December 31, 2011 Democracy is shining in the dark by Bridget Welsh@www.malaysiakini.com COMMENT Largely driven by ordinary citizens, often connected through the social media, Southeast Asia is experiencing important and substantive political change. In this year of the Arab Spring, attention has centered on developments in the Middle East. With street protests and elections, amidst violence, there is no question that the region has experienced a profound political upheaval. Yet, 2011 has been extremely significant in Southeast Asia as well. The ripples of change are here. Largely driven by ordinary citizens, often connected through the social media, Southeast Asia is experiencing important and substantive political change, with the balance clearly in favour of greater empowerment of citizens, human dignity and promise. Let me begin with the one that Malaysians themselves know well – the increased political awakenings of citizens. It centers on July's Bersih 2.0 and more

They say it is impossible for the Umno controlled BN to lose its grip on power, "when pigs fly" goes the adage. But when the possibility of BN losing looms, pig heads seems to fly left, right and centre. There is an expression to describe something that is impossible or never going to happen, as the popular saying goes, "when pigs fly". Being ground dwelling quadrupeds with no biological means of flight, the pig or swine is more likely to wallow in mud pits than ever travel through the air under its own power. Though cynics have pointed out that one can chuck pigs bodily into the air to make them fly and force a re-examination of that popular adage. And for well nigh 54 years, the possibility of the ruling Umno-led BN coalition being unseated from its perch of power over Malaysia, is an idea that will evoke such a response. 'BN will only lose... ya right, when pigs fly' However such a possibility is no longer so remote after the political tsunami of 2

Prime Minister and Umno President Najib Abdul Razak may be striving to convince his party into adopting the moderate approach, but former MCA president Ong Tee Keat thinks that Umno has in reality moved more towards the right. Speaking to  Malaysiakini  last week, he said Umno is doing this because of pressure from within and without, forcing the party to shore up its community support base. While Ong agrees that Najib may have intentions to reform his party as well as the BN, Umno, however, may not always stick to his reform plan, especially under the watch of pressure groups like Perkasa. ! He was asked to comment on the difference among three prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib. "Mahathir was a very strong and dominant leader. But at least, he could always give you an answer even when facing an explosive and controversial issue. But, of course, he is a controversial leader as well. "Abdullah is a good old man. He may not give you a clea

UPDATED @ 02:10:09 PM 31-12-2011 December 31, 2011 KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — A growing public demand for accountability forced the government this year to make many about-faces and policy U-turns, characterising what critics would say was a weak administration but supporters might call responsive management.  And voters will get to eventually decide if they want to punish or reward Barisan Nasional (BN) when Datuk Seri Najib Razak calls elections. The Malaysian Insider  reviews some of the year's notable changes in position and direction. Bersih 2.0 rally Bersih protesters making their way through Jalan Sultan in the capital city on July 9 The first Bersih rally in 2007 was credited with shrinking the ruling coalition's voter support in Election 2008 that led to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's early exit from government and his successor, Najib, appeared keen to avoid a repeat. The Najib administration initially moved to nip the problem in the bud by detain

1.    In the past few weeks, the MACC has been very prolific. Many advertorials have been published in the main stream newspapers of the MACC's achievements in eradicating corruption. The conviction of former Selangor MB Dato Seri Khir Toyo to 1 year imprisonment seems to boost the MACC's image. 2.    The MACC blazed the trail again when on the 21st December 2011, the MACC announced the arrest of five (5) civil servants for bribery in separate places in Kedah. On Tuesday 27th December 2011, the husband of the ex-CEO of the Iskandar Investment Board (IIB), Mohd Amin Suhaimi, was charged in Johor Bharu for corruption. It seems strange that the ex-CEO herself was not charged. Then on Wednesday 29th  December, a former IIB senior V-P, Rostam Razali, was fined RM20,000 after he pleaded guilty for abuse of power in disclosing confidential tender price information. 3.    Meanwhile in KL, the Permanent Chairman of Malaysian Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim) Selangor branch wh

Umno is now promising us all that it will double padlock the "National Safe", for want of a better term, so that no one can break into it and rifle the contents or muck around with it in any manner. Malaysia may not need a Race Relations Act a la the United Kingdom because there's no basis for comparison between the model country for the proposed Act, or any other western democracy for that matter. Indeed, no Asian country would even consider having such a disgraceful law on the books. UK system is not racist but the people are Malaysia and the United Kingdom are poles apart on the delicate question of race relations. The fundamental difference is this: in the United Kingdom, the system is not racist. However the people are and as a result, immigrants from the Third World often end up at the receiving end at the hands of the locals in more ways than one. Whites in the UK wouldn't hesitate in the least to openly and publicly call non-whites any numb