The Real Malaysian Idol
To those of you who commented on my previous post, please check the comments again for my response.
There are times even when a person like me can't resist the temptation of swimming with the tide instead of against it. So here it is, the gazillionth post among many more I am sure about the big bomb that dropped on our nation last week.
I am still, I believe among many, undecided about this whole Anwar thing. According to my mother, I was actually acquainted with this man who used to visit our home when I was but a mere toddler. I personally have no recollection of him.
Last weekend I went to dinner at a friend's new home and she, a power CEO posited an interesting theory. That if approached from the point of view of someone running a company - which in her view is akin to running a nation - she, liberal as she is, would have to agree with Tun M's then decision to remove his Deputy.
The reason, was this. If Anwar was truly homosexual, then his lifestyle posed a threat to national security. It could have become fodder for PAS and turned the whole country on its head.
I, however, disagree. I don't think Tun really cared, one way or another. Ok, yes, probably he did, deep in his heart somewhere. The same way it must have kept him awake at night that some other august members of his Cabinet were syphoning money and manipulating national policies for their personal gain. But as long as Anwar toed the party line, he would have been safe. His secret would have remained that - a public secret like all good secrets are in KL.
The more interesting speculation to me is not whether the man is gay. From my point of view, seeing what I have seen in KL especially of late, that doesn't seem to be an issue worth raising eyebrows about. In fact, I am willing to bet that push comes to shove, homosexuality is probably the one thing some PAS members may fear most next to God. After all, Anwar can't be the only Malay man with those sorts of tendencies. One has to wonder about those jubahs....
The more interesting speculation to me is whether Anwar will now show his true smarts. We all know he is a clever boy. But he wasn't clever enough to outfit the old fox of a Tun then. However, times have changed. And the foxes scampering around town now are a little younger. Western-educated yes, but perhaps a wee bit more naive in the ways of real politik kampung style.
So, here are the two theories emerging from my circle of Peanut Gallery speculators:
1. Anwar struck a deal with Pak Lah and is gunning for Najib's position.
I have to admit, if this is true, then Pak Lah is a little more wily than we have given him credit for. What a way to rattle No 2's cage. And a couple of weeks before the big vote too!
2. Anwar didn't strike a deal with anyone.
If THIS is true, then a mythological set of weighing scales is probably struggling to keep itself balanced right now on its three K-aki. What a match for the Triumvirate!
Either way, it now means that us common citizens have a new reality show to watch - Malaysian-made, and starring no less than our city's best.
All I know is, I am reserving my SMS votes for the finals. Sekarang ni, masa elimination rounds tak payah lah buang duit. I'll leave it to the bleeding hearts and fundamentalists.
27 Comments:
ooh well said.
-manolita-
September 7, 2004 12:31 AM
Nolah... Anwar struck a deal and is now gunning for Pak Lah's position. Yes, that would have been dumb of Pak Lah to do that, but he probably was working on hypothesis 1 (that Anwar would gun Najib). Pak Lah may not be so wily and may have miscalculated how wily Anwar may be.
BTW if your CEO friend had fired her deputy for mere suspicion of impropriety I am sure it would cause revolt among her staff and business would have gone down from there.
Mahathir firing Anwar caused a shock to the country anyway and PAS did capitalize on it anyway. So what is your CEO friend talking about?
September 7, 2004 3:27 PM
Nged
Regardless, isn't the nation still alive and kicking and not torn apart?
That, was the CEO's point. Nuff said.
September 7, 2004 6:54 PM
安华私生活不检点，因此他不可能有重返大马政坛的机会。
安华的名字已永远被马来西亚人列入黑名单。
安华将尝试重返马来西亚政坛。不过，所有努力都是白费的。
M
October 12, 2004 7:50 AM
I don't see how Anwar can have anything more than a fringe political career now. Guilty or not, those allegations against him, being rather distasteful, will linger on until his death. He's politically impotent. It's not that he's a Mandela or Ghandi, both who were imprisoned for entirely different reasons. He's more like a Clinton or a Nixon.
October 28, 2004 2:19 AM
I don't think this is at all true.
December 27, 2004 4:30 PM
Jeremy,
Too naive.
GH
January 5, 2005 9:51 AM
I have never studied Mandarin! Honestly speaking, I regret no knowing how to read or write Mandarin (except perhaps my own name!) and this is definitely one of the biggest regret of my life.
I send my children to Chinese primary schools and mind you, I feel they are much more disciplined, their thinking much more wider in perspective. In short, it is a very wise choice!
All the public universities in the country are in a terrible state of affairs. The low academic quality leading to a worsening crisis is a result of a variety of factors.
So how can one expect our public universities to attain academic and professional standards when there is such a blatant discrimination?
How can a country that labels itself an aspiring democracy condone, and justify such a nefarious practice of excluding a segment of its population, from participating effectively in public universities?
It is such a shame.
Millions of taxpayers money is spent on building universities and paying lecturers. The money comes from all, but the beneficiaries belong to one particular ethnic group.
Unless and until the racial apartheid is dismantled in the Malaysian education system in general, and in public universities in particular, it makes no sense to talk of the quality of the public universities.
January 12, 2006 4:50 PM
Folks, please tell me how do you best manage a country, whereby - the majority community who rule, can't competitive on equal footing with other countrymen, and fear to end up as working for very competitive - the other minority.
(Australia/Singapore/USA etc, don't have these scenario, as the community who call the shot is also the majority community.)
Our government complains of brain drain, but do we actually do something to lure all these professionals back?
It is sad to see that we have the greatest minds around the world. One would be proud to see that we have great Malaysian minds in almost every field, for example in dentistry, medicine, physics etc, and yet where did they end up?
They ended up in the developed world, helping the developed countries to become better day by day.
It would be more logical to try to attract these great minds back from other countries than to continue employing health professionals from foreign countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, that would not be dedicated in their work in the end, because of the poor system here.
But building a world-class university in a third-world nation is unheard of, with the exception of large nations of China/India.
Simply, a third world Malaysia software does not nurture a first class world-class university.
Will this country ever change? Unfortunately, I doubt it.
We have a daughter who is currently studying overseas. My wife and I have been trying to tell her to stay there and get a PR and not come back.
Even though the white man's land is not wholly a bed of roses, we know we will be treated more fairly and the system is much more transparent than what we have here.
It is a heavy heart that we have to make this decision for our daughter but deep down inside, we know it is better for her and her next generation. We are already near the final lap of our careers and life, and the political situation here has little impact on us.
Our children have a whole new horizon ahead of them. It is their future……….do they have one here?
Malaysia will always be here. It is a nice place to holiday - you want to live a compromised life you can return to work. But you want to be yourself then go wherever you please. We all wish you well.
Believe me, the government too wishes that you don't come back to quell the Chinese professional numbers. So they remain obliged to make your life miserable. All this talk about brain drain……….come on, you doesn't really buy the government's feigned attempt to show concern, do you!
So, be wise, stay outside. Come back to get yourself rejuvenated with Malaysian food, and culture, as often as you can and stick your fingers up to the government too.
But just remember if you are not prepared to compromise principles……….just stay out!
Just be practical. One anesthetist told me, your perception will change when you have kids and a wife to worry about.
January 12, 2006 4:51 PM
I hate to say that the way this Malaysia country is moving, it will become another Argentina or Venezuela. There will be a very clear class distinction of the rich and poor, of well educated and not so well educated.
Argentina used to be the top 10 nations in the early 20th centuries. Their elitist government focuses only on higher education and neglected the lower level education.
Whereas Japan, Korea and Taiwan came out from the bottom by emphasising education from ground up.
While we are arguing how to set the quota for bumis and non-bumis in our higher institution, our kids at primary and secondary are rotting away providing poor intake to the tertiary level.
There are various ways of helping the malays. The present approaches which have been used since 1970s have proven to be dysfunctional and wasteful.
Public funds, most of which have been contributed by taxpayers, mainly by Chinese businesses and individuals, should therefore not be used without re-thinking about the approach. I recommend a more performance-based or incentive type system.
How about self-help? The malays must learn to stand on their own feet, the sooner the better. Why not use that Singapore which allows the community to develop itself with matching financial help from the government?
In this way, malay dignity and self-esteem can be restored. Over-dependence on a government has actually weakened the malays.
Those in the majority should take into consideration the interests of the minority for a harmonious atmosphere to prevail.
I believe the majority of the malays in this country is also embarrassed by the current situation and wish to put in place some remedies for the aggrieved minority. This would work towards a truly harmonious multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysian community.
January 12, 2006 4:53 PM
If you can't even achieve total prosperity after 50 years of special tongkat given by the government, then do not be jealous or even envious of other races achievements. Think about it.
In order to make Malaysia strong, malays have to change their mindset and not depending on the government too much. I think it is time for you to "stand" and try to earn things you have got, not being feed by the government.
You can't run this country alone. You are not the only one that is doing sacrifices.
Everyone here does, so stop getting yourself a bigger slice of the cake while trying to take away ours, when your cake is being given by the government but we earn it with our own blood and sweat.
What do you mean that what will happen to malays if Malaysia fallen into Chinese hands? Did Singapore ever kill the malays? Did they forbid them to take their mother tongue?
It is just that the malays have to fight for their own and they eventually did fought their way out and earned their slice of the economy cake, without significant help of the government in Singapore. They still earn similar income to other races.
Maybe Singapore is nothing. But then how do you exactly explain that a small island that was ejected by Malaysia, no resources, they got nothing……….not even they have enough water, but yet their currency is higher than Malaysia? Can somebody tell why?
Maybe it is because Americans helped them? But it is because of their fairness and transparency, not to mention a highly efficient government. This is something that we can't deny. Malaysians have to learn their mistakes and try to correct their "government help" or "tidak apa" mindset.
And Malaysian malays still fall behind Chinese even with the help of the government. Why? Please do not blame for nothing.
January 12, 2006 4:54 PM
There is an endless list of examples: faulty traffic lights, illegal street racing, killer potholes, snatch thieves……….
Innocent people are still victimised by snatch thieves. (Where are the police? What are they doing?)
It has already become a Malaysian culture to keep "one eye closed" and "one eye opened".
The authority and everybody will have one of their eyes closed, behaving as although nothing has happened, everything is ok. Until some lives are lost, the ministers will debate the issues, suddenly everybody is wide awake.
But, my dearest fellows Malaysians have very short memory. Very soon, the pains subside. Very soon, history repeats………..
Malaysians are one whole lot of hypocrites, irresponsible living things.
How I wish one minister got killed by snatch thief and tomorrow government will pass a law to sentenced those culprits to death. This will save many more Malaysian lives.
How I wish one minister got videoed while doing ear squat in police custody, and I am sure government will revamp the police force the next day.
And how I wish the money lost by Proton, MAS, Bank Islam and other GLCs belong to their grandfathers, and I am sure those jokers will raise their right hands and swear not to make further losses again.
Only if those tragic events fall on prominent personality, then we will see changes in the government even then how long will the changes last.
January 12, 2006 4:55 PM
May be MAS has an investment plan, I can also understand. But smart person should know: the decision will infuriate the stakeholders, more so the investors, when the company has incurred colossal losses, and is still continuing to bleed.
The government is to be blamed. The people (you and I, everyone) are to be blamed too. Why?
When MAS was making money. Nobody had queried why it had made so little compared to SIA. After the split, the younger "sister" has out-performed MAS many times over. We could have seen that SIA really flying high - its annual profits are always double-digit more MAS's.
This is result of our "tidak apa" attitude. So much so, the executives are given all the chances to take the easy way out. When greed takes over, hell breaks loose, because there is no ceiling to greed.
The government has never practised meritocracy. Why bailout failed companies so easily with the people's money?
It has been distracted on too many trivial and marginal issues. We will be 50 years after independence, what has the country achieved?
National Development? Judging from what is happening, the country will never fulfill the Vision 2020. Dr M will not live to see his dreams come true!
Racial Harmony? Racial Discrimination? These terms should be discarded, never be mentioned at all. Parliament should vote to ban these terms because we are Malaysians, one nation.
At best, we are Malay Malaysians, Indian Malaysians, Chinese Malaysians, etc. Only through this, we will be truly equal, save us from all the unnecessary threat of the Seditious Act.
Haven't we seen enough of the pains suffered by fellow humans in South Africa and other countries due to racial conflicts……….
Born in 1957, we will be 50 years young (so, we are still immature. Excusable? For sure no), we are already 48 years old (it will be the biggest joke of the century if we are still not mature!).
I am not trying to defend prime minister. Enough has been said about him.
Does this explain why so many people are staying so silent? For whatever reason or reasons they are staying silent, is not important. The most important issue facing us is: Admit the mistakes, be transport, act positively, stop the rot, and learn from mistakes (never repeat them).
If we have the courage to try (who is not trying? Nobody is born with the ability or knowledge to do things - right the first time), we must have the guts or empowerment to make decision (success, everyone is happy, failure, not bad be responsible), we must have even more courage to admit the mistake (stand up like a real man).
Nothing can be sadder than having lost the ability to distinguish wrong from right!
It is high time Pak Lah should be most impartial. The whistle blowers are not troublemakers. Why punish the whistle blowers and make the whole world chide at us?
They are the true patriots. We should not waste time and resources on inside fighting. We should join hand to face the external challenges and threats - for the sake of Malaysia.
How to achieve this? Mete out appropriate punishment onto the culprits, the traitors, the wrongdoers……….and listen to suggestions to resolve issues, to pave the ways for future development.
Let's not stray away from the prime objective of making justifiable profit: to satisfy the investors, to generate resources for nation building (while garnering reputable image for the country, better rankings by international benchmarks).
Future is most important to us. Start looking into education. Go back to basics.
Innovate - plan a realistic education curriculum which produces excellent students to face competition. Having too many mediocre will doom the nation.
January 12, 2006 4:58 PM
In this globalised world, capital is truly democratic and will go where it finds the best returns. Malaysia is not a place that you can get good returns at the moment, be it in starting a business, putting into the bank, or investing in stocks or properties.
We've lots of engineers graduated from worldwide universities, why can't we come up with a viable solution? Why am I being labeled as lazy bunch of government servant?
When the real lazy people are the administrator of this country who doesn't spend their time listening to the working people of government agency……….why?
What does the CEOs of GLCs do, they spent taxpayers money to go overseas on a first class basis.
There is a break-down in communication between the government leaders and the working people in the government or GLCs, the leaders thought everything was ok because most of the CEOs lies in their reports, they will only tell good thing about the business although they are loosing money, the CEOs won't give a damn because they will be out of the company or retirement in 2 or 3 years……….and they will not be punished for their mistakes.
Make your journey to any GLCs, 2 weeks before official visit by the prime minister, you will see building, flowers, people, roads, toilets, and trees undergoing major make-over at a very high cost due to the last minute preparation. So, how can they make money?
My only concern are the real workers, who really want have better future for the country. Don't blame them, blame the big-shot……….
The mistakes of privatisation during the Mahathir era, where his cronies managed to strip the plum assets of this country, should not be repeated. We should not play into their hands.
January 12, 2006 4:59 PM
The problem with us is that our country is run by politicians who pretend to be knowledgeable and competent, and when they are not sure, they hire half baked consultants, who are out to make a fast buck.
What a way to end 2005 - Proton and MAS threatening to becoming dinosaurs through poor management and political interference.
If the government had learn to apply the concept of meritocracy and shut up the bumbling interferences by politicians who don't know what to say, maybe we won't see all this today.
How much can we be involved? Nothing. All does is reveal our anger and frustrations and 2005 will end with the government no wiser than before.
Shame on these so-called leaders who only know how to put the blames on others rather than resign with dignity (if they still have some).
In this Bolehland, GLC invest in business not looking into profitability. Even it is on the loosing side they will still go ahead.
You know why? They try to create some activity which involved huge money transaction, where they can take some out for their own pockets during the transaction.
Who cares the company will lose since Malaysians will pay for it. This is widely practised and you can see so many stalled projects in GLC.
Sooner or later our income tax will go up to pay for all these losses, and some might say easy money for others who are privileged.
Why should they go for transparency when it will be detrimental to them, as it will expose more of their dirty laundry.
Better to keep it under wraps for now. Forget about Vision 2020 and whatever visions. All talk only.
Look at China now. They even hauled up those people who are guilty of mismanagement of funds and appropriate actions been taken.
For us? As long as we got connection we can live another day.
We will definitely give them time but normally new GLC management team come in messed thing up and then left the shit behind. Another badge come in and repeat the same thing.
It is like a routine, time after time and yet they cannot perform but will try to "arbitrage" from their cheap management skills.
How many resources and time are we afford to lose? They are real thrash to society.
Just a matter of time, all these will become episodes of silence. People in Bolehland always have short memory. That is why BN always win.
Let's hope that 2006 will be a really better New Year.
January 12, 2006 5:01 PM
Corruption to the country is just like tumor to our body. Let tumor to become cancer the body will die. Let corruption to grow to be irreversible the country will collapse.
So to control and minimize - corruption should deserve highest priority. Of course there are still many more issues to tackle.
I just could not imagine what will happen to the country if Pak Lah is slowly compromising himself with those corrupted people around him.
Let us hope Pak Lah has the courage to carry on the battle against corruption, and has the wisdom to take some drastic actions at the right timing on all the other major issues.
GLCs and NEP are becoming the means for some Umno politicians who are corrupted to gain power as well as to gather wealth for themselves. This is causing tremendous damage to the Malaysian economic.
More and more businessmen irrespective of race are working together with these corrupted Umno politicians to gather their own wealth. Most of these businessmen are equally greedy and corrupted, of course, there are some who are forced to do so for their own business survival.
The implementation of another well-intended policy on Malaysia incorporated, for the public and private sectors to work together for the good of the country, has also been abused by the same group.
Pah Lak must have the wisdom, strategy and courage to use the power of people to help him to bring the change, otherwise, 2006 year will be worse and the future of Malaysia will be full of uncertainty.
If another leader who although are stronger but corrupted, to take over as prime minister - God saves Malaysia!
January 12, 2006 5:04 PM
I've already put it very clear that the racial segregation that imposed since the colonial time has breed the social inequalities in Malaysian societies.
I always against all form of discriminations including religion, race, gender, culture, ability etc. I have no idea how can you allege me for supporting discrimination.
You've been very "strong" in echoing the propaganda of our Malaysia ruling class that alleging the working class envies them for monopolising the wealth of the society.
In fact, without the wage labor, hardworking people, so-called competitive cheap labor, including the migrants form Indonesia, Burma, Bangladesh……….We won't have such abundance of wealth in our society.
Yes, racial problem is severe in Malaysia and it is the tool used by the ruling class (including political-economic elites) to divide and rule, to exploit the working class (including men and women, also migrants, and disabled), and concentrate the wealth created by all working people in the hands of few.
Racism is a form of oppression in class society, and we must see the root cause is class-based, unless you are enjoying to live as an oppressor or to become the lackey of the ruthless ruling class.
Without clear analysis and proper praxis, you would never realize the real problems and develop a genuine grassroots program for better social transformation.
The best of such probably will be an armchair critique.
January 12, 2006 5:05 PM
Actually, the average number of Malaysians who get into Harvard for undergrad studies per year is 1.
It is quite easy to increase the number of Malaysians entering Harvard - ask one of our brilliant ministers to wield his keris in front of Harvard, demanding at least 100 students to be accepted into Harvard each year……….
Just my 2 cents……….Hahaha……….let's hope for a better education in Malaysia……….
Well, there was Professor KS Jomo who attended Harvard for his MBA (prior to that he was at Yale). He came back to teach……….but look what happened to him……….
We hope for less intervention from government in tertiary education, less oppression on Chinese schools in Malaysia……….[Hisham: "Nah, dream on!"]
Was joking actually on the keris wielding thingy……….these people can't even take up an assistant post if they are not in the government……….ok, I know I am exaggerating……….
Ancient Chinese wisdom says that officials have two mouths. This is still true today.
It always surprise me that by the behaviour of politicians. It irks even more that people think that the link is between the behaviour of our politicians and our children.
The problem begins first and foremost with policy. At the gist of it is the un-meritocracy and politicisation of the educational system.
The effect of politicisation is unchecked because we do not have free speech in this country. At the core of issues are the hegemonic policies of the Umno.
The problem is that it is very hard to do and takes a lot of efforts, which our small-minded leaders are not up to the challenge.
Political leaders are keep falling into vain traps to believe that they can change of students and young minds with their policies and power.
Fine during undergraduate years, it is rather obvious that there is little racial integration within the university. Why? Because the students know certain races have certain advantages on the others. Yet most of them do not voice out, lest they will be blacklisted.
Freedom is suppressed to the fullest extent.
The truth is that history has suggest that it is a vain attempt that only bring adverse result - in the long run the best way to educate and ensure good values in our children is to expose them to issues and debate them openly when it comes up.
Education systems are so different. Who is to judge what is worthy and what is not worthy? So, think smart, unless you have a deep pocket to support your education overseas.
To change all these, we need to change the current environment and government policies. Can we? Otherwise, we will continue to talk till the cow comes home.
January 12, 2006 5:07 PM
The trouble with some ministers is that they dream instead of actually think. Almost all the ministers in Bolehland like to talk nonsense ever now and then, and this is one of the examples. Ignore him and move on.
To build, it takes a long time, sometimes generations. To destroy, it takes overnight.
The English language - the education system has been destroyed through the regime of Dr M, and it will take even longer time to regain back the former status.
University Malaya is churning out a lot of bumi graduates majoring in religious studies, moral studies, Islamic studies etc. These graduates are then given posts in GLCs.
Like the executive for MAS, an anthropology graduate, and like 90% of all executives in GLCs. No wonder all of them are making losses every year.
It is really a micros of the NEP policy. As the elite take more and more resources to put up a cosmetic appearance of development and progress, and hence denying effort, resources as well as sending the wrong signal to the average what they need to do who are lulled into complacency and lack of competitiveness.
The government would do well to ensure standards are kept high as otherwise it is the public that suffers.
It is sad that many people will not go and see the doctors (or other professionals) who graduate from local universities, as there are fears that these doctors are incompetent. Some of these doctors won't even touch you to give you a thorough examination. It is a fact.
At the moment, it seems there are gross lack of planning, effective leadership and management, effective enforcement and implementation, and continuous assessment of the objectives against actual results from time to time.
The politicians and those who could afford are not sending their children to local universities but overseas universities. That tells us what it is about.
January 12, 2006 5:24 PM
Reality show it is but for how long. When the curtians comes done all the actor will be backstage laughing their tails of at us fools.
January 19, 2006 1:33 PM
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November 13, 2006 6:50 PM
PM's brother has opened a nasi kandar kedai in Perth and PM has bought a house in Australia, according to some reports. If true (and I have not seen any denials)then both these men know something that you should know - Australia is a great place for Malaysians with trade (e.g. welder, hairdresser, chef)or professional skills (e.g. IT,accountant) or graduates or businessmen with money. Discrimination is not allowed and the education system is much better than in Malaysia. There is no quota system based on your race or religion. We have 200 nationalities living here. Thank about it. What will happen in Malaysia when the oil runs out? Send me a brief email about yourself at "ausmigration@iprimus.com.au" for a free assessment. I left KL 20 years ago when I saw what was coming. Send that email today for your future.
February 24, 2007 8:14 PM
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