Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the 13th General Elections where Malaysians had hoped to see a change of federal government in Putrajaya for the first time in the 56-year history of the nation.
Unfortunately, although Pakatan Rakyat secured the support of the majority of the national electorate, with 52% of the national voters voting for PR, Barisan Nasional continued to occupy the citadels of power in Putrajaya because of unfair electoral practices, gerrymandering and unfair redelineation of electoral constituencies.
The past one year has brought greater disillusionment to the people who wanted to see political change to bring Malaysia back to the pursuit of the Malaysian Dream for all Malaysians by bringing the country back to the tracks of justice, the rule of law, democracy, good governance, excellence and prosperity which Malaysia had strayed from for more than 40 years.
The latest global survey on the average broadband speed is another index to highlight the continued regression and retrogression of Malaysia instead of progress way ahead in the forefront in th world in various aspects of national achievements.
According to the new global survey, the average broadband speed in Malaysia is slower than Vietnam and Cambodia in the region, and barely ahead of Myanmar.
Almost three times slower than Vietnam, Malaysia at 5.48 Megabits per second (Mbps) was ranked a low 126 out of 192 countries surveyed from May 2013 to April this year in the recent Net Index conducted by Ookla – a global broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications company that compares the download, upload and line quality of broadband connections.
Zooming to the number one spot was Hong Kong with a speed of 78.3 Mbps. Singapore sped to second placing at 66.6 Mbps while South Korea was ranked fourth (53.77Mbps), the United Kingdom 23rd (26.85Mbps) and the United States, 32nd (23.9Mbps).
With 5.48 Mbps, Malaysia’s is slower than Brunei (5.51 Mbps), Cambodia (5.9 Mbps), Vietnam (14.2 Mbps), Thailand (18.9 Mbps), China (19.5 Mbps), Taiwan (39.3 Mbps), Japan (41.5 Mbps), South Korea (53.77 Mbps), Singapore (66.6 Mbps) and Hong Kong (78.3 Mbps). Myanmar registers 5.0 Mbps, Laos 4.5 Mbps, Indonesia 4.3 Mbps and Philippines 3.5 Mbps.
This is a far cry from the promises made when the former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launched the Multi-media Super Corridor in the mid-90s for Malaysia to become an information superpower by becoming one of the premier IT hubs in the world.
The MSC had become a great failure for Malaysia has failed the quantum leap to become an information superpower, when our broadband speed is of snail-speed variety, with Malaysia losing out even to countries like Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and China which would have been completely unthinkable when MSC was launched some two decades ago.
In broadband speed, education, economic justice, the rule of law, respect for human rights and good governance, Malaysia is trailing behind more and more countries, which have hastened in the past one year.
Even more worrying, nation-building or the creation of a united Malaysian nation out of the diverse races, religions and regions has never suffered such a serious blow as in the past year, despite the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia policy and international campaign for a Global Movement of Moderates.
However, on the eve of the first anniversary of the 13GE last May, Malaysians are torn on the one hand by grave disillusionment with Najib for a year of failed policies and on the other hand, the dire prospect of a break-up of Pakatan Rakyat over hudud law.
The latter possibility cannot be taken lightly although it has only descended on the country like a political tornado in a matter of weeks.
The overwhelming majority of the voters who voted for Pakatan Rakyat in the 13GE did so for change of government and political and nation-building policies, and not for hudud. Furthermore, those who do not support hudud law in the country do so not because they are anti-Islam but because the Malaysian Constitution provides for a secular democratic nation.
Pakatan Rakyat would not have continued to deny the Barisan Nasional two-thirds parliamentary majority if hudud was an agenda for Pakatan Rakyat in the 13GE.
There can be no doubt that all the three PR parties of DAP, PKR and PAS would have suffered serious electoral losses if hudud had been an issue in the 13GE.
In Johore for instance, DAP would not have won 4 Parliamentary and 13 State Assembly seats, PAS might have lost all the four State Assembly seats while PKR might have lost the one parliamentary and one state assembly seat in Johore.
Malaysians want Pakatan Rakyat to grow from strength to strength and to achieve the political transition of a change of federal government in Putrajaya in the 14GE, but if hudud becomes a major issue, Pakatan Rakyat may go the way of the previous Barisan Alternative.
Then all the three present component parties of DAP, PKR and PAS will all be the losers. The only winners will be UMNO and the Barisan Nasional parties.
This will be an unmitigated disaster for all Malaysians.
(Media Conference Statement in Batu Pahat on Sunday, 4th May 2014 at 2 pm)
Its clear Najib is spinning his wheels with his leadership of UMNO/BN and yet PR, instead of taking the initiative, is also pre-occupied with its own problems, most self-inflicted – incomprehensible when you add the fact their symbolic leader Anwar is faced being taken away, unjust but a reality that hurt it.
Instead of galvanising and even more determined, PR is allowing their weakness to manifest and even unurgently magnified. Their priorities do not seem to be in the interest of those they propose to lead and suspiciously like those they oppose and propose to replace.
///Almost three times slower than Vietnam, Malaysia at 5.48 Megabits per second (Mbps) was ranked a low 126 out of 192 countries….///
This shows how crony-capitalism can destroy a country.
UMNO’s primary reason to bring up the subject of Hudud is to break up Pakatan, especially when it has been the policy of PAS in supporting this from the beginning. In order not to get trapped and at the same time to save face, PAS along with Pakatan, just have to say that Hudud will be implemented in the PAS version when it is in power. PAS should say they reject the UMNO version. This will buy time for PAS, Pakatan, the public and also avoid the UMNO trap.
In d last 12 months
Perkosa-UmnoB/BN, NO good
PR-DAP-PAS-PKR, also NO good
So sad 4 M’sia
it seems to me pakatan may need one country two systems (quoting deng xiaoping’s systems for china and hong kong). islamic states will be under hudud and rest as usual?
Frankly PAS ‘leaders’ R NOT STATESMEN n leaders
They r tribal or provincial in outlook n should just confine themselves 2 religious matters
They should NOT b in politics
Mixing religion n politics, how lah
And these corrupted goons charged premium for 5.48mbps speed. They are good only at talking but when it comes to doing, these goons are worst than Zimbabwe.
Never learnt fr d Barisan Alternatif experience or nightmare, WHAT a SHAME
Always, self implosion, SAD
N d corrupt racist Perkosa-UmnoB/BN continues 2 rule
A most effective way of ridding one’s enemy is to use the same weapon that it yields to destroy it. UMNO’s objective with the Hudud issue is to isolate PAS and limit its influence on the voting populace and ultimately the destruction of the Pakatan alliance. UMNO may go that extra mile to make sure that PAS gets what it wants and takes this issue to the worst possible for it to return to haunt them later. By then, the objective should have been achieved and PAS may once again find itself confined to where it belongs, fighting with UMNO for the majority votes in rural areas. Guess who will come out the winner? Similarly, the non-malay votes may have returned to BN and Najib will be the most happiest man around!
I find it strange for some who are still adamant in wanting to implement a law that cannot be enforced. But then, who cares anymore in this country!
PAS, dumb dumb, falls in2 d hudud trap set by Perkosa-UmnoB/BN
A wedge dat splits PR
PKR too facing a messy situation in S’gor
Can d MB still b trusted? A turncoat?
Any future 4 PR?
If the intention of PAS is to form a unity government with UMNO for the purpose to make Hudud viable, then don’t let us stop you from here. The 52% who voted for the national’s interests wish you “Good Luck!”. We have no intention of making the same mistake twice. That’s our assurance to you. Personally, I do not think such people are fit to rule my country!
A government that is big enough to give you something is also big enough to take it away!
LKS, it’s hardly surprising that this country has become a basket case!
For five over decades, except for the short period just after formation of this country, we have been having a ruling party that is completely self seeking.
Even our water supply is in jeopardy!
Nothing but nothing, ever works under such a government!
That’s why change is imperative.
No ifs, no buts!!!
As for PAS, the earlier it is dumped the better.
Why let them hold the PR coalition to ransom?
After this unhappy episode, PKR & DAP must make absolutely certain whatever party that wanted to join the reformatted coalition must be secular!!!
TRUTH b said dis 1DERful land is TRULY NOT so 1DERful
Just look at d issues raised on msm n d Internet everyday n d NEGATIF energy n time wasted everyday on them
Can PR ‘rescue’ dis land?
Better ask another Q: Can PR survive as an entity b4 d next GE?
Opposition coalition in dis land seems 2 last 4 only 4 2 GEs, then ta ta, turncoats appear, NOT even RIP
You said the 3 PR parties would have suffered serious electoral losses if hudud had been an issue in the 13GE. That’s true which only goes to show that PAS or at least many within it is using the PR pact to try garner Non Malay/Muslim support to first wrestle power from UMNO/BN under the “welfare state cum Common Manifesto” in order to thereafter implement their unwavering ultimate goal of Islamic State, the precursor of which is Hudud. [As far back as 2007 I’ve repeatedly warned of this ‘Taqiyya’ (political strategy of deception, justifiable in Islamic Jurisprudence to advance a larger Cause of Religion) along with Associate Prof Lee Wang Yen and had both been labeled ‘islamophobic’]. Now the lines are all blurred – UMNO trying to drive wedge by being willing to listen to PAS’s proposed private bill and your DAP Segambut MP allegedly calling support from non Muslim MP from BN to resist (assuming BN doesn’t crack its parliamentary whip). It’s a deplorable state for this country that the national discourse is drawn on Muslim-Non Muslim lines.
It really boggles my mind PAS can’t see Najib struggling with all the nonsense coming out from him and they see Hudud as so much more urgent politically..
Listen to all his arguments on GST alone – they are mindless, sheer mediocrity..
“GST or face bankruptcy” – Under UMNO bankruptcy is only delayed GST or no GST. The amount raised is not enough, they have to borrow against the more stable income and hence put is further towards the same path..
“GST is implemented in xxx number of countries” – so what? its implemented in some of the most desperate country – it can equally mean we are just as desperate..
“GST is progressive tax” – The only way it can be progressive if the gap in income between the rich and the poor is so high, that the govt is better of collecting from everyone..Najib absolutely has no clue what it really even means, math not his strong suit, Public Relation and Advertising feelly techniques more to his liking..
And the worst yet today..
“GST is antibiotic” – more like ecstasy pill. Antibiotic one time cure all, don’t need to take again. Worst, bad if you keep taking new antibiotic.
What does PAS need more? Why do they even need Hudud for political capital?
Just read the latest Datuk Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin’s comment on UMNO’s ulama on anti-GST being “pelanggan pelacur”..
The question really is how come UMNO’s ulama know so much about hookers they can add their, supposedly deep wisdom, to the complexity of pros-cons of GST?
And to PAS.. Come on. why do you even need Hudud with people like these for political capital?
505, a year AFTER
Some politicians died
Some kena charged n found guilty
Others about 2 b charged
A lecturer spoke on behalf of Perkosa-UmnoB/BN: Migrate if you are not happy
Hapi 1st anniversary after GE13
They don’t dare if have US, UK, & China support behind you uphold Federal Constitution
Veri sure Perkosa, teapot, ZulN, butt-dancers, UmnoB, etc will organise a big fat ta-ta CELEBRATION when PR disintegrates