By Martin Jalleh
55-Day Countdown to 13 GE – Najib should clarify whether he left the stage at Penang BN CNY bash for fear of his life and whether Psy’s life was also threatened
This is no joke or laughing matter. The people of Penang and Malaysia are entitled to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Why did the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah and Cabinet Ministers leave the stage at the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year bash on Monday after waiting forlornly and in vain for over five minutes for Korean K-pop sensation Psy to join them for the “toss yee san” ceremony.
Najib should clarify whether he left the stage at the Penang BN CNY bash for fear of his life and whether Psy’s life was also threatened.
Initially, the Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong had as good as blamed the MCA Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen for causing the yee san fiasco, resulting in shame and indignity to the nation when the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers were publicly embarrassed waiting for five minutes in vain for Psy to join them. Continue reading “55-Day Countdown to 13 GE – Najib should clarify whether he left the stage at Penang BN CNY bash for fear of his life and whether Psy’s life was also threatened”
Gross Encounters of the Zin Kind
By Kee Thuan Chye
Malaysian Digest
I was greeted first thing this morning by an SMS from a dear old friend. It read: “Saudara XXX [my friend’s name in full], Selamat Menyambut Hari Lahir. Happy Birthday. Ikhlas dari DS Ir Mohd Zin Mohamed, Kordinator BN Selangor. Sayangi Selangor, Yakini BN.”
At first, I wondered why my friend had forwarded me this SMS. Then when I saw the four-letter word he had appended at the end of it, I understood. He was sharing with me his disgust at the greeting from Mohd Zin.
This coordinator of Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) who is campaigning to win the state from Pakatan Rakyat at the soon-to-be-held general election has been sending out many such messages to a whole lot of people ever since last year. However, they have become such an annoyance that the recipients invariably express nothing but disgust each time they receive such messages.
Some of my other friends have also been complaining to me about Mohd Zin’s barrage of not only SMSes but postcards and letters as well. And social media is full of curses against him and his unsavoury proselytising efforts to the BN cause.
Continue reading “Gross Encounters of the Zin Kind”
Foot in the mouth?
Zan Azlee
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 15, 2013
FEB 15 — Sometimes, people get their feet stuck deep in their mouths that it is impossible to pull them back out. Sad for them, but good for me, since I get something to write about.
The first case I would like to discuss is one that I’m sure everyone reading this column would be very familiar with — Sharifah Zohra Jabeen.
Here is a woman who is obviously not very smart trying to make it look and sound like she’s smart. Look what happened now. She’s gone into hiding out of embarrassment.
And she still hasn’t responded to my challenge in a previous article to debate her on a topic of her choice. I guess she’s scared that she’ll get her other foot stuck in her mouth too.
The second case is something that happened very recently, and that is, the response that Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow gave regarding K-pop artist Psy. Continue reading “Foot in the mouth?”
OMG! There was an attempt on Psy’s Life!
By Stan CH Lee
thedrawingisonthewall.blogspot.ca
Fear factor and Mahathir
by K. Siladass
The fear factor has finally caught up with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The fact that Dato Ambiga Sreenevasan, a former President of the Bar Council and currently the co-chairman of Bersih Movement, has been making constructive suggestions for the clean and proper conduct of the forthcoming general elections is well known. Mahathir, alike all his cronies and supporters fearing that the wind of change in the thought process of the Malaysians is actually blowing, had begun to make frantic undemocratic demands-one among them is the call for the revocation of Ambiga’s citizenship. Does this remind of Idi Amin of Uganda?
Has Ambiga said anything that would constitute as an attempt to overthrow the government? Hardly so. All her comments, suggestions, criticisms were objectively aimed at improving the standards of the voting procedure. Any citizen could make suggestions so long it is not contrary to law. Neither she nor Bersih advocate the transformation of illegal immigrants to legal immigrants with voting rights. It is those who violated the Country’s citizenship, immigration and election law, who should be dealt with according to law.
It is also hardly correct to assume that Ambiga alone had formulated all the comments, suggestions and criticisms; instead, she represents a movement and her expressions are those of the movement, hence, would it not be appropriate that all those who are linked with her and the Bersih Movement should receive like treatment? All who support the Bersih Movement should have their citizenship revoked. If this sounds very puerile, then, why single out Ambiga? When we are talking about democracy and democratic government we are indeed talking of Government by discussion. This does not mean discussion only amongst ruling party members but must also include the views from the public, of which the opposition and civic movements are a part.
From the Mahathir’s outburst it could be discerned that he and his followers are unable to match up with reasonable, rational and sensible argument, and argument has always been the core principle in democracy. Continue reading “Fear factor and Mahathir”
Winners and losers in the Psy show
by Tan Zhong Yan
Malaysiakini
Feb 13, 2013
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and BN would surely have regretted inviting South Korean pop star Psy to the Penang state BN Chinese New Year open house.
The one-minute video which has gone viral in the cyberspace says it all – Yes for Psy! No for BN!
Winners
Psy
Well, Psy is clearly the winner. Getting millions of ringgit just to perform for 15 minutes is definitely worth it despite the fact that he had to fly from Brazil which took 20 hours.
The people
Those who went to the open house would surely enjoy themselves getting to see Psy performing his famous ‘Oppa Gangnam Style’ for free as it was sponsored by person(s) unknown.
Hopefully that is true. If not, the people will be the greatest losers if it was paid with tax payers’ money. Continue reading “Winners and losers in the Psy show”
Pengiraan Detik 56 Hari ke PRU13 – Mengubah tiga peristiwa memalukan Najib yang ditimpakan ke atas dirinya sendiri sewaktu pesta RM3.5 juta Psy dan Gangnam Style menjadi rahmat buat Malaysia
Kemunculan Psy dan Gangnam Style pada pesta Tahun Baru Cina Barisan Nasional di Pulau Pinang sepatutnya menjadi hiburan dan rampasan kuasa politik di dalam sejarah negara sehingga membawa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, UMNO dan Barisan Nasional kepada kejayaan meyakinkan dalam Pilihan Raya Ke-13 dengan majoriti dua pertiga parlimen dan mendapatkan semula negeri-negeri Pakatan Rakyat termasuklah Pulau Pinang, telah bertukar menjadi kemusnahan besar politik dan perhubungan awam.
Tiga aib besar menimpa Najib dan perikatan UMNO/BN, tetapi lebih buruk lagi, ia turut memalukan negara. Tiga aib besar itu ialah:
- Video satu minit “Tiga Ya untuk Psy dan Tiga Tidak untuk BN” yang pantas tersebar selepas kemeriahan di Sekolah Han Chiang ditonton hampir setengah juta di You Tube dari banyak laman sejak Isnin.
- Video lima minit “Psy tiada, Najib/BN merah muka ketika acara menggaul yee sang”, video kedua tentang kemunculan Psy di pesta Tahun Baru Cina BN di Pulau Pinang yang pantas tersebar, memaparkan Perdana Menteri, Mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah dan Menteri Kabinet menunggu bintang Korea itu selama lima minit untuk menyertai mereka dan tersipu-sipu meninggalkan pentas tanpa menggaul yee sang apabila Psy menolak. Ini merupakan kejadian yang merosakkan maruah negara dan memalukan semua rakyat Malaysia tidak kira PR atau BN – yang mana Perdana Menteri dan mantan Perdana Menteri terpaksa mengorbankan maruah negara demi kehangatan K-pop Korea.
- Psy menolak untuk mempersembahkan “Gangnam 1Malaysia Style”. Najib telah mengumumkan di atas pentas selepas kerosakkan “3 Ya untuk Psy dan 3 Tidak untuk BN” berkenaan “persembahan menarik” Psy, mengisytiharkan “(Psy) is ready for us and he will show you the proper Gangnam Style…and I am told he has a surprise for you – the Gangnam 1Malaysia Style” Tetapi Psy tidak mempersembahkan kejutan “Gangnam 1Malaysia Style” menghancurkan harapan Najib dan peluang pemimpin BN seperti Menteri Pelancongan Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen untuk menari “Gangnam 1Malaysia Style” dengan bintang pop Korea Selatan itu di Pulau Pinang.
Pengiran Detik 57 Hari ke PRU13 – dua pengajran buat Najib daripada sandiwara RM3.5 juta perembahan Gangnam Style Psy Pulau Pinang
Saya akui bahawa saya masih belum menonton iklan Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak berlakon sebagai pemain gendang tarian singa walaupun ikan itu sudah disiarkan selama lima hari.
Hanya selepas membaca artikel Kee Thuan Chye di Malaysiakini bertajuk “The PM is Demeaning Himself” barulah saya mencarinya di YouTube untuk meihat sendiri sama ada komen Kee itu mempunyai asasnya, dan saya harus katakan Kee tepat pada sasaran.
Saya menyemak kesahihan kritikan tentang tulisan salah perkataan Cina “吉” (sebagaimana Najib telah menggunakan Ah Jib Gor sebagai nama Cinanya) dengan garisan horizontal di atas lebih pendek berbanding yang di bawah yang membawa makna kecelakaan untuk Ah Jib Gor.
Kee betul.
Jelas tiada strategis politik dan perhubungan awam terbaik berkhidmat untuk Najib, walaupun duit merupakan masalah paling kecil untuk UMNO/Barisan Nasional, melihat kepada duit yang ditaburkan Najib dan UMNO/Barisan Nasional mengalir seperti air di seluruh negara sepanjang bulan-bulan lalu, termasuklah jutaan ringit untuk mengnjurkan pesta Gangnam Style Psy di Pulau Pinang pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina.
Tetapi jelas duit tidak dapat membeli segalanya. Continue reading “Pengiran Detik 57 Hari ke PRU13 – dua pengajran buat Najib daripada sandiwara RM3.5 juta perembahan Gangnam Style Psy Pulau Pinang”
Pengiraan Detik 58 Hari ke PRU13 – Keyakinan tinggi untuk memenangi PRU13 yang dibina Najib runtuh berkecai akibat daripada tiga “Ya” untuk Psy dan tiga “Tidak” untuk BN di persembahan jutaan ringgit Gangnam Style Psy di Pulau Pinang semalam
Yang sepatutnya menjadi rampasan kuasa jutaan ringgit Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan Barisan Nasional, bertukar menjadi kemusnahan jutaan ringgit buat Najib dan BN menjelang tibanya Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.
Yang luput dari ingatan ialah jutaan ringgit daripada penaja yang tidak diketahui membawa Psy dan rombongannya dalam satu penerbangan terus 20 jam dari Brazil ke Pulau Pinang dengan motif yang juga tidak diketahui, beribu-ribu bendera 1Malaysia yang mencemar Pulau Pinang untuk lawatan Tahun Baru Cina dua hari Najib ke Pulau Pinang atau tawaran “I help you, You help me” Najib yang terbaru.
Apa yang akan selamanya dikenang tentang Tahun Baru Cina Najib di Pulau Pinang adalah video satu minit yang sudah tersebar luas lebih hangat berbanding Psy dan Gangnam Style – ketika Najib bertanya kepada hadirin di Sekolah han Chiang sama ada mereka bersedia untuk Psy dan bersedia untuk BN.
Sebenarnya, gema tiga kali “Ya” untuk soalan Najib sama ada orang ramai telah bersedia untuk Psy diikuti dengan gema yang sama kuat dan spontan tiga kali “Tidak” ketika Najib bertanya sama ada mereka bersedia untuk BN telah memusnahkan keyakinan tinggi untuk menang besar dalam PRU13 yang dibina Najib, yang telah hancur musnah. Continue reading “Pengiraan Detik 58 Hari ke PRU13 – Keyakinan tinggi untuk memenangi PRU13 yang dibina Najib runtuh berkecai akibat daripada tiga “Ya” untuk Psy dan tiga “Tidak” untuk BN di persembahan jutaan ringgit Gangnam Style Psy di Pulau Pinang semalam”
Pengiraan Detik 59 Hari ke PRU13 – Sepuluh ribu bendera 1Malaysia pada majlis Gangnam Style Psy di Pulau Pinang hanya menonjolkan kegagalan program transformasi 1Malaysia Najib
Warga Pulau Pinang bangun pada Tahun Baru Cina pada hari Ahad, 10 Febuari 2013 dengan sepuluh ribu bendera 1Malaysia membarisi jalan yang akan digunakan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak dalam lawatan dua hari beliau ke Pulau Pinang dari lapangan terbang ke Kolej Han Chiang yang akan menampilkan bintang pop Korea Selatan Psy kepada Georgetown dan kawasan sekitar Komtar.
Akan tetapi bolehkan bintang K-pop Korea Selatan memberikan kehidupan, nyawa dan roh kepada dasar 1Malaysia Najib dengan 10,000 bendera 1Malaysia yang dipacak dengan sombongnya, tidak mengikut peraturan dan berbahaya di sepanjang jalanraya utama Pulau Pinang – menampakkan sifat tidak peduli terhadap kebajikan, keselamatan dan undang-undang negeri serta menonjolkan kegagalan program transformasi 1Malaysia Najib?
Amat menyedihkan selepas empat tahun sebagai Perdana Menteri, hanya satu daripada 68 Menteri dan Timbalan Menteri yang berani secara terbuka menentang arus perdana UMNO/Barisan Nasional dan secara terbuka mengumumkan dirinya rakyat Malaysia dulu dan Melayu kemudian.
Apakah ada Menteri UMNO kedua yang berani mencontohi apa yang Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz telah lakukan pada September 2010 mengisytiharkan dirinya rakyat Malaysia dulu dan Melayu kemudian, seiring dengan dasar 1Malaysia berbeza dengan pengisytiharan terbuka Najib? Continue reading “Pengiraan Detik 59 Hari ke PRU13 – Sepuluh ribu bendera 1Malaysia pada majlis Gangnam Style Psy di Pulau Pinang hanya menonjolkan kegagalan program transformasi 1Malaysia Najib”
Pengiraan Detik 60 Hari ke PRU13 – Bilakah Najib akan membuat kenyataan sama ada Malaysia mampu mengejar Korea Selatan atau sekurang-kurangnya mula merapatkan jurang yang semakin besar antara dua negara?
Pada majlis perembahan Gangnam Style bintang pop Korea Psy di Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri di Pulau Pinang esok, adakah Datuk Seri Najib Razak akan membuat kenyataan sama ada Malaysia mampu mengejar Korea Selatan atau sekurang-kurangnya mula merapatkan jurang yang semakin besar antara dua negara?
Seorang Menteri Kabinet berkata kemunculan Psy akan menjadikan Pulau Pinang terkenal di serata dunia dan yang lebih penting daripada itu adalah Pulau Pinang dan Malaysia menjadi terkenal di serata dunia kerana pencapaiannya sendiri dalam semua bidang usaha.
Enam belas tahun lalu, ketika kita mengisytiharkan Koridor Raya Multimedia sebagai “hadiah buat dunia”, Malaysia dan Korea Selatan pernah pada tahap yang sama memulakan perjalanan dalam dunia IT.
Hari ini, MSC dan Malaysia semakin hilang dari peghetahuan dunia sebagai tempat penting IT antarabangsa, sementara Korea Selatan telah jauh menjadi negara pertama di dunia menjadi masyarakat jalur lebar juga negara yang yang mempunyai internet terpantas di dunia – dengan purata kelajuan internet pada 2012 14.7 Mbps, 650% lebih tinggi daripada purata 2.2 Mbps di Malaysia.
Di dalam tadbir urus yang baik, Malaysia tertinggal di belakang Korea Selatan terutamanya dalam Indeks Persepsi Rasuah Transparency International sejak lima tahun lalu, yang mana Malaysia dilihat lebih korup, antara No. 47 hingga 60 dalam kedudukan dunia berbeza dengan Korea Selatan yang berada di kedudukan 39 hingga 45. Continue reading “Pengiraan Detik 60 Hari ke PRU13 – Bilakah Najib akan membuat kenyataan sama ada Malaysia mampu mengejar Korea Selatan atau sekurang-kurangnya mula merapatkan jurang yang semakin besar antara dua negara?”
Pengiraan Detik 61 Hari ke PRU13 – Terima kasih Najib dan Psy, sebagai tanggungjawab patriotik rakyat Malaysia perlu bertanya mengapa Malaysia gagal memenuhi potensi kita menerajui negara-negara global dalam semua bidang usaha 56 tahun selepas Merdeka
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata Pakatan Rakyat cemburu dengan Barisan Nasional yang berjaya menjemput dahulu bintang “Gangnam Style Korea” Psy kerana perkara itu menggagalkan rancangan Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng untuk menjemput Psy ke acara di bawah nama Pakatan Rakyat.
Sama ada Najib begitu mudah tertipu untuk percaya desas-desus sedemikian sedangkan DAP dan Pakatan Rakyat tidak mempunyai jutaan ringgit untuk ditaburkan sepertimana yang UMNO/BN lakukan menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 yang akhirnya akan dibayar oleh pembayar cukai, Perdana Menteri tidak sepatutnya menyangka semua rakyat Malaysia begitu mudah tertipu dan percaya pada hikayatnya yang sukar dipercayai.
Mengimbau kembali hikayatnya yang sukar dipercayai pada ulangtahun UMNO ke-66 di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil pada 11 Mei, 2012, apabila beliau membuat dakwaan tak masuk akal bahawa Bersih 3.0 “mahu melawan…mahu menendang polis…jika tidak cerita mereka tidak akan keluar di CNN, Al-Jazeera, BBC”. selepas menfitnah “duduk bantah” Bersih 3.0 di Dataran Merdeka yang diadakan dua minggu sebelum ulangtahun UMNO sebagai “cubaan rampasan kuasa oleh Oposisi untuk menggulingkan kerajaan” dengan “garam dan botol air mineral”!
Pada ulangtahun ke-66 UMNO Najib mendakwa bahawa beliau sungguh sukacita dengan sokongan dan “mood baik” yang ditunjukkan pada sambutan itu hingga beliau bersedia untuk menghadap Yang di Pertuan Agong bagi membubarkan Parlimen keesokkan harinya.
Akan tetapi sembilan bulan kemudian, dan kurang sebulan lagi sebelum ulangtahun kelima peristiwa bersejarah pilihan raya Malaysia – tsunami politik 308 pada pilihan raya umum 8 Mac, 2008 – Najib masih lagi teragak-agak bila mahu adakan PRU13.
Tiada siapa pun patut “cemburu” dengan dakwaan “rampasan kuasa” terhadap Psy dan Gangnam Style. Malah, negara sepatutnya berterima kasih kepada Najib dan Psy, kerana rakyat Malaysia sudah mula bertanya mengapa Malaysia gagal untuk memenuhi potensi kita menjadi peneraju negara-negara global dalam semua bidang usaha 56 tahun selepas Merdeka Continue reading “Pengiraan Detik 61 Hari ke PRU13 – Terima kasih Najib dan Psy, sebagai tanggungjawab patriotik rakyat Malaysia perlu bertanya mengapa Malaysia gagal memenuhi potensi kita menerajui negara-negara global dalam semua bidang usaha 56 tahun selepas Merdeka”
56-Day Countdown to 13 GE –Turn Najib’s three self-inflicted embarrassments at the RM3.5 million Psy and Gangnam Style bash into a boon for Malaysia
Instead of being the entertainment and political coup in the nation’s 56-year history propelling the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, UMNO and Barisan Nasional to a convincing victory in the 13th General Elections with a two-thirds parliamentary majority and regaining Pakatan Rakyat states including Penang, the Psy and Gangnam Style appearance at the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year bash in Penang has proved to be a political and public relations disaster of the first magnitude.
It inflicted three major embarrassments on Najib and the UMNO/BN coalition, but even worse, it also brought shame to the country. The three major embarrassments are:
• The one-minute video of “Three Yes to Psy and Three Noes to BN” which immediately went viral after the Han Chiang School extravaganza with over half-a-million views on YouTube from over a dozen sites since Monday.
• The five-minute video of “No Psy, Najib/BN left red-faced during yee sang toss”, the second video of Psy’s appearance at the BN CNY bash in Penang which has gone viral, showing the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah and Cabinet Ministers waiting expectantly for five minutes for the Korean superstar to join them and sheepishly leaving the stage without yee sang toss when Psy refused. This is the episode which hurt our national pride and make all Malaysians whether PR or BN feel ashamed – that the Prime Minister and former Prime Minister had to sacrifice national honour and dignity even for a Korean K-pop sensation.
• Psy’s refusal to perform “Gangnam 1Malaysia Style”. Najib had announced on stage after his disastrous “3 Yes to Psy and 3 Noes to BN” exchange with the crowd of Psy’s “very exciting show”, proclaiming that Psy “is ready for us and he will show you the proper Gangnam Style…and I am told he has a surprise for you – the Gangnam 1Malaysia Style”. But Psy did not deliver the “surprise” of “Gangnam 1Malaysia Style” depriving Najib and BN leaders like Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen the opportunity to dance the “Gangnam 1Malaysia Style” with the South Korean pop sensation in Penang. Continue reading “56-Day Countdown to 13 GE –Turn Najib’s three self-inflicted embarrassments at the RM3.5 million Psy and Gangnam Style bash into a boon for Malaysia”
Will the Share Market Rise or Fall if there is a Pakatan Victory?
By Koon Yew Yin
Quote from an angry Internet reader
If [the] market plunge(s), it will rise up again but if a country goes bankrupt, it is gone forever. I don’t know why you can’t get it in your brain unless your brain is always thinking of sex with your mistress.
During the last few weeks there have been increasing predictions from Barisan leaders emphasising that there will be a sharp fall in the share market should there be a Pakatan Rakyat victory.
The latest prediction by MCA leader Chua Soi Lek in a party event at Kepong argues that Malaysia will witness a “‘huge financial disaster if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power in the 13th general election”.
This type of electioneering tactic aimed at frightening the electorate is dangerous and irresponsible. How can the MCA president be so confident as to openly declare that our stock market will drop to 500 points within a week if the opposition wins power?
Challenge to Dr. Chua Soi Lek
Let us subject his prediction to closer analysis. Firstly, it is not clear whether he stated that the KLCI will drop by 500 points or drop to 500 points. Whichever is the correct version, his claim implies that anything from one to two thirds of the total share value of the KLCI will be wiped out due to the election result.
Continue reading “Will the Share Market Rise or Fall if there is a Pakatan Victory?”
Efforts by the state to make the minorities halal
CPI Introduction
One of our readers sent this lament from an anonymous source of the way in which the racial factor works in this country and has been exploited by those that wield power. Although it may be read as an alarmist, biased and exaggerated analysis of how racial and religious dynamics are pushing the country towards a downward spiral, it does provide food for thought.
We have left out its most contentious parts lest we be accused of attempting to stoke racial sentiments and intolerance. It is an article which, however unpleasant to read, reflects many of the feelings at the ground level of the country’s marginalized communities, and which politics and policies have disappointed to a dangerously pessimistic degree.
Even if our body politic is not afflicted by a life-threatening cancerous growth as alleged by our anonymous writer, the cure for the country’s numerous boils and abscesses is to lance them, drain the contaminated pus and clean the wound. The country desperately awaits leaders who can heal rather than compound the damage to our citizenry.
Citizens to Pendatangs – Frogs on a slow boil
By Ice Cream Seller | Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:13
I am no science buff but remember reading about putting frogs in cold water and then slowly putting the water to boil. The frogs (unlike the Perak species) will die as they will be unaware of the change in temperature that will ultimately prove fatal.
Dear Malaysian brethren of whatever ilk, we will suffer the same fate as the innocent frogs if we let the country spiral to another Iran or Pakistan.
Continue reading “Efforts by the state to make the minorities halal”
Yet another time — Never Straight Times
By Martin Jalleh
Twins of evil
by Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysiakini
Feb 12, 2013
He was a Machiavellian ruler who is alleged to have corrupted his way to the top, and became Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister, but will the historians have to revise Malaysian history?
Some argue that former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled Malaysia with an iron fist for 22 years, should be remembered as a visionary leader and a tireless administrator. Others disagree and call him a ruthless dictator who silenced his critics and allowed corruption, cronyism and nepotism to flourish.
Today, Mahathir is as divisive as ever and despite being retired, has managed to upstage the current Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak, many times during the latter’s tenure.
Najib could have ordered an investigation based on Mahathir’s own admission about the influx of illegal immigrants being given citizenship provided they voted for the ruling party; but Najib is more scared of Mahathir. If Najib had not been weighted down by so much baggage, he could have silenced Mahathir once and for all. Continue reading “Twins of evil”
57-Day Countdown to 13 GE – two lessons for Najib from the RM3.5 million farce of the Penang performance of Psy’s Gangnam Style
I was piqued. I confess that I had not seen Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Chinese New Year advertisement as lion dance troupe drummer although it has been put up for five days.
It was after reading Kee Thuan Chye’s Malaysiakini article “The PM is Demeaning Himself” that I searched YouTube to see for myself whether Kee’s caustic comments were justified, and I must say, Kee hit the bull’s eye.
I particularly checked on the veracity of the criticism about the erroneous writing of the Chinese word “吉”, (as Najib has adopted Ah Jib Gor as his Chinese name) with the upper horizontal line being shorter than the bottom one which connotes bad luck for Ah Jib Gor.
Kee is absolutely right.
Clearly, Najib is not well-served by the best political strategists and public relations advisers that money can buy, although money is the least of his problems, considering the money Najib and UMNO/Barisan Nasional are pouring like water all over the country in the past months, including the millions of ringgit just to organise the Psy’s Gangnam Style extravaganza in Penang on the second day of the CNY.
But money clearly cannot buy everything. Continue reading “57-Day Countdown to 13 GE – two lessons for Najib from the RM3.5 million farce of the Penang performance of Psy’s Gangnam Style”
The PM is Demeaning Himself
By Kee Thuan Chye
Malaysiakini
Feb 12, 2013
It looks like Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Najib Razak has outdone himself at self-debasement. His appearance in the now much-talked-about Chinese New Year advertisement has not only shown his desperation to win Chinese votes in the soon-to-be-held general election; it has also elicited responses from viewers full of derision and contempt.
I showed it to someone who is non-partisan, sensible, well-educated and who exercises good judgment, and these were her reactions as she watched it:
“Hak sei ngor! (Shocking)” … “Unheard of” … “Eeyer! Geli! (Makes my skin crawl)” … “Trying too hard”.
Her remarks are uncannily similar to those that have been expressed on Facebook by many other Malaysians. Continue reading “The PM is Demeaning Himself”