Revoke arbitrary/high-handed directive to cull or remove 6,000 pigs a day from Malacca for 17 days till Sept 21

The Malacca state government directive to reduce the number of pigs in the state to 48,000 heads requiring culling or removal of some 6,000 pigs a day till September 21 is most arbitrary, unreasonable and inconsiderate and should be immediately revoked.

Although the Housing and Local Government Minister and MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said after the Cabinet meeting yesterday which discussed the pig-farming issue in Malacca that the Cabinet was not stopping the pig-farming activity, such a statement is made meaningless by the high-handed action of the Malacca state government requiring the culling or removal from the state of some 6,000 pigs a day for a 17-day period till Sept. 21.

The mobilization of some 2,000 personnel from various agencies, including the Police Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), Immigration, Environment, Rela, state and local government authorities resulting in a tense nine-hour standoff with defenceless men, women and children at Paya Mengkuang defending their pig farms which represent their very livelihood, was a major blot which marred the 50th Merdeka Anniversary celebrations not only in Malacca but throughout Malaysia.

It would have taken the authorities a week or two to mobilize some 2,000 personnel from various agencies to launch such a massive operation against the pig farmers in Malacca state.

The question is why the MCA leaders, in particular the MCA elected representatives at the national, state and local government levels were completely in the dark about such a massive operation which would have taken one if not two weeks to organize.

If they had no inkling of such a massive operation against the pig farmers in the state, they are clearly redundant, irrelevant and useless as elected or appointed representatives of the people at all three tiers of government.

If the MCA national, state and local government representatives had been aware of such a massive operation beforehand and yet did nothing to stop it and to give advance notice to the pig farmers, then they had been guilty of gross dereliction of their political responsibilities.

Either way, the MCA national, state and local government representatives should be censured in the strongest possible terms for their total failure in all three tiers of government, resulting in the nine-hour standoff between a fully-armed 2,000-strong contingent backed by the police riot squad, personnel in “space-suits” and a hovering helicopter on the one hand and defenceless men, women and children on the other out to protect their ricebowls.

The high-handed method in mobilizing a 2,000-strong contingent to use force to reduce the number of pigs by some 100,000 heads was clearly not the way to resolve the environmental problems of the pig-rearing industry — showing utter contempt not only for the citizenship and fundamental rights of the pig farmers but also the principle of the rule of law in the country.

The environmental problems of the pig-rearing industry in Malacca must be brought back to the negotiation table to be resolved in a way fully respecting the rights of all Malaysians, with the state government abandoning its strong-armed tactics and solutions.

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52 Replies to “Revoke arbitrary/high-handed directive to cull or remove 6,000 pigs a day from Malacca for 17 days till Sept 21”

  1. Send in the army and navy too…….the state government has no consideration, sensitivity and respect for other religions and values.

    While killing the pigs, kill the cows and kambing too….what a disgrace for show of excessive power to intimidate and threaten defendless and powerless people!

    Religious extremism and fundamentalism had gone mad!

  2. The final order was “reached” between the Action Committee and the rearers as well as MCA officials and members of the community. This follows Tuesday decision to abort the Culling Operation to reduce the pigs reared in Malacca to just 48,000. 1000 pigs have moved out of Malacca on Tuesday and another 91000 by Sept 21 2007.
    The rearers association is also required to draw up a complete schedule of the pigs movement out of the State and submitted it to the Chairman of he Action Committee Datuk Abdul Rahman Talib. Non compliance of decision the will result in stern action.. All these measures are to reduce the pig population to 48,000 state wide by 21st Sept 2007. After that pig rearers are allowed only in Paya Mengkuang. Datuk Abu Semen Yusof: “We hope this action will be a good resolution for inter-racial harmony that has prevail ion the state.”

    The impotent MCA reps and others attended but to take orders at the meeting, no negotiations no compromise on the order. Only the deadline was extended. More details at:
    http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/09/more-pics-final-piggy-order-91000.html

  3. The question is why the MCA leaders, in particular the MCA elected representatives at the national, state and local government levels were completely in the dark about such a massive operation which would have taken one if not two weeks to organize.
    -Lim Kit Siang
    —————————————————————

    You know I’m not entirely sure they were in the dark on this issue. This could just have been another of those sandiwara bull … MCA asks State Govt to organise something so they can come in and save the day…

  4. this shows true face of the govt.. The farmers spent hundreds of thousand to improve the waste system during last two years on the promise given by the govt so that they can continue their livelihood… Really a sick govt!

  5. We don’t have enough manpower to deal with rapists and criminals, BUT we can send in police and army, even air force and navy to kill pigs.

    We can even send in the police to catch teachers who are giving tuition.

    All because they are soft target, not dangerous to the enforcement officers.

  6. It’s not the religion, it’s the grossly misguided and intolerant faithful.

    If one is taught from young that cow/goat is a dirty animal, one would obviously afraid to eat or touch the animal.

    So much for a multi religions and tolerant society…….it is beyond any doubt an Islamic state in the making.

  7. we need to be careful as most muslims find the pigs rearing as sensitive and destroying the environment, as i was saying in MT website, there was a guy who said in taiwan, US and europe, pigs are reared by going high tech, having the technology to dispose of the watse by the pigs faeces.

    we need to understand the fact that a lot of people beh tahan the smell and the stench. we most probably need to ensure that pig rearing are done in a clean environment.

    however, i agree that this problem is brute force against people who needs to make a living. how can they simply come in and cull 100,000 pigs? also, if the pigs are transferred out, who will take care of the pigs? does the pig farms in selangor, perak and kedah have to pay the malacca farmers for the pigs?

    moving 100,000 pigs in two weeks is a huge task, albeit not impossible. it will take a lot of work but no wonder the chinese are known for their strength to overcome difficulties and threats.

    having said that, it shows how fast the govt can summon agencies to get rid of something they deem as an environment disaster.
    but when DAP, Keadilan or NGO’s make a police report on anything related to corruption within the BN (UMNO in particular), the IO will tell you that they “tengah siasat” i remember until now En. Badawi havent been asked to give his statement on why a racist statement came out in his official website by someone called Dr Ng Seng.

    I cannot stand injustices like this anymore. it stinks and its worst than the stench coming from the pig sty.

  8. Pig farming is part and parcel of the agricultural industry.It has been practised by the Chinese for many generations in this country and it satisfies a major meat requirement by non muslims.By right the government should be liberal enough to help and protect the industry as it also supports the livelihood of many rural Chinese citizens.So why should the people in power turn it into a sensitive and racial issue?After all everyone the white,the yellow and the black (except those professing the Islamic faith) eat pork.

  9. Since they have 2000 extra enforcement personnel to cull PIGS, can they kindly send them later to the numerous illegal settlements in Sabah to flush out the illegals?

    After all the enforcement personnel looked so motivated and keen :) Well armed too.

  10. For decades, Religious extremists and fundamentalists had a strong influence on government policies and decisions……..and the government servants who are mostly Muslims, many misguided and intolerant, would not have any sensitivity, understanding and consideration for non Muslims.

  11. Another black mark on why we should not celebrate Merdeka. What sort of tolerance are our leaders talking about? Taking military action against unarmed farmers and their families! antidiscrimination said it right…where are all the enforcement people to catch the mat rempits, rapists, robbers, snatch thiefs etc.

    Remember the incident a few years back when illegal African immigrants broke out from the detention centre enmass. When interviewed, the warden said they could not stop them because the Africans were too muscular!!! In other words, our law enforcement personnel only harass the weak and defenceless…so much for nationhood. Its sick to the bone…

  12. The issue of MCA either not knowing an imminent massive operation or, if knowing, could not do anything about it, is nothing new: they have not been on top on things on many other issues affecting either its constituencies or Malaysians in general.
    What is more pertinent are following questions:-
    Firstly, where is this magical figure 48,000 cap on number of pigs reared plucked from and what is the basis for 48,000 or not (say) 200,000?

    If environment is main concern to limit number of pigs reared, is there a cap also on cow and chicken farming in the state to ameliorate pollution; if not, is it defensible to suggest that cow and chicken farming pollute less or what? Doesn’t chicken and cow manure spills also pollute our waters? Can Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia confirm that pig farms in malacca generally do not practice good waste disposal habits? Shouldn’t the authorities enforce regulations on good waste disposal habits of all types of animal farming instead of limiting the number of pigs to be reared? Can’t the pig farms be relocated to other areas in addition to Paya Mengkuang where waste disposal can be better monitored and managed and rules on good practices relating to waste disposal enforced? So what if the figure is brought down to 48,000 pigs and there is no proper enforcement of regulations on good waste disposal habits and the manure and waste of 48,000 pigs is poured into our rivers?

    Secondly, if the official cap is 48,000, how did the number exponentially expand over time to an estimated 160,000 now without the authorities doing anything during all this time? Were officials bribed until now that the CM says something needs to be done because of the coming general elections? If official lache has contributed to this breach of state directive, surely the state officialdom should bear a portion of responsibility and give a more reasonable period to the farmers with which to rectify the problem rather than insisting that 6,000 pigs a day be culled for a 17-day period till Sept. 21. They are, after all, dealing with the livelihood of rural Chinese farmers there which then becomes more of a socio-economic problem. When dealing with such a socio-economic problem, one does not bring a sledgehammer of the law down so readily. One example is the squatter problem. The squatters are occupying illegally state or private land for some time : do the officials just give such squatters (especially if they come from UMNO’s constituency) a dead line and (often helping private developers) come in with force and bull dozers and police without first helping squatters to relocate or providing them an alternative to purchase low cost housing via affordable financing? As per this proposed schedule of moving 91000 pigs moved out of the State by Sept 21 2007, where are they moved to? Selangor – Johore? Won’t the state authorities of these states not stop it and come out with their own respective caps?

    Thirdly, it is strange that Malacca authorities refuse to budge on the deadline of Sept 21 2007 (assuming general elections is called early next year).

    Is it possible that the GE is brought a trifle forward to (say) November this year so that unless it is Sept 21 2007 by the latest, there is to time for political leverage on this “pig” issue? It is well nigh possible since the ruling coalition may be worried of the economic consequences of the possible widening of the US subprime mortgage financial crisis that may well lead to a world wide credit crunch and global equity market’s crashing with adverse effects here before the GE if held next year. Or maybe the effects of the botched prosecution of Altantuya murder by next year ?

  13. Furthermore, these farmers would most definitely have paid the authorities to ‘close one eye’. To have paid monies and have your farms destroyed I too would have gone ‘amok’…

    In the first place if the authorities have done their job properly, pig rearing would not be an issue especially where hygiene is concerned. Its their job to ensure such activities are carried out according to environmental laws. However, as usual, corruption is the root of all evil.

  14. Why cull so many pigs when there is no outbreak of the Japanese Encephalitis epidemic? Why don’t cull the cows and oxen also since they are a potential source of mad cow disease? Why not apply the same to poultries as they are the source of the most recent avian flu? Just because pigs are abhorrent to Islam? Aren’t pigs, like any other living creatures on earth, created by Allah also? This is nothing but a gross display of power abuse and intentional deprivation of the livelihood of the minorities. Just because it does not affect the majority an iota, they can just do anything to anyone anytime anyhow like nobody’s business. This is memang Bodohland style lah.

  15. Cull all the chickens, ducks, cows, pigs, but spare th goats ( i think pak lah loike goats) and then all go vegeterian along the lines of Pak Lah’s vision….agriculture is the way forward. Semua tanam jagung dan kangkung!

  16. Harian Metro reported that those villagers threw molotov cocktail during the stand off. An example of irresponsible journalism:

    http://www.hmetro.com.my/Current_News/myMetro/Wednesday/Mutakhir/20070905092629/Article

    ———————————————-

    Murid perisai pertahan babi
    Oleh Masni Ros Pakir Mohamad
    [email protected]

    ALOR GAJAH: Tindakan penternak babi menggunakan murid sekolah, sangkar babi, malah melontar bom petrol ke arah pihak berkuasa, menyebabkan operasi mengurangkan jumlah ternakan itu di Kampung Baru Paya Mengkuang, dekat sini terpaksa ditangguhkan.

    Dalam kejadian pagi semalam, penternak terbabit menjadikan murid sekolah sebagai benteng bagi menghalang operasi menembak ternakan berkenaan untuk mengurangkan jumlahnya kepada 48,000 ekor sahaja.

    Pada masa sama, mereka turut mengarahkan murid terbabit menyanyikan lagu Negaraku, manakala orang dewasa pula ada yang melontar bom petrol ke arah pihak berkuasa yang cuba memasuki ladang ternakan babi mereka.

    Mengikut rekod Kerajaan Melaka, ada 64 ladang babi membabitkan ternakan lebih 100,000 ekor di Paya Mengkuang, manakala 13 ladang yang menternak 37,000 ekor babi di Bukit Beruang dan 11 ladang di Man Lok dengan 11,000 ekor babi.

  17. If BN is serious about a multi religious and tolerance country based on true religious values and beliefs, it is time they come out strongly, like in the Merdeka celebration but without millions $$ costs, to defend the pigs!!!

  18. After watching Grey’s Anatomy lately, I’ve cut down on pork lately. I like pork but can’t really stand imagining a tape worm in my brain.

    Consuming uncooked pork is dangerous to health because a common parasite in the pig known as tapeworm. Due to its screw-type body shape, it could sneak through the intestine into other parts of the body and can end up in our brain. If possible avoid pork chop. If you really cannot live without pork, have it cooked thoroughly.

    Well, science has proved pig is not the only “dirty” animal with such parasites. Taenia saginata is a close family of the pig tapeworm. In laymen term, it is the beef tapeworm. The beef tapeworm is larger (up to 8m long) compared to the pig tapeworm (up to 4m long). However, the beef tapeworm is less dangerous because it could not end up outside of the intestines, but causing “big stomach syndrome” is very common among parasite carriers.

    One point I want to make is, it is known to me that tapeworm is very rare in the pigs in Malaysian farms. I was also told to avoid imported pork. Will the cut down in local supply forces the supply chain to import pork into Malaysia? Instead of consuming healthy pork, consumers may end up consuming parasite infested pork coming from overseas!

  19. now its dogs. Imagine those unemployed youths going around catching your family pets to collect bounty.
    RM15,000 for dog catching

    KUALA LUMPUR: Catch more than 150 stray dogs within six months and you might just win at least RM11,000.

    This competition was announced by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) recently to solve the stray dog problem in the area.

    It is open to residents.

    However, the dog-catching competition drew a lot of flak from animal lovers and pet owners who described the move as inhumane and distasteful.

    Council president Zainal Abidin Azim said the competition was introduced as it received about 80 complaints about stray dogs every month.

    He said that despite catching about 200 stray dogs every month as part of their animal control management, the problem remained unsolved.

    The chairman of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Selangor (SPCA), Christine Chin, said that the MPS was setting an unhealthy and unethical trend that encouraged people to perceive dog-catching as fun and financially rewarding.

    Chin questioned the methods that residents might resort to, which could cause unnecessary pain and suffering if the dogs were maimed in the process.

    Spokesman for non-governmental group Furry Friends Sabrina Yeap said that MPS should use the reward money to engage professional dog-catchers instead of relying on residents who were not trained to nab stray dogs.

    Under the rules of the competition, residents can work with their respective resident committees or any other organisation, but must deliver the dogs alive.

    Photographs of the captured dogs are to be submitted as proof and the council will provide tools for those interested in taking part in the competition.

    The first-prize winner will walk home with RM15,000; the runner-up RM13,000 while the third -placed winner will win RM11,000.

    The minimum capture for the top three winners must be at least 150 dogs each.

    Each month, the council pays RM20 for each stray dog caught as an incentive to the dog-catchers.

  20. In the year of the dog, we saw municipal officers shooting dogs even in the compound of homes. This year, in the year of the pig, they turn to shooting pigs. Will they start to shoot rats next year? It is the year of the rat. And even before the arrival of the year of the ox, we can see these “uncivilized people” killing cows in open fields during hari raya haji each year.

    If the Chinese had followed suit and killed pigs in public, what would be the reaction of these people? And what would they be doing in the year of the Tiger, year of the Rabbit, year of the Dragon, etc???

  21. Racial intended move by the government.

    The largest consumer of pork would be the german world famous for their hotdogs!

    The use of FRU is illegal in such incident. There wasnt a life-threatening incident like zombie sheeps eating human,etc.

    Sending FRU means war that the government wants to start. Imagine, if chaos breaks out someone uses a weapon, hell would breaklose and cause many to be injured or killed.

    MB of Melaka is a terrible person in nature.

    I do hope one day, he goes to jail for all the wrong doing.

    MCA is hapless as a component party because they cant leave BN neither can they do anything to object their counterpart.

    We must have our own radical solution for this outrage. Someone please do something.. we will thank you for it.

  22. In my opinion, the BN government worked like this. When they receive complaints, they will check first who they complain. If he is someone in BN, close one eye. If he is a known opposition member, immediately arrest him. If he is a normal citizen, then they will check what skin color. If “ka ki lang”, do slowly until the cows’ kingdom comes, if “outsiders”, act immediately.

    That’s the logic I see most of the time.

  23. If the PM is bragging about agriculture at his backyard and promoting it to the rakyat, why didn’t he find a solution to this kind of situation? Shouldn’t he invest on this kind of project instead of other mega projects that usually cost billions and rebuilding his old school?

  24. My neighbour has seen men, presumably engaged by the municipal council (or participants in a dog catching contest) , killing dogs with a stick.
    They will beat the dog and it will die after two blows.
    Even if I had seen the incident I could do nothing. Why? Because the authorities will just ignore you.
    Take this example.
    One old lady’s pet Pekingese was shot point blank by a Municipal worker when it was playing within the house compound.
    The lady went hysterical and lodged a police report.
    THE POLICE DID NOT CARE A DAMN!
    The unfortunate thing was the lady neighbours were Malays. The Municipality just laughed off the incident.

  25. I was in Paya Mengkuang that day to support the pigs’ farmers.At no time was any Molotov cocktail thrown.Can we lodge a police report against the reporter for mischievous reporting?
    The figure of 48000 pigs was calculated in this way:200 pigs slaughtered/day in Malacca for 25 day in a month,ie:5000 pigs /month.So this magic 48000 pigs will be sufficient to supply the needs of Malacca only.
    It is very obvious that the high handed action on Tuesday were motivated by hatred,greed and delusion on the part of UMNO.The real issue is not the population of pigs(Denmark has more pigs) but the intolerance of UMNO and the political ambition of AR.AR would go down into the history of his race,party and religion as a hero that wipe-out pigs from Malacca.
    The widely quoted excuse to cull the pigs is no excuse.The pigs farmers in Malacca have already spent millions of ringgit on machinery to treat the pig-waste.Of course,there are some stupid and stubborn farmers that pollute the environment.These farmers should be prosecuted and their farms closed.

  26. Asylum! Asylum! Asylum for the pigs!!

    Put them in Machap and other MCA territories. They must show they can do something in this “power-sharing” government, even if they did not know anything about it. As always, they were never “consulted” on anything at all.

    Maybe the State Government was worried that the pig population of 150,000 is already too much, reaching 20% compared to the State population of 760,000. And the natives are becoming restless. One must be sensitive as the State might become difficult to visit for the religious minded.

    But a sensible, realistic and humane solution must be worked out. Quickly.

  27. Does dogs have any race? Maybe pigs or hogs. Maybe cows? Maybe goats? Only twisted minds always associate animals even with race.
    I think I will eat fish or vegetables only. Don’t tell me those belong to someone’s race or religion too?
    What about those people who eat those meat? Are they haram too?
    If it is, then how many people are haram in this world. What about their movies, pictures, clothing, watches, etc. What about your friends, neighbours, girlfriends, teachers, neighbours, bosses, maids and your YB?

  28. There is a high chance that the numbers of pigs cannot be reduced to 48 000 by September 2007. The State government of Melaka is effectively causing all the Pig farmers to go bankrupt with such a move. They have been pushed to a corner with little avenue of appeal or escape. Under such circumstances, it is not difficult to see why the pig farmers will protect their farms with any means possible. They have been pushed to a corner. They are desperate and there is nothing left for them to live and hope for anymore. Their immediately livelihood is going to be robbed from them.

    When the well armed raiding party arrives on the 21st September, the desperate pig rearer will still be there, but perhaps better armed this time. Not only that, all eyes and ears of the nation will be strained to see the development there. If blood is drawn, it can be the beginning of more ugly things to come with a good chance of things getting out of control. I hope the federal government sees the folly of allowing this to ferment. The problems of pig rearing has to be resolved but not by giving unreasonable and unfair ultimatium. The pig rearers have to be compensated adequately if they are forced to move away because how else are they to going to continue living with their revenue stream halted and investment gone down the drain. We have to be fair.

  29. On a serious note, I think the issue here is about pollution by the pig farms whether legal or illegal or no where else to rear since this is a declared Islamic nation.
    Why don’t solve everything by culling all the pigs, pay compensation to the rearers and supply them with cows, goats, chickens free since we think that will solve the problem. If it doesn’t maybe change that to fish, ostriches, rabbits etc. later.
    Like that, you don’t need to deploy 2000 men for crowd control and also YB’s saviour since evertime it becomes a problem, everyone gains esp. the rearers of pigs, cows, goats, chicken etc.

  30. 100% agree with Ablastine that come 21 Sep,the pigs will still be there.No way that the farmers can reduce to 48000 pig in two weeks.The farmers had to agree to the unreasonable demand with guns pointing at their heads.
    The issue of pollution can be easily overcome by stringent enforcement instead of the unreasonable demand to reduce the population to 48000.Instead of enforcement,what do we have?As usual,MAKAN RASUAH!

  31. Is there no more law in Melaka or is Melaka State Government directive a mandate from heaven where all rakyat must submit to no matter how ridculous and how much it contravene the rule of the law. Having heavily armed personel from the riot police and culling team forcing their way into the pig’s farm to kill all the pigs with little notice is like some armed criminals breaking their way into your house and burned everything which your livelihood depends. There is simply no respect for private property. Worse still the armed team all the way to the State Government is from one race and those from aggrieved party from another. All the ingredients for an ugly racial showdown is there. The pig farmers’ livelihood depends on it and they will never give way because by doing so they probably will end up on the streets begging with all their investment and savings burned with their pig farm. The puny state politicians are simply too keen to score political points by playing the racial and religious cards. All these will only serve to incite hatred amongst the various races and must be stopped. If there really is a problem with pollution and stench, culling the pigs in a very short period of time is a very stupid way of solving it because it creates even a greater problem with a displaced and improverished people caused by the high-handedness of the Malacca State Government’s action. Using deadly force to quell a group of harmless and unarmed pig farmers by the State Government is highly irresponsible.

    If there really is an intention to solve the problem assumming there really is the problem of pollution and stench in the first place, the State Government should allocate a locality far away from residential areas for these pig rearers so they have an avenue to continue with their livelihood. Only relocation and adequate compensation can be a justifiable end to this impasse. Pig husbandry is an important source of income for many farmers in the country and part of the agriculture sector in the country. It cannot be made disappeared just because some politician do not like it. The smart way is to leave it to flourish in an allocated area and use licensing to control its polluting tendencies if any.

  32. Malaysia is one typical nation where individual state governments can make decisions without consultation with Parliament. So each state runs its own operations, why then do we need the Federal government and parliament? Isn’t parliament suppose to supervise and override decisions by the state councils? If at all the federal government feels that this is not right, then send a directive to the Melaka state government to stop all these.

    In the first place, didn’t the federal government know the least bit about this operation before it took off? Or better still, didn’t the MCA receive notice of this operation? Sending troops of soldiers for this operation is no “small thing” and everyone in the government, including MCA delegates should have received news before hand, but MCA chose to remain silent until the whole incident exploded. This is a similar situation with the government’s decision not to build Chinese schools under the 9th Malaysia Plan. Shouldn’t MCA have known of this way before the announcement by the Minister of Education? What at all are MCA members doing in the government? Did they not attend the meetings or debates or were they sleeping through the sessions?

    And MCA had the guts to say “We represent the Chinese in Malaysia”!

  33. Why is it so hard to control the state government? It is because the Federal government is made up of another group of goons who “duno” or just “plain lazy”. If you can not rule the country get out of there.

  34. This totally unacceptable and shameful show of force to intimidate and threaten innocent, powerless and defendless people could be interpreted as the state government see these defendless people as enemy to be dealt with by force.

    There are many ways to resolve this small/minor issue without the use of force, threat and intimidation…..but the state government for various undisclosed reasons, including political reasons, chose to use force.

    The ordinary people deserves better leadership which had been lacking for decades.

  35. “Malaysia is one typical nation where individual state governments can make decisions without consultation with Parliament. So each state runs its own operations, why then do we need the Federal government and parliament? ” ktteokt

    Malaysia is a federation of some 13 states the last time I checked. All of these 13 states have their own state constitutions, state government machinery, their own SLA (or state legislative assembly), their own head of the executive or Exco called Mentri Besar or Chief Minister or Governor. In short they duplicate at state level what we have at federal level – except that they don’t have their own state police or their own courts or army (except for the state of Johor which have a very limited role. Only the states have power over land. Anything to do with land and policies related thereto, the state governments must be consulted and they decide.

    “Isn’t parliament suppose to supervise and override decisions by the state councils?”

    Parliament legislate or make laws. The Cabinet executes them. The Senate rubber stamps them. The Agong sits around to be advised and when they are advised they follow. Sometimes they don’t and give the PM a headache.

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