NOH OMAR – THE MUMBLING OF FIGURES

Finally, it is the Agriculture Minister Noh Omar (not the former Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin) that was asked to answer to the failed National Feedlot Centre (NFC) run by the husband and family members of an UNMO lady minister that was government funded by a RM73 million soft loan. Noh Omar said that the NFC has met its target for producing 8,000 cattle by 2010, against only 5,742 cattle that was reported by the Auditor General (AG) in its recently released report.

Now, who is lying and who is not. Can the AG lie? Or is the minister telling the truth? If you were to ask me for an opinion, I would definitely say that the AG wouldn’t lie. But at the same time, I would also expect that the honourable minister shouldn’t be lying too.

The onus to prove who is lying and who isn’t, I believe lies with the minister. I say this because, the AG report is comprehensive enough, and I believe every detail of the NFC’s business transaction is provided in the report. The AG therefore does not have to make any further clarification with regards to its findings. This should be well understood by all.

Noh Omar in making his ‘defence’ of the NFC was merely stating a figure without any explicit explanation or argument. He has to be clear as to the source of his answers and to detail out explicitly how he had derived at such figures. That’s the major difference between the findings of the AG, and that of the minister. What we need is substantiated figures; not mere numbers plucked from the sky……so they say.

I am certainly not convinced with Noh Omar’s explanation and all tax payers’ wants to know the truth. Please remember that the GE is near and the people cannot be fooled anymore by unsubstantiated and doubtful answers. And there are many more issues arising from the AG report that need answers and if these issues are not handled well, it will become ‘fodder’ for the opposition during the upcoming GE that will leave the BN defenseless.

Just wonder where is Muhyiddin? He certainly wasn’t helping Noh Omar with the answers.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

NG YEN YEN – YOU ARE SO WRONG IN MOST ASPECTS OF DECISION MAKING

Didn’t I tell you that Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen has all the justification and reason for the excessive spending and other financial woes of her ministry, as published in the Auditor General‘s report revealed recently? She claimed that by going for the Direct Negotiation, the ministry had saved millions of ringgit, and this is quite the contrary to the AG’s report.

All along, it was argued that Direct Negotiation for the award of tenders has been the subject of abuse; hence the government preferred the Open Tender where it was normal that the lowest bidder usually wins the tender. If the Open Tender system is the preferred policy for tender bidding by the ministries/departments, then who is Yen Yen to set her own rule and to ignore a government ruling? You see, if a minister herself cannot even abide by its own government ruling, how then would you expect others in the ministry to abide by such a ruling?

Yen Yen is reported to have said that she has had the approval of the Finance Ministry to proceed with the Direct Negotiation, which I am not easily convinced. Having known the workings of the Finance Ministry, it is not as easy as one thinks, to convince the ministry to renege on a policy or ruling that the ministry itself has formulated. The effect of this is that if a particular ministry is allowed to breach or is allowed the option to elect a policy, then other ministries can also do the same. If this be the case, then the Finance Ministry might as well not have such a policy, or any other policies. Let it be a ‘free for all’ or ‘do as you wish’ policy.

In any tender exercise, cost, performance, experience and ability of the bidder are some of the most important criteria in deciding the winning bidder. It is argued that a winning bidder can best be determined only through the Open Tender system. Of course the Open Tender system too can have its flaws when the Tender Board Members are themselves a dishonest and corrupt lot.

In the case of Direct Negotiation, it can just be decided by a stroke of a pen where awarding the tender sometimes does not even require the bidder to meet all the criteria required of a bidder. This is where tenders can easily be awarded to friends, family members and cronies as is usually the case. Costs will be decided between the approving authority and the bidder and this is where inflating the costs takes place i.e. the costlier, the better. We have seen far too many of such cases and it is still happening today. It is for this reason that I cannot agree to the argument put forth by Yen Yen when she says that the Direct Negotiation system is costs saving for her ministry, unless she can prove otherwise.

I can only say this to Yen Yen that the Finance Ministry when formulating and deciding upon a policy must have gone through a series of discussion and meetings, and once a policy has been decided, the policy cannot be wrong. Exception to a policy being formulated and decided upon, I think is not normal.

I also believe the AG cannot be wrong in its findings because of the serious repercussion it will bear upon the AG, if the findings are incorrect; worse still if it is false. Auditing a ministry/department is not something as easy as ABC. It requires meticulous work and the auditors are people of the highest integrity. And I know for one that the AG Tan Sri Ambrin Buang has all the traits of a man that possess the highest integrity, hard working, professional and most of all, he is thoroughly an honest person.

Now, based on the above reasoning and argument, I think Yen Yen is wrong in every aspect of her decision making and argument, and it is because of this that her ministry is now being placed under public scrutiny. And can someone tell me, how was Tourism Ministry able to save RM28 million via the Direct Negotiation as she had claimed? If what she claim is true, Yen Yen ought to be awarded the Pingat Selamatkan Wang Negara (PSWN),created solely for her.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

MUHYIDDIN – PLEASE BE MORE RESPONSIBLE!

DPM Muhyiddin Yassin sure has a lot to answer regarding the failure of the National Feedlot Centre to meet its target of breeding 8,000 cows after more than two years of operations, and after having received a soft loan (why soft loan?) from the government of RM250 million (that’s a lot of people’s money you know?). The failure of the National Feedlot Centre was one of the more pronounced failures exposed in the recently released Auditor General’s report.

Muhyiddin who was the Agriculture Minister then, has reportedly thrown the buck to current Agriculture Minister Noh Omar to answer questions for the failure. You know, Noh Omar is already finding it hard to seek answers to the RM110 million incentives promised to 73,000 odd farmers to increase the national rice output that has yet to be disbursed to the farmers. Besides that, Noh Omar is struggling with his popularity status in Selangor and if he does not perform, I see little hope that he can be categorized as a ‘winnable candidate’ for the upcoming GE, and obviously the ‘exit door’ policy will be forced upon him by the party. There is already so much of talk in Selangor that there is a popularity struggle between Noh Omar and Ezam Nor as to who should lead the state during the next GE, and a win for BN will see either one becoming the MB.

I think, Muhyiddin’s descision of throwing the buck at Noh Omar is an irresponsible act at its worse. Mind you, Muhyiddin was the minister then, and I believe he had a hand in the approval of the soft loan and of all people; to the husband of a lady UMNO minister. Does he not know that it would be quite improper; unethical to say the least (though not legally wrong, but morally incorrect) to approve such an enormous sum of money to the husband of a minister? Does he not know that this act will be subjected to public scrutiny? If my memory hasn’t faded, I think the loan was approved prior to the 2008 GE. And if indeed it was approved prior to the 2008 GE, do you not smell something sinister here? And who was the lady minister then? Wasn’t she the head of the Wanita UMNO wing where women votes really counts.

Now, Muhyiddin has the audacity to say that, “There is nothing unusual or wrong. The audit found weakness which will be explained”. What kind of a lame statement is this, coming from a senior minister who is the PM designate, as most would say? How can a stupid person like me accept that there is nothing ‘unusual and wrong’ when RM250 million of public money has already been spent without the project achieving its target after more than two years?

The question remains - who is going to explain the failure? Surely it is not going to be Noh Omar for reasons I have describe above? And why has Muhyiddin avoided answering a failure of his own doing? If this is the sort of leaders that this country continue's to have, than I can only say that this country is going to the dogs. I now begin to wonder too; how much of the soft loan (or was it an outright grant)given to the lady minister’s husband has been recovered. Was this reflected in the Auditor General’s report?


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

DATUK MAT ZAIN IBRAHIM – THE NATION LAUDS YOUR PERSISTENCE

We are yet to hear former senior police officer Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim throwing in the towel over his endless lone crusade to bring to the fore the malpractices and abuses of the AG Gani Patail and former IGP Musa Hassan in their handling of the Anuar Ibrahim’s sodomy case of 1998. Letter upon letters have been send to the relevant authorities and the same had also been posted in various blogs and the new media. The authorities chose to remained mute, deaf and dumb, and even the accused i.e. Gani Patial and Musa Hassan dare not act, let alone open their gap. I now believe that what has been written and exposed by Mat Zain is the truth, and the eerie silence of the authorities, Gani Patail and Musa Hassan proves more of their guilt than innocence.

I have known Mat Zain back in the early 80’s when he was the OCPD at Kangar, Perlis when I was then the Commanding Officer of 9th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment based at Kepala Batas, Alor Setar, Kedah. We met on several occasions at dinner sessions and for him to have risen to become the senior investigating officer in the Anuar Ibrahim’s black eye incident is no surprise to me. I believe, he was chosen for his honesty and integrity in investigating high profile cases, without fear or favour; the hallmark of a thrust worthy and sincere police officer. I have tried to contact him on several occasions to renew old acquaintance, but I haven’t had the opportunity.

Now, Mat Zain is back with renewed rage at what he sees the ineptness and lethargy of our political master to not lift a finger to view the alleged abuse of power, corruption and fabrication of evidence by Gani Patail that had exposed the judiciary to odium. Mat Zain had also accused Gani Patail of ‘screening criminal wrongdoing, abuse of power and corrupt practices linked to VVIPs, prominent corporate figures and senior government officials, involving property and cash to the tune of several hundred of millions of ringgit, traceable to the early 90’s’. These are serious accusations that resemble cases involving high profile figures and activities of the Mafia’s in some South American states and even in Russia. Now, are already we a nation that resembles these states or worse?

What fascinates me too is the silence of our PM himself whom Mat Zain claims to have full knowledge of the abuses perpetrated by the nation’s most senior lawyer. I suppose the present top police hierarchy knows too, but why the silence? If Mat Zain isn’t telling the truth, why not charge him. And despite repeated and persistent accusations by Mat Zain, the government finds it fit to just close all cases against Gani Patail who is now seen to be untouchable by the law. Even our national leader’s hands are tight when it involves the AG. You and I know that the AG is another human being, just like anyone else and don’t tell me he is different. Having gone to the holy land Mecca thus absolves him of all worldly sins?

I sense that the government has a lot to lose if Gani Patail is being investigated and brought to justice. For all you know, bringing Gani Patail to justice can have dire consequences upon the government, and of which the government can ill afford at the moment. Gani Patail may have lots up his sleeves and his revelation in court can be disastrous for some important personalities.

I may be wrong in assuming this, but Mat Zain too cannot be wrong in making all the accusations? Mat Zain has proven himself to have stood by what he says, but the government’s response is one that shows a lack of will and commitment to act on all that Mat Zain had revealed, for some unknown reason.

So the accusations are not likely to cease and to Mat Zain, he will only have to wait awhile when justice eventually catches on the people that he wants prosecuted. His persistence will surely be rewarded – God willing.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

RAHIM NOR – A PALE OF WHAT HE WAS BEFORE

I see a pathetic face in the person of the former IGP Tan Sri Rahim Nor who has foolishly associated himself with Perkasa and was honoured with the ‘selempang merah’ (red sash). I have the slightest idea the significance of wearing the ‘selempang merah’. Does it mean that TS Rahim Nor is acknowledged a Malay warrior? Or does the sash entitle him to an honorific title of ‘Perwira Melayu Terbilang (PMT)’ or some other titles that supersedes the title of Tan Sri?

TS Rahim Nor was an honoured guest at the 2nd Perkasa General Assembly held recently. Another notable character at the assembly was Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah of the ‘Tiga Datuk’ fame. You see, TS Rahim Nor and Datuk Shazryl Eskay both have something in common i.e. have appeared before the court and sentenced; the former was ordered to spent time in prison (though brief) for punching Anuar Ibrahim, and the latter fined for being involved in the screening of the alleged sex video of Anuar Ibrahim. You see the common association both had with Anuar Ibrahim that caused them to be sentenced. I am surprised that the other two Datuk’s were not honoured by Perkasa.

During a speech, TS Rahim Nor said that he likened the rise of the human rights movement in Malaysia to communism. He went further to say that “Every century has its wave and we cannot avoid being hit by this wave. Now, it’s the human rights wave. Before that it was the wave of Maxism, Socialism”.

Honestly, I cannot see the logic of likening human rights with communism for the two are markedly opposed in its philosophy, meaning and purpose. Human rights, as I know it is a universally acceptable requirement and demand; whereas I would described communism as some conceited idea of a ‘mad man’. And have we not seen the disaster communism has done to the human race? On the contrary, has human rights been associated with violence, murders, corruption, abuses and the many other worldly woes? And did we not fight communism in this country to defend our rights i.e. human rights? I suggest TS Rahim Nor should do a bit of reading on the subject before he makes such a comparison, and coming from someone who was once a powerful national figure and saying something that is out of context, is laughable.

My advice to TS Rahim Nor is to disassociate himself from Perkasa, for there is nothing left in him to champion the cause of Perkasa. I know TS Rahim Nor is a Malay and like all Malays, he holds dearly to his roots, but not the manner in which Perkasa seems to be propagating the Malay cause. I think TS Rahim Nor could do better justice if he involves himself with the Persatuan Persara Polis Diraja Malaysia, or any other association aimed at improving the police force in its fight against corruption from among members of the force, and to help rebuild the trust and confidence of the public towards the force.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

WHAT NEXT ON PROF ABDUL AZIZ BARI?

Prof Abdul Aziz Bari may have his suspension repealed by the university authorities, but the pressure placed upon him by other investigation authorities is yet to be over. They say that the police have completed taking statements from the professor, but what is laughable is the manner the police had conducted the investigation. Besides the statements taken, the police reportedly had conveniently taken away the professor’s computer (laptop I suppose) and even taken photographs of his house.

Now what stupidity is this? Are they trying to see if the professor had downloaded pornography onto his computer like one airline pilot did i.e reportedly the son of a former senior government official? And what about taking snap shots of the house? Are the authorities trying to nail the professor for corruption for building a house beyond his means? Have they not looked into the professor’s bed room to search if he had kept excessive cash under the mattress or anywhere inside the house, like one personal officer of a minister who was idiot enough to have kept excessive cash in his room? I think the police were merely trying to intimidate the professor, and I know the professor is not a weakling to be easily intimidated. Let us all wish and pray for the professor’s safety and wellbeing.

Now, if the police were looking for corruption, they need not look at academicians like Professor Abdul Aziz Bari. Academicians only collect books, read, teach and undertake research work. They do not deal with contractors or businessmen. Go and have a look at the houses of some of our ministers, politicians, Menteri Besars and even some senior government officials? You can surely find that the houses they built are beyond their means. Why don’t they take pictures of the houses owned by the Sarawak CM for instant? Do I need to say more? I know of a retired professor who does nothing else but reading, writing books; coiled up in his room and know next to nothing about doing business. This is unlike some senior retired government officials who are appointed Chairman or directorship in companies that they once had dealings with, when they were in the service. Do I need to name some of them?

The police have done their job, and who next will home onto Professor Abdul Aziz Bari? The MACC, Immigration, Custom, EC, JKR, JPJ and the religious departments? I hope not, but if the police cannot find sufficient evidences to nail the professor, they might as well have others to do their job too? If this were too happen, I say that we have all have gone crazy (including me) and Malaysians will no longer find this country a peaceful and likeable place to live and retire.

Let’s hope the authorities are sensible enough to do the right thing, at least in the case of this innocent professor.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT – NO END TO FINANCIAL ABUSE

Malaysians ought to be thankful to the Auditor General (AG) Tan Sri Ambrin Buang for having been meticulous in auditing the government’s spending and to come out with a report that I believe is unbiased, truthful and reflects the factual state of the ministries/government agencies financial management. I have been reading some of his previous reports and I sense that the AG seems a highly principled person that does his work with passion, honest, forthright and without fear or favor.

What has been revealed in his latest report (though late) that appeared in the media thus far can be frightening to say the least? Frightening, because if nothing serious is done to check the manner in which government manages it’s spending, this country is destined towards financial and economic mayhem. If that were to happen, then we are in the same league with Greece and with some other EU countries. Who suffers? Certainly not for the rich and famous, but it is the ordinary people that suffers.

National debt rose by 12% to over RM407 billion last year, and billions more in external debt making us I think, one of the worse debtor nation in the world. I wonder how the government could be spending so freely, and disbursing money to ‘any dick, tom and harry’ as though the government assumes itself to be a huge mobile ATM machine. That is what our DPM and PM has been doing; doling cash (they call it financial aid) as if the money belongs to them at every ‘meet-the-people session’; the latest being the announcement made by the PM of a RM1 million education grant for children of former policemen, from the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad. This has been the talk of the town, and do they not know this? I just wonder how many retired policemen still has school going children, when they retire at the age of 58 or is it 60 now?. Or is the PM thinking of the grandchildren or great grandchildren of our policemen that were killed in the Bukit Kepong tragedy?

From what I read, nine government ministries have overspent to the tune of RM3.73 billion that includes the Home Ministry and Education Ministry. This means that the ministries were either weak in their financial management or were at the outset poor at working out a budget. I have so often heard people say that finishing off the allocation early show good financial management, and asking for more allocation means that the ministry is working hard to ensure a better performance. No one talks about prudent spending and a saving would mean that future allocation will be slashed.

What caught my eye is the over payment by the Tourism Ministry of nearly RM270 million for advertisement that was not carried via the open tender. And does the minister not know that direct negotiated tender or selective tender system is subject to abuse? This ministry has somewhat been setting records for spending public money all for the wrong reasons, and the minister seems to have all the answers and justifications for such spending. And can someone tell me how much will it costs to purchase 1000 racks for hold tourism brochures? The ministry spends RM1.95 million for that purpose and would you believe that? And having spent that much of money, they could not account for 149 racks that had gone missing. I suppose someone must have taken it home or resold it for scrap metal or had eaten it up. This is the state of our Tourism Ministry where wastage is not their concern since it is not their money, and who really cares.

I do not wish to list all other abuses in the financial management of ministries/agencies detailed out in the AG report, because it is obvious in public domain. But what I would like to say is the manner in which the KSN responded to these abuses i.e. that “we will ensure that such abuses do not occur again” or words to the effect. I get sick when I hear such words because I know it doesn’t mean anything and there is no will to ensure that such abuses will not be repeated, unless he proves otherwise.

I have also read that the Public Account Committee (PAC) will investigate seven ministries and agencies for weak financial management. I hope at the end of the investigation, and if it is found that there was a deliberate breach at financial mismanagement; then someone must be made responsible, accountable and appropriate action taken, regardless of the status of the official responsible. My question then will be - does PAC have the will and morale courage to recommend appropriate action upon those responsible for the financial mismanagement? My answer is a flat NO. I just wonder whether ministers or KSU’s will be called up to face the PAC. This, we will have to wait and see.

This AG Report is certainly a bad Deepavali gift, not only to Malaysian Indians but to all Malaysians.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

SLANDER – A NEW POLITICAL TOOL

The claim by a pro UMNO blogger that the son of Penang CM Lim Guan Eng (LGE) had molested a girl has been circulating in the media for far too long. It appears that Malaysians has the propensity to sensationalize stories relating to sex involving individuals without due regards to whether such stories are true or otherwise, and its consequences.

Now is it found that the allegation is not true, but the reputation of the LGE and his family and in particular the son has been sullied to the point the boy will now find it hard to be his usual self among his peers and many friends.

This is a sorry state of affairs of the country today and it gets no better by the day, all in the name of political survival, and I suppose in the spirit of Malaysia Boleh. I now think that the theme Malaysia Boleh is a curse and should be disregarded; just as 1 Malaysia, which is to me a misunderstood concept. Coming out with high sounding and melodious themes and pronouncements has little meaning if society does not understand it and is continuously in breach of its aspired aims and objectives. Do we not see what had happened to Islam Hadhari, a concept that was perpetuated during the Abdullah Badawi era that is now silent? I have yet to hear anything being said about it by our Religious Minister.

The sex issue allegedly involving LGE’s son should not have happened if we have cared for the sentiment and sensitivity of others, more so when we are a multi racial and multi religious society. We preach to others that despite Malaysians being a multi racial and multi religious society, we have lived in harmony devoid of any racial and religious misunderstanding. Our leaders take pride in making such pronouncement and lecturing to the world about how we manage to live as one Malaysian society, but the reality at home is quite the contrary.

Clearly, I do not have any reason to doubt that the issue relating to LGE’s son is politically motivated. If it is true that the story was originated from a pro UMNO blog, then UMNO has to share the blame and not distanced itself only when the truth is revealed. All that had been said and commented by UMNO leaders prior to the truth being revealed show that they are in agreement with the story. They can say whatever they like in whatever form and language, but the truth of the matter is that they had said nothing to deny the story and to condemn it. Just listened to the comments made by Muhyiddin on the matter which is disgusting. And even PM Najib who has been silent all the while has now made his comments by saying that family issues should not be politicized, but short of saying that the pro UMNO blogger had spewed lies. I think Najib’s comments came a bit too late.

Now, many will say that I sound like a pro DAP person. I say to all and sundry that I am not. The basis of my writing is simply to speak out the truth and to be sympathetic to someone who has been slandered (Fitnah) and has suffered because of this. I do not care if the person being slandered is a Chinese, Indian, Malay or some alien nationality, because in the eyes of Islam, slander is a grievous crime.

Clearly, this is a case of slander and the person that had exposed the story has committed a grievous crime and ought to be punished.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

DEEPAVALI GREETINGS

To all my Indian friends of the Hindu faith, my wife and I wish you a Happy Deepavali. To my neighbours with whom I had befriended during my formative years; where ever you are, my thoughts of you all are still fresh in mind. To my classmates and course mates, meeting you at reunions bring back fond memories. And to all others that I have known, in particular to the officers and men that had served me, I thank you for your loyalty and support that had made me to be what I am.

We are all Malaysians, and my wife and I wish to share with all of you, your joyous moment in celebrating Deepavali.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

GAINING INROAD INTO SELANGOR – PR’S BASTION

DPM Muhyiddin Yasin is reported to have said that, “a blue wave (referring to the colour of BN) is in sight in Selangor indicating that the people desire to return to BN rule in the state”. And in some other forum, Muhyiddin had said that he is worried about the infighting within the component parties (UMNO included I suppose) that can disrupt BN chances of winning the next GE. Can you not see the confusion and uncertainty in Muhyiddin mental faculty when he makes contradicting statements about the party’s position for the upcoming GE, in a matter of days?

Being a Selangorean, I think I know my state better than others, more so from someone from Johore, Perak, Pahang or Malacca. In all honestly, I can also feel the pulse of my Selangor mates and let me tell you that getting back Selangor as claimed by Muhyiddin is not going to be that easy. Muhyiddin may be right in saying that businessmen in Selangor are not too happy with the state government because contract are not easy to secure. I think the businessmen that complained to Muhyiddin are those from UMNO who had been getting favored contracts from the previous state government. I know this because I too get complaints from non UMNO businessmen that the state government has done away with the practice of favoritism and cronyism in the award of businesses. I even had a PR contractor who complained to me. So why the fuss about not getting contracts, where every bidder is seen as equal and where they now trade on a level playing field. Surely, we do not wish to see another fiasco like the problematic construction of the new hospital in Selangor that remained uncompleted. Was it not the job of a crony or some favored contractor? Had the award be done professionally, I do not think this fiasco would have occurred.

My advice to Muhyiddin is not to listen to the ‘chanting’ and ‘sermons’ from any Selangor UMNO/BN leaders; surely not from Noh Omar and the left over’s of the MCA and MIC leaders. And hasn’t PM Najib realized this when he said that he can no longer believe the ‘goodies’ that he is so often fed by some ‘pencancai’ around him. I believe, these are the same ‘pencacai’ that surround Muhyiddin now and are singing the same old song that Muhyiddin wants to listen. And let me tell you this, that Selangor UMNO/BN will be facing the biggest challenge of their life to regain Selangor if UMNO/BN is not willing to do a massive shakeup within the party’s leadership. I now say that they all need to go.

I am not being unjustifiably pessimistic of UMNO/BN chances of winning the next GE, and neither am I being overly optimistic of PR gaining a bigger majority in the next GE. PR has to work much harder despite its good performance in managing the state, and this should not be a cause for complacency.

My final advice to Muhyiddin is to take some lessons from fighting a battle i.e. seek out the weaknesses of the adversary, plan a ruse, optimize resources where a win can be assured and exploit the win, and finally be consistent in the execution of the plan.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IN THE POST GADDAFI ERA?

As I watched the video of Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi’s final moments of his life, I can’t help but felt a sense of pity for him. There have been reports that Gaddafi was responsible for the death of about 35,000 Libyans throughout his 42 years rule where he held the country with an iron fist. But the good side of his rule is that Gaddafi provided his people with free education and that accounts for the high literacy rate. Automobile fuel is cheap and the government offers a sizable grant for those who want to purchase a car. Couples who want to get married get cash incentive from the government. Libya has no external debt (unlike us) and income derived from oil is in the billions per day. Libya is acclaimed as one of the wealthiest countries in the world; its GDP per capita is much higher than that of developed countries like S. Korea, Spain, Italy and even Singapore.

As of yesterday, news has it that the body of Gaddafi now lies in a vegetable and onion freezer, and on display in the city of Misrata at a local shopping center. Where and how he is to be buried is still unclear, but reports have it that his burial site will eventually be kept a secret.

As a Muslim, I would not agree to the way Gaddafi met his end. He should have been kept alive and to face justice by the court. Even if he is ordered to die by the court’s ruling, that is not to be the final and ultimate judgment. That final and ultimate judgment will be God’s judgment in the hereafter. The people that had caused Gaddafi’s death are not the authority to impose the death sentence, and I would say that they are murderers and they will also face God’s ultimate judgment in the hereafter.

Talking about murderers, I know that there are many murderers on the loose in this country; some are even government salaried. I have talked about it in some of my earlier writings, and I believe you know who these government salaried murderers are. We know that there has been much death in the custody of our authorities, but little do we know the actual cause of death other than the version published by the authorities themselves.

So the mystery lingers and the families of the decease suffer. But don’t they (authorities) know that those who were a party to the death will also face the ultimate judgment in the hereafter? Regardless of who the dead person is; Muslims, Christians, Buddhist, Hindus or atheist, God does not differentiate race or religion of the murderer and the punishment is universal i.e. HELL. I just do not know how one feel to have murdered someone or have been an accomplish to a murder, and are left free to roam the streets. The same can also be said of the government salaried murderers.

Gaddafi has met his fate, but the fate of the Libyan people is yet to be seen and known. Is it going to be better where freedom reigns? Or will it be worse? Already there has been extra judicial killings and with the vast amount of weapons in the hands of the people; I do not see a settled Libya in the many months to come. Factional issues will flare up and this can be a cause of another civil war; a much bloodier war than that of disposing Gaddafi.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

TO TALK OR NOT TO TALK

If UIA Constitutional law expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari can be suspended by the authorities for expressing his professional opinion regarding the recent decree by the Selangor Sultan over the controversial JAIS raid on DUMC, then guess what will happen to us if we were to do the same. This is indeed a dangerous trend and precedence when university professors are made to be subservient to the wishes and thinking of the political masters, who think they (political masters) are experts in everything that goes on in the country, but in reality they are not.

Prof Abdul Aziz Bari is an acclaimed constitutional law expert and I have been reading a number of his comments and opinions over a number of issues, and I gain a lot of knowledge by it. And may I ask - who are these people that had criticized and demanded the suspension of the professor? Are they law experts themselves of the standing of the professor? The obvious answer is NO – they are merely some lowly self centered politicians desperately demanding that they be heard, and awaiting to be disposed off during the up-coming GE. If you look at the record of some, they are rejects of one political party and hops into another political party unashamedly pleading to their ‘masters’ that they be given a new lease of life to exist. Do I need to name them? I think you all know who there are – don’t you?

This is the mockery of the entire political system of the country today where voices of reason and conscience can no longer be heard and accepted. What need to be heard must be good for the hearing of our political masters and the many ‘pencacai’s’ that surround them. And anything that goes against their liking must be silence at all costs even if it is an opinion or an advice. The ‘killing’ will be done by the ‘pencacai’ and anything goes, and the trend now it seems, stories about sex (regardless if it is true or otherwise) makes good killing. And haven’t the son of Penang CM Lim Guan Eng been a victim of such scurrilous and vile attacks by you know who! Anuar Ibrahim is fighting for his life in court because of this. But what about the bottom grabber, the money laundering MB and the many corruptors and looters that gleefully lingers around the corridors of power?

The ‘masters-that-be’ knows all; his words are sacrosanct and must be obeyed; just like the days of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Haven’t we all learned from the events in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria and most recently Libya? I hope Malaysians are not like the North African Muslim nations, and God forbid that what had happened there does not happen here. But believe me, if the people are stressed out, anything can happen, and the youth today are no longer docile but are a conscious and a thinking lot. And isn’t this the reason why PM Najib has invited football fans to his Seri Perdana Residence to watch the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Manchester City this Sunday night. I know the crowd will be mainly the youth.

Now, let me tell you this; there are already voices of dissent being heard, and it gets much louder by the day, over a number of issues that’s happening in the country today. Believe me, the judiciary is no longer held in high esteem, the police are seen as a tool of its political masters and the MACC has lost its credibility to even justify its existence when they themselves are seen to be abusive, inefficient and ‘corrupt’. Do I need to name the rest i.e. immigration, customs, EC where acts of abuse and corruption have been ceremoniously associated with them? There will always be something that ordinary Malaysians can talk about in reference to one or some of the departments that I have just named. I have heard it all and I bleed every time I hear such demeaning and disparaging acts concerning these departments whose very existence is to provide service to the people.

Now, going back to Prof Abdul Aziz Bari and the opinion he made is merely a fraction of what was said by our UMNO leaders during the 1993 Constitutional Crisis involving the Malay rulers. Certainly, Prof Abdul Aziz Bari was more refined in the use of his language when making a professional opinion, and he wasn’t at all condemning the Selangor Sultan or used words to belittle the Sultan. I would like to ask - have the Selangor Sultan himself made a pronouncement that he was hurt by what Prof Abdul Aziz Bari said? No the Selangor Sultan has not, and why has there been so much of hue and cry about this?

Although I was in Cambodia during the 1993 Constitutional Crisis, I watched every bit of the news regarding the crisis on satellite TV at how the government would run down the royalties unashamedly on a daily basis. I don’t need to quote statements made by some of our political masters, especially UMNO leaders then, against the Malay rulers that were published in the local print media, because it is already in public domain. And now they claim that they are a party that uphold and defend the rights of the Malay rulers. Am I to believe this and be easily convinced after all they did and acted against the Malay rulers? I’ll be a fool if I were to say yes.

This takes me to an article that I wrote in May 3, 2011 titled “Malay Disunity – A Cause For Malaysian Disunity”, and I would like to say it again that there is something in the Malays (my race) that is damning and partly a cause for today’s misfortunes. The act of FITNAH seems to be synonymous with the Malays now, and it is getting more prevalent and daring, despite the abhorrence Islam placed upon such acts. If such act does not ceased and punitive actions are not taken upon the perpetrators of FITNAH, then all can be rest assured that talks of MALAY UNITY might as well be thrown into the drain.

In the case of Prof Abdul Aziz Bari, it was obviously a Malay that had caused all the problem, and may I ask – what next?


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

HIMPUN - MY GROWING FEAR

Am I pleased to know that opposition party leaders have decided to disassociate themselves with the planned mammoth Anti-Apostasy Rally (Himpun) to be held at Shah Alam tomorrow Saturday 22, October that is reportedly organized by Muslim NGO’s. Who else can be the rally hero’s other the born again UMNO member Ezam Md Noor and the incorrigible Ibrahim Ali.

Although the organizers can deny the involvement of politicians such as the two that I have mentioned, but believe you me, this rally will be nothing more than a political rally that can fuel further mistrust, divide, anger and fear among multi racial and religious Malaysians. This rally is planned to assemble a million Muslims to be packed like sardines at Stadium Shah Alam.

And interestingly, the Home Minister, police and even Jamil Khir (Religious Minister) can be so easily convinced by the smooth talking organizers’ of the numbers that is likely to attend the rally, and that all will be well and orderly – hence a permit for the rally was issued in double quick time. Do you not see the marked disparity here when Bersih, a multi racial rally demanding for free, fair and clean elections was made illegal and was forcibly dispersed with tear gas and water cannons. Bersih has nothing to do with racial and religious issues, but was merely a voice of conscience for the good of all Malaysians.

Can anyone believe a million people assembled in a stadium that could only accommodate about 50,000 people? Where are the rest to be assembled? Surely the rally will spill out of the stadium, and how sure are the authorities that these people will remain orderly, quiet and obedient to their organizers? Knowing full well the way a rally is organized by pro UMNO linked NGO’s, issues that hinges upon racial and religious sentiments are sure to flare up. And with a million people flooding the stadium and Shah Alam, how the hell can the police ensure that there will not be breaches of security.

I think gathering a million people is utter nonsense and if indeed a million people can be gathered for the rally, this will go into the Guinness Book of Record as the largest congregation of people ever to take place at one single location i.e. in a stadium. I hope Al Jazeera, CNN and BBC will be there to record the event. I know TV3and RTM will be there too. And once again, how on hell can the authorities be so convinced?

My next concern is what if other Malaysians of different faith decide to do a similar rally? Deputy Education Minister Fuad Zarkashi was reported to have said that they too can organize a rally. But I think I am no fool to believe in such a talk. Even an assembly at the Chinese Assembly Hall had caused the consternation of Malays and what more an assembly of a million Malaysians of other faith. I think Ibrahim Ali would be the first Homo sapiens to raise an objection to such rally.

I honestly think that the organizers have not seriously thought about the consequences of the rally. Neither have they ever thought of some better and effective ways of reaching out to Muslim Malaysians about their (organizers) concerns affecting the Muslim Malaysian’s religious beliefs. Why not look at how and what are the state religious departments programmes to curb apostasy among Muslims. Why not think of using the mosques, especially during Friday prayers to continuously drum in issues relating to apostasy and other associated issues to the congregation? Next look at what the mainstream media can offer, especially the electronic media. Now, does anyone realize that our electronic media today is infested with programmes that does more harm than good to the younger generation; the Malay word to describe such programmes are – ‘program-program yang menghayalkan’. Now, who is to be blamed if the Muslim youth goes astray? Please take a hard look at this.

Finally, time is ticking fast and deep in my heart, I hope nothing untoward will happen during the rally. And may the speakers be sensible enough not to raise issues that will hurt Malaysian of other faith.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

A LESSON IN HEROISM – THE SOMALIA EPISODE

On September 5, 2011, I posted an article titled, ‘The making of a hero out of our own stupidity’ that commented on the shooting incident in Somalia involving a Bernama photographer Noramfaizul Mohd Nor that led to his untimely death. Noramfaizul was on a humanitarian mission organized by Putra 1 Malaysia Club; an UMNO outfit headed by one Datuk Abdul Azeez Abd Rahim. While we ought to grieve the lost of an innocent life, I somehow think the government has been over zealous in the manner it handled the incident, that I as a former soldier finds it somewhat of a mockery.

My simple argument and reasoning is this - firstly, it is pointless to glorify a dead person when Noramfaizul’s death was the result of the organizers’ sheer stupidity in putting civilians in harm’s way, knowing full well that Somalia is the most unsafe country in the world. Didn’t the organizers know that at the height of the Somalian civil war, Malaysian soldiers have lost their lives and almost an entire platoon of Pakistani soldiers too was killed? Even the most powerful military in the world i.e the USA found it difficult to deal with Somalian rebels, and remember 'The Black Hawk Down' USA propoganda movie?

Here, I am not implying that the humanitarian mission was a worthless cause, but what I am saying is that going into a country like Somalia (despite the presence of the African Union peacekeeping troops) is still dangerous and venturing into that country by people who are clueless about the dangers confronting them smacks of ignorance and stupidity.

Secondly, I think conferring the status of a National Hero upon Noramfaizul who died without him knowing what actually killed him and in such haste, I think is most inappropriate. I do not know the basis upon which Noramfaizul was conferred a National Hero, but I do know there are a set of criterions and eligibilities upon which one is conferred an award for valor by the government, such as the SP, PGB and other gallantry awards. Such award generally relates to actions in the face of an enemy in combat. But in the case of Noramfaizul, can his death be classified as death in combat in the face of an enemy? Maybe the Malacca state government that had conferred Noramfaizul with a gallantry award can explain the rational for such an award. We know that history does tell us that Malacca had many warriors in the past (Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat and others) but I think none of the ‘Hangs’ are ever conferred the status of national or state heroes. I am not surprise that one day an award of a similar nature will be conferred to someone who died from being knocked down by a motorcycle while on duty in some war thorn country.

Thirdly, I do not know if an insurance payment of almost half a million ringgit to the family of Noramfaizul could dampen their sorrow and grief at having lost someone dear. And half a million ringgit is not an amount that the next of kin of a soldier who dies in combat is paid by its group insurance. It is far less and it is certainly not front page news in the media. I suppose, dead soldiers has little news value; unlike national sportsman and sports woman who even failed to make a cut at international sport circuit.

Fourthly, the reception given to Noramfaizul at the airport upon his arrival is like a grand circus, including the clowns and court jesters. I am not saying that he does not deserve a ‘grand reception party’ and a full police escort right to his grave site. What concerns me is that those VVIPs that were present at the airport had all the time to be away from their offices and to accompany a funeral motorcade, then to be in their office; thinking, dealing and solving national issues. Who does not sympathize with the family of Noramfaizul; I certainly do, but the least I could do is to recite the first surah of the Koran in remembrance of Noramfaizul in my prayers.

And if I could relate my experience having return home with my troops after a 15 months successful UN peacekeeping tour in Cambodia, the reception party that received us at the Johore Bahru airport was merely the Brigade Commander and of course our families. We returned home minus one soldier who died in Cambodia. There wasn’t a single VVIP and I am not at all disappointed. I think, what is more important is that we as soldiers had presented and performed well Cambodia and most of all, maintained the good name of the country.

To the organizers of the Somalian humanitarian mission, let this be a lesson to you, and if you think you want to be a hero in a country like Somalia or to any other war thorn country, my brotherly advice to you is to seek the professional advice from those soldiers that had served the country, and there are many that you can seek from.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

IS MALAYSIA A LAND OF ABUSERS AND TORTURERS?

I am saddened by the news that Cambodian maids have become subjects of abuse and torture by their employers; a number have since met their demise. The Cambodian Ambassador Princess Norodom Arunasmy has cited three cases of abuse on maids that resulted in death, but the police denied this number. This must have resulted in a recent ruling by the Cambodian government that maids are no longer for hire to Malaysia. Isn’t this a damning insult to the country and Malaysians ought to be ashamed by this.

Earlier, it was the Indonesian government that had stopped Indonesian maids from working in Malaysia and incidents of abuse and torture of Indonesian maids by employers has repeatedly appeared in the news. But what disgusts me most is the manner in which cases are referred to the courts that usually takes several years to conclude. Isn’t there a much speedier way of handling such cases that will give confidence to the aggrieved maids and their families that our system of justice takes a serious view over cases of abuse and torture of foreign maids?

Malaysians claims to be civilized, but such brutality meted upon a fellow human being; more so upon an innocent foreign maid makes us more of a savage of the prehistoric era. To own a maid, the employer must be someone of a sound social, economic and educational standing. But how come they are so brutal, sadistic and abusive, where a normal person with enough senses would not even harm a cat or a dog. This makes me to believe that any employer that had ill treated their maid must be an insane person with animalistic instinct and does not deserve to be called a human being.

An speaking about Cambodian maids, let me say my piece about hiring a maid to upkeep my Headquarters when I was serving the UN in Cambodia during the tumultuous period of the Cambodian civil war back in 1992 which I chronicled in my book titled “United Nations Peacekeeping Operations - The Malaysian Experience in Cambodia”

The maid that we hired was a married woman in her early forties who was responsible, caring and was never late for work. The moment she arrives at the Headquarters, she would greet us with folded palms brought close to her body and with her head bowed. This is the usual Cambodian way of greeting people, and we all would reciprocate with a similar greeting. This first morning greeting is enough to make us feel honored and respected. There is so much of kindness in her and she went about her daily chores without uttering a word; let alone to complaint about anything. She would not budge into anyone’s office without a greeting, and I believe such personal character of Cambodian women prevails in most other Cambodian women, especially those from the rural areas.

Cambodian women are naturally shy and because of this they tend to fear at doing something that they are not too familiar with. However, being employed as maids, the onus is upon the employer to teach and show what and how the house work needs to be done. I suppose these maids must have gone through some basic lessons in housekeeping by their agents in Cambodia, but there are still many things that they do not know, and this must be taught and shown to them by their employer.

The experience I had in hiring maid in Cambodia, I cannot understand what drove the Malaysian employers to abuse and torture their maid. Even if the maid had faulted, abuse and torture is not the answer to discipline and teach the maid. Even animals too will not do this to their kind, so what are we then? – an animal or a human being.

I would like to see that both Cambodia and Indonesia stops sending maids to Malaysia, unless and until the two countries are fully satisfied that a thorough investigation of such abuses and torture are carried out by the Malaysian authorities and a formal finding presented to both the foreign governments. When the Somali government can conduct an investigation on the death of the Bernama photographer and a report submitted to the Malaysian government, why can’t we do the same for the abused Cambodian and Indonesian maids? Are we too proud to do that, or are we just too ignorant?

My only hope is for the authorities to act swiftly in cases of abuse of maids, and not to go around denying upon being told. Denying is not the answer, but swift and speedy action is.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

SHARING SOMEONE’S THOUGHTS

I received this write-up from someone that I thought is worthy of discussion and some soul searching. Some of the thoughts put into this write-up may cause the displeasure of some, but let’s open our argumentative minds a bit to see if Strategic Thoughts piece makes any sense to use.

BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY – MY TWO CENTS PERCEPTION by Synthetic Thoughts

The two clearly distinct roles of the Armed Forces (AF) are:
1. In peace – To Train for War
2. In a Declaration of War – Defend the sovereignty of the nation by engaging and destroying the enemy.

Having said that, let us now examine the ‘new tasks’ assigned by the government to the AF under the guise of a Blue Ocean Strategy.

Firstly, policing is NOT AN AF DEFINED ROLE. It actually skirts around the misuse of competent resources. Policing is the competency of the Police, and combat is the competency of the AF and never the two should mix. Yes, everyone is responsible for security they say, but surely there are levels of security and layers of responsibility by respective organizations.

My contention is that Military/Police joint patrols are uncalled for and smells of a hidden agenda.

Let us see some new developments.

The Territorial Army (TA) is re-designated into Parliamentary Constituencies. For what - Better Command - Better Control - Cost Effectiveness?

In fact, I always thought that the TA is to ‘mirror’ the structure of the regular force, and thus the Command and Control should be within the designated geographical HQ locations of the regular force. The manpower, training and logistics are all interdependent to achieve commonality and smooth adherence of the SOP. I shudder to think how the Command and Control is now reorganized to address the re-designation on TA units/formations into Parliamentary Constituencies. Pardon me for saying this -I smell a hidden agenda.

Then, there is an attempt now to increase a few fold the strength of the RELA, and for what? Has the internal security situation deteriorate so much that there is a need for this? Or has the Home Minister decided that he needs more clout to harass the public, foreigners, sinners, fornicators etc. Do we need a publicly funded private army (sort of) at the beck and call of politicians? Are these RELA also to be organized according to Parliamentary Constituencies? Pardon me again for saying this, but this is the public’s perception, and it smells something fishy here too.

Call me old fashioned, but I was made to believe that all the while, the separation of roles, tasks and powers of the Military and Police was healthy for the nation; well intended and in fact kept a sense of check and balance.

I feel now that there is compromise in this. So, what next?

Am I wrong to suppose that in the near future all security agencies in the country would come under a single ministry, say the Ministry of Security directly under the PM’s Department? And then, we have an individual in the nation’s executive to single handedly unleash the power of the military for political survival. This certainly is not my view of democracy. There is no perceived gain; only potential pain.

Such nonsense must cease, here and now.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

EATING HUMBLE PIE

Quote “Please humble yourselves. There is no guarantee we can rule forever. We are facing a whole new political landscape today and are assessed and judged by the people each day” Unquote.

The above was a quotation from PM Najib during Sunday’s Negeri Sembilan BN Convention.

At long last, PM Najib is beginning to say something sensible about the current state of the ruling party, and his concern that the up-coming GE would be a difficult one. I am rather surprise with this sudden change in PM Najib’s assessment on the fate of BN and likely outcome of the next GE. This is in deep contrast with what was thought off by his Deputy Muhyiddin Yasin when he said the nation would go bankrupt if the opposition were to rule. I remembered too that Senator Idris Jala by his estimation did say that the country would go bankrupt by 2019, and all hell broke loose soon after. It wasn’t the opposition that said that; it was a ‘solicited member’ of the ruling government.

PM Najib no longer talks about ‘crushing dead bodies’ to defend Putrajaya or to do what is necessary to win back the ‘jewel of the nation’ i.e. Selangor. Indeed, PM Najib had humbled himself by saying what is in his heart, and not to say anything that he hears from his ‘pak pencacai’ that clings to him like leeches.

You see, one can easily identify a ‘pak pencacai’ merely by looking at the way they dress, talk and move around. You so often see them loitering around KLIA awaiting the return of the PM or DPM from an overseas visit. They would rush in at the sight of the PM or DPM and quickly kiss their hands. I have seen lots of them while I was in service and let me tell you this, that I have never in my life kiss anyone’s hand except that of my parents, my closest uncles and aunties; not even the hands of Royalties. As a soldier, I accord them (Royalties) the smartest salute and that has been the training.

Honestly, I am pleased that PM Najib has now acknowledged that there are some of his people that always say rosy things concerning the state of the party, which in actual fact is the contrary. If indeed PM Najib has identified them, my brotherly advice is to ignore them, and be forthright by saying to them that their advice is no longer needed. My advice may sound hard, but as a leader one cannot be taken for a ride all the time when untruth is being advised to him.

Now to get at what was said by DPM Muhyiddin that the country would go bankrupt if ruled by the opposition, just let me asked this – are any of the states ruled by the opposition bankrupt? On the contrary the four opposition held states have done reasonably well; much better than before. Kelantan despite being ‘victimized’ is still very much alive; notably free of the scourge of corruption. Selangor and Penang have performed outstandingly with surplus state revenue. Please do not deny this Muhyiddin, and I guess this is the very reason why the ruling government is so determine to get back Selangor and Penang, where only a miracle can change the ruling status of the two states.

I do not know much about Kedah that has always been a poor state even during the previous rule. But from what I read, the PAS government has alleged that problems saddled by the state today are merely the ‘left-overs’ from the previous government. I read too that the state opposition members are beginning to question the PAS government of its failures, oblivious to the fact that the problems were of their doing when they (BN/UMNO) had been ruling the state for 54 years.

Much that I would like to predict the outcome of the up-coming GE now; I thought I would rather wait to see how each state performs and the conduct of its leaders. I do not believe that the election would be held anytime before the close of this year; certainly not before the effects of the 2012 Budget is felt by the rakyat.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

QUESTIONING SUHAKAM!

Perkasa boss Ibrahim Ali is up to his nonsensical antics again. This time he took to task SUHAKAM for conducting an inquiry into allegations that there was human rights violation by the authorities i.e. police against participants of the Bersih 2.0 rally. He wants SUHAKAM to explain “why it considered human rights violation to have occurred during the rally, when both the event and its organizers were deemed illegal by the government”. He further said that “by entertaining the complaints by illegal groups like Bersih 2.0, SUHAKAM has given recognition to other illegal groups as well”.

Now, can you not sense the stupidity of this Perkasa boss? Firstly, who is he to ask for an explanation from SUHAKAM pertaining to any investigation carried out by SUHAKAM? Secondly, does he not know that SUHAKAM was established by an Act of Parliament; as such SUHAKAM reports to Parliament (though some say that SUHAKAM reports to the government) on all outcomes of investigations carried out; not to individual(s) or an NGO like Perkasa. Thirdly, does he not know that it is incumbent upon SUHAKAM to investigate any report(s) that hinges on human right issues lodged by individual(s)/parties/bodies; regardless of whether such individual(s)/parties/bodies are deemed illegal or otherwise?

Yes, Bersih 2.0 was declared an illegal entity by the government, but that does not mean those involved in the rally that had their rights violated and abused by the authorities cannot lodge a report to SUHAKAM. On the contrary, those violated and abused persons have every right to lodge a report and it is incumbent upon SUHAKAM to accept and act (without prejudice) on the report.

Again I ask - who is this Ibrahim Ali to question SUHAKAM roles and responsibilities explicitly prescribed in the Act of Parliament. By posing such questions, Ibrahim Ali has questioned the integrity of SUHAKAM. And as far as I know, no government minister has posed similar questions to SUHAKAM. I think it is high time the authorities pulled up Ibrahim Ali for being so ignorant of an Act of Parliament and for making a mockery of him being a law maker himself. Now you see the level of knowledge that some our law makers inhibit.

Personally, I have had enough of Ibrahim Ali’s antics from the very moment Perkasa was formed. I see there is nothing that he does that contributes meaningfully towards the betterment of our multi racial society, other than igniting racial and religious sentiments to the detriment of our multi racial society. He thinks himself to be the ‘spokesperson’ or some kind of a ‘custodian’ of Malay rights, which is rightfully the responsibility of UMNO. Or is he now assuming that role and responsibility where UMNO has failed?

I say this and I will say it many time over that Ibrahim Ali’s antics and what he claims to be fighting for, is a serious bane to UMNO. UMNO cannot rely totally on the Malay votes anymore to win the next election. It is well known to all that Malay votes are now split asunder. UMNO cannot deny this and in order to win the next GE, they have to woo the support of the Chinese and Indian voters through their coalition partners that are themselves in disarray. I don’t think giving instant MyKad to ‘illegal’s made legal’ which the opposition has accused the government of doing, could be the immediate remedy to ensure the government remains in power.

Finally, what else need I say of Ibrahim Ali, but to just leave it to UMNO/BN to deal with the Perkasa boss the best they can?


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

THE INDIAN COMMUNITY – A MARGINALISED COMMUNITY?

PM Najib in his address to the Indian community at the 1Malaysia Deepavali Carnival in Klang last night said that the government will strive to ensure that the Indian community will have a better future. He went further to say that “there must be a feeling that the Malaysian soil is the place of birth of all races”.

What Najib said has been said repeatedly by other leaders and including the MIC leaders themselves. This statement is nothing new and I can assure everyone that the same statement will be uttered many times more by our leaders as GE gets closer.

I have been writing about the plight of the Indian community in some earlier postings because I can claim that I know them better than most Malaysians. You know, I grew up among Indian neighbors (my father being a government servant, and we live in a government quarters in a predominantly Indian neighborhood) and I can even tell you their likes/dislikes, cultural and social sensitivities. That is the sort of attachment I have for my Indian friends and if one does not have such an attachment, one cannot claim to have understood the Indian community.

Leaders can say what they want, promise them the sky even, but I know in the end the promises made are either unfulfilled or merely ‘pulling wool over their eyes’. I have seen this being said and done many times and that is why I say the Indian community in this country is the most marginalized community, and neither their own leaders care about it. I am not blaming the former MIC boss Samy Velu for this, but him having been at the helm of the MIC for umpteen years should have ensured his community deserve better treatment and to save them from their economic and social doldrums’.

Now, have anyone had a look at the schools in the estates? Have anyone walked into their estate homes, talked and sat over meals with them? Have anyone bothered to ask whether their earnings are sufficient to maintain their growing families? Have anyone bothered to do a study as to how many of their children get to receive a tertiary education? There are many more ‘haves’ that I can write about, but suffice for me to say that the Indian community, particularly those living in the estate will continue to remain in the form that they have been all these years. I can only say, “Wake up to the realities facing the Indian community, and stop making any more promises”.

To PM Naijb, he ought to visit the estates more often in his meet the people session; not just meeting them at the Community Hall that are been given an instant facelift, and to utter more promises, if he seriously believe that the Indian community are Malaysians as well.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

KUDOS SELANGOR!

Am I not proud to be a rakyat of the state of Selangor? I can boastfully say that I am extremely proud to be one. I am from Kampung Sg. Serai, Ulu Langat, Selangor, born 67 years ago during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. I was too little then to know the atrocities carried out by the Japanese soldiers upon my kampong folks; only to hear some horrific stories of the Japanese occupation related to me by my parents. One story has it that in order to solicit information from a person, the Japanese would bloat a person’s tummy with soap water and when the tummy is filled; a wooden plank is placed on the person’s tummy to be stepped upon vigorously until the person vomits. This was then repeated several times until the Japanese gets what they wanted from the person.

Then came the First Malayan Emergency and I was a bit older. As a child, seeing soldiers roaming the jungle behind my grandmother’s house excites me. The soldiers were of mixed nationalities i.e. British, Africans, Gurkhas and some others from the Commonwealth countries. There were also some Malay soldiers though, and I can still remember the soldiers were from 6th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment that was camped at Batu 9, Cheras-Ulu Langat road junction. This was the battalion that I first served upon being commissioned as a military officer in 1966.

I have seen dead communist terrorist (CT) being carried out ‘unceremoniously’ from the jungle areas. Lining up the road and showing a ‘thumbs up’ at passing British soldiers will get us a few imported English manufactured chocolates and biscuits. I also know of a number of my village elders that had gone missing; and their bodies never to be found till this day. They were believed to have been kidnapped by CTs and killed, supposedly for being an agent of the British government. I do not know if the British have ever rewarded these missing persons or claimed that they were their agents. I don’t think so, and I am yet to hear anything being said about them and the truth about their disappearance. If indeed, they died because they were deemed a British informant/sympathizer, are their families not granted a similar privilege accorded to former soldiers, policemen and auxiliary police that served the British during the First Malayan Emergency for a one-off RM3000 handout as ‘decreed’ by PM Najib recently?

I read the writings of Noaz Nair in an article titled ‘ Khalid: Better than all past UMNO MB’s combined, but can he retain Selangor’, posted in the Malaysia Chronicle dated Saturday, 15 October 2011. I am even more proud now having read the article when it says that Selangor is the most prosperous and developed state in the country, with the highest GDP. Not only has Selangor done well economically, but the four opposition-held states i.e. Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan collectively accounts for 53% of the country’s FDI at RM25 billion of the total RM47.2 billion. If the four opposition-held states can come with such startling achievement, why can’t the other states perform well too? And don’t tell me they (BN controlled states) require another 54 years to come to level the achievement of the four opposition-held states.

And this reminds me of a statement made by a friend recently when he said, “Just look at Singapore; a state void of any natural resources can achieve tremendous economic achievement; but Malaysia endowed with numerous natural resource is way off its mark – why is this so?” The only answer that I can think of is what I have been saying all along – CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENT LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS and my crusade against corruption will continue for as long as I can think and write.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

I CRY FOR MALAYSIA

Say what you want – I think this country is going to ruin, if we are not careful. And every time I walk the street and see a foreigner, my heart throbs faster.

I live around Ukay Perdana, Ampang and as I drive home, I see more foreigners, mainly those from Indonesia and Bangladesh. I can easily make them out to be foreigners from the way they speak. Some are no longer wage earners toiling at construction sites, but have become small time entrepreneurs and are even employing locals as haired hands. In the villages, many are known to have leased out plots of land from its rightful local owner, and turn the land to agriculture and selling its produce at profitable prices. The lessor is quite happy to earn some money from the lease of his land, ignoring the fact that he could have earned much more if he had toiled the land himself. The lessee is even much happier to have a place for shelter, a land to toil and a reasonable income from the sale of his agricultural produce. The land provides him with all that is needed to sustain a comfortable life.

I do not envy these small time foreign entrepreneurs making a living for I think they have every right to do so, given the ease at which they can do business without the worry of being harassed by the local licensing authorities. The can do business anywhere and everywhere they please; just pitch an umbrella along the roadside, and that umbrella will get larger and larger and eventually a small hut is built to replace the umbrellas. Even when the hut is built to the obvious knowledge and sight of everyone, the local authorities would still play blind, deaf and mute. You have to see to believe it, and Ampang municipality is famous for such ‘grisly sights’. This trend does not seem to worry the local authorities, and I just do not know the reason why.

Now, I am told that the Election Commission (EC) has registered 820,000 new voters in 2010; a substantial increase of 533,000 voters from 2009. This terrifies me. How on earth can there be such a phenomenal increase over a period on just a year. Am I to believe that all of a sudden, our non-voting Malaysians have awakened from their slumber, and have now decided to register as a voter for the up-coming GE? Why the next GE, when they were not at all concern during all previous GEs? I have known many Malaysians, especially the young ones are not ‘savvy’ about voting, and are not too concern whoever gets elected. Therefore, can the sudden increase in newly registered voters be these Indonesian and Bangladesh entrepreneurs that I have mentioned above? Let’s hope Africans have not joined the queue to be registered voters, but by the way things go, one cannot rule out the possibility that an African can one day be a candidate for parliament. We already have it in the USA, and the person’s name is Obama.

And finally, who now says that Mat Sabu is a traitor? All former soldiers, policemen and auxiliary policemen that served during the First Malayan Emergency fighting the communist terrorist throughout the colonial era ought to be thankful to Mat Sabu the ‘traitor’ for opening his gap by raising the Bukit Kepong incident. Had he not made the Bukit Kepong an issue, I do not think these former soldiers, policemen, auxiliary and their families would get the one-off cash handout of RM3000 that was announced by PM Najib recently. And thanks too for the RM500 bonus due end of the year, and a 2% annual increase in my pension beginning 2013.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

BUDGET 2012 – A COMMENT

I received an email (the entire text is appended below) from a dear friend whose comments on the 2012 Budget is worth a thought. Please take time to read, and I am sure you too have a comment or two on the recently announced Budget 2012.

MY TAKE ON THE BUDGET by Shelldrake

Being only a retired military officer, I may be blind to the economic facts, but certainly not stupid to swallow a pack of untruths (I do not like to use the word lies).

Firstly, a bunch of ‘one offs’ handouts that mainly makes the civil servants, soldiers, policemen, pensioners happy. Then some populist moves across the board to give everyone hope.

Now, I wonder and ask some searching questions:

1. QUESTION - IS THERE A LONG TERM INVESTMENT BEYOND 2012 IN THE BUDGET? ANSWER -Nyet, Nadai, Nien, Bo liau, Tadak, Yillai!!!. So, is it wrong for me to assume that the whole idea is to con the people onto an election victory and then do the fire fighting/damage control etc. later? How often have you heard recently from the government departments, “Allocation ada, tapi duit belum terima”. Here, they were playing a mahjong game, with the skill of a Tai Chi exponent. It gets us by, believe me, but it doesn’t solve the problem.

2. QUESTION - HOW CAN JIBBY CONFIDENTLY PREDICT A 5 TO 6% GDP GROWTH IN 2012 TO ‘AFFORD’ THE EXPENDITURE, WHEN THE WORLD IS ON THE BRINK OF AN IMPENDING DOUBLE DIP RECESSION? ANSWER - I guess 4 to 4.4% would be more realistic at the most. Now, here lies the biggest failure. There is no contingency whatsoever if the recession kicks in. Remember, the failure to plan is planning a failure.

3. QUESTION - HOW IS THE DEFICIT GAP GOING TO CLOSE? ANSWER - There is no clear cut plans on prudent spending against added revenue collection. The Capital Gain Tax increase is a drop in the ocean. More money can be collected from stamp duties due to the volume of transaction; from one area of unproductiveness to another area of unproductiveness. Budget deficits translate into debts. For 2010, it is estimated to be RM20.5 billion – an increase of nearly 60%. Now, let’s do the math – take interest rate at 5%, RM12.8 billion debt service charges in 2008 would make federal government debt at RM256 billion. Now the debt service charges at RM20.5 billion, the federal government’s debt is projected at RM410 billion. This is an increase of RM154 billion from 2008 to 2012, an average increase of RM38.5 billion per year. That would now be the nation’s annual actual deficit. Yes, I have tears in my eyes too, because my children will have to pay for it.

4. QUESTION – WHERE IS JIBBY GOING TO GET THE MONEY? ANSWER - Yes, from us my friends; the long suffering 1.7 million tax payers. The long awaited GST will be shoved in after the election. Mark my words. The EPF and other government-linked funds will be asked to do ‘national service’ by investing in debt papers issued by the government. Again, a case of using the peoples’ money to bail out a financially weak government.

So, in essence I say, look at the forest my dear friends and now tell me how they are ruining my beloved Malaysia. Call me a pessimist, non believer, not a risk taker etc., but I ask –CAN YOU RUN A COUNTRY ON BORROWED TIME? The answer is YES, if you are a leader living on borrowed time.

May God bless us all.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

ANWAR’S TRIAL TO CONTINUE WITHOUT PM NAJIB AND ROSMAH CALLED AS WITNESS

Finally, the trial judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah set aside the subpoena filed by Anwar Ibrahim to commit PM Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor to take the witness stand in the on-going Anwar’s sodomy trial. Trial judge reasoned the meeting that Saiful had with Najib/Rosmah before the former had launched a police report is irrelevant to the trial; hence the trial judge allowed Najib/Rosmah’s application and ordered the trial to continue. Najib/Rosmah are now freed of ever being summoned to the court as witness to face the defence at any time during the on-going trial.

This decision may surprise many (for better or for worse) but one has to have faith and trust in our judiciary that the on-going trial will be fair and just. We read the controversies surrounding the judiciary in the past especially that affecting the incumbent AG and the previous IGP, especially of the many allegations made by the former KL CID Chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, that has raised doubts concerning the professional credibility of both the AG and the former IGP, that remains unchallenged by both till this day.

Whatever be the final outcome of Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial, my only hope is to see that the trial will not end up in another ‘Reformasi Movement’ of the kind experienced in 1998.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT – A BLUNDER

The Malaysian Insider, October 5, 2011 reported that the Home Ministry found its officers (Immigration Officers) exercised their responsibilities in a 'good and orderly fashion' in the recent nude squat incident involving two Singaporean women found to have entered the country illegally. It was further reported that the Immigration Officers who were women, followed standard procedures when carrying out the investigation on the two Singaporean women.

Well, here again another blunder by a Malaysian authority. I wish to ask if it is the Immigration Department’s SOP to force all women that enters the country illegally to squat in the nude. Please show me what is written in the SOP. If the SOP does have that clause, I would recommend that the SOP be thrown into the sea, because such clause is not only humiliating and barbaric but worse still, it reflects the disgusting state of mind of our Home Ministry and the Immigration Department in particular. I don’t believe any so-called civilized nation would have an immigration SOP of that kind. Maybe, we are different or want to be different for all the wrong reason.

I do not think the two women intended to enter the country illegally. They had entered through a legal immigration entry point, but found that there were no Immigration Officials manning the entry point at the time. Now who do you blame in this particular instant. Where were the immigration officers at the time, and is it in the immigration SOP that the entry point can be left unattended at any time, or was there a stipulated opening/closing timing at the entry point. If at all the two women wanted to enter the country illegally, they wouldn’t have bothered to go through a legal entry point. And don’t we know that thousands of illegals enter the country every day. I now tend to believe that it is during such times when the entry points are not manned that illegals are free to enter the country.

You can now see how convenient it is for people to enter the country illegally with the courtesy and generosity of the Immigration Department. They might as well place a large banner at the entry point that says ‘ILLEGALS ARE WELCOMED INTO MALAYSIA WHEN THERE ARE NO IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS MANNING THE ENTRY POINTS’. This would make the work of the authorities easier since they don’t have to make illegal squat in the nude during an investigation.

I do not know whether our authorities’ i.e. Home Ministry or the Department of Immigration has apologized to the Singapore authorities over the incident, and if they haven’t, this is where the Malaysian authorities can now show their humility and regret to the Singapore authorities by saying “We are deeply sorry for the incident and the humiliation suffered by the two women”. I think this is the most ‘civilized’ thing to do for a country that aspires to be the ‘best democracy in the world’.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

DENIAL AND MORE DENIAL

I am not at all surprised to read the police findings into the tear gas shooting incident at Tung Shin hospital during the Bersih 2.0 rally on 9th July that indentified the involvement of a lone policeman, and that ‘no further action will taken on the policeman except for an internal breach of procedure’. The AG office had also concluded that ‘no further action could be taken against the policeman in the absence of any witness’.

I cannot understand how the police investigation was carried out and for the AG’s office to come out with such findings. It sounds rather silly to me, or do they think that Malaysians today are so dumb and stupid that they can be so easily hoodwinked to believe in such findings?

Firstly, I do not believe that there was only one policeman involved, and by looking closely at the video on the amount of gas and water shot at Tung Shin hospital, I think there has to be several others involved. Secondly, am I to believe that a breach of police procedure by any member of the police force in the performance of their duties isn’t an offence; hence it does not warrant the offender to be charged or disciplined? Try and breach an SOP in the military, and you know what you will get. Thirdly, am I to believe that there were no witnesses to the incident, and because of that the case needs no further action (NFA)? I don’t think the policeman was alone when the shooting occurred? Surely there were several other policemen in the crowd, unless the rest were all asleep or blind at the time of the shooting?

Honestly, had I been the investigating officer, I would surely have come out with a different finding, and a breach in the SOP alone is enough to put the offender in trouble. I would have questioned every single policeman in the crowd, viewed all photos taken of the incident, talked to any civilian indentified at the scene of the hospital and interviewed all doctors/hospital staffs of Tung Shin hospital. I am sure I could come out with a different finding than that of the police investigation. I say that the police investigation and findings are flawed, bias and with intend to absolve blame. I note that this has been a common feature in any police investigation when it involves their kind. And this again reminds me of the mysterious and unanswered death in police custody where we are yet to see a policeman charged for murder or being an accessory to the murder. Remember the story of the three monkeys; see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil?

But the biggest joke of it all is the statement made by the Home Minister Hishamuddin himself, when he was reported to have said that the whole incident “is like making a big mountain of a mole hill” and that it is “blown out of proportion as the police were not solely responsible for the situation”.

Denial is all that they know, and the sufferings of the people are of no concern.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Amendment

Dear Readers,

Reference my latest posting, I have been erroneous in citing the name of Penang Chief Minister as 'Lim Eng Guan'. It should read Lim Guan Eng' My sincere apologies.

LIM GUAN ENG – AN EXAMPLARY CHIEF MINISTER

I can’t help but like to pen a comment on the public apology made by Penang CM Lim Eng Guan over some disparaging remarks concerning Johore, purportedly made by him in Singapore that caused the ire of the Johore Sultan and UMNO in particular. I watched a video of the apology made by Lim Eng Guan and the numerous comments written about it in the mainstream media, including a comment by the Johore Sultan, Perkasa and by PM Najib himself. Lim Eng Guan has said that it was the mainstream media (MSM) that misquoted him and had caused a furor, and he vowed suing the MSM for this.

I think what Lim Eng Guan did was noble, if indeed he had made such disparaging remarks about Johore. Lim Eng Guan has proven himself to be a true gentleman, and with the public apology broadcasted on video in the new media, makes him a respectable and honorable politician. If a similar thing would have happened to a BN politician, I don’t think that politician would want to do what Lim Eng Guan did. I also think that it was disgusting for some politicians to make unworthy comments even after Lim Eng Guan had tendered an apology to the Johore Sultan.

When I was in the military, I had come across a number of my superior officers who would forgive his subordinate for an offence (not serious offence) the moment the offender makes an apology. By doing so, the officers would not only gain greater respect, but the kindness shown is enough to turn the offender into a much better person. I had such an experience once when I was a Commanding Officer of a Battalion. The soldier was supposed to be tried by me for an offence, but the moment he was brought before me, he sought to apologize for the offence he had caused. I quickly closed the case, and told my RSM to release the soldier of all charges. When I returned home for lunch, the soldier came to see me and thank me profusely for not proceeding with the charges against him and was remorseful for all that he did. It was after this incidence that I was told, had changed the soldier who ended up his career as Staff Sergeant. Had I charged him, I think he would not have gone any further in his career and remained a private soldier.

In the case shown by Lim Eng Guan, I believe his exemplary action has caught the hearts of many Malaysians. I am quite sure the people of Pulau Pinang in particular are proud of having a CM that is honorable and a gentleman. I don’t believe there will be another CM who would want to emulate Lim Eng Guan, particularly if it is an UMNO Chief Minister and leaders. There have been examples in the past, and I would not want to go further into this because such examples are in public domain.

And Lim Eng Guan being a Chinese, is an example of what a Malaysian leader should be………..honorable, honest, clean, sincere and most of all, setting good examples.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

RUSLAN KASSIN – PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

NST, Sunday, Oct 2, 2011 reports that Perkasa Information Chief Ruslan Kassim questioned the motive behind the dinner that was attended by MAS Board Director Datuk Mohd Azman Yahya, businessman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan and Penang CM Lim Guan Eng with several senior leaders of Singapore’s PAP recently. Ruslan went further to asked what was discussed at the meeting and whether it was related to our country’s top secret. He said that Malaysians have the right to question where their loyalty lies, and warn Malaysians from becoming a foreign tool or agent to betray their own country.

In the first instant, I want to know who is Ruslan Kassim to come out with a barrage of nonsensical questions. Is he from the military intelligence, the police special branch or from any other national intelligence agencies? Is he the Internal Security Minister or a top notch security official from the PM’s Department answering direct to the PM on national security issues? I think he is a no body, but he sounded like someone powerful, more powerful than the PM himself.

Firstly, I don’t think Perkasa represents all Malaysians; certainly it does not represent me and the millions more. Hence, it is wrong for Ruslan to implicate all Malaysians in raising the above questions. Ruslan has to get into his head that he does not have the legitimacy or the authority to question anyone about security; let alone if someone decides to have a meeting in a foreign country. Just because Azman Yahya, Kalimullah Hassan and Lim Eng Guan had met with PAP leaders, does not necessarily mean that there are in a secret deal affecting national security. I don’t think the three are so foolish to be talking about national secrets, and it is unlikely too that they all want to betray their country.

If talking to Singapore PAP leaders over dinner can be construed as a meeting to discuss the country’s top secret, than Ruslan might as well say the same for PM Najib when he met the Singapore PM early this year or the Pope in Rome just recently. Ruslan might also want to ask our top military and police officers what are discussed during their meetings with their Singapore counterparts.

I do not know if Ruslan has any friends in Singapore or anywhere else. But I certainly have lots of foreign friends and I will continue to meet and talk with them, and does that make me a ‘foreign tool or agent to betray the country’?

You see this Ruslan is so foolish and paranoid that he sees foreigners as an enemy, regardless of who the foreigners are. Azman Yahya and Kalimullah Hassan are businessmen, and Lim Eng Guan is a politician. Surely they will not talk about how to conduct a military sabotage on Malaysia or to sell a chunk of our territory to Singapore. You have to believe that they will be talking about businesses that will benefit both our countries.

I am beginning to be deeply concerned that if Ruslan’s thinking is representative of the thinking of its Perkasa leaders, no Malaysian businessmen or politician will ever want to go abroad for fear that they will be similarly questioned. And if that happens, you know what lies ahead for this country. My only hope is for our leaders and government to disassociate themselves from Perkasa now before it is too late.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

MAT ZAIN’S CRUSADE FOR JUSTICE CONTINUES

Former KL CID Chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim is one daring and no-nonsense ex police officer with the guts of steel. He was the officer tasked to investigate into Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘black eye’ incident in 1998 and in retirement, has been persistent in his allegations that both the AG Gani Patail and former IGP Musa Hassan had concocted evidences in the Anwar Ibrahim’s trial, that led Anwar Ibrahim to a prison term. He believes that Gani and Musa ought to be investigated and brought to trial for their ‘injustices’ and untold abuses of authority and power.

Despite the persistence of Mat Zain to expose the abuse of power and the fabrication of evidences in the Anwar Ibrahim’s trial, we are yet to hear a single agency of the government that dares to investigate both Gani and Musa. Even our leaders play mute and are uninterested. It seems that there is something amiss that has made the pair immune to prosecution. It is not surprising therefore that the talk is that the present regime does not have the courage or the will to act on the allegations by Mat Zain. And the continued silence by the authorities, as well as by the two ‘accused’, is perceived by many that the allegations are true.

One wonders why isn’t Gani or Musa taking a case against Mat Zain if what the latter says are packs of lies. Gani in particular has all the means at his disposal to drag Mat Zain to the court, but why hasn’t he (Gani) done so? On the other hand, Musa who is now in deep ‘recess’ maybe too afraid to do anything to challenged Mat Zain, as he (Musa) no longer yields authority and power. For all we know, Musa would prefer to evade Mat Zain’s radar screen and persistent ‘harassment’, fearing that if he confronts Mat Zain, more ‘trash’ will be thrown at him. I think Musa knows that. Even the mainstream media takes little notice of Musa, now that he no longer has any ‘news’ value.

Certainly, Gani and Musa are in the eyes of the Malaysian public, two of the country’s most contemptuous and controversial top public servants; all the wrong reason. Having read through all that Mat Zain had exposed, I am even more convinced now than previously that both Gani and Musa has been outrageous and careless in the performance of their duties. I would hasten to say that the loss of public confidence and trust in the judiciary and police force is attributed to both of them. What makes it worse and a cause for public rancor is that our leaders just stood by without doing anything………..not even a word of caution.

Mat Zain now seems to have an upper hand over Gani and Musa and is a serious ‘thorn in the flesh’ for the two. I do not think Mat Zain will cease taunting Gani and Musa until the former is fully satisfied that he get justice done. And the questions faced by the two in question now are firstly, how long more can they sustain the pressure imposed by Mat Zain that is worthy of a CSI thriller. Secondly, how will they rebut the persistent taunting and finally, how do they manage the negative public perception about them. I think this is going to be a long drawn battle among all three.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION