Mahathir, CheDet.com

Characteristics of a popular politician:
a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.
Aristophanes
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

One might wonder why any politician would despise the intellectual - until one takes a good look at the predicament of many a third world nations.
The restriction/ clampdown on intellectual discourse is endemic in these authoritarian kleptocratic states, and persecution of intellectuals, not unknown.
These nations are more often than not, plagued by corruption, mediocre education, a state-controlled religion, a lying mass media, an impotent parliament, "compliant" judiciary and "constipated" leaders.

Ben Jalloun, a Moroccan writer has said it all quite well, in that, there is a gulf between the masses and the intellectuals in the Arab world, that in turn has given rise to the mediocrity.
Even if one isn't too accurate in one's assessment, it isn't too far from the truth in saying the same about the state of our nation, Malaysia, today - relatively speaking.

Politicians who aren't intellectuals themselves, being true to their trade, seek the 'approval' of these intellectuals (be they religious or secular) for the sake of legitimacy and "image".
[That would explain the desire for some politicians (or their wives) to clamour for "honorary doctorates" and fake PhDs (did most recent incident involve that Permatang Pauh UMNO candidate?)- not to mention the "kangkung academics/political appointee VCs" created on the platform of "Ketuanan Melayu" at the local IPTAs. This of course doesn't mean that all products of local IPTAs are such - I've known quite a few "geniuses"]
In their hunger for "publicity and glory", they tend to desire to be the representatives of all and sundry, - although they only represent the 'masses', and cannot speak for the academics.
Unfortunately (for the politicians), true intellectuals will be true intellectuals - they do not seek to be represented, and only represent themselves.
This however, is something that is intolerable in the eyes of despots and dictators.
Woe unto any among the intelligentsia who do not subscribe to or sell their soul, to the despotic politician of a primitive third-world regime - the wrath of the powers that be, will be his prize.

Of course the "Intellectual talk" of people like Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Machiavelli, Descarte, Kant, Nietzsche, Voltaire, Ravi Zacharias, Azly Rahman, RPK, and Haris Ibrahim (even the intellectual side of Anwar Ibrahim), would be too much gibberish to the Class F contractor (that's why they are Class F - Duh!) and many a man on the street.
In fact even many "educated" people I know cannot stomach such things - they prefer things simple ......

However, many a "gutter" politician don't know or rather- resent, the role of intellectuals in nation building - for fear of losing some of the limelight, or capacity to influence public opinion - maybe simply due to an inferiority complex.
Don't these politicians know that it is not the job of intellectuals to suck-up to politicians or the establishment?
That they, are the foundations upon which the philosophy of the "pillars of state & nationhood" is built. They provide for discussions/ dissent through civilized debate of ideas.
That it is not their job to make themselves understood by the masses at the Kopi-tiam.

Theirs, is a job that provides avenue for expression of ideas, that can challenge the people to rise above the differences - which result in petty squabbles, fights, wars politicians and unthinking masses are prone to.
It is definitely not their job to explain high-flung ideas of philosophical ideals, ethics, aesthetics and morality to the masses at ceramahs - that part is to be fulfilled by the politicians, who are representatives of the people.
It is their job to guide the politicians towards understanding their role in society.
It is their job to educate the politicians who can communicate with the masses through simple language as is the function of "the arts".

Politicians who despise, ridicule and persecute intellectuals set the stage for a corrupt regime that cannot put up with dissent. Their strength lies in their ability to use the instruments of state to suppress the intellectuals, and effectively silence dissent - not justice and righteousness.

If we take a look at the 22yr Mahathir era, it was a virtual desert where the arts and academia is concerned, camouflaged with all the trappings of "modernity. We will see the disregard for intellectualism and meritocracy.
There was a total disregard for a viable philosophy that would translate into good morality, ethics, justice, accountability, quality and true nationhood - which was replaced with a mysterious UMNO "creed".
All we get to see are numerous white-elephants and concrete structures that serve as icons that simple-minded men would gawk at.
"Race-centred Glory" was sought by the administration, in meaningless endeavors like the longest barbeque pit for satay, biggest Ketupat, or the longest "Mee" (that too, on a not-so-subtle racist platform) - the latest being, a man trying to just stand for 30hrs on KL Tower!!!.
The degeneration in the quality of politicians and the civil service during this period (exemplified by the infamous hand gestures of Bung Mokhtar and Adnan), speak volumes about the regard that Mahathir had for intellectuals in his administration.

It is therefore not too surprising to have Mahathir pour scorn upon the intellectuals in Malaysia in his Blog entry entitled - "2008 Elections". Maybe the adulation from the "kangkung & pseudo-intellectuals" (cooked up the mass kitchens of our IPTAs) and the unthinking followers, aren't quite so satisfying to the ego ......
In pouring out his scorn , he has effectively articulated the reasons for his "Asian Values" style of governance and concept of nationhood.
In the process, he also dismisses the role of the intellectuals in nation building.
Is it any wonder that he had three DPMs and left behind a legacy of unthinking 'Little Napoleons" out to C4 the nation into oblivion by playing up politics of race and religion?

The loss of the 2/3 majority in parliament isn't actually something that one should fear, if one was truly legitimate and faultless. In fact, it is actually something that the people should be proud of, so as to give rise to decent debate before committing the sacrilege of raping the Constitution - which was of course conveniently done at liberty during the earlier days.

The reason for the apparent weakness in the Govt today is not because of the smaller majority in parliament, but because of the intellectual and moral bankruptcy, that was bred under the Mahathir regime.
The rape of the Constitution, emasculation of the Institutional Monarchy, Judiciary, Universities, Civil Service and the Arts which we have had thus far, appear to be due to this very reason.
This reason is brought on by none other than the disdain for intellectuals, personified by you-know-who .... who today "cries wolf.

Should a wise leader want to rectify the malady that the nation is afflicted with, he should first and foremost give due respect to the deserving intellectuals who can guide politicians on proper conduct, so as to understand their roles in society. He should have the wisdom to decide on the sound progressive ideas which would guide him in making far sighted laws and policies which benefit the nation as a whole.
The nation cannot prosper, until and unless the politicians are wise enough to give due respect to the role of intellectuals (and vice versa), in forging nationhood.

Keeping them on the longer leash of an amended AUKU, simply will not do.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We have no Arab intellectuals of international stature
because we live in a state of generalized mediocrity. In the Arab world,
there is no link between the cultural habits of peoples
and the ways of thinking and creating of modern intellectuals.
There is a gulf between the Arab peoples and Arab intellectuals. They are two separate worlds." - Tahar Ben Jelloun