Screaming about corruption is no bloody good. Screaming that we need to change the government is also no bloody good. What I want to hear is about the plan to whack hard on corruption. Only then would things change. Then and only then would we avoid putting old wine into a new bottle. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Read the three news items below. One news item is about what happened in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The other two news items are about what happened in the People's Republic of China. Iranian law is based on the Sharia -- hudud is one branch of the Sharia -- while China uses a Soviet-influenced system of socialist law. Nevertheless, whether you wish to call it 'Islamic' law or 'Communist' law, they are both the same. Corruption is 'rewarded' with the death sentence in both Iran and China. Hence there is really no difference between Islam and Communism, at least as far as the punishment for corruption is concerned...

July 31, 2012 Is China Losing its Plot Kishore Mahbubani (07-26-12) In 2016, China 's share of the global economy will be larger than America 's in purchasing-price-parity terms. This is an earth-shaking development; in 1980, when the United States accounted for 25% of world output, China's share of the global economy was only 2.2%. And yet, after 30 years of geopolitical competence, the Chinese seem to be on the verge of losing it just when they need it most. China's leaders would be naïve and foolish to bank on their country's peaceful and quiet rise to global preeminence. At some point, America will awaken from its geopolitical slumber; there are already signs that it has opened one eye. But China has begun to make serious mistakes. After Japan acceded to Chinese pressure and released a captured Chinese trawler in September 2010, China went overboard and demanded an apology from Japan, rattling the Japanese establishment. Read On Project Syndicate:...

I seldom watch the TV but during my holidays, when I had nothing to do I was forced to watch BBC News. The world is certainly going through terrible times. Greece is bankrupt and Spain, Portugal and Italy are doing badly in their finances. Britain is also going through a depressed economy with scandals plaguing their most respected banks. Everywhere in Europe there are demonstrations by unemployed people. A lot of blame is directed at the capitalist system and the income gap between rich and poor. The latest trend is to "occupy" the main centers of capitalistic activities such as Wall Street in New York and HSBC bank in Hong Kong. This also happened in Australia. America claims it has turned around and its economy is doing well. I do not believe this is the truth. There is a great deal of unemployment and real business is not coming back. Certainly we don't see American products in the market. Much of the money is created by their Central b...

Written by ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf CPIAsia Commentary CPI Intro:  We are sharing with readers the response of Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) to a commentary by Dr Lim Teck Ghee on  "Why police are impotent in dealing with growing crime" (23 July 2012). Interested readers are encouraged to send in their views on the various points raised by PDRM in defending the official crime statistics and the steps taken to combat crime. ************************** RESPONSE TO "WHY POLICE ARE IMPOTENT IN DEALING WITH GROWING CRIME" BY DR. LIM TECK GHEE There have been quite a number of debates lately on the issues of crime, particularly on the accuracy of official crime statistics and police efficiency in combating crime. Various articles and reports have been written with many quarters offering differing views. The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have constantly been keeping the public abreast on the crime situation and police efforts in crime...

July 31, 2012 Is China Losing its Plot Kishore Mahbubani (07-26-12) In 2016, China 's share of the global economy will be larger than America 's in purchasing-price-parity terms. This is an earth-shaking development; in 1980, when the United States accounted for 25% of world output, China's share of the global economy was only 2.2%. And yet, after 30 years of geopolitical competence, the Chinese seem to be on the verge of losing it just when they need it most. China's leaders would be naïve and foolish to bank on their country's peaceful and quiet rise to global preeminence. At some point, America will awaken from its geopolitical slumber; there are already signs that it has opened one eye. But China has begun to make serious mistakes. After Japan acceded to Chinese pressure and released a captured Chinese trawler in September 2010, China went overboard and demanded an apology from Japan, rattling the Japanese establishment. Read On Project Syndicate:...

By  Kee Thuan Chye   Malaysian Digest BARISAN Nasional (BN) has already started campaigning for the general election – even though it has not yet been called – and the Election Commission (EC) is doing nothing about it. What's more, BN is campaigning on a large scale and everyone can see it. It has done this by unabashedly hijacking the National Day celebrations and using it to promote its own propaganda. The theme for the celebrations is Janji Ditepati (Promises Fulfilled) which does not sound at all like a National Day theme. It instead speaks for BN, which desperately wants to tell the rakyat that it is a government that delivers. The National Day theme song is glaringly partisan – but for BN, not for the country. Also entitled 'Janji Ditepati', it highlights BN's latest initiatives and hints that it's time for the rakyat to show its gratitude to BN. Look at some of the lyrics: Janji sudah ditepati, Kini masa balas budi. (Pro...

Yes, in 2008 we agree to support Pakatan Rakyat. But the support came with certain conditions attached. You are, of course, free to renegotiate these terms and conditions if you want to and rescind what has been agreed. In a democracy this is allowed. But then, in a democracy, we are also free to look at these new terms and conditions of our relationship and decide whether we want to accept them or not. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin "Dear RPK, I find your articles actually getting more and more racist. What is this about?" asked one reader by the name of 'Nanda K'.    Well, violence begets violence, as the saying goes, and racism begets racism. Racism requires two hands to clap and is the opposition any lesser racist than, say, Perkasa? Have a look at this newspaper cutting: Why must the Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim say 'Melayu masuk DAP PR lagi kuat'? Is DAP a non-Melayu party, meaning a Chinese party? Is that why ...

Written by ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf Tuesday, 31 July 2012 16:39 Commentary CPI Intro: We are sharing with readers the response of Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) to a commentary by Dr Lim Teck Ghee on "Why police are impotent in dealing with growing crime" (23 July 2012). Interested readers are encouraged to send in their views on the various points raised by PDRM in defending the official crime statistics and the steps taken to combat crime. ************************** RESPONSE TO "WHY POLICE ARE IMPOTENT IN DEALING WITH GROWING CRIME" BY DR. LIM TECK GHEE There have been quite a number of debates lately on the issues of crime, particularly on the accuracy of official crime statistics and police efficiency in combating crime. Various articles and reports have been written with many quarters offering differing views. The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have constantly been keeping the public abreast on the crime situation and police efforts in ...