It would take great statemanship but it is still possible to allow a peaceful march for Malaysians.
The police are well prepared and well-equipped to uphold the laws; whether it is for crowd control or rabble rousers and with so many deployed according to this malaysiakini report I am confident they can still save the situation for the PM.
There is no doubt that the authorities can suppress and disperse all the protesters but if one analyses the situation carefully and thoughtfully, it may result in the conclusion of "Winning the Battle but Losing the War" for the authorities.
I am sure there are still some people in authority who know this in their own hearts. As happened elsewhere in the world, once the general population decides that a system needs change, no amount of force can resist that change for it is only a question of time.
The situation can still be saved if the police grant the permit and then deploy their forces to escort the marches in a peaceful and orderly manner.
Otherwise there will be mayhem on the streets and surely no one wants that. It would be a LOSE-LOSE situation.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
I Think Malaysians Can be Weaned from the Government
malaysiakini has this article headlined "Gov’t to wean M’sians from subsidies" but I prefer my own heading.
Saturday will see a major clash between the police and the Bersih marchers who want to present a petition to the Agong for a freer and fairer Election Commission that has publicly declared they are really dependent on the government to operate.
It is common knowledge that polls are not really truly fair as an urban voter is under-represented compared to a rural voter and the voting conditions of the armed forces and the police remain shrouded in mystery.
The inaction with respect to the "scandalous judge" also shows the authorities prefer the problem evaporates with the retirement of the Chief Justice.
The third argument for electoral reforms could be the lack of local elections that should be the testing ground for potential candidates and a basic practice of a democracy.
These must be serious problems for the ordinary folks who have taken the trouble to spend the week-end travelling to Kuala Lumpur to try to present a petition to their king.
Yes I think it is possible to wean Malaysians from the subsidies and we should consider the next step and that is to wean Malaysians from their government. Only after the weaning will the nation truly progress.
Saturday will see a major clash between the police and the Bersih marchers who want to present a petition to the Agong for a freer and fairer Election Commission that has publicly declared they are really dependent on the government to operate.
It is common knowledge that polls are not really truly fair as an urban voter is under-represented compared to a rural voter and the voting conditions of the armed forces and the police remain shrouded in mystery.
The inaction with respect to the "scandalous judge" also shows the authorities prefer the problem evaporates with the retirement of the Chief Justice.
The third argument for electoral reforms could be the lack of local elections that should be the testing ground for potential candidates and a basic practice of a democracy.
These must be serious problems for the ordinary folks who have taken the trouble to spend the week-end travelling to Kuala Lumpur to try to present a petition to their king.
Yes I think it is possible to wean Malaysians from the subsidies and we should consider the next step and that is to wean Malaysians from their government. Only after the weaning will the nation truly progress.
Friday, November 9, 2007
My TWO Sen Worth on the Use of English
There is an interesting letter in malaysiakini on the use of English so today I would like to share my own experience on the use of English.
As readers will know I am a bit of a dinosaur of the old school system and completed my Sixth Form in 1966. At the time, English was the medium of instruction and Bahasa Melayu was a compulsory subject that you had to pass in order to get the SPM.
I failed that paper - maybe my essay was too political; I wrote about the follies of the Indonesian leader at the time. But that is another story.
I went to the UK on a company scholarship - that was a major milestone as my family was so poor I did not bother to apply for the local Us as I did not get any other scholarship like Colombo Plan or from the government.
When I was in the UK, my coursemates were all Brits and there were eight of us in the class. I used to point out their mistakes in English; especially spelling and grammatical errors. At first they were quite upset and had the superior attitude of "Who are you to tell us what is correct?"
But I persisted and challenged them to check the dictionary etc. After a few rounds of correcting they stopped arguing and would instead ask me if there was some doubt.
During my school days I had wonderful teachers especially the Christian Brothers like Bros. Paul, Casimir and Vincent. As a Eurasian, English is my mother tongue and years of studying in the English medium enabled me to correct my classmates in the UK.
So it is sad to read that the Education Ministry has now allowed students the option to answer the Maths and Science papers in their preferred language; either in English or BM.
It shows that the decision to re-introduce English was not properly considered and the 5-year plan is now in shambles.
What is the latest plan of the Education Ministry? How are the children in Primary One coping? How capable are the teachers?
Changing the medium of instruction is not like making instant coffee. Just like the time when BM was switched in the 70s, the use of English also needs a proper groundwork or we end up with tens of thousands of suffering students, harrassed teachers and accusing parents.
There is much serious work to be done and no amount of keris-waving will get this job done properly without a good plan.
As readers will know I am a bit of a dinosaur of the old school system and completed my Sixth Form in 1966. At the time, English was the medium of instruction and Bahasa Melayu was a compulsory subject that you had to pass in order to get the SPM.
I failed that paper - maybe my essay was too political; I wrote about the follies of the Indonesian leader at the time. But that is another story.
I went to the UK on a company scholarship - that was a major milestone as my family was so poor I did not bother to apply for the local Us as I did not get any other scholarship like Colombo Plan or from the government.
When I was in the UK, my coursemates were all Brits and there were eight of us in the class. I used to point out their mistakes in English; especially spelling and grammatical errors. At first they were quite upset and had the superior attitude of "Who are you to tell us what is correct?"
But I persisted and challenged them to check the dictionary etc. After a few rounds of correcting they stopped arguing and would instead ask me if there was some doubt.
During my school days I had wonderful teachers especially the Christian Brothers like Bros. Paul, Casimir and Vincent. As a Eurasian, English is my mother tongue and years of studying in the English medium enabled me to correct my classmates in the UK.
So it is sad to read that the Education Ministry has now allowed students the option to answer the Maths and Science papers in their preferred language; either in English or BM.
It shows that the decision to re-introduce English was not properly considered and the 5-year plan is now in shambles.
What is the latest plan of the Education Ministry? How are the children in Primary One coping? How capable are the teachers?
Changing the medium of instruction is not like making instant coffee. Just like the time when BM was switched in the 70s, the use of English also needs a proper groundwork or we end up with tens of thousands of suffering students, harrassed teachers and accusing parents.
There is much serious work to be done and no amount of keris-waving will get this job done properly without a good plan.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
We Didn't Miss Much, Really..
This article in malaysiakini laments the fact that there were no newspapers in Malaysia on account of the Deepavali holiday.
So Indian newpaper vendors are being targetted as they control the supply chain. The article also suggests that "the Malays are often at the bottom of the supply chain."
I am sure that many readers will argue that Malays are always at the top of the supply chain; getting lucrative contracts that are then subcontracted to others to do the hard work.
And those newspapermen would be glad to get more profitable work to do; like being employed in the civil service.
As for farmers being poor, it is really how they manage the farms and apply themselves. No one can deny the major success of FELDA, many members there became millionaires after working the land after 20 years.
Going back to the top of the supply chain, instead of granting individuals taxi licences therby encouraging the poor to become independent, the permits were granted to a few connected companies and all the drivers became a form of cheap labour.
As for the PM's speech, it is still being delivered in a racist setting - there has been some toning down but all these years the message is still the same.
No Siree we really did not miss much and it is good those newspaper vendors took time out for their family and friends.
So Indian newpaper vendors are being targetted as they control the supply chain. The article also suggests that "the Malays are often at the bottom of the supply chain."
I am sure that many readers will argue that Malays are always at the top of the supply chain; getting lucrative contracts that are then subcontracted to others to do the hard work.
And those newspapermen would be glad to get more profitable work to do; like being employed in the civil service.
As for farmers being poor, it is really how they manage the farms and apply themselves. No one can deny the major success of FELDA, many members there became millionaires after working the land after 20 years.
Going back to the top of the supply chain, instead of granting individuals taxi licences therby encouraging the poor to become independent, the permits were granted to a few connected companies and all the drivers became a form of cheap labour.
As for the PM's speech, it is still being delivered in a racist setting - there has been some toning down but all these years the message is still the same.
No Siree we really did not miss much and it is good those newspaper vendors took time out for their family and friends.
Happy Deepavali!
Maybe it is good that the UMNO meeting is being held during the festival of lights.malaysiakini has an article explaining why the meeting had to take place during this major Hindu celebration.
We certainly need leaders who are enlightened to lead the nation forward. Maybe the light will shine on some on them this year.
Photo: Thanks to http://shutterbug.nu/photos/misc_lakshmipuja.jpg
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Going GLOCAL?? They Should Ban this Word....
Already we suffer from a poor English language syndrome in the schools; with many teachers being unable to teach the language properly.
Those who come from the old school system where English was the medium of instruction will know what I am talking about.
Instead of using simple terms that we can understand, the DPM has the habit of this term "glocal" that is quite mystifying.
It is supposed to mean that you think globally and act locally.
There is an interesting read here from malaysiakini.
Presumably the space tourist or astronaut from Malaysia is a example of a "glocal" Malaysian.
How about those who get crony contracts locally and then arrange to collect illegal payments overseas?
But surely we do have this type of Malaysians aplenty?
I have just one simple solution to creating more Malays who will be proud of their own successes. Get rid of the subsidy mentality induced by 37 years of NEP brainwashing and the Malays will become a proud race.
How can they attain greater success or self-esteem if they get put down all the time by their own leaders?
Those who come from the old school system where English was the medium of instruction will know what I am talking about.
Instead of using simple terms that we can understand, the DPM has the habit of this term "glocal" that is quite mystifying.
It is supposed to mean that you think globally and act locally.
There is an interesting read here from malaysiakini.
Presumably the space tourist or astronaut from Malaysia is a example of a "glocal" Malaysian.
How about those who get crony contracts locally and then arrange to collect illegal payments overseas?
But surely we do have this type of Malaysians aplenty?
I have just one simple solution to creating more Malays who will be proud of their own successes. Get rid of the subsidy mentality induced by 37 years of NEP brainwashing and the Malays will become a proud race.
How can they attain greater success or self-esteem if they get put down all the time by their own leaders?
Another NEP Justification?
(click2 on picture to see details)
Looks as if the goal-posts are being shifted again.
What an inappropriate point to justify more NEP - this time from the PM himself as reported in malaysiakini.
He declared that "Although it has been 37 years since the introduction of the NEP, we have not made Malays rich by seizing the wealth of the non-Malays.
"The list of the richest individuals in Malaysia is still led by non-Malays,” he said in opening the annual Umno meet in Kuala Lumpur today.
If we read between the lines, it seems the NEP must continue untill the list is not led by non-Malays.
I always thought that the NEP was a poverty eradication program and not a Who's Who Ladder of the Rich and Famous.
The solution to the Maths Question =
{sum of (P times Annual Budget) for N years}/(sum of C) for N years
where P = percentage of annual budget allocated
N = number of years of the NEP
C = number of cronies for each year.
How many billions do you estimate the nation has lost due to the greed of the rich and powerful?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
