PM’s TV Interview: A Review
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ALTHOUGH the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s interview with TV3 on Aug. 7 was conducted in Bahasa Malaysia, the English summary in The Star is probably the easiest to understand.
So, I am taking the liberty to comment on his highly publicised TV appearance based on paper’s rendition with occasional reference to Utusan Malaysia.
The Star page one highlights, classified the PM’s response into the following sub-heads: accusation of corruption against him, Khairy’s influence and political activities, Kamaluddin (business activities), on Dr Mahahtir, Singapore’s companies in Malaysia, Proton and the economy.
The mainstream newspapers headlined the following day that the PM had answered all the questions raised. Did he? Whether he did or did not, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, said (Utusan Aug. 10), that the PM would continue explaining.
Accusations of corruption against him
The PM described them as lies and challenged his accusers to provide proof.
Were there allegations of corruption against the PM? Not that I heard of. What was said was corruption was more prevalent and happened more openly under the current administration.
But the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said in an interview published by the Malaysiakini Internet newspaper on Aug. 7 that he had information about government corruption, which if he revealed would land him in jail.
“I will continue asking for answers from the current government, because if I reveal information, I would be charged with revealing state secrets under the Official Secrets Acts,” he said.
Under the Malaysian law, abusing one’s power is an act of corruption. So, if someone powerful is proven to have used his position to influence a decision that has bearing on the public or for his own benefit, that act can constitute corruption. Even not carrying out duties and responsibilities as dictated by law can be interpreted as abusing one’s power.
Take for instance Khairy’s highly controversial purchase of ECM Libra shares and the subsequent merger of that company with the government-owned Avenue Capital Resources Berhad.
Whether on the issue of insider trading or the controversial valuation of Avenue Capital vis-à-vis ECM Libra, the final authority was that of the Minister of Finance who happens to be the PM.
(I had anticipated something like this to happen. So, early in Abdullah’s administration I wrote in the Malaysian Business magazine that the PM should not hold the Finance Ministry post for too long).
As had been widely discussed, Khairy’s ECM Libra purchase could have breached the insider-trading rule because at the point of the purchase he was a key official of the company and he bought the shares at the time when their prices were low.
Soon after that the ECM Libra-Avenue Capital deal was announced, share prices of both counters went up. Share prices of these counters had seen been adjusted to reflect their enlarged capital.
But it was widely reported that Abdullah denied any involvement in the merger exercise, which, at least technically is wrong, because the deal could not have gone through without the approval of the Finance Ministry.
So who made the final decision? Was the PM as Finance Minister not informed? Or could it be that the PM forgot that he approved the deal?
Khairy’s influence
The PM denied that Khairy had any influence over him or that the son-in-law had hijacked any government project.
It’s a question of semantics. To agree with the PM that Khairy has no influence on him whatsoever is to conclude the extreme – that their long relationship has been nothing but a dismal failure.
But this could not have been the case. Otherwise how do we explain the PM’s continued sensitivity about Khairy? How do we explain Khairy’s wooing of his daughter and their subsequent marriage?
How do we explain Khairy’s meteoric rise in politics and business? How do we explain Khairy’s “clear and present” influence on Government-Linked Companies, Government-controlled media organizations and Umno-owned newspapers and TV stations?
In the latter case, look at how reporters, photographers, cameramen and editors recorded, commented and praised Khairy’s every move for the front pages of their newspapers and prime time TV news?
And for the record, Khairy and his wife moved into Sri Perdana soon after the death of his mother-in-law to keep the PM company.
I think this Khairy specter will be less taxing on all of us, especially the PM, if we recognise that he’s not a bad at what he’s doing.
The problem started when the weaker beings, including those in Umno and the Umno-controlled media, started to treat him as special because he is an Oxford graduate, former Special Officer to Abdullah and most intriguingly as the Prime Minister’s son-in-law.
My sin is I hang around this God forsaken job a bit too long. In that space of time I saw many young, ambitious and highly qualified pedigreed people came into the political scene like thunder and disappeared like tumbleweed in the desert wind.
These are people who thought political ascendancy as being the product of birth, marriages and contacts in high places.
I have always maintained that those who won uncontested cannot claim full legitimacy to their posts, and, sooner or latter, will have to fight out in the open.
Way back in 1999, I allowed to be published in the New Sunday Times an article by commentator Askiah Adam, that described the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to disallow contest for the post of President and Deputy President as dereliction of duty.
Well, it was one of those more costly “publish and be damned” decisions that I had made. I paid the price.
On Khairy’s political activities
The PM said it was Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein who insisted that Khairy contest the deputy chief post.
Does the PM want us to believe that Khairy is such a foolish and impressionable young man that he took on a very tough assignment because Hishammuddin insisted that he should do so?
Well, the PM may not be involved in charting the career path of his son-in-law, but when you are the son-in-law of the PM and were formally his Special Officer, and your political ambition is written all over, a lot of people want to help you along.
One such person is Hishammuddin. So he gave Khairy a nudge and a helping hand despite the fact that there were other more senior and more capable Umno Youth leaders like Mukhriz Mahathir (Tun Dr Mahathir’s son) and Azimi Daim (no relation to Tun Daim Zainuddin) that he could have backed.
I will not ask whether Hishammuddin approached the PM or not to inform him of his plan to put up Khairy as candidate for the post of deputy youth chief.
But Hishammuddin’s role was obviously known to the PM otherwise how could he tell his TV audience that “it was Hishammuddin who insisted that Khairy contest the deputy youth post.”
Given Khairy’s meteoric rise and the amount of respect (some say fear) he commands among the prostrating politicos, industry captains, civil servants and newspaper editors, it is difficult for the PM to make us believe that his son-in-law has no influence whatsoever on him, Umno, the mass media and Government.
Others are saying quiet the contrary. There are those ardent Khairy admirers and loyal followers who spoke of admiringly of his charisma and the commanding role he played in selecting Umno and BN candidates in the 2004 general elections.
Even Umno veterans and the PM’s old friends who called on him soon after the hugely successful 2004 general elections believed that Khairy was influential. They said PM spoke highly of his son-in-law’s role in that general elections.
On Kamaluddin
His son had to do business overseas because he could not make a living in Malaysia.This is contentious to say the least. While it may be true that Scomi Berhad’s has substantial business involvement abroad, the company’s domestically generated revenue is not, however, unsubstantial.
It would have spared us a great deal of unpleasantness had the moderator, Datuk Annuar Zaini, who is a long time Abdullah friend, reminded the PM that he was not totally correct on that point.
As has been pointed by many readers of this and other blogs, Scomi is the beneficiary of large government-related contracts like RM1.5-billion drilling fluid contract from Petronas and its contractor and the three-year, RM49.12- million-a-year contract from TNB to transport coal. Even its foreign contracts are generally related to Petronas.
The Star today (Aug. 10) quoted Scomi’s CEOShag Hakim Zain as confirming Scomi’s involvement in the RM1.2-billion Penang monorail project.
On Dr Mahathir
The PM said he kept quiet because he did not want to quarrel with his predecessor in the newspapers.
That may be quite true. The PM may still maintain some elements of what Tun Musa Hitam called “elegant silence” over Dr Mahathir’s queries and allegations, but his Ministers and Menteris Besar had gone to the newspapers and everywhere else to call his predecessor and the man who put him where he is today all kinds of names – anything from senile to grandfather and destroyer of the party.
But the Utusan Malaysia, in its front-page excerpt, has this rather intriguing quotation from the PM: “Saya tak tahu … kalau dia tuduh saya korup, polis ada, beritahu sahaja. Tapi mengapa? Ertinya dia tidak ikhlas. Mungkin saya boleh kata dia jahat.”
(Datuk Khalid Mohamad [Utusan Melayu Group Editor-in-Chief] could Saudara please enlighten me on this!)
On Singapore companies in Malaysia
The PM said it shows that they have confidence in the Malaysian economy, and no local company has been taken over by them.
Again, it would have been hugely helpful had the moderator cautioned the PM that when a shareholder controls 30 per cent or more of a company, he technically owns that company.
Parkway owns more than 30 per cent of Pantai Holdings Berhad’s shares and has management control of the company. Two key assets of Pantai are the privatised Fomema and Pandai Medivest hospital services are now in Singapore’s hand.
I agree with the PM that Singapore companies have confidence in our economy. But Singapore companies are buying strategic blocks in GLCs and large local corporations not because of confidence alone. The sad fact is the prices of shares on Bursa Malaysia are very cheap these days. So it’s foolish for Singapore investors not to buy.
That’s also the reason why unit trust investors, including those who bought using their EPF savings, are suffering big losses. Bursa Malaysia is under performing compared to other regional bourses.
On Proton
The PM will not allow Proton to fail, as it is a national company.
The core issue is not so much whether the Government will allow Proton to fail or not. The issue is the 1-Euro sale of MV Agusta and, the huge losses it caused and the bidding process or the absece of it.
On the economy
The PM said the national deficit had been reduced, and at the same time, the economy was still growing.
That’s fine. The policy of progressively reducing budget deficit was adopted during Dr Mahathir’s time. What Abdullah did was to accelerate its pace.
But try to explain that to the ordinary voters and taxpayers who have to pay more for petrol, diesel, cooking gas, electricity, water, local government rates and more.
Yes, the economy might “still” be growing. But for how long, at what pace and who are benefiting from it? The rakyat may not understand this, but they are feeling its negative effects.
Dato,
ReplyDeleteFirstly of all I would like to congratulate you for your incisive commentary.
I think things are going to get more tense and I predict something big is about to happen. Both sides are beginning to take a harder stance. TDM has become harsher in his critics and about to unleash the magic sword that can break the government fledgling credibility. Unsurprisingly, the venue where TDM was suppose to give the speech in Beseri, Perlis, was cancelled as the authority incharge of the hall doesn't want to get into trouble, in another words, he was being ordered by the UMNO people to do so. Now we can see the screws around TDM starting to take its grip.
The interview by Tengku Razaleigh in Malaysiakini recently, seems to indicate that he sided with TDM. Sooner or later he also will be taking a much harder stance. He even takes a swipe on DSAI by revealing his meeting with DSAI where DSAI still harbours the ambition to become PM.
We know that DSAI has appeared in the Edge magazine where he has given interview. But overall, it seems that that DSAI seems to be more critical on TDM than AAB. But in reality, his criticism is more of condemning TDM. He only mildly criticise AAB as a camouflage for him to be portrayed as an unbiased person.
So where does it leave us now. Now we are about to witness the actual scene unfolding that we have been waiting for. TDM and Tengku Razaleigh versus AAB and DSAI. On top of these we have all other lightweights routing for their respective sides. Majority rakyat, and some UMNO high officials are for TDM-Tengku, whilst, Pemuda UMNO and MBs for AAB-DSAI. Heavy punches will start throwing and dirty tactics will used to help the cause. As one of the commentator say, there is no more win-win or lose-lose situations. The winners takes all and the losers will be condemned for good.
thanks for the interesting read. very informative and helps people shape their views,
ReplyDeletePM’s TV Interview: A Rewind
ReplyDeleteUntuk melihat gelagat aab adalah satu perkara.
Untuk memerhati dari apa yang di lihat menjadi perkara lain.
Untuk memahami dari apa yang diperhatikan adalah perkara yang lain.
Untuk mempelajari dari apa yang difahami dari bebelan aab merupakan suatu perkara lain pula.
Tapi apa yang menyedihkan ialah anak-anak dan isteri saya terus tutup TV bila disebut nama khairi.
-makangaji
very pity of pak lah kan?
ReplyDeletesuch a liar or being ignorance?
even hes best friend says the otherwise.
even the senators have to defend with issues of untruth.
fitnah?
Excellent analysis, Dato'.
ReplyDeleteI had thought that for such an important occassion, Pak Lah would have come better prepared.
Unfortunately, there were gaping holes in his arguments.
There are several alternative conclusions to this episode to choose from:
1. He knows everything and was lying through his teeth
2. He doesn't know half the things that are going on and therefore produced half-baked, semi-truthful answers
3. He knows very little, and so instead of taking everyone on a great Malaysian adventure, he is the one being taken for a great ride by "adventurous" Malaysians.
Take your pick.
To me , the most peculiar statement of the PM was when he claimed that Datuk Hishamuddin supposedly told him," Pak LAh, jagam kacau..biar Pemuda tentukan mengenai Khairy", referring to the 2004 Youth elections.
ReplyDeleteI just wonder what kind of UMNO President would allow a subordinate to speak to him like that , or all this just baloney..
Datuk,
ReplyDeleteMalaysians are getting stronger...few years ago, it took two people to carry RM10 worth of groceries....today, a five-year old can do it...
AKJ (permit me to address U this way).
ReplyDeleteI came back from Pahang late last night and I am diassappointed with the Bernama report quoting our PM that the project delay in completing the dam being built near Sg Lembing -- kata PM "not enough of stones and boulders".
I am from Pahang (residing in KL) and it's deplorable that the state of Pahang, with so much resources, has lagged behind -- and now they want to sell water to Selangor; I just hope it will be a source of revenue for the state for we cannot be relying on timber.
It's understandable that YAB MB Pahang supports Pak Lah since even after being terminated as MOD, UMNO Bahagian Bentong never fails to invite Pak Lah to open the Bahagian AGM.
Be frank with us bloggers, do you think that Adnan is capable of running the state of Pahang ? (and in this case, do birds of the same feather flocks together?)
The flights to Johore is OVERBOOKED (flight full) on 16th August -- pax manifest includes who's who in the cabinet and parlimen) ... so Pak Lah visiting Johore next? the 16th August?
Wonder what YAB Ghani will say? Will Pak Lah visit the scenic bridge? Will he have an audience with the Sultan? ... comment sikit tok !
Kalau Khairy tak campur tangan dalam urusan Pak Lah, apa sebab Khairy Jamaludin adalah antara tiga orang besar yang bertanggungjawab menemuduga calon BN dalam pilihan raya 2004?
ReplyDeleteDear Datuk,
ReplyDeleteLast nite was the first time I met you in person during the Clash of Personality Talk at Quality Hotel.
I have just started reading your blog a few weeks earlier as the internet has become our alternative channel for info we feel we must know and understand.
As most ppl who care to think and able to access the cyberworld, I no longer want to read the mainstream media newspapers nor watch our TV without wanting (for the lack of a better expression to use) to "puke" with the obvious "cerita dongeng" spinned by the spin doctors. We have grown into a thinking society and am observant and can read the writings on the walls. No need to forcefeed us with stupid news and spunned stories to suit certain agenda.
I am also upset with the current manipulation by newspapers editors whom blatantly feel it is their God-given right (or some ppl give them these rights?) to condemn and be disrespectful of our leader who is respected the world over for his trackrecord and performance for molding and building Malaysia to its ALREADY Cemerlang, Gemilang and Terbilang stage, as well as his boldness and bravery in championing the cause of the muslim ummah, its economy and welfare in general.
It is revolting for the mainstream media to be charging us $$ for the papers - for spitting on our face, our respected leader and the Malays muslim in general especially these editors are not even Malaysians!
So last nite I grabbed the opportunity to listen to all 3 views from the 3 different speakers, including you. I must say I am most honored to hear you in person as your speech is as witty, wise and berADAB as are your writings.
Of Sivarasam, regardless he is minted from Oxford, he came acrossed as a mere Marketer of
"Anwar for PM" (perhaps a stake in Ministership if this ever materialized?) and his abuse of human rights agenda to try to bait the non-Malays and dissing of Tun M among what seemed like mostly Keadilan crowd is cheap and deplorable indeed. Somehow these days Oxford-minted grads from Malaysia reflected very badly on the quality of this institution.
Gunasegaran sounded extremely scripted and robotic, as well as insipid and dim to me. Like a stooge parroting what he feels are "good" baits to the non-Malays. Same modus operandi as Siva except perhaps he is "hardselling the wares" of a bigger boss.
You on the other hand came across as I said very witty, well-thought yet candid, interesting and fair in your comments. If I may say so, I am proud to say a real Malay gentleman indeed. I am very proud last nite to have you representing the persona of the Malay, its adab, wit, wisdom and tolerance.
I always believe that respect must be earned, and as Tun Mahathir which I have came to respect a lot by his deeds, actions, extremely sharp wit and most of all principles, you have earned my respect with your handling of the issues at hand, last nite.
Thank you Datuk for your engaging wit, wisdom and experience.
We the younger generations hope to emulate at least a little bit of your wisdom, wit and adab.
Wasalaam.
AAB just screwed up big time in this so call interview, especially his analogy on football .... the whole world is laughing at us now... to have somebody who is sooo weak as pm...
ReplyDeleteAisehman said...
ReplyDelete“…There are several alternative conclusions to this episode to choose from:
1. He knows everything and was lying through his teeth
2. He doesn't know half the things that are going on and therefore produced half-baked, semi-truthful answers
3. He knows very little, and so instead of taking everyone on a great Malaysian adventure, he is the one being taken for a great ride by "adventurous" Malaysians.
Take your pick…”
===================================
Dear aisehman,
I will pick all three.
#1
#2 &
#3
Datuk,
ReplyDeleteIn a way, this crisis ie. TDM's criticism to AAB,is a diversion from the actual problems faced by AAB. By that I mean the general unhappiness and dissatisfaction of the electorate of the performance of this Government post-election 2004.
3 years under the leadership of AAB, Malaysian have seen numerous difficulties such as rising fuel prices, basic necessities and other financil obligations. The economy is also not doing well, as the man on the street would vouch for, despite the numbers and statistics churned out by the Government. More importantly, this country seems to be directionless, meandering aimlessly towards God knows where, despite the Government's effort to create furore over the RMK9 projects. A country and its citizen, and their shared future, is not just about the projects. It's much more than just the projects.
I think the 3 year administration of AAB can be considered a failure in most aspects.
That's why, if we were to think again, AAB is having a respite from the electorates' anger, by having this TDM crisis. I wonder how the endgame is like. Appreciate if other bloggers can give their insight on this
Dato’
ReplyDelete-assalamualaikum-
My routine has completely changed. 5 days in a week -30 minutes in the morning I will make sure, I read all comments given in your blog [your own write-up and opinion from commentators] and again 30 minutes after the office hour and sometimes 1/2 hour during lunch. I do this without fail on a daily basis. Almost everyday, I will printed out [any hot, interesting and rebuttable issues], bring it back home and I will discuss the paper with my brother and sisters [age range between 23-33 years old] and we will talk, discuss and comment and frankly speaking, I have never made all these before.
I still read the NST, The Star, BH, UM, The Edge–but just for the sake of reading [for matters pertaining to issues raised by TDM and answers given by AAB and team] and I have no feel to know further about the justifications, reasoning, etc stated in the papers [I have gained nothing by reading these papers]. Long ago I have never bothered about politic in our country–but now I can feel the so called an ‘aura’ and it comes spontaneously and instantaneously.
Honestly, I found that the internet [blog to be exact] is the most useful channel to get the so called valuable, accurate, appropriate, true and fair view of information. I also would like to congratulate you [and I am fully agree to what all you have written in your blog] for comprehensive review and comments. My conclusions are ;
1. The interview has portrayed ABB’s weaknesses and at one point he looked as no creditability in handling “questions” and many of us know that Datuk Anuar [the interviewer] - someone was close to him. I think, this is a “REAL or TOTAL FAILURE”.
2. I am fully agree with you Dato’ that our Bursa is currently underperforming against other regional stock exchanges and if say, we will hit by the second wave of the financial crisis [as I believe that usually the history will be repeated] – we have no “WARRIOR” or “KNIGHT WHITE” to save our country. Furthermore, I am worried if the government engaged in reckless “unsuitable spending” >>[ all the mega projects]. Not like during TDM’s tenure.
3. AAB said, the economy was still growing, but we all know that the private consumption has slowed significantly due to higher oil prices and rising interest rates and coupled with a decelerating global economic growth and external demand [US in particular] – to me either 5.5% to 6.0% GDP, or international reserve had increased tremendously, inflation intact, or what so ever economic indicators – [figures can always be altered]
I personally asked my brother, for the next election–what is his vote like? He said–certainly my vote no more for BN, for him may be we should give the opposition party [definitely not DAP and/or Keadilan] a chance to win :-)
-wassalam-
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDato'
ReplyDeleteThe menantu described TDM as a berok and now AAB was reported in BH to have said: "tidak akan melayan pihak tertentu yang bersikap seperti ‘iblis’ yang berasakan ia lebih pandai daripada orang lain."
All this name calling, a sign of desperation?
As a nation, we have been blessed with the right PM at the right time.
Tunku won our independence for us and united the races, TAR worked and planned tirelessly to put the country on the right footing economically, THO stepped in to keep the momentum going and TDM put us in a position that others could only look upon in envy.
The new PM? I am not sure. He said he needs time to warm up but given the 15 months notice and hand-holding by the incumbent, I expect him to be up and running from the word "Go!"
Don't you just hate golfers who take too many practice swings and tennis players who bounce the ball as if that is the whole idea of the game?
Malam ni bukak TV tengok muka Khairy dan muka Datuk K dgn. ex wife dia.
ReplyDeleteSaya pun ikut dungu bila tekun dengar cerita pasal Datuk K dan ex-wife dia.
Tapi, yang memeranjatkan saya, bila TV1 tunjuk muka Khairy, bapak saya, abang ipar saya, akak saya dan termasuk mak saya mengeluh dan cakap,"La.... muka dia lagi! Tak abis ker pasal Israel nih?" Nih golongan yang tak baca blog Datuk nih pun lama-lama bosan dengan muka Khairy dan isu Israel.
Khairy dok cerita pasal fitnah itu ini. Hmmm... dia kata nak pi akar umbi, hantar pemuda UMNO nak perbetulkan keadaan.
Agaknya... dia nak hantar ke Pemuda Umno ke ceruk Mukah, Sarawak ni? Rata2, ramai orang kampung saya dah ragu-ragu dengan Pak Lah. Yea la.. simple folks as us, kenapa la harga barang naik?Sini harga se tong gas RM31. Gula dah abis dah.
Dato,
ReplyDeleteI would like to touch your analysis on ECM Libra- Avenue mergers. The whole deal stinks to its core. Even if you try to wash with clorox, it wouldn't wash away. Even if PAC found that the deal doesn't contravene whatever so called 'rule', nobody would believe that Pak Lah didn't know all these since your in-law stay in your house.
I still remember the previous years ago, the issue regarding allegations that Rafidah dish out a huge junk of new shares (IPOs) to her nephew. She claimed innocent by stating that she was not in the meeting when the MITI committee decided to grant the IPOs. Did she think that the public would be so naive to believe in all these?
On the ECM Libra case, it is even worse, as it is something the Pak Lah should know and should not claim innocent. It would be interesting to find out who are the signatories in approving the deals and how’s their relationship with Khairi. I wouldn’t be surprised if those involved are also connected to Pemuda UMNO.These are what you called blatant nepotism and cronyism
Interview ? What interview ? I thought I was watching a sitcom.
ReplyDeleteAisehman, are you conducting a poll? I'll pick no.3.
Abd Cucu Tok Naga, I too am from Pahang and spent much of today going thru some Pahang blogs. The consensus is - sigh! Dissappointment!
Aishman'ns no 3 is the best pick.
Saudara,
ReplyDeleteKemana perginya Dato Azman Ujang, Dato khalid Mophd atau Dato Wong Sulong? Bukankah mereka antara wartawan kanan negara kita? Saya tidak masukkan Dato Hishamudin Aun dalam senerai ini kerana beliau belum cukup umur dalam hal seperti menemubual pemimpin negara kita. Saya tertanya-tanya mengapa Dato Anuar Zaini, pengerusi Bernama, yang menemubual PM sedangkan pengalaman beliau dalam kerja kewartawanan juga tidak ada dalam mana-mana rekod. Oleh yang demikian, saya membuat kesimpulan bahawa semua ketua2 pengarang yang saya seneraikan di atas tidak mendapat cukup kepercayaan untuk menyoal PM dalam program yang penting seperti yg Saudara hurai. Walaupun ketiga2 nama yang saya sebut mempunyai cukup pengalaman, mereka tidak termasuk dalam 'inner circle' PM. Sayang! Temubual itu sepatutnya akan menjadi 'credible' jika salah seorang dari tiga pengarang itu menjadi penyoal. Dato Anuar, walaupun pengerusi Bernama, bukan seorang wartawan, dan kedudukannya sebagai kawan PM, menjadikan temubual itu hambar. Atau ada elemen 'fixed,' seperti satu perlawanan bola.
I think people are really shock about this "iblis" term used sparringly by our once reverred PM. Overnight his personality changed. From "elegant silence" to "name calling" PM. From a frugal spending PM into a mega-spending PM. I just wondering whether our PM is experiencing split personality syndromme.
ReplyDeleteI will be waiting anxiously how our PM will be reacting on the next coming speech by our TDM. Will he turn into HULK or Sitora (Malay werewolf)??
AKJ,
ReplyDelete‘One such person is Hishammuddin. So he gave Khairy a nudge and a helping hand despite the fact that there were other more senior and more capable Umno Youth leaders like Mukhriz Mahathir (Tun Dr Mahathir’s son)’ <=== Since we all have enough of this father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, mother-daughter thing in the political environment, why don’t we all just drop suggesting a name like this. The last thing we need is to create another elite to substitute another elite.
‘The sad fact is the prices of shares on Bursa Malaysia are very cheap these days. So it’s foolish for Singapore investors not to buy’ <=== the name of the game is to buy low and to sell high to anybody.
‘That’s also the reason why unit trust investors, including those who bought using their EPF savings, are suffering big losses. Bursa Malaysia is under performing compared to other regional bourses.’ <=== Unit trust investors leave all the trading decisions to their unit trust fund managers who prefer the averaging methodology. This is not so ideal as the better practice is still to buy low and to sell high. Averaging is to buy periodically although the market is downtrend thus not a wise way to invest.
‘But the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said in an interview published by the Malaysiakini Internet newspaper on Aug. 7 that he had information about government corruption, which if he revealed would land him in jail.
“I will continue asking for answers from the current government, because if I reveal information, I would be charged with revealing state secrets under the Official Secrets Acts,” he said.’ <== I’ve heard that there are political people who really don’t mind being jailed just because they want to reveal the truth.
‘But try to explain that to the ordinary voters and taxpayers who have to pay more for petrol, diesel, cooking gas, electricity, water, local government rates and more.’ <=== I think this is more of the external factor as the crude oil prices keep on increasing drastically due to many fundamental factors. Of course there is a way to eliminate price fluctuation via various financial risk management such as hedging tools but nobody even bother.
Curious_mind,
‘As one of the commentator say, there is no more win-win or lose-lose situations. The winners takes all and the losers will be condemned for good.’ <== It sounds as all the political means to overcome these problems have eroded. Politicians probably prefer to sing something like one of the ABBA greatest song. I grew up with this song and probably I will keep continue to grow up with this song again:
"The Winner Takes It All"
I don't wanna talk
About the things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play
The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny
I don't wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all...
Dukperati,
‘Malaysians are getting stronger...few years ago, it took two people to carry RM10 worth of groceries....today, a five-year old can do it...’ <== I like this cynical joke and it is so true. RM 10 means getting only three items to me :-)
cucutun,
‘TDM telah membuktikan agamanya apabila sanggup memaafkan musuh. Mungkin berkorban diri untuk rakyat boleh menjadi satu sumbangan terbesar Pak Lah terhadap Bangsa , Agama Dan Negara.’ <== I think TDM also can berkorban diri untuk rakyat by stop talking and start walking and proving :-)
Saudara, saudari pembahas dan pelawat yang saya hormati,
ReplyDeleteTerima kasih kerana terus mengunjungi blog ini dan berkongsi pendapat.
Saya mohon maaf kerana tidak menyiarkan beberapa ulasan kerana saya berasa terdapat sedikit keterlaluan atau mungkin menjurus ke arah fitnah dan hasutan.
Mengenai ulasan berkaitan hujah PM tentang perkataan iblis, izinkan saya membuat ulasan berikut:-
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak menuduh atau melabelkan sesiapa iblis.
Yang beliau kata, seperti dilaporkan oleh Berita Harian, ialah beliau tidak akan melayan pihak tertentu yang “bersikap seperti iblis” yang berasakan ia lebih pandai daripada orang lain. [BH mencampuradukkan ia dan mereka dalam laporannya].
Serentak itu, PM mengingatkan mereka yang tidak senang dengan dasar atau keputusan kerajaan supaya tidak menyalahgunakan amalan demokrasi dengan membuat kacau dan menabur fitnah.
Beliau berkata, amalan seperti tegur menegur dan memberi pandangan bagi memperbaiki pelaksanaan sesuatu program memang mesti diteruskan kerana cara itu dapat mengukuhkan muafakat dan kerjasama antara pemimpin dan rakyat.
Katanya: “Tetapi jangan sesekali menggunakan pendekatan yang boleh merosakkan perpaduan... yang akan merosakkan muafakat dan kerjasama. Ini tak boleh dan pantang sekali dilakukan.
“Tegur boleh tegur (seperti) dalam amalan kita bermuhasabah secara kumpulan, dalam bermesyuarat, itulah cara terbaik kita. Tetapi kata mengata, tabur fitnah, dengki dan sakit hati, sengaja nak buat kacau, ini tak baik dan tak patut dilakukan sesiapa pun.”
Tambah PM lagi: “Bukan tabiat saya nak membohong atau bercakap tak sepenuhnya, bukan tabiat saya nak kelirukan rakyat. Apa yang saya mahu hanya jelas, jelas dan jelas saja supaya senang difahami rakyat.
“Malangnya ada pihak cuba mengganggu, macam gangguan iblis, yang mengganggu kita sepanjang masa. Kita kena hadapi suasana ini dengan tenang dengan melaksanakan projek RMK-9 secara berkesan dan menggunakan segala kecekapan yang ada.
”Saya tidak akan membuang masa dan menghabiskan tenaga melayan gangguan yang tidak mendatangkan manfaat kerana ia akan hanya merugikan rakyat.”
PM tak tuduh sesiapa iblis. Dia hanya kata macam iblis. PM mengajak kita bermuhasabah.
Dalam semangat itu, saya teringat kepada novel satira Sasterawan Negara Datuk Shahnon Ahmad “Shit” (najis, tahi) yang mempersendakan slogan “Malaysia Boleh” era Tun Dr Mahathir.
Waktu itu, banyaklah pemimpin Umno dan BN yang marah kepada Shahnon yang kebetulan Ahli Parlimen Pas kawasan Sik di Kedah. Mereka marah kerana mereka anggap beliau menyamakan Dr Mahathir dengan tahi atau najis seperti kini mereka marahkan sesiapa juga yang menegur dan mengkritik Abdullah.
Dr Mahathir tidak peduli sangat kerana dia sudah biasa dengan pelbagai gelaran, label dan sindiran. Beliau pernah dipanggil diktator, autokrat, maha zalim, Firaun dan macan-macam lagi.
Tapi apabila Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat mempertahankan Shahnon dengan mengatakan Allah Taala juga mencarut, kita terkejut besar. Apa pun rasionalnya, tiada siapa boleh menerima hujah Nik Abdul Aziz bahawa Allah Taala mencarut. Apatah lagi kerana beliau diterima sebagai seorang ulama terkemuka.
Tetapi, Nik Abdul Aziz yang memakai topi politik sanggup mengeluarkan kenyataan seperti itu dan mempertahankannya.
PM tidak menuduh atau melabel sesiapa iblis. Tetapi beliau menyifatkan perbuatan pihak-pihak yang berasa diri mereka lebih pandai daripada orang lain, sebagai “bersikap seperti iblis”.
Tetapi kalau premis ini diterima sebagai sahih, maka banyaklah orang dan pihak yang boleh kita tuduh “bersikap seperti iblis”. Lulusan UM, misalnya, sering berasa mereka lebih pandai daripada lulusan UKM atau USM. Ini mungkin betul dan mungkin juga tidak betul. Tapi itu sifat manusia.
Lulusan Oxford dan Cambridge pastinyalah berasa mereka lebih pandai daripada lulusan universiti tempatan. Dan orang Umno sentiasa berasa mereka lebih pandai daripada orang Pas dan ahli Keadilan berasa mereka lebih pandai daripada semua orang.
Pengetahuan Islam saya tak dalam. Tetapi Abdullah cukup dalam pengetahuan Islamnya dan daripada keturunan ulama pula.
Jadi mungkin beliau lebih arif tentang mengukur dan menilai sifat dan sikap orang lain sehingga meyakinkan beliau bahawa ada di antara kita di bumi Malaysia ini yang “bersikap seperti iblis”.
Tetapi di dalam kejahilan saya, saya rasa iblis melakukan sesuatu semata-mata untuk keburukan anak Adam, tetapi ada di antara kita anak Adam yang hari ini berbincang dan berbahas melakukannya untuk kebaikan.
Kita berdoa dan berharap, keinginan kita untuk bersuara secara rasional tidak akan pudar semata-mata kerana ada pihak yang menganggap kita “bersikap seperti iblis.”
Terima kasih.
Datuk,
ReplyDeleteSalamun 'alaika. Mengenai sikap tokoh-tokoh tertentu yg cpat sngt nak jwb press dan ulas, sy berharap gejala itu dihentikan sesegera mungkin. Belajarlah dari Siti Nurhaliza yg setakat ni hampir tak pernah kantoi dgn press!
Kadang2, oleh krana nak jwb juga soalan press dgn niat nak membela perbuatan rakan dan kwn sndiri, brlaku ksalahan yg bsar sehingga tokak dan kudisnya berparut sampai bila saya pun tak tau.
Sya lagi bodo agama dari Datuk (tidaklah pula sy nak kata Datuk pun bodo agama), tetapi kalaupun ada istilah mengenai kemaluan di dalam al-Quran, saya yakin teramat yakin itu bukan mencarut.
Oleh krana saya bodo agama dan tak layak dan tak berhak nak mentafsir apa yg Allah nyatakan dalam al-Quran, izinkan sy ambik contoh dlm kehidupan seharian saya.
Contohnya, masa anak-anak kecik2 dulu, dekat tiap2 hari saya mandikan depa. Saya ajaq depa menyabunkan sndiri badan depa. Selalulah saya sebut, dengan izin, "kotey tu sabun". Saya yakin itu bukan mencarut. Lainlah kalau sy marah kat orang dan saya kata, dengan mohon izin juga, "kotey hang!"
Dalam al-Quran, setakat yg saya tahu, memang ada Allah memaki, contohnya Allah memaki Abu Lahab dalam ayat "Tabbat yada Abi Lahabin watab... ila akhiril ayah".
Tetapi mencarut, tak ada. Kalaupun ada perkataan "furujuhum hafizun," maksudnya "kemaluan mereka, mereka pelihara," saya yakin teramat yakin, itu bukan mencarut; walaupun saya bodo dan tak layak serta tak berhak langsung nak tafsir kalimah suci dan agung Tuhan Yang Maha Bersopan-santun.
Agaknya, dan saya mohon sungguh2 keampunan Allah kalau saya salah meneka, agaknya samalah seperti saya kata kat anak-anak saya macam crita yg saya sbutkan d atas, "kotey tu sabun". Saya tak berniat mencarut dan saya yakin saya tak mencarut.
Mungkin istilah yang saya gunakan utk meminta anak2 kecil saya dahulu supaya membersihkan kemaluan mereka terlalu barbaric, tapi saya tak mencarut.
Yang sebenarnya saya nak tulis di sini ialah untuk meminta untuk kesekian kalinya, selepas permintaan ramai yang lain, supaya kita mencetak apa2 artikel yg baik dlm Internet dan bagi-bagi kpd saudara-mara dan kwn2 yg tak tengok Internet supaya mereka juga tahu apa yg berlaku dan bergolak.
Memang susah utk membuat siaran ulangan 1999 di mana ramai yg print bahan2 dlm Internet dan dibagi-bagi kpd smua saudara-mara dan rakan kawan yg tak tengok Internet. Tapi, kalau dimulakan dulu, hatta oleh segolongan kecil sekalipun, ia akan merebak menjadi amalan lebih ramai orang.
Sekadar utk maklumat semua, kwn sy d Greenwood yg berniaga buku dan majalah pernah beritahu sy, "Baru ptg tadi aku ambik 200 (VCD ucapan Tun Det di Melawati), ni dah habis dah (belum pkl 12 mlm lagi)".
Apa yg sy nak habaq ialah, org nak tau. Dan, seharusnya kita rasa berdosa kalau tak bagitau benda yg betul dan tak bohong yg org nak tau. Lainlah kalau kita menyebarkan pembohongan. Salam.
Pak Lah managing the economy is simply appalling. Unlike the current administration, the previous administration had long realized how sensitive is the price of our basic needs, e.g. sugar, oil, petrol, in effecting the prices of other general goods. A slight increase in the price of basic needs will have a huge impact on the escalating price of other products. Meaning, it is not only increase in 30sen per litre in the price in petrol. It also translates into RM10 increase per week in groceries. So if you take them into account of other expenses, it means that you are burning around RM100 to 200 per month more on other expenses that you would not have incurred, if the price of petrol did not increase. That is really a lot to most of the average Malaysian. Couldn’t believe for somebody who has been a season politician didn’t realize that impact of it and not sensitive to the needs of the public. You can simply control the petrol price by taking some of Petronas billion and billions of surpluses in profit, in which coincidentally they made from the increase in the global price. This is what the finance calls it hedging.
ReplyDeleteOn top of that, we are currently experiencing depreciating (decrease in value) in our currency, meaning to say that most of our imported goods are getting more expansive. So another word, with our domestic inflation plus our depreciating value in money, we are experiencing a double impact of inflation. I think that’s the difference between Tun and Pak Lah as Tun would anticpate all these and would have taken all these necessary measures before it becomes such a major issue to the public.
I agree with other commentators. It is not simply the 4 questions that Pak Lah didn’t answer. It is just purely not able to manage such a minor issue, which eventually becomes a major problem that made the public lose confidence in this administration. In most of the public mind now is - Are you capable enough to take care of Malaysia interest should another major crisis hit our front door, e.g. regional or global recession, political pressure from superpower nations and even Singapore meddling into our politics/economy. Pak Lah, you cannot simply brush away all these criticism as pure nuisance and label it as the “iblis” work. You cannot keep on continuing to say that our current focus is to ensure that all the RMK9 projects be successfully implemented. All these project in the eyes of the general public means nothing even if it is worth billion and billions of dollars if they perceive you as a weak figure, who simply in your current position by virtue of the good grace of our TDM and not because your competency or your leadership qualities.
Srd Penarik Beca,
ReplyDeleteBohong atau benar, tidak mutakhir. Tetapi fakta lebih sukar dipertikaikan. PM kata anaknya Kamaluddin hanya berniaga di luar negara.
Mungkin PM TERLUPA bahawa Scomi juga terbabit dengan kontrak-kontrak dalam negara.
Berikut Berita Mstar, akhbar Internet Star Publications Berhad, tanggal 10 Ogos:-
MRCB consortium keen on Penang monorail
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB)-led consortium expressed interest to the Government two months ago in a design, build and transfer contract for the Penang monorail, sources said.
Mtrans Transportation System Sdn Bhd is a member of the consortium.
MRCB has been talking to Mtrans, a 51% unit of Scomi Group Bhd, on working together in the project.
They have been partners in the KL Sentral development, according to a source.
Mtrans is the system supplier for the Kuala Lumpur monorail project.
Separately, Scomi group chief executive officer Shah Hakim Zain confirmed the group's involvement in the Penang monorail project via Mtrans.
The Penang monorail is estimated to be worth some RM1.2bil.
“We have submitted designs for the coaches to MRCB,” he said. Scomi completed the takeover of Mtrans last month.
Shah Hakim said the company was willing to supply the monorail coaches to the winning party.
The Penang monorail project has attracted a number of interested parties since it was given the green light by the Prime Minister earlier this month.
Melewar Industrial Group Bhd is expected to make a presentation for the project next week, according to an official close to the group.
Srd Penarik Beca,
ReplyDeleteBohong atau benar, tidak mutakhir. Tetapi fakta lebih sukar dipertikaikan. PM kata anaknya Kamaluddin hanya berniaga di luar negara.
Mungkin PM TERLUPA bahawa Scomi juga terbabit dengan kontrak-kontrak dalam negara.
Berikut Berita Mstar, akhbar Internet Star Publications Berhad, tanggal 10 Ogos:-
MRCB consortium keen on Penang monorail
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB)-led consortium expressed interest to the Government two months ago in a design, build and transfer contract for the Penang monorail, sources said.
Mtrans Transportation System Sdn Bhd is a member of the consortium.
MRCB has been talking to Mtrans, a 51% unit of Scomi Group Bhd, on working together in the project.
They have been partners in the KL Sentral development, according to a source.
Mtrans is the system supplier for the Kuala Lumpur monorail project.
Separately, Scomi group chief executive officer Shah Hakim Zain confirmed the group's involvement in the Penang monorail project via Mtrans.
The Penang monorail is estimated to be worth some RM1.2bil.
“We have submitted designs for the coaches to MRCB,” he said. Scomi completed the takeover of Mtrans last month.
Shah Hakim said the company was willing to supply the monorail coaches to the winning party.
The Penang monorail project has attracted a number of interested parties since it was given the green light by the Prime Minister earlier this month.
Melewar Industrial Group Bhd is expected to make a presentation for the project next week, according to an official close to the group.
ISLAM TERCEMAR ANGKARA PEMIMPIN “WARAK”
ReplyDeleteTarikh 11 September 2001 adalah tarikh permulaan yang menandakan tercemarnya imej agama Islam di mata penduduk dunia. Agama Islam mula dikaitkan dengan keganasan hanya kerana segelintir penganutnya yang ekstrem melakukan sesuatu yang tidak waras. Sejak itu, Islam diserang, ditakuti, diperlekeh, dipersenda, ditindas, dihina oleh musuh-musuhnya. Dengan begitu mudah, imej Islam sebagai agama yang indah, suci, damai dan adil lagi sempurna itu dilenyapkan dengan sekelip mata dan untuk membina semula imej yang mulia ini amatlah sukar. Lima tahun sudah berlalu, ternyata martabat Islam masih tidak dapat dipulihkan, malah tugas untuk melakukannya juga menjadi semakin berat. Tidak perlulah memandang jauh ke peringkat global, fokuskan saja kepada situasi di Malaysia yang tercinta ini untuk memahami dengan lebih terperinci tentang kepayahan membersihkan semula imej Islam ini.
Tahun 2003 merupakan suatu sejarah bagi Malaysia kerana buat pertama kalinya, pentadbiran Kerajaan diketuai oleh seorang yang dikatakan warak yang mempunyai latar belakang agama Islam yang kuat. Pemimpin ini diharapkan dapat menunjukkan suatu gaya pentadbiran yang menjunjung kebenaran, menegakkan keadilan dan mengutamakan keikhlasan dalam segala tindakannya dan dengan itu, dapat menyumbang kepada usaha-usaha untuk menaikkan semula keharuman nama Islam di kalangan penduduk dunia khususnya daripada golongan bukan Islam. Harapan rakyat sangatlah tinggi kepada pemimpin ini dan ini diterjemahkan melalui sokongan kuat yang diberikan oleh rakyat kepada parti politik yang diterajui oleh beliau dalam pilihan raya yang diadakan, beberapa bulan selepas beliau memegang tampuk pentadbiran Kerajaan. Sejak itu, janji mula dibuat, pelbagai slogan dicipta, Islam Hadari pun diperkenal dan dipopularkan. Namun, selepas hampir tiga tahun, persekitaran di Malaysia tidak pula menjadi semakin baik, tetapi sebaliknya yang berlaku. Pentadbiran yang didakwa berasaskan kepada kebenaran, keadilan dan keikhlasan rupa-rupanya seperti ungkapan kosong yang tiada makna sama sekali. Apakah yang sudah berlaku?
Untuk bercakap tentang menegakkan kebenaran, memanglah mudah tetapi untuk menterjemahkannya kepada tindakan, amatlah perit sekali. Inilah yang berlaku sekarang kepada Kerajaan pimpinan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Kebenaran yang mutlak dan hakiki itu tidak hanya diperkatakan di bibir sahaja, tetapi perlu disokong dengan fakta yang sahih yang tidak boleh dipertikaikan lagi, juga tidak boleh diputarbelitkan dan tidak pula direka-reka. Namun, melihat kepada tindak-tanduk pemimpin politik Kerajaan, ternampak jelas bahawa kebenaran yang didakwa hendak diperjuangkan rupa-rupanya cuba disembunyikan untuk selama-lamanya. Lihat sahajalah kepada peristiwa jambatan bengkok, penjualan MV Augusta dan isu permit import (AP). Kebenaran mutlak itu masih tidak terbongkar kerana banyak persoalan yang masih belum terjawab. Pihak Kerajaan tampak begitu beria-ia untuk mengelak daripada menjawab soalan-soalan yang dikemukakan, dan sekiranya menjawab pun, kebanyakan hujahnya amatlah lemah tanpa sokongan bukti yang kuat, mungkin kerana hendak menutup kebenaran. Untuk mengalih perhatian rakyat daripada menjawab soalan-soalan tadi, maka pemimpin-pemimpin ini mula melakukan serangan ke atas pengkritik-pengkritik mereka. Dr. Mahathir, misalnya telah dianggap sebagai seorang tua yang sudah nyanyuk, yang mudah dipengaruhi oleh orang-orang tertentu yang berkepentingan, yang kecewa dan dengki dengan kemenangan besar parti politik Kerajaan dalam pilihan raya lepas, yang sangat sakit hati di atas pembatalan banyak projek-projek mega tinggalannya dahulu, yang cuba memecahbelahkan perpaduan dalam parti UMNO, yang bersekongkol dengan pembangkang untuk menjatuhkan Kerajaan dan macam-macam lagi. Namun, persoalan pokok tidak langsung diberikan perhatian. Inikah dia pejuang kebenaran atau sebenarnya lebih kepada pembunuh kebenaran?
Keadilan adalah satu prinsip kepimpinan murni yang kononnya mahu diterap dan diamalkan sepenuhnya oleh Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Namun, keadilan versi beliau ini mempunyai definisi yang lain agaknya. Dalam tempoh kurang daripada tiga tahun sahaja, keluarganya didakwa mempunyai kekuasaan dan kekayaan yang amat luar biasa. Syarikat anaknya yang dahulunya dikatakan tidak dikenali langsung, tiba-tiba menjadi begitu berjaya selepas si bapa ini menjadi Perdana Menteri. Banyak kontrak lumayan yang diperoleh daripada syarikat-syarikat berkaitan Kerajaan (GLC) yang mengundang banyak kesangsian dan kecurigaan di mata rakyat Malaysia terutamanya berkenaan dengan sebab-sebab pemberian kontrak ini dibuat kepada syarikat itu. Tambahan lagi, majoriti GLC ini terletak di bawah kuasa Kementerian Kewangan dan Jabatan Perdana Menteri yang kebetulan pula diketuai oleh si bapa. Di arena politik pula, si menantunya pula didakwa naik dengan begitu luar biasa juga. Seorang yang tidak dikenali dan tidak juga mempunyai rekod perjuangan dan kepimpinan UMNO yang hebat, tiba-tiba menjadi begitu popular dan begitu berkuasa di dalam pengurusan agensi Kerajaan, media arus perdana dan parti politik UMNO hanya selepas si bapa mertua menjadi Perdana Menteri. Kemudian, timbul pula isu kemunculan syarikat ECM Libra Avenue hasil daripada penggabungan syarikat GLC di bawah Kementerian Kewangan dengan syarikat yang dikaitkan dengan si menantu tadi yang berlaku dalam tempoh masa yang amat singkat terutamanya tentang tempoh masa di antara selepas si menantu memperoleh saham di syarikat berkenaan sehinggalah penggabungan itu berlaku. Persoalan juga timbul tentang pembiayaan pembelian saham tersebut oleh si menantu yang terjadi dengan penuh rasa sangsi. Selepas itu, hanya sehari dua selepas Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Negara (PAC) memulakan siasatan ke atas syarikat itu, si menantu dan konco-konconya menjual pula saham dalam ECM Libra Avenue. Pelik dan begitu misteri sekali. Mungkinkah ini satu skandal buruk yang akan terbongkar suatu hari nanti?
Sementara Perdana Menteri ternampak melebih-lebihkan keluarganya, rakyat Malaysia pula hidup dengan penuh ketidakselesaan. Kos hidup menjadi semakin teruk dengan kenaikan harga petrol, elektrik dan barangan keperluan seharian. Aktiviti ekonomi juga dikatakan tidak lagi bergerak pantas, lalu menyebabkan banyak syarikat tempatan mengalami zaman ketenatan masing-masing. Rakyat yang sedar akan kesusahan dan keanehan yang berlaku ini mulalah mengkritik Kerajaan. Pelbagai dakwaan dan isu ditimbulkan sehinggalah Kerajaan gagal untuk menjawabnya dengan penuh yakin. Kegagalan ini mendesak Kerajaan untuk mengenakan kawalan dan pemantauan ke atas internet yang merupakan medium untuk pengkritik-pengkritik ini menyuarakan rasa tidak puas hati mereka. Alasan pun direka seperti untuk menyekat penyebaran fitnah semata-mata untuk menghalalkan tindakan mereka untuk menyekat kebebasan bersuara yang dijanjikan dahulu. Bukan itu sahaja, Dr. Mahathir sendiri sebagai pengkritik yang paling vokal sekarang telah cuba disekat untuk mengadakan ceramah kepada ahli-ahli UMNO khasnya dan rakyat amnya. Pelbagai alasan diberikan seperti kononnya keadaan iklim politik semasa yang tidak sesuai untuk membolehkan ceramah diadakan dan ceramah ini hanya mengundang perpecahan sahaja. Macam-macam cara dibuat untuk menyekat suara Dr. Mahathir daripada didengari oleh rakyat, daripada media arus perdana, ke internet dan ke majlis-majlis ceramah. Ini seolah-olah seperti menyekat kebebasan dan cubaan untuk menutup kebenaran. Mungkin inilah definisi keadilan dalam fikiran Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang cuba disemai di kalangan rakyat Malaysia.
Keikhlasan menuntut seseorang itu supaya melakukan sesuatu tanpa mengharapkan balasan. Orang yang ikhlas tidak perlu menunjuk-nunjuk tentang sesuatu perkara yang hendak dibuatnya. Tidak perlu mempromosikan diri dalam siri temuramah di televisyen yang disiarkan di seluruh negara untuk menjadi orang yang ikhlas. Tidak perlulah juga untuk bersikap takbur untuk menunjukkan kebaikan diri sendiri dan menyalahkan orang lain di atas keburukan diri. Untuk menjadi orang yang ikhlas menerima kritikan, tidak perlulah menyekat orang lain untuk bercakap. Sekiranya kritikan itu salah, perbetulkan dengan memberi penjelasan dengan sokongan bukti dan fakta yang kukuh, dan sekiranya kritikan itu benar, terima dan akuilah kesilapan dan berusaha untuk memperbaiki kesilapan itu. Janji untuk bersikap terbuka dan telus itu hendaklah ditunaikan. Namun, pemimpin Kerajaan menganggap semua kritikan itu adalah penipuan sahaja walaupun banyak juga bukti jelas terpampang di akhbar-akhbar dan internet. Bukan itu sahaja, pengkritik-pengkritik ini dikatakan pula bersikap jahat untuk merosakkan negara dan perbuatan kritikan ini disamakan pula dengan perbuatan iblis. Amatlah malang kerana komen ini datang daripada mulut seorang pemimpin yang dianggap warak. Harus diingat bahawa keikhlasan itu muncul daripada hati yang murni di mana segala perbuatan yang dilakukan oleh orang yang ikhlas ini akan sentiasa dihargai secara automatik dan spontan oleh orang lain tanpa perlu meminta-minta. Orang lain yang menilai keikhlasan diri seseorang, bukannya diri sendiri yang menilai keikhlasan itu. Inilah keikhlasan yang tulus lagi benar dan keikhlasan inikah yang ada pada Abdullah Ahmad Badawi?
Di kalangan masyarakat Melayu, seseorang yang berketurunan ulama sentiasa disalah anggap sebagai seorang yang warak. Mungkin datuknya, seorang ulama besar yang memperjuangkan Islam, tetapi cucunya mungkin seorang yang menjadi perosak agama. Mungkin juga bapanya seorang pendukung bangsa dan negara, tetapi anaknya mungkin sebagai pengkhianat dan penderhaka. Hakikatnya ialah keimanan dan ketakwaan seseorang individu itu tidak diperturunkan melalui keturunan daripada satu generasi ke generasi yang lain. Individu itu sendiri yang harus berusaha untuk meningkatkan keimanan dan ketakwaannya dan dalam proses tersebut, banyaklah faktor dan pengaruh yang menentukan peningkatan iman dan takwa dan begitulah sebaliknya. Jika tersalah langkah, seorang yang berpengetahuan agama yang tinggi sekali pun boleh tergelincir dan seterusnya memalukan agama yang dianutinya. Ajaran Islam perlulah diamalkan sebetulnya dan janganlah berlindung di sebalik latar belakang agama tadi untuk menghalalkan segala perbuatan yang salah demi sokongan dan kepentingan diri. Sejarah menceritakan bahawa cucu Nabi sendiri telah ditentang, dikritik, malah dibunuh oleh penentang-penentang mereka. Tidak masuk akal bagi cucu seorang ulama Melayu yang tidaklah setaraf Nabi untuk bebas daripada teguran atau kritikan yang bertujuan untuk kebaikan.
Di dalam zaman di mana Islam sedang diserang oleh musuh-musuhnya, umat Islam tidaklah dalam kedudukan untuk menerima satu lagi penghinaan ke atas agama yang dianutinya. Pemimpin yang berlatarbelakangkan Islam dan warak sepatutnya membuktikan bahawa ajaran Islam yang dipegangnya itu dapat memandunya untuk mentadbir negara dengan baik di samping menunjukkan satu rekod pencapaian yang hebat yang dapat mematahkan hujah musuh-musuh Islam bahawa Islam itu menjadi penghalang kepada kemajuan dan pendorong kepada tindakan keganasan. Rupa-rupanya, mengangkat pemimpin yang berlatarbelakangkan agama juga mempunyai risikonya seperti mengangkat pemimpin yang sekular dan dianggap autokratik. Sekurang-sekurangnya pemimpin sekular atau autokratik tidak membawa bersama imej buruk kepada agamanya sekiranya dia gagal tetapi pemimpin yang berimej agama sedikit sebanyak akan mencemarkan nama baik agamanya sekiranya dia gagal dan ini merupakan suatu kemenangan kepada pihak musuh dan satu bencana pula kepada umat Islam.
Sekian, terima kasih.
Nazri wants to be the warrior of PM? He doesnt even watch the WorldCup final reading all comments from websites print out for him as he goes like a pup last time.
ReplyDeleteDo not make yourself tired defending all out the untruth from Tun's pin. Its just a tiny pin.
Anwar's is long time gone.Look at Ezam and Azmin first before you speak about finance corruption,Prof!
So, you do become a new millionaire officially arent you? Like i always expirienced, nothing beats truth. Until its the end of the world. But i must say, we havent finish. Malay struggle never ends and meet in Oxbridge hands like you.
Its too hot.Dato Shahrir, dont you know PM doesnt know how to do account? How does Tan Sri Nor does it? Hurm? Care to tell?
But until now, im still worried about after Tun, who will be the next Pejuang?
Dato'
ReplyDeleteDego tv hari ni cerita pasal `mereka yg memakan cili' telah menjual & megurangkan kepentingan dalam ECM-Libra .
Pelik bin ajaib...sebab bagi saya yg tak belajar tinggi ni:
1. org beli/jual saham sebab nak rugi...bukan sikit Dato juta2 .Kalau benda ni urusniaga yang betui, kenapa nak melompat.
2.Pastu baru sedo yg Pantai tu dah dimiliki oleh org asing....dan akan buat `post mortem' utk tengok implikasinya. Padahal baru2 ni cakap ..tak apa,inilah tandanya syarikat kita mempunyai nilai & ekonomi/ negara diyakini oleh bangsa
asing...biasalah dah terantuk baru nak tergadah...cara Malaysiakan...mana peginya bijak pandai kat Putrajaya tu,korang tak buat study ke sebelum bagi kelulusan benarkan pemilikan oleh pihak asing di buat... kome ni dah lah perabih boreh,dah tu nak gadai bendang pulak..
Satu benda nak tanya.....harap2 kelian semua kat atas2 tu ingat lah...KAMU SEMUA NI PEGANG TANGGUNGJAWAB DAN PEGANG AMANAH... ESOK LUSA KELIAN SEMUA KENA TANYA KAT KUBUR... KALAU INI PUN KALIAN TAK KISAH..hmmmmm hancus le bangsa & negara.Sila berundur sebab kami TAK PERLUKAN org macam kelian
Dato,
ReplyDeleteThe latest revelation is very damaging to our PM. After going on tv with his statements defending the government's position on control of local companies, the PM was forced to admit the opposite. To me, this shows, among other things, the following:
1 - His advisers had done him in for whatever reason or interests
2 - His advisers had taken advantage of his good nature to make him utter incorrect statements or positions regarding Govt matters
3 - His advisers underestimated the scrutiny that the people pays to Govt dealing and the manner in which the country is administered
4 - that there could be many other incorrect statements that the PM had made due to the incompetence of his handlers and/or advisors.
Perhaps, the PM should list all the statements he had made and subject them to detailed scrutiny. The PM cannot be making one statement only to correct it soon after. And his real advisers shouldn't be too gung ho about him making TV appearance without first checking and double checking his facts. Questions - who's really responsible for briefing the PM on all important matters? Will heads roll for making the PM looked clueless about this latest development? Will Nazri Aziz defend his Boss against inept advisors (but isn't he one of the advisors?). What will this cost the Govt and leaders?
Will someone stand up and offer a credible explanation to this so that the Govt and PM not be looked unaware and incompetent?
Will someone own up?
Stomedt dan rakan-rakan para pengunjung dan pembahas,
ReplyDeleteBaguslah kalau wartawan berjaya menyedar dan meyakinkan Perdana Menteri bahawa sudah ada syarikat Malaysia, iaitu Pantai Holdings Berhad, yang kini dikuasai oleh syarikat asing.
Salah satu cara mengatasi masalah kawalan asing ke atas Pantai Holdings adalah dengan membeli balik keseluruhan syarikat itu atau hanya komponen penswastaannya sahaja iaitu pemeriksaan dan pemantauan kesihatan pekerja asing di bawah Fomema dan urusan penyelenggaraan hospital di bawah Pantai Medivest Sdn Bhd.
Sudah pun ada ura-ura bahawa Fomema dan Pantai Medivest akan dibeli semula oleh pihak-pihak di Malaysia, tetapi harganya dikatakan melebihi harga yang dibayar oleh Parkway Holdings untuk membeli kawalan ke atas Pantai Holdings.
Parkway membayar RM312 juta untuk membeli kawalan Pantai Holdings pada bulan Disember lalu. Ura-ura mengatakan harga pembelian balik Fomema dan Pantai Medivest setinggi RM400 juta.
Tidak mustahil ada pihak yang sanggup membayar harga sedemikian sekiranya mereka terdiri daripada pelabur yang berpengaruh terhadap kerajaan. Mereka boleh mempengaruhi kerajaan agar meminda syarat-syarat penswastaan dua projek itu.
Misalnya mereka boleh meminta kerajaan memberikan lebih banyak kontrak kepada mereka, melanjutkan tempoh konsesi dan membenarkan mereka menaikkan harga perkhidmatan mereka.
Tetapi yang akhirnya menanggung beban adalah pembayar cukai dan pengguna yang terpaksa membayar harga yang lebih tinggi semata-mata untuk menutup kesilapan dan kealpaan pihak-pihak yang meluluskan penjualan Pantai Holdings kepada Parkway Disember lalu.
Dari awal lagi saya telah bertanya melalui kolum saya, Other Thots di manakah Kabinet dan di manakah Umno ketika aset-aset nasional ini dijual kepada pelabur asing?
Tidak apalah kalau ada pihak yang menganggap kita "bersikap seperti iblis" semata-mata kerana kita bertanya soalan-soalan yang cerdik atau kerana kita nampak pandai daripada orang lain.
Terima Kasih.
Kawan,
ReplyDeleteYou said: The latest revelation is very damaging to our PM. After going on tv with his statements defending the government's position on control of local companies, the PM was forced to admit the opposite. To me, this shows, among other things, the following:
1 - His advisers had done him in for whatever reason or interests
2 - His advisers had taken advantage of his good nature to make him utter incorrect statements or positions regarding Govt matters
--------------------------------
And I said: itulah namanya sokong membawa rebah. orang tua-tua dah lama pesan hal ini. I dont feel sorry at all for our Prime Minister. Although to err is human, but this isn't err anymore, it is pure ignorant!
Datuk
ReplyDeleteAs I see it, any semblance of strategic thinking by the Malaysian Government vis-a-vis Singapore has gone out through the door together with Dr. Mahathir when he voluntarily retired and kindly passed the baton to Pak Lah.
While I am all for cash rich Singapore investing in Malaysia, those investments however should be in the form of setting up high tech factories or shopping complexes etc. i.e in layman's terms any form of solid investment that can increase business and job opportunities for Malaysians would be most welcome.
Let us not be fooled, Singapore also indulges in strategic investments not necessarily motivated by profits alone. Case in point, just a few days ago in the case of Pantai takeover by Parkway thus directly controlling Medical Concession Agreements given by the Malaysian Government. As such it is grossly incorrect by the government to say that Singapore invest in a company because it is attractive financially. In this, I hope that the Malaysian Cabinet in their weekly meeting should also discuss the Parkway Holdings control of Pantai to understand how such a thing could have happened, its remedy and also to ensure that this should never happen again. Maybe this Pantai/Parkway affair should also interest our PAC Chairman YB Datuk Shahrir Samad as well.
Anyway, going by the U-turn decision on the bridge, the Parkway affairs and the investments by Temasik on some of our GLCs and the consideration to study the wonderful YTL KL-Singapore bullet train proposal which would basically kill KLIA and probably Senai Airport not forgetting Brendan Pereira big editor of the NST formerly from Singapore New Straits Times, I must say that the AAB administration rates as the most Singapore friendly in our Proud Nation's History. I do not know whether this is good or bad for our country, but in a few days we will be celebrating our independence with the shout of "MERDEKA,MERDEKA,MERDEKA", I pray we will continue to voice those words out loud not hymm Majulah Singapura oops Malaysia.
Off-Topic:
ReplyDeleteHow do I register myself as a voter? Can I register myself online?
With so much going on in the political scenes recently, I urge all Malaysians to exercise our rights to vote.
Thanks.
Makaysiancitizen, as per your request, following is the info posted on Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya website:-
ReplyDeleteSIAPA YANG LAYAK MENJADI PEMILIH ?
Warganegara Malaysia;
Sudah mencapai umur 21 tahun;
Menetap di mana-mana Bahagian Pilihan Raya di Malaysia; dan
Tidak hilang kelayakan.
BAGAIMANA UNTUK MENDAFTAR ?
Pergi sendiri ke Pusat Pendaftaran;
Bawa bersama Kad Pengenalan anda;
Pastikan Borang A diisi dengan betul oleh petugas sebelum anda menandatangani borang; dan
Simpan satu salinan borang berkenaan sebagai bukti pendaftaran anda.
DI MANA BOLEH MENDAFTAR ?
Ibu Pejabat Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia
ATAU
Pejabat-pejabat Pilihan Raya Negeri
ATAU
Semua Pejabat Pos Berkomputer di seluruh negara;
Unit bergerak Suruhanjaya;
DAN
Tempat-tempat lain yang ditetapkan oleh Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya sebagai Pusat Pendaftaran.
TEMPOH URUSAN PENDAFTARAN PEMILIH
Anda boleh mendaftar pada waktu pejabat di sepanjang tahun.
Thank you.
How many more U-turns we have to make? First the bridge, now Pantai. Even the ECM Libra sale by KJ is also a U-turn in a way. Why are all these happening? If they have done proper evaluation and have been true and honest in their deal, do they have to do all these?
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I feel so embarrased and is really losing confidence in the administration of the country.
the gahmen rather let the companies fall into foreigners hand also they won't let it fall into non-bumiputra hands. what a shame. every company that want to deal with the gahmen, wanna get gahmen contract..must be either fully controlled by bumiputra..or substantially owned by bumiputra..quality is not important..bumiputra status is..WHAT A BIG STUPID SHAME.
ReplyDeleteArshad,
ReplyDeleteRefering to your suggestion that Petronas be asked to subsidize the oil price:
We should not mix business with public welfare. Petronas is an commercial entity which is supposed to compete with other oil and gas company, by asking them to subsidize our oil, we will be making them unnecessarily uncompetitive.
daud eb,
Refering to the part where you claim that a bullet train between KL and Singapore will kill KLIA:
Will it really kill KLIA? I am not sure but I think the Singapore KL line is only a small part of the overall passanger traffic. Even if the bullet train would be build in detriment of KLIA, why should it matter? Isn't the welfare of the people more important than the welfare of KLIA?
daud eb,
ReplyDeleteadakah anda fikir rakyat akan dapat menafaat dengan projek bullet train dari kl-singapura?pada hemat saya yang mendapat faedah ialah pihak kontraktor dan rakyaat singapura yang akan banyak menggunakan perkhidmatan bullet train tersebut.Mungkin rakyaat malaysia akan dapat menafaat menanggung dan membayar hutang.
mkh