Friday, April 18, 2008

When Wives, Children Are A Liability

A Kadir Jasin

[When commenting, your real identity is preferred. But a suitable pseudonym is accepted. If you have to use anonymous, please print your name or pen name at the bottom of your message. Please avoid seditious, defamatory and libelous statements. Unrelated comments will not be given priority.]

IN the many years that I was involved in reporting, observing and “handling” general elections, I have not seen such a widespread backlash against nepotism and cronyism as in the March 8 polls.

Although the allegations centered on the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, members of his immediate family, his private office and a handful of friends, the impact they had on Umno and the Barisan Nasional was crippling.

Abdullah was seen as being under the spell and influence of these people to the extent that he sidestepped the party.

On the other hand, a number of high-flying candidates benefited from their political pedigree.

Mukhriz Mahathir won the hard fought contest against Pas in the Jerlun parliamentary seat in Kedah partly because he is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son.

Anwar Ibrahim’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail retained her Permatang Pauh seat with a huge margin despite the blitzkrieg “gempur” by the Umno Youth Chief Hishammuddin Hussein.
Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah did equally well by unseating the popular Lembah Pantai incumbent Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

As a growing number of politicians’ children followed their footsteps public scrutiny increases. I had stated in my Other Thots column in the Malaysian Business magazine in 2004, that although this was not an altogether new phenomenon, the elevation of these young people to key positions had raised eyebrows.

There is nothing wrong in children of politicians tracing their fathers’ (or mothers’) footsteps.

Second Prime Minister, Tun Hussien Onn was the son of Umno founder Onn Jaafar. Today his son, Hishamuddin, is youth chief and Education Minister.

The present Prime Minister is a third-generation Umno leader. His father was a member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly and his grandfather was a respected Umno ulama (clergy).

Current Deputy Prime Minister, Mohd Najib, is the son of second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussain. Upon his father’s death in 1976, he took over his Pekan constituency at the age of 23. He went on to become the youngest ever Menteri Besar.

But nobody rose to prominence faster, more sensationally and controversially than the Umno Youth vice-chief and, since March 9, the Member of Parliament for Rembau, Khairy Jamaluddin. His meteoric rise started when he was appointed Abdullah’s special officer and later married his daughter.

Mukhriz, at 44, is much older than Khairy. He entered active politics only after his father retired in 2003. After suffering a humiliating defeat in his attempt to become the Youth Chief of Kubang Pasu in 2004, he redeemed himself by garnering the highest votes in the youth wing election.

The new Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, has been an addendum to his father’s politics for more than two decades.

Being in the opposition, his rise to power took a long, hard road, including spending 18 months under ISA detention and two concurrent 18-month jail terms for conviction under the Sedition Act and Printing Presses & Publications Act.

Following in Guan Eng’s footsteps is Karpal Singh’s son Gobind Singh Deo who won a thumping victory in Puchong. There are other sons, daughters, sons-and daughters-in-law who are today in the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.

But not all children of top politicians who followed their fathers’ footsteps succeeded. In fact, a few failed miserably while others are poor copies of their fathers.

Allow me to share with you an excerpt from my Other Thots Column in the Business Times on the subject of politicians’ wives and children, which was published in the October 1-15, 2003 issue of the magazine. I wrote it days before Abdullah became Prime Minister.

“THUS, it is not unexpected that many people are hoping that Abdullah would do likewise when he takes over next month- that is to use the general election as the basis for the formation of his team.

“Umno, the BN and the government would do well to introduce young blood, regenerate and reinvent.

“Since many of today’s senior leader have been in office as long as, or, in the case or some, longer than Dr Mahathir, they have become set in their ways.

“While the longevity of their political careers says a lot about their ability as politicians and administrators, many of them have been reduced to defending their actions instead of advancing the interest of party, government and the people.

“Sad as it may be, this is only to be expected. When they first became ministers, menteris besar or chief ministers, they were young, enthusiastic and, in rare cases, even idealistic.

“Their children were still in school and their spouses were just plain isteri Yang Berhormat (wives of honourable members).

“Today, their children are influential politicians and big –time businessmen. Their wives are the power behind the throne. For some of them, their children and spouses have become political liability.

“Even as we speak of the succession, the wife factor seems not to escape public attention. For the good or evil, the wife factor seems to be of great significance of the public.

“Whereas Malaysians in general have come to expect their leaders to have a stable – for the lack of better words – family life, the wife factor has, in recent years, become an important factor as more and more politicians’ wives are drawn into their husbands’ political activities.

“Dr Mahathir and Datin Seri Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali are seen as the perfect political couple. Although Dr Siti Hasmah participates in her husband’s political and social activities, she is seen as being above any personal or private agenda.

“The reality is Dr Siti Hasmah has played an important role in Dr Mahathir’s political career from the very beginning.

“When Dr Mahathir first became an MP in the Kota Star Selatan constituency in 1964, it was Dr Siti Hasmah who helped draw the womenfolk to his cause.

“She was seen as being more approachable and down to earth than the shy Dr Mahathir.

“With so many important things ahead, let us pray that Abdullah is spared the headache of having to deal with politik isteri and anak menteri (the politics of ministers’ wives and children).”

On March 8, the voters sent a very strong signal. I am sure Umno and the BN leaders are more aware than ever before that their wives, children and sons-and daughters-in-law can turn out to be a liability.

I have repeatedly stressed that we voted for our representatives. We did not vote for their spouses, children, sons-and daughters-in-law, friends and cronies.

It’s incumbent upon them to listen to people and not to their spouses and members of their families. They are, after all, elected representatives and not kings and emperors.

Note: The Oxford English Dictionary defines nepotism as: Favouritism shown to relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. Origin is Italian nepotismo, from nipote ‘nephew’ (with reference to privileges bestowed on the ‘nephews’ of popes, often really their illegitimate sons.)

Cronyism is often defined as favouritism shown to old friends without regard for their qualifications, as in political appointments to office. It’s from Greek khronios, which means long-standing.

55 comments:

mn said...

A.kum Datuk,

1. Kali ini i tak nak komen apa-apa cuma nak Datuk sahkan perkara ini...20 Apr 2008 jam 8.40 malam di TV1?

2. Adakah benar Datuk akan diundang oleh RTM untuk bercakap mengenai isu 'Blogger'?

3. Jika benar, saya harap nanti Datuk jgn lupa beritahu kini terdapt 'satu blog' yang mendapat sambutan begitu hangat dari pembaca/pelayar internet iaitu 'penyokong-kj.blogspot.com'.

4. Penulisnya 'su-kj'.Dia sokong semua dan dia hentam semua ! Malah kehadapan mungkin dia boleh mengalih sebuah kerajaan kepada kerajaan lain dengan menggunakan penulisannya.

5. Jika perantaranya ialah En Hashim, minta Datuk sampaikan salam saya kepadanya. Akhir Dec tahun lepas saya ada jumpa beliau di Nisa Restaurant, Hanoi. Dia datang bersama 25 orang rombongan RTM.

http://www.penyokong-kj.blogspot.com

AbGJaS said...

Salam Dato' AKJ,
Saya mohon bercakap di luar tajuk post Datuk kali ini:

Semenjak pra dan pasca PRU12, saya agak ‘terluang’ sikit membaca blog/ laman web berunsur politik – sekadar nak mengetahui isu-isu semasa. Maklumlah, rumah yg siap tak begitu kukuh, justeru pahat dan penukul masih berbunyi.

Namun suatu yg paling menjengkelkan saya dalam kebanyakan laman web/blog ialah penggunaan ungkapan dan kata yg langsung tidak beradab oleh segelintir penulis terutamanya pemberi komen. Tentu saya maklum perkara ni bukanlah baru, namun saya lihat ianya semakin menjadi-jadi kebelakangan ini.

Kutukan, hinaan, carutan, makian, sumpahan, seperti langsung tiada batas sempadan.
Bahkan orang yg sudah meninggal dunia turut menjadi bahan umpatan. Kata-kata “si polan tu kini sedang reput di Neraka” cukup melampau bagi saya. Menurut fahaman Sunnah, roh hanya ditempatkan di Syurga atau Neraka selepas kiamat. Apakah kita mahu mendahului takdir Allah?


Saya pasti ada yg mentertawakan saya yg seperti baru celik dan macam tak biasa dgn fenomena ini. Namun saya tertanya-tanya adakah Tuhan ‘mengangkat’ pena dosa dan pahala di alam siber ini? ‘Sama waati wal ardh’ itu mungkinkah saja tidak termasuk ‘alam siber’ (maaf, saya tak tahu istilah Arabnya) ?

Khususnya kepada mereka yg muslim, kita sama-sama bertanggung jawab terhadap perbuatan kita, sebesar atau sekecil zarah pun. Dan saya turut yakin, semua agama lain di dunia ini menganjurkan penganutnya berbudi pekerti mulia.

Namun saya melihat seperti ada nilai baru dalam masyrakat kini yg ‘menghalalkan’ apa juga kaedah untuk yg kononnya bertujuan membetulkan kemungkaran.
“Tak mempan dek nasihat, maka makian lah jawabnya”; atau “si polan itu memang tak layak dilayan dgn baik lantaran SEGUNUNG dosanya”, demikian hujah mereka.

Sebutir atau segunung dosa seseorang, masuk syurga atau neraka bukanlah hak kita utk menilainya. Semuanya muktamad di tangan Allah S.W.T .

Mungkin pula ada yg menempelak, ahhh…itu semua cakap-cakap politik yg tak perlu diambil kira mahupun diambil hati; Kalau takut dilambung ombak, usah berumah di tepi pantai.

Justeru saya mengulang soalan saya tadi, adakah pena dosa dan pahala ‘diangkat’ di alam siber?

P/S: Sekurang-kurangnya masih ada blog yg bersusila seperti The Scribe – terima kasih Dato’.

Anonymous said...

A great piece. Now politics is based on popularity alone. Credibility, integrity and other qualities of a leader is discounted. That is why the son and the wife can become a leader easier than the rest.
Malaysia is becoming like India, USA etc. Artist in Malaysia should now learn and realize that they hold the power of change. They can even become ministers and mayors if they decide on this path after they decide to quit acting. May be in another 15-20 years we will have our MAWI as our Prime Minister, who knows?

FARABI said...

Salam Dato'

Boleh saya nak bertanya sesuatu kepada Dato'? Bolehkah saya nak copy dan paste kan artikel dato' yang ini di laman blog sya? sya akan sertakan sekali dengan rujukan laman blog dato'.


~ Al-Farabi
http://myhottips.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Your opinion is very true, datuk...
I'm very please to say it again,we vote for our representative, not someone's daughter or wife etc...
There should be a distance between ADR @ menteri and his/her wife/husband/relative during crititical desicion or decision made for rakyat..
In these recent years, rakyat not seen it under PM admin....tq

Anonymous said...

dah jadi lumrah.....celik politik dikalangan anak dan menantu org politik...mereka lebih diberi peluang oleh parti berbanding orang luar.

nampaknya kebanyakannya untuk memenuhi agenda masing2
-mungkin perniagaan...
-mungkin survivor kedudukan
-mungkin balas dendam



Kepentingan agama bangsa dan negara mungkin no 2 atau ke berapa. yg pastinya bukan no 1. susah nak cari yg betul2 berjuang utk kepentingan agama, bangsa dan negara....

anak orang Umno tak semestinya sokong Umno...

Samuel Goh Kim Eng said...

It's okay to follow their famous parents' footsteps
If children are fully qualified in their own rights
As long as they don't climb unfairly on others as steps
And use their parents' wings to take fast flights

(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 180408
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
http://msi.Rocky101.com
Fri. 18th April 2008.

Rina said...

Datuk,
Di Dunia yang fana ini, hanya Ibu, bapa, saudara mara dan keturunan yang tidak boleh dipilih, kerana ia adalah ketentuan Ilahi.Tetapi, kawan dan pemimpin boleh dipilih.Oleh sebab itu saya tidak akan memilih pemimpin UMNO yang ada unsur keturunan di kampong saya. Saya tidak akan memilih wakil rakyat dari manapun parti kalau ada timbul kaitan dengan keturunan.Kenapa? Datuk sudah melihat dan menjawabnya.

Samuel Goh Kim Eng said...

There's always fear that nepotism
With its inherent built-in favouritism
Will eventually lead to despotism
That nobody really wants even as mere criticism

(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 180408
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
http://msi.Rocky101.com
Fri. 18th April 2008.

Anonymous said...

Dato'

As you have written there is nothing wrong in extending your parents legacy if its for the good of the country and society.

My late father was very political even though he was a government civil servant. He fought for independence that he was being hunted by our British colonial masters while he was still in university.

He continued that fight by being the best that he could be whilst he was a PTD officer.

I too had chosen to fight justice like he had in my own way by using the knowledge and education that has been given to me under NEP.

What irks me is really the entitlement that the elitist attitude of the political wives and children. They somehow forget that their spouse or parents or forefathers prior has fought for independence so that we can manage ourselves. They had become selfish and somehow forget at the end of the day by ripping off our generation of today is at the expense of our future generations.

I do not think this is the legacy that their forefathers had envisioned. We have so much resources available to us and we are so blessed as a nation and yet we cannot feed ourselves without resorting to imports...is just one example.

We waste our talents and our time when we can be a great nation because we allow ourselves (I too take this responsibility) because we do not have the ability to be bigger persons and languidly stay within our own personal interest in surviving.

I only have one questions to these avaricious group...How much is enough?

Keturunan Jebat

malay-tree said...

suara-suara seni rakyat marhain. suara melayu yang tenggelam dilanggar arus kemodenan. aku bangkit dari lobang gelap. dengan kain pelikat duduk menghisap rokok daun. mencari ketenangan dibawah pohon ketapang. menyuluh malam dengan ‘torchlight’. melihat Kuala Lumpur dari mata manusia Melayu yang benci pencemaran alam. yang menolak kebisingan. yang memandang sinis enjin dan ekzos. menyelusuri kaki lima dengan hanya berselipar. menolak ‘inferiority complex’. aku mencari ketenangan di tangga-tangga Masjid. meneruskan hidup dari kaca mata ‘fish-eye’. melihat intergriti dan kredibiliti sebagai hukum hakam. si pengganas intelek… bergelumang dengan sub-budaya. menelurusi peluru media. lalu aku bangkit memandang sebagai manusia Melayu. Melayu itu Islam. Islam bukan teroris!

Aku bangkit mengutip…cabang-cabang pemikiran Melayu kontemporari. Bertahan dibawah ‘Pokok Melayu’ (malay-tree)…

Jemput masuk blog ini: http//malay-tree.blogspot.com

Letting the time pass me by said...

In my opinion, a good leader or politician must not let his or her family members interfere with the formal affairs. Maybe in occasions such as family days or other informal activities, is ok, but to let family members really involve in the decision making process is unaccpetable..

But if every family members is involved actively in politics, well I cannot really comment on this. If I remember, when Bill Clinton is the US President, Hillary is just playing the role of the first lady and not an active politician...

Hey, maybe we can be the first country in the world who have the Husband as Prime Minister and the wife as Deputy Prime inister and the Daughther as the Finance Ministry, well that will really a Guiness Book of Record.....

Anonymous said...

pandai la hang dok mereka mcm-mcm .. kacau orang nak tidoq aja ..

raja2u said...

YBhg Dato',

Assalamualaikum,

Selepas berbahas dengan panjang lebar bersabit dengan layaknya atau tidak seseorang itu mendudukki kerusi Presiden UMNO kita sekarang berpindah ke satu tajuk yang amat menarik , iaitu bersabit dengan patut atau tidak seseorang itu membawa orang yang rapat dengannya kegelanggang politik untuk mengganti tempatnya atau berganding dengannya.

Bukan semua orang yang berani melibatkan dirinya dalam politik kerana menganggap risikonya tinggi. Tiada juga sebarang sekatan untuk seseorang memasukki politik melainkan mereka bankrup , dihukum kerana kesalahan jenayah dan sebagainya.Untuk bertanding pula kosnya tinggi dan tidak semua orang mampu.Motif sebenar kenaikkan kos untuk bertanding adalah samada bertujuan menghadkan kepada hanya mereka yang serious sahaja atau pun untuk menjadikan wakil rakyat dari kalangan mereka yang mampu sahaja yang menjurus kepada keahlian kelab exclusive.

Kalau kita ambil pilihan raya 2008 sebagai kayu pengukur dimana rakyat membuat pilihan mengikut selera mereka maka kita tak perlu risau sesiapa menawarkan diri mereka untuk bertanding kerana rakyat sekarang ini lebih dinamik dan berani membuat keputusan sendiri siapa yang mereka hendak undi.Pada masa-masa hadapan adalah dijangkakan pengundi tidak lagi terikat untuk mengundi sesiapa yang mereka tidak suka.Jadi pada masa itu mudah-mudahan calun yang menang adalah atas merit mereka sendiri dan tidak oleh kerana contact atau kabel seseornag itu dengan saudara mara yang berkuasa atau berpengaruh.Semetara kita sampai keperingkat itu kita perlu berlapang dada mengandaikan mereka yang terpilh itu adalah pilihan rakyat.

Raja Abdul Rahman
Petaling Jaya
pencetusstrategicvision-raja2u.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

never in this nations history I see one man named Khairy Jamaluddin being a liability to all... to UMNO, MCA, MIC - BN, to nations security, to Khazanah Nasional and all government GLC's, to the Malays and UMNO, to all...

A KADIR JASIN said...

Kepada semua pembahas dan pembaca, terima kasih.

1. I did not publish comments bearing only "anonymous".

2. Sdr Dato' Aziz.Jerantut, terima kasih di atas komen dan maklumat sdr.

Namun saya tidak dapat menyiarkannya kerana ada unsur-unsur fitnah/libel walaupun apa yang sdr nyatakan mengenai isteri pembesar tertentu itu sudah menjadi percakapan umum.

Begini sajalah, seandainya seseorang itu tidak ditakdirkan menjadi Perdana Menteri, dia tidak akan menjadi PM walau sedekat mana pun dia dengan kerusi panas itu.

Tetapi kalau dia ditakdirkan menjadi PM, dia masih boleh berubah, insya-Allah.

3. Sdr True Malaysian, we are not going to call or label anybody "bastard" in this blog, sorry.

4. Sdr Al-Farabi, sdr bebas menyiarkan rencana ini dalam blog sdr dan membuat pautan.

5. Sdr su-kj, begitulah yang dirancang oleh RTM, inya-Allah.

Terima kasih

Anonymous said...

Salam Datuk,

AKJ said
Seandainya seseorang itu tidak ditakdirkan menjadi Perdana Menteri, dia tidak akan menjadi PM walau sedekat mana pun dia dengan kerusi panas itu.

Tetapi kalau dia ditakdirkan menjadi PM, dia masih boleh berubah, insya-Allah

Benar
Kita merancang, Allah yg menentukan
Semuanya telah tertulis di LOH MAHFUZ

Anonymous said...

Datuk,

I had mix feelings about what you've just said in the Scribe. AKJ, if whatever you predicted falls true in the future about DSAI, his wife and daughter walking hands in hands in parliament,isn't it scary?

I pray to god, not in my life.

Salam.

freelittlebrain said...

Datuk, Taniah. so are u going to talk something about Goblog or Gobloger or blogger syok sendiri?

If you dun mind,what is the main agenda for RTM to invite Datuk? By the way, I am awaiting to see u in TV1.

Anonymous said...

dato kj,

suasana politik semasa orang melayu sekarang ini sudah bercelaru. ramai rakyat semakin keliru.

yang kalah masih kata tidak kalah. yang menang masih merayakan kemenangan.

mereka masih tidak sedar ada pihak yang sedang mengambil kesempatan atas kecelaruan orang melayu.

'dah ada yang mengatakan akan minta bantuan orang luar' - apa hal ni?

'orang yang makan babi tak kecoh pun, tapi orang yang tak makan babi yang kecoh'

'isu babi ni, pusing mana pun akan jadi isu politik' - antara pemerintah dengan pembangkang

dato kj,

anak beranak dalam politik bukan tak buleh. tapi dah tak ada orang lain ke? kat malaysia ada 26 juta orang.

pemerintah dan pembangkang sama saja dalam isu ini. bezanya cuma satu pemerintah satu pembangkang. sudut pandangannya berbeza.

kristal

Anonymous said...

Salam Dato' AKJ,

Mohon laluan. TK.

Saya berpendapat Tun M, Dato' Onn, Tun Razak, DS Anwar, Lim Kit Siang dan beberapa tokoh yang lain melahirkan "Baka atau keturunan" yang cenderung pada politik yang baik.

Tetapi perkara ini tidak ada pada DSAAB walaupun beliau dari keturunan Abdullah Fahim/D Badawi. Kerana DSAAB tiada waris yang cenderung ke arah itu. Khairy bukan dari "bloodline" beliau.

Sekian.

Mahkota

NFH said...

Salam Datuk,

Saya sungguh minat membaca tulisan Datuk sejak akhir-akhir ini.

Cumanya saya mengharapkan agar Datuk dapat lebih kerap menulis dan merungkai lebih banyak permasalahan negara mengikut cara Datuk yang tersendiri itu.

Akhirkata, semoga Datuk sihat dan ceria selalu.

Terima kasih.

THE PUREHADHARIST said...

Salam Datuk.

Dalam Islam sebenarnya isu kronisme ini lebih jelas lagi dengan merujuk kepada ayat Al-Qur'an yang bermaksud, "Orang yang paling mulia itu adalah yang paling bertakwa ke Allah".

Ini sebenarnya kriteria untuk apa sahaja bentuk meletakkan seseorang itu untuk apa sahaja jawatan. Jadi Islam tidak kira samada anak ke, menantu ke, isteri ke, kalau bertakwa, dia layak untuk dipilih, kalau tidak bertakwa, dipilih juga barulah kronisme. Walaupun ayat ini mengatakan kemuliaan seorang adalah samada takwa atau tidak, maka kriteria memilih pemimpin juga kena ikut kriteria inilah iaitu kriteria yang ditentukan oleh Allah sendiri. Kalau dah mulia disisi Allah maka apa lagi kita takut?

Satu lagi ialah bijak dan cekap dalam pekerjaan. Kalau anak atau menantu pandai dan cekap dalam pekerjaan, maka jika ia dipilih, itu bukan kronisme. Tapi kena tanya juga, pandai dan cekap apa? Pekerjaan apa?

So itulah dia. Kita kena balik pada Islam punya kaedah dalam memilih pemimpin.

sekian.

ps: Takwa bukan beerti berjanggut dan berserban semata-mata.

Anonymous said...

Datuk,

Paling menarik sekarang ini adalah anwar ibrahim.
Sekiranya dia menjadi ahli parlimen, maka kita akan ada one happy family 3 beranak dalam parlimen.

Tak tahulah apa impaknya, tapi kalau PKR ada Wanita dan puteri, maka kita tahu siapa bakal ketuanya.

MM

A KADIR JASIN said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A KADIR JASIN said...

Sdr Dato Aziz Jerantut, sekali lagi saya mohon ampun tidak dapat menyiarkan komen Tuan.

Let me put it this way. Let us not be personal. Let us hold this particular politician responsible. We can continue to blame his wife, but that won't change a thing.

He has to make up his mind and act to correct the situation and the perception.

We can blame the wife. That's all we can do. We cannot vote her out because to start with we did not vote her in. But we can vote her husband out.

One of the many reasons for some politicians' wives becoming powerful is the public itself.

We tend to give too much respect and importance to them.

Kita yang buat Datin Seri-Datin Seri dan Puan Seri-Puan Seri itu naik tocang.

Kita yang lupa bahawa yang kita undi bukan mereka tetapi suami mereka. Tapi kita bagi muka, kita muliakan mereka dan tidak kurang pula yang guna isteri, anak dan menantu pembesar untuk cari harta dan kekayaan.

Bukan semua orang berani. Banyak orang takut bini. Kita kena hormat bini. Tapi kalau dah takut sangat kepada bini, duduk sajalah di rumah jaga bini tak payah jadi wakil rakyat.

Orang politik kena takut dan hormat rakyat jelata dulu. Kalau ada orang politik yang takutkan bini hingga bini campur tangan dalam urusan rasmi, datang pejabat, arah kakitangan awam, periksa buku harian nak tengok kalau ada wanita genit jumpa suami, itu dak tak betul, dah menyalahi undang-undang dan peraturan. Itu dah melampau.

Kalau berlaku situasi sedemikian, pembasar itu memang bermasalah. Sama ada isteri, anak atau menantu dia berhenti buat kerja macam itu atau dia sendiri berhenti.

Kalau mereka tidak mahu berhenti dan kita ada bukti yang cukup, kita gunakanlah kuasa mutlak kita iaitu undi kita.

To be fair, not all policians' wives, children, sons-in-laws, daughters-in-law and suku sakat are troublesome, meddlesome and quarrelsome.

Sdr MM dan Sdr Kristal, bukan semua keadaan sama. Kerajaan dan pembangkang tak sama.

Tidak tepat menyamakan kemasukan Dr Wan Azizah dan Nurul Izzah ke dalam politik dengan anak-menantu mantan Perdana Menteri atau Perdana Menteri.

Sdri Noor Faiza, saya menulis blog ini sedaya yang boleh. Ini bukan laman berita. Ini laman diskusi. Jadi saya hanya buka laluan. Para pembahaslah yang wajar berbincang antara satu sama lain. Lagipun saya kena juga buat kerja yang ada sikit pendapatan. Hehe...

Sdr Freelittlebrain, tentang matlamat segmen Blog di RTM, itu sdr kena tanya RTMlah. Bagi saya, eloklah kalau RTM atau mana-mana juga pihak yang hendak memberi pemahaman mengenai apa jua perkembangan, termasuk blog.

Terima kasih.

NFH said...

Salam Datuk,

Saya ingin memberikan contoh-contoh kronism dan nepotism yang amat terang lagi bersuluh pula kini.

PM kita mengamalkan kronism dan dilihat jelas dalam kes Tun Saleh di mana beliau memberkan favor kepada old friendnya itu walaupun ianya sedikitpun tidak menggambarkan apa yang rakyat mahukan. Hanya kroni sahaja yang merasakan itulah tindakan paling berhemah PM.

Dari segi nepotism pula, jelas para presiden parti di Malaysia ini mengamalkannya. Lihat sahaja Pak Lah- Khairi, Lim Kit Siang-Lim Guan Eng, Wan Azizah-Nurul Izzah dan Karpal juga.

Perlu dijelaskan di sini, tiada nepotism dalam kedudukan Mukhriz sekarang. Mukhriz hanyalah baka kepada sepasang pejuang yang sangat tinggi profil mereka.

Saya percaya perkara ini akan memantapkan lagi kedudukan Mukhriz dan tidak mustahil satu hari nanti beliau akan mengganti tampuk pemerintahan negara.

Anonymous said...

Dato,
Harap2 kerajaan 3 beranak yg ada sekarang tidak akan diganti dgn Kerajaan 3 beranak yg baru. Tak sanggup rasanya keluar dari mulut buaya tetapi mulut harimau yg menunggu.

Semoga tiada lagi kerajaan 3 beranak dlm sejarah Malaysia. Cukup serik bila sekali terkena.

Anonymous said...

OO.. datuk akan diundang oleh RTM.. Mungkinkah datuk bersedia dengan provokasi dari pengacara nanti???

Cerita mengenai ahli keluarga menjadi ahli politik memang menarik... Info yang menarik..

Anonymous said...

To be fair, not all policians' wives, children, sons-in-laws, daughters-in-law and suku sakat are troublesome, meddlesome and quarrelsome.

Sdr MM dan Sdr Kristal, bukan semua keadaan sama. Kerajaan dan pembangkang tak sama.

Tidak tepat menyamakan kemasukan Dr Wan Azizah dan Nurul Izzah ke dalam politik dengan anak-menantu mantan Perdana Menteri atau PM

Well said Datuk AKJ

1. There is nothing in feeling superior to another person. True nobility is in being superior to your former self.

2. Jealousy is ..... a tiger that tears not only its prey but also its own raging heart.

3. Every man in the world is better than someone else. And not as good as someone else.

4. The most powerful thing you can do to change the world is to change your own beliefs about the nature of life, people, and reality to something more positive.....and begin to act accordingly.

4. The most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique; a change of heart.

5. You don't always get what you want----but you always get what you need.

6. When champions get knocked down, they don't make excuses. They extract the lesson that will enable them to do better next time and move on.

7. Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile.

8. The purpose of life------is a life of purpose.

9. The service we render others is the rent we pay for our room on earth. When we cease to make a contribution, we begin to die.

10. What is the use of living if it not be to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?

Anonymous said...

Dato Scribe,

Masa depan politik tanahair kita terletak di tangan anak-muda muda yg kini mencorakkan landskap politik hari ini. Kita tak mungkin lupa nama-nama seperti Guan Eng, Mukriz, Nurul Izah, Gobind Deo, Cikbu Bard tetapi nama-nama seperti Norzah, Lo Gwo-Burne dan KJ mungkin luput dari ingatan dan meninggalkan impak yang negatif. Saya harap mereka akan menimba pengalaman dari ahli politik yang berpengalaman seperti Dr Mahathir, Ku Li, DSAI, Rais Yatim, Nik Aziz, Muhyidin, Tok Mat, Musa Hitam, LKS dan beberapa orang lain. Ambil yang baik dari mereka. Moga2 politik kita cerah dan bermakna di masa depan.

Kawan

Unknown said...

Salam Dato'

Tahniah Dato' di jemput RTM untuk berbicara berhubung isu Blogger. Cuma saya macam terhidu apa yang cuba disampaikan oleh Freelittlebrain; harap saya tidak terlalu obsessive kepada yang bersifat negatif. Saya ada terfikir juga sejak ada bunyi2 blogger nak di jemput berbicara di RTM. Diharapkan, ianya benar2 untuk kebaikan, bukan sengaja 'mencari salah' @ 'kelemahan' blogger untuk ditaburkan...

Begitulah adanya..

p/s - rasa2 macam ada cerita panas pada hari2 mendatang...

Aji Baling

Unknown said...

Salam Dato'

Tentang kerajaan Anak-beranak, 3 beranak atau berapa beranak pun bagi saya tak penting.

Patuh perintah Ilahi, Ikhlas dalam perjuangan, Jaga kebajikan rakyat...tawad'duk dan istiqamah..InsyaAllah.

Apapun Allah lebih mengetahui.

p/s - ingat cerita guru dan kawan-kawan; seseorang pemimpin itu boleh jatuh 'tersembam' sebab 2 perkara : wang dan perempuan.

Abu Muhammad el-Merbawiy said...

Salam Datuk AKJ dan sahabat-sahabat

Nak cubit sikit je...

Bukankah perjuangan itu diwarisi dari generasi ke generasi?
Politik dan pemerintahan yang berlandaskan hak (kebenaran, keadilan dan peradaban)wajar di warisi dari generasi ke generasi
Perniagaan pun sepatutnya diwarisi dari generasi ke generasi. Dakwah Islamiah dan keilmuan serta kesarjanaan juga perlu diwarisi dari generasi ke generasi.

Persoalan asasnya ialah bagaimanakah ianya diuruskan? Adakah sehingga menafikan peluang dan hak orang lain juga atau diberikan berdasarkan kelayakan atau ukuran yang telah dipersetujui secara adil di dalam sesuatu sistem. Jika sistem Islam, pastilah berdasarkan ukuran dan piawaian Islam. Jika Demokrasi pastilah diikuti secara Demokrasi atau sebagainya. Pokok pangkalnya semua keputusan mestilah dibuat berdasar dan bertunjangkan "knowledge base" bukan secara rambang dan "ignorant base" serta ikut hawa nafsu dan kepentingan diri sendiri, mengabaikan keperluan Islam dan masyarakat yang sejagat.

Saya percaya kepada kebolehan (talent), keilmuan (knowledgeable), kesungguhan (seriousness), keadilan (justice) dan keikhlasan (sincerity).

BERSIKAP BENARLAH DENGAN ALLAH, DIRI SENDIRI DAN MASYARAKAT SERTA NEGARA MALAH DALAM HUBUNGAN ANTARABANGSA SEKALI PUN, MARUAH MANUSIA DIPANDANG KERANA BERTINDAK DENGAN ARAHAN ILAHI DAN BERPANDUKAN SYARIATNYA.

Terima kasih

Arau

PERLIS DARUS SUNNAH

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum,
Kemungkinan pemimpin masa kini berada dalam keadaan 'cultural shock'- bila mana dari kehidupan yang biasa tiba-tiba berubah dengan kemewahan dan wang ringgit yang melimpah ruah dan begitu mudah diperolehi, menyebabkan mereka menjadi tamak dan terbelenggu oleh harta kekayaan. Biarpun banyak kalangan mereka muncul dari keluarga
berada, namun kekayaan yang ini luarbiasa banyaknya menyebabkan mereka berebut-rebut mendapatkannya dan menginginkan lebih banyak lagi . Mungkin tindakan-tindakan lebih kepada mempertahankan teritori masing-masing.

Anonymous said...

The game plan!Step by step!

Anwar akan bertanding dalam pilihan raya kecil, mungkin di Selangor,mungkin di Penang! AAB akan "memastikan" AI menang. Selepas Anwar menang dan jadi MP, AAB pelawa PKR masuk BN atas dasar "penyatuan Melayu"( Norza dah mulakan kempen baru-baru ni!). Anwar setuju dan MP PKR cross over ke BN. Atas sebab-sebab tertentu. Najib kena bagi jalan untuk Anwar jadi DPM. Setelah puas, AAB beri jalan untuk Anwar jadi PM pulak dan Anwar pulak lantik KJ jadi DPM.

Dah puas, KJ pulak jadi PM at 40!

Malangnya Tun dah lama tahu! And Tun dosen't think this game plan was produced locally? Next week, 27April, Tun akan bercakap pasal "kedaulatan negara" di Putrajaya!

HJG

malay-tree said...

Tribute to Bagok (Ayam Pahlawan, Bini Sereban!)

Mahu baca kisah tentang sejarah ayam pahlawan. Boleh dibaca di

http://malay-tree.blogspot.com

Terima Kaseh.

Anonymous said...

Salam Dato AKJ,

This is off topic. But I am drawn by your statement that you need to do some other works that bring in income.

I think I understand why you are still reluctant to turn this blog into income generating blog. You believe that this is 'perjuangan'. and it is unbecoming for a Malay to mix 'perjuangan' with monetary rewards. (pardon me if I am assuming to much about you, where in reality i hardly know you at all)

But we as a reader will understand if you start generating income for this blog. Because we have seen and taste your sincerity. And we also understand every one need to make a living.

The reason I write this is because I think this is the issue that killing UMNO these days.

In the beginning UMNO and its members are poor. So they need to do some business to make a living and to help their constituencies.

We the rakyat let them do business without too much protest. Although this is totally wrong, the rakyat 'close one eye' for being pragmatic. Actually, the right way is for constituencies to ask for monetary help from the government and NOT from their representative.

But as generation passed, the younger and not so young start to forget this pragmatic arrangement. They start to think that as a politician they are entitled to be a businessman. They start to do projects that does not benefited the rakyat. They start to unfairly compete with the rakyat itself and blocking the opportunity for rakyat to make a living.

And the rakyat start to notice and hated the politician. And you know the rest of the story.

Sorry Dato to ramble like this on a Sunday morning. hehehe

DIN said...

Setengah hari bersama TUN di Manchester

http://ceritarassa.blogspot.com/2008/04/setengah-hari-bersama-tun.html

Anonymous said...

dato,
pasal tiga beranak yg saya rasa tidak payah saya menaip panjang2 nama mereka ialah kerana pada saya lebih kpd perjuangan untuk bapa dan suami.

Ini adalah salah satu perbedaan daripada khairy jamaludin.Beliau disifatkan lebih kpd 'shadow' DSAAB .Isu beliau lebih dikaitkan oleh isu kebecian peribadi dengan rakyat.

Tiga beranak itu saya rasa lebih cendurung untuk mengadakan perubahan dari segi minda pemikiran rakyat terutama sekali org melayu.

Sedia maklum,kemunculannya DSAI,ialah kerana ditepisnya beliau oleh TDM dahulu dengan dasar keselamatan negara.
Padahal,saya rasa dasar 'confrontational'oleh policy TDM yang tidah disetujui oleh DSAI.

Dan tidak hairanlah,beliau kini menjadi salah satu pembangkang visi yang mempunyai keiinginan mengembleng parti yg menikam beliau

terima kasih

Perantau M'sia

Berita dari gunung said...

Demikianlah bagaimana dinasti wujud dari dulu hingga sekarang. Kerajaan beraja menurunkan takhta kepada anak cucu. Itu yang kita fahamkan dari kutipan sejarah.

Walau dengan demokrasi pun, unsur-unsur dinasti kekal segar dimana-mana negara, timur dan barat. Keadaan ini wujud di Amerika, di India, di Filipina dan di Malaysia.

Mereka yang lahir dalam keluarga pemimpin atau yang bersangkut melalui perkahwinan akan menemui jalan mudah ke persada kepimpinan. Kuasa, pengaruh dan kepimpinan adalah umpama harta pesaka.

Kalau Anwar ditakdirkan jadi PM nanti, memanglah sangat menarik untuk meneliti prestasi kerajaan anak isteri dan kesediaan rakyat menerima kesan bagi jangka masa yang panjang.

Anonymous said...

"Sebaik-baik para pemimpin kalian adalah kalian mencintai mereka dan mereka mencintai kalian, yang kalian mendoakan mereka dan mereka mendoakan kalian, dan seburuk-buruk para pemimpin kalian adalah yang kalian membenci mereka dan mereka membenci kalian, yang kalian mengutuk mereka dan mereka mengutuk kalian". (Hadis diriwayatkan oleh Muslim)

Teori R.A.H.M.A.N.

Siapa yang buat?
"N" orang UMNO kata Najib.
"N" orang ADIL kata Nana Nuar.

Yang saya tertarik adalah selepas N iaitu . (nokhtah)

Apakah selepas Najib atau Nana Nuar nokhtah itu bermaksud titik penamat atau berkuburnya UMNO dan ADIL(serpihan UMNO)?

Di mukabumi Iraq, umat Islam bunuh membunuh, bom mengebom sesama sendiri, US sedut minyak bawah perut bumi depa tak peduli.

lebih kurang sama dengan di mukabumi Persekutuan Tanah Melayu!

Anonymous said...

Dato' AKJ,

Melihat kepada Amerika kita melihat bagaimana negara maju keturunan Bush mewarisi kepresidenan dan melacur dunia.

Melihat kepada Korea Selatan bagaimana pesatnya industri kereta mereka, dimana dulunya Perodua pernah menolak tawaran membeli Kia.

Melihat Indonesia adalah andaian bagaimana sekiranya harga petrol dan golongan marhaen dibiarkan lantaran laissez faire.

Melihat kepada Singapura adalah melihat dalam diri kita, wajah kita pada tahun 2015.

Mat Smile

burungwalit said...

Di masa akan datang, rakyat akan terbahagi kepada 3 kumpulan besar, memihak kepada kerajaan, pembangkang dan berkecuali. Ketiga tiga kumpulan ini adalah penyokong fanatik seperti penyokong fanatik UMNO, PAS, PK dan DAP.. ( anggap sahaja MCA, MIC, GERAKAN sudah kaput ). Mereka akan mencari kesalahan di pihak lawan masing masing. Ketiga tiga kumpulan ini mempunyai kekuatan yang sama kuat (33% x 3 = 99% ).

Dalam lain perkataan senario politik sudah tidak seperti dahulu lagi, sudah hilang aman damainya, saban minggu akan ada demonstrasi jalanan, saban minggu akhbar masing2 akan mengutarakan isu. Minda rakyat sudah lesu dengan isu politik. Blog akan hilang pengaruh sebagai 'rasional'.

Bersedialah kita suka atau tidak dengan senario baru ini.

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum Dato' AKJ n semua
saya sangat bersetuju dengan pendapat noor faiza....
Perlu dijelaskan di sini, tiada nepotism dalam kedudukan Mukhriz sekarang. Mukhriz hanyalah baka kepada sepasang pejuang yang sangat tinggi profil mereka.

Saya percaya perkara ini akan memantapkan lagi kedudukan Mukhriz dan tidak mustahil satu hari nanti beliau akan mengganti tampuk pemerintahan negara.
salam
anakcikguchik

NGINAP SRENGENGE @ SRENGENGE said...

Datuk,

Dalam wawancara blog di RTM1 jam 840 malam saya cukup duka kerana Datuk tak langsung diberi peluang untuk menjawab.......

Hos Hashim A. Hanifah macam nak memperbodohkan kebolehan Datuk.

Saya minta Datuk tuliskan tajuk khas dalam blog Datuk.

Regards from srengenge

Anonymous said...

a'kum dato'..saya telah menonotn rancangan blog yang kononnya bersifat telus dan menjadi satu pendekatan kerajaan untuk merapati akar umbi..yang saya tonton ialah satu wawancara jenaka. dato' telah menjawab dengan baik tetapi pengacara yang terikat di hidung terus menyaksikan sekatan terhadap jawapan-jawapan yang dirasakannya pedas..lalu untuk apa wawancara ini?adakah rakyat begitu bodoh untuk tidak mengetahui apakah blog itu..?saya bersama famili menjadi benci dengan kerenah pengacara yang ntah apa-apa..baik tak payah buat program ini yang ternyata lebih banyak mempamerkan kebodohan idea shabery..buktinya apabila keputusan penonton yang hampir 95% bersetuju blog menjadi satu media alternatif dan diakhiri tawa sinis oleh dato'..di mana keterbukaan rtm bilamana pengacaranya berubah wajah seolah diperbodohkan oleh penerbit..sesuatu yang memalukan..dinasihatkan untuk para bloggers yang akan diundang..gunakan kesempatan ini untuk membidas balik keterbukaan yang hanya pura-pura..akuyangbernamaputeri

Anonymous said...

a'kum dato'..saya telah menonton rancangan blog yang kononnya bersifat telus dan menjadi satu pendekatan kerajaan untuk merapati akar umbi..yang saya tonton ialah satu wawancara jenaka. dato' telah menjawab dengan baik tetapi pengacara yang terikat di hidung terus menyaksikan sekatan terhadap jawapan-jawapan yang dirasakannya pedas..lalu untuk apa wawancara ini?adakah rakyat begitu bodoh untuk tidak mengetahui apakah blog itu..?saya bersama famili menjadi benci dengan kerenah pengacara yang ntah apa-apa..baik tak payah buat program ini yang ternyata lebih banyak mempamerkan kebodohan idea shabery..buktinya apabila keputusan penonton yang hampir 95% bersetuju blog menjadi satu media alternatif dan diakhiri tawa sinis oleh dato'..di mana keterbukaan rtm bilamana pengacaranya berubah wajah seolah diperbodohkan oleh penerbit..sesuatu yang memalukan..dinasihatkan untuk para bloggers yang akan diundang..gunakan kesempatan ini untuk membidas balik keterbukaan yang hanya pura-pura..akuyangbernamaputeri

Kerajaan Rakyat said...

Salam Dato'

Sekiranya mereka yang berada dalam senarai di atas terus leka dan lalai, pada pilihanraya umum ke-13 nanti kita sebagai Boss kepada mereka mesti menolak mereka daripada menjadi wakil kita.

Dengan izin Dato' sila ke:

http://kerajaanrakyat.blogspot.com/

Kak Teh said...

datuk, dari 8,000 batu jauhnya, tadi saya sempat menonton wawancara Hashim dengan datuk mengenai blog. Syabas - tapi sayangnya dan tak cukup masa.

HzY said...

Datuk AKJ,

Saya sempat menonton wawancara Sdra. Hashim A.Hahifah dengan Datuk dalam rancangan Blog... jam 8.40 mlm tadi.

Komentar saya:

Saya beranggapan dan yakin program ini ketika pra-siarannya mempunyai maksud yang positif dan baik, langsung saya mencari apa kewajaran untuk saya berkata demikian. Anggapan saya Sdra. Shabery Cheek (rakan lama saya)mungkin ingin memulakan dimensi baru yang lebih terbuka, berani dan telus dalam menanggapi dunia komunikasi yang baru, kontemporari dan mencabar. Program ini akan membuka ruang yang lebih terbuka untuk perbincangan terutama topik-topik yang mempunyai kepentingan awam. Saya cenderung bahkan telah memberi kredit awal kepada beliau, RTM dan kerajaan keseluruhannya terhadap penerbitan slot tersebut. Anak2 mengingatkan saya program telah bermula setalah dipesan sejak pagi lagi, program makan malam keluarga di luar dianjak sedikit lewat untuk memberi laluan terlebih dahulu kepada wawancara tersebut.

Selepas menonton rancangan tersebut, saya menyimpulkan.

1. Apa yang saya sangkakan meleset sama sekali. Harapan dan kredit pra-siaran yang saya berikan rupanya hanyalah impian semata laksana kilauan air rupanya fatamorgana di padang pasir.

2. Menjemput AKJ satu nama besar dalam dunia kewartawanan dan antara `prime blogger' pastinya menarik minat ramai untuk mendengar dan meneliti pandangannya yang boleh mewakili penggiat blogger. Kredebiliti beliau sewajarnya lebih dihargai dengan memberi lebih banyak ruang untuk berbicara (programme duration) dan ruang untuk menjawab setiap soalan yang diutarakan.

3. Pengacara secara nyata memberi kenyataan yang terarah dalam nada soalan dan `menzalimi' yang diwawancara dengan `insert' tanpa beliau menghabiskan bait-bait hujahannya. This is really `un-ethical and `coward' atau dalam bahasa yang lebih berbahasa `ini adalah KURANG BERETIKA dan BACUL.

4. Anak saya berumur 14 tahun, jam 10.30mlm tadi menelefon saya dari Asramanya di Kolej Melayu K.Kangsar yang mencuri-curi melihat wawancara tersebut, di mana saya pun tak tahu, bertanya kepada saya samada menonton atau pun tidak... memberi komen `kalau panggil (jemput) orang nak bercakap,.. bagilah bercakap.... kalau macam itu baik tak usah panggil'.

RTM, Kementerian juga menterinya harus dihormati, disokong, kerana meritnya. Zaman kosmetik telah pun berakhir...


HzY - SUB SSiput

Cucu Adam said...

After all what is said and done, I think it all started when Najib succeed his father as MP for Pekan, and then it gradually become a norm for a son or daughter to succeed father or mother, as if there was no one else who were capable for their replacements.

The scenario has now become extreme when sons and daughters in laws were chosen and elected to the political positions that were once held by their father and mother in laws.

The 12 General Election was unprecedented as even those in the opposition parties follow "leadership by example" as shown by the UMNO/BN leaders.

Whether they will succeed as MP/State Assemblmen only time will tell.

Zaaba Anak Sarawak said...

Assalamualaikum Saudara A Kadir Jasin,

I read, as much as possible, your column "Other Thots" in NST as often as possible until it was discontinued. I agree to some of your views and likewise disagree to some.

Much has been said and written about the recent 12th General Election (12-GE) and calls for the PM to step down are getting louder by the day. Despite all those, the PM seems to be very much in denial stage and UMNO members still have the fear of PM for whatever reasons. I, for one, wanted BN to win ONLY 55% of the Parliament seats as a wake up call to members of BN. Unfortunately BN won 63%, more than what I wanted. Congratulations to BN!

Your article on the offspring of politicians and so-called political families (spouse, children and in-laws included) is interesting. It is interesting to reread what was written years ago and reflect the so-called "truthfulness" or "I told you so". Hindsight has always been human's greatest strength. Likewise foresight has always been our main weakness.

I must add that mistakes of their forefathers are bound to be repeated and their touch with reality would be suspect at best. These “new” and aspiring politicians were born with “silver-spoon” in their mouth so-to-speak. Would they have any real understanding of what’s really happening among the rakyat? One can try to imagine but experience has been said to be the best teacher there is. So without the benefits of having the best teachers (experiences), would it be too much to expect them to understand and appreciate the turns and tribulations faced by the man-in-the-street? How difficult is it for them (the rakyat) to wade to through the thick concrete jungle just to survive another day?

Looking at the leaders of today, I sincerely do not know whether they feel the pain of the rakyat. Decisions made (on policies etc) have very negative impressions on their thoughts and understanding of issues. Rhetoric championing rights of Malays have been used over and over again to drown or camouflage their ineptness in their thoughts and comprehensions. Past examples include building the aborted sports excellence centre in England (luckily it has been aborted) and now the decisions to spend RM130 million to build 1,300 sports/recreation centres nationwide that requires minimal maintenance! These new plan is going to be another waste of taxpayers money! Community halls build during the yesteryears have, mostly, been left idle and no one bothers. Maintenance has never been the government’s strength before and now. I don’t see “maintenance” as a culture in the government in future either!

Most of the “relatively newer” politicians are following the footsteps of the more seasoned ones. Most if not all are not in-touch with the rakyat and they only appear once every 4-5 years. Visits to their constituencies would be such a grand affair that the whole village are compelled to attend. They hardly bother to drive quietly and meet the rakyat during the off-peak seasons! There is only one peak season every 4 to 5 years! Why bother? After all, these fools (the rakyat) would be happy as long as we handout goodies to them and pretend to listen to their grouses! Most, if not all, actions are based on the populist approach. Politicians with access to cash-rich agencies are the luckiest lot. They announced and handed out goodies by the dozens during the run-up to the 12th GE! These examples are being set by seasoned politicians. Can we expect sons, daughters, or relatives of these people to do otherwise? I am not too sure.

I stand to be corrected. Your comments please.

Anonymous said...

Datuk,

You do have a knack for a seemingly gentle nudge without offending anyone, but the impact is felt nevertheless.

I guess it takes a writer to say it such.

I often find, in talking about certain politicians, their "associates" as in family, friends and business partners, can either add to their credibility or notoriety.

There is that truism that says, you are known by the company you keep.

Therefore, it is not surprising to find the DPM viewed in skewed manner by a lot of people around me, and some because they perceive his wife to be a not very nice person (this may be a totally malicious thing to say, but it has not been addressed).

Likewise, the dynastic politics of DAP with Lim Guan Eng as the "chosen one" has alienated a lot of grassroots DAP members too. So this nepotism and cronyism was not limited BN only.

On KJ's part, everyone that he associated with became kinda suspect in the eyes of the KJ haters, who are legion. This includes Norza, Kali, even Tony Fernandes of Air Asia and most famously...it had compromised the PM in the eyes of many.

Why? There wasn't a single credible reputation and image building building effort to counter the bad press he was getting online.

If there was, it obviously has done little good.

PKR? Let us not kid ourselves that the party doesn't have its share of cronyism and elitist practice that alienates people. Only, before this they were of little consequence.

Today it leads the most dynamic state in the country and has the most number of seats among Opposition parties in the Parliament.

Scrutiny of PKR will intensify, believe me. Why do I say so?

Today's electorate has shown itself more vocal and has seized responsibility to be the check and balance.

The Sunday Star report of MPs being taken to task for not preparing questions for Parliament, is one indication.

That came from Ewoon's blog, as you must know.
The methods to ask for accountability may seem a little awkward, and even crude at times, but hey, how long have we had the history of being able to freely question or leaders, without fear or favour?

Wan Shamsudin said...

Dato. I really appreciate of your good and sincere comments.saya bersyukur kerana Dato masih berani memberi komen komen yang pedas terhadap kerajaan. Buah fikiran itu amat kami hargai. Tentang Nepotisma, itu berlaku dimana mana. cuma jangan lah kalau si bapa pegang kuasa, jangan lah si anak dan menantu cari habuan pula seperti berlaku di negara kita. buktinya banyak sekali. Ini membuat mereka jadi arrogant dan sombong kerana sentiasa lepas dan di anggap biasa aje.

About Me

My photo
I was born in 1947 in Kedah. I came from a rice farming family. I have been a journalist since 1969. I am the Editor-in-Chief of magazine publishing company, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd. I was Group Editor NST Sdn Bhd and Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP Bhd between 1988 and 2000. I write fortnightly column “Other Thots” in the Malaysian Business magazine, Kunta Kinte Original in Berita Harian and A Kadir Jasin Bercerita in Dewan Masyarakat. Books: Biar Putih Tulang (1998), Other Thots – Opinions & Observations 1992-2001 (2001), The Wings of an Eagle (2003), Mencari Dugalia Huso (2006), Damned That Thots (2006), Blogger (2006), PRU 2008-Rakyat Sahut Cabaran (2008), Komedi & Tragedi-Latest in Contemporary Malaysian Politics (2009) and Membangun Bangsa dengan Pena (2009).