‘Boot out BN to stop RM500 mil dam’

Luke Rintod | January 29, 2012

As long as Barisan Nasional rules Sabah, there is no assurance that it won't drown Tambatuon with a new dam.

KOTA BELUD: The only way to stop the building of the proposed RM500 million Tambatuon Dam is to end Barisan Nasional rule in Sabah. This was the advise Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) gave the frustrated Tambatuon villagers.

According to SAPP supreme council member Peter Marajin, it was no longer logical for the villagers to hold onto any promises made by Kota Belud MP Rahman Dahlan.

“We cannot hold onto any of the pledges made by BN leader on not to go ahead with the controversial dam.

“Even the Kota Belud MP’s own words are not an assurance it will not be built.

“It maybe not this year, but they will surely build it later, maybe in 2013. We never know with their (BN) kind of words,” said Maraji.

“What Rahman said was the dam would not be built without the consent of the villagers.

“In fact he has been asking the villagers to reconsider their opposition to the half-a-billion ringgit dam,” Marajin, who is from Kadamaian, said.

Tambatuon controversy

He said the villagers had also expressed their disappointment with their village head Amin Goling who had allegedly gone along with Rahman.

Marajin said Amin’s premature support for Rahman’s statement was aimed at confusing and hoodwinking the villagers into believing the BN government is now not going ahead with dam, which is not true.

“My observation was further corroborated with the Tambatuon villagers now insisting on a black and white assurance if indeed BN is not going ahead with the dam,” said Marajin.

The Tambatuon dam has become a flashpoint of opinions here with the majority of the Dusun Tindal villagers against it.

In fact they have taken ritual vows over slaughtered buffaloes and chickens that they would defend their kampung with their blood if machines start coming to Tambatuon which many claimed to be a beautiful village.

They have also put signboards and other warnings at the entrance to their kampung that they are against the proposed dam and those who perpetrate to promote its building would be dealt with accordingly.

The Kadamaian PBS assemblyman, Herbert Timbon Lagadan, stands alone among his community over the Tambatuon dam.

He has become a target for criticism for his open support of the dam which he claimed would benefit not only the Tambatuon folks but the whole district as it supplies both electricity and water to paddy farms.

Marajin, not mincing his words, said “to cancel the dam, just cancel BN, lock, stock and barrel with Umno allies PBS and UPKO!”

‘Overseas M’sians must assert right to vote’

Aneesa Alphonsus | January 29, 2012

Bersih co-chairman A Samad Said may be 76-years-old, but he's not 'leaving' without letting Malaysians know that they 'must fight for their country'.

KUALA LUMPUR: National laureate A Samad Said wants Malaysians abroad to assert themselves and demand their right to vote in the 13th general election.

Samad, who is now the co-chairperson of Bersih coalition, believes that there is no sound enough reason why Malaysians living and working abroad should be deprived of their most fundamental right.

“All Malaysians abroad should fight for that (their right to vote) from where they are.

“They should insist that their voices be recorded, that they have a right to vote and they must vote.

“If their right to vote is denied than as Malaysian citizens, they can deny the elections.

“I can’t stand intimidation, fraud, dishonesty. I think everyone, every Malaysian should go and fight against this so they can get the kind of country they want.

“You want to see a change? Then vote and insist on it.

“If I don’t remind them to do this, I’m not carrying out my responsibilities,” he told FMT recently.

Pak Samad, as he is fondly known to many Malaysians, went on to add that the question of difficulty should not take precedence over what needs to be done.

He said it was the duty of every Malaysian abroad to fight for their right to vote.

‘Overseas Malaysians must demand rights’

He said Malaysians abroad should let their respective embassy representatives know of their right and desire to vote.

The right to vote for overseas Malaysians was one of the eight demands that Bersih 2.0 made to the Election Commission. The EC however has not weighed this yet.

Pak Samad said it was not enough that in-country Malaysians fight on behalf of their brethren abroad for the right to vote.

“Malaysians (abroad) too must be willing to take steps towards making this a reality.

“They can change things. If all Malaysians abroad don’t fight for this, what are they doing outside there?

“I’m not saying it’s their sole responsibility to make this happen, but they should be accountable for the positive changes this country can achieve.

“If they allow the country to go on like this for another five decades in the hands of Barisan National, what will happen then?

“We are not talking about another five years of the government being in power, it’s five decades. It’s time. It’s the right time,” he said vehemently.

‘Everyone must band together’

Until July 9, 2011, Pak Samad was best known as author. These days, he’s being celebrated as an activist as well.

At the height of the massive Bersih rally, Pak Samad became a national phenomenon when he lost his slippers in the crowd and walked barefoot all the way to the gates of the palace.

At 76, Pak Samad is ready to die but not before he has said his piece.

When presented with the notion that many of the Malaysians abroad feel apathy towards their right to vote and are disillusioned by vote-buying, Pak Samad had this reply: “Irrespective of these things, you still have to vote. It is your right.

“If everyone bands together, it will work.

“Don’t allow the government to use racial, religious issues against us. Don’t allow them to say they are enriching the country. They are not enriching the country.

“Why aren’t these Malaysians doing anything? If things go on like this, we can be on the verge of bankruptcy.

“So if we don’t do what we can, don’t blame (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) or Nazri Aziz, or (Dr) Chua Soi Lek.

“We should blame ourselves. We must fight, otherwise don’t complain,” he said.

It must be noted that a test case filed by six Malaysians working in Britain to have the right to cast their ballots abroad failed when it was over-ruled by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Jan 6.

The court dismissed their application by ruling that the Election Commission was following the rules in not allowing them to cast their ballots abroad.

The six had wanted the court to compel the EC to register them as absent voters and amend its regulation within two weeks to allow all Malaysians to vote overseas.

Cara berfikir Umno amat purba

FMT Staff | January 29, 2012

Sikap ini adalah manifestasi dari lesunya daya fikir dan intelek kepimpinan mereka dalam menghadapi realiti politik semasa dunia yang mengamalkan budaya telus dan terbuka.

PETALING JAYA: Cara berfikir pemimpin-pemimpin Umno amat purba kerana mereka gentar untuk berbicara secara bersemuka mengenai hak rakyat, demikian ditegaskan Ketua Penerangan PKR, Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty.

“Jelas, Umno belum berhenti dari muslihatnya terus memperbodoh dan menindas minda rakyat. Dengan ini, kuasa memerintah negara terus kekal di tangan dan pelbagai penyelewengan mudah diteruskan tanpa sekatan.

“Apa yang kita pasti, sikap ini adalah manifestasi dari lesunya daya fikir dan intelek kepimpinan mereka dalam menghadapi realiti politik semasa dunia yang mengamalkan budaya telus dan terbuka,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan media.

Beliau mengulas perkara ini berhubung sikap Perdana Menteri dan juga Presiden Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang berkali-kali enggan menyahut cabaran Ketua Pembangkang dan juga pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat untuk berdebat.

Anwar secara terbuka mengajak Najib berdebat mengenai beberapa isu kritikal semasa – politik, ekonomi dan kebajikan rakyat - yang sedang hangat diperkatakan kini.

Dr Manuty berkata, alasan yang diberikan begitu memual dan menjengkelkan. Sikap ini menampakkan betapa purbanya cara berfikir kepimpinan parti ini dan betapa gentarnya Umno untuk berbicara secara bersemuka mengenai hak rakyat.

Debat – amalan tradisi pemimpin

Sesungguhnya kata beliau, PKR ingin menegaskan pendirian bahawa debat antara pemimpin adalah tradisi mana-mana kepimpinan silam bagi semua tamadun. Di dalam Al Quran sendiri Allah SWT menjelaskan:

“Serulah ke jalan Tuhanmu (wahai Muhammad) dengan hikmat kebijaksanaan dan nasihat pengajaran yang baik, dan berdebatlah dengan mereka (yang engkau serukan itu) dengan cara yang lebih baik; sesungguhnya Tuhanmu Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang sesat dari jalanNya, dan Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang-orang yang mendapat hidayah petunjuk.” (An-Nahl: 125).

Beliau menegaskan pada hakikatnya, budaya debat adalah amalan lumrah para ilmuan dan kepimpinan silam. Melaluinya, kebenaran akan lebih terserlah dan “insight” baru dapat dicernakan demi kepentingan negara dan rakyat.

Lebih penting katanya, rakyat diberi peluang menilai secara empirikal dan adil akan ketrampilan dan keikhlasan kepimpinan yang akan diberikan amanah mengurus negara pada masa depan. Inilah demokrasi sebenar yang dituntut oleh rakyat.

“Kita pun merasa aneh mengapa pula Najib tidak punyai keberanian menyahut cabaran ini sedangkan, beliau sendiri dikatakan selalu mempamirkan gaya pidato yang tidak kurang hebatnya semasa berucap di khalayak umum di mana-mana.

“Beliau sebenar lebih beruntung kerana dikelilingi ratusan pegawai dan pembantu yang bersiap siaga dengan bekalan idea dan maklumat jika diperlukan.

“PKR merasa kesal akan betapa hina dan rendahnya pandangan Umno-BN terhadap rakyat Malaysia yang bersifat majmuk ini,” tegas beliau.

Hindraf not against Malays

Athi Shankar | January 29, 2012

A national coordinator also believes that Hindraf's struggle was slowly returning to its mainstream position since joining the ABU bandwagon.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti is not against the Malays or any other ethnic groups in the country.

It’s solely a grassroots movement fighting for the rights, interests and benefits of ethnic Indians, especially the working class, said Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam.

Speaking at a Hindraf – ABU (Anything But Umno) forum in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, last night, he said that the movement’s main agenda was to coerce the government to recognise and uphold ethnic Indian citizenry rights.

He said Hindraf wanted the Umno-helmed federal government to end its racist policies discriminating ethnic Indians.

“We are not questioning what the government is giving others

“We are only asking the government to give what is rightfully ours,” Sambulingam clarified to FMT on his speech.

Some 700 people attended the forum, with Indians making up about a third of them, while the rest were dominantly Malays.

Also present were ABU leader Haris Ibrahim, Solidarity of Malaysian Youth (SAMM) chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin @ Chegubard and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Sambulingam said that one main Hindraf demand was for the government to give land for Tamil schools and gazette them all as fully-aided schools.

Among other demands are affordable housing, business and employment opportunities for the needy and deserving working class Indians.

Back in mainstream politics

He said Hindraf would definitely field candidates to contest the next general election as it was “high time for Hindraf to provide a strong voice for the voiceless.”

Gauging the growing support among Indians and non-Indians to Hindraf vis-à-vis close ties with ABU, Sambulingam believes that the movement was back on track after seeing a lean isolated spell for the past two years.

After the heydays of 2007 – 2008 period, combination of self-inflicted tactical blunders and concerted demonisation by others have sidelined and outcast Hindraf from mainstream political activism.

But since joining the ABU bandwagon, Hindraf believes that its struggle was slowly but surely returning to its rightful mainstream position.

Even the violent disruption caused by some thugs on Hindraf – ABU forum in Klang on Jan 21 failed to deter Hindraf activists.

“Now the Malays and others can accept Hindraf’s views and demands on Indian issues.

“Hindraf’s struggle is definitely back on mainstream agenda.

“We will now intensify it with support of other ethnic brothers,” Sambulingam told FMT.

Dont Vote BN for abolishing PPSMI

Abolishing PPSMI will affect the vote

I think for the Government to ignore all these voices of protest is to take significant risks. Abolishing the PPSMI may become yet another election issue. People are already not happy with the Government over so many things.

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People will vote FOR the PPSMI and they will vote against any attempt to abolish it.

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If the Government abolishes the PPSMI, the Government stands to lose a significant number of votes. The Bloggers are still fighting to regain support back for the BN Government. So I dont think it is advisable, at this juncture, for the Government to alienate a substantial block of voters who want the PPSMI.

Read more HERE.

Source: MOLE

Copy To Republish

Republish Rules

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Since the Government had abolished the PPSMI, the Government should be voted out in next election to show the frustration and disrespectful BN to Malaysian standard education.

I was invited to attend a meeting and a Press Conference organised by Datin Azimah Rahim's PAGE (Parents' Action Group for Education) which seeks to ask the Government NOT to abolish the PPSMI (the teaching of Maths and Science in English). The Government has said that the PPSMI will be abolished for the school year beginning January 2012.

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You can visit PAGE's website here

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The Governmenmt has to really ask itself whose interest they are representing when they want to abolish the PPSMI? Indications are the majority of the population, especially the Malays support the PPSMI.

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I think this is also why the Government is shying away from conducting a referendum to directly ask the people their views. The Government knows that a referendum will support the PPSMI. The Government is taking a huge risk with the future of the nation, especially the Malays, just to avoid embarrasment.

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PAGE is trying to raise one million signatures in a petition to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to keep the PPSMI. You can read the Petition online here .

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Please go to the page and sign the petition. It will take not more than one minute. It is for the future of all Malaysians. Here is the short petition :

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To: Malaysians

To,

YAB Datuk Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

The Prime Minister of Malaysia.

YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin bin Yassin

Education Minister of Malaysia.

cc.

Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).

PETITION TO MAINTAIN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN ENGLISH (PPSMI) IN SCHOOLS

I, the undersigned, am in favour of maintaining the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) in schools.

This letter endorses my mandate and full support to any representing party that is seeking to maintain PPSMI in schools.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

(Datin Azimah, I think we need one in Bahasa Malaysia as well. Many parents who cannot speak English still want to support this petition).

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DEAR BLOG READERS, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AT CITIZEN AWARENESS AND CITIZEN GOVERNMENT. PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS PETITION AND THE WEB ADDRESS IN YOUR BLOGS, IN YOUR EMAILS AND POST IT TO ALL YOUR CONCERNED FRIENDS. LET US HELP PAGE GET THE 1 MILLION ONLINE SIGNATURES.

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This is a Vote for the PPSMI. Please lets hang together on this one or our kids will surely hang separately.

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We are already close to the Club of Doom. If we abolish the PPSMI we are much closer to the Club of Doom.

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Talking and listening to so many people at the meeting, there is a huge undercurrent against abolishing the PPSMI. The majority of Malaysians, especially Malays, support the PPSMI. They really want their children to be educated in English, at least in Science and Mathematics.

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I think for the Government to ignore all these voices of protest is to take significant risks. Abolishing the PPSMI may become yet another election issue. People are already not happy with the Government over so many things.

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People will vote FOR the PPSMI and they will vote against any attempt to abolish it.

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If the Government abolishes the PPSMI, the Government stands to lose a significant number of votes. The Bloggers are still fighting to regain support back for the BN Government. So I dont think it is advisable, at this juncture, for the Government to alienate a substantial block of voters who want the PPSMI.

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There were two big surprises for me at the PAGE meeting. The first was seeing Suara Perkasa (the newspaper of the ultra right wing Malay rights pressure group) writing a page length in support of PPSMI.

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Titled 'PPSMI : Apabila emosional mengatasi rasional' the article took issue with certain parties who have made the most emotional and nonsensical claims to support the abolishment of the PPSMI. One such person is the muallaf and very confused ustaz Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, a Chinese convert who is now more Arabic than the Arabs and more Melayu than the Melayu.

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The other surprise was the presence of another Malay NGO Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) whose president Azwanddin Hamzah showed the results of a survey done by the JMM covering 27,200 parents from predominantly rural areas. 70% of the people surveyed were Malays. Their 4 month research findings showed that 55% of PARENTS wanted to retain the PPSMI.

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Only 13% of parents are opposed to the PPSMI. 32% said 'Belum Pasti'.

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Of the students who were surveyed in the same areas (mostly rural areas) 79% of students said that they wanted the PPSMI to continue.

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Therefore, when the Government says they want to abolish the PPSMI, I am curious to know whose voices are they representing? It is NOT the suara rakyat.

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Is this a Government of the people or not? If the majority of the people and the majority of students want the PPSMI to continue, then why is the Government going against their wishes? What is wrong with the Government?

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Someone said there is no need for the Government to conduct a referendum for or against the PPSMI because the Government knows what it is doing. I think the person who said this will not qualify to audition as a clown for Malaysian Idol. He is making sick jokes. Even the Prime Minister has said that 'The days of 'Government knows best' are over'.

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I agree fully with the PM. And on this PPSMI issue, the Government has totally lost the plot.

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OK you can disagree with me. I can disagree with you. That is ok. But why does the Government refuse to listen to the majority who want the PPSMI? Why doesnt the Government conduct a free and fair referendum on this matter. Or at least the Government engage an independent consultant and conduct a wide ranging survey to get at the truth? The people want the PPSMI.

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And here is something else. While Maths and Science in English is being abolished, the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara or MRSM will have entire campuses devoted to teaching in the English Language !! Macam mana pula?

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"Di samping itu mulai tahun 2011, MARA juga aka melaksanakan program Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) di MRSM Tuan Abdul Razak, Pekan, Pahang. Pelaksanaan program Cambridge IGCSE di MRSM bersesuaian dengan hasrat MARA melahirkan pelajar yang global, cemerlang dan kompetitif" Sijil Cambridge IGCSE merupakan kelayakan peperiksaan yang berprofil tinggi dan bereputasi cemerlang serta diiktiraf di kebanyakan universiti di peringkat antarabangsa".

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So the IGCSE will "melahirkan pelajar yang global, cemerlang dan kompetitif". Habis anak orang lain semua boleh jadi kurang global, kurang cemerlang dan kurang kompetitif. Banyak cantik lah.

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There is already an MRSM centre in Seremban that prepares students for the International Baccalaureate examinations in English.

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Then we have also allowed the International Schools which are now mushrooming all over the country. Rich people, anak Menteri and anak VIPs can now send their kids to International Schools where children are educated in English and prepare for the British 'O' Levels, 'A' Levels and such.

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The ordinary people can send their kids to Governmenmt school where they will get a more ordinary education yang mungkin kurang global, kurang cemerlang dan kurang kompetitif. How does the Government answer this little oversight?

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Pasai apa pula kita wujudkan sistem pendidikan yang mempunyai aliran elitis dan aliran untuk marhaen (rakyat biasa)? Aliran elitis seperti MRSM Pekan dan Seremban mengajar pelajar terpilih dalam bahasa Ingeris, dan untuk mengambil peperiksaan peringkat antarabangsa (IGCSE dan International Baccalaureate). Kemudian "International School" pula dibenarkan untuk orang kaya, anak Menteri dan anak VIP. Anak orang biasa pula boleh jadi haprak ke? Pasal apa bahasa Inggeris dikhususkan untuk golongan elit saja?

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There is something seriously wrong with the Government's thinking here.

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There were many other things discussed. The Kamus Dewan Bahasa is a disgrace to the Malay race. The kamus Dewan Bahasa is written by pengkhianat bahasa. The Kamus Dewan Bahasa has ciplak hundreds and thousands of words from the English language, mostly scientifik words or "saintifik" words. Words like saintifik, genetik, DNA, elektron, mikron, fizik, mikroskop are all ciplak words from the English language. And the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka fellows say that they are pejuang bahasa! Pi dah mabuk!

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There is a simple reason why the pengkhianat bahasa at the Dewan Bahasa continue to ciplak words especially scientific terminology, from the English language and put it into their kamus. Because there is no "language infrastructure" yet in the Malay language to support concepts like saintifik, DNA, electron orbits, valence and such. "Konsep" atau concept pun belum ada bro. So that is why the Dewan Bahasa ciplaks words from the English language.

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But there is a major problem here. The kids in the towns, cities and kampongs cannot go home and engage their parents, uncles and grandparents in simple everyday conversation using words like elektorn, mikron, mikroskop and such. Why? Because not only these words but the concepts behind them are still alien in the Malay language. It is going to take time, a long time, before the Malay language evolves to abosrb and even create these concepts by itself.

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So without a supporting language infrastructure, it will be that more difficult for the kids to grasp these ideas. The Malay langauge spoken at home cannot accelerate their understanding of scientific concepts yet. Why? Sebab bahasa Melayu masih belum mempunyai kapasiti untuk membawa konsep besar disebalik setiap perkataan saintifik yang baru diciplak dari bahasa Inggeris.

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But the English language can. So instead of Dewan Bahasa 'stealing' words like saintifik, elektron, mikron, DNA, genetik, fizik, konsep, hipotesis, tesis and such from the English language - which has contributed very little to moving our nation forward, the easier (and more effective option) is to teach the kids science and mathematics in the English language. Orang kita akan maju dengan lebih cepat lagi.

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Tujuan kita ialah untuk majukan bangsa kita, bukan untuk membantu Dewan Bahasa menjual kamus yang penuh dengan perkataan yang di ciplak daripada bahasa Inggeris.

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Some very poorly informed people have also said that we can translate English materials into Malay. These are very poorly informed people who do not understand many simple things. Out of interest, I buy and read English books about Nuclear Submarines. I know of only one other person who may read such books. So I know only two people who may read books on submarines.

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If we wait for Malay translations, no one in their right mind will translate and publish a book about nuclear submarines when only two people or a handful of people will read those books in Malaysia. The same goes for solar energy, DNA genetics, animal husbandry, hydroponic farming etc. The market will be too small to translate such books from English to Malay. So if I cannot read English, I will not be able to access these books in Malay. I will become a katak di bawah tempurung. Worse I may become poor.

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We must just stick to the PPSMI. We switched from English to 100% Malay sometime in the 1970s. The result is there for everyone to see. Are we happy with our achievements? We are producing unemployable university graduates and school leavers who cannot even count.

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In 2003, we switched back to English (for Science and Mathematics only). It will take time but we are beginning to see some results. This PPSMI generation is moving up the learning curve, faster than the previous generations. To switch back now will be disastrous.

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There will also be an English speaking and non English speaking divide in the country. The International School kids, the elite MRSM schools that teach in English and those who send their children overseas will become the elite. The non English speaking will end up working for the English speaking (just like now).

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Sadly it will be the Malays who will get the short end of the stick. This is a certainty.

No tolls if Pakatan captures Putrajaya

Athi Shankar | January 28, 2012

Pakatan Rakyat pledges to be a caring federal government if it comes into power.

GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Rakyat will abolish toll collections in the North-South highway and on Penang Bridge and it will also hand out RM1,000 annually to senior citizens, if it captures Putrajaya in the next general election.

These pledges, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Pakatan will never “run away from”.

He said people can put their faith in Pakatan’s promises.

“If we capture Putrajaya, we will immediately abolish the North-South Highway toll.

“We will also abolish toll collections on Penang Bridge.

“We will not run away from our promises,” Lim told a cheering crowd at a Chinese New Year open house co-hosted by Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh.

Also present were state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun.

Karpal was however, absent due to a prior engagement.

Lim said while Pakatan will abolish toll collections on road which were already enjoying huge profits, it will retain concessions in other areas.

Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, pointed out that PLUS had collected RM24.3. billion in toll collections on the North-South Highway, which was built on a RM6 billion budget.

“Cut-throat” BN government

Lim said given that PLUS had raked in a RM18.3 billion profit, it was now time to abolish it.

He slammed the Barisan Nasional federal government’s plans to increase current toll rates and continue its collections for years to come.

He said the people must be ready for change to stop the ‘cut throat’ toll collections of BN and PLUS.

Lim called on the people to vote for Pakatan if they wanted to want tolls to be abolished.

“BN said it cannot be done. Yes it cannot be done if it is BN.

“But under Pakatan, it can be done,” he promised.

Lim, who is Bagan MP, said Pakatan would also gift RM1,000 cash yearly to all senior citizens, regardless of their race, religion or political backgrounds.

He said Pakatan would not discriminate against senior citizens, even if they were from Gerakan or MCA.

“We will even hand out the cash to Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon if he wants it too,” Lim said.

He also said that Penang aims to be the cleanest, greenest and safest state in the country and his government would work hard to achieve the goals.

Temiar blockade: How not to win Orang Asli votes

The Orang Asli community in Gua Musang are waging a struggle to preserve their ancestral land in Kelantan from the onslaught of loggers. What do BN and PR politicians have to say?

The Temiar rise in protest - Photograph: Siti Kasim/COAC

Why can’t they wait until the Orang Asli community there have completed mapping their lands?

Nine people were arrested today. They were all released late at night.

The struggle continues. But what is the stand of the Kelantan government on Orang Asli native customary rights land?

Will the Pakatan show a more enlightened approach to land rights? I still recall the Pakatan state government in Selangor supported the Orang Asli in their struggle. What’s happening to Kelantan then, Nik Aziz?

Najis issued another threat against the Rakyat

Lord Najis has issue a warning that if there is a protest, the Paramilitary People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) estimated 20,000 will stop it at all cost.

I am surprised that even when there is no protest, there is chaos created by some of these Rela volunteers and UMNO members like the recent ABU Ceramah in Klang. Instead of helping, the Police and Special Branch were seen helping the bullies and acting aggressive toward the people presence at the Ceramah.

Then we have many protest organized by Perkasa – a Malay organization out to create chaos for the opposition, Chinese and Christian. What did Rela do? Again instead of stopping the protest, Rela gave helping hands to them.

So our money is used to pay these volunteers to BASH US UP. This is the kind of Government we have today. More reason to KICK UMNO OUT

How to super kill the Chinese in one go

The Super Racist and his gang who have been going around fighting for the right of the Malays now wants to invite the Chinese to their so-called Chinese New Year Open House at Kampung Baru tomorrow.

Is this a trap to poison all the Chinese who turn up at the Open House? First the Super Racist tells the Chinese they are Pendatang and show his Keris as a sign of threat. Then before Bersih 2.0, he warned the Chinese to keep food pile at home, again a threat to stop them from turning up at the protest. Then again the Racist tells his men to put pig heads at the Masjid in Johor to frighten the Malays and put the blame on the Chinese. Not satisfied the Racist got the Malays worked up claiming that DAP will convert all to Christian, if the opposition win in the 13^th GE. The latest chaos at the ABU Ceramah in Klang was staged by Perkasa.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t know about you but I smell rat poison. So if you don’t want to die before 13^th GE, if there is even an election, go anywhere but that trap hole in Kampung Baru.

PS...this Super Racist has been going to China to have bodily contact with Chinese girls. Wonder whether the Trio have some tapes of this too? I mean may as well go for other insurance, yeah.

I'll give you 10 extra minutes to debate, Anwar tells Najib

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has again issued a debate challenge to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, this time promising to go easy on the premier.

“He can speak for 20 minutes, I will speak for 10 minutes. He can reply for 20 minutes, and then I will reply in 10 minutes,” he said in a Twitter posting.

Anwar (left in photo) who is also de facto PKR leader, has challenged Najib (right in photo) numerous times, the most recent being a challenge to debate on national policies issued during the 3rd Pakatan Rakyat Conference in Alor Setar, Kedah on Jan 14.

Thus far, Najib has not responded to Anwar’s recent series of challenges.

However, in January last year, Najib had said he was not afraid to debate Anwar but the latter should first resolve his sodomy case and other personal issues.

Anwar was acquitted of the sodomy charge on Jan 9 this year but the prosecution has appealed the case.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, PKR information chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty said that Najib’s refusal to debate showed that he had something to hide.

“Leaders who refuse to meet eye to eye (to debate) give the perception of insincerity and dishonesty. It shows that there are secrets to hide. What is being hidden from the people?” he said.

Muhammad Nur added that Najib should trust in the wisdom of the people by debating and allowing the people to make their own empirical judgment.

ANWAR & 1MALAYSIA!!!!

'Umno laying groundwork for Sex Video 2.0'

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia's front-page report yesterday quoting one of the 'Datuk T' trio about a new sex video allegedly involving Anwar Ibrahim is yet another attempt to further tarnish the opposition leader's reputation.

"The statement by (former Perkasa treasurer) Shuib Lazim in Utusan Malaysiais a clear attempt to lay the groundwork for the release of new fabricated sex videos aimed at tarnishing Anwar's reputation," PKR vice-president N Surendran (left) said.

"We expect that more such porn tapes will be fabricated and distributed as the 13th general election nears," Surendran said in a statement late yesterday, adding that these were the "dirty and uncivilised" tactics of Umno and BN.

The 'Datuk T' trio of Shuib, businessperson Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik screened a sex video of a man resembling Anwar with a woman appearing to be of East Asian descent to journalists at the luxury Carcosa Seri Negara hotel in Kuala Lumpur in February last year.

Umno's fingerprints on sex video

Responding to the Shuib's threat that Anwar either disproves the first sex video through forensic tests or else new sex videos on him would be released, Surendran dismissed it as a "shameless and desperate" tactic of Umno.

"The sex video is widely disbelieved throughout the country, and there is no need for Anwar Ibrahim to resort to forensic tests to persuade the public that the video is a fabrication.

"Having themselves been responsible for creating and spreading the fabricated sex video against Anwar, it is simply outrageous that 'Datuk T' are now issuing challenges to Anwar," Surendran said.

And with Rahim (left), a former Umno Youth chief, being involved in releasing the previous sex video is proof of Umno's fingerprints being all over the first sex video episode, he added.

Anwar has lodged a police report denying that the man in the first sex video was him, while the Datuk T trio were fined for screening pornography in public.

However, police are now using this police report by Anwar toinvestigate him under Section 182 of the Penal Code for giving "false information to injure another person".

Only the rakyat can put a stop to all these unethical abuse of cards in the coming 13th general election.

If both Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat were alive today, it would be easy to tell which political party they will support, going by the statements they have made.

This is Hang Tuah’s statement: “Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia” (the Malays will never vanish from the face of the earth).

And this is Hang Jebat’s statement: “Aku Jebat, rakyat biasa. Pangkat aku untuk kepentingan rakyat. Bergerak aku untuk membuat jasa kepada rakyat dan aku rela mati untuk rakyat kerana aku mahu keadilan, keadilan. Keadilan!” (I am Jebat, an ordinary citizen. My rank is for the people’s well-being. I work for the good of the people and I am willing to die for the people because I want justice, justice. Justice!)

No doubt about it. Umno glorifies Hang Tuah in order to cement firmly the support of the Malays to the party as Umno is all about Ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy. And this is clearly epitomised in Hang Tuah. This is the reason why Hang Tuah is glorified in our history textbooks – to imbue young Malay minds to worship Hang Tuah so that these children will grow up thinking that the Malay is the greatest race on earth. This then is the Hang Tuah card played by Umno.

Umno and Ketuanan Melayu are Siamese twins. Malay supremacy is the lifeblood of Umno. Gluing the Malays to the concept of Ketuanan Melayu is Umno’s trump card and there is no way Pakatan Rakyat can break this stranglehold.

The battleground is now for the votes of the Malays, especially the rural Malays. But the Malays have always been taught to fear the Chinese while the Chinese have been taught to fear a repeat of an incident which occurred in 1969. The Barisan Nasional federal government thus controls the citizens by using fear as a weapon and what a mighty weapon it is.

Together with the weapon of fear is the weapon of Malay supremacy. So strong are these weapons that even PAS as an Islamic party has failed to counter them. The Malay support for PAS is only about 36 to 38 percent. And not many Malays support PKR either because they think that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has given too much leeway to the Chinese and the Indians.

Has Umno programmed the Malays to be selfish and to only look after their own interests at all costs?

There is no way the Malays will let go of Ketuanan Melayu and opt for Ketuanan Rakyat which is all encompassing and all inclusive. And this is also the reason why Pakatan will never win the general election. It is because the concept of Malay supremacy has locked up the Malay votes for Umno.

Due to Ketuanan Melayu, the Malays tend to view DAP with suspicion and this has led to them to ostracise DAP. MCA does not suffer such a fate in BN as MCA is merely Umno’s lackey while DAP is on an equal footing with PAS and PKR in the Pakatan coalition.

Umno’s bogeyman

Umno uses Ketuanan Melayu to frighten the Malays into thinking that the DAP is a threat to the Malays. This is, of course, untrue as has been proven in Penang but the rural Malays are unaware of this because they only have access to the mainstream media which is controlled by BN. Therefore, DAP is always used by Umno as a bogeyman to scare the Malays.

Not only does Umno play the race card against DAP, MCA does it too. And that is why MCA has been labelled as worthless eunuchs by the Chinese. In addition to the race card, both Umno and MCA also play the religion card against DAP but in opposite methods. Umno says DAP is anti-Islam while MCA says DAP supports hudud law. The religion card is used against DAP but played differently to different audiences.

To sum up, this is the way Umno and MCA woo their respective race groups:

• Umno says this to the Malays: by supporting PAS, you will make DAP very powerful; and

• MCA says this to the Chinese: by supporting DAP, you will make PAS very powerful.

Looks as if Umno and MCA are still sticking to the old ways of communal politics – back to pre-Merdeka era style of doing things. With the existence of these types of political parties such as Umno and MCA, how is Malaysia ever going to achieve a clean, vibrant and matured democracy? Therefore it goes without saying that BN must be booted out to put an end to the era of communal politics.

However, as the Malay votes are the deciding factor, Umno is cunning in cornering the Malay mindset. Or course there are goodies for MCA and MIC too in order for them to toe Umno’s line and get the votes of their respective communities, all for the benefit of Umno. Umno channels these goodies to MCA and MIC for them to keep their mouths shut.

This will be a never-ending game of race and religion orchestrated by Umno. And you can add in the Hang Tuah card, too, unless the rakyat will put a stop to all these unethical abuse of cards in the coming 13th general election. As it is now, the cards are heavily stacked against Pakatan.

Is gov’t dictating terms to Ambrin?

Jeswan Kaur | January 28, 2012

If indeed the word “mess” was not used in his 2010 report to describe the state of affairs in the NFC, why did the Auditor General take three months to issue a clarification.

Three months ago, the Auditor-General declared the National Feedlot Centre project worth RM73.64 million was in a ‘mess’, so much so he suggested that the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry ministry talk with the Finance Ministry to determine the “direction of the project”.

Now, Ambrin Buang is saying that his report at no point mentioned that the NFC project was in a mess. The term “mess” he says was conjured by the press. Ambrin told the MCA-owned The Star that his team had never used words such as “mess”, “chaos” and “misappropriation” to describe the project.

Ambrin said: “These words were used by other parties and the department should not be held responsible. The department is of the opinion that if there are any elements of misappropriation in the implementation of this project, it would be up to the authorities such as the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate.”

If indeed the word “mess” was not mentioned by the report, why did it take Ambrin three months to clarify? Is it not obvious that he has come under pressure from the ‘powers that be’ to do some damage control on this issue which has opened up a can of worms?

The feedlot project, located in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, is aimed at reducing beef imports and make the country the centre of beef production. But what happened was otherwise; the programme produced 3,289 cattles in 2010 compared to the targeted 8,000 heads of cattle.

The Auditor-General’s report released in October last year also found weaknesses in project management, while facilities remained unused or improperly maintained. “The area where grass that was supposed to be grown for animal feed or fodder was filled with acacia trees,” it said.

Not only was the project a flop, allegations surfaced that the funds allocated for the project were abused, used to purchase a luxury condominium worth RM13.8 million in Bangsar and another condominium worth RM9.9 million in Singapore, a Mercedes Benz at RM534, 622, two plots of land in Putrajaya for RM3,363,507 and a sponsored-trip to Mecca for NFCorp chairperson Mohamad Salleh to undertake his umrah.

Mohamad Salleh is the husband of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil. It was not long after that calls demanding for Shahrizat’s resignation were made, both by the rakyat and even Barisan Nasional politicians.

Shahrizat, 58, who is also Wanita Umno head has denied any wrongdoing and instead pressed defamatory charges against her nemesis, Parti Keadilan Rakyat Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and its strategic director Mohd Rafizi Ramli.

If all that rabble was not bad enough, in jumped deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin who provided the ‘hurricane lamp’ to Shahrizat saying there was no reason for her to quit her ministerial post, which by the way came about through a ‘backdoor’ entry.

In the 2008 general election, Shahrizat lost her Lembah Pantai constituency which she had held on for 13 years to newcomer Nurul Izzah, daughter of opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

The furore over the abused funds prompted the MACC to step in and conduct an investigation. On Jan 13, Shahrizat announced that she was taking a three-week break from her ministerial duties to apparently make away for the MACC investigation. Her clever exit also saw Shahrizat shifting all pressure pertaining to the NFC to Muhyiddin.

Safeguarding reputation of office

Does Umno have a hand in forcing Ambrin to sing a different tune now, looking at how the NFC scandal has gone on to earn the rakyat’s wrath, jeopardising BN and Umno’s chances in the coming general election?

Mohamad Salleh is claiming that the Auditor-General in his 2010 Report had confused NFCorp, a private entity, with the NFC, which is owned by the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry.

Mohamad Salleh said NFCorp is not the entity criticised in the Auditor-General’s Report for being “a mess”.

Meanwhile, Perkasa, the Malay-rights wing entity, has urged Ambrin to openly declare that NFC was not plagued by any scandal as depicted by the opposition leaders via documents and e-mail copies showing massive financial misappropriation.

“We urge him to issue an official statement and be fair to all quarters so that one is defended or punished based on confirmed facts, not on political perception,” said its chief Ibrahim Ali.

Also, Ambrin’s about-face has prompted opposition party DAP to issue him a caveat.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said: “The Auditor-General must be forewarned that he would be destroying the credibility of the sole national institution which had kept its reputation intact in the past few decades if he succumbs to improper pressures to “whitewash” the RM300 million “cattle condo” scandal, be it the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) or the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).

“I have re-read the Auditor-General’s 2010 Report on the NFC project and there is nothing to justify Salleh’s claim that the Auditor General had made the most elementary mistake of confusing the two entities, mistaking NFC for NFCorp or vice versa.

“Salleh should not try to escape responsibility and accountability for the RM300 million NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” on such a technical and ridiculous ground.”

The DAP veteran said Ambrin was correct when he said that the word “mess” was never used by the latter to describe the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC); rather the term originated in the media reports on the Auditor-General’s criticisms on the NFC project.

Lim added: “The whole NFC/NFCorp scandal later ballooned to outrageous proportions with the expose of one scandal after another relating the financial hanky-panky of the NFCorp in the disbursement of the RM250 million government loan for the NFC project when prime minister Najib Tun Razak was chairman of the Cabinet Committee on High Impact Projects and Muhyiddin the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry under Abdullah Badawi in 2006/7.

“Ambrin should be very jealous of the efforts (and very successful ones at that) by previous Auditor-Generals like Ahmad Nordin who became a legend and was synonymous with accountability and integrity in his lifetime, to protect the credibility and integrity of the Office of Auditor-General.

“These efforts by a whole line of sterling Auditor-Generals have resulted in the Auditor-General’s Office remaining as the only national institution to keep its reputation, credibility and integrity intact unlike other key institutions be it the judiciary, the Elections Commission, the MACC, Police, etc. who have lost their professionalism and integrity.”

Auditor-General’s image at stake

Lim said the proper place for the Auditor-General to clarify his 2010 report with regards to the NFC/NFCorp scandal would be the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and not by succumbing to undue pressure applied by NFCorp or various organisations or individuals with political agendas of their own.

“This is also why I’m shocked that the PAC had been so tardy and not met urgently to conduct immediate investigations into the NFC scandal when it has virtually become a daily staple for Malaysians the past three months.

Attempts to undermine the credibility and reputation of the Auditor-General should be new and added reason why the PAC chairman, Azmi Khalid should convene a meeting of the PAC in the next few days to decide whether the PAC is to rise up to the challenge to conduct immediate and full investigations into the NFC scandal or face censure in the March meeting of Parliament for gross failure and irresponsibility,” said Lim.

How does Barisan Nasional and Umno intend to react to DAP’s take on this issue? Has the Auditor-General’s office become the latest casualty of cronyism and nepotism, corrupted by the hands of unscrupulous politicians out to safeguard their own interests?

Mahathir gagal tingkatkan kualiti pelajar Melayu

Zefry Dahalan | January 28, 2012

Beliau menghina dengan menyatakan pelajar Melayu tidak cemerlang dan dalam masa yang sama mendabik dada bahawa beliau adalah ahli politik yang bijaksana.

SEREMBAN: Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat (MPP) PKR, Dr Mohamad Rafie Abdul Malik hari ini membidas bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad kerana gagal meningkatkan kualiti pelajar Melayu di Malaysia seperti yang beliau akui sendiri.

“Mahathir menghina dengan menyatakan pelajar Melayu tidak cemerlang dan dalam masa yang sama mendabik dada bahawa beliau adalah ahli politik yang bijaksana.

“Jika benar Mahathir ahli politik yang bijaksana dan telah diberi peluang mentadbir Malaysia selama 22 tahun (1981 – 2003) tetapi beliau gagal untuk meningkatkan kualiti pelajar-pelajar Melayu di Malaysia seperti yang beliau akui sendiri

“Bukankah jika benar lulusan Melayu lemah, AUKU (Akta Universiti Kolej Universiti) memberi sumbangan untuk memalapkan daya fikir dan daya kritis di dalam membantutkan cara berfikir pelajar Melayu.

“Tetapi adakah benar pelajar Melayu lemah? Jika ini benar pejuang bangsa Melayu iaitu Umno dan Perkasa wajar berdiri di barisan hadapan untuk mengatasi masalah ini. Jika ini tidak benar mereka perlu menangkis penghinaan Mahathir dan bukan menikus”, tegas Rafie.

Rafie yang juga merupakan Timbalan Ketua Cabang PKR Seremban berkata seandainya kenyataan yang sama dikeluarkan oleh mana- mana pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat, isu menidakkan kecemerlangan pelajar Melayu ini sudah pasti akan meletup menjadi isu yang besar.

“Sudah tentu Umno dan Perkasa akan mengadakan bantahan dan membuat ratusan laporan polis di seluruh negara dengan alasan pemimpin Pakatan menghina pelajar Melayu dan melabelkan sebagai pengkhianat bangsa Melayu.

Umno, Perkasa membisu

“Tetapi bila Mahathir yang membuat kenyataan menghina pelajar Melayu, Umno dan Perkasa membisu ibarat tiada pegangan diri”, ujar Rafie.

Mahathir dalam akhbar Sinar Harian (27 Januari) dipetik berkata mahasiswa Melayu perlu menghargai peluang tawaran ke universiti kerana kemasukan mereka ke universiti bukan kerana pencapaian tinggi atau keputusan cemerlang berbanding bangsa lain.

“Saya bukan rasis tapi budak Melayu ini kelulusan tak tinggi, orang inilah yang nak sangat hapuskan AUKU. AUKU tidak relevan kalau kita tahu menjaga diri,” katanya.

Bernama pula melaporkan Mahathir berkata “Kita fikir (jika) tak demonstrate (berdemonstrasi) tak boleh jadi ahli politik yang baik. Saya dulu tak dak demonstration pun tapi boleh jadi ahli politik yang ada kebijaksanaan juga”.

Malaysian want development, minus corruption

January 27, 2012

First, why is corruption bad for business and society? Because it does not promote the best use of economic resources and guarantees that the wrong person gets the job. Productivity means using the least resources to produce the most results. Corruption gets in the way of productivity as more resources than necessary are spent.

When the wrong person gets the job, the final product or service is never at its best; and sometimes they are not even up to par. What Malaysians need is well planned, sustainable development. We want modern services and a better standard of living; we want up-to-date medical facilities at par with the world’s best, available to every Malaysian. We desire strong and efficient infrastructure and support systems for a superior quality of life.

We want good schools, roads, hospitals, offices, shops and homes. We want institutions of higher learning where our children can thrive and when they graduate, we want growth that ensures they have secure jobs with increasing incomes. We want progress and we are entitled to want to move forward towards a brighter future for everyone.

We are not against building bridges and big infrastructure projects – what we are wary about is hearing about the equally big corruption that comes along with them. We want progress, but we do not want the corruption that comes with it, corruption that saps our budgets and the integrity of our people and nation.

When bribes are paid, when someone who should not get the job gets it because of corruption, everyone loses, even the very people that got the bribe and the work. The one who gets the bribe does not learn how to get his work done through proper means, the one that takes the work does not do their job well because there is no need for them to.

When there is dishonesty and corruption anywhere in our nation, every Malaysian loses. And we do not want to put up with it any more. Enough is enough, please!

As for the individuals, you and I, we must know that while society can create institutions, legal frameworks, rules and laws to deter corruption, the last line of defense lies squarely on the individual, on us.

In our strategy to combat corruption we must focus on ourselves too. We must convince each individual that we all stand to lose and that corruption will ruin all in the end. Let’s tell our leaders that we want development minus corruption while at the same time promise ourselves that we too will not succumb to it, even if just to run away from getting a police summons.

AIM fund won’t help Indians, says PKR

B Nantha Kumar | January 27, 2012

Najib is urged to remodel the micro credit scheme.

KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR leader today called for a remodelling of Budget 2012’s micro credit scheme for poor Indians, saying the fund, as currently managed by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), had no way of meeting its objective.

“What can one do with RM3,000?” said PKR Malacca vice-chairman G Rajendran in reference to the maximum amount a participant in the scheme can borrow.

He suggested that the amount be increased to RM30,000 and the credit, instead of being restricted to women, be offered to youths as well.

The budget allocates RM100 million for the scheme.

Rajendran said his call was a challenge to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to lend some credibility to his claim that he cared about the plight of poor Indians.

It would be a chance for him to prove that the scheme was more than just an election gimmick, he added.

He said RM3,000 was not even enough to set up a business premises. “At the most, one could probably set up a stall selling garlands, or vending nuts and other titbits or taking orders to tailor clothes.

“I can imagine that if 3,000 women in Malacca get the maximum credit, then we will have 1,000 flower stalls, 1,000 nut vendors and 1,000 seamstresses. The competition will be so stiff that no one will make any profit.”

He accused Najib of trying to buy votes through the scheme and said he was insulting the Indians by assuming that their support was cheap.

“If they give RM3,000 per person, then more than 33,000 people will get the loan. That means 33,000 families will be forced to vote for BN.”

He said many young Indians were interested in starting businesses of their own but could not get loans from banks and government-linked bodies because these institutions would entertain only those applicants with at least two years of business experience.

The scheme should not exclude them, whatever their gender, he added.