Malaysia's Elections 2008 (Before, During & After)

[Adrian Wong]

Here's some food for thought...

International Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz she said that the Opposition is of no consequence because wherever she goes on trade junkets, the question of the Opposition and its activities are never raised by potential investors. But what is keeping tourists and potential investors away then? Our correspondent Anti-Lies provides the real reasons.

I really believe Rafidah when she said that the Opposition is of no consequence because wherever she goes on trade junkets, the question of the Opposition and its activities are never raised by potential investors.

What keeps tourists and investors away is bad governance. The absence of the rule of law is obvious. Only an authoritarian regime will resort to rule by law, which is patent to all.

The absence of an independent judiciary, the brokering of appointments of judges, and the fixing of cases and fixing judges will scare off potential investors. Requests by potential investors to have their litigation decided, if the need arises, in courts outside the country represent a severe indictment on our justice system.

A very bureaucratic, inefficient and corrupt civil service will drive away investors. Remember the case of IT giant Infosys trying to establish business in Malaysia. They gave up and went elsewhere.

Adhering to the NEP requirement of 30 per cent equity participation and employment for bumiputras will be a severe turn-off for potential investors. No wonder Malaysia ranks sixth among ten countries in the region. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are above us in terms of FDI.

The lack of respect for the Constitution and the rule of law by the government and the judiciary will drive away potential investors. The Minister for Law, Nazri, shamelessly stated that the separation of powers of the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive, as contained in the Constitution, is a luxury that cannot be implemented in Malaysia. This is a confirmation of how the government malfunctions.

Corruption at all levels of the civil service and the government is a reality and little moves unless the right palms are greased.

A frighteningly high crime rate — murders, kidnaps, rape cases, robberies, and snatch thefts — will be seen as a threat to life and limb. The hijacking of container lorries transporting micro-chips will frighten any potential investor.

Power and water outages in industrial estates and free trade zones cause tremendous financial losses and these will definitely not attract investors.

The absence of a free and independent print and electronic media will keep investors away. A controlled and emasculated press will hardly inspire business people to come here as intelligent journalism will be absent and investigative reporting non-existent.

Fleecing tourists at every turn will keep them away. Taxis refusing to use the meter and hotels charging RM14 for a can of imported beer that costs RM1.30 in Langkawi will drive tourists to other attractive and less exploitative resorts.

The ubiquitous jaga kereta, who are really extortionists, will discourage tourists from coming to Malaysia. A British couple who paid RM20 in a single day asked, “Is your country so lawless that I have to pay someone to look after my car when I park it along a street?” He further commented that if the police cannot get rid of these extortionists, who operate boldly in broad daylight and under bright street lights at night, no wonder they cannot stamp out criminals who are sophisticated and operate stealthily.

Last but not least, government ministers appearing on CNN, BBC or Aljazeera make complete fools of themselves. Zam, screaming like a madman, was a true buffoon. The performance of Nazri and Khairy was sheer buffoonery. They were an embarrassment and disgraced the country. To the outside world it would appear that real nerds were running the country.

Please Barisan do not blame peaceful marchers, unarmed and peaceful protesters and candlelight vigil keepers for driving away tourists and investors in whose participatory democracies these are normal and valuable events.

So Barisan search your soul and you will find the answer. - Aliran

[Adrian Wong]

FYI, The Sun can no longer be considered independent - http://forums.techarp.com/general-di...tml#post323509. I would only trust the words of a select few of their journalists from now on.

So, please do not count on The Sun for impartial views of the upcoming elections. A real shame.

[Adrian Wong]

More food for thought. Press freedom and impartiality in Malaysia? Let Azalina put those naughty rumours to rest.

YOUTH and Sports Minister Azalina Othman (below) has accused bloggers, who have been writing avidly on upcoming elections, of being cowards and warned that they are being monitored.

She said opposition parties were using blogs to get their message out because they believed the Home Affairs Ministry was busy monitoring reports in the mainstream media.

'They think they can get away with it but it is not the case as they too are being monitored,' she reportedly said, adding that bloggers were cowards and a nuisance to the ruling party.

Opposition parties have resorted to using blogs, SMS messaging and video-sharing site YouTube in their campaign for the March 8 polls to dodge a virtual blackout on mainstream media.

As they rate barely a mention in most newspapers, many had begun campaigning feverishly in cyberspace with the aim of reaching young, urban and educated voters.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

[Adrian Wong]

Even more food for thought...

Okay, PAS made a mistake in the past. They have learned from this mistake. But do we want to keep harping on the past? How far back into the past should we go? Is there any cut-off date? Should we continue killing every Japanese we see in Malaysia because of what they did to us during the Second World War? In 1834, the Chinese in Lukut massacred Raja Busu and his entire family plus hundreds of Malays. Raja Busu was a member of the Selangor Royal Family. Should I still hold that against the Chinese, in particular the Chinese from Lukut? Or maybe I am entitled to avenge the death of my ancestors by 'teaching' the Lukut Chinese a lesson?

Sometimes the past is better left in the past, especially when all has been forgiven, though not quite forgotten. What the Chinese in Lukut did to my family in 1834 and what the Japanese did to Malayans during the Second World War is now a footnote in history. What PAS did two elections ago is also a footnote in history. Should we condemn the Indians for giving 90% of the votes to Barisan Nasional (MIC) in the recent Ijok by-election or should we instead support them and stand by HINDRAF because of what they are doing today rather than because of what they did a few months ago in Ijok?

Today, PAS is talking in another nada or tone of voice. That is what counts. Yesterday is yesterday. Today is what matters. And if today we still want to talk about what PAS did yesterday, then I too should condemn the Chinese for what they did yesterday to my family in Lukut and what the Indians did yesterday in Ijok. By the way, do you know we eventually lost Lukut, Linggi and the areas surrounding it because of this massacre? The British stepped in on the excuse of 'restoring law and order' and to protect their business interests. Negeri Sembilan would not exist and today it would still be part of Selangor if the Chinese had not started a 'war' down there.

Yesterday, 100 pro-government Malay Islamic groups led by ABIM announced that they want the government to Islamise this country. I need not go into details as you can read it here (Pro-government Islamic groups demanding stronger role for Islam ahead of polls in Malaysia) and here (PEMBELA declaration & press statement ).

Let us look at the track record.

Was it not PAS that summoned the Kelantan Hindus for a meeting and offered them a site for a Hindu temple even though they did not ask for one? Umno, however, during the time it was ruling Kelantan, blocked the building of a Hindu temple. Was it not Umno that declared Buddhist statues haram and blocked its construction in the state of Sabah? The court case is pending even as you read this. Was it not Umno that demolished Hindu temples in Selangor? Was it not Umno that shot tear gas and water cannons into the Batu Caves temple grounds? Was it not PAS that allowed pigs to be slaughtered in Kelantan while Umno, during the time it ruled Kelantan, forbade it? Look at the track record. Let the track record speak for itself.

Take a drive to Kelantan these next few days before the general election. Go visit the Kota Bharu market. See for yourself all the women selling at the Kota Bharu market. Yes, the women control the market. The women monopolise the economic scene. The batek and songket manufacturers are mostly all women. The signboards carry women's names. If you trade with them, you trade with the women. The women negotiate with you and the women handle all the money, not the men.

Where are the so-called 'separate check-out counters'? The men and women stand in the same line and the women serve you and you pay the women at the check-out counters. There are only separate toilets for men and women. The rest are all men-women mixed.

Go stay at the state government-owned Perdana Hotel in Kota Bharu. They have only one swimming pool. And you and your wife both swim in that same one pool. There are no two swimming pools, one for men and another for women.

You want to drink, fine, order a beer and send me the bill. Yes, you can get drunk in Kota Bharu if you want to, as you could in Terengganu when PAS was ruling that state from 1999 to 2004. Okay, Terengganu banned gambling when PAS was running that state. But that was because the PAS Menteri Besar had a meeting with the non-Muslims and they agreed that gambling is bad and should be banned. Some argue that gambling is Chinese culture and should not be banned. Well, why did the non-Muslims then ask the Menteri Besar to ban gambling? Anyway, I have made about ten trips to China thus far and have travelled the length and breadth of that country and none of the Chinese I met in China say that gambling is their culture. In fact, the Chinese government bans gambling and will not allow casinos on its soil.

If just because you want to gamble you would rather have Barisan Nasional rule Kelantan and Terengganu, then the Chinese are even shallower than I thought. But if it is really that important and really Chinese 'religion' that you gamble, then make this point clear to PAS. And if gambling is more important than a good future for your family, I am sure PAS will accommodate the Chinese and not interfere with Chinese 'religion', as it has promised. But please do not ask PAS to legalise child prostitution so that you can sell your children to the pimps for a profit as much as in some societies this is acceptable and very rampant.

Let me put it to you again in plain and simple English. PAS is contesting only 60 Parliament seats. They need 150 seats to control two-thirds of Parliament. PAS cannot implement Islamic laws even if they control two-thirds of the seats in the State Assembly without controlling two-thirds of Parliament. PAS is not pursuing the ISD any longer. Malaysia will remain a Secular State unless two-thirds of Malaysians demand this country be changed into an Islamic State through a referendum -- but then the referendum can only be called by Barisan Nasional and never by PAS because only Barisan Naisonal controls two-thirds of Parliament.

Now, are we still worried about Malaysia being turned into an Islamic State? If we are then we had better watch Barisan Nasional closely because only Barisan Nasional can do that. Look at this news item again (Pro-government Islamic groups demanding stronger role for Islam ahead of polls in Malaysia) and here (PEMBELA declaration & press statement ). See who is crying out for more Islamisation? Is it PAS? Or is it the Umno-led organisations? And who will control two-thirds of Parliament come this election? Will it be PAS when it is contesting only 60 seats and may end up winning only half or so? Or will it be Barisan Nasional as most of you believe will happen? Is it wise, therefore, that Barisan Nasional be given two-thirds of the seats in Parliament? You decide come 8 March 2008 when you go to cast your votes.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

[Falcone]

I'll vote for anything that has no BN relations

[jasperchc]

no lar, i dont think i am gonna vote for BN, i dont particularly support the opposition, but i just dont like what i am seeing with the current government in power.

[peaz]

jasper... if you see what I see and know what I know, you won't want to vote for BN. even if the BN candidate is smart and good and the opposition is a dumbass idiot..... seriously.

[bslee]

Oh well, Nominations are in. The fate of our country lies where we put "X" on the 8th. Please pass the message round to all your friends and family to DENY TWO-THIRD MAJORITY to BN and VOTE ANYTHING on the OPPOSITION...PKR, PAS, DAP, Independents. Lets not let soundrels, thieves and robbers deprive us of our rights and a more united Malaysian society. I had a dream in 1990. I dreampt everyone become MALAYSIAN..not China, Melayu, India, Serani, Sikh. SEMUA MALAYSIAN! Now is 2008, and THAT DREAM IS NOWHERE!.. BN policies WORK AGAINST IT. Its was even UTTERED once by a BN voice: "Kalau tak suka boleh keluar!"..

PLEASE VOTE WISELY if you love MALAYSIA.

NB. I'm NO particular PARTY SUPPORTER NEITHER MEMBER but I seek justice and fairness FOR ALL MALAYSIANS. I've SEEN and HEARD enough injustice for 50 years. Thank you!.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by jasperchc

no lar, i dont think i am gonna vote for BN, i dont particularly support the opposition, but i just dont like what i am seeing with the current government in power.

Well, no one should tell you who to vote for. But neither should you just cast a vote for someone who just comes along every 4-5 years to make promises or deliver some token effort.

The BN reps just came to my condo, sponsoring RM 20K for a Chinese New Year celebration with lion dance and all. Naturally, they gave promises that if re-elected, they would finally do something about the bad traffic conditions, crime rate, etc., etc.

Quite surprising since they didn't even bother to drop by last year for Chinese New Year or Deepavali or even Hari Raya. What makes this year so special? Oh yeah, it's election time.

If they wanted to solve the traffic problem or the high crime rate here, they could have done it YEARS ago. In the last election, we gave them 90% of the seats in Parliament! If they cannot solve such small problems and reduce corruption and crime rate with 90% of the seats, then why the heck should I vote them back in? You got to be kidding me....

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by bslee

Oh well, Nominations are in. The fate of our country lies where we put "X" on the 8th. Please pass the message round to all your friends and family to DENY TWO-THIRD MAJORITY to BN and VOTE ANYTHING on the OPPOSITION...PKR, PAS, DAP, Independents. Lets not let soundrels, thieves and robbers deprive us of our rights and a more united Malaysian society. I had a dream in 1990. I dreampt everyone become MALAYSIAN..not China, Melayu, India, Serani, Sikh. SEMUA MALAYSIAN! Now is 2008, and THAT DREAM IS NOWHERE!.. BN policies WORK AGAINST IT. Its was even UTTERED once by a BN voice: "Kalau tak suka boleh keluar!"..

PLEASE VOTE WISELY if you love MALAYSIA.

NB. I'm NO particular PARTY SUPPORTER NEITHER MEMBER but I seek justice and fairness FOR ALL MALAYSIANS. I've SEEN and HEARD enough injustice for 50 years. Thank you!.

That day, I was waiting at the bank, when the young Malay clerk asked a Chinese old man who he would be voting for in his constituency. I couldn't help smiling when he said, "PAS, of course! We need to have some checks and balances."