Malaysia: Transformation Incomplete?

The rakyat can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the Pengkalan Kubor by-election and the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis are finally over. A positive statement from our former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir over the new MB of Selangor, shows that we unanimously want the political fun-fair and telenovela to end. All those theatrics didn’t bring any benefits and hence let us pray that the politicians get back to their actual task of keeping the nation on track, and forward.

Even after all the nauseas politicking, there is no doubt that the nation keeps moving forward.  However, whether it is moving on the right track is something that the people are a little skeptical, even critical about.

Those who sided with the government often defended the actions taken by the current administration and insisted that any arising matters are dealt with efficiently. They even insisted that the abolishment of ISA and the consideration of seeing an end to the Sedition Act as demanded by the oppositions are the right thing to do. Any complaints and opposing opinions against the eradication of these Acts are taken as the voices from extremists, racists and conservatives who are unaware that in the end, the government is just trying to provide better lives to the rakyat.

They believe that this is definitely a step in the right direction as proven by the positive numbers shown in foreign assessment indexs, charts highlighting consistent economic growth, reports showing Malaysia remaining on the top rank of global competitiveness and graphs plotting increase in household income.  

These are evident that the Government Transformation Programme works, so, they tell us.

Unfortunately all those numbers and charts and index or graphs are meaningless to the general population. The government’s actions continue to be questioned.

Unemployment rate is increasing by the day, despite the economic growth.  Jobs offerings, if there are any, are limited to only a few with certain skills.  It is also said that some foreign investment attracted through the Transformation Programme had only caused the bumiputera to lose their share/land.  

The introduction of minimum wage policy didn’t help either as it resulted in an increase in price to our everyday necessities in order for the retailers to keep their margins.

Simply put, the Transformation Programme may technically spelled ‘success’ on papers and beautiful PowerPoints presentations, but the people are practically living its failure.

Today, we see an increase in numbers of Malaysians who can afford a vacation, shopping and even buying properties overseas, but sadly many more is finding it increasingly difficult to get a job, what more buying a house, here. 

As the number of rich people increases, the crime rate increases too and this could only mean one thing; that the economic gap is expanding.   

The hectic economic activities in the metropolitans, the government’s investment overseas has proven to have enriches the already rich, while the medium and low income groups are only given short-term and very basic aids that could never change or improve their lives significantly. 

Should nothing be done to narrow the economic gap soon, the situations will definitely worsen.

Thus from this it is no wonder that the rakyat doubt whether all the reports about the successfulness of the National Transformation Programme presented are true or merely folklores.  If it really is successful, wouldn’t we have felt it already?

Besides the economic issues, the nation is also facing a major issue of losing direction altogether. 

Let’s not talk about the losers or the street demonstrators who are obviously lost and hopeless, but let’s talk about our university graduates who happen to be just as lost. 

Lately, Universities and Colleges seem to be producing hundreds of thousands of graduates with good grades but no intellectuality and no maturity.  Most of them have no idea who they are, where they are going or what life is all about.  Some are so lost that they are not fit for any job - as if getting a job is not hard enough.    

Some are suffering from inferiority complex, while the rest are suffering from superiority complex that instead of being confident, these graduates are arrogant.  They think just because they have the paper qualification then they should not be going through hardship and challenges in their working life.  They are too eager to be recognized, rich and successful but dare not work their hearts and brains out from the bottom. 

When they failed to make it big, fast, they tend to get angry and blame everybody and everything.  These angry young souls are easy target for seditions, easily influenced and readily become racists, extremists, liberals and…corrupt. 

Having a Youth Leader representing the ruling government who is busy working on projecting an image of a publicity-craze, glamour-seeking, party-goer certainly is not going to help our youngsters or graduates to become intelligent and mature. His already tainted reputation for being involved in money-politics only makes things worse.   

Needless to say, Malaysia cannot expect the next generation to be mature and intelligent until we have a mature and intelligent Youth Leader. 

The youths are the pillars of the nation.  A weak pillar means a collapsed nation.   Hence, the issues facing the youths should not be taken lightly but to be treated just as important as the economic issues. 

These two issues are key factors that determine whether or not the nation is on the right track.  As far as we are concerned, Malaysia seems to have derailed from the right path while it is going through the ‘Transformation’ process.  Now, the unending political fun-fairs and telenovelas has ‘transformed’ the nation into a self-destructive monster.

If the current leadership is too concerned over winning the next General Election, then the government must first get the country back on track.  Leave the publicity-seeking and the fighting to the politicians. 

Make the Transformation’s success felt by the people and lead the youths back to reality.   

ISIS: Fighting for Islam by Going Against the Quran?

 The world is shocked by the level of terror demonstrated by ISIS, a group said to be fighting for a Caliphate State of Iraq and Syria.  ISIS is seen beheading people and proudly uploaded the act onto the internet for the world to witness. 

Nobody really knows where, what or who ISIS really is.  The group just appeared out of nowhere and started killing and performing massacres across the land.  It is said that their target not necessarily be the ‘disbelievers’ (kafirs) but the Muslims as well, are being killed for not being in agreement to the ideas promoted by ISIS.  Men, women, children and the elderlies are treated just alike.  The inhumanity of ISIS is just unreal and unbelievable.

When no one knows where ISIS came from or who they are, the Americans always ‘have the answer’.  They even have a website to help us ‘get-to-know’ ISIS better.  Here’s what they tell us about ISIS:

1.      ISIS used to be al-Qaeda in Iraq

2.      ISIS wants to establish a caliphate state

3.      The conflict betweeen Iraqi Sunnis and Shias sustains ISIS

4.      Iraq’s former Prime Minister made the ISIS problem worse

5.      ISIS has a really important base in Syria

6.      ISIS funds itself through oil and an extortion racket

7.      The global oil market was spooked by ISIS' initial advance

8.      The conflict has been a boon to Iraq's Kurds — but that may have changed

9.      ISIS isn’t the only anti-government rebel group

10.  ISIS has made significant territorial gains in Iraq

11.  The Iraqi army is much stronger than ISIS, but it’s also kind of a mess

12.  Iran is fighting on the Iraqi government’s side

13.  The US and Iran have talked about Iraq

14.  The US has launched a campaign to destroy ISIS

15.  Some Americans blame Obama for this

16.  Iraq's Sunnis and minorities will probably suffer the most

17.  ISIS captured and executed James Foley and Steven Sotloff, two American journalists

Since many believe that Al-Qaeda is nothing more but a US’s hand in the oil barrels, then what does that make ISIS?  

Al-Qaeda is blamed for 9/11 but today the story has been debunked again and again by architectural experts, building demolition experts and also thermite-explosive experts.   The evidence is overwhelming that only those below 8 years old would still believe that the World Trade Center collapsed because it was hit by a plane. 

9/11 managed to raise the anger and hatred towards the Muslims and Islam only for so long and now as skeptical sets in, the sympathy and support is increasing by the double for the Muslims, as evident in the recent Gaza crisis.  More and more people are standing up for the Palestines and Muslims.  More and more people are voicing out against the Zionists and the US. 

ISIS appeared just in time to erase the sympathy and the supports towards the Muslims.  ISIS is here to ensure that the terrorist image that has been painted and carved on the Muslims and Islam, stays on.  ISIS provides the reason for the U.S to keep the war going, to tear the Arab world to pieces, to go in and own everything that is in and on the Arabs’ soil. 

In order to do so, ISIS needs to display Islamic image and cry out Islamic slogan as loud and as clear as possible and at the same time needs to be as ruthless and as brutal as possible that the world would reject Islam, fear and hate the Muslims once and forever.  The U.S, on the other hand will be portrayed as the hero who saves the Arabs from their own kind.  It only makes sense that ISIS is working for or with the U.S. 

Anyone with a perfectly functional brain would be able to read the tactics all so easily. 

This is not about whether all the killings are real or only some of them are real.   This is about the Muslims not having their brains working the way it should be.  Obviously, the Muslims don’t even stop to think about what is real or what is true and just anymore. 

Just because ISIS wear beards and speak of Caliphate State, all the brutality and ruthlessness of their acts must be justified.   Never mind that they are killing innocents lives, as long as they admit to doing everything for Allah, then they may rape a woman if they want to, for it would be okay for the Muslims.  Just because ISIS carries a flag that carries Arabic words, the Muslims in Malaysia are all eager to join them as ‘jihadists’.

ISIS is now talking about banning Mathematics and Science in the Caliphate State that they are going to establish.  Frighteningly, we have been hearing the same calls from some of the religious scholars in Malaysia.  Just because these Ustazs did not pass these subjects in SPM, they want to ensure that everybody else will become as dumb as they are. 

I believe that this call to reject Mathematics and Science is designed specifically to ensure that the Muslims stay dumb forever.  What I cannot believe is that the Muslims actually buy all these craps.

It is clear that the Muslims don’t even know what the Quran is all about or they would have understood this very basic and first thing about Islam – that Allah, created the world using beautiful mathematics starting from the first ‘big bang’ and beyond. 

It is stated very clearly in the Quran that everything is made and is moving in exact rate and distance and not one particle is out of place.  Everything is made in orderly calculation to enable the universe and the creatures to function as they are supposed to.  If these are not a call to study mathematics then what are they?

I don’t know when the Muslims will ever understand what the Quran is telling them - that the whole idea about living and existence revolves around mathematics and science and that Islam is about using all these knowledge to become a good person and get our lives in order.  

Ever since the end of the golden age of Islam, the Muslims have been dedicating their lives to calculate sins and rewards in the afterworld that they have no time to seek knowledge even though they have all the time to read the Quran.  

The Muslims is at the lowest now than ever before when they cannot tell right from wrong anymore and accept brutality as a part of Islam. 

The Muslims are distancing themselves farther and farther away from Islam to the extend that it is only right to say that they have, in fact, rejected the Quran altogether! 

A Step Further Down the Drain?

Blogger OutSyed the Box has this to say:

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Najib Stop ! ! ! Detroit City Has Been Abandoned ! ! ! Dont Invest RM640.0 Million.

Folks, Jamaluddin Jarjis was seen at 2 am at the airport this morning leaving for New York. Tomorrow 19th September 2014 the PM is going to sign away RM640 million of Tabung Haji money to an American company called Dusable to invest in real estate developmet in Detroit.

Thanks to a commenter who sent me some info on Detroit. The city has collapsed. Here are some You Tube videos of the collapse of Detroit.

From 2.0 million people, Deroit now has only 700,000 population. Skyscrapers have been empty for 10 years now. You can buy a house in Detroit for US$100  (RM320). 

And our Clueless Prime Minister wants to invest RM640.0 million in this bankrupt city. Please watch the videos.

Prime Minister's advisors, tell your Clueless boss to stop the signing ceremony tomorrow. You still have time to save RM640.0 million. If you have to return the shopping vouchers, please do so. Tabung Haji depositors' money and the country's image are more important.

******

He had also posted videos as proof to what he is saying.  

You can go to (http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/2014/09/najib-stop-detroit-city-has-been.html) to watch them. 

I'm not going to comment, criticize, advice or condemn because I don't see the use of it.  For all I know, it is too late.   

I'm sure there will be explaination to this. So, let's just wait for it.     

The Confused ‘Moderates’

I was driving to the office a day before yesterday when I heard Marina Mahathir on the radio calling the people to be brave and stand up against the ‘bullying politicians’.   She then said something about not allowing the minority to dictate the majority on how to live.  I cannot recall her exact words but I think I did get what she means.

If I was right, then I don’t know how Marina defines ‘majority’ and ‘minority’ because as far as everybody knows, Marina has always been on the side of the minority – the non-Malays, the Oppositions, the LGBTs, or the Christians.  

Marina must be delusional if she really referred to her small group of friends who branded themselves as ‘moderates’ as the ‘majority’.  However, she could be right for saying that her minority groups are trying to dictate the majority on how to live our lives. 

Malaysia has always been known as a ‘Moderate Muslim country’ and being a ‘Moderate Muslim Country’ would of course mean being moderate as according to Islamic values, and not against it.  

When the government decided to rebrand Malaysia with the same brand of moderation, people become confused, while some quarters take advantage of the confusion to promote their own brand of ‘moderate’. 

The Arab-wannabe Malaysians defined ‘moderate’ as covering the hair (for women) and live strictly as according to their version of Islamic values – no partying but only go religious talks and preaches and read only religious books.  The women live to dedicate themselves to the husbands and the men live to dedicate themselves to judge women.     

For the Mat-Salleh wannabe Malaysians (the Marina’s group), being moderate means disregarding all the Islamic values – meaning, you may consume alcohol, you may practice free sex, unnatural sex and wear anything you like and convert if you wish.  Anything Islamic is taken as ‘extreme’ and anything against Islam is approved as ‘moderate’. 

The two groups now claimed to be promoting the right concept of ‘moderate’ and try to force their ‘moderate’ values on others.   The competition between them has turned the society upside down.   

The Mat-Salleh wannabe moderates have more advantage in this competition since they represent the higher-income groups of Malaysians.  They are mostly lawyers who like to gather around high-end places like Bangsar where they drink and chat without a care in the world about what the majority of Malaysians in the kampongs have to go through.  

They even ‘own’ a newspaper - The Star, which has been their official voice lately.  They can afford to set up NGOs – several NGOs, in their effort to show the numbers.  Marina Mahathir’s statement in the radio could be a proof of their delusions of having the numbers and represents the majority.    

The Arab-wannabe moderates are represented by the ordinary Malaysians who don’t have the luxury of time and money to set up NGOs or spend time clubbing in Bangsar.  Despite being on the disadvantage in the competition, they indeed represent the majority in terms of their definition on moderation.

Although they are the majority, they are divided into two in the last election –  UMNO (BN) and PAS (PR). 

What the Mat-Salleh wannabe moderates failed to understand is that these Arab-wannabes who voted for PR did not vote for PR because they agree with the other version of ‘moderate’.   

In fact, they voted for PR because they believe that PAS will be able to change Malaysia to suit their definition of ‘moderate’.  Bear in mind that most of them have high regards over the extremists in the Middle East, including ISIS and that the only reason they are in PR is because they believe that UMNO is too liberal, secular and un-Islamic, thus defy their version of ‘moderate’ and must be rejected.

Whereas the Mat Salleh wannabes like Marina and friends tend to lend their supports for PR for totally opposite reasons. 

In actual fact, what we have here is two extremist groups of contradicting values who thought that they can work together just because they are fighting the same enemy – BN.  What they failed to see or refused to admit is that the real moderates who has shaped Malaysia into becoming a respectable moderate Muslim country from the very beginning is BN itself.  

So, let’s face it:  BN is a moderate party and Malaysia is already a moderate country and trying to make it more moderate in any way, would be extreme.   

Wan Azizah: A Tragedy of a Woman?

Malaysian Insider today quoted Anwar questioning PAS, “Are you not ready to accept a woman leader?”  Ahah… I just need to say something as soon as I read that, and here it is:

I have no rights to answer on behalf of PAS but I do think this is quite an interesting topic to discuss because I do hear that UMNO too, make a fuss about having a female MB. 

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with being led by a woman.  I had a female boss before, not very pretty though, but certainly very articulate and smart and she deserved all the respect from me. 

I think some of you might already know that I have been doing a little studying on Islam so I do know that Muhammad’s wife, Siti Khadijah was a great leader.  She was a businesswoman - a very successful and respectable one.  She couldn’t be one, if she was not a great leader.  I also know that the Prophet did seek advices from her, asked for her opinions and discussed matters with her.  He wouldn’t do so if she was not a woman with great leadership skills. 

So I take it that a woman may not lead the prayers in Islam, but she can lead or rule as well as men should she had the right quality. 

Other wives of the Prophet were also politically active. Umm Salamah was instrumental in advising the Prophet during the crisis of Hudaibiyah. Her advice prevented disunity and prevailed over the advice of other men including Omar ibn Al-Khattab.  

And Aisha was a rich source of religious knowledge and the first Muslim woman to lead men into battle in Basra (656).  

If women were not meant to be leaders, why are some of the Prophet’s wives so politically inspiring?

Do you know that one of the earliest Muslim woman actually hold a governmental position was probably Al-Shafa bint Abdullah ibn Abd Shams whom the second Caliph appointed Manager of the market at Madinah. She supervised men and women and had authority over both.

I believe that Islam is not a chauvinistic religion; it never was and never should be.  The Malays in UMNO or PAS who take it otherwise must have read a different Quran. 

However, to compare Selangor and Madinah would be the most ridiculous thing, and to compare Wan Azizah to any of the Prophet’s wife is, of course, unspeakably insulting. 

So, let’s just go straight to the point that the problem with Wan Azizah is not her gender, and I think even Anwar knows that. 

The problem with Wan Azizah is her inability to lead.  She has failed the party, her constitution and herself for she couldn’t even become a stay-at-home grandmother like she said she wanted. 

She is always being led, forced and pressured to do something, anything and everything to keep her husband in power.   She is never a leader, neither a follower.  She is merely a slave to Anwar Ibrahim.

Again, the situation in Selangor is not a gender-related-crisis - or at least, I hope so.  I refuse to believe that Malaysians are that shallow.  I believe that should Wan Azizah proved to be a better leader, then people, even PAS supporters will have problems saying ‘no’ to her as MB regardless of her gender. 

We have seen many capable female leaders – Muslims and non-Muslims.  Some are far more capable than men.  However, one thing many men don’t know is that women usually prefer to lay low and let the men do the show.  Oh yeah, trust me. 

You know why?  Because women don’t have that much ego, thus makes them much wiser.  They don’t need the limelight or the bragging.  All they need is for the things to go their way or the right way. 

For that, these wise women know that they don’t even have to be in front to lead. Instead, they just whisper the directions from the passenger’s seat. 

Too bad that this is not the case for Wan Azizah for she is being pushed to the front seat and expected to drive with grace while her hands and legs all tied up to the back.  She is dragged over to the stage like a ventriloquist’s puppet.  She has no voice of her own and no hands or leg to walk-off. 

I must admit that I feel sorry for her.  I’m surprised that even her daughter puts power first, before her mother.  I mean, we all can see how uncomfortable Wan Azizah is when on stage, in parliament, in front of the lights and cameras and microphones.  She looks tense and confused.  

Therefore, I must say that if there is anyone who does not have any respect towards women, it is Anwar Ibrahim for he does not seem to even respect his own wife.   

My point here is that, women are humans too, just like men.  Some of us are great leaders, some of us even suck at driving.  So, respect women just like how we want them to respect us.  In fact, they deserve more respect from us, as they are, in fact, our mothers. 

Isn’t this what Islam taught you?    

Which Side is the Other Side?

We can all share information with enemies based on trust....   

and..we can abolish General Election altogether and live happily ever after!

Why Did the People Vote for BN?

The Tun has spoken and nothing he said is new. Among the Tun’s concerns are: 

1.  The need for Internal Security Act and Sedition Act, 

2.  Over-favouring the neighbor (Singapore) at the expense of our own interest. 

3.  BR1M that is burdening the country financially but doesn’t help the people much

4.  The minimum wages and etc…     

The other Tun, (Tun Daim) had said something similar to the Tun some time ago.  There were also Tun Hamid, Tan Sri Kadir Jasin, and every dolah and minah in the country, who have been saying the same thing in the kedai mamaks and during coffee breaks in the pantries.   Every Chongs and Muthus and Minachis once said the same too, but that was before GE-13. 

When GE-13 was approaching, however, the Chongs, Lims and Muthus and Minachis changed their minds as they sensed that there is quite an advantage for them, if the government stays the way it is.  This makes sense as Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “never interrupt the enemies when they are doing something wrong”. 

They realized that the more they resist BN, the more opportunities opened for them in terms of positions in GLCs, even platforms to influence decisions on government policies, to suit their greed.    And so, they voted against BN.  Much to their frustration, as much as they stand united to make the final, permanent change in the country, they failed to make it to Putrajaya. 

Even though they failed, it seems that the Chongs and the Lims have made up their minds and will never turn back to BN.  They like the way they are being treated.  Today, they can say anything they like and demonstrate how they hate the Malays so much and they can even make fun of Islam, and no action will be taken against them.   The Malays cannot retaliate for fear that UMNO will be blamed for being racist. 

Their only bargain for unity is to abolish Malay rights.  Until then, the racial provocation will continue.  And so, the government tries to make up to them through other means, like giving them more allocation for vernacular schools to breed more racists. At least, this is how it is perceived by the people. 

Like Vernacular school isn’t damaging enough, there is a new school in town, the DAP’s School of Democracy: 

This school is meant to recruit more stupid Malay youngsters to be DAP members.  Even though DAP is far from smart for they cannot even count up to 2,000 but they are smart enough to use smart ways to lure stupid Malays and make the stupid Malays think that they are smart. 

UMNO, on the other hand, uses this guy, as a mean to gain support among the youngsters: 

Germany won the World Cup because they have a team, and Brazil lost it because they have only Neymar.  Well at least, that one player is an excellent player with great record to boast for.  UMNO Youth however, is counting on a guy with nothing to offer but his ‘celebrity personality’. 

This type of mentality is what adds to the people’s worry.   By thinking that the Malay youngsters will support UMNO just because the Youth Chief is ‘hensem’, shows that UMNO does not think much of them.  UMNO doesn’t even take them seriously, even think that they are cheap fools and is determined to keep them that way. 

Please be informed that the youngsters are not all stupid or else DAP/PR would have won the last election.   Some youngsters might go crazy over a hunk or melt over some hot models on the runways but most of them know better than to vote the hunk or the glamorous chicks as their leaders.  They might not be able to fight the temptation to read ‘sticky’ stories served by the political portals, and they might also be total scumbags.  But even scumbags will not vote a party-goer, publicity-crazy, self-centered person to be their leaders.

What I’m trying to say is that DAP may be stupid but at least they know how to camouflage their stupidity.  While UMNO is proud to parade its stupidity on the runway. 

We are still passing through the era of technology and already entered the era of information.  By right, we should have mastered technology in order to do well in the era of information.  Failing to do so, lands us into the era of ‘consultants’.   That was how BN first lost the support in 2008 - because the people had the perception that the leadership was being subbed to consultants and one young celebrity.  

In order to regain the support, UMNO has to undo all the wrong perceptions.  

The perception now is that UMNO has not undone anything even after the GE-13’s shocking slap on the face.

We all want BN to survive and if possible, under the same PM.  We don’t want any changes in leadership and the Tuns are saying the same too.  Therefore, the best way to make this happen is to work together.   Brushing off the Tun will not work, not because of his natural influence, but because the wrongs have not been made right.  

You may kill the Tun and stomp on his grave, but you cannot kill the truth. 

When you barely win the election, when the team did its worst in the recent commonwealth game, when youngsters keep flocking into DAP,  then something must be wrong with some of the strategies.    The only option in such situation is to acknowledge the wrongs and corrects it, not insists that things are fine. 

BN has been known to be graceful, diplomatic and professional.  This is how the party managed to win in every election, because people see BN as a wise, serious, no-nonsense political party.  Unlike BN, PR portrays itself as the party of the young, full of fun and high in spirit, ready for change. 

Fun and high spirits only last for so long while serious, no-nonsense work gains trust, respect and hope that last forever.  And change is only good if its for the the better.

So, there is really no need for UMNO to try to copy PR and look fun and glamorous.  All it need is to be its old self – wise and certain.  UMNO needs to look smart as in the brain, not smart as in the dress.  UMNO can do that by first, answer the Tun with facts and figures and not try to defend the PM because the PM is perfectly able to defend himself. 

Sometimes, I wonder whether those ministers who came out to defend the PM are really defending the PM or just trying to make the PM look helpless and weak. 

Perhaps, the PM should start taking a closer look at them.  Perhaps, that’s what the Tun wants the PM to see.