Short memory will destroy Malaysia — K.C. Chong
Reading the mainstream newspapers and listening to supporters of Barisan Nasional, one get’s the impression that everything is good in Malaysia and that the electorate should reward the Barisan Nasional at the next elections.
Adding to their euphoria is the political infighting in PKR and the very public break-up between Zaid Ibrahim and PKR. But before we swallow the party line, let’s examine if things have really changed from March 2008 and if the main institutions in the country have shown signs of improvement.
1) Umno: Apart from good soundbites from the party president, this is still a party hooked on patronage, easy money and chauvinistic politics. Khir Toyo is still around. Ahmad Ismail is still a hero. And every few weeks, one Umno politician steps up to remind non-Malays where they really stand in Malaysia (remember the Titiwangsa chap and Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi). Even the former prime minister DR Mahathir Mohamad has weighed in with some sharp comments in his support for Perkasa. So despite the nebulous 1 Malaysia slogan, Umno still believes that it is the landlord and Chinese and Indians are mere tenants. Verdict: no change from 2008.
2) MACC: This is an interesting organisation. It is either incompetent or lacking in any will to tackle corruption seriously in Malaysia. But most of the time MACC chief Abu Kassim sounds like the aggrieved party, accusing the public and media of not supporting his joke of an outfit. The Teoh Beng Hock case is not the only episode which has exposed the partisan nature of MACC. The mere fact that the powerful organisation has not charged senior government officials or government leaders for living well beyond their means is a daily reminder that the MACC continues to be an instrument of the powerful and not an agent of change.
Verdict: further deterioration since 2008.
3) The Attorney-General: This guy certainly has nine lives. I mean in most countries (mature democracies and not Zimbabwe), he would have been asked to resign. When was the last time any of his prosecutors won any case of repute? And his handling of the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case is a joke because even the basic foundations of the case have been overlooked. I mean the nature of the offence was consensual but the minute Saiful started giving evidence, it was clear that he was alleging that he was sodomised against his will!!! From there, it has been downhill. One of his prosecutors has had an affair with Saiful. Now a respected former police officer is alleging that Mr AG allegedly covered up serious crimes.
Verdict: The criticisms against the AG just keep getting louder and louder.
4) The judiciary: The key performance index introduced by Chief Justice Zaki Azmi is not the problem. In fact, cases are being cleared faster and that’s a good thing. The problem is that the quality of judicial decisions has left anyone with even a basic knowledge of the law shaking their heads. Some critics believe the judges are incompetent while some assign more sinister motives. Remember the decisions in the Perak case and Anwar Ibrahim’s ongoing trial, where established law is thrown out the window. Judges don’t even write proper judgments these days. I mean they are not required to do so. I wonder why?
Verdict: no change.
5) Cronyism: There are no open tenders for major projects. The main beneficiaries are Umno politicians and businessmen connected to them. Most of the big projects under Idris Jala’s economic transformation project have been apportioned to connected bizmen, most of whom have links to the powers that be. The project cost is inflated so that huge profits can be made and commissions passed on to political godfathers. This pattern also happened during the time when Mahathir and Abdullah were in office but the looting in this administration by corporate figures and shady bizmen is unprecedented. No one seems to know just who is behind the redevelopment of the Sg Besi airbase.
Verdict: the gravy train rolls on
6) The breakdown of the system: As mentioned by The Malaysian Insider several weeks ago, despite the fact that MCA president Chua Soi Lek is allowed to raise his voice in public and given some leeway to criticise government policies, nothing has altered the dynamics of BN. What Umno says is the law. Heck, Chua and MIC leaders are given leeway to raise their voices only because Umno gives them permission to do so. Such is the subservience of politicians who are supposed to serve their communities.
This is not going to change with direct entry into BN. MCA, MIC and others will continue to be lapdog of UMNO.
Verdict: Still barking to tune of master.
So the point is this? It’s not whether PKR is on point of implosion or whether a Third Force is viable in Malaysian politics. Or even if Anwar is prime minister material. The point is that the factors which caused Malaysians to be totally disillusioned with Umno/BN and the whole system are still there and flourishing even two years later.
* K. C. Chong reads The Malaysian Insider.
Adding to their euphoria is the political infighting in PKR and the very public break-up between Zaid Ibrahim and PKR. But before we swallow the party line, let’s examine if things have really changed from March 2008 and if the main institutions in the country have shown signs of improvement.
1) Umno: Apart from good soundbites from the party president, this is still a party hooked on patronage, easy money and chauvinistic politics. Khir Toyo is still around. Ahmad Ismail is still a hero. And every few weeks, one Umno politician steps up to remind non-Malays where they really stand in Malaysia (remember the Titiwangsa chap and Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi). Even the former prime minister DR Mahathir Mohamad has weighed in with some sharp comments in his support for Perkasa. So despite the nebulous 1 Malaysia slogan, Umno still believes that it is the landlord and Chinese and Indians are mere tenants. Verdict: no change from 2008.
2) MACC: This is an interesting organisation. It is either incompetent or lacking in any will to tackle corruption seriously in Malaysia. But most of the time MACC chief Abu Kassim sounds like the aggrieved party, accusing the public and media of not supporting his joke of an outfit. The Teoh Beng Hock case is not the only episode which has exposed the partisan nature of MACC. The mere fact that the powerful organisation has not charged senior government officials or government leaders for living well beyond their means is a daily reminder that the MACC continues to be an instrument of the powerful and not an agent of change.
Verdict: further deterioration since 2008.
3) The Attorney-General: This guy certainly has nine lives. I mean in most countries (mature democracies and not Zimbabwe), he would have been asked to resign. When was the last time any of his prosecutors won any case of repute? And his handling of the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case is a joke because even the basic foundations of the case have been overlooked. I mean the nature of the offence was consensual but the minute Saiful started giving evidence, it was clear that he was alleging that he was sodomised against his will!!! From there, it has been downhill. One of his prosecutors has had an affair with Saiful. Now a respected former police officer is alleging that Mr AG allegedly covered up serious crimes.
Verdict: The criticisms against the AG just keep getting louder and louder.
4) The judiciary: The key performance index introduced by Chief Justice Zaki Azmi is not the problem. In fact, cases are being cleared faster and that’s a good thing. The problem is that the quality of judicial decisions has left anyone with even a basic knowledge of the law shaking their heads. Some critics believe the judges are incompetent while some assign more sinister motives. Remember the decisions in the Perak case and Anwar Ibrahim’s ongoing trial, where established law is thrown out the window. Judges don’t even write proper judgments these days. I mean they are not required to do so. I wonder why?
Verdict: no change.
5) Cronyism: There are no open tenders for major projects. The main beneficiaries are Umno politicians and businessmen connected to them. Most of the big projects under Idris Jala’s economic transformation project have been apportioned to connected bizmen, most of whom have links to the powers that be. The project cost is inflated so that huge profits can be made and commissions passed on to political godfathers. This pattern also happened during the time when Mahathir and Abdullah were in office but the looting in this administration by corporate figures and shady bizmen is unprecedented. No one seems to know just who is behind the redevelopment of the Sg Besi airbase.
Verdict: the gravy train rolls on
6) The breakdown of the system: As mentioned by The Malaysian Insider several weeks ago, despite the fact that MCA president Chua Soi Lek is allowed to raise his voice in public and given some leeway to criticise government policies, nothing has altered the dynamics of BN. What Umno says is the law. Heck, Chua and MIC leaders are given leeway to raise their voices only because Umno gives them permission to do so. Such is the subservience of politicians who are supposed to serve their communities.
This is not going to change with direct entry into BN. MCA, MIC and others will continue to be lapdog of UMNO.
Verdict: Still barking to tune of master.
So the point is this? It’s not whether PKR is on point of implosion or whether a Third Force is viable in Malaysian politics. Or even if Anwar is prime minister material. The point is that the factors which caused Malaysians to be totally disillusioned with Umno/BN and the whole system are still there and flourishing even two years later.
* K. C. Chong reads The Malaysian Insider.
Renita Sukardi
Name: Renita Sukardi Gender: Female Nationality: Indonesia Place / Date of birth: Jakarta, 26 Juli 1976 Renita Sukardi (born in Jakarta, July 26, 1976) is a sitcom actress and presenter of Indonesia. The woman who was familiarly called Irene is famous by the soap opera Why Inul. Renita Sukardi as a child dreams of becoming a model. She had a course in Okky Modeling, but fate led him to the scene over the model and presenter. Several events have dipandunya among other Acts in Between Us on SCTV, Celebrity Cases, and Fruit Lip.   |   In addition to being a presenter, currently listed as the referring Iron clothing or fashion stylist in a tabloid publication the capital. While the ad has ever starred in, among others, Lifebuoy, Shampoo Natur, Salonpas, and Diapet. Smart and beautiful, two gift she has. With that combination Iren upper hand, especially choosing a boy. Very open opportunities to find a handsome man as well as smart. |
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