It is refreshing to hear some leaders from Barisan Nasional making sense in their statements for a change. Indeed, what they have said actually reflects general opinion that there should be fresh State elections in Perak.

Then again, perhaps these BN leaders are simply weary of the never-ending political imbroglio that seems to be quickly degenerating into a farce. Perhaps they are beginning to realise that something needs to be done desperately before the farce turns Malaysia into a joke in the international community.

I note that the sentiments reported in that article are only the personal views of the Deputy President of MCA and the Secretary-General of Gerakan. What are the parties’ official positions on the Perak issue?

One really wonders whether the leaders of BN component parties have the moral fibre to make their official views public even if they contradict those of the Prime Minister or Umno.

Indeed, I recall that the MCA President was once notoriously outspoken before he became President and a full minister in the cabinet. Perhaps he has too much at stake to publicly voice an opinion contrary to his political ‘big brother’. Similarly, what about the President of Gerakan? Is he prepared to make a public stand on the matter?

The question begging to be asked here is whether the component parties of Barisan Nasional are actually equal partners in government or are they simply junior partners that have to kowtow to the senior partner, Umno.

For the sake of Perak and Malaysia as a whole, I certainly hope that the leaders of all BN component parties will make a stand for the rakyat, speak up and do the right thing; i.e. table and support a motion at the next BN meeting for fresh State elections in Perak to resolve the constitutional stalemate once and for all.

Barely a day after Najib’s naked show of contempt for democracy and the people of Perak in the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday, he has yesterday further insulted the intelligence of Malaysians by releasing ISA detainees and those arrested in recent days, thinking that he will be seen as the good guy.

Who doesn’t remember that the new Prime Minister himself was the one who orchestrated the cross-over of a few recalcitrant elected representatives and sparked off this political and constitutional mess in Perak?

And up to yesterday, his silence in respect of the actions of the Perak State Secretary and the police was deafening. As we all know, silence is acquiescence; that is, Najib actually condones the meddling by the State Secretary and the crackdown by the police, if not ordered it.

Alas, his decision to release the detainees, both ISA and otherwise, was too little and far too late.

Why stop at 13 detainees? Don’t the other detainees have feelings or families? Don’t they deserve dignity like the rest of us? Don’t they have the right to fair trials and be presumed innocent until proven guilty?

Najib’s far too late because a moral crime has already been perpetrated against these people. They have already been deprived of their freedom for no good or justifiable cause. Precious moments of their lives have been robbed forever.

This may be the Prime Minister’s way of making amends but are the people supposed to be grateful for such small mercies when he has obviously shown his contempt for them and their human rights?

The specific release of the Hindraf trio also begs the question whether Najib thought now would be a convenient time to subtly avoid a by-election in Selangor.

Whatever it is, the people of Perak, no, the people of Malaysia will hold Najib Abdul Razak solely responsible for dragging our nation through the mud in the international arena; and, for grossly violating the sacred doctrine of separation of powers, thereby reducing our beloved country to a pariah state.

It will be dark days ahead for Malaysia if citizens cannot speak up against undemocratic actions of the government. Sdr Wong Chin Huat, one of the spokespersons for Bersih was arrested earlier tonight at his house in Taman Sri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur.

He has been taken to the Commercial Crimes Department HQ, where I believe lawyers Edmund Bon and Latheefa Koya are in attendance. For the rest of the news, check out the Malaysiakini article.

Personally, I received a couple of SMSes last week to wear black this Thursday, 7 May 2009, to protest the undemocratic takeover of the Perak government and call for fresh state elections. Frankly, I didn’t give much thought to it. But now, by hook or by crook, I’m gonna look for a black shirt that’s suitable for work on Thursday.

I know it was wishful thinking on my part when I asked whether Najib can perform miracles. Alas, it’s now blindingly obvious that Najib is not only incapable of changing a corrupt and autocratic government but he is so childish and sensitive that he can’t take the very clever play on his “1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now” slogan by Bersih.

All together now, “1BlackMalaysia: Democracy First! Elections Now!”

Know what’s worse than exploitation of workers? Buying and selling human beings like they were cattle.

Last year I wrote a post that referred to a Newsweek article that highlighted the dismal treatment of foreign workers in Malaysia. Alas, I don’t think the situation has improved very much in the past year.

Indeed, in the last month, there was a lot of discussion about Malaysia being a transit for human trafficking. Incidentally, there was an article in the News Straits Times on the subject today. That’s quite sad, don’t you think?

Well, according to an article in the Star online today, our bright and still-shining new Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, said a special committee may be set up to curb human trafficking, but the reports that Malaysia is used as a transitory point need to be confirmed first. Fair enough.

But he went on and said, “if this claim comes from certain countries, we will get in touch with them for an official confirmation because this involves the good name of our country.” I’m sorry, YB, that didn’t sound quite right. Yes, I agree that the “good name” of our country is important, but don’t you think that human lives are more important than that?

Whatever it is, I sure hope that this is not just lip service that will be swept under the carpet once the issue blows over. Ignore it and it will go away, right? Fortunately, or unfortunately, the truth is rather prevalent.

Some of my friends often joke about me taking over the Ministry of Education. I don’t know if I am a good candidate for the job; however, I do know that there’s something terribly wrong with our education system.

The issue of education is quite dear to me as I believe that it will determine the future of our nation. Even pop songs like Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” talks about how important it is to teach our children well.

I am proud to share that I am a product of Methodist Boys’ School, Kuala Lumpur. I attended both the primary and secondary schools there, and I am now in my second term as the President of my school’s alumni association. Apart from my loyalty and love for my alma mater, I must say that there is something different about our school that moulded many of us into not only successful but also quite decent people.
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I think the initial reactions to the recent general election results would sound something like this:

“Wow! Holy s*@#!”
“Wahliao-eh!”
“Adoi!”

Whatever the language, the exclamations of shock or surprise are not negative – they are just expressions of amazement. Most people that I have spoke to are actually quite happy with the way the election has gone. However, with the favourable winds of change, the Barisan Rakyat will now have to manage it well for the next four or five years. Otherwise, we would have lost a golden opportunity to institutionalise good governance in this rich and beautiful country.

To follow up on my previous posting, I think a course in Change Management is necessary for all new elected representatives. I certainly do not presume to be an expert in the subject. However, I know enough of the subject to know that not only the politicians need to learn it, but the public servants and the rakyat also need to be aware of it.
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Last year, in my second post on this blog, I referred to Albert Einstein’s quote,

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

In that post, I quoted the genius in the context of our choice of government for Malaysia. At that point, obviously, I only thought of Einstein’s quote in that context.

Now, after a rather long and arduous year, I’ve got a different take on that quote. My new take may reach the same preference in so far as whom we should vote for in the imminent general elections, but it is significantly different insofar as how we should approach the “political” question in Malaysia.
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The Malaysian authorities must have something against human rights. Earlier this year, our very own Malaysian Human Rights Day was marred by a police shooting of people gathering in peace (see an earlier posting). Then, two days ago, on the eve of International Human Rights Day, the authorities decided to crackdown on lawyers and people who exercised their right to peaceful assembly and also others who have earlier pushed for clean and fair elections. The crackdown was followed by a shameful day in court, on Human Rights Day itself.

Just as history is written by the victors, stories are told by those in power (especially those who control the media). In court yesterday, the Attorney General, who was personally prosecuting the case against the lawyers and activists, repeatedly used the phrase “larger interest of the public”. He was attempting to persuade the court to deny bail on the basis that these people’s freedom would undermine the so-called larger interest of the public.
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I feel that the Bar Council’s decision to call off the walk to commemorate Human Rights Day is wrong and disappointing. There does not seem to be any clear indication as to why the walk has been called off, apart from some vague reference to the need to apply for a police permit.

It is disappointing and ironic indeed that the Bar Council have to kowtow to undemocratic and unjust laws on the occasion that is supposed to celebrate and advance human rights in our country. In light of recent events, I believe that there is all the more reason that the Bar Council and Malaysian Bar should be taking the lead to fight for rights and freedoms that every Malaysian is entitled to.
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I find it rather ironic that on the day chosen to celebrate human rights in Malaysia, we hear of news that the police have used live bullets to disperse people who have gone to attend a ceramah in Kuala Terengganu. (As expected, the mainstream media have distorted the news. For a more balanced report, see Malaysiakini’s coverage.)

When I heard this news yesterday, I was at a Suhakam conference in Kuala Lumpur. The conference was entitled “Human Rights & Election”. The ceramah in Kuala Terengganu was organised by Bersih, a coalition for clean and fair elections, on 8 September – the eve of the Malaysian Human Rights Day.
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