Malaysians Laugh and Cry Over Proton’s new Chairman, Dr Mahathir – Koon Yew Yin

Malaysians Laugh and Cry Over Proton’s new Chairman, Dr Mahathir – Koon Yew Yin
Author: Koon Yew Yin | Publish date: Mon, 26 May 2014, 03:25 PM

When I read the news that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been appointed as Chairman of Proton Holdings Bhd., I could not help thinking that most Malaysians will be laughing and crying at the same time with this disclosure.

According to the report, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that “I believe Tun’s appointment will certainly strengthen Proton, given’s his determination and high commitment to see the national car company succeed. Although there are many challenges ahead but in the pursuit to improve Proton’s competitiveness, I believe the company would accrue many benefits from his profound experience and knowledge.”

Why Malaysians Are Laughing

Malaysians are laughing because Dr. Mahathir has been de facto chairman of Proton ever since it was first set up. And even after his resignation as Prime Minister in 2003, he has continued to pull the strings on government policy on Proton. Therefore, there is no need to make him chairman unless it is to pay him the large salary that is normally paid to the Chairman of a very large car manufacturing company.

Earlier reports had mentioned that Dr. M who was serving as the adviser of Proton after he left the prime ministership position was not being paid a salary or allowances for his services. Perhaps the decision to formalize his position at the top of the company is simply Najib’s way of compensating Dr. Mahathir with big bucks for keeping his mouth shut on Najib’s poor leadership of the country.

Why Malaysians Are Crying Over Their Cars

At the same time, Malaysians must be crying with this news. They are crying because it is Dr. Mahathir who has been the chief catalyst and cheerleader of the national car project since 1983. It is an undeniable fact that this white elephant project has not only cost taxpayers billions of ringgit but has also burdened Malaysians with some of the worst cars found on Malaysian roads.

I don’t think it is necessary for me to go into the two fundamental mistakes Dr. Mahathir made in pushing for the national car project. The first mistake is a basic Economics 101 rule, and this is that unless there is an enormous internal market such as in China or the United States, and we can take advantage of the economy of scale, small producers such as Malaysia are forever doomed to a minor placing, or bankruptcy, in the car marketplace.

Even medium sized European countries with larger national car markets cannot compete. Of all countries in the world, only South Korea alone has been able to overcome this small national market limitation; and this has been due to the exceptional quality of its management capability, high technology and worker skills and discipline.

Played out by Mitsubishi

As far as Proton is concerned, Mahathir’s mistake in ignoring the economic fundamentals of the industry was compounded by our lack of expertise to produce cars, the low quality of Proton managers, our unskilled labour and our reliance on Mitsubishi for the anticipated technology transfer.

That technology transfer from Mitsubishi did not take place. This should have been expected. Why should Mitsubishi transfer their know-how to Malaysia when it can control the pace of transfer to maximize its profits? Mitsubishi knew that Proton could not do without them and they were quite happy to continue making money from Proton while the company here continued to bleed to death.

Government increased import duty to protect Proton

To induce Malaysians to buy Proton, the government increased the import duty for other cars and car parts. As a result, the consumers have suffered. For over 30 years Malaysians have been crying over having to pay higher prices for all cars including Proton. Even this has not been sufficient to save Proton which has been sold five times already. The end result is that a minority of affluent Malaysians have ended up with more expensive cars of other brands whilst most Malaysians have had little choice but to buy Proton – a poor substitute.

Sack Dr. Mahathir

With Dr. Mahathir’s appointment as Chairman of Proton, Malaysians can expect to cry more when their car prices not only remain high but go even higher if Dr. Mahathir has his way to protect the national car with even greater levels of handicaps against foreign cars.

Instead of appointing him as Chairman, Prime Minister Najib Razak should have sacked him as the Proton adviser! Unfortunately this has not happened. The burden of the highest car prices in the region is the price we have to pay for brainless nationalism and equally brainless leadership on our national car project.

Why not let Proton crash like MH 370?

http://klse.i3investor.com/blogs/koonyewyinblog/52948.jsp

The Chinese Dilemma in an Umno Problem

October 13, 2015 by shuzheng

Some recoloring and a new beginning?

*

The Ahi Law of Admissibility

True or False

To argue the prime minister’s case that he not yield to demands to resign, Najib Razak’s hatchet men (Ahirudin Attan, Salleh Keruak, Rahman Dahlan et al) rely primarily on one piece of troll: the past of Mahathir Mohamad.

This says that if Mahathir is a history of dictatorial and abusive rule, economic mismanagement and financial scams — ISA, Anwar Ibrahim, race baiting, police brutality, arbitrary jail, failed economics, idiotic financial schemes, market manipulation, botched commercial enterprises, crony profiteering (Francis Yeoh and YTL), corruption licensing, the list is near endless — then he has neither moral standing nor authorial legitimacy to demand anything from Najib nor criticize the man’s record. Least of all Najib’s resignation.

This is the Ahi Law of Admissibility: a thing committed in the past shall not be made applicable for use in the future. True or false?

For that Law to hold, it relies on two premises:

• (a) a person such as Mahathir is the primary, valid voice to want Najib’s scalp or he is the only person of some standing and with enough residual power and influence to get it; and,
• (b) the same demands by other people are inconsequential, hence easily dismissed, or if their demands aggregate and are transposed in the person of Mahathir then those voices also lose their moral authority.

Pick any of those premises, it is easy to tie up Ahi’s tongue with Helen Ang’s brain stem and shove the pair down Salleh’s throat — gargle, gargle. But, really, does it matter? The argument that is.

Ahi’s Law is the God of morality equivalence; Mahathir had done it, why fault Najib; and it is itself immorality. Najib is welcomed to nail Mahathir for all the latter’s sin (he had six years since 2009 to do it) and that still won’t answer the problem afflicting him: his credibility is so deeply compromised — from murder to money in bank — that few finds his position tenable at all. As it turns out, Mahathir is used to deflect his integrity problem like the Red Shirts were used.

Najib is not answerable to Mahathir, and this is true. But, with the powers granted him and not without conditions, Najib is answerable to history, to his father, to all Malaysians and to a morality higher than Ahi’s depravity. It is called decency. Malaysia, as a national project, has failed miserably, worsening by the year and now Putrajaya, no less, has fallen into moral putrefaction.

*

Guess who is ‘meddling’ in Malaysia’s affairs:

• (A) Ahi Attan’s great grandfather?
• (B) Ahi’s Singapore brother-in-law?
• (C) Singapore compatriot Bila Kausi?
• (D) Helen Ang’s pendatang great grand uncle?
• (E) None of the above.
• https://shuzheng.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/the-chinese-dilemma-in-an-umno-problem/

Chinese Meddling in Umno

Najib Razak’s fate as Prime Minister has hung on the only thread that Umno has Merdeka’s past on its side and the goodwill residue passed on from Tunku Abdul Rahman. It has the notoriety of delivering the good, but mostly the bad then thrust them onto the rest of the population. So, if Malaysia was going to fix itself, it has to first fix Umno. This is the prevailing wisdom. Even Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sees it that way.

The other alternative is to uncouple the party from Malaysia.

One method is complete replacement; hence Pakatan and Anwar et al and hence the no-confidence motion in Parliament. The other and the more painful of the two methods is surgery within the Barisan Nasional, hence the MCA, which is one of the three coalition founders. After which, Sabah and Sarawak have to enter the picture.

Mahathir’s relentless campaign to remove Najib appears like a lonely one-man road show and, after weeks and months, it seems to go nowhere mostly because of what he has done to Umno and not for it. This is most evident in Sabah. Alongside it, there are the Peninsula electoral seat distributions and the electoral horse trading. Then the institutions at Umno’s doors, commandeered by the party and chief of these are the Police and the Law. Such obstacles, Umno and so on, must now seem to Mahathir like colossal walls and he keeps running up against them in his campaign. A sense of futility results. He had put them in place and you’ve to wonder, does he know it?

Now take them down.

This explains why Mahathir campaigns as if pleading to Malays only, Umno members in particular. Even when he is in Tawau he is there speaking to Malays although they don’t constitute the numerical Number One in the state. Now, Muhyiddin has openly joined him but, still, it is there — that pervasive air of futility.

In the circumstances, another solution has to be found among Umno’s dozen partners in Barisan by the only ones sufficiently independent of Najib or any Umno president. Even though it has no electoral, numerical strength, MCA has the strongest claim to moral and political legitimacy to either tell Najib off, or be replaced as Barisan chief, hence prime minister, by another Umno leader.

If, as Ong Tee Keat has suggested yesterday, the MCA finds the gumption to quit Barisan then it should also have the spunk to initiate an overhaul of Barisan, starting with what — as opposed to who — Umno sends to Barisan to sit on the Putrajaya throne. The past rule has been this: any Umno man will do, even a scoundrel.

The flip side of that rule means that Umno members must have the wisdom to see the reality — and this is the actual reality and not some Singaporean dog shit Kuasi kind — that the leader they elect won’t eventually just serve the party but the country as well (see clip above, in particular Muhyiddin’s words in Bahasa). Should they fail, evidenced by the man’s character and conduct, then other Barisan members has the option to send him back to Umno at any given time.

Given Mahathir, given Najib — they are 28 years added up — the automatic rule has to end.

This should be MCA’s consideration in the present circumstances, as a condition for staying within Barisan. How other Barisan members see it, is their business.

MCA’s dilemma is therefore straightforward: give us a good Malay man or take him back. And if Umno won’t take him back, for whatever reason, then a bad Malay leader — by any definition, by any standard — is also not a good Malaysian leader. Such a man loses his legitimacy to rule over the Chinese.

All this says that an MCA decision today, one way or the other, is historic from a number of angles. We shall reduce them to just three.

1. Future of Chinese-Malay relations. Najib has been good to the Chinese, in spite of the Red Shirt event which he probably regrets as a rash error because it antagonizes even his Chinese friends when he needs them most. Each placard that screams Cina babi sets back MCA goodwill and work by ten years and by a million Chinese votes. Such a state of affairs cannot go on.

But this also showed one other thing: a Malay leader has no qualms throwing the Chinese under the bus to save his own hide. Count Mahathir among such leaders. Henceforth there shall be no more of this political bigotry. It stops now!

2. Future of Barisan. Barisan’s principle in its creation, the Alliance before that, was straightforward. All races, between Malay and Chinese in particular, should advance together, marching in lock-step. No Chinese should have to be made to stay in a New Village so that a Kampung Baru Malay can go forward fast and ahead. Likewise, the kampung should not be brought to the city giving the Malay the illusion they are advancing, after which Umno-sponsored fatwas treat another Malay as a dog to be whipped and stoned. A line has to be drawn.

The Barisan mechanism — you do to your kind and we do to ours, and between the two, we talk — has repeatedly failed on the count, and the presumption, that an Umno Malay is a PAS Malay is also a desert Muslim, a DAP Chinese is not a MCA Chinese and is godless. And that culture, ethics and god are separable on the basis of political party membership. It presumes too much: that is, only politics understands ethnicity as the sense of self.

If the principle that the Malay and Chinese marching in lock-step is to endure then its mechanism has to be revisited and reworked. Life isn’t complicated; it is just the sheer variety that makes it appear so. A post-modern Internet world merely adds to the diversity rather than confounds lives.

3. Future of Malaysia. The MCA could close an eye to some dead Mongolian or some officials locked up because in the political calculus they matter next to nothing, in particular to the party. This is the same sort of attitude and calculation that has always governed parliamentary proceedings, enactment of laws, economic life, grand ideas like freedom, how Muslims and Malays are treated and so on. Those are, in short, little things building up to the big canvas.

But there are consequences, some very plainly in sight today. Beyond those repercussions, what is a Chinese politician in this era and in such an environment to do? To who does he serve alongside representing the Chinese? Is Najib the north pole star? Is the present administrative, legal and social systems doing what they ought to, weirenmin fuwu 为人民服务 whether Malay or Chinese? What big ideas do you have, Najib, to take us forward? It is not on account of failure that matters but the ethics of your design: is it to serve humans or to serve some kind of god, manna?

10 Reasons Why Najib Razak And His Regime Is The Worst

Posted on October 22, 2015 by jebatmustdie

The Prime Minister is no longer respected and his position has become untenable since last July. We even had an instance a couple of weeks ago where an accomplished young man had called the Prime Minister a national disgrace.

Truly, even among the youth, his reputation is widely seen as tarnished.

A recent survey had produced an unsurprising result – that 4 out of 5 Malaysians are unhappy with the Prime Minister. Approval rating has sunk to an all time low of 31%.

How could this happened?

Here are the reasons why this Prime Minister and his regime is the worst collection of leaders this country has ever had.

1. They slander people and shamelessly lie to the public when caught with a blunder. For example, when Wall Street Journal broke the story that billions went into the Prime Minister’s private accounts, the first thing he did was to slander Tun Dr Mahathir and claimed the story is a lie. In his own words, he said “the latest allegation is that I have taken state-linked funds for personal gain. I believe Tun, working hand in glove with foreign nationals, including the now discredited political attack blog Sarawak Report, is behind this latest lie.”  Although WSJ never said he used it for personal gain, he shifted the goalpost by saying they accused him of that. He even made a remark that if he really wanted to steal the money, he won’t do it in a local bank, just to reassure the public that no money went in into his personal account. But events afterwards proved the money did go into his accounts and all the slander and lies he concocted were exposed. https://jebatmustdie.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/10-reasons-why-najib-razak-and-his-regime-is-the-worst/
2. His next move in trying to prove that he did not receive any money is to publicly declare that he will sue WSJ. But this also ended in a whimper when after so many months have passed, Najib still cowardly refrained from suing WSJ. For all the stupid excuses made to justify why he hadn’t done so, people around the world already knew that there is no need to sue WSJ because all their allegations were proven right after all. Indeed, his second pathetic attempt to sue a veteran politician over an allegation that public money was funneled into his private accounts also ended rather flaccidly.
3. The above two reasons should already disqualify him from being the Prime Minister, but it did not deter his sycophants in urging him to stay on. Shameless and unrepentant can aptly describe the Prime Minister and his regime. Another reason to show why this is the worst administration ever is when Najib, with a straight face said that 1MDB won’t be using public money to bail out 1MDB. This is an outright lie because it is a well known fact that 1MDB received RM950 million standby credit from the Ministry of Finance to service its debts. That money is of course, public money. And at one event in Johor, he even said that 1MDB has not incurred any losses! How desperate can one be? If that’s the case, then the RM665 million loss in 1MDB accounts for the year 2014 must have been a success according to his standards. Another shocking statement made was the “we must not borrow money to develop projects” which he uttered three days ago. Perhaps he should look in the cesspool known as 1MDB and drown himself in there. What kind of a leader is this to make such statement? And some people still support him?
4. One stupidity this regime is showing the whole world is their way of defending Najib Razak. When RM2.6 billion was proven to be inside his personal accounts, they made a diversion by saying that it is acceptable for a PM to get ‘political donation’ into his bank accounts! Probably the law that makes this permissible exists only in a twisted world called “Najibland”. Anti-corruption organisations across the world looked at this issue with horror and called it ‘grand corruption’. On top of that, Najib Razak actually challenged the opposition to reveal their source of political donation before he can reveal his! Continuing the tradition of being an overeager cockerel which bolted at the first sign of trouble, he became quiet like a mouse, probably suffering amnesia and forgot all about his challenge when Bersih 2.0, one of the opposition groups had declared and presented their accounts and political donation to the public. Is this a trait of a good leader? Certainly not.
5. And didn’t we all feel ashamed but laughed real hard when the Prime Minister went missing during the Nothing2Hide event? They were citing ‘security reasons’ for his cowardly non-attendance; the same excuse given for him not to attend and officiate the International Anti-Corruption Conference last month. What a disgrace. How can Malaysians accept a leader who is not brave enough to face an audience? Even now he doesn’t accommodate any Q&A session with reporters for fear of facing tough questions. In fact, in the current Parliamentary session, any questions regarding 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion ‘donation’ are either rejected or delayed. This is how a scared regime would typically act when asked to stand up and face the music. Is this Government capable and has the credibility to face any economic and national challenges? Trying to portray itself like a thug but in actual fact, a scaredy-cat? Some of these people even thought that the act of sacking the AG for probing the wrongdoing, and sacking a Deputy Prime Minister for asking too many questions is a courageous behaviour! Laughable indeed. The Government is acting like a spoiled brat with too much power in his hands.Speaking about spoiled brats, what about the recent press release of SRC International which tried to whitewash their activities by telling the public that all the RM4 billion they received from KWAP are accounted for? Again, just like 1MDB, its little brother did not furnish any proof. Indeed, a multi billion company like SRC do not even have a website. Last checked, their website is still under construction! What kind of secret business deals are they doing inside there? Their accounts are not even available to public. SRC International had the audacity to say “we call on those quarters who are engaged in efforts to overthrow the government to desist from involving SRC in their political campaign and to avoid making false and unsubstantiated allegations against us.” Just like 1MDB, SRC International seems to be issuing political statements when they did not provide evidence to prove their innocence. The proof in the pudding is in the eating. And the pudding in the form of Nik Faisal Nik Amir and Datuk Suboh Mohd Yassin are missing and hiding from being investigated. SRC’s press release is moot and lack credibility when their directors are hiding like escaped fugitives. The Prime Minister could have called these friends of his to return home and face the law, but he did not. The MACC is left on the lurch and the investigation into the RM42 million of SRC money that went directly into the Prime Minister’s personal bank accounts is seriously delayed.
6. Yes, investigations were forcefully delayed by the actions by Najib Razak but his newly appointed PAC chief, Datuk Hasan Arifin stated that it is only ‘perception’ by the public that the 1MDB investigations are hindered. The public is appalled by the statement made by this idiot. Here is the proof that the delays in 1MDB investigations are not just about perception – the previous PAC Chief, Datuk Nurjazlan had promised in the month of June that PAC will interview Arul Kanda and Shahrol Halmi in August, this is because, both of those cowards had asked for deferment in their interview sessions. But that did not happen because the PAC was dismantled at the end of July. Now is already the month of October. Has PAC interviewed those wanted men? So for Hasan Arifin to stupidly say there are no delays is just mindboggling. Is this the kind of leadership you can trust?
7. The other reason is the economy. This regime seriously do not know what to do with it. Their first action after months of sitting on their thumbs is to establish a special committee to tackle the current global market crisis. After the ringgit had plunged to an all time low for more than a decade, their solution is to use RM20 billion of public money in the form of funds from PNB, Khazanah Nasional and KWAP (again) to boost up the stock market. This had artificially led the stock market to rise up momentarily because retail investors are buying the shares anticipating the Government will go in and buy more shares in the market. Basically what the Government hope for is to “artificially boost the stock market in order to give the impression that the real economy is doing well”, so says an astute observer. Nazri Aziz, the clueless tourism minister even brayed like a village simpleton by saying that a weak ringgit will cause a tourist influx when a recent data had shown that the number of tourists are declining. There are so many things to say about this dithering economy perpetuated by Najib hanging on by his fingertips as the prime minister, but that requires a whole separate article.
   9. And the apparent lack of money is also a reason why this Government is the worst in financial management. At one point during the last general election, Najib Razak made a promise that tolls between cities will be reduced gradually. But the opposite happened. Instead of reducing the toll rates, his administration had hiked up the rates! Citing no more money to pay compensation to the toll concessionaires, Najib Razak and his regime shamelessly announced that the money saved can be used to build schools and hospitals. The kick in the teeth came from the announcement from the Works Minister where he said that the Government had to pay RM558.7 million in compensation if toll rates are not increased. Well, if 1MDB hadn’t have to be bailed out by the amount of RM950 million back in February, then right now there shouldn’t have been an increase in traveling costs for the public! In fact, back in 2011, this government had prolonged the concession on some of the highways which supposedly to end in 2018 and had revised it to 2038! Note that Najib Razak gave the same reason when they tried to impose GST – to build schools and hospitals. What happened to the GST’s billions? Also, the government should have saved billions when they canceled subsidy for petrol and sugar. Yet the prime minister is often heard crying like a baby how it is so hard to find money. People are starting to get panic. Why don’t you just keep quiet and do your job? Do you even understand the word ‘financial management’?
   10. And lastly among others, the fact that Najib Razak is unrepentant and oblivious to the mistakes he has made, is spectacularly recorded. This blog had written many articles on how he lacks common sense and the necessary intelligence to act like a proper Prime Minister. We have published articles lambasting him on many areas in the past. Some as early as 2008. Out of 114 articles written about him, 99% of it are critical. A few of it can be read as below:
   • Enter new player (Muhyiddin Yassin)
   • Where do we go from here Dato’ Sri Najib?
   • The Stupidity Continues…
   • The most important question of all…
   • Basic confusion on 1Malaysia leads to divided nation

   But he continues to remain ignorant on the calls of his resignation. Surely the amount of hatred he received in his own social media platforms is a sign which he needs to heed. But apparently he only recognise his detractor in a form of just one man – Tun Dr Mahathir. And his modus operandi to defend himself? To tell the public that Tun Dr Mahathir is worse than him. In his mind, this makes Tun Dr Mahathir have no moral standing to ask for his resignation. But Najib is not accountable to only one person. He is answerable to the millions of people in Malaysia. Tun Dr Mahathir is just a messenger; he is not a prime minister anymore. To sully and badmouth a messenger means to insult Malaysians which had called for his resignation too. He even arrogantly advised his detractors to look at the mistakes they made in the past and “not only find fault in others”. So what kind of mistakes do the common people have that made them unworthy to call for his resignation? This kind of arrogance is clearly a product of hubris and miscalculated sense of popularity. After factoring in all the 10 reasons above, it is amazing to think that some are still supporting him to lead this country. Common sense is indeed a luxury these days. None of the cabinet ministers, the leaders in Barisan Nasional and all the fat divisional leaders in Umno have it.

   You might also want to read:

   1) PANDIKAR NAK SENARAI ANTI NAJIB LEBIH DULU PULAK…

   2) 1MDB Kalau Labur Di ASB adalah LEBIH UNTUNG dan Lebih Selamat Dari Labur Dengan Petrosaudi! Duit Pun Masih Cash Bukan Just Unit..

   3) 1MDB silap mata. How to make USD $2.33 billion “disappear”

   4) Separation of Powers

   5) The Idiot Guide to the Illogical Kandasamies of 1MDB

   6) Urus Niaga 1MDB Luar Biasa Terus Bebani Malaysia

   7) Najib is putting the people at ransom

   8) The Chinese Dilemma in an Umno Problem

Shameful if others think Malaysia prefers slower Internet, says Rafidah

Shameful if others think Malaysia prefers slower Internet, says Rafidah

Umno veteran Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz says it is shameful if others believed that Malaysians preferred slower Internet services. She was referring to a comment by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak who said 71% of Malaysians preferred slower speeds. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 30, 2015.

“What and who were sampled or interviewed,” she asked in a Facebook post.

She was referring to Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak’s comment yesterday that 71% of Malaysian Internet users preferred the slower Streamyx broadband package that offers speeds of between 384kbps to 1mbps.

Salleh said even though higher broadband speeds were available, the majority of customers subscribed to the cheaper and slower packages.

“In Singapore and Thailand, the minimum speeds range between 4 and 5mbps. In Malaysia it is only 384kbps. Of course we can also do this for Malaysia.

“We can increase the minimum Internet speed to 5mbps and force Malaysians to buy this higher-speed package. But that would mean the cost would be higher as well and Internet usage will be available to only those who can afford to pay the higher cost,” Salleh said.

But Rafidah urged Putrajaya to continue looking at South Korea and Japan to learn from the advancements there.

The former international trade and industry minister also said investors wanted the fastest broadband speed possible, on par with that they were used to, adding that this also applied to Malaysians.

“Our own people want that too, especially those who recognise the benefits of the superfast facility.

“And our young who are ICT savvy, practically demand it.

“Again more shooting of ourselves in the foot,” she wrote, without naming anyone. – September 30, 2015.

Umno veteran Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has questioned a claim by a minister that most Malaysians preferred slower broadband speed, and asked how Putrajaya had arrived at that conclusion.

She also said it was embarrassing for the world to have the perception that Malaysians preferred the slower option and that the government was happy with that.

“And we want to be a developed economy by 2020, a first world country, which has to be innovation driven

See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/shameful-if-others-think-malaysia-prefers-slower-internet-says-rafidah#sthash.RgnaSF0G.dpuf

Cartoons of year 2015

After hitting 90, Dr M pens poem, wonders if Malaysia and race will return to glory before he dies

After hitting 90, Dr M pens poem, wonders if Malaysia and race will return to glory before he dies

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Finally acknowledging he is in his twilight years, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lamented today in a poem how Malay leaders have sold off their honour for temporal wealth and wondered if the once proud race would return to their former glory.

The former prime minister, who just turned 90 on July 10, said in his poem written in Bahasa Malaysia that the Malays used to possess strength and a steely spirit, but they were later consumed with greed and desire.

“The independent race, the honourable race, now are willing to sell some of their rights, the right to choose and the right to vote, to get comfort without effort, just a little comfort,” Dr Mahathir wrote on his blog in a poem titled “Malaysia Tanahair-Ku” (Malaysia, my land).

“Will my race return? Or will it become a race that is colonised, humiliated and enslaved? Oh my race, have you forgotten so easily? I will go soon. Can I close my eyes and breathe my last because my race, my country, is still honourable, still regarded highly? Or will I blink, my breath coming out in gasps, stopping, because everything we have fought for is swallowed by lust,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also said the politics that “once saved” have become the “politics that destroy”.

“Leaders are getting greedier for place and position. What was once ‘haram’ has been made ‘halal’. The name of Allah has been abused, sold for temporal wealth in the world,” he said.

Dr Mahathir reportedly said Friday that he had never expected to celebrate his 90th birthday, but expressed his desire to continue helping the nation he had led for over two decades.

The elder Umno politician has been pushing openly for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation, citing the controversy surrounding debt-laden 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Below is Dr Mahathir’s poem in full:

MALAYSIA TANAHAIR-KU

Negara-ku Malaysia, Tanahair-ku, Tanah di mana sembilan puluh tahun dahulu

Darah tumpah dan aku dilahir
Di lahir sebagai anak bangsa yang dijajah
Aku membesar mempertuankan orang asing
Terhina dan dihina
Bangsa yang serba kekurangan
Tinggal dipondok berbumbung atap nipah
Berdinding, berlantai kayu
Namun aku lebih bahagia dari ramai bangsaku
Mereka tinggal di pondok robek, tiris apabila hujan
Tanpa pili air tanpa lampu letrik
Anak mereka berkaki ayam, berkudis
Demam panas dan kadang-kadang meninggal
Aku survive, aku ke sekolah, aku ke university
Nasib aku lebih baik
Allah Subhanahu Wataala kesian kepada aku
Setelah dijajah oleh satu bangsa, dijajah pula oleh dua bangsa lagi

Aku bertanya akan bangsaku selalunya dijajah orangkah?
Alhamdullilah, berkat kesedaran, berkat perjuangan, berkat perpaduan

Bangsaku dibebas, merdeka
Apakah merdeka hanya bermakna tidak dijajah orang
Apakah merdeka bermakna terus merana
Tidak, tidak, tidak
Merdeka bermakna kemajuan
Kemajuan sehingga berdiri sama tinggi
Duduk sama rendah dengan bekas penjajah dan bangsa lain
Bahkan mungkin lebih tinggi
Politik yang menyelamat dahulu
Terus membela bangsa
Negara dibangun, bangsa dibangun, agama di muliakan
Kemudian…
Malang dan sedih,
Bangsa yang berjiwa kental, bersemangat besi
Diserang oleh nafsu dan perasaan tamak
Aku dapat apa dari kemerdekaan tanya mereka?
Mana bahagian aku?
Dan semangat pun menjadi luntur, tidak terdaya mengawal nafsu
Apa makna senang jika untuk mendapat sesuatu begitu susah
Dan nafsu dan perasaan tamak pun di peralat dan disogok oleh orang-orang politik dan orang kaya

Bangsa yang merdeka
Bangsa yang mulia
Sekarang sanggup menjual hak yang sedikit
Hak memilih, hak mengundi
Untuk mendapat kesenangan tanpa usaha, kesenangan yang sedikit

Maruah dijual
Bangsa dijual
Tanahair dijual
Segalanya dijual
Untuk nikmat yang tidak kekal, nikmat yang sementara yang sedikit sahaja

Politik yang menyelamat
Menjadi politik yang menghancur
Pemimpin semakin tamak
Untuk tempat dan kedudukan tinggi
Perbuatan yang haram dihalalkan
Nama Allah diperalatkan, dijual untuk nikmat yang sementara di dunia

Akan kembalikah bangsaku
Menjadi bangsa yang dijajah, dihina dan diperhambakan
Wahai bangsaku
Begitu mudahkah kamu lupa
Aku akan pergi tidak lama lagi
Dapatkah aku pejam mata dan hembus nafas terakhir
Kerana bangsaku
Negaraku
Masih mulia
Masih bermaruah
Masih dipandang tinggi
Atau mataku terbeliak
Nafasku tersesak, terhenti, kerana segala yang diperjuangkan luput ditelan nafsu

Ya Allah lindungilah bangsaku
Sedarkanlah mereka
Sedarkan mereka bahawa Engkau tidak akan mengubah nasib bangsa

Melainkan bangsa itu sendiri cuba mengubahnya
Mengubah sendiri, membendung nafsu
Kerana Allah
Kerana agama
Kerana bangsa
Kerana Negara
Biarlah aku pergi
Mata terpejam rapat
Nafas perlahan berhenti…

Move over extremism, moderation is creeping on!

PETALING JAYA: The best way to fight religious and racial extremism is not to fight at all. So that is precisely what the journalists at Sin Chew Daily decided to do by joining the “I Support Moderation” campaign launched recently.

According to The Star who interviewed some of their journalists, the message was clear that if society’s harmony and unity was to be restored, Malaysians had to make the conscious decision to take a moderate view and see it through to the end.

Michel Chng, 22, said participating in the “I Support Moderation” campaign would require much more than simply shouting slogans. It would require a real willingness to work hard at incorporating moderation in all one did.

“Blindly shouting a slogan will not magically create a moderate society.

“It requires hard work, trust and tolerance among the people of Malaysia,” she explained.

Meanwhile Teoh Chooi Pheng, 23, from Penang who was of the opinion that true moderation should not be politically skewed, said, “It should be purely about how to maintain a harmonious society.”

Teoh also said the media had a responsibility to get this message across to the people.

Echoing this sentiment was 25-year-old Wong Lee Kim, who said, “They (the people) need to understand how extremism is tearing the country apart. As journalists, it is our responsibility to tell everyone about the dire need for a moderate Malaysia.”

Feeling optimistic about the moderation campaign, Lim Teck Seng, 29 said it was hoped that the silent majority would now make a stand to reject extremism and push for moderation instead.

Yong Cheng, 24, believed that moderation had always been a part of every Malaysian’s life and hoped Sin Chew Daily’s “I Support Moderation” campaign would hammer home that point.

For more information about the campaign or if you wish to be a part of the move to spread the message of moderation, visit http://www.sinchew.com.my/wearemoderate2015.

Metal roofing of pedestrian bridge in Johor collapses

Metal roofing of pedestrian bridge in Johor collapses

by kathleen ann kili

Metal roofing of pedestrian bridge in Johor collapses – Nation | The Star Online// //

Published: Sunday October 12, 2014 MYT 6:38:00 PM
Updated: Sunday October 12, 2014 MYT 7:17:55 PM

by kathleen ann kili

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http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/10/12/metal-roofing-pasir-gudang/

JOHOR BARU: The metal roofing of a pedestrian bridge along the Pasir Gudang Highway has collapsed resulting in damage to a number of vehicles.

//

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson said that the department received a call informing of them of the incident at about 4.38pm on Sunday.

“Two cars, a lorry and a motorcycle were damaged due to the incident,” he said, adding that a team of 10 officers are in the midst of clearing the area.

The incident has caused major traffic congestion along the highway.

It is learnt that a man injured in the incident has been sent to the hospital for treatment

Income tax and corporate tax reduced – Budget 2015 highlights

Income tax and corporate tax reduced – Budget 2015 highlights – The Malaysian Insider// // // //

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin having a light moment just before the Budget is tabled. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, October 10, 2014.LIVE UPDATE… Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tables his sixth budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Najib, who is Finance Minister, had written in his NajibRazak.com blog on Thursday that Budget 2015 will be “pro-rakyat”, and alleviate concerns about the rising cost of living.

“Budget 2015 will create more jobs, improve the quality of life and increase the affordable housing,” he had written.

Income tax and corporate tax reduced – Budget 2015 highlights – The Malaysian Insider// // // //

had also written that the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) cash handout would continue as it was part of Putrajaya’s subsidy rationalisation programme which was aimed at having a targeted subsidy programme.

The Malaysian Insider will be carrying the salient points in Najib’s budget speech. Follow the live updates here:

* Najib begins his budget speech at 4pm in the Dewan Rakyat.

* Najib announces the theme for this year’s budget as “Budget 2015: The People’s Economy”.

* The allocation for Budget 2015 is RM273.9 billion, an increase of RM9.8 billion from the last budget.

* Government aims to lower fiscal deficit to 3.0% in 2015 from an expected 3.5% this year

* Operating expenditure RM223.4 billion, development expenditure RM50.5 billion.

* Payments to civil servants of RM65.6 billion is largest operating expenditure item.

*Federal government revenue collection estimated at RM235.2 billion in 2015, an increase of RM10.2 billion from 2014.

* From an economic perspective, when we achieved independence 57 years ago, we developed the  country based on agriculture before progressing to a modern industrialised economy. Next, we moved  into the upper-middle income phase. We are now moving towards a services-based economy.

* In brief, the objectives, principles and thrusts of the three Outline Perspective Plans,  10th Malaysia Plan, New Economic Policy, National Development Policy, National Vision Policy and  since 2010, the National Transformation Policy, have all focused on poverty eradication,  increasing income and restructuring of society. This is with the aim to achieve socio-economic  goals; diversify the commodity-based economy; human capital development; enhancing competitiveness  of the public and private sectors; higher value chain; inclusive development; as well as  transformation of the government, economy, social and politics.

* Clearly, our former leaders in their wisdom have carried out responsibilities to develop  Malaysia in their own mould. The struggle started with Tunku Abdul Rahman, followed by Tun Abdul  Razak who had implemented development and restructured society, to Tun Hussein Onn who maintained  peace and unity. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad modernised the country while Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi emphasised human capital  development.

* Further, the present Government is committed to driving growth with a broader approach to  place Malaysia on a strong foundation.

* This is my sixth budget since I assumed leadership of the administration, and the  country’s 56th budget. The 2015 Budget completes the 10th Malaysia Plan.

* Further, in May 2015, the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) will be launched. At the same time, a  new approach known as the Malaysian National Development Strategy (MyNDS) is being formulated.

* MyNDS will be a key basis to planning and preparation of programmes and projects under  11MP. The emphasis is on using limited resources optimally, with focus on high-impact projects and  programmes at low cost as well as efficient and rapid implementation. This means Budget 2016 will  be the trigger to the final five years of Malaysia’s progress to a high-income advanced economy by 2020.

* Many countries such as Korea, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and China began their economic  progress based on agriculture and have since moved to an economy that emphasises high level of  knowledge, skills, innovation and expertise.

* To  remain resilient and competitive, Malaysia must move to an economy based on knowledge, high  skills, expertise, creativity and innovation.

* Indeed, from the economic perspective, a rapidly developing country typically generates  wealth through capital economy activities. However, the rakyat voice their grievances and  complaints through blogs, letters, meetings, interviews and dialogues over the millions spent,  billions allocated and various mega projects questioning the benefits to the people.

* In 2015, with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) government revenue is  estimated at RM23.2 billion. However, as a caring government, we have exempted several goods from  GST amounting to RM3.8 billion.

* With the implementation of GST, the Sales and Services Tax (SST), will be abolished  resulting in revenue foregone of RM13.8 billion. This means that after deducting RM13.8 billion  and RM3.8 billion from a revenue of RM23.2 billion, the Government will have a balance of RM5.6  billion.

* Of the total, RM4.9 billion is channelled back to the people through assistance programmes  such as the increase in Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M). Finally, net revenue collection from GST  will only amount to RM690 million.

* Goods and Services Tax (GST) : RON95 petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exempted from GST.

* Revenue from GST in 2015 estimated at RM23.2 billion.

* Exemption of GST on several goods amounting to RM3.8 billion.

* Abolishment of SST will see RM13.8 billion in revenue forgone.

* Net revenue collection from GST will only amount to RM690 million.

* Establish another 20 KR1M in Peninsular Malaysia.

* Set up price watch team comprising consumer associations.

* Strengthen GST Enforcement Unit with 2,270 personnel, Price Monitoring Unit with 1,300  personnel and Consumer Squads with 202,800 volunteers as well as involve 579 mukim and village heads.

* Electricity consumption not subject to GST increased from the first 200 units to 300 units, move to benefit 70% of households.

* Income Tax: Income tax rates to be cut by one to three percentage points. Families with monthly income of less than RM4,000 will not have to pay tax

* From 2016, the corporate tax rate will be reduced by one percentage point from 25% to 24%, and for small and medium sized enterprises to 19% from 20%.

* Infrastructure: LRT3 linking Bandar Utama, Shah Alam and Klang: RM9 billion

* 45-km second MRT line from Selayang to Putrajaya: RM23 bilionThe subsidies rationalisation will continue, Najib said today. – The Malaysian Insider graphics by Heza Kamaruddin, October 10, 2014.

* Upgrade of East Cost railway: RM150 million

* 36-km East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE): RM1.6 billion

* 47-km Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway: RM4.2 billion

* Subsidies: Government plans to reduce the overall bill for subsidies and cash assistance by 7% to RM37.7 billion in 2015 from RM40.6 billion in 2014.

* Govenment will reform the petroleum subsidy regime soon, to adopt a system that benefits the lower income group.

* Highspeed Broadband: Total of RM2.7 billion will be spent over the next three years to build 1,000 new telecommunications towers and laying of undersea cables.

* Property: Budget extends 50% stamp duty exemption for first time home buyers and increases the purchase limit from RM400,000 to RM500,000. The exemption will be given until the end of 2016.

* A 10% loan guarantee to enable borrowers to obtain full financing including cost of insurance. Borrowers can also withdraw from EPF Account 2 to top up their monthly installment and other related costs.

* This guarantee is offered on a “first come, first served basis’ for 20,000 units only.

* Ceiling of household income for PR1MA homes increased to RM10,000, RM1.3 billion to be allocated to build 80,000 units PR1MA homes.

* Education: RM325 million to be allocated for the 1Malaysia Book Voucher Programme, benefitting about 1.3 million students.

* RM100 schooling assistance to all 5.4 million primary and secondary students to continue.

* A total of RM1.2 billion will be allocated to increase student intake in vocational colleges and community colleges as well as upgrading colleges.

* RM1.05 billion allocated to develop and maintain education facilities, and for school upgrade programmes.

* RM3 billion allocated for education sponsorship via the Public Service Dept (JPA) , Education Ministry and Health Ministry.

* RM30 millon fund set up for training and technical assistance of youth from low income Indian families.

* Health: Tax relief for medical expenses and treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure and heart attack increased to RM6,000 per year.

* 30 more 1Malaysia clinics and a health clinic in Cyberjaya will be built. The Government will station 30 doctors in these clinics.

* Sports: An allocation of RM103 million to implement a Sporting Nation Blueprint.

* Identify sports talent starting from primary school through Malaysian Talent Identification programme. The programme involves testing, screening and  talent specialisation among students.

* Improve the quality of high-performance sports for six selected fields in the first phase – Football, Cycling, Badminton, Sepak Takraw, Swimming and Athletics.

* Public transportation: Provide intercity bus services to those residing outside Kuala Lumpur (KL) but work in KL. The service will be offered with a discounted monthly fare of 30%. For a start, three bus routes will be operational namely the Rawang-KL, Klang-KL and Seremban-KL.

* Provide Electric Train Service (ETS) for Ipoh-Butterworth route starting April 2015.

* Upgrade stage bus services in several states through a contracting system with existing  bus companies. The programme will be implemented in phases in Kuching, Ipoh, Seremban, Kuala  Terengganu and Kangar.

* Tourism: RM316 million set aside for various programmes under Tourism and Culture Ministry.

* Entrepreneurship: In 2015, TEKUN to provide additional funds of RM500 million, of which RM350 million allocated for Bumiputera entrepreneurs, Young Indian Entrepreneurs Financing Scheme (RM50 million), Young Professional Women Entrepreneurs Development Programme (RM50 million), and Armed Forces Veteran Entrepreneur Development Programme (RM50 million).

* Soft loans totalling RM50 million for SME entrepreneurs from Chinese community, and RM30 million for hawkers and petty traders.

* To attract more expatriate entrepreneurs establish startups in Malaysia, the paid-up capital for startups is set at RM75,000.

* Eligible expatriate startup entrepreneurs will be given work pass for one year.

* Additional allocation of RM30 million to entrepreneurs under programme Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera (Superb), with participation to be enlarged to include East Malaysian entrepreneurs.

* RM30 million to be allocated through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship among Indian women.

* BR1M for those earning RM3,000 and below will be increased to RM950 from RM650.

* For those earning RM3,000 to RM4,000, BR1M increased to RM750 (from RM450).

* For the above two categories, payment will be made in three instalments – January, May and September.

* For those aged 21 and above, with income not exceeeding RM2,000, BR1M increased to RM350 (from RM300) in one-off payment early next year.

* Civil service: Half-month bonus to all civil servants with a minimum payment of RM500 to be paid in January 2015.

* Pensioners to receive special financial assistance of RM250.

* Women now represent only 38% of the total workforce in the country. To enhance the contribution of women in national development, women’s opportunities to return to the workplace via 1Malaysia Support for Housewife.

* The government will help also professional women return to the workplace via Program Women Career Comeback.

* Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will get RM2.26 billion to enhance contribution of women.

* Student loans: For students with an outstanding amount in their PTPTN loans, a 20% discount will be given if they make a total repayment of their loan, on or before March 31, 2015.

* NGOs: A one-off grant of RM50 million to creditable NGOs, including uniformed bodies that are involved in community development programmes, unity, social welfare, consumerism, health and security.

* National security: RM17.7 billion allocated to Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, RM9.1 bil to the PDRM, and RM804 mil to Maritime Enforcement Agency Malaysia to strengthen maritime enforcement.

* RM660 million allocated for Eastern Sabah Security Zone for increased security.

* A sum of RM117 million will be allocated to strengthen the role of RELA under the Ministry of Home Affairs for training and capacity building. – October 10, 2014.

Cops find criminal records in 11 arrested PPS members

// // // // //

BY MELISSA CHI
September 01, 2014
Latest Update: September 01, 2014 09:45 pm

 

Cops find criminal records in 11 arrested PPS members | Malaysia | Mobile | The Malay Mail Online// // // // //

PPS members, clad in their purple T-shirts, were taken to the Beach Street police station after they finished the march past in the Merdeka parade, on August 31, 2014. — Picture courtesy of Sim Tze Tzin

Cops find criminal records in 11 arrested PPS members | Malaysia | Mobile | The Malay Mail Online// // // // //

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — Eleven out of 156 Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS) members arrested have criminal records, including a gangster who was once held under the Emergency Ordinance, police said today.

Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the 11, investigated under Section 41 of the Societies Act, were found to have been previously involved in intimidation, robbery, theft, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and drugs or offences under the Customs Act.

“According to our records, 11 of the 156 have records, including criminal offences related to the Customs Act and various drugs-related offences.

“One of them has been arrested under the Emergency Ordinance Act and four were tested positive for drugs,” he told reporters in George Town, Penang.

Abdul Rahim also said it was not the police’s duty to distinguish the type of drugs consumed by those they had arrested, in response to state Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s claims that the four who reportedly tested positive for drugs were senior citizens on prescription medication and not illegal narcotics.

“The urine sample we took tested positive for drugs and will be sent to Chemistry Department, depending on the chemistry report to determine whether the drug traces were legal or are narcotics,” the policeman said.

He also said the police have records of 30 per cent of the PPS members.

Malay Mail Online was able to obtain an audio recording of the news conference.

Yesterday, the police nabbed a total of 155 people said to be members of PPS including state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, after the country’s top-ranking policeman declared the organisation illegal as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

The police arrested Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer today, for his alleged link to the group.

Abdul Rahim said there were 131 Chinese men, seven Chinese women, seven Indian men and 10 Malay men detained.

He added that the detained PPS members were aged between 18 and 67 and they were from various backgrounds, from students, to those employed in the private sector as well as the government.

The police also confiscated placards, flags, PPS’ uniform, walkie talkies and PPS membership cards.

He also confirmed that seven women and 14 men over the age of 60 were released early this morning.

“Once the investigation is completed, we will forward it to the chief prosecution unit for further action,” he said.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar announced last week that the PPS was being investigated under Section 41 of the Societies Act as it was not registered under the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

The police claimed only the federal government has the jurisdiction to establish such an organisation.

The announcement came after a 51-year-old man lodged a police report claiming that he was beaten up by PPS members.

The claim prompted Barisan Nasional leaders to demand for the unit to be disbanded, while Malay rights group Perkasa lodged police reports urging for a proof into the unit’s activities.

PPS was formed by the state government in May 2011 to assist the public in all situations including directing traffic, in times of disaster and to patrol the streets as a preventive measure against crime.

Currently, there are more than 9,000 PPS members in the state and the members have all undergone various training courses that include first aid and disaster management.

http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/police-11-arrested-pps-members-have-criminal-records-including-culpable-hom