Najib the next PM?

It is only a matter of days now before Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak the son of our second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak will assume his tenure as our sixth Prime Minister by the end of this month.

You may think that the nation will weep and rejoice at the change in leadership as that of Barak Obama replacing George Bush. What we are experiencing now is nothing short of being in a depression. The economic is not doing well globally as well as close at home. However, that is nothing compared to what is about to happen to Malaysia in just a few days time.

Unlike President Barak Obama, our PM in waiting came with baggages attatched. Among them are, the Altantuya murder, corruption practises as alleged by the opposition, the submarines deal, helicopter deal, PI Balasubramaniam disappearance, Saiful Bukhari sodomy trial and many more. Justice must not only be done but also be seen as being done. All the above allegations are very serious indeed. I hope that our PM in waiting will take the time to clear his name before assuming the most powerful post in the land. Without doubt, the post of being PM is also a moral obligation as well being seen as clean. No amount of spin doctoring will change the public perception other than through a court of law.

To this end, I hope that our PM in waiting will clear his name speedily before assuming his job as PM in order to inbue a sense of confidence in his ablity by the rakyat. I am sure the international community will be watching his every moves. Perhaps, the most damning will be the foreign investors. Najib also holds the post of Finance Minister and certainly is seen as the man in charge of marketing our country to foreign investors together with the Ministry of External Trade. As is well known, our country has been losing billions in FDI over the past few months and our forecasted economic growth is about 0.1% for this year is not good reading.

As much as we need a new PM, however, we can do without the added baggages. Please, first cleanse yourself before assuming your post Datuk Seri Najib just as you would cleanse yourself before going to the mosque.

Here is a piece by Shaik Rizal Sulaiman on Malay Right. It is truly an eye opener to myself and hopefully to all those who read this.

Malay rights
By Shaik Rizal Sulaiman

The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race.

What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years? I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy.

We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris is of very little relevance!

If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up game will just get harder and the gap wider.

If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit. The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is sadly racially biased.

In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favour of racial biased politics governing our daily policies. Sadly, the Malay politicians have ended up completely corrupt, racialists, twisted religious fanatics.

I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Singhs & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia.

If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM , then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status.

We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes. I would also like to see my children succeed in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are Malays or bumiputeras.

For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights..

It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategising for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish all the while without being taught how to fish.

It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved just that... We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed? Is it good?

The answer is 'NO'. Because we,the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today.

The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel that Malay rights is NOT relevant anymore.

The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful.

If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris..

Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
Posted by Malaysian
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ps
In recent months we have seen the Syariah Courts allowing quite a few Malays to exercise their rights to a third or fourth wife. Fair, the guy may be able to provide for the financial & conjugal needs of his wives. However, question here is when he has a dozen kids, will he be able to provide a decent education and life to his kids or will he demand for his 'Rights' for subsidy and aid and be a burden to the govt and society.

Conspiratory theory in Perak

With all the crazy things happening in Perak right now with lots of anger and finger pointing and fault apportioning, one can't help feeling despondent and fed up with it all. As days pass, the mirage of a miraculous turn around for the PR led government is getting fainter just as fog in the face of a blinding sun. This set me thinking as to what is the root cause that led to this debacle in the first place? Suddenly a light bulb flashed in my odious mind and things begun to look more clearer.

That Bota assemblyman Nasarudin is the key to it all. I just can't shake off this nagging suspicion that somehow Nasarudin is involved in it right from the beginning. He is the proverbial Trojan horse that was used by UMNO to throw Perak and by extension Malaysia into an uproar about party hopping. Frankly, PR fell for it like a house of card as they triumphantly paraded him to the media as a sign of victory in their effort to lured the opposing members into their rank.

We all know how Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been going on about getting BN MPs to crossover to PR in order to bring about a change of government last year. However, this is nothing but hot air and soon was forgotten but not BN. They have been busy plotting to get back the PR led states in the sly right from the start. Despite numerous reports about attempt to buy assemblymen over, PR still harbour their ambition of luring the opposing ADUN over to their side.

With the shock defection of the Bota ADUN Nasarudin to PR, there is a sense of euphoria and elation that at last, all their hard work has bore fruit. Unbeknown to them, UMNO has secretly undermined three PR assemblymen of their own. When the news of the Bota defection was made known, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak take charge to call for an emergency meeting. In that meeting, all the remaining assemblymen of Perak BN pledged their loyalty to BN. At the same time, the incumbent Perak UMNO chief liaison officer Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli tendered his resignation thus paving the way for Najib to be the new UMNO chief liaison officer of Perak.

Now, the field is ripe for the taking by BN. With the prevailing sentiment that party hopping is the theme of the day, BN engineered a remarkable coup for power by pulling back their Bota assemblyman into their fold and at the same time enticing three PR assemblymen to become independent assemblymen friendly to the BN cause. In this way, the public opinion of outrage at the audacity of the coup is muted. Almost immediately, the BN MSM goes full tilt in saying that it is alright because PR deserved it after all. All in all, it is a remarkable job of coup d'tat orchestrated by Najib in a most brazen and perhaps audacious way that caught PR with their pant down.

Perak Constitution Crisis

A lot have been spoken and written concerning the above subject both for and against the PR government and the subsequent coup by the UMNO led BN. Through it all, the Sultan of Perak is the central figure that cause the presence impasse. It is with great regret that I as a humble citizen of this country now felt let down by our constitutional monarchy. If I may, I would pay HRH Sultan Azlan Shah a penny for his though and why he did what he did. His decision to withold the dissolution of the Parak Assembly Legislature recommended by the incumbent MB Nizar is quite shocking to say the least. I implore HRH Sultan Azlan Shah to recant his earlier decision and do the right thing to solve the current constitutional impasse. We the people have the right to elect the government of the day and not by dubious mean.

Kindly do the right thing Tuanku. Daulat Tuanku. Patik memohon ampun.

V. Anand Is Chess World Champion 2008

Viswanathan Anand or better known as The Tiger of Chennai has been crowned as the 15th World Chess Champion on Monday 27th October 2008 after defeating Vladimir Kramnik 6.5 - 4.5 over 11 gruelling matches. Anand got the half point today in game eleven of the Championship. After three hours and 24 moves the draw and Anand’s triumph was perfect! The World Chess Championship is taking place from October 14 – November 02, 2008 in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn. The match consists of twelve games, played under classical time controls: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 61. The prize fund is 1.5 million Euro (approximately 2.35 million US Dollars) including taxes and FIDE license fees, and is split equally between the players.

All the games can be found at the official website. Or you can visit chessbase for up to date reporting.

Lastly, my salutation to the prodigy and chess maestro from the southern state of Tamil Nadu for a truly roaring success.

Selamat Hari Raya

The time has come again for Hari Raya which is celebrated all over the world by Muslim ummah. After undergoing fasting for 30 days during the month of Ramadan, now it will be the time to greet the new year in the muslim calender for Syarwal. Therefore I would like to wish all Muslim ummah in Malaysia Happy New Year that will also be known as Aidil-fitri.

Malaysia being a multiethnic country will surely celebrate together as one. There will be no shortage of visitation among friends, colleagues, neighbour as well as kins and kilt. The central point being the gathering of 3-4 generations under one roof the night before Syarwal and on the morrow, there will be much seeking of forgiveness from the patriach of the family as well as distribution of green packet. This is the usual event where the children or those who are still singles are looking forward to.

For those who are currently making their mad dash back to their home town from all over, please drive carefully. It is better to arrive late rather being sorry later. Kudos too for the authority especially the police and the road and transport ministry for conducting a wonderful road safety program prior to this annual exodus. I hope this year dead toll will be much reduce.

Again let me wish all Muslim ummah a much cherrish Raya with your family.

1st Lahad Datu Merdeka Chess Tourney 2008

I didn't know how hard it is to organize a chess tourney until now. The amount of thinking required on top of also playing full time can be tiring just to say the least. For your info, only eight teams manage to participate this time around. My team is the KKM Invitational comprising of your trully on the first board follows by Charles Lukas, Kamino Marino and Guardius Garudau. It being a round robin type of tourney, we played 7 games with 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat for second placing overall. Here are some pictures. Prize giving ceremony with me on the extreem right while the next photo show me in deep battle in a French Defence Winawer variation. Got style eh?