Author Archives: wcw

A disease not to be sneezed at

I FLEW into Shenzen yesterday, just as the second Malaysian case of A (H1N1) flu was confirmed in Penang. It was the first flight from Malaysia into Shenzen.

We arrived at Shenzen on AK80 at 10.40am but were not allowed to leave the aircraft. Three health officers wearing facial masks came aboard 30 minutes later.

They videotaped every one of the more than 100 passengers, some of whom were already wearing masks, and used an instrument to take our temperatures.

We were all cleared at about 11.25am, allowed to get off the plane and board a bus to the airport building. But when we got there, we were not allowed to leave the bus.

Ten officials made us queue up in three rows for another round of checks before we got to the immigration counters where masked officers were overheard talking about Malaysian cases. All in all, it took us two hours to come out of the airport.

For Malaysians, the H1N1 has finally hit home. But with global travel now becoming easier, faster and cheaper, it was only a matter of time.

While there is bound to be a certain degree of anxiety over the flu, now that we have our own cases – both students who had just returned from the US recently – it is unlikely to stop us from travelling overseas.

We are in an era of mass human migration and transportation, says a scientist. Never in history have diseases spread geographically with such speed.

Travel has become a necessity and the world is not going to come to standstill because of this flu.

Travellers undeterred

In any case, 13,000 died from common cold worldwide in 2007. That’s many, many more than the number of H1N1 fatalities.

Extensive coverage of the H1N1 outbreak might have dampened the mood and added to the woes of airline operators, but it has helped create greater awareness and knowledge than fear.

Education and prevention are vital to cope with this strain of flu, which has hit 37 nations.

Two other students who were on the same flight as the two confirmed H1N1 patients are currently under observation.

They were among the passengers who boarded the same flight from Newark, New Jersey, who had been advised to undergo medical checks. It is good that no one is taking any chances.

In addition to dealing with H1N1, our Health Ministry has also been put under more stress with the outbreak of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease, at the Juru detention camp for immigrants in Penang.

Following the death of a Myanmar detainee, 26 others have been admitted into two hospitals for treatment. They have been suspected of consuming water contaminated with the urine of an animal. There is reason to be concerned because it is a rare disease.

The lack of hygienic conditions in the over-crowded camp could be a possible cause for the outbreak, but it is worrying that Malaysia is facing the return of diseases eliminated decades ago.

Migrant workers are bringing in infectious diseases despite the medical checks supposedly carried out on them before they enter the country, never mind the illegal immigrants who would have no medical records for sure.

Foreign exposure

It would not be wrong to say that Malaysia is facing the emergence and re-emergence of diseases because of these foreigners.

For example, tuberculosis and leprosy have been detected among immigrants, especially in Sabah, although we successfully wiped out these diseases long ago.

Health authorities have no other choice but to incorporate prevention programmes resulting in additional financial and manpower strains.

It has been reported that in 2004, 2.8% of the nearly one million foreign workers examined nationwide were found to be unfit.

Half were found to be suffering from hepatitis, 12.3% from tuberculosis, 8.4% from sexually transmitted diseases and 1.3% from HIV.

In 2000, it was reported that the increase in the number of TB patients in Malaysia was due to an increase in the number of HIV/AIDS patients and immigrants, according to a paper presented at the Third National Conference On Infection and Infection Control.

I wonder what the latest figures will show and I certainly hope there is improvement.

Malaysians have never heard of Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus, until recently. The last outbreak of this disease, endemic among migrant workers, was seven years ago but it has made a comeback.

There is always a price for everything and as the world becomes smaller, a sneeze can always lead on to something bigger.

Divisive politics taking shape

ON THE BEAT

By WONG CHUN WAI

THERE’s no middle ground left in Malaysian politics – that’s how divisive politics have torn the people apart.

You are either with the Barisan Nasional or the Pakatan Rakyat: there’s no room for those who want to choose the middle ground.

You are either left suffering from political fatigue as a result of this endless round of politicking since the March 8 general election, or you just want to have more fights with more by-elections.

By-elections used to be held because the elected representatives passed away but now it is forced – in the name of democracy.

Defections, which should be condemned if one is genuinely principled, are now treated differently.

The planned Sept 16 massive defection exercise was perfectly acceptable and anticipated with glee by some sections of Malaysians, even when a democratic government had been elected.

But when a few Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen declared themselves independents, resulting in the collapse of the Perak state government, a different set of moral rules was applied.

Political circus

Never mind that the whole political circus we saw last week started with a Barisan Nasional assemblyman who crossed over to Pakatan, was welcomed ceremoniously, but before you could even remember his name, he was back in the Barisan.

Worse, can we still remember that two of the independents were charged with corruption? Before they jumped ship, his PR colleagues had claimed they were framed by the Government but the minute they quit, they were branded as opportunists.

In fact, last week, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa told the press that PAS was wooing a Barisan assemblyman in Kelantan. We don’t recall Husam being criticised by anyone, particularly those who see themselves as righteous political leaders.

Even as we call for fresh elections in Perak, we have not heard any politician say we should enact an anti-hopping law first. What is there to prevent another round of defections after the elections?

In short, your political integrity now depends on which colour you are wearing. In the case of last week’s fiasco, black was the wrong colour as far as the police was concerned.

Peaceful protesters wearing black T-shirts were reportedly hauled up at a coffee shop. Five lawyers, who probably wore black suits, were arrested at the Brickfields police station when they turned up to defend their clients for allegedly taking part in an illegal gathering.

It was a classic case of over-reacting and the result was the police ending up with a black eye as far as public image was concerned. The Government was blamed for this, the result of some over-reactive police officers’ actions.

Transparency has also become the most abused word. The Government deserves its share of criticism for the lack of transparency, particularly in awarding massively expensive projects.

Direct negotiations seem to be the preferred method instead of open tenders, where the information should be put online for everyone to scrutinise.

The lack of proper information and denial of access to information fuel speculations and even rumours, resulting in bloggers earning more credibility than journalists. Malaysians are seeking more information because they want to know more about what’s happening in the country and, as stakeholders in the country’s future, they ought to.

Democracy does not merely mean voting in an election every five years. We have a right to have a say in how government and the relevant institutions function. That’s how democracy works.

But transparency seems to mean different things to different people. Some politicians can still talk about transparency and credibility despite having a record of making “expose” which never took place.

One Member of Parliament produced an amateurish doctored picture with outlandish claims, attempted to pass off the picture as the real thing but seems to have been quickly forgiven. He is still talking of transparency and is perceived to be a hero in some circles.

Intelligent debate needed

Consistency is lacking in Malaysian politics, with principles giving way to political ambitions and expediency. There are not many leaders like Karpal Singh, who are prepared to speak up even if it means incurring the wrath of his colleagues.

He has become the lone voice in the opposition when it comes to the topics of Islamic state and party defections. This is both sad and dangerous.

In the blogosphere, many still cannot debate intelligently or remain focused, preferring to pick an argument over a simple word or sentence of the blogger and ignoring the context of the entire blog.

Name-calling, mudslinging and condemnation seem to be the preferred mode with the commenters hiding behind anonymity.

There should be respect for different political opinions and inclinations but one is quickly condemned if one does not adhere to a certain leaning. Such frightening intolerance often comes from those who see themselves as fighting for freedom of speech.

It has been pointed out that Malaysia is now entering a new stage of democracy, infant in its own way, but the growth process should take its course and then participation in democracy would be done in a more mature way. Perhaps, when that happens we may then see greater maturity and rationale in political discourse.

Changes aplenty in the works

ON THE BEAT
By WONG CHUN WAI

TAN Sri Muhyiddin Yassin made a telephone call to a Penanti Umno branch leader recently when he found out that PKR assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin had decided to quit his state seat, paving the way for a by-election. The eager local Umno leader told the Deputy Prime Minister that he would immediately call for a meeting to discuss preparations.

But Muhyiddin instead ticked him off, saying he should be convening a meeting of all Barisan Nasional leaders. The campaigning involved Barisan leaders and not just Umno leaders, he was told.

An unprecedented move was made when MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was invited on April 26 to open the meeting of Kimma, a Malaysian Muslim party, that is seeking to join the Barisan.

The signal was important – one of the highest ranking Barisan leaders, a non-Muslim at that, was attending the function of a political party that is regarded as friendly and supportive of the Barisan.

The conventional approach of a Muslim leader, in his songkok and baju Melayu, carrying out the responsibility was no longer the way.

Broader outlook

Last week, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed met Malaysian students in London. He had sent out an early request to the organisers – he wanted to meet Malaysians of all races, not just Malays and certainly not just pro-Umno students.

The International Trade and Industry Minister took a step further: He had a meal with a multi-racial group at a Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown.

And, of course, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak started his leadership with a walkabout in three areas in Kuala Lumpur with a predominantly Malay, Chinese or Indian population. He was pictured talking to Chinese traders in Jalan Petaling and Malay city flat dwellers in Kampung Kerinchi, and enjoying a cup of teh tarik with Indians in Brickfields.

These may be merely symbolic gestures but they are also powerful messages to the grassroots leaders of the 13 component parties of the Barisan – that no single party leader should be projecting themselves as champions of their own race.

It is no longer enough to merely talk of issues affecting their own communities. In fact, it can be self-defeating.

Rapid changes are taking place in the Barisan with the coalition fully aware that the clock is ticking away very fast.

Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, talked of a transformation in Umno within the next two years.

Malaysians are used to watching images of Malay leaders sitting on the stage every time there is an Umno general assembly but they have never seen a multi-racial group of leaders talking about national issues together. This is being done weekly at the Cabinet but never at a convention where real issues are discussed for the nation to see.

But it has to be more than just form. There has to be a transformation of the mindset for this to happen. From Umno and MCA to PBS and PBB, all party leaders have to talk Malaysian.

Treating the sickness

The PKR is a new kid on the block but it has been able to glue PAS and DAP together to create a storm. There are more alarm bells for Barisan – the moderate face of PAS leader Nizar Jamaluddin has stepped into national politics. He will no longer be just a Perak leader but a national leader, taking over from the likes of the turbaned Nik Aziz and Hadi Awang.

Unless the ulamas stop the British-educated politician, who introduced himself to Chinese voters with his Chinese name, he is the man many Barisan politicians have to watch and worry about, not the ageing theologians in PAS with their firebrand rhetoric.

Like other Barisan leaders, Najib is aware that unless radical changes are carried out, it would have a drastic impact on the results of the next general election. This time, the decision has to be from the top to the bottom.

It is not good enough to recognise the reasons and not act on them. The Barisan, parti­cularly Umno, is afflicted with sickness. The leaders are aware that their main coalition partners are all over 50 years and they need treatment. But there is plenty of resistance for clinical changes.

Najib has grabbed the bull by the horns by readily tackling issues that may not be popular with conservative Malays.

He got the Cabinet to set the tone by agreeing that children of a parent who converts would retain the status of the religion when their parents married. PAS leaders have already openly attacked the policy and there certainly would be quiet grumblings from right-wing Malay groups, supporters of Umno, who feel the same.

Najib has shown that he is not just the leader of the Malays but also the Prime Minister of all Malaysians. That he has done so at the risk of losing crucial Malay votes must be commended.

On the other hand, there would also be many non-Malay voters who feel that not enough is being done and that the PM still has plenty to do before their faith in the Barisan is restored.

On the business front, Najib has scrapped the bumiputra equity quota on 27 sub-sectors ranging from health to tourism. It’s a bid to make Malaysia more competitive and a more attractive place for investors. The decision has already received plenty of goodwill in the region.

Malaysia needs to be on the pages of newspapers worldwide for the right reasons. We have to be in the good news, and news not just limited to politics.

Businessmen across the region asked incredulously why there is excessive politicking in Malaysia when energy and resources should be channelled towards facing the impact of the global financial crisis.

Malaysians are suffering from political fatigue, and forced by-elections by the opposition to make themselves look good has, in fact, led to much unhappiness within the ranks of the Pakatan Rakyat.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants a by-election simply because he wants to put his man in as Deputy Chief Minister I and nothing else. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has rightly fumed at the decision because it would cost taxpayers millions of ringgit. Anwar knows the PKR would win hands down because the constituency is part of his Permatang Pauh area.

The by-election means national leaders have to take time away from their responsibilities and campaign in a poll that has little political meaning for the people. A win for PKR would have no consequence to the political structure of the Penang state government while a loss to Barisan would also mean little. The best we can say is that it is democracy at work.

But for employers trying to keep their businesses intact and their workers in their jobs, Penanti is hardly on their radar screen. Ordinary salary workers filling their income tax returns worry about how much they can still keep after the deductions.

It has been a tough act. Just when the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index begins to recover, due to a combination of positive external and internal factors, we have to face the problem of A(H1N1) fever, which is a damper to the market.

Remisiers who have struggled with poor sentiments in the market are hoping we could reach 1,000 points. Certainly, some profit taking, which will affect the momentum, is expected, but there must be activity.

Some Pakatan Rakyat politicians are pouring cold water on the increased volume in trading because they realise that in middle class Malaysia, political anger recedes when there is money to be generated.

Change is taking place because the opposing political forces are competing for the votes. Najib has to get back the votes the Barisan lost in March and unless he works hard on it, more votes could be lost.

For the opposition, the more it becomes mainstream, the more it runs the risk of losing its appeal with rumblings that some of its leaders are no different. For the Prime Minister, his job is to ensure the series of good news does not run out. 

Good news – and more to come

IT’S a terrific start. The decision to remove the 30% bumiputra equity quota in 27 services sub-sectors is certainly a sweeping move as it will now make Malaysia more competitive.

With foreign investments predicted to drop by over 50% this year, the decision to open up the health, tourism, transport, business, computer industry and social services would help to convince investors to take another look at Malaysia.

There is more good news coming this way. This week, the Prime Minister is expected to announce major news involving the financial sector.

The reality is that many investors have bypassed Malaysia because of the 30% bumiputra quota requirement.

There are plenty of other countries which offer better and more competitive perks to win over the hearts of investors.

Singapore, for example, is known to even offer scholarships or university places for children of investors, especially from China.

There would not be a major impact from the decision. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is not waving a magic wand. But the optimism stemming from the decision is tremendous. It has brought freshness, encouragement and hope to the business community at a time when there is so much bad news.

We can expect Najib’s announcement to get favourable reaction from analysts and fund managers across the region.

These positive responses are essential if we are to make Malaysia heard and seen, but not through its series of explosive political news.

Malaysia offers good infrastructure, an educated workforce that speaks reasonably good English and a lower cost but higher standard of living, which are major considerations for investors.

While these sectors are not top heavy areas, it must be acknowledged that the services sector contributed 55% to the gross domestic product last year. Of this, 47.6% was contribu­ted by non-government services. The services sector also accounted for 57% of total employment in the country.

From a political perspective, Najib’s decision is certain to win the confidence of the Chinese business community.

The sometimes over-zealous implementation of the affirmative action programmes has long been a sore point to many Malay­sians, including bumiputras.

While the Chinese and Indians complained that the implementation by civil servants has been abused, the ordinary bumiputras grumbled that the politically-linked were the ones who profited, and not them.

The result is a large group of alienated and frustrated electorate who punished the Government in the March 8 polls.

Najib also needs to review the procurement policies of the government and government-linked companies.

It is well-known that inactive bumiputra partners, known as “sleeping partners”, are sometimes used to meet the 30% bumiputra equity rules. And it is said that in many cases, even a company comprising 100% bumiputra equity are created by non-bumiputra businessmen to overcome the stringent rules – and all these bumiputra directors do is just to collect some fees.

These practices go against the tenets of the New Economic Policy as they do nothing to restructure society. They also reflect the frustrations of good and decent Malaysian businessmen, many of whom are small businessmen who merely want to carry out a simple transaction with these GLCs.

No one knows who decided on this 100% bumiputra requirement to the point that some Malay businessmen are reluctant to have a non-Malay partner for fear it would affect their chances of securing a government contract. Sometimes, a foreign partner is said to be in a better position than Malaysians.

The affirmative actions are meant to elevate the position of bumiputras, and rightly so too, but they should not deprive non-Malays. Certainly, not to marginalise them.

A fair deal for all Malaysians is essentially what the new Prime Minister needs to look at and he has said so, citing the award of scholarships to students. Need-based, rather than ethnic-based, has to be the goal of the New Deal. It is the same with the recruitment of staff in the civil service, which is now mainly a one-race entity.

A vicious cycle has been created where the Government is serious about wanting to change the imbalances but non-Malays feel they have little chances of reaching the top positions in the civil service. So, they would rather opt for the private sector, but it does the country no good.

Obviously, the leadership needs to be brave enough to overcome this ethnic mental block. The racial prism has to be dismantled with good and clever Malaysians given the opportunity to serve.

Malaysia has to open up because the walls of protectionism have to come down. This is part of the globalisation process and even if the momentum has been slowed down because of the financial crisis, the opening up is inevitable.

Our competitors now are not Ahmad, Ah Chong or Muthu but the foreigners with their huge funds and strong expertise.

The kedai runcit and kedai kopi have been overwhelmed by the presence of hypermarkets and franchised coffee outlets.

The lifting of the 30% bumiputra equity ruling in the 27 sub-sectors should be the first of many changes to come.

Najib must be commended for his series of bold moves. A day after scrapping the quota equity, the Cabinet decided that the children of parents who were divorced and where one parent converts to another religion have to be brought up in the “common religion at the time of marriage”.

The move would certainly not endear him to Muslim conservatives but as the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said, religion should not be used as a tool to escape marriage responsibilities and that conversion “is not grounds for automatic dissolution of marriage”.

Najib must be encouraged. He has wasted no time in carrying out these radical changes, and for him to succeed further, Malaysians must support him.

Be leaders of all Malaysians

ON THE BEAT
By WONG CHUN WAI

THE 1Malaysia concept being promoted by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak may mean different things to different people but the bottom line is simple – the Prime Minister wants a sense of one people and one nation.

He is not keen to set up think-tanks comprising academicians to draw up lofty ideals on what this concept is about.

He wants the idea to evolve and to take shape as the concept is promoted, more importantly, practised and not just remain a slogan for a leader who has just taken office and wants to be seen to be popular.

Over the past two weeks, he has been asked at almost every press briefing what 1Malaysia really means.

Malay nationalist groups are worried that it would be like the Malaysian Malaysia concept mooted by the DAP while some non-Malay groups have cynically dismissed it as unworkable in Malaysia. Chinese newspaper editors have grappled with translating the term, which comes with a numeral. They have loosely described it as “a Malaysia for all”.

Every noble idea must be given a chance to grow. Najib means well and he understands that something new would need time to be explained and accepted.

He has softened the fears of right-wing Malay groups by saying that no ethnic group should be marginalised and also stressed that while affirmative action would remain, it must be implemented fairly.

He has continuously used one example at every discussion with editors – award of scholarships to top students. No applicant should be deprived because of his or her ethnicity. He made it a point to the 1Malaysia concept at his first Cabinet meeting, saying the nation should rise above race and work together as a nation.

Double talk

Najib is serious in reaching out to all. His 1Malaysia website now has a Chinese version and moves are being made to include a Tamil one as well.

Interestingly, his son who is pursuing studies in Georgetown University in the US is studying Chinese and has a Shanghainese as a roommate.

There’s no denying that racial differences have gnawed the nation and politicians must take much of the blame.

For 1Malaysia to work, our politicians, including ministers, need to exercise plenty of self-restraint.

They cannot spew racist remarks to become champions of their races, and then talk about national unity.

The days of talking to different audiences and expecting such double talk not to reach the ears of other communities are over.

Words like “kita memberi amaran” (we warn) and “kita tidak akan kompromi” (we will not compromise) must be taken off the speeches and remarks of our leaders. In short, they should be banned.

The bosses of TV stations should remind their reporters and presenters not to use “orang kita” (our own people) when they speak, seemingly oblivious to the fact that all races watch their programmes.

Similarly, it is disturbing when a national newspaper uses a provocative front-page headline like “Bangkitlah Melayu” (Malays arise) and in the same breath, call for national unity and carry a picture of the PM joining Sikhs in making chapati during the Vasakhi celebrations.

While English language newspapers have taken a more guarded role in their reporting as their readership is multi-racial, there is a need for vernacular newspapers to take off racial prisms.

Sometimes, the inability to find an appropriate translation or use of a quote without looking out of context can lead to emotional debates with racial tones. The printed version can never reflect the tone used by the speaker and often, it conjures a different, if not inaccurate perspective.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin found himself in such a spot last week when he was talking about the voting trend of the Chinese in the two by-elections.

Lost in translation

His remark “seolah olah tidak menghargai” was translated differently – “ungrateful”, “unappreciated” and “not reciprocated” by different Chinese newspapers.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who has a clean record for making moderate statements, took the trouble to spend an hour with Chinese newspaper editors to explain the context.

They, in turn, expressed their views on the report and the sentiments of the community.

Both Najib and Muhyiddin have pleaded for a chance. They have hardly been in office for two weeks.

The PM has just chaired his first Cabinet meeting and most of the ministers are now attending daily briefings to learn more about their res­pective ministries and their scope of duties. It is still very early days of the Najib Administration and Malaysians certainly want him to succeed.

No one expects overnight changes but the PM is aware of the expectations. He knows the heavy responsibility and that time is running against him. He understands that the old methods don’t work but at the same time, he also needs to convince the hardened grassroots leaders, set in their own mindsets, that he cannot fall back on outdated approaches to win back the hearts and minds of the new Malay­sians.

The wishes of most Malaysians are simple. They are merely asking for fair play, justice and transparency in the government. They want their representatives to be down to earth and credible.

It isn’t so hard for the Barisan to win back the votes if they can just carry out these simple requests. More importantly, they should be leaders of all Malaysians, not just of their own communities.

Weaving in the wow factor

ON THE BEAT
BY WONG CHUN WAI

IT’S a stunning start for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his first day as the country’s sixth Prime Minister.

He wasted no time after he was sworn in to create an immediate impact to reach out to Malaysians.

It was the “wow factor” that the Barisan Nasional administration had waited for a long time to bring about a more upbeat momentum.

Najib, who has been painted by his detractors as a leader who would clamp down on dissents, proved them wrong.

“Today, I ask you to join me in this task of renewing Malaysia. I urge you to rise to the challenge of building a 1Malaysia. People first, Performance now,” he said in a nationwide televised address on Friday evening.

He freed 13 Internal Security Act detainees, ordered a comprehensive review of the law that allows detention without trial and lifted the suspension of Harakah and Suara Keadilan.

Just 24 hours earlier, the media had expected only five persons to be released but newsmen were surprised when they were informed that 13 detainees would be freed.

His decision to remove the suspension of the two publications is certainly welcomed. While some may dismiss the decision as a political ploy, the earlier decision had certainly not helped the Barisan Nasional in the by-election campaign.

The Printing Presses and Publication Act is another piece of archaic law that needs to be reviewed.

A good start would be to relax the conditions to allow a one-off permit issuance instead of an annual renewal. This could be the first step towards abolishing the Act altogether as it would be obsolete eventually in the Internet age.

The two publications were banned but there was nothing to stop the two parties from publishing their news online and sending SMS news alerts to their subscribers.

It did not stop the two parties from distri­buting leaflets and booklets that do not require a printing permit either.

Running a newspaper or party newsletter is a costly affair and few want to venture into this business, preferring to reach their audience via multimedia tools.

Najib himself has realised its importance, reminding Malaysians that exclusive news would be available only on his blog, www. 1malaysia.com.my.

Now that Najib has asked for a review of the ISA, he could take another step by setting up a committee comprising eminent personalities of retired judges, lawyers, police, ex-ISA detainees, journalists, academicians and community leaders to give their recommendations.

Najib realises that there is no honeymoon period for him. Time is running against him.

He has taken over a hot seat, which none of his predecessors had to face. Perhaps not even his late father Tun Abdul Razak, who took over after the 1969 racial riots.

Najib, as we are all aware, has to grapple with the massive losses of the Barisan in the March polls, the tainted image of Umno, a stronger Opposition and, more importantly, fending off the effects of the global financial crisis. It’s all on his plate.

The stakes are high. His father founded Barisan Nasional in 1973, renewing the Alliance which suffered electoral losses in the 1969 polls.

Now, he has to ensure the survival of the Barisan and, more importantly, win back the states lost to the Opposition.

He understands the changing political landscape and the new electoral who are exposed to the new medium.

The Old School method, which some still want to advocate, is no longer feasible because the circumstances have changed. One cannot turn back the clock because of political nostalgia.

A strong leadership is what the nation wants. They expect Najib to put things in order in his own way.

Najib has brought in the “wow factor” but now he needs to sustain it and to bring badly needed reforms.

Pak Lah is ready to move on


Comment by WONG CHUN WAI

DATUK Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi quietly began putting little touches to his two-bedroom kampung house in Sungai Penchala a year back.

It will be his home when he vacates Seri Perdana, the official residence of the Prime Minister at Putrajaya, when he steps down. It is said that extensions are being made to the home now.

Some of the plants in the orchard have started to bear fruit including rock melons, which he has been experimenting with.

He had originally wanted a perigi (well) outside his home but changed his mind when told that it would be unsafe for his visiting grandchildren.

“Remember to visit me when you people are free,” he told editors at a lunch hosted by him on Tuesday.

He has a house in Putrajaya, which he bought but this would handed to his daughter, Nori, while a colonial-style home at Jalan Bellamy, behind Istana Negara, will be returned to the Government.

“Life is about changing roles. I don’t think I am going to be affected in anyway. The pomp and all that. Pomp and pageantry don’t matter,” he said. For the time being, he has no plans.

An editor had asked whether he was prepared for life as an ordinary Member of Parliament without all the attention.

Pak Lah reminded his audience that he has had his share of ups and downs in politics, pointing out that he lost his Umno vice-presidency in 1993.

The editors, some of whom were then reporters who had covered the Umno general assembly, reminded him there had been a blackout at his Jalan Bellamy home that night and the garden was flooded.

“One cannot hold to any position forever. That is something we must remember,” he said.

But he admitted that “the PM’s role was very exciting and I enjoyed it” although he was happy in all the ministries he had worked in.

He has not given any thought to writing a book and dismissed a suggestion that he should have a role in the Perdana Leadership Foundation, which is headed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“There is no need to lament a fact, as you progress and you know at every stage there is something you can do, you still lead a useful life. You can still contribute. The question is, what do you do with yourself?”

It has not been easy for Pak Lah as the country’s fifth Prime Minister, when he went from hero to zero.

He readily admits that his greatest achievement was the massive Barisan Nasional victory in the 2004 general election and that his lowest point was the 2008 polls, when Barisan lost its two-thirds majority.

He was asked by a journalist why he did not exploit the mandate of 2004 to the fullest as his administration was eventually marked with missed opportunities.

“Yes, missed opportunities in the sense that I could not do many things I wanted to do. My election manifesto was actually a plan for the second half of Vision 2020. I never had any ambition to be there to declare that Malaysia is a developed country. I expect continuity.”

On Tuesday, his aides distributed a 74-page compilation of achievements under his tenure as PM.

“You don’t have to publish it if you don’t want to but I hope you will be accurate in your reporting. You can use this as a reference,” he said.

Abdullah said he was advised a few times that big projects, such as the Twin Towers or KLIA, were politically beneficial but the Prime Minister said he had to remind himself of the costs involved and the impact to the country’s budget.

Yesterday, Pak Lah chaired his final Cabinet meeting and had a group photograph taken with all his ministers.

The leadership transition has begun. Today, a new chapter in Malaysian history begins when Pak Lah and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak meet the King.

Do what you got to do, Najib

ON THE BEAT
By WONG CHUN WAI

THERE are two important documents on the desk of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as he waits to take over as the Prime Minister.

He is putting the final touches to the speech he will make a day or two after he is sworn in as the country’s number one.

He will speak to the nation, possibly on April 6, to set the tone for the direction of his leadership, in what has been dubbed as the National Agenda.

The other document must be a preliminary list of his new Cabinet line-up, expected to be announced after the three by-elections on April 7.

Najib is well aware of the expectations ahead of him as he attempts to bring confidence back in the country.

Najib takes over the helm at a difficult time with the country grappling with economic difficulties, a weakened government, deepening political and racial divisions, and the integrity of institutions being challenged.

History seems to be repeating itself. His father, the late Tun Razak, became Prime Minister after the 1969 racial riots, the darkest blot in our nation’s history.

The going will be tough for Najib but whether we like it or not, tough times call for tough decisions.

There is this perception we have gone through a period of indecisiveness and the time has come for a strong leadership.

A strong leadership to put Malaysia on track, however, should not mean compromising our democratic space.

It must not mean stifling dissent or criticism, as expected by those who yearn for the nostalgic past, because the political landscape has changed. So has the electorate, who are now exposed to many alternative mediums of information.

At the same time, many Malaysians also have had enough of destructive criticisms and preoccupation with half-truths and slanders, passed off as the pursuit of justice and the truth when all this is merely about wresting power and positions.

The people are also fed up with the seeming lack of authority – from poor policing to fight crime and blatant corruption to demonstrations which disrupt the city – and yet many seem to escape the law.

But firm leadership must also mean being compassionate and hearing what the people are saying.

Politicians who intend to stay relevant need to feel the pulse of these dynamic changes, even if they are pressured by their supporters to pursue a certain tough line.

Fortunately, Najib is aware. He is also well advised, too. Those who wish to get an idea of what is in store should read his blog (www. 1malaysia.com.my).

Like many new leaders, he has embraced the new media, incorporating video messages and posting them on YouTube, the video-sharing portal. He’s also the only minister to use Twitter, the social networking service that allows users to send short messages to each other.

One Malaysia – the name of his blog – is expected to catch up soon as he would be adopting it as his rallying call for the nation to come together.

He wants to emphasise a nation of One People, where reforms would be carried out to put things right, particularly in government policies. For example, he is determined to revive the original spirit of the affirmative action plan – to eradicate poverty and to restructure society. By that, it does not mean making rich Umnoputeras richer.

It does not mean dishing out contracts because these party members have the “cables” while the poor, ordinary Malays are left out. These leaders may talk about fighting for the community when in actual fact, they are just championing their own pockets in the name of Malay interest.

The poor, of course, are not restricted to those in the traditional villages. With urban migration, many are holed up in tiny flats in the city and in squatter areas and their calls for help are often left unheard.

The so-called middle class, earning less than RM2,000 in the city, struggle to feed their family members. They need help and that is what the NEP is supposed to do – not help bumiputras get a discount to buy a RM2mil house or a golf club membership.

Najib is aware, as he has been told many times by well-intentioned friends, that he needs to put things right if Umno and Barisan Nasional are to survive in the next general election.

Failure is not an option. The denial mode of party members and the refusal to reform the party and government must be put to a stop by Najib.

We can assume that he must be finalising his Cabinet line-up now that the Umno elections are over.

Malaysians want change. They have spoken out loud and this is a chance for him to bring changes to his line-up.

Those who have over-stayed, are perceived to be corrupt, mediocre, dogged with controversies or have not performed must simply be told they have to be dropped.

He cannot afford any baggage. This is going to be a rough three-year ride where only the best leaders with credibility and dignity would be allowed to get on board.

Najib should also dispense with convention – a victory at the Umno polls need not mean a passport for a place in Cabinet.

For that matter, becoming a division leader does not mean automatic access to becoming a candidate in the constituency. It is such mentality that has pulled down Umno.

The country needs leadership that can inspire the people. If that means bringing in outside talent who are not politicians, do it by all means.

Let’s make Malaysia work again.

Feeling impact of political fatigue

ON THE BEAT
By WONG CHUN WAI

IT’S 11am and the Dewan Rakyat sitting is taking place. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has moved his office from Putrajaya to the Parliament tower block to carry on with his work.

From his second-floor office, he occasionally glances at the television set next to his table to keep track of the proceedings.

There is a long queue outside his office where a steady stream of visitors is waiting for their turn to meet him.

At an adjacent room outside, several Umno leaders are also preparing themselves for a meeting with Najib.

As Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin walks in, the visitors stand up and shake his hand.

He puts on a broad smile, as if aware of feedback from the grassroots that he needs to smile more.

Najib and Muhyiddin are very much the men of the hour as Umno delegates nationwide make their way to Kuala Lumpur to elect a new leadership.

Najib has already won the Umno presidency unopposed and is now waiting to take over the helm.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has yet to announce the exact date of his exit but the common consensus is that he is likely to do so at the Umno general assembly starting Thursday.

Many expect the Prime Minister to announce that he would step down on April 2, when both Abdullah and Najib are expected to meet the King.

April 3 has been touted as the day when Najib would be sworn in as the country’s sixth Prime Minister.

The perception is that Muhyiddin would be his deputy but a lot would hinge on the outcome of the polls.

He is regarded as the best second man with his strong background in economics and management as well as his fluency in English.

Unlike many Umno leaders, he did not start off as a civil servant but in the private sector.

As the country grapples with the effects of the financial tsunami, Muhyiddin is seen as the best man to help Najib. They understand the complexities of a global interlocked financial system, that’s for sure.

Premature as it may seem, many already regard Najib as the new PM and Muyhiddin as his deputy.

But standing in the way would be Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib. Popular and easy-going, he puts many Umno delegates and the press at ease when dealing with them.

A former Mentri Besar, he has pointed out his track record as MB of Selangor, the most developed state in Malaysia, as the candidate they should chose.

With Mohd Ali Rustam out of the race, he could pick up more votes and, certainly, this would also come from strong supporters of Pak Lah who still cannot forgive Muhyiddin for the pressure he exerted on the Prime Minister to retire.

Mat Taib, a Universiti Malaya history graduate, has made it a point in the past few weeks to answer queries from English newspaper reporters in English even when they asked in Bahasa Malaysia.

But the language factor, it must be remembered, is not an issue among the 2,500 delegates.

At the vice-presidents’ level, heading the pack of contenders is Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi. Almost everyone from Umno to the media has concluded that he has made it.

Those following closely behind, it is said, include Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin.

Equally important would be the 25 elected supreme council seats for which 51 candidates are vying. Umno delegates need to choose candidates who are credible and clean. It is not just about choosing a new line-up of Malay leaders but Malaysian leaders as well.

Leaders like Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, for example, are often not news material. Mustapa shuns controversy but he is regarded as one of the most moderate candidates around.

But a year after the political tsunami on March 8, and the almost year-long campaigning by Umno candidates, the country is beginning to feel the impact of political fatigue.

It’s time to get back to real work once the Umno polls are over this weekend.

A new Prime Minister, a new Deputy Prime Minister and almost certainly a new Cabinet line-up would be in place by then.

A chance to undo mistakes

On The Beat
By WONG CHUN WAI

UMNO delegates must bear in mind two things when they attend the coming party general assembly – the way they deliver their speeches and who they choose to lead the party.

They must be reminded that Umno is the backbone of the Barisan Nasional that lost five states in the March 8 general election.

It may have snatched back Perak from the Pakatan Rakyat but with so much resentment on the ground, no one can predict the fate of the Barisan in the next elections.

The fact is that except for Penang, the rest of the states in which it lost badly were Malay-dominated areas.

When the delegates take to the rostrum, they have to remember that their speeches and the way they are delivered will have an impact on Umno and the other Barisan component parties.

We want to hear Umno delegates talk about the coming financial tsunami and how we need to fend off the effects. This is not the time to talk about who gets what slice of the cake but about making sure there is still a cake for Malaysians.

They can take the easy way out by playing the racial card, get the applause of some communal-minded members and win party votes but they will alienate a massive chunk of voters.

The general assembly is unlikely to be telecast live this time but rest assured, the contents of the speeches and mannerism of the speakers would make it to YouTube, the video-sharing portal.

Credible leaders

Umno leaders have a chance to redeem the mistakes of the past at this coming party meeting.

They not only have to win back the Malay votes but they should also never alienate the non-Malay voters, who have in the past been their lifeline, but the political scenario has changed as PAS has cleverly reinvented itself to the Chinese and Indians.

The rest of Malaysians may not be voting but they are certainly entitled to have many expectations of the 2,500 delegates.

Malaysians have a right to see men and women of integrity and credibility being elected into places of leadership in Umno.

We want Umno delegates to pick leaders who are moderate and able to articulate the wishes of not just the Malays but the rest of Malaysians as well.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has won the Umno presidency unopposed and is set to be the next Prime Minister.

Surely, he would want intelligent people of calibre in his Cabinet, as well as his Deputy Prime Minister.

Umno delegates need to vote in competent leaders who understand the complexities of a global economy, especially in this doom-laden period. It is not about whether a candidate smiles more or not. It is not a popularity contest.

They must be leaders who can help him face the challenges ahead, not burden him further with their baggage.

Out with the corrupt

Can Malaysians be blamed if they perceive Umno as a corrupt party when, as ordinary people, they hear of how huge sums of money are required to secure party posts, even at the branch level?

They ask cynically whether it’s true that only a few thousand ringgit is the normal amount as reported in money politics cases, or is it many times more?

Malaysia is doomed if corrupt figures lead Umno because, ultimately, the posts would have been sold to the biggest bidders.

These corrupt figures would be indebted to their financiers and the money spent would have to be recouped. It would also send the wrong message to the civil servants – if the bosses can put their hands in the baskets, why can’t the underling who just wants to earn a living?

Politicians need a war chest, let’s not kid ourselves. Money is needed for campaigns. There would be expenses, no doubt, and there would be reimbursements.

From the US presidential campaign to the elections in Britain, politicians receive donations, especially from powerful lobbyists.

But that’s quite different from pressing money into the hands of delegates for a vote. That’s corruption – pure and simple.

Umno leaders have to park in their mind that there is little point in winning this battle but losing the war.

Najib has to put things right – it’s time for direct party elections to be carried out as that would wipe away corruption and the powerful division heads who treat politics as a business.