After 50 years of independence, Malaysia is plagued with rampant corruption. I think it is not all correct to blame givers and takers equally on the public sector’s especially police’s corruption. We have received complaints about arbitrary detentions by police and briberies needed to have detainees released on bail. It is not only about minor traffic offences settled with briberies. It is easier to point at the givers to shoulder equal blame for corruption when the authorities show no commitment to rectify the long standing problems. Some racists even argue that is the way to have economic balance between Non Malays offenders (presumably rich givers) and predominantly “poor” Malays public servants (bribe takers).
The police are given too great a power to enforce law especially preventive measures to curb crimes and political dissidents. Preventive law breeds abuses of power and corruption. Nonetheless, the police have even openly objected the formation IPCMC as proposed. This is definitely not reflective of the attitude civil servants should have. Like any other public servants, they should be subject to more public monitoring especially in the form of parliamentary Ombudsmen.
Someone points out that “since our men in blue earn a pittance, they do on occasions succumb to temptation”. The argument, as if, condones corruption according to the fact that public servants are underpaid and it is okay for them to take bribes. In principle, the onus of fighting corruption falls on the shoulder of the powers that be. The powers-that-be have chosen to ignore public servants productivity and respectively comfortable wages and to extend public servants number to a monstrous one million.
We have the highest public servants to population ratio in the world while private sector relies heavily on foreign workers at the expense of low-waged Malaysian workers. We have to raise wages and promote on-the-job training as the main gateway to increase productivity.I do not totally agree that racial discrimination against Non Bumiputra minority in regards to educational opportunities is blind to the fact that as tens of thousands of applications from all races for places in local universities are rejected. The dilemma of racial discrimination and polarization has been made true by powers-that-be.
I agree that students from all races have been shunted away from universities gateway. It is also very wrong to presume that most or all Non-Malay Students can afford going to local private or foreign universities. It is also true that Chinese Independent Secondary School Unified Exams certificate has been recognized by top foreign IPTs including MIT and Harvard, but not local public universities.
Taiwan has a population of 20 million, similar to the size of Malaysian population, but it has 60 universities and research institutes as compared to merely less than 20 universities in the whole of Malaysia. It is true that students of all races are turned away for universities because of lack of financial support as compared to the fact that moré than 50% of Taiwanese, 70% South Koreans and 90% Japanese high school graduates manage to complete their university education. The purported limitation of the number of university places by the powers–that-be was said to “curb unemployment”. In actual fact, they worry that too many well educated and jobless university graduates would revolt against the powers-that-be.
I am strongly opined that our Malaysian society is severely stratified along not only racial lines, but also gender and social class divisions. We should not turn blind on the fact that there is racial discrimination in the public sector promotion and public universities admission too while We should look into gender, social and racial discrimination. Therefore, a Bill of Rights in the form of Anti-Discrimination Act and Minimum Wage Act are certainly palatable in view of their function in protecting underprivileged groups in the job market, public sector employment and universities admission.
I do frequently encounter the problem of vagrants in my own medical practice. Many of them have mental illnesses with no family support and need medical care. In other countries such as the UK, it is the responsibility and legal obligation of the local governments to take care of homeless. Local governments are required by law to set up welfare homes and sanctuaries to shelter and feed them, including single mothers and old folks. When are we coming to that stage of mental preparedness after 50 years of independence?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
What has been cooking up in PKFZ and IDR?
It has been reported by Malaysiakini that Post Klang Authority bought Post Klang Free Trade Zone's 45o hectars' land for 180 million ringgit in 2002, from a heavily UMNO-linked company Kuala Dimensi. In 1999, Kuala Dimensi bought the land for only 95 miillion ringgit. That means in a short period of 3 years, the land deal had fetched 20 folds of the original purchase price.
It was also reported in Malaysiakini that Kuala Dimensi's Chairman is UMNO's Treasurer, and the Sale and Purchase Agreement was done by the legal firm associated with UMNO Kapar Division Vice Chief. The Vice CEO of the developer behind the land deal is Kapar UMNO Youth Division Chief, and his father-in- law is the UMNO Kapar Division Permenant Honorary Chairman.
PKFZ needs a 4.6 billion ringgit bail-out to reviatlise. This defintely will scare off foreign investors including Dubai Free Zone. This also affects the progress of Iskandar Development region and Nothern Economic Corridor as well. It shows Govenrment does not have the determination to do away our cronyist economic opeartions.
Without the determination for a transpraent economic policy, how are we going to compete for capital influx in view of firce compettiton form India and China where much cheaper and more abundant labour forces are readily available? IDR has only a population of 1.35 million and needs hundrerds of thousand of foreign workers to fill up the work force as compared to 20 million population in Shenzen. Perhaps opening up Malaysia as a whole would be a better consideration.
IDR's greater part of land was acquired by UMNO's company Renong in the 1990's. It has been left idle more than a decade and adding on fianalcial burden to UMNO. If releasing UMNO from its own financial burden were seen to be the main reason to form IDR, Johor UMNo would not have to champion Malay Nationalism to scare off foreign investors. Insincerity to change would keep foreign investors at bay anyway. Nice job, guys!
It was also reported in Malaysiakini that Kuala Dimensi's Chairman is UMNO's Treasurer, and the Sale and Purchase Agreement was done by the legal firm associated with UMNO Kapar Division Vice Chief. The Vice CEO of the developer behind the land deal is Kapar UMNO Youth Division Chief, and his father-in- law is the UMNO Kapar Division Permenant Honorary Chairman.
PKFZ needs a 4.6 billion ringgit bail-out to reviatlise. This defintely will scare off foreign investors including Dubai Free Zone. This also affects the progress of Iskandar Development region and Nothern Economic Corridor as well. It shows Govenrment does not have the determination to do away our cronyist economic opeartions.
Without the determination for a transpraent economic policy, how are we going to compete for capital influx in view of firce compettiton form India and China where much cheaper and more abundant labour forces are readily available? IDR has only a population of 1.35 million and needs hundrerds of thousand of foreign workers to fill up the work force as compared to 20 million population in Shenzen. Perhaps opening up Malaysia as a whole would be a better consideration.
IDR's greater part of land was acquired by UMNO's company Renong in the 1990's. It has been left idle more than a decade and adding on fianalcial burden to UMNO. If releasing UMNO from its own financial burden were seen to be the main reason to form IDR, Johor UMNo would not have to champion Malay Nationalism to scare off foreign investors. Insincerity to change would keep foreign investors at bay anyway. Nice job, guys!
巴生港口自由贸易区与依斯甘达经济特区的吊诡
根据报道，巴生港口自由贸易区的450公顷土地，在2002年巴生港口管理机构以18亿零吉，向一间叫瓜拉底们斯的公司收购，瓜拉底们斯公司在1999年购买该地段时，仅以9千5百万零吉成交。在短短三年内，该土地以高达20倍的原有价格抛售给官方关联机构，原来该公司主席是巫统财政，买卖合同有巫统加蒲区部副主席的律师楼负责，负责交易的幕后发展商副总裁是该区部巫青团团长，而巫统区部的永久名誉主席则是巫青区团团长的岳父。
过高的不寻常交易促使巴生自由贸易区的运作成本高达46亿零吉，造成外资纷纷撤出，包括阿拉伯公司。令人怀疑倡导巴生自由贸易区的诚意，巴生港口自由贸易区的交易过程，足以让投资家失去信心，也证明我国政府的改革意识，仅属于言行不一致的口头承诺，难以让人置信国阵政府在近期内会大刀阔斧的改革政经状态。
这也无形中打击了政府提倡易南马依斯甘达经济特区和北马经济特区的公信度。换一句话说，我国的政策不改头换面的话，难以加强廉政的效应，也不可能吸引更多的外资涌入。
柔南的人口只不过是一百三十五万，人力资源薄弱，难以单靠劳工密集工业起家。相比较下，深圳地区的两千万人口，就相等于全马的人口，那么我国为何不考虑全面开放经济体的建议，这才能和中国、印度两大政治经济古国竞争，最重要的是我们有比中印更优越的条件吸引外资吗？
依斯甘达特区的诚意也令许多外资家疑惑，除了承诺中的美丽未来硬体设施外，我国的掌权者并没有展示改革思维和作风的决心，其中不外是贪污和公共领域工作效率差，经济管理严缺透明度。
泡沫经济操作法是也难以说服外资的涌入。类似巴生自由贸易区的土地交易事件，也发生在柔南经济特区的主要地段，振林山一带的土地。此段地皮早在1990年代被巫统的公司玲珑，通过土地征收法令所收购。长期没有开发该庞大的地皮，对玲珑来说是一项很沉重的经济负担。
因此，柔南经济特区的发展对玲珑出售一大片土地，建轻玲珑的经济负担是由很大的帮助，也间接让巫统继续成为国内政治资金最雄厚的政党。然而。如此政治和经济利益直接挂钩的做法，难以让外资信服柔南依斯甘达经济特区不是另一项白象计划。
外资家不可能一味满足国内的政治献金需要，而冒冒然投资柔南特区，柔佛州巫统也不必要高喊刺耳的政治口号，害怕马来人的土地被掠夺，外来投资家会很觉醒的躲避在不单是柔南经济特区投资，也对马来西亚近而远之。这主要是因为投资在设施还在起飞中的印度和中国，廉价劳工和人力资源依然能够抵消其他方面的风险。
过高的不寻常交易促使巴生自由贸易区的运作成本高达46亿零吉，造成外资纷纷撤出，包括阿拉伯公司。令人怀疑倡导巴生自由贸易区的诚意，巴生港口自由贸易区的交易过程，足以让投资家失去信心，也证明我国政府的改革意识，仅属于言行不一致的口头承诺，难以让人置信国阵政府在近期内会大刀阔斧的改革政经状态。
这也无形中打击了政府提倡易南马依斯甘达经济特区和北马经济特区的公信度。换一句话说，我国的政策不改头换面的话，难以加强廉政的效应，也不可能吸引更多的外资涌入。
柔南的人口只不过是一百三十五万，人力资源薄弱，难以单靠劳工密集工业起家。相比较下，深圳地区的两千万人口，就相等于全马的人口，那么我国为何不考虑全面开放经济体的建议，这才能和中国、印度两大政治经济古国竞争，最重要的是我们有比中印更优越的条件吸引外资吗？
依斯甘达特区的诚意也令许多外资家疑惑，除了承诺中的美丽未来硬体设施外，我国的掌权者并没有展示改革思维和作风的决心，其中不外是贪污和公共领域工作效率差，经济管理严缺透明度。
泡沫经济操作法是也难以说服外资的涌入。类似巴生自由贸易区的土地交易事件，也发生在柔南经济特区的主要地段，振林山一带的土地。此段地皮早在1990年代被巫统的公司玲珑，通过土地征收法令所收购。长期没有开发该庞大的地皮，对玲珑来说是一项很沉重的经济负担。
因此，柔南经济特区的发展对玲珑出售一大片土地，建轻玲珑的经济负担是由很大的帮助，也间接让巫统继续成为国内政治资金最雄厚的政党。然而。如此政治和经济利益直接挂钩的做法，难以让外资信服柔南依斯甘达经济特区不是另一项白象计划。
外资家不可能一味满足国内的政治献金需要，而冒冒然投资柔南特区，柔佛州巫统也不必要高喊刺耳的政治口号，害怕马来人的土地被掠夺，外来投资家会很觉醒的躲避在不单是柔南经济特区投资，也对马来西亚近而远之。这主要是因为投资在设施还在起飞中的印度和中国，廉价劳工和人力资源依然能够抵消其他方面的风险。
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Why the Double Standards?
Wee Meng Chee’s rap song with national anthem as the background has caused an uproar as compared to Sudirman’s national anthem sung in soft rock wearing modified national flag costume at a national day celebration in the 1980’s. Nobody made any fuss about Sudirman’s performance. Ever since then, national flag has been modified in all shapes and sizes for decoration purpose during the National Day.
Both have different and unique styles and outlooks in presenting their views and their patriotism. Wee Meng Chee’s raps contain some vulgar words that are reflective of the mindset and attitude of the lower class Malaysians, especially lower class non-Malays towards the authorities even though they may not augur well among the upper class Malaysians.
He is extremely observant about corruption in the police force and the lackadaisical working attitude of the civil servants albeit many differ in opinion as to the way how Wee voices out his observations. If one denies his right of crude expression as being unrefined, the authorities have always been having double standards in judging the freedom of expression.
The authorities did not make a big fuss about the utterance of vulgar words in Hock Kian “TL” (literarily means “clogged male sex organ” in Hock Kian) by the Health Minister Dato’ Seri Chua Soh Lek at one occasion not too long ago. Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yakob showed his buttocks and made vulgar expressions to an opposition crowd during a by election a few years back.
Why the two Ministers were never charged for public indecency nor condemned by mainstream media for their rude and unrefined behaviour? Why should there be a double standard for freedom of expression?
Nonetheless, the lyrics involving making fun of Azan and of Malay girls walking slowly in Tudung were controversial and could arouse racial tension. But why would a university non-Malay student make it an issue? There has been certainly an undercurrent of racial polarization since independence. But who is the actual culprit?
In comparison to what Wee transpires in his rap song, what could be more damaging to interracial relations when our local governments tear down Churches at Orang Asli settlements, Hindu and Chinese temples without prior consideration of giving them permits and when state governments hardly give allocations and permits for non Muslims places of worship?
Churches have been ordered to take down their crucifixes and others, symbols of worship. Polarization begins when Azan is allowed to broadcast loudly to show Islam supremacy but non Islamic religions are not treated fairly and equally. Unfortunately, whether one likes it or not, Wee’s transpiration reflects quite precisely how non Malay youths view unequal treatment of their education, culture, economic and religious rights by the UMNO dominated ruling coalition.
Wee himself is a victim of BN government’s discriminatory policies. As a Chinese Independent Secondary School graduate, Wee could be accepted into universities in Taiwan, Australia, USA and the like but not into Malaysian public universities. If his sentiment is treated as inflammatory and “chauvinistic”, how about those apartheid minded government policy makers deny him the right to education? Aren’t these racist policy makers the actual chauvinists?
If the BN Government decided to charge Wee under the Sedition Act, Hishammudin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin should be charged under the same Act for waving Kris and making racist remarks at UMNO Youth AGM too. If Hishamudin and Khairy’s remarks were treated as “freedom of speech”, why should the more subtle condemnation of government corruption by Wee be treated alike? There should be no double standard about it.
What we look for is consistency in justice system in protecting everyone’s freedom of expression. Freedom of speech is not only limited to the Ministers. Many still treat freedom of expression a “western culture”. While we admire the economic success of the West, we should know that we will never reach a developed nation status if we do not strive for a better human development, tolerance for freedom of speech and expression.
Both have different and unique styles and outlooks in presenting their views and their patriotism. Wee Meng Chee’s raps contain some vulgar words that are reflective of the mindset and attitude of the lower class Malaysians, especially lower class non-Malays towards the authorities even though they may not augur well among the upper class Malaysians.
He is extremely observant about corruption in the police force and the lackadaisical working attitude of the civil servants albeit many differ in opinion as to the way how Wee voices out his observations. If one denies his right of crude expression as being unrefined, the authorities have always been having double standards in judging the freedom of expression.
The authorities did not make a big fuss about the utterance of vulgar words in Hock Kian “TL” (literarily means “clogged male sex organ” in Hock Kian) by the Health Minister Dato’ Seri Chua Soh Lek at one occasion not too long ago. Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yakob showed his buttocks and made vulgar expressions to an opposition crowd during a by election a few years back.
Why the two Ministers were never charged for public indecency nor condemned by mainstream media for their rude and unrefined behaviour? Why should there be a double standard for freedom of expression?
Nonetheless, the lyrics involving making fun of Azan and of Malay girls walking slowly in Tudung were controversial and could arouse racial tension. But why would a university non-Malay student make it an issue? There has been certainly an undercurrent of racial polarization since independence. But who is the actual culprit?
In comparison to what Wee transpires in his rap song, what could be more damaging to interracial relations when our local governments tear down Churches at Orang Asli settlements, Hindu and Chinese temples without prior consideration of giving them permits and when state governments hardly give allocations and permits for non Muslims places of worship?
Churches have been ordered to take down their crucifixes and others, symbols of worship. Polarization begins when Azan is allowed to broadcast loudly to show Islam supremacy but non Islamic religions are not treated fairly and equally. Unfortunately, whether one likes it or not, Wee’s transpiration reflects quite precisely how non Malay youths view unequal treatment of their education, culture, economic and religious rights by the UMNO dominated ruling coalition.
Wee himself is a victim of BN government’s discriminatory policies. As a Chinese Independent Secondary School graduate, Wee could be accepted into universities in Taiwan, Australia, USA and the like but not into Malaysian public universities. If his sentiment is treated as inflammatory and “chauvinistic”, how about those apartheid minded government policy makers deny him the right to education? Aren’t these racist policy makers the actual chauvinists?
If the BN Government decided to charge Wee under the Sedition Act, Hishammudin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin should be charged under the same Act for waving Kris and making racist remarks at UMNO Youth AGM too. If Hishamudin and Khairy’s remarks were treated as “freedom of speech”, why should the more subtle condemnation of government corruption by Wee be treated alike? There should be no double standard about it.
What we look for is consistency in justice system in protecting everyone’s freedom of expression. Freedom of speech is not only limited to the Ministers. Many still treat freedom of expression a “western culture”. While we admire the economic success of the West, we should know that we will never reach a developed nation status if we do not strive for a better human development, tolerance for freedom of speech and expression.
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