Thursday, 19 January 2012

STOP FOOLING SABAHANS!!


"Do you think Sabahans are fools to want
one colonial master
to be replaced by another? "

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

“Politicians and political parties from Peninsula should learn to respect the people of Sabah if they are sincere in helping them and the State instead of referring to them merely as political “fixed deposit” and as voters that can help them retain or conquer Putrajaya” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, the STAR Sabah Chief.

He said “Sabahans are now more politically matured”.

“They now realise that they have been fooled and cheated for the last 48 years resulting in Sabah being the poorest State in Malaysia and being completely powerless politically”.

UMNO/BN is naturally happy to be in complete control of Sabah. But do you think that Sabahans are happy?


Do you think that we are happy being the poorest State, knowing that we have abundant natural resources and 95% of our oil resources are taken from us unfairly?

Do you think that we are happly being swamped by illegal immigrants who are being given Mykads and allowed to vote and soon will takeover our rights?

Do you think we are happy that we are only receiving 5% of our oil resources?

Do you think that we are happy that RM35 billion of our revenues go to Kuala Lumpur annually while the State collect a meagre RM3.6 billion in revenue!

Do you think that we are happy being ruled and colonised by UMNO?

Now we also have Pakatan Rakyat asking for our votes and asking Sabahans to ignore smaller parties and directly helping in their hidden agenda against Sabahans.

Do you think Sabahans are fools to want one colonial master to be replaced by another?

Sabahans need no reminder to be fooled a second time that only Peninsular parties can best represent Sabah and protect Sabahans.

Sabahans and Sarawakians need to keep their Parliamentary seats. If not, not only will the Borneo States lose their voice, they will lose their bargaining power to protect the State rights.

From the 2008 election results, it is important to realize that Sabah and Sarawak could be the kingmaker. If the Sabah and Sarawak local parties had switched their allegiance, there would have been a change in the Federal Government.

Contrary to opinions from some local leaders of Peninsular opposition parties and Peninsular opposition leaders, a kingmaker need not be a big party nor be based in Peninsular.

A glaring example is the role of the Liberal Democrats in the 2010 UK elections where it won just 57 seats in the 650-seat British Parliament and played the role of kingmaker in a coalition government. The Liberal Democrats leader even got to be appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Peninsular parties need Sabah’s seats and the support of Sabahans. The support must be at our terms and conditions and not theirs and not based on their agenda.

The Peninsular parties can promise us anything but at the end of the day, it will depend on the strength of the local parties to defend our State rights.

Look at the local BN components who are mere followers and are forced to remain deaf, dumb and mute to the rights of Sabah and Sabahans. They should look to and emulate the bargaining prowess of the Liberal Democrats in UK.

It is time for Sabahans to be stand united and to realize that we must take responsibility for ourselves.

We can no longer rely on outsiders to lead us as they have their own agenda. Their agenda and priorities are not the same as ours.

They are only interested in using us, Sabahans, for their Semenanjung political battle.

Let us decide our own fate. Do not let others decide for us.

If not us, Who else? If not now, When?

INI KALI LAH! Do not underestimate local parties.

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan
Chairman
STAR Sabah Chapter

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ini Kali lah! – Jangan Membuangkan Peluang Keemasan Untuk Menyelamatkan Sabah?

“Ini Kali lah! Rakyat Sabah mesti bersatu padu tanpa mengira ideology politik dan hendaklah mengambil peluang pada pilihanraya akan datang mengundi untuk membentuk Kerajaan Baru demi menyelamatkan Sabah daripada terus mengalami kerosakan dan kehancuran,” seru Awang Ahmad Sah Datuk Awang Sahari, Timbalan Pengerusi, Parti STAR Wilayah Sabah.

“Bayangkanlah jika Perjanjian Malaysia telah dilaksanakan!
Bayangkanlah jika 20-Perkara telah dipatuhi!
Bayangkanlah jika Sabah telah berkuasa memungut hasil, dana pembangunan dan tarifnya!
Bayangkanlah jika Sabah memungut hasil tidak kurang daripada RM15-20 bilion setiap tahun dan bukan RM3.6 bilion”
Bayangkanlah jika Sabah telah tidak menyerah sumber minyaknya ATAU mendapat lebih daripada 5% royalti minyak seperti kini!
Bayangkanlah jika Sabah telah berkuasa mengawal immigresen, persempadanan dan keselamatan sendiri!”

Sudah tentu Sabah akan lebih kaya dan baik berbanding dengan keadaan hari ini! Negeri yang termiskin tetapi mampu bersaing dengan Brunei dan Singapura.

Selama 48 tahun yang lalu, generasi tua kita mungkin kurang pengetahuan tentang hak-hak Negeri kita. Sementara golongan muda pula beranggapan silap tentang hak kita kerana telah dicuci minda oleh pengajaran sejarah yang tidak benar atau diputarbelit oleh pihak berkuasa mengenai niat asal pengasas Kemerdekaan Negeri kita dan tentang Perjanjian Malaysia yang menghasilkan pembentukan Malaysia.

Kita bersyukur kerana adanya pendedahan dan pembelajaran sejarah dan fakta benar yang telah disebarkan melalui Borneo Tea Party yang dianjurkan oleh United Borneo Front (UBF). Pengerusi pengasas UBF, Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, serta pasukan penyelaras UBFnya yang penuh dedikasi, bertungkus lumus tanpa mengira penat lelah memberi ilmu dan memperkasakan rakyat Sabah tentang hak-hak dan kemerdekaan Sabah serta memperjuangkan AGENDA BORNEO.

Rakyat jelata Sabah kini telah dibangkitkan daripada ketidakfahaman dan sedar akan hak-hak Negeri, sigat dipinggirkan dan ketidakadilan layanan kepada Sabah dan Sarawak melalui kempen mengadadaptasikan dan penerimaan Agenda Borneo.

Kini semua rakyat Sabah,meleputi semua lapisan samada yang tua, muda atau pertengahan usia sudah sedar dan mula memahami Agenda Borneo and isu hak-hak dan otonomi Negeri kita.

Kini, bukan sahaja rakyat Sabah hadir ke majlis Borneo Tea Party anjuran UBF di seluruh Sabah dan menyokong Agenda Borneo malah.
Mereka juga penuh tuntutan menyokong penuntutan pengembalian dan pemulihan hak-hak dan autonomi Sabah.

Pada masa yang sama, ramai intelek muda kini tampil kedepan membantu menyebarkan UBF dan Agenda Borneo sekaligus turut membantu memberi pembelajaran dan ilmu kepada rakyat Sabah yang lain di kawasan-kawasan mereka.

Hasil usaha UBF, minat dan sokongan rakyat telah dibukti dan digambarkan pada kejayaan pelancaran Parti Reformasi Negeri (STAR) di Kota Kinabalu baru-baru ini.

“Secara peribadi, kehadiran yang melebihi 5,000 penyokong bukanlah kaya pengukur kejayaan tetapi cara kehadiran mereka yang mengkagumkan” jelaskan Awang Ahmad Sah.

“Bukan seperti parti-parti politik lain yang memanjakan penyokong dengan penyediaan pengangkutan, makanan, penginapan serta wang ringgit penyokong STAR dengan sendirinya, berkorban mengatur pengangkutan dan membeli makanan mereka sendiri” tambahnya Awang.

Kami di Parti STAR, memperjuangkan “Justice for Sabah” atau “Keadilan untuk Sabah” serta hak-hak dan otonomi Negeri malah rakyat faham bahawa mereka adalah “stakeholder/pemegang amanah” kepada masa depan mereka dan anak cucu-cicit mereka.

Berkaitan perbelanjaan pelancaran parti sebenarnya penyokong yang hadir begitu memahami dan sanggup membantu parti dengan sumbangan mereka samada RM1, RM10 atau RM100 demi meringkankan bebanan kewangan kami disamping meningkatkan perpaduan kerjasama secara rohani dan jasmani serta kewangan, demi perjuangan untuk membina masa depan Sabah yang cerah.

Perjuangan STAR untuk Sabah dan masa depan generasi akan datang telah memikat hati dan minda rakyat Sabah, khasnya tanpa mengira bangsa atau agama.

Sokongan padu, sorakan gemuruh serta laungan "KALAU BUKAN KITA SIAPA LAGI, KALAU BUKAN SEKARANG BILA LAGI" dan "INI KALI LAH" yang mendebarkan semasa pelancaran Parti STAR di Sabah jelas dengan sendirinya menghantar mesej yang nyata.

Sejarah telah mengajar kita tentang kemenangan BERJAYA mengingkirkan USNO serta tumbangnya BERJAYA oleh PBS.

Kehadiran PTI dan PATAI (Pendatang Asing Tapi Ada IC) pemegang MyKad yang mencurigakan kesaihaanya dan berhak mengundi, manipulasi persempadaan kawasan mengundi dan kehadiran pengundi hantu telah dilaksanakan oleh pihak yang berkuasa telah banyak merugikan Negeri Sabah amnya dan anak negeri Sabah khasnya. Kenapa kita harus menyokong dan membenarkan skim bentuk syaitan ini berterusan?

Walau pun dilihat untuk menumbangkan UMNO/BN mungkin rumit, tapi bukan mustahil.

Melainkan UMNO di Sabah ditumbangkan dan ditukar dengan Kerajaan baru, gara-gara penjajahan Sabah oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan akan berterusan tanpa had dan jika tidak dibendung, kerosakan mungkin tidak boleh diperbaikki lagi.

Petronas dan Kerajaan Pusat memungut melebihi RM15 billion daripada sumber minyak Sabah manakala kita hanya menerima sekadar 5%.
Sementara, pemimpin Sabah dikehendaki meminta dana pembangunan seperti meminta sedekah walaupun hanya beberapa billion ringgit.

Kita sepatutnya tidak merasa segan meminta dana pembangunan walau beberapa billion sekalipun sebab Kerajaan Persekutuan memungut melebihi RM36 Billion setahun daripada hasil, cukai dan dari sumber minyak kita.

Bayangkan, di Indonesia, Wilayah Provinsi Acheh berkuasa secara autonomi dan menerima 70% hasil daripada minyaknya. Di Sabah, kita seolah-olah dijajah dan hanya menerima 5% royalti minyak.

Di Persekutuan Rusia, republik-republik Islamnya menguasai sumber minyak mereka masing-masing melalui Kementerian Minyak sendirinya.
Mereka juga berhak memeterai perjanjian dua-hala dengan Negara-negara lain sebagai sebuah Negara berkuasa mengurus sumber minyak mereka. Walaupun Persekutuan Rusia bukan sebuah persekutuan Islam, ianya menegak keadilan mengurus sumber minyak mereka, sekurang-kurangnya mengikut amalan.

Suatu masa akan tiba bila sumber minyak kita habis kering, negeri Sabah akan menjadi tanggungan dan liabiliti kepada Kerajaan. Adakah masa itu, Sabah akan dicampak dan dikehendaki menjaga diri sendiri. Pada masa itu, mungkin sudah terlambat.

Parti STAR merayu kepada semua rakyat Sabah untuk menggunapakai apa yang tinggal, iaitu kebersatupaduan diantara semua rakyat Sabah yang selama ini tidak mengira bangsa atau agama. Dan menggunakan perpaduan tersebut dan jangan membuangkan perluang keemasan ini pada pilihanraya akan dating demi menyokong hak-hak dan autonomi Sabah dan menukar Kerajaan.

INI KALI LAH!

Kekurangan, kemiskinan dan kelaparan tidak mengambil kira bangsa dan agama. Bukan akibat kuasa Tuhan tetapi oleh manusia yang tidak berkeperimanusiaan dan pemimpin yang mementingkan diri sendiri.

Antara contoh yang bijaksana, seperti yang diperjuang dan diidamkan oleh Parti STAR, iaitu negeri Sabah akan dengan serta-merta meloncat menjadi negeri yang terkaya sekiranya royaltii minyak dinaik hingga 50% and Sabah berkuasa memungut hasil dan cukainya seperti terkandung di dalam Perkara 11 dalam 20-Perkara.

PRU-13 mungkin peluang terakhir kita untuk menumbangkan UMNO dan BN di Sabah.

“Kita mesti bersatu dan ambil peluang keemasan ini untuk menumbangkan rejim UMNO/BN dan MENYELAMATKAN SABAH daripada kehancuran berterusan” rayu Awang Ahmad Sah.

“INI KALI LAH”

Awang Ahmad Sah Datuk Awang Sahari
Timbalan Pengerusi
STAR Sabah Chapter

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Double Whammy: MoE gets 8%, so MinDef "Pokes Eye" ...

***********************
“We are not blaming the education system.
But we hope they will be able to take the
necessary measures to improve the situation,”
- Zahid Hamidi

***************************

RAWANG: In a shocking discovery by the Defence Ministry, about 8% of 6,667 National Service trainees from 30 selected camps were found to be unable to read and write.

The findings were based on a pilot project using a module called I-Smart conducted on the third batch of NS trainees in August last year.

“The objective of the programme was to ensure that the trainees had basic reading and writing skills,” said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Templer Park national service camp here yesterday.
~ 8% of National Service trainees cannot read or write


RAWANG: The Defence Ministry had relied on the free online Google Translate for the English version of its official website, which resulted in the many mistakes found on the site.

“We have corrected the mistakes and translations are no longer done that way. “It is now done manually,” Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said here yesterday.

The ministry's website had published translations such as “clothes that poke eye”, a literal translation of pakaian yang menjolok mata, which in actual fact means revealing clothes in Bahasa Malaysia.

Others included
“collared shirts and tight Malay civet berbutang three”, which, in Malay, is berkolar baju Melayu cekak musang berbutang tiga.

Another was the brief summary of the ministry's history on the website, which read:
“After the withdrawal of British army, the Malaysian Government take drastic measures to increase the level of any national security threat”.

~Mindef blames Google Translate for ‘poke-eye’ blunder


Tuesday, 3 January 2012

"Religious" Laws .... My 2sen Cruzinthots ;-).

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NOTE: The full movie may be downloaded/ watched HERE.
Do not be judgmental watching the movie,
as this movie was filmed to inspire peace
and to tell the story of an oppressed woman and a corrupt system,
so don't fall into the trap of bitterness/anger/hatred or stereotyping.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

    • X: As a Malay I'll never vote for DAP because of their their chauvinist stand. PKR is not my baby also. My only hope is PAS..
    • If I feel that DAP is gaining more ground, my vote will go to UMNO. As long the general Malay populace still think tt DAP is ever wiling to fight to the last drop of their blood (over my dead body.. Karpal) against islamic law, then dap will stay in penang onlylah. Please note tt I said think! Until then malaysia will stay devided and UMNO/BN will remain in power...
So it is "Islamic" law which is what you want ... okay- I get it

  • X: Yes! I think all practicing muslim want islamic law. what do you think about islamic law doc? I really want to know
So what you're saying is ...
You'd rather live under UMNO's corruption, without Islamic Law you desire, than vote for a cleaner merit-based socialistic DAP which would help PAS bring about its welfare state agenda (if it cannot impose Islamic Laws) under ethical principals which are incidentally "Islamic"?
That's real strange logic, X ... LOL.

Never mind. Let's move on.
Before I go on- Your question would be more accurate, if you asked me what I thought of religious laws, rather than "Islamic" Laws.
After all- wouldn't you say that my opinion is based on ignorance/perception?

Maybe I'm biased(despite my faith)- but I do not trust "learned men of the cloth" with power. Religion should stay out of the political/judicial/financial playing field, for it to do its job well. They should serve as the "conscience" and advisors to society, rather than enforcers.
I believe they should stick to preaching/religious/philosophical studies/meditation.
Bringing religious laws within the ambit of governance will definitely invite the clergy into the corridors of power and corrupt them and the religion they profess to defend.
Political power and even powers of prosecution will inevitably corrupt the clergy- that is an undisputed fact in history.

Where my religious convictions are concerned- I don't believe that a great god would be too bothered by penal laws for human on earth- as he will surely have his last say.
While I'm at that, allow me to say that I'd utter the same thing Karpal did- if anybody tries to impose "Christian Laws" on me.

IMO, I don't think ALL muslims want "islamic' laws ...
I don't think religious laws makes a person/institution/country more islamic. Nor does it provide for "Justice".
Laws do not make a person better in his convictions or actions- he simply lives in fear of of retribution.
Moreover, Laws are only as good as the people who wield the powers.

If you were to ask me "What makes a country more successful/just/ethical/progressive/Islamic/Christian etc"- this is what I'd say:-
Democracy does.
Meritocracy does.
Equality before a single body of law does.
Universal suffrage does.
Good governance does.
Justice does.
Freedom of thought does.
Good Education does.
Welfare does.
Merit-based affirmative action does.
Sound philosophy does.
To me, this is what nationhood is all about- and this is what PAS manifesto for the welfare state is about too. I also believe that these should be achieved before prescribing "divine" laws.

I have no problems if a Muslim wishes to be judged by laws deemed Islamic to him, because he feels that would make him more "Islamic".
However, I do have a problem with laws which are prone to abuse by those in high religious office for their political agendas - to restrict cultural evolution thru freedom of thought, academia, conscience and beliefs.
I also do not believe that having a segregatory policy of separate laws for citizens of a country is conducive towards nationhood.
As a matter of fact, going by the track record of those nations/regions which have had I have very little confidence in the ability of the Islamic establishments to carry out real justice.

None- I repeat, NONE- have done any good for their countries. They all degenerate to either lawlessness or tribal practices without fail and resulted in failed states/kingdoms.
Not Pakistan, not Saudi Arabia, not Afghanistan, not the pre-British Mughal ("Islamic") Empire after Akbar the Great, or the Islamic Caliphates (after the first four Caliphs who all died bloody deaths).
You can also include the Ottoman & "Holy" Roman Empire to the long list of "Religious" failed states run by a corrupt clergy.

In short, I think the struggle for "religious laws" is a whole load of altruistic hot-air convictions, based on anecdotal myths and a liberal dose ignorance- but strangely attributed to "God".
That's what I think.

Monday, 2 January 2012

RPK discusses Anwar's sex with the MSM ...

*******************************

"When Zaid offers himself s an alternative (to Anwar), they kill him off...."
-RPK, at 7.36' in video (here)

*****************************

So RPK has given his interview.
Maybe he wants controversy to boost up the comments section on No Holds Barred (which has been pathetic for the past couple of years).
Maybe he wants people to look beyond Anwar.
Maybe Zaid whispered in his ear for Umno.
Maybe, maybe, maybe ....

Many are quite disgusted which what RPK has done.
But RPK will not listen to you
if you weren't at the Bersih Rally,
If you were not at the anti-PAB rally,
If you were not with the lawyers,
If you were not at the students rally,
If you were not a registered voter,
if you not here,
or you were not there ....
In short, RPK says, "If you didn't stand up & be counted- just STFU!! You are a nobody, and you don't deserve to be heard".

Nice, Pete- I'll give one clap for that. Nothing more.

While I agree that this issue is about good governance, and it isn't about Anwar, his dick, or his ass- I wonder why Rpk chose to harp on it.

What does it matter if it was Anwar in the video? Why discuss it? Why do you have to give a "personal opinion" about being "90%" sure or whatever?
It isn't the issue isn't it?
What does it matter if Anwar is gay?
It isn't about one person, right?
But suddenly when it comes to PM-ship, Anwar figures in the equation only to be "rejected" becos he's morally corrupt? You mean to tell me that all the clowns in Govt thus far have been angels?
Hellooo- people in power to many things which may be "unbelieveable" to "proles" like us, okay.
(Not that I'd condone it- but Sex, wine, corruption, murder, brutality all happen in the corridors of power- and that is a fact.
But one thing for sure - barring the latter three, I dare say that Anwar is innocent- which I couldn't say for those in Govt today
).

Yes, he was right that we shouldn't reduce the struggle to it being about one man.
Yes, he was right that they haven't been able to stamp out corruption in Selangor. (We can thank the Umno controlled bureaucracy/ civil service/ Federal Govt/MACC for that).
Yes, he was right that it will be close call if PR wins the GE (I don't think so, though).

So why harp on Anwar?

I believe RPK (and obviously Saint Zaid & UMNO too) just have an axe to grind and wants people to look beyond Anwar- while he himself couldn't in that interview, which was about ANWAR!!

So- at the end of the day, ANWAR IS still relevant for the struggle. Otherwise, RPK/NST wouldn't have discussed him at all.
The free Anwar Campaign which should kick off if Anwar is imprisoned, ISN"T about Anwar.
It is also about Good Governance.

Meanwhile, Zaid (RPK and some others think he's a saint)can keep kissing up UMNO's or Nurul Izzah's ass to get Anwar out of his way (so that he can worm himself in to PKR/PR again (after having his own party CWC revolt against him for doing a one-man-show).

And you're right about one thing- this is more than Anwar ...the Sodomy trial/ Datuk T tapes is more than the pussy or dick or ass- so just get your head out of it.
And Oh Yeah- give credit where it is due, and admit it, Pete- Anwar is as relevant as can be, or you wouldn't have discussed what he did with his dick.

Cheers.

PS
This interview shouldn't affect anybody stand.
ABU remains- and that's what matters.
BTW- RPK said, "In Egypt, everybody is Egyptian. In Malaysia, not everybody is Malay"
I believe, what he meant was, ".... Not everybody is MALAYSIAN"

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

So here's to You, Mahathir ... and Stupidity.

"Thanks to the culture of reading here,
many of us know of your penchant
for cruelty in your personal career.

A career during which you enacted despotic
and violent acts at times in the name
(your contorted version) of Islam
and a times in the name of security and national interest.

We could recount how you rose to power annihilating
huge numbers of your opponents
and stayed there for over two decades
continuing your devious rule using tactics
and schemes which are far beyond Machiavelli.

Many of us know about your vile Internal Security Act 1960,
which you used to crush political opposition jailing
and killing them with impunity and putting in place a frail
and near sham democracy placing the entire nation
under a one man rule of the UMNO for over two decades."


Open Letter To Mahathir

By Siddharthya Swapan Roy Link

14 December, 2011
Countercurrents.org

Dear Mr Mahathir,

A couple of days back I woke up to newspaper reports which quoted you as saying that India's democracy is a hindrance to its development and if we did away with the nuisance of democracy we will be become developed. Well Sir, it is heartening to see your concern about India's future. Especially now that our own elected government has orphaned us, someone from the outside caring about our development sounds so very nice.

But you see Sir, your (apparently) good intentions notwithstanding, your advise to Indians is, well how should I put it…ill-advised.

I'm not really sure if you know much about the history of our nation. Don't get me wrong.
Going by facts like the general absence of news form Malaysia's newspapers;
the absence of anything but song and dance in your electronic media;
the absence of bookstores that sell knowledgeable books (for eg ones from which you can learn about history and not how to get rich in six steps);
the abundance of malls and the stark absence of libraries;
the abundance of coaching centers that can make masseurs, air hostesses and a host of quick fix technicians
and the relative absence of centres of higher learning especially in the social sciences;
and above all the fact that this insanely consumerist
and hedonist Malaysia was made under your tutelage,
makes me doubt your knowledge of the history of India
or any nation for that matter.

So allow me to apprise you of the story of our independence.

We won independence from colonial rulers waging a long and torturous battle. A battle that sought to replace a discriminatory, unjust and violent regime that had enslaved huge populations with one which was based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.
India was home then, as is now and as will always be, to an immense diversity of people who spoke different tongues, prayed to different Gods, wore different clothes and had different political beliefs. These diverse people said to each other that – we, despite our differences, will strive to live and flourish together and make a sovereign nation which will be democratic, socialist and secular.
We did not anywhere say that we want to be Malaysia or for that matter China or the USA.

We want to become a nation with a system that treats all its citizens as equal unlike your country that officially accords special rights to Malay Muslims calling them first class citizens while relegating thousands of people of Tamil, Chinese and other ethnic origins. Despite the fact that they have known no other land other than Malaysia as their own, you denigrate them with the tag of being second class citizens.

We try to work towards having a system wherein a person will grow according to his merit and hard work earning what s/he has rightfully earned. You may be surprised to know that here in India making cartels based on identity, even if under the name of a holy cow called 'boomiputra' or son-of-the-soil is looked down upon by most of us. Here promoting the selective interests of one's self or that of his kin is called corruption and nepotism and not, as you call it, development. We are in fact fighting tooth and nail to arrest the scourge of corruption and (you'll be shocked to know) get the guilty punished.

Here in India no one is above the law and many a times powerful public figures go to jail for being corrupt or subverting the law. Now that we are at it, Sir, I'm sure it would be interesting to know what the minorities of you country have to say – especially the jailed and beaten ones – about the development-democracy debate.

In fact Sir, your idea of development is largely at odds with many of us here. What you did to the tropical forests and water-bodies of Malaysia (that is raze vast acres of them into oblivion making way for big bucks palm oil plantations and piggeries and so on) would cause huge outrage amongst many of us who are looking for sustainable development.

We are yet to be unanimously convinced that making cemented roads – however broad, lining them with buildings – even if glass covered and glossy, putting cars on them – however fast, is a substitute for our valued bio-diversity. Many of us are very convinced that displacing huge populations of native people for useless things like racing tracks is a blot on the word ‘development'.

There are many of us who find it a shameful and cruel hypocrisy that while your country has abundant and openly advertised sex tourism it still whips women for being licentious!

Thanks to the culture of reading here, many of us know of your penchant for cruelty in your personal career. A career during which you enacted despotic and violent acts at times in the name (your contorted version of) Islam and a times in the name of security and national interest. We could recount how you rose to power annihilating huge numbers of your opponents and stayed there for over two decades continuing your devious rule using tactics and schemes which are far beyond Machiavelli. Many of us know about your vile Internal Security Act 1960, which you used to crush political opposition jailing and killing them with impunity and putting in place a frail and near sham democracy placing the entire nation under a one man rule of the UNMO for over two decades.

You will note that in the essay above I have used words like “most of us” “many of us” and have tried to stay away form absolute claims. Besides the age old Indian practice of accommodating different opinions, it is meant to recognise that there are people in this country too who think like you and will have applauded you for saying what you did.
They too think that roads are all that are important and not the humans which walk on them or the ones that sleep beside them.
They have misconstrued the word development as development of personal wealth and that this ‘development' is a holy cow and everything including the rights and lives of fellow humans is a lesser priority. Their money power helps them buy a lot of print space and electronic bandwidth so they may appear like the majority, but thankfully the truth is they aren't.

The majority of us recognise and are willing to admit – and even discuss at length – that there are problems in our nation – including bad roads. But they'll quickly add that we intend to solve those not by lessening democracy but by increasing it.


Note:- This letter has been published here with minor editing. Contents have not been changed. The original article may be accessed at the link above.

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Stupid? Maybe You're Right, Mahathir...

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"I would be stupid"

~Mahathir


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Well- whadaya know ... the old man has done it again.
Apparently, he's got the "avatar" bug again- and claims that "these days", all these information can be maliciously created out of thin air!!

"Because nowadays even photos of human beings with someone else’s body can be made,” he says.
LOL- He thinks this screencapture below is a "photoshop"!!

Just when he needs it, it appears that the old man's memory seems to be conveniently failing him again ....
Is this part of his "melayu mudah lupa" drama for sympathy?
I wouldn't know ...

Please click HERE to visit Worldbank website
December 19, 2011
Dr Mahathir asked for the World Bank to furnish the records adduced yesterday by PKR. — File pic

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today kept up his denial of having solicited World Bank aid, and demanded evidence from the financial institution despite online records adduced by PKR.

“I want to see... I want to ask the World Bank whether this is true... Because nowadays even photos of human beings with someone else’s body can be made,” the former prime minister was quoted as saying by Bernama Online today.

“As far as I can remember — and I have not forgotten — I never sent any request for any money, not during the financial crisis or even after that. I had just criticised the World Bank, then I ask money from them for what? I would be stupid,” he was quoted further.