Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Wan Azizah Wan Uncontested
After so much tension and speculation over the past few/many days as to who would be the President of PKR after its Kongres Nasional Tahunan Ke-4, the result is finally out :: Wan Azizah has Wan Uncontested. Check out this Malaysiakini report.
Up till this morning, the PKR presidency had three contenders viz the incumbent Wan Azizah, Anwar Ibrahim and Abdul Rahman Othman. Apart from these three main contenders, the Registrar of Societies appeared also wanting to play a role. At almost the 11th hour, the Registrar stepped in to tell Anwar to forget about contending, advising the PKR advisor that he is legally barred from active politics until April 14, 2008. According to this Malaysiakini report, the PKR advisor was not listening and will continue with his contest.
Viewing the Kongres on Kelantan TV, one was treated to a few PKR members venting emotionally their desire for Anwar to continue his candidacy despite learning today that the ROS had informed the party that it could be dissolved if Anwar was elected president. But it looked like Anwar managed to convinced them that it was better for him to withdraw to save the party.
This was followed, at almost the 12th hour by the 3rd candidate also withdrawing, thus leaving Wan Azizah to remain as PKR President, uncontested.
Many who saw the whole episode on Kelantan TV may have decried the whole episode as a sandiwara. But who was it who said that the world is just a stage and all politicians have their roles to play. Then again, once in a while we may yet get to see an oscar performance. But did we see one today on Kelantan TV?
Having been given the mandate by the Cabinet and our PM, the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, was expected to deal appropriately and conclusively with the buffoonish sexist "bocor" remark "Bung-Said duo". But what she managed to do with the mandate can only be said to be a downright disappointment. After meeting them for 45 minutes, she was ready to accept their apologies on behalf of all the gentle ladies and men. Has she made proper use of the mandate given her?
What did the Batu Gajah MP and the gentle ladies and men of the nation received? A qualified, insincere, non-remorseful, meaningless utterance of words. And our mandated Minister calls it an apology and calls for the closure of the fiasco. Has the Minister gone down to the low levels of the "Bung-Said duo"? It is hope not but it appears to be by her actions. She has not only failed the Cabinet, our gentleman PM but also all the gentle ladies and men of this nation shamed by the remarks of the duo.
Being so-mandated she should have ensured the duo did more. Their apologies should have come from their hearts and they should have expressed remorse and given sincere assurance that henceforth they will be ever so careful of their utterances and be gender and race sensitive.
Why is their apologies unacceptable? They have tried to explain away their remarks. There is no "if", their remarks are definitely offensive to gentle ladies and men. And to say that they never had the intention to insult or hurt the feelings of anyone by their remarks is being downright insensitive and goes to show that they have left their thinking caps somewhere else even when they are in the august house. As MPs, being servants/representatives of the people, they should not have done so and should be in full control of their faculties and behaviour at all times. To defend themselves (at least Said reportedly did) by saying that they are champions of women's rights is truly laughable and an insult.
The mandated Minister may want the fiasco closed but that is only a wish of hers, civil society will remember the non-forgivable utterances of this "Bung-Said duo" for a long time yet. To accept their apologies would make this, a nation of laughable gentle ladies and men. What the trio has done today is to muddy the "Colours of Malaysia".
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Has the Sexist Duo, Bung-Said apologised?
We are left in the dark or at least in an unsure state whether the sexist duo Bung-Said has apologised for its sexist and vulgar "bocor" remarks. The Star said yes in its SMS alerts and in this online article :: MPs apologise for sexist remarks. This would have been quite inconsistent with the duo who are for their buffoonish remarks and failure to apologise for them.
Malaysiakini wondered too whether the duo has really apologised. Does the duo understands that by their remarks they have brought shame to almost 50% of the citizens of this nation if not almost all who understand shame and feel it. Could the Bung-Said duo really not understand shame and try to explain their remarks away in various fashion.
What distresses me is that there are others trying to help them along and waiting for their explanations. Meanwhile they are ever ready to assist by explaining that their remarks were made in jest, in the heat of the moment, that anger had got the better etc etc etc. Whatever, gentlemen do not react in whatever circumstances by insulting their own mothers, sisters, wives and other ladies in the nation. To explain that their remarks were directed at the lady MP of Batu Gajah alone gets them neither here nor there. The duo is still guilty of passing sexist, vulgar and disgraceful remarks. The honourable thing to do is to apologise and not try to explain things away and please don't qualify the apology by saying "if they had actually hurt the ladies' feelings".
The Cabinet has met and has given the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil the mandate to handle the matter of this sexist duo. Can we expect the Minister to settle this matter in a manner acceptable to the ladies and gentlemen of this nation and not allow the sexist duo to squirm their way out with explanations and give them ever so gentle slaps on their wrists. They deserve more. Many are disappointed that the PM did not see it fit to handle the duo personally. Being a firm believer in the truth, Islam Hadhari, transparency, honourable behaviour and also the leader of this duo, the PM would be the right and proper person to mete out punishment for the near unforgivable behaviour of these two MPs of his. We should not expect less.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Latest May 13 Book to be Banned?
Malaysiakini reported that copies of Dr Kua's May 13 book :: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969 have been seized from Midvalley MPH!
Will this book be banned eventually is anyone's guess.
The author has considered that his book might be banned even prior to its launch. His answer to such a ban is that his book will then make its presence in cyberspace. Will the gomen consider banning it there too?
In the Dewan Negara, three senators have called for the book to be banned.
According to the China Press, the Deputy Internal Security Minister said that his ministry would study the contents of the book and take action soon, according to the evening edition.
How would you like the gomen to respond to this book instead of simply banning it like that book of the Kampung Medan clashes?
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: The MayBan Bumi Required Fiasco III
Looks like there is still life in the MayBan Bumi Required regulation. The snators are having their say in the Dewan Negara. Bernama reports ::
Several members of the Dewan Negara today voiced their support towards the policy of Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) in requiring legal firms to have 50 per cent Bumiputera interest for them to become its panel of solicitors.
The following Senators are reported in support ::
1. Senator Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee
2. Senator Datuk Azizah Abd Samad
3. Are there more?
Over to the PM and DPM, will they take another U-Turn on the said regulations. As apart from the UMNO Magnificent 7, even UMNO senators are in support.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Goods Price Hike before Salary Hike!
Many of our civil servants are expecting a salary hike soon, probably just prior to the 12th election.
According to a survey carried out by Bernama, retailers and manufacturers, in anticipation, have already raised prices of goods. It looks like the gomen must factor this effect in before announcing the much anticipated salary hike for civil servants. If not it will have to go for another round of salary hike after the 12th election.
Read about what is happening in Selayang, Penang and Kuantan, here.
Expect the price your cuppa to go up soon in your local Kopitiam.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: More Elegant Silence :: Will the two Sexist MPs Apologise?
This year's Mothers' Day has come and gone and those two MPs, Bung & Said have yet to apologise for passing sexist remarks which not only shamed the DAP MP but also their own mothers, sisters and wives and more.
The Star reporting the China Press has said that for one, Said has refused to apologise. Said said that the "bocor" he mentioned referred to the leaks in Parliament and which we must now believe occurs monthly and he also informed us that "bocor" or leaks could also mean to micturate or urinate. Last words from Said, according to China Press ::
"Apologise to Fong Poh Kuan? What is there to apologise for? I did not mean to offend her or other women."
Bung appears not to have made further comments. Looks like we are in the dark as to whether he will apologise or not.
Meanwhile after some delay the ladies of BN are awaking from their slumbers. A Malaysiakini report says that Wanita MCA chief Dr Ng Yen Yen has issued a statement criticising the two BN MPs for their "offensive" remarks. She reportedly said ::
"MCA as a party and on behalf of Wanita MCA, I want to voice my firm protest against such crudity. It is offensive even to the simplest of minds that we speak like this about anyone regardless of their gender, in this 21st century."
Bernama reports that the Women, Family and Community Development MINIster, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil wants action taken to ensure that statements that insult or belittle women will not be repeated in parliament. While she is at it, will she also ensure that statements that insult or belittle anyone will meet similar fate. And what action is she personally taking? She is gonna seek the opinions of her largely insensitive fellow Cabinet ministers to review and amend the rules on use of proper language in parliament. Can we be hopeful that they will all come to a consensus that such behaviour should not prevail in the Dewan?
Meanwhile, can we expect the Wanita heads of other BN component parties as well as alternative parties to come out with their condemnations of these two sexist MPs. Surely many are waiting for the first among equals to come out with his condemnation.
The DAP has submitted a memo to the DPM to express outrage over the sexist remarks by Bung & Said. Will this achieve anything? The DPM is probably waiting for the PM's response first. If the latter condemns these two, we can expect the rest of the BN crowd to join in. In the meantime, the DAP should continue with its state-wide meetings in Perak daily to express displeasure over the bocor remarks.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: The MayBan Bumi Required Fiasco II
Many may have thought that the MayBan/AmBan fiasco is over but is it?
According to a Utusan report, there are some who would like to see the regulation retained.
The PM and the DPM (check out these two Malaysiakini reports :: Najib reprimands Maybank over race policy and PM: Bank acted on its own) may have more or less ordered MayBan/AmBan to remove the said regulations but there are these magnificent seven, all from UMNO, who disagree with the two of them.
1.Naib Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam berkata, usaha Maybank itu seharusnya diteruskan kerana ia bertujuan untuk membantu bumiputera.
"Niat Maybank baik, seharusnya isu itu hanya dibincangkan di luar sahaja tetapi telah dibawa masuk ke Kabinet dan keputusan sudah diputuskan."
2.Pengerusi Biro Pengaduan Awam Pemuda UMNO, Datuk Subahan Kamal berkata, syarat baru Maybank itu tidak harus dipertikaikan mana-mana pihak kerana ia jelas mempertahankan hak Melayu.
"Sepatutnya isu ini tidak timbul. Kita rasa janggal bila ia diperkatakan oleh banyak pihak termasuk dibawa ke Kabinet.
Mengapa tidak lihat perkara ini sebagai satu usaha menggalakkan perkembangan orang Melayu sendiri yang hak mereka semakin hilang?" katanya.
3.Pengerusi Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (Gabem), Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik berkata, Maybank sebenarnya telah memulakan langkah patriotik yang harus dicontohi oleh institusi-institusi perbankan lain.
"Niat baik bank itu untuk mewujudkan perkongsian pintar antara bumiputera dan bukan bumiputera telah disalah tafsir oleh pihak-pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab.
Syarat baru bank itu berhubung ekuiti panel peguam boleh memperbetulkan kedudukan bumiputera sendiri di samping membantu kemajuan negara," katanya.
Beliau menambah, langkah bank itu turut dilihat dapat meningkatkan taraf ekonomi bumiputera yang agak rendah jika dibandingkan dengan kaum-kaum lain.
4.Ketua Penerangan UMNO, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd. Taib berkata, beliau tidak faham mengapa ada pihak yang memandang serong usaha Maybank itu.
"Ini hak dan urusan Maybank yang jelas ingin membantu bumiputera dalam aspek-aspek berkaitan.
Mengapa tidak ada pihak yang mempersoalkan institusi kewangan lain yang terang-terang tidak pernah membantu bumiputera?" ujarnya.
5.Ahli MT UMNO, Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin pula berpendapat, langkah Maybank itu menguntungkan orang Melayu.
"Maybank memberi perkhidmatan terbaiknya tetapi pada masa yang sama ia tidak melupakan hak kaum lain di negara ini.
Seharusnya semua pihak memberi sokongan kepada mereka (Maybank) kerana dengan terang ia menyokong hak bumiputera dengan tidak mengusik keperluan bangsa lain," jelasnya.
6.Pengerusi Biro Ekonomi Pemuda, Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican berkata, keputusan Maybank itu dilihat trend sebenar globalisasi serta pasaran terbuka melalui penggabungan kemahiran dan pengetahuan.
7.Ketua Pergerakan Puteri UMNO, Datuk Noraini Ahmad berkata, langkah Maybank itu perlu untuk memastikan tiada syarikat yang akan memperkecilkan kemampuan bumiputera.
"Ia tidak ada kena mengena dengan isu perkauman sebaliknya membuka seluas-luasnya peluang kepada bumiputera untuk terus ke hadapan," katanya.
My BM knowledge does not allow me to make a proper translation, so i have more or less copied what the Utusan has to say in its report. Interesting reasons have been provided to continue with the said regulation. In the face of opposition by these UMNO magnificent seven, will the PM and DPM next insist that MayBan/AmBan revert to their previous state of affairs or do what they like. Check this Berita Harian report :: Hak Maybank perkenal peraturan baru: Abdullah. Why not be better and insist instead that law firms keen to be on their panel have no more than 50% non-bumis!
In this report, Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (Gabem)chairperson, one Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, said ::
"Kita tidak boleh membina masa depan Malaysia dengan pendekatan, sesiapa cepat dan cekap, dia dapat. Kita perlu sedar bahawa orang Melayu atau Bumiputera negara ini mewakili 62 peratus populasi penduduk, tetapi hanya menguasai 18 peratus sektor korporat.
"Apa yang dilakukan Maybank wajar dalam memperbetulkan keadaan tidak seimbang itu," katanya.
Once again you will have to go figure out for yourself what the Gabem chair is saying.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Is the 6th Building Bridges Conference Banned or Postponed?
On 10th May, Malaysiakini reported :: Global interfaith confab banned at eleventh hour. The Conference was set up after Sept 11 as an annual get-together of Christian and Muslim academics for them to find theological understandings that might help prevent future Sept 11's.
On 11th May, Malaysiakini reported :: ‘Confusion’ reigns in interfaith meet ban. The Council of Churches of Malaysia is reportedly confused over the government’s sudden cancellation of the conference which scheduled for 7th to 11th May.
According to Professor Emeritus Dr Osman Bakar, a prime mover of the Conference, he was given the run-around and 'Nobody Taking Responsibility'. The poor Prof was sent from the PM's office to the Minister in the PM’s Department and finally to IKIM, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia and found no answer.
Today Bernama appears to have the answer :: Interfaith "Building Bridges" Conference Postponed, Not Cancelled. And it looks like the PM is all for the Conference to be held. The PM had asked the organiser to move the Conference to a later date as he wanted to attend the Conference, which he described as important. Now that we have heard finally from the PM, the reign of confusion regarding this Conference should no longer prevail.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Will We finally know the truth?
Was 513 or May 13 1969 a planned coup d’etat against the Tunku? You will have to read this book by Dr Kua Kia Soong to find out more.
Do we continue to believe the ‘official version’ that the incident was triggered off by the opposition parties after the 10th May 1969 general election? Others may see some truth in the Wikipedia version. We will now have another version of the causes of the incident :: Dr Kua's version.
Those of us who lived through the incident know that the truth of the May 13 incident is out there and it looks like we only have to trawl cyberspace to seek it. And if Dr Kua's version gets banned, expect to see it out there too.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: Are Our BN MPs and Dewan Speaker for real?
Those two uncouth BN MPs appear to be getting away again. The two, Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and the close-one-eye Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin), had made sexist remarks regarding the DAP MP for Batu Gajah. The two uncouth ones are reported by Utusan Malaysia, China Press and Sin Chew Daily to have made this remark :: “Batu Gajah tiap-tiap bulan pun bocor juga”.
Having not denied making the remarks, the two ungentlemanly ones, did not offer any apology, unlike their colleague, one called JJ. They appeared to have hidden behind some technicalities and the skirts of the Dewan Speaker. Dewan Speaker, Ramli Ngah Talib, shot down a motion to to refer these two uncouth ("boh kar si") BN MPs to the Committee of Privileges. His reason being that the issue was not raised at the time of the incident. And meanwhile other uncouth BN MPs were thumping the table. None of the lady BN MPs appreciated that those two uncouth colleagues of theirs were thumping their noses at all woman folk. These two uncouth ones have forgotten that they have mothers, sisters and daughters and have included them in their remarks. Truly, truly "boh kah si". Shame on them.
Maybe it is time the PM considers a new Speaker for the Dewan. If the DAP MP for Bandar Kuching is right, the present Speaker knows not his work and is not gender sensitive. Check out this Malaysiakini report. Or like someone else, the Speaker is sleeping on his job.
Malaysia Today & Tomorrow :: The MayBan Bumi Required Fiasco
The backtracking by MayBan on its "Bumi required" regulation is so typically of B_Land. It is so typical of our B_Land way of doing things. Think blanks first and fire away and hope that all will bow and not go against its actions and regulations. As reported in Malaysiakini, MayBan has withdrawn its earlier obnoxious requirement for its panel of solicitors to be at least 50% bumi owned. But can anyone ensure that it is truly withdrawn and not silently practised on the quiet?
AmBan Bhd, claimed in a separate statement that AmBan does not practice racial quotas as a requisite for engaging legal firms. It further stated that it has appointed legal firms that do not have bumi partners. AmBan appears to have dissociated itself from such discriminatory policies. But is this the true state of affair?
Obviously no. It appears that AmBan is not in the clear. Again we have a Malaysiakini report which says otherwise. It also appears that MayBan has discriminatory policies for other categories of professionals on its panel, valuers are also discriminated.
Will the gomen come out and state clearly that such discriminatory policies are "No No". Will it pass an "anti-discriminatory" act or law to outlaw such policies, be they to be found in GLCs, gomen MINIstries and other public and private agencies. i remember that our DPM was greatly distressed and angered when he came across an advert for Mandarin speaking employees. He should be similarly distressed and angered when he comes across racially discriminatory adverts. What more if they are from the gomen or its agencies.
The MINIster concerned may have apologised for his fair-skin-dark-skin comments fiasco but the one who appointed him as MINIster has maintained his elegant silence. After all he is the one who appointed this "boh kah si" GM. Why oh why? Has he waken up from his slumber. If he is not aware, let me point him to this Malaysiakini letter and this one, from another Malaysiakini letter writer requesting our hadhari PM to sack said MINIster.
Now that he is said to have apologised, it is obvious that he did make those offensive comments. He might have taken the right step in extending his apology but we are not quite convinced of said MINIster's "good upbringing".
Now we have more examples of our good PM's "boh kar si mah cai" , just look here. Are they being paid to make such sexist remarks in the august house. The PM must discipline or sack them. He has to show that taxpayers' money are not wasted on such BN MPs. Will he do it?
It all started with the PM when he was being bombarded by the former PM. He chose to remain "elegantly silent". Even after the 4-eyed meeting, the PM has remained silent.
The former PM is at it again. Will the PM continued his "elegant silence" in the face of this?
It is obvious that this condition of "elegant silence" is very catching like the bird flu and chickenpox. In Malaysia today and tomorrow, one is going to find more GMs (gomen members) with the condition.
The DPM followed the PM's footsteps and when initially confronted with the blowing up of the Mongolian lass, he found himself afflicted with the condition. It took DSAI's needling during the Ijok "buy-election" to get him out of the condition and come out with some weak response. Now what will he have to say re what the former PM has to say, that he is more qualified than the present PM?
Another GM afflicted by the condition appears to be our MINIster of Science, Technology and Innovasi. He obviously has been struck by the silent condition. But then again, he could just be waiting for his spindoctors to come up with the right prescription. Meanwhile the demands for his public apology for his fair-skin-dark-skin fiasco are coming fast and furious and looks like going to destroy his silence.
Could it be that other GMs are also afflicted as we have yet to hear from them with regards to this fair-skin-dark-skin fiasco. Or are they deaf and too thick-skinned to even respond. The MIC president and the PPP president and the IPF president can be expected to respond anytime now, or won't they?
Another GM affected by this condition appears to be this MINIster, he must be aware of what is happening in Saudi Arabia! But then again, he might just be like his sleepyhead honcho.
LONE's rantings for all interested, COMMENTS/KOPI-0s welcomed. Comments are solely the views of their makers MALAYSIA, a great place to be in, BUT we can, will and must make HER better.
You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one. IMAGINE:youtube::John Lennon
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:: LONE