NEW Now that Musa Hassan has exchanged his uniform for civilian clothes, he is no longer beholden to his political masters. But his job is far from over. He has one last task to complete. Musa dropped a bombshell when he spilled the beans about third-party interference in the work of the police force. So his duty to the nation is clear-cut: tell the people what transpired at Bukit Aman when he was the Inspector-General of Police. He levelled serious allegations against his former employers and he must stand in the court of public opinion or law to give his evidence. He has created a storm which will not subside until the truth is out.
However, he will not have an easy time. It is very likely he will be stopped in his track. His ex-bosses are not above resorting to dirty tricks to silence him if they have to. He may face charges of wrongdoings and may end up behind bars – and the “secrets”, if any, will never be known. But one would like to believe that Musa will not buckle under pressure. He fought many criminals when he was the top gun; he must display the same level of courage to meet his new opponents who are more powerful, devious, dangerous.
A persistent question that cropped up when Musa stirred up the hornest' nest is: why now? The answer is simple: before, he must obey the government; now, he obeys his conscience. While in uniform, his sole duty was to carry out orders. He might not like what he was told to do, but his was not to argue. He might be armed but the government called the shots. Under his tenure as the top law enforcer, many unpleasant events took place for which he must take the blame. But he could not be acting on his own. Every decision must have the imprimatur of his political paymasters. Musa was a mere cog in the gigantic bureaucratic wheel.
The government may be a potent force but the “most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire”. Musa is on fire now. He has hurled a thunderbolt at his former employers in the first shot of what could be a long, bruising fight. The odds are staked against him. Two powerful cousins stand in his way. Two men who could be his undoing. Two politicians who can open or close files at will. Very likely the duo will move fast to forestall the impending attacks. Especially if the former “servant” was privy to some horrible secrets. Shorn of protection, the civilian Musa can expect concentrated fire with little hope of rescue. The only insurance against unfair treatment will be the eternal vigilance of the people.
Was Musa being “ungrateful”? The implication is he should keep his trap shut because the government had been so kind to him. Every month he got his morsel of food on his table, with perks thrown in as befitted his rank. He was well taken care of. He should thank his lucky star that he got the top job. He just had to stay obedient and carry out orders on the double. No questions asked. Down the years, Musa might have exhibited some streaks of independence and might have pushed for some reforms, with little success.
But Musa is probably no angel himself. He was harshly criticised in some quarters who believed “he should never have been appointed the nation's top dog in the first place”. Many remembered his dubious role in the Sodomy I trial. Others blamed him for the high crime rate. Some even discovered his purported links with the underworld. He was reportedly miffed at the decision of his boss not to renew his contract for the third time and thus turned sour. Finally, when he had to be put out to pasture, it was good riddance to a “bad cop”. Now comes his explosive revelations, with all their ramifications.
The truth is hidden somewhere. Musa has drawn first blood. He must expect a rapid counter-punch from his enraged employers. The fight will be nasty: Musa will not be let off easily. He will be thoroughly discredited. His “criminal” past, if proven, will be his undoing. But if this tough crime-buster stands on solid ground, and can furnish proof that something rotten is eating into the vitals of the police force, it would at least do the country some good. At a time when the image of the law enforcers is nothing to shout about, Musa's last task will go a long way to help make the men in blue a force to be reckoned with and not despised. Musa has a story to tell. Let him tell it.
Editorial
www.freemalaysiatoday.com
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Its realy a sad day for me.....my beloved 5 years old dog( Shih Tzu Mix breed )died today morning.Unfortunately in the past four days he was suffer with arthiritis pain. yesterday he began to get worse and started to cry the whole day.hmmmm today i buried him out side of my house and my tears flow like rain,even now....
It’s like losing some part of my life.uknow he was just the most amazing companian to me.
hmmmm... I miss him very much…
My people, my enemy
NEW Malaysia is not facing an external threat. Our military force need not flex its muscles or be put on red alert. Our neighbours do not pose a danger to us. But yet the menace is there: it is not coming from outside; it is originating from inside the borders. The peril we face today is the result of our own doing. The opposing armies are politicians of various badges. Throw in the religious bigots, racist madcaps, wacky supremacists and the pot is ready to boil over.
Judging by all the strident noises made, the situation is getting out of control. It is reaching a pitch of hysteria as overt and covert intimidations are made. A partisan newspaper is adding more fuel to the fire and the government itself is creating a climate of fear with its repeated resurrection of the May 13 ghost. Even the schools have become breeding ground for intolerance and hatred. Some may think it is all posturing, especially with the next general election looming. Others may dismiss the clash of tempers and raw emotions as mere play-acting, which will end in goodwill and handshakes. The incontrovertible fact is, the threat of civil strife is real and ever-present.
Our boast is Malaysia is a good lesson in racial harmony, political stability and religious tolerance. This is true except that it sounds hollow. It rings false when bull-headed politicians throw principles out of the window, when die-hard extremists issue threats of retaliation in defence of failed policies, when parochial-minded racists cast slurs with impunity, when obnoxious supremacists flaunt their repulsive doctrine without a care for others who have humbly toiled to build the country to what it is today.
The faces of an important segment of the population have become so hideous to the dominant race that they want them all to go back to their ancestral motherland. They think that this broad, sunlit land has no place for so-called “passengers”. If they had their way, they would like to do what many countries the world over had done with horrendous effect – ethnic cleansing or genocide. Numerical strength has bred in them so much arrogance and insolence that co-existence has become an alien, repugnant political vocabulary. They would rather shed blood than smoke the pipe of peace.
The government knows the tension is palpable. Unfortunately, it relishes the prospect of seeing the country careening down the slope. Why? Simply because keeping the country on the edge of the precipice will work to its advantage. By playing on the anxiety of the people, it can prolong its stay and go on feasting on the wealth of the country. With uninterrupted hold on power, comes the licence to browbeat the opposition, to cow the other races, to force through draconian laws. In all those 50 long years, the country had witnessed many tumultuous events – the shout of freedom, the war of the running dogs, the Crush Malaysia campaign, the race riot, the infamous Operasi Lalang, political tsunami – some were defining moments, some a blot on the record. Some were credible threats, some an excuse to muffle dissent.
A defining moment must be an indelible event that will turn the country around to a better future. We do not see this promise on the horizon. We only see the dark shadows of warrior politicians. Yet again, the politicians – elected to preserve, defend, and uphold the rule of law – joined by the sons of the soil and right-wing extremists, are raising a war cry, and their enemies are their fellow citizens: “passengers”, “sweaty, unclean children”, downtrodden minorities, deprived students, political allies, church-goers; in short, all and sundry who do not enjoy special privileges. Yet again, the rabble-rousers are giving dark hints of igniting a bigger fire as if they are seeking the Final Solution. Yet again, one domineering ethnic group wants to stand tall on the bones of fallen citizens.
No one cares to stop and spare some thoughts on the consequences of another outbreak of violence. No one wants to sit down and listen to the voice of moderation and common sense. No one wants to take the highway to peace and reconciliation. All are blinded by the virulence of their loathing for their own people. All want to teach a lesson merely to drive home some dubious message. All seek to destroy the ideals of the founding fathers. With one shrill accord, the so-called master race and their respresentatives have issued a clarion call for action -- against their own citizens. But the choice Malaysia faces today is stark: Build the country together, or destroy the country together. Then again, in the fight to the finish, there will be no winners, no losers.
editoril: www.freemalaysiatoday.com
Judging by all the strident noises made, the situation is getting out of control. It is reaching a pitch of hysteria as overt and covert intimidations are made. A partisan newspaper is adding more fuel to the fire and the government itself is creating a climate of fear with its repeated resurrection of the May 13 ghost. Even the schools have become breeding ground for intolerance and hatred. Some may think it is all posturing, especially with the next general election looming. Others may dismiss the clash of tempers and raw emotions as mere play-acting, which will end in goodwill and handshakes. The incontrovertible fact is, the threat of civil strife is real and ever-present.
Our boast is Malaysia is a good lesson in racial harmony, political stability and religious tolerance. This is true except that it sounds hollow. It rings false when bull-headed politicians throw principles out of the window, when die-hard extremists issue threats of retaliation in defence of failed policies, when parochial-minded racists cast slurs with impunity, when obnoxious supremacists flaunt their repulsive doctrine without a care for others who have humbly toiled to build the country to what it is today.
The faces of an important segment of the population have become so hideous to the dominant race that they want them all to go back to their ancestral motherland. They think that this broad, sunlit land has no place for so-called “passengers”. If they had their way, they would like to do what many countries the world over had done with horrendous effect – ethnic cleansing or genocide. Numerical strength has bred in them so much arrogance and insolence that co-existence has become an alien, repugnant political vocabulary. They would rather shed blood than smoke the pipe of peace.
The government knows the tension is palpable. Unfortunately, it relishes the prospect of seeing the country careening down the slope. Why? Simply because keeping the country on the edge of the precipice will work to its advantage. By playing on the anxiety of the people, it can prolong its stay and go on feasting on the wealth of the country. With uninterrupted hold on power, comes the licence to browbeat the opposition, to cow the other races, to force through draconian laws. In all those 50 long years, the country had witnessed many tumultuous events – the shout of freedom, the war of the running dogs, the Crush Malaysia campaign, the race riot, the infamous Operasi Lalang, political tsunami – some were defining moments, some a blot on the record. Some were credible threats, some an excuse to muffle dissent.
A defining moment must be an indelible event that will turn the country around to a better future. We do not see this promise on the horizon. We only see the dark shadows of warrior politicians. Yet again, the politicians – elected to preserve, defend, and uphold the rule of law – joined by the sons of the soil and right-wing extremists, are raising a war cry, and their enemies are their fellow citizens: “passengers”, “sweaty, unclean children”, downtrodden minorities, deprived students, political allies, church-goers; in short, all and sundry who do not enjoy special privileges. Yet again, the rabble-rousers are giving dark hints of igniting a bigger fire as if they are seeking the Final Solution. Yet again, one domineering ethnic group wants to stand tall on the bones of fallen citizens.
No one cares to stop and spare some thoughts on the consequences of another outbreak of violence. No one wants to sit down and listen to the voice of moderation and common sense. No one wants to take the highway to peace and reconciliation. All are blinded by the virulence of their loathing for their own people. All want to teach a lesson merely to drive home some dubious message. All seek to destroy the ideals of the founding fathers. With one shrill accord, the so-called master race and their respresentatives have issued a clarion call for action -- against their own citizens. But the choice Malaysia faces today is stark: Build the country together, or destroy the country together. Then again, in the fight to the finish, there will be no winners, no losers.
editoril: www.freemalaysiatoday.com
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The White Rajah and his business empire
NEW When the wealth of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud was exposed to public viewing, the reaction was one of utter disgust. How could a political animal earning RM20,000 a month amassed such a colossal fortune? Where did he get all the extras? Was his massive business empire built on legitimate foundation? Or was it all ill-gotten gains? Of course, where he gets his money and what he does with it is his private affair. But when a person holds a high public office, he is no longer in control of his personal domain. It becomes public property and thus subject to scrutiny. If a person has nothing to hide, he has nothing to fear. Only when he covers his misdeeds, is he open to censure and even trial.
The most disturbing aspect of the whole sordid affair is that Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, is still mired in poverty while the man controlling its destiny is fabulously rich. The Land of the Hornbills was once ruled by the White Rajahs whose paternalistic reign lasted for 100 years. In all those years, the indigenous people were protected against exploitation. Then came eventual independence in the larger Malaysian federation. And now comes another White Rajah who has been around for nearly 30 years. In that period, he grew powerful and became well-heeled. He ruled the state like as if it is his fiefdom. No one dared stepped on his toes, not even the federal masters, past or present.
But Taib is not living in the Stone Age. An intrepid news portal, The Sarawak Report, was all this while probing into his wealth. It followed his trail of affluence and discovered, to the horror of the public, the source of his minted money: he and his family members owned an “overseas business empire worth billions of ringgit”. When the pot of gold was unearthed, the White Rajah hit the roof and wanted the public to believe it is all lies. But the documented proof is solid and indisputable. It is pointless for him to claim innocence: the whole world knows his billionaire status. A public figure cannot run and hide in a hole and expect the storm to blow over. It won't.
The tempest is still raging. The White Rajah must explain to quell the growing anger. He must speak the truth or resign on moral grounds. But he chose to keep quiet. He gives the impression that he is in total control of the situation. In the absence of his side of the story, the allegations against him stand: he made his pile from land, forestry, and palm oil concessions. Most of the projects went to his family members and cronies. They all became rich while the indigenous population – Melanaus, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Penans – continues to wallow in misery. The White Rajah stays in a palatial mansion but the indigenous people have to fight to keep their ancestral lands. In many encounters, they lost out to the combined might of the police, army and timber merchants. Taib does not want to share his wealth with his people. He does not want the natives to block his “rape”of the virgin environment.
Sarawak is rich in natural resources. Taib knows it. The people know it. But what Taib did not want the people to know is his plundering of the state's wealth. For 30 long years he has been the master of all he surveys. During all those years, he could have used his power to enrich the people. Instead he enriched himself. He did have his dream. He told the people about his vision: he wanted to make Sarawak the richest state in Malaysia by 2030. Which means he wants to stay around for another 20 years. God forbid.
editorial WWW.FREEMALAYSIATODAY.COM
The most disturbing aspect of the whole sordid affair is that Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, is still mired in poverty while the man controlling its destiny is fabulously rich. The Land of the Hornbills was once ruled by the White Rajahs whose paternalistic reign lasted for 100 years. In all those years, the indigenous people were protected against exploitation. Then came eventual independence in the larger Malaysian federation. And now comes another White Rajah who has been around for nearly 30 years. In that period, he grew powerful and became well-heeled. He ruled the state like as if it is his fiefdom. No one dared stepped on his toes, not even the federal masters, past or present.
But Taib is not living in the Stone Age. An intrepid news portal, The Sarawak Report, was all this while probing into his wealth. It followed his trail of affluence and discovered, to the horror of the public, the source of his minted money: he and his family members owned an “overseas business empire worth billions of ringgit”. When the pot of gold was unearthed, the White Rajah hit the roof and wanted the public to believe it is all lies. But the documented proof is solid and indisputable. It is pointless for him to claim innocence: the whole world knows his billionaire status. A public figure cannot run and hide in a hole and expect the storm to blow over. It won't.
The tempest is still raging. The White Rajah must explain to quell the growing anger. He must speak the truth or resign on moral grounds. But he chose to keep quiet. He gives the impression that he is in total control of the situation. In the absence of his side of the story, the allegations against him stand: he made his pile from land, forestry, and palm oil concessions. Most of the projects went to his family members and cronies. They all became rich while the indigenous population – Melanaus, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Penans – continues to wallow in misery. The White Rajah stays in a palatial mansion but the indigenous people have to fight to keep their ancestral lands. In many encounters, they lost out to the combined might of the police, army and timber merchants. Taib does not want to share his wealth with his people. He does not want the natives to block his “rape”of the virgin environment.
Sarawak is rich in natural resources. Taib knows it. The people know it. But what Taib did not want the people to know is his plundering of the state's wealth. For 30 long years he has been the master of all he surveys. During all those years, he could have used his power to enrich the people. Instead he enriched himself. He did have his dream. He told the people about his vision: he wanted to make Sarawak the richest state in Malaysia by 2030. Which means he wants to stay around for another 20 years. God forbid.
editorial WWW.FREEMALAYSIATODAY.COM
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Price hikes can make a country sick
NEW At the stroke of midnight, a “thief” crept into the homes of all Malaysians while they were sound asleep. He did not intend to steal their material possessions. He did worse – he left a note on their breakfast table, which shook them up the next day. They read: “Sugar up! Petrol up! Diesel up! Natural gas up!” Unbeknown to them, the man who stays in Putrajaya was working overtime on this piece of bad news and had surreptitiously delivered the blow at a time when most people are in slumber land. But some got wind of his secret intention – they rushed to the petrol stations and joined the long queue to fill up their tanks.
Yes, the prime minister had hinted sometime ago that the people must be prepared for subsidy cuts and the consequent side-effects. Even one of his ministers had warned that the country would go bankrupt if the subsidy crutch is not removed. The leaders were softening us up before moving in for the kill. But the timing of their “attack” was heartless. With Hari Raya around the corner, they dropped the bombs and snuffed out the lights of joy.
Editorial -Free Malaysia Today- visit :www.freemalaysiatoday.com
We have no quarrel with the government's aim to save money from the subsidy cuts. The savings is huge – RM750 million a year. But the government has not been thrifty with its spending. Billions of ringgit had gone down the drain because of mismanagement and the greed for money. Even the RM750 million will disappear into the black hole in no time. Trimming down the subsidy fats is not the answer to a strong and healthy nation. The millions saved will not make us leaner simply because a spendthrift government, long in power and awashed with so many sins, cannot and will not change its bad ways.
When the New Economic Model was thrust onto the public stage, there was general consternation. The new-born baby was not even brought to parliament for a ritual of debate and confirmation. It came into the world bawling for attention but the citizens paid little heed to it. Likewise, there was no debate about the intended price hikes or consultation with the man in the street. Instead, the whole bundle was dumped on us with the cynical remark that a rise in the price of sugar will set you free from the clutches of diabetes. It is not a sweet reasoning; it is ludicrous and ill-thought.
In a democracy, nothing must be kept in the closet. All matters of national importance must be aired openly. Everyone has the right to know what is good for them. But the prime minister of Malaysia wants to operate deep down the bunker where plans are forged on the anvil of secrecy. It seems that there is an official price schedule kept closely to the premier's chest in which is laid out plans for additional increases in the price of sugar, cooking gas and other consumer products. Why isn't the prime minister telling us about it? Why keep mum when he knows full well that inflation rates will soar if he continues with another round of price hikes?
Malaysians are a mature lot. It insults their intelligence when spurious arguments are used to advance a national agenda. It angers them when steps are taken in a cloak-and-dagger manner. It riles them when leaders talked with a forked tongue as they mould the destiny of the country. Ordinary people who daily wage a battle to survive may not understand the complexities of economic management, but they do feel acutely the effects of ill-conceived plans. It is not rocket science to know that when prices go up, the country is in deep trouble. Then the prime minister cannot tell the people to eat bread because the price of a loaf is too high.
Editorial -FREE MALAYSIA TODAY-
Yes, the prime minister had hinted sometime ago that the people must be prepared for subsidy cuts and the consequent side-effects. Even one of his ministers had warned that the country would go bankrupt if the subsidy crutch is not removed. The leaders were softening us up before moving in for the kill. But the timing of their “attack” was heartless. With Hari Raya around the corner, they dropped the bombs and snuffed out the lights of joy.
Editorial -Free Malaysia Today- visit :www.freemalaysiatoday.com
We have no quarrel with the government's aim to save money from the subsidy cuts. The savings is huge – RM750 million a year. But the government has not been thrifty with its spending. Billions of ringgit had gone down the drain because of mismanagement and the greed for money. Even the RM750 million will disappear into the black hole in no time. Trimming down the subsidy fats is not the answer to a strong and healthy nation. The millions saved will not make us leaner simply because a spendthrift government, long in power and awashed with so many sins, cannot and will not change its bad ways.
When the New Economic Model was thrust onto the public stage, there was general consternation. The new-born baby was not even brought to parliament for a ritual of debate and confirmation. It came into the world bawling for attention but the citizens paid little heed to it. Likewise, there was no debate about the intended price hikes or consultation with the man in the street. Instead, the whole bundle was dumped on us with the cynical remark that a rise in the price of sugar will set you free from the clutches of diabetes. It is not a sweet reasoning; it is ludicrous and ill-thought.
In a democracy, nothing must be kept in the closet. All matters of national importance must be aired openly. Everyone has the right to know what is good for them. But the prime minister of Malaysia wants to operate deep down the bunker where plans are forged on the anvil of secrecy. It seems that there is an official price schedule kept closely to the premier's chest in which is laid out plans for additional increases in the price of sugar, cooking gas and other consumer products. Why isn't the prime minister telling us about it? Why keep mum when he knows full well that inflation rates will soar if he continues with another round of price hikes?
Malaysians are a mature lot. It insults their intelligence when spurious arguments are used to advance a national agenda. It angers them when steps are taken in a cloak-and-dagger manner. It riles them when leaders talked with a forked tongue as they mould the destiny of the country. Ordinary people who daily wage a battle to survive may not understand the complexities of economic management, but they do feel acutely the effects of ill-conceived plans. It is not rocket science to know that when prices go up, the country is in deep trouble. Then the prime minister cannot tell the people to eat bread because the price of a loaf is too high.
Editorial -FREE MALAYSIA TODAY-
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