Two developments showing greater maturity of Malaysians on occasion of 50th Merdeka anniversary is most welcome as it is time that the government and leaders move away from narrow sectarian approach towards a more nationalistic and broadminded approach on issues which should transcend race, religion, class or political differences to create greater national unity.
The two developments are:
- The announcement by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim that all parliamentary constituencies in the country will receive RM30,000 each for activities to celebrate the country’s 50th years of independence;
- The directive by the Minister for Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chairman Dr. Halim Shafie to withdraw his letter barring private television stations from broadcasting speeches by members of the opposition.
It will be very sad if on the nation’s half-a-century nationhood, Malaysian public life is still moored in narrow sectarian divisions on every issue including those which must transcend race, religion, class or partisan politics.
Both Rais and Keng Yaik are to be commended for showing that they are prepared to make a beginning to take a Malaysian nationalistic approach rather than narrow sectarian one, and to show that there are issues where all can come together as Malaysians.
I hope these small beginnings can be broadened to larger spheres of public life and to embrace more issues to bring about greater national unity instead of creating more and more division even on matters which should not be a subject of national disunity in the first place.
Yesterday, DAP MP for Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan and I met Rais to discuss the channeling of the RM30,000 allocation for 50th Merdeka celebrations for the 20 non-Barisan Nasional parliamentary constituencies, which is a good new start.
Will the Minister for Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik be a one off (flash in the pan) or selective reporting with his directive? Let us not be too carried away. Time will tell. Never trust the BN. I hope this is not my “pouring cold water” reaction but just my instinct. I have been let down too often by the BN.
http://www.infernalramblings.com/articles/Malaysian_Politics/505/
…Abdullah has the power to set things right. If he really wanted to, he could set us back on the right course. It makes sense to blame him at least in part for the country’s woes…
KeenWatcher_01, you’re right!
Don’t be carried away by such shows.
No matter what anyone in the BN does, never ever cast another vote for them.
The problem is that Malaysians are very naive and are easily fooled. After all that has happened in this country, what is there worth voting for in the BN?
Be resolute in your resolve to dump the BN! Or you’ll regret it for another five years after the next general election!
Yes the RM30k allocation for all MPs is really good.
Maybe our leaders are turning over a new leaf?
http://malaysiawatch2.blogspot.com/2007/07/some-good-news-for-50th-merdeka.html
or this is mere peanuts compared to the extra billions being spent for civil servants
And so what is the fate of Halim Shafie? Would he be reprimanded for such a brazen attitude?
cheers
I agree with KeenWatcher_01, afterall, this LKY guy always kena the “foot in mouth” dissease, remember when he said about the estate Indians………… the Hailamese?…………… hope this is not another of his opps, “you heard wronly”
As for the 30k, don’t be too happy till it’s in your hand, and even then don’t be too happy still as this is an addition to the operating fund they have at their disposal……….
so the end sum is something like this:
BN = RM 3,030,000, opposition = RM 30,000
hahahahaha, just have to pen this down…………
what if…………………..
RM 30,000 cheque “bounce”?
The Return of the Billion Ringgit Sleepy Old Man
http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/07/rm90b_for_11_mega_projects_and.php
RM90b for 11 mega projects… and still counting?
1 ) Trans-Peninsular Oil Pipeline
Cost: RM25 billion (US$7.5 billion)
2 ) Ipoh-Padang Besar Double-Track Railway
Cost: RM10 billion (Land cost not determined)
3 ) Extension of Existing LRT Lines in Klang Valley
Cost: RM10 billion
4 ) New 40km LRT Line with Underground Tunnel Across KL
Cost: RM10 billion
5 ) The Bakun Undersea Cable
Cost: RM9 billion
6 ) High-Speed Train to Singapore
Cost: RM8 billion (Land cost not determined)
7 ) Hulu Langat Water Treatment Project, Selangor
Cost: RM5 billion
8 ) Pahang-Selangor Inter-state Water Transfer
Cost: RM4 billion
9 ) West Coast Highway
Cost: RM3.05 billion
10 ) Penang Monorail
Cost: RM1.2 billion to RM1.6 billion
11 ) River Cleaning Project
Cost: RM1 billion
Malaysian govt must follow the French example
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2027839.ece
Cécilia Sarkozy, the wife of the French President, has surrendered a credit card after her access to the lavish and unaccounted Elysée palace budget threatened to heap embarrassment…
François Mitterrand would never have lodged his second family at the taxpayer’s expense and Jacques Chirac would not have had his holidays financed by the state
will only celebrate merdeka when all malaysians are treated equally!
One mature step forward will soon to be followed by two immature step backwards. And that would explain why after 50 years this gomen is so far away from reaching maturity.
It is nothing to shout about, too petty and just a flash in the pan. Is Abdullah willing to consider structural changes to the NEP? No way.