The End Story of the Putrajaya Journey

Once upon the time, there have been some ambitious opposition politicians leaders started their journey and their final destination is Putrajaya which is 100,000 km away.

They are setting off on a long journey riding donkey presumably with a good plan although they knew it would be long and hard.

They cannot ride all at once for the donkey is not strong enough to carry both all of them.

The opposition leader alone climbed onto the donkey with the follower leading the way. Although the follower disagreed but they still continued their journey.

In order to overcome the exhaustion of the journey, they decided to go slightly faster.

While on their way, the political rival suddenly appears riding together onto the donkey.


The followers strongly disagreed with protest.

He decided to end the inappropriate political story by leaving the journey and return home.

Policy in place, next stop Putrajaya but 100,000 km away

The Common Policy Framework is claimed to be the compass for PKR, DAP and PAS by which they will journey to their destination.

Undeniably, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but the journey to Putrajaya will not only be a lot tougher, a lot more painful than they had expected, rather it is not reachable!

It's just like somebody gave opposition parties a donkey and they started their journey to Putrajaya.

How long does it take to reach its destination? The donkey will take a long time to reach their destination or it can't reach at all.

“We are already in Kajang,” declared PAS Vice-president Salahuddyin Ayub, albeit jokingly to the delegates, in reference to the town which borders the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim was in no doubt that Putrajaya was indeed within reach.

Some claim that the journey is not possible. Is this true?

The question arises as to whether it is possible not for the opposition to reach their destination.

What is your opinion?

Rais: Don't blame all the media

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming should not blame the media in general but rather single out media that he charged was twisting his statement.

Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming

"He should prove the allegation by singling out which newspaper or TV station did so. Don't say all media as that's not fair to media not involved," he said.

"As long as the facts are true, the media can report, but if the facts are false, then the party aggrieved has the right to sue those misreporting," he said.

More often than not, media prefers more confrontational issues to less one. It's tendency to get overwrought about almost everything under the sun and politicians aim to get free ride from media.

It is a process by which the media determines what issues to cover and how big to publish. It seems that although politicians frequently communicate to media but media twisting their message especially those have different schools of thought and political interest.

Undeniably, mainstream media tends to pick up on these claims. They never take into consideration the moral professional obligation to the society but only severely targeted at damaging the image of the politicians and cause ugly words directed at them. It clearly shows about the unprofessional behavior of the media.

Basically, the free and credible media should engage itself in a fair and free reporting. The news reporting should be balanced with the demands of fair play without bias.

It has been reported frequently that the media’s role in spreading confusion regarding the political statement.

In an attempt to be balanced, unethical media often inadvertently tilts the scale too far to accommodate the correct political statement that looking to spread misinformation and confusion.

It is embarrassing that media is making the situation worse by trying to twist the statement to give a free ride to certain politicians.

Pray until his stomach bursts?

Pray until his stomach bursts? Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz has issued a call to all the people of Kelantan, irrespective of their current political leanings, to unite under the cause of demanding for Kelantan's rightful oil royalty payments from the federal government.

Pray until his stomach bursts

The PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz was also reported to have described the rejection of oil royalty payments to the Kelantan government as "a violation of basic human rights".

He proclaimed: "As long as they do not give the oil royalty, we will pray until that person's stomach bursts.”

Nik Aziz explained his call for prayers in seeking divine intervention was in response to the federal government's action of not handing over oil royalty payments to Kelantan, which has been under PAS rule since 1990.

Undeniably, the role of a spiritual leaders plays in the political decision-making process in PAS is not only vital but act as a powerful element. It was claimed that the spiritual leader sees himself as guardian of the legacy.

The call for prayers until that person's stomach bursts come as a shock to the politicians and general populace especially non-Muslim in this country.

In reaction to what non-PAS believers and supporters considered Islam's degeneration; Niz Aziz is lambasted for using religious practice to demand oil royalty. The act has been perceived as an unbecoming his stature as an Islamic spiritual leader.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said, "This is not the work of a religious man, not the work of a spiritual adviser, this is vilification."

He said the PAS spiritual leader's opinions were no longer acceptable although he was a knowledgeable and elderly person.

Are Dr Khoo Kay Kim and Dr Ridhuan Tee pulling BN’S leg?

It is ironic that the Chinese community always paid the honor to a person who earnestly contributed to the Chinese education in the country and otherwise.

Academician Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim who claimed that the Chinese education system produced copycats while Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah criticized the vernacular education system in the country.

In response to these criticizes, the Chinese community can not find any possible reason that could justify the claimed especially taking into account that Malaysia is a role model of multiracial country.

The Chinese community especially the educationalists not only condemn them but describe them as naive, arrogant and disgrace to Malaysian Chinese’s history in the country. It is reported that the Chinese education supporters were very angry and disgusted and to the extent that their names have term synonymous with the word traitor.

Undeniably, language is the bridge to understanding. It is claimed that Dr Khoo Kay Kim is married to an Indian of Ceylonese Tamil creed while Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is a Chinese convert married to Malay, they were not Chinese educated or never a Chinese medium educated. They were unable to understand the Chinese community situation, thought, feeling and the driving political sensitivity behind.

Indeed, the views expressed by two prominent academicians seem to be a particular challenge to Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that national schools might adopt the Chinese school model in the teaching of Mathematics and Science as the Chinese schools had done well in the two subjects in public examinations.

It is often claimed that many academician are anti-establishment and not surprisingly well planned overt or covert anti-establishment viewpoints unfavorable to the government especially targeted to severely tarnish the image of MCA seems to be happening regularly.

Intentionally, they present distorted views. This will not only weaken the credibility of MCA, but will probably fail MCA to keep the support for the Barisan Nasional.

At the end of the day, the move will threaten the political stability at times when political support is deteriorating. The strategy to usurp BN political power is the hidden agenda and a symbiotic relationship between academicians and opposition.

While the ruling party takes full advantage of its position to gain support and maintain power, it is not justify supporting the academicians to jeopardize the power of the ruling party.

Is Khoo Kay Kim skillfully manipulating Chinese educational issue?

There is a need for extra sensitivity when proposals are based upon education, race and religion in multiracial society.

Ironically, a society can be ripped apart by the unwise handling of sensitive issues and causes political instability and the fall of the regime.


Khoo Kay Kim

Academically, it is not wrong for Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim to propose a restructure of the national education system to introduce a single stream system but the act can be seen as systematic usurpation of ultimate BN political power.

Undeniably, the calls for a single-stream school system would mean that vernacular schools would cease to exist and it will generate political turmoil or cause MCA especially UMNO to lose its grip on power.

Ironically, Chinese education issue is a sensitive issue of the Chinese. It remained a taboo subject since independence.

Historically, vernacular schools have existed for more than half a century and there are about 1,000 Chinese primary schools and about 500 Tamil schools in the country.

Politically, the vernacular school system in this country is an area that is extremely sensitive. Even MCA championing the cause of Chinese schools but it is claimed that due to ineffectiveness of handling the issues, the Chinese have lost confidence in MCA. Many Chinese have felt betrayed and taken advantage of by its leaders and it caused MCA lost in the general election.

Unfortunately, it is claimed that the opposition and academician have done everything they could to discredit MCA as well as BN. They know fully well that the proposal contradicted the spirit of the Federal Constitution, which guaranteed the freedom to promote and develop the vernacular school system.

In fact, it is often seen that many academician are anti-establishment and not surprisingly anti-establishment news and viewpoints can be regularly heard.

The consistency of their overt or covert anti-establishment viewpoints that can threaten the stability and usurpation of political power is most welcome by opposition.

While BN had hoped for popular support from the local population, what right do we have to help someone to usurpation ultimate political power of the BN government?

Wise decision to pullback End-of-Life Vehicle policy

The Government on 6 November 2009, has announced to pull back the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) policy, with immediate effect after taking into account the people’s views and feedback.


In other words, the New conditions under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) that makes mandatory inspection for vehicles above 15 years at Puspakom that will enforce on Jan 1 is being pull back by the authority.

It is a wise courageous and well balanced approach that the government has made to stop implementing the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) policy.

What would the political scenario be like if the authority had decided differently? What if the government were consistently able to make the wise decision?

Initially, the suggested regulation will involve about a million vehicles, is among 18 new measures in the revised NAP to enhance the local automotive industry’s competitiveness and make for safer, more environmental-friendly and technologically sound vehicles.

Malaysia currently has 2.7 million cars on the road that are 10 years or older and the country has a very low vehicle scrap rate instead a relatively high average vehicle age.

Undeniably, to keep ill-maintained and not road worthy vehicles off the road is the responsibility of the authority, but not old ones that work perfectly especially those good roadworthy classics collector cars.


The new regulation is good for automotive industry as new car sales will go up as most people will consider it as being a longer period of ownership and resale as well as financing.

On the other hand, it is claimed that the mandatory yearly inspection in order to get the road tax renewed is affecting the lower income group especially burdens used car dealers and affects their business.

Based on strategic reason and unfavorable economic times, the expensive law is being deemed expendable.

Why support a policy which would have appalled to lower income group?

Dr Mahathir blamed educationists do not want Chinese students to mix with Malay or Indian students

Malaysia has the unique system of having different streams of education and most of the students from Chinese primary schools graduated from government secondary schools.

Ironically, it was reported that there are about 70,000 non Chinese students studying in Chinese primary schools.

The question remains: Should the unique system of our country be preserved or otherwise?

Former premier Dr Mahathir said that only Malaysia has the unique system of having different streams of education as other countries have only one stream despite having large migrant population.

He cited United States, Canada and Australia as examples. However, he blamed the educationists for not wanting Chinese students to mix with Malay or Indian students.

He also pointed out that even Switzerland, which has three official languages, has an education system which provides for students to learn all three languages in the same school.

“That is why I introduced the vision school, which comprises three streams in one campus. That way, students of different races can at least meet each other,” he said.

However, he said that the system was rejected and that was the reason why Malaysians cannot achieve unity.

New reward system for civil servants

Rewarding and retaining high performing worker is fundamental to higher productivity continues remains to be the greatest challenges for the government.

Civil servants being rewarded unfairly can be a huge de-motivator. On the other hand, rewarding high performance equitably should encourage higher performance.

Ironically, impact of globalization increased competition in the government sector and it is the greater part of the problem troubling in getting the best civil servants into civil services.

The government will introduce a new reward system to motivate civil servants and inculcate the culture of high performance in the public sector have clear impact enhancing governmental performance.

It clearly shows that the government is a government of words and could not tolerate mediocrity or abuse of power.

Ong Ka Chuan criticizes MCA’s peace plan is undemocratic

Former MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan criticizing the MCA’s peace plan is undemocratic.


Ong Ka Chuan

Ong Ka Chuan also criticized Ong Tee Keat for not consulting the central committee over the plan and instead sought the approval of the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which he said was inappropriate.

He said this would result in public perception that the party was susceptible to external interference.

Ong Ka Chuan said the party's assembly was the highest decision-making body and once a decision has been made, it must be accepted and respected.

He said that at the very least, the party leadership must explain to the members why the delegate's views were ignored.

He said President Ong Tee Keat's plan had in effect turned the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) outcome into a "joke".

He said both Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek's factions had agreed on the resolutions before a notice for the EGM was issued.

Ong Tee Keat reneged on his promise and refused to step down while Dr Chua Sooi Lek is now seeking the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to reinstate him to his former post.

Ironically, if MCA constantly has been wracked by serious internal dissent and leadership conflicts despite peace deal, it would have a negative impact on BN and benefits opposition in the upcoming elections.

The question remains: Can the Peace Plan solve the MCA internal fiasco or otherwise?

Ong Tee Keat did not keep his word and resign

It remains unclear how the MCA crisis will turn out but it seems that MCA are potentially at a cross road.

Ironically, its unfortunate for BN but the opposition surely benefit out of the crisis.


Ong Tee Keat

It seemed that MCA had not learnt any lessons from its past mistakes and always repeats the same mistakes.

It is strongly believe that the 60-year-old party MCA was incapable of solving its own internal crisis through its own internal mechanism.

The two leaders said they accepted the outcome of the EGM. Following that, the party's powerful central committee (CC) had met to discuss the latest development and the next course of action for the party.

It is claimed that CC had never asking the President to step down. However, Ong Tee Keat refused to resign as party president despite losing a confidence vote.

Vise President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, however was appointed deputy president of MCA after a heated central committee meeting. He had at loggerheads with Ong Tee Keat who says he will now call for another EGM.

Undeniably, it was not easy for Ong and Liow to find a compromise because Liow was not keen for a fresh party election while Ong would prefer fresh party election to get endorsement from the delegates to continue as the party president.

It's very unfortunate the members of MCA thought that Ong Tee Keat would be a good and capable president, but within a year of taking office, he was as bad as all the rest.

He did not keep his word on resigning. It shows how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Sept 16 a national holiday is most welcome

Aug 31 and Sept 16 should be equally significant in the history of our country.


Aug 31 marks the attainment of independence from colonialism, while Sept 16 ushered the birth of a new and bigger nation called Malaysia although Singapore left the federation in 1965.

Ironically, under the 1Malaysia spirit, both dates should be equally significant in celebrating the formation of Malaysia.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement that Sept 16 will be a national public holiday and will be celebrated with activities to strengthen unity, racial understanding and the people's achievement in sports, social-culture, culture and others to light up the spirit of 1Malaysia is a most welcome development in the long run to celebrate the formation of Malaysia.

Nik Aziz admits wrong strategy caused defeat in Bagan Pinang

The huge majority won by BN's Mohd Isa Samad at the well fought by-election at Bagan Pinang against his PAS rival is a major morale booster for Umno.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat admitted PAS’ defeat in the Bagan Pinang by-election was due to a wrong strategy in their campaign.


He said relying on “ceramah” (political rallies) did not bring in the intended results.

Most voters in Bagan Pinang did not know much about PAS and thus, did not vote for the party, he said.

“This caused the votes for PAS to drop as compared to the last general election,” Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, added that the voters also had the perception that the party comprised terrorists and extremists, causing them to be too afraid to accept it.

The result was as follows:

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 8,013
Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 2,578
Majority: 5,435
Spoilt votes: 223

When rules do not apply to Pas supporters

The opposition and their supporter’s complete disregard for the laws are obvious and once again proven in Bagan Pinang by-election.

It was reported that they have once again shown sheer disregard for not only the laws but also the feelings of Port Dickson residents.

Pas supporters who have descended in droves from Kelantan and other states are not only harassing the people but have turned this scenic beach front enclave into a mess.

Illegal stalls selling all kinds of Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat paraphernalia have mushroomed all over the town and in housing estates, blocking roads and causing massive traffic jams.

Loudspeakers are blazing away Pas and PKR leaders' political sermons while the heaps of rubbish these outsiders churn out are getting too much for the residents to stomach.

PM: Victory more important than majority

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said, winning in the Bagan Pinang state by-election is more important to the Barisan Nasional than the size of the majority obtained.


"There's no need to talk about winning big or small, as long as (we) win. Winning is the important thing," the prime minister told Malaysian journalists after his four-day visit to France.

He said that to win, the BN must work very hard and carry out an effective campaign to get the message across to the people.

He had been informed that the BN campaign was running smoothly and had received encouraging response but the effort must continue till the end.

Isa will win the Bagan Pinang by-election

What can we be very sure about in this by-election in Bagan Pinang is, the BN candidate Tan Sri Isa Samad will win the race but only on the question that's put to us is about the majority.


Isa Samad, 60, a local who served as Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar for 22 years since 1982, is facing state PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, of Lenggeng.

Isa Samad is well known as the local hero. He is said to be more popular even some are criticized him. He is a grassroots man and people at the grassroots level are willing to support him.

Undeniably, BN would retain the seat without much question as it had been its stronghold all the while.

Some political experts agree that the most critical factor to BN victory is the 4,604 postal voters in the uniformed corps. Traditionally, a majority of the postal voters backed BN which lead BN to victory.

Postal voters make up about a third of the electorate in Bagan Pinang and are widely seen as giving an edge to Barisan Nasional candidate Isa Samad.

Bagan Pinang has 13,664 registered voters of whom 62.8 per cent are Malays, 20.7 per cent Indians 11 per cent Chinese and 5.5 percent others. Postal voters total to 4,604.

Dr M : UMNO still relevant but must be wise and brave in taking "corrective measures"

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said UMNO, the backbone of BN was still relevant but its leaders and members must be wise and brave in taking "corrective measures".


Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

He said, Malaysians will not fare any better if the Opposition takes over the federal government from the Barisan Nasional.

According to him, most of the leaders from the Opposition were seen to be willing to change their stand just to gain popularity and support from the people.

Some of them were willing to declare as "halal" (permissible in Islam) what they used to say were "haram" (forbidden in Islam) simply to please former enemies who now had become partners in the Opposition's Pakatan coalition.

"I think things will only get worse. Their leaders are willing to make "halal" everything.

Previously, PAS had said cooperation with non-Muslims would make one an infidel but now not only are they cooperating with non-Muslims, they are also saying it is okay to rear pigs, only that Muslims should not consume pork.”

"PAS quotes the Quran that pork is "haram" but that it did not say pigs cannot be reared. Going by this, it means we (Muslims) can rear pigs, can sell pork but not eat it. Just because they want the cooperation of some people, they are willing to compromise on their principles."

He said Malaysia could ill-afford leaders who were inconsistent in their stand just for the sake of gaining popularity.

"It is just the same with another leader who is a now a strong supporter of Hindraf (the banned Hindu Rights Action Force movement)."