SNAPSHOTS


Parliament, DNA, MCMC: Big wheels are rolling! The crushing big wheels of power were in motion again when the Government refused to refer the DNA Identification Bill to a select committee and this led to the Opposition walking out en bloc. That was a lucky escape, cause the big wheels steam-rolled over their empty seats and passed the second reading of the controversial Bill. ...Readmore


MCMC stop being silly! The MCMC order to internet service providers to block his site is myopic and ridiculous. It goes against the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantees which promised no censorship. If it can happen to RPK, it can also happen to other Malaysian bloggers. The MCMC should just end this silliness. ...Readmore


The fairytale of Universities in Malaysia the system attached to them has not shown us results that we desire and that will make us proud. It is only through education that unity, development and prosperity can be achieved. I want to see a University Perpaduan Malaysia one day. Let me highlight the working paper tabled by Tun Dr Mahathir titled "Malaysia as A Fully Developed Country - One Definition". ...Readmore


The Barisan Rakyat bloggers reporting team of Permatang Pauh by election appreciation to the volunteers of the Barisan Rakyat bloggers reporting team who helped cover ground happenings for the live reporting from Permatang Pauh by-election... these live reports serve as a crucial tool to connect and provide a real life perspective of the action on the ground. ...Readmore


By election at Permatang Pauh is over. Anwar wins BN lost I am not a fan of Anwar Ibrahim or sorts but the political landscape across the causeway has indeed brought about comic relief to me. Oh btw I think Barisan Nasional needs a new Corporate Communication Team, so many inconsistencies in what they say in the press. ...Readmore


News update, Bulletins from Permatang Pauh on 26 August Just got word that YB Gobalakrishnan and his two sons, both of whom are understood to have been part of the ghostbuster team that had been involved in the detention of the buses reported earlier, were beaten up and have been arrested and taken to the balai polis in seberang Jaya. ...Readmore


Live report of Permatang Pauh (P44) by election Hundreds of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel and plainclothes policemen moved in to disperse thousands of vociferous supporters outside Sekolah Kebangsaaan Seri Penanti voting centre in Kubang Semang. Follow more live report of the Permatang Pauh by election... ...Readmore


Of what Permatang Pauh by election could and could not tell us do keep these things in mind before you read any political analysis by so-called pundits. Obviously, these questions put forth are not exhausting. Neverthless, the question are useful in identifying sweep conclusion. And sweeping conclusion is the last thing we need to understand the very messy political scenario we are currently in. ...Readmore


DAP makes a big catch: Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim Tunku Abdul Aziz said although he became a DAP member only yesterday, he had been targeting and monitoring the partys progress, "without their knowledge" for the past 20 years. "I am a brand new member. The decision to join the party was taken a long time ago, but only yesterday I signed the application form." ...Readmore


What else can Anwar Ibrahim say? Choose wisely, vote responsibly Permatang Pauh The approach by the DAP and PKR could disrupt the nation's political stability and socio-economic progress. Let me remind you that a vote for the Anwar Ibrahim is a vote of betrayal to Umno and the Malays since he is trying to split the Malays to ensure victory for the DAP. Anwar and the DAP's brand of politics do not benefit the Malays or any other community. ...Readmore


Tell UMNO we do not fear them! We will fight them to the end! Anwar Ibrahim was at his charming best. Of Khairy Jamaluddin, he brushed him aside as being ‘Siau Ren’. Throughout the night, travelling to the ceramah sites, and then to dinner, could not help noticing a lot of empty chairs in BN ceramah sites. ...Readmore


DAP National Congress, Lee Chong Wei and Olympics silver medal The turn out is the greatest ever, with 739 delegates and 300 observers. A surprise was the presence of Lee Chong Wei, the Olympic Singles Badminton silver medalist. He was at our Congress before it commenced. ...Readmore


SUHAKAM: Sambungan siasatan awam insiden di Bandar Mahkota Cheras To inquire whether or not there was any law enforcement personnel in performance of their duty to maintain law and order has used excessive force during the incident at Persiaran Bandar Mahkota Cheras in Bandar Mahkota Cheras on May 27, 2008 ...Readmore


Panduan untuk pelancong politik di P44 Permatang Pauh Hujung minggu telah sampai. Pelancong politik dari seluruh negara akan sampai untuk melihat dan menjadi Pak Sibuk dalam Pertandingan Agung Politik Permulaan Kurun. Ini ialah pertandingan projek 3P-Permatang Pauh-Parlimen-Putrajaya. Kepada Pelancong Politik sila ambil perhatian ...Readmore


Metafora dan retorik, budaya Pak Kadok: Biar papa asal bergaya Perjuangan terhadap mengekalkan ketuanan Melayu berteraskan metafora dan retorik semata-mata mungkin releven waktu awal politik Melayu Moden tetapi setelah lebih setengah abad merdeka, ternyata ia sudah mencapai tahap stagnant. ...Readmore


Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan, usah berpolitik hingga memuakkan rakyat Keadaan sekarang jauh berbeza. Kehidupan seharian kita seolah-olah dikuasai sepenuhnya oleh politik hingga memuakkan. Sebagai contoh, dalam papan iklan mempromosi keindahan alam untuk perlancongan, mengapa perlu dimasukkan gambar PM, TPM dan Menteri berkenaan? ...Readmore


Bar Forum protest: Demonstration only attacks consequential cause, not root cause May I suggest that you, as an exco of PPI (not an MP), engage Majlis Peguam and hold a close-door meeting. Whether we like it or not, the issues that they brought up are valid. We have numerous cases of murtad and body snatching (as they term it) and this need to be resolved. ...Readmore


Zulkifli Nordin PKR MP defends his action at Bar forum disruption And even if the Bar Council couldn't fit all of you in the host's table, it was an OPEN forum. You guys still could have gone in and sat down and gave in your two cents to answer the questions your own way and correct those people the way you think best. ...Readmore


The Bar Council is not and has never been anti any religion There are those who would have us believe that the Malaysian public is not ready for such dialogue. We believe otherwise. We believe that the Malaysian public is ready, simply because Malaysians will not sit by and tolerate the suffering of others without trying to find a solution. ...Readmore


Raja Petra Kamarudin and the new agony aunt of Malaysia today Is there something troubling you? Do you have problem you would like to discuss? Are you undecided about a certain matter and would like an opinion on what to do? Or do you just want to pour out your problems and share it with us. Then write to ‘Dear Pete’ and let us help you. ...Readmore


Is Anwar Ibrahim losing support in Permatang Pauh? Would Permatang Pauh voters set the pace for the possible change of the Malaysian political scenario or would they cave in and choose to die another day with the ‘devil they know’? If ever I had faith in politics, it is to believe that voters are not stupid, only too practical, and sometimes not really for their own good. ...Readmore


Do not make Malaysia a laughing stock of the world, politicians must have morality and ability Dr Ng, as MCA Wanita head, is sending out the wrong message -that ability overrides morality- to the youth of today. Malaysia has become a laughing stock to the rest of the world. Our leaders and public figures are repeatedly in the limelight for the wrong reasons, such as sexual scandals and misappropriation of public funds. ...Readmore


UITM students demonstration: Be fair to all, not some only If none of the above three is in the positive, I move a motion to charge the 5,000-students with the following Acts. For demonstrating publicly without a police permit - charge them for Illegal Assembly under the Penal Code. For shouting slogans that incite racial disharmony - change them under the Sedition Act 1948. ...Readmore


The UiTM debacle “If we can accept foreign students, why should the thinking of extending 10% of intake to non-bumiputra students be seen as an iniquity?” ...Readmore


Hillslope policy and The Sun mischievous heading Rehda Selangor President Dato FD Iskandar gave a power point presentation on various issues faced by developers in Selangor, included hill slope development. The dialogue has also allowed developers to present various other issues that faced by them. When Terence interviewed me, I told him that the developers are not our enemy and we need them to develop the state, that’s why we as go ...Readmore


Banks win, Customers lose Banks in Malaysia are actually no better than a licensed ah long (loan shark)...today, banks are making excessive profits at the expense of their customers...banks are claiming that consumers will benefit and the banks concerned are ‘making less profits’. ...Readmore


Disrupted forum: Who will speak up against the mob? I also cannot comprehend how government officials can in the first instance label the demonstrators seditious and threaten arrest, but in the latter instance threaten the meeting holders (and not the demonstrators) with sedition and arrest. ...Readmore


Do not prevent discussion on laws Preventing discussion is like trying to hide a dead elephant. Of course we see a nice white cloth covering the dead elephant, but you can smell the carcass 10 miles away. If we fail to be able to discuss in a peaceful manner, then we are still far away from being a developed country. ...Readmore


Inflation Woe ...the point is, manipulating the exchange rate can be wrought with many unintended consequences...it is not something policy-makers can handle easily, and I can't see how they are intentionally making the situation worse than it is. The politicians, on the other hand, are making things worse, with power struggle and petty controversies. I wish some of them would just grow up and govern. ...Readmore


Corruption in Umno: Funny Muhyiddin should mention it That's the problem with ministers and political leaders especially from Umno who live in self-denial. Rampant corruption has been happening right under his nose, but Muhyiddin - like other Umno leaders - not only always pretended Umno elections were clean but always looked the other way. ...Readmore


MCA tough talking gets weak response Since 1959, the party has yet to understand why it was not able to win back major support from the Chinese community. Firstly, self-centered interests amongst party leaders have perpetually divided its leadership. From snoop squad to speaking out, the MCA has demonstrated no real strategy to move forward. Only Ong Tee Keat appeared to understand the magnitude of MCA's dilemma ...Readmore


"Babi! Balik China!" a travesty of democracy Score ‘1’ for ‘mob terror’ and ‘0’ for democracy…The participants in the Bar Council’s forum were not participating in an illegal gathering; they were not barred from holding the forum; and unlike the protesters, they were not preventing others from expressing their views, let along spouting hate! ...Readmore


PKR,PAS Pakatan Rakyat (not UMNO or BN) that forced Bar Forum to end prematurely There, leading the protestors that caused the Bar Council organized forum on Saturday (9/8/2008) entitled “Conversion to Islam: Art 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, Subashini; Shamala Revisited” to end prematurely were Pakatan Rakyat leaders, not UMNO ...not the BN. It was led by PKR Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin. ...Readmore


Chedet: Whither Malaysia I wasn't the best of leaders when I was in the hot seat. But I did try my best. If my best is not good enough I am sorry. It is time to speak up and be counted.We must stand together, we the concerned Malaysians, and defend our heritage. ...Readmore


Olympics 2008 opening: The greatest show on earth At US$43bil, it is the most expensive ever Olympics but in cash rich China, the figure is nothing. Let the games begin! See a slideshow of scenes from the Olympics opening and more photos from here. ...Readmore


The DPM speaks! Two statements by the DPM are worth commenting on. The first was about his endorsement of a leadership transition between Rafidah Aziz and Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. The second is about giving voters in Permatang Pauh a choice. ...Readmore


Are the Men Ready for Women Leaders? I think Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen should just take the risk or just leave it. She cannot afford to play safe if she wants to be on the TOP. ...Readmore


Mengundi di Permatang Pauh 26 Ogos Namun ada dua perkara yang mana ianya juga penting tetapi seolah-olah tenggelam, iaitu KULIM BANDAR BARU dan juga SANGLANG, walaupun Kulim Bandar Baru masih lagi belum konfirm tentang ada atau tidak pilihanraya kecil akan tetapi Sanglang sudah pasti sekurang-kurangnya akan ada pilihanraya kecil disitu. ...Readmore


Mother of all bye-elections I don't think the Star is doing BN a favour giving front page to UMNO gathering with a bonus half page picture yelling "Perhimpunan Penyatuan Melayu Pulau Pinang"; while relegating the Anwar gathering to page 10 with a token picture. Not that it will make any difference. ...Readmore


Permatang Pauh by-election But the thing to look forward to is actually to see if Anwar will be arrested or charged. How much more bashing can the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers take on this matter? There is also the possibility of extremely dirty tricks to prevent Anwar from winning in the elections and I don’t mean just vote rigging or bribing.. ...Readmore


MRR2 cracks up again There is this detailed blog posting of Middle Ring Road 2 - Repair to begin? by Risk, Safety & Health. It has listed the first incident since year 2004. Hopefully the following consultants, who were involved from the beginning, in between and thereafter, would be able to highlight the real happenings ...Readmore


The death of Common Sense He is survived by his 4 step brothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim ...Readmore


Pemuda MCA mengarut Tidak ada sesiapa yang mengarahkan MCA supaya jadi lembik bagi mewakili kaum Cina di Malaysia. MCA hari ini mengatakan sikap egois UMNO yang menyebabkan masyarakat Cina menolak MCA dan Gerakan. ...Readmore


Kapar Tamil school without electricity for 3 months This Tamil School also does not have a fencing to start off with, no canteen, white ants eating up their school wood structures and ceiling and the walls are cracking. This is the tip of the iceberg to almost all 523 Tamil Schools in Malaysia. Would you allow this to happen to another Malay Muslim School? ...Readmore


Racial harmony Emotions do things, and they align individuals (including racists) into communities. We are as responsible for what it is we do as well as what it is we don’t do. Hate is a choice and the rakyat, refused the racism game and have channeled that other kind of hate to a common goal which is ‘Ketuanan Rakyat’ and true enough, the ruling coalition was made to suffer. ...Readmore


Return power back to the rakyat By not doing anything, Badawi may have just sped up the democratisation of Malaysia, which in the long-run may be more effective than his doing anything at all. By returning the power of governance to the Rakyat, Badawi will ensure that the next Mahathir to come around will find stiffer opposition in transparent, reformed institutions and vocal critics. ...Readmore


Where are you going to, UMNO? I don’t want to sound ungrateful but I just don’t think it’s fair everytime BN screws up they remind us not to forget who gave us independence. Who can forget if they keep reminding us every other day? If the Republicans in USA does that they will be the laughing stock there. ...Readmore


DPM Najib officiating the official toilet opening "Today is a very meaningful day, because the only new advance toilet in our country is opening, we are becoming the international city." Quote our respectful DPM. ...Readmore


Free Personal Accident (FREE PA) for Rakan Cop Members Offering of free insurance benefits to all rakan cop members nationwide, in collaboration with MCPF and PDRM. ...Readmore


Survey-Jika Pakatan Rakyat membentuk kerajaan Kita hanya ada sebulan setengah sebelum 16 September dan lebih kurang 3-4 tahun sebelum PRU13. Jika diizinkan tuhan pada masa tersebut PR berjaya menakluk Putrajaya akhirnya, 10 soalan survey untuk anda: ...Readmore


Doctor on the run from sodomee medical record? We should not presume that the good doctor was the one who released the report. Legally, release of the same by the doctor or the hospital concerned, in my view, would be wrong and may leave them liable for breaching doctor-patient confidentiality. ...Readmore


A matter of trust They're trying to have it both ways, and while UMNO might be more than happy to play along, DAP isn't having any of it, and I don't blame them. (PKR, on the other hand, is suspiciously silent on this issue. Strategic move or just a lack of spine?) ...Readmore


How The Star twisted news Let me show you how The Star seems to have a tendency to dramatise things to paint a picture they want us to see. I know my readers all mostly Star fans so it is my duty to ‘educate’. ...Readmore


Why has Anwar not been charged? Anwar Ibrahim is entitled to judged by way of a fair trial and not by way of a media frenzy. Get back to governing the country and don’t indulge in so much drama over Anwar. ...Readmore


Will the Real Police force please stand up? Indeed, the cost of incompetence is very high and the time is nigh for the police force to look at itself and do better. The millions of taxpayers's ringgit have been invested into buying new techonologies, cars, etc. , and there is a need to make the best use of the resources that the people have paid for. ...Readmore


Pemimpin Melayu Tidak Cerdik? Nak guna Perdana, Mercedes, hatta nak naik gajah sekali pun, rakyat tak kisah kalau pemimpin boleh selesaikan isu rakyat. Yang membuatkan rakyat menyampah ialah pemimpin politik berlagak nak berjimat, tetapi pada masa yang sama menghabiskan duit dengan meluluskan projek-projek mengarut. ...Readmore


Malay rights, mystical myth The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. Not for my race to be artificially powerful. ...Readmore


Learning ABC and racism I shudder to think of how their current students must be faring. My supportive teachers are no longer there, neither is my biggest tormentor. But many other teachers that allowed this to happen, joined in the prejudice, joined in the neglect, are still there - including the headmistress. ...Readmore


Power is too sweet to let go, I will take it along to my coffin Plenty of choices amongst the many past political personalities’ bid to comeback to MCA at this time. No mention of quality of the rest of the 1 million MCA members though, so far…. ...Readmore


Another day on the farm The Islamists in UMNO (and certainly in PAS) still hold the trump card, so watch what they do and not what they say. There is no spin more damning than the one that says Bumiputra ‘rights’ will not disadvantage other races. ...Readmore


I weep for Malaysia Do not attempt to justify your weakness by pointing fingers at others; instead prove your mettle as a leader by actions compatible with such an acknowledgment...Rest assured that should you do what is right; the rakyat will be with you. But, if you prefer to opt for what is “popular”, than the reverse will surely occur. ...Readmore


Hydrofuel, betulkah jimat? Oleh itu kita dapat jimat RM 72 setahun… alahai… sikitnya. Tapi itu untuk tahun pertama penggunaannya sahaja, tetapi untuk tahun yang seterusnya memang jimat lebih kurang RM 1,228 setahun. ...Readmore


Idealism The Malaysia we have today is ripe for dreaming and harvesting those dreams. A tremendous opportunity awaits those who have ideas and want to execute them... to transform their surroundings into places they can articulate, debate, philosophise and critically examine political structures, theories, practices, and policies together. ...Readmore


MCA, Can you hear us? The Chinese people are watching and MCA must demonstrate that they are able to exert their rights within Barisan National...  they must prove that they are brave and strong enough to confront the wrongs and will unfailingly do their utmost to put the wrongs into right. ...Readmore


Betrayal, forgiveness and politics My contention is that, what message are we trying to send to party members by asking the former MIC leader, who had gone out of his way to tarnish the party image and more importantly image of the president, to sit at the VIP table. ...Readmore


Apakah akhirnya PAS bersama UMNO, BN? Kepada PAS, berhati-hatilah. Aku bukan penyokong PAS tetapi aku menganggap PAS sebagai satu-satunya parti pembangkang yang paling komited untuk memperbaiki negara. Atau lebih tepat PAS telah membuktikan yang mereka sebuah parti yang yang berjaya sebagai pembangkang. Sebagai pemerintah?.. itu aku tak boleh nak jawab. ...Readmore


A big mess The only problem is – do the members realize that this is the time for them to choose how they want UMNO to be? The choice is not only at the top, but at the roots of the tall, strong, tree known as UMNO. ...Readmore


On UMNO party constitution and the Fuel Debate I mean, according to the party constitution, only UMNO division can nominate anyone for anything. Don’t they know the constitution of their own party? Or are those some kind of hint (read instruction) to the UMNO Divisions to do the same. ...Readmore


Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), stop negotiations immediately! The US Government is in transition, even if President Bush signs the Malaysia-US FTA, this does not bind the Congress or any future US president. Each member of Congress could make further demands from Malaysia in order to pass it and Malaysia would not be in a position to make demands in return.  ...Readmore


A repeat of 1998? Anwar arrested today! Arrest warrant for Raja Petra as well! We are having one group the current government and the next one the government in waiting, well sad to say both also behaves like children, we need another stronger group that will protect the Malaysians, irregardless of race, identity or culture. ...Readmore


People’s response after watching Shabery Cheek vs Anwar Ibrahim debate But today, I must congratulate Datuk Shabery Cheek for daring to stand up and defend the government's position against a very well greased politician and debater DS Anwar. I must also congratulate DS Anwar for the great job in the debate. ...Readmore


Road blocking BN’s popularity Hope the Barisan Nasional and the police will learn the "dont's" if they want to reclaim their dented image. See the pictures of “inconvenience” that Syed Hamid was referring to in The Star and The Sun here. ...Readmore


Boh Boh Cha Cha, Ong Ong Chua Chua Blogger fishtail suggested an interesting variant of a popular tongsui for MCA’s upcoming party election… ...Readmore


Is newly elected MP Jeff Ooi throwing in the towel? A blogger is much concerned after reading a post in YB Jeff Ooi’s blog. Is the MP for Penang Jelutong seat Jeff Ooi throwing in the towel after four months? ...Readmore


MCA at crossroads? In 1969 it was confronted with a major crossroad; today in 2008 it has arrived at another, where its decision will be scrutinised by a more discerning community. ...Readmore


An economic agenda to consider Be that as it may, the Malaysian government's approach, whether BN or PR, to economic development and wealth management must be drastically revamped. Here are some possible policy approaches. ...Readmore


Does Sarawak’s future lie with Malaysia? I have my reservations on the suggestion of ‘Sarawak Independence’.  We are fast to blame West Malaysians and Malaysian government on the shortcomings in Sarawak, as the writer put it ‘untold misery and frustration with its poor leadership and poor planning accorded to Sarawak’. ...Readmore


Najib said Chinese will not be left out in 9th Malaysia Plan A blogger finds it hard to believe when Najib said that Chinese will not be left out in strategies to eradicate socio-economic inequalities in the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. ...Readmore


PM Abdullah clips Najib’s wings? The word is, is Najib were to break away from Abdullah and to challenge him, by having Muhyiddin as No.2, some 100 of the 191 Umno divisions would agree with that. As things stand: Abdullah 1, Najib 0. And it's just 3 minutes into the game..... ...Readmore


PAS man dialogue with Catholic Christian Church PAS has never taken a stand against the use of mother tongues, except that there must be a common lingua franca for practical purposes of communication, and this should not be used as a tool of racial chauvinism.  PAS has no problem with Christian processions, e.g. the Stations of the Cross. ...Readmore


38 per cent of households struggling to make ends meet We need to be looking at development policies that truly benefit the people - people-centred development - instead of being so obsessed with the ethnic breakdown of equity ownership and policies that only benefit Big Business. ...Readmore