Author Archives: wcw

Politicians mustn’t refuse to listen to bad news or rely on sycophants

Politicians, like most corporate leaders, rely heavily on their staff, colleagues, and other sources of information.

With their tight schedules, especially those holding Cabinet posts, they need to be surrounded by good people.

The last people they should listen to are sycophants who only tell them things they want to hear.

As for the media, they are used to being shot at despite the idiom saying, don’t shoot the messenger.

On Tuesday (Feb 28), Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil lost his cool over the findings of a survey on the Unity Government’s 100 days in office that was conducted by a research firm.

The survey was carried out by O2 Research company and jointly published by Astro Awani, The Star, Sinar Harian, Sin Chew Daily and the Malaysia Nanban – media houses which work closely together.

The survey, among other things, found that the respondents wanted the Prime Minister to focus on the cost of living (80%), education (56%), job opportunities (53%), health (52%) and political stability (49%).

The five biggest concerns for households were inability to afford needs (80%), financial savings (61%), overburdened to pay debts/loans (56%), low wage rates (53%) and education funding for self/children/family (52%).

Here’s the unhappy news – 50% felt that the economic growth was not handled well with another 52% having the same negative sentiment on food supply.

In terms of ethnicity response, the unfavourable views, on the various broad topics including the state of the country and economic outlook, the Malays from the peninsula were the most critical.

The online survey polled 35,077 people nationwide from Feb 6 to Feb 16, 2023, and was carried out before the Budget.

But 54% of the respondents accepted the Unity Government, 47% backed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the PM.

Rather than take an emotional and defensive response to the survey, it is better that the government use this as a finding to gauge its level of support and to identify its strengths and weaknesses.

It serves as an information guide on how Malaysians, especially the predominant Malay voters, feel about the first 100 days of the Unity Government in power.

We must also accept that no government in the world can deliver a miracle, especially with the current economic climate, within three months.

This is the worst time to be a PM as expectations can sometimes be unrealistic but the ordinary people are struggling with soaring bills.

Essential food items have shot up, but wages haven’t, and it is also not fair for employers to simply increase wages when they are also grappling with the cost of production. The ringgit has weakened when much of the raw materials must be paid for in dollars.

Anwar and the government, in all fairness, are doing their best to meet the economic challenges, as can be seen in the recent Budget where the attention was focused mostly on the B40 and M40 groups.

The unhappiness of the respondents is a mere expression of how Malaysians feel about the economy and if Malays make up the majority, it is simply because they form the bulk of the population.

It need not necessarily be a perception towards the popularity of the government or Pakatan Harapan because generally most Malaysians do not want to see a change of government or PM.

You don’t even need a survey for that. So, the acceptance of Anwar is there.

The 02 survey actually showed that of these respondents, 37% voted PH/Muda, 29% Perikatan Nasional and 21% Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (5.5%) and Warisan (1.4%).

As with any survey, there will always be criticisms, including its methodology especially sampling size, locations, and margin of error.

Surveys have gone wrong including even the famous CNN poll which wrongly predicted Donald Trump would lose in the 2016 United States presidential elections.

Based on anecdotes, even our Special Branch and military have made wrong predictions of the outcome, based on its own surveys, of past general elections, it seems.

It is perfectly acceptable for Fahmi or other researchers/academicians or rival media groups to question the accuracy of the survey by O2.

It is good for Fahmi to find out more from the media outlets and 02 about the survey so he can understand better.

The media would also like to hear the shortcomings of the said survey, if any, so we can improve ourselves better.

It will also be good for him to understand the operations of the media better as there is no requirement to wait until the 100 days proper before publishing the findings.

Likewise, the media no longer waits until Dec 31 before publishing their yearly wrap-up.

There is absolutely no need for Fahmi to raise doubts on the media outlets that published the survey.

To say that these outlets “do some promotion or deceive the people’’ and the reports were ‘’insincere and dishonest’’ are statements which have libellous implications.

Fahmi is also reportedly upset that the sample had too many men, saying it had 81% men when it should be more than 31% to 41%.

Speaking personally for myself, I agree that it could be better balanced in terms of gender.

But that does not mean that the participating media outlets have any agenda, which seems to be the normal obsession of most politicians. Anything that does not serve their interest would be deemed as a motive.

Fahmi is a really nice and decent bloke. It’s refreshing to have a minister like him who prefers informality. Most of us in the mainstream media have much respect for him.

He is accessible and friendly, so we expect much better from him.

He is no longer in the Opposition and he has to remind himself of that. It is much easier to criticise than to be criticised, and as a Minister, he has to accept the good and bad news.

Ironically, it was the same research house – O2 – which reported on May 20, 2022, that PH will fare well in the general election, in a survey involving 1,601 people.

Interestingly, no one from PH complained that the survey was inaccurate, dishonest or out to deceive or a promotion agenda.

It will be at the government’s peril if it merely wishes to listen to the findings of their friendly academicians, especially those from their party think-tanks.

Unfinished Business with Frances Yip

 

Poser parade


Cosplay convention? : The Himpit parade participants, dressed in medieval militant garb with a green theme, also carried fake swords, spears, bows and arrows. – Facebook

NO one would bat an eyelid if someone walked around Kuala Lumpur’s busy Bukit Bintang area dressed up as an anime or superhero character.

Everyone would just assume that the person was heading for a cosplay event. But it’s something else when PAS members arm themselves with fake weapons in rural Setiu, Terengganu.

PAS has never been known to endorse such performance art, but since last week, following the controversial parade comprising PAS members brandishing fake swords, spears, bows and arrows, cosplay has become the buzzword of party leaders.

The march was reportedly part of a two-day PAS Youth gathering dubbed “Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu” (Himpit).

There was also a pickup truck with a huge fake sword in its cargo bed while some participants, dressed in medieval militant garb with a green theme, were seen standing in the same crammed space.

The gathering has caused concern because the Islamist party has a blemished past. Its leadership may not endorse violence or militancy of any kind, but given the party’s track record, questions have obviously been raised.

The defenders of the parade should not blame non-Muslims for their conjecture because criticism came from the Malays as well. So there’s no need to play the race-religion card. It’s pathetic to resort to such a tactic.

PAS, predictably, fended off criticisms against the party with the routine line of “anti-Islam and Islamophobia”, but the truth is that PAS is just another political party led by ordinary human beings with political expediency and ambitions.

It may be still uncomfortable to talk about the Memali incident after nearly 40 years, but in that 1985 tragedy, police had to lay siege to a village in Baling, Kedah, which was occupied by Ibrahim Mahmud aka Ibrahim Libya.

The incident resulted in the deaths of 14 villagers including Ibrahim, an active PAS member, and four policemen. Ibrahim, who had studied Islam in Tripoli, Libya, contested twice as a PAS candidate in two general elections but lost narrowly to Barisan Nasional.

The villagers were armed with machetes, sharpened bamboo rods and other weapons.

It’s a sad part of the nation’s history with a deadly ending, when clashes between Umno and PAS peaked with Umno members declared infidels (apostates) and those who died as al-shahid (martyrs) by PAS.

PAS members have also been involved in terrorist activities. That is a fact, although the party has issued immediate statements each time to distance itself from these individual acts, including resorting to expulsions from the party.

In 2014, PAS activist Mohd Lofti Ariffin aka Abu Afghan, 46, was killed in an assault by Syrian government forces. He claimed he was fighting for the Ajnad-al-Sham faction, a breakaway from the Islamic State (IS) group.

Another Malaysian fighter, Mohammad Fadhlan Shahidi, was also killed in the incident.

Mohd Lofti, a former Kedah PAS information chief, had attracted a large following on social media with regular posts of pictures, videos, and calls for jihad from the Syrian frontline.

The veteran jihadist had also fought in Afghanistan against the Russians and was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) upon returning to Malaysia.

But what was disturbing following his death in Syria was the eulogising on social media by several PAS personalities, underlining sympathy for the militants’ cause that created a security headache for the Malaysian government.

One senior PAS leader praised Lotfi as a “martyr” in a Facebook post and reportedly recounted a religious anecdote from what he said was Lotfi’s final visit to Malaysia in 2013 when he helped with PAS flood-relief efforts.

But the party had also said Lofti’s membership had been terminated earlier and that it disavowed militant actions.

In 2014, the party sacked three party members who were among five people wanted by police for involvement in militant activities. They were Universiti Malaya (UM) lecturer Dr Mahmud Ahmad @ Abu Handzalah, Selayang Municipal Council worker Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee and UM stationary shop owner Mohd Najib Husen.

They were accused of serving the IS movement in Iraq, according to police.

Then PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali announced their immediate expulsions following the police disclosure, saying they were mere ordinary members.

In Afghanistan, PAS branch committee member Zainon Ismail aka CN Al Afghani, also joined the fight and even published a 112-page book with pictures of himself and other Malaysians championing the same cause.

Even the late Kelantan mentri besar’s son, Nik Adli Nik Abdul Aziz, was detained under the ISA for involvement in the radical Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) movement in 2001.

There are many others. You only need to do a search online to find out more. The party may have officially condemned these radicals by sacking them, but it’s fair to suggest that it continues to attract members with the plan of setting up an Islamic state in Malaysia as the ultimate goal.

Our security forces must be commended for their vigilance and network of intelligence in keeping Malaysia safe, sound and sane.

Don’t count on our politicians, who just want to strike deals without bothering about the long-term consequences.

So, there are good reasons why Malaysians should worry when PAS members put up an act with fake swords, spears, and other weapons. It may be cosplay to PAS, but not to others.

Passé protocols


Setting a casual tone: A tie-less Anwar (right) and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on their way to the first session of the 15th Parliament on Dec 20. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star

MINISTER Hannah Yeoh did something unique recently by turning up ahead of an event’s scheduled start and getting straight to the point.

Upon entering the packed venue of the townhall talk with sports industry players, she found the first three rows reserved for the ministry’s heads of departments.

The Youth and Sports Minister then did the unexpected by inviting participants who had been forced to stand at the back to move forward to fill the front rows.

The civil servants vacated their seats and sat behind Yeoh, who then went on to moderate the session herself.

The stakeholders included gym owners, tournament organisers, coaches, and sports science and medicine practitioners.

No time was wasted in the no-frills meeting. The routine fanfare associated with functions to welcome invited VIPs was unceremoniously discarded.

While Yeoh preferred to play down her actions, a video of what happened is making its rounds on social media.

When she was appointed to the job, she also gave a standing order that officials need not wait as a welcoming committee to greet her at functions.

These officials certainly have bigger fish to fry than join politicians in the entourages that seem to follow them everywhere they go.

There may be a necessity for a few officials to accompany a minister to answer questions or record issues requiring follow-up action, but the perception, arguably, is that these politicians crave a sense of self-importance and authority.

To put it bluntly, it merely inflates their egos and encourages delusions of grandeur.

We hope Yeoh’s practice will continue and won’t just be a case of a new broom sweeping clean.

Haven’t we seen newly elected YBs post pictures of themselves travelling in economy class but then slowly getting used to being in business class, even for a short trip?

When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim decided to do away with the tie, he sent a powerful message of being someone who wants to get down to business and be hands on.

Here was someone who had no time for ornamental fripperies, as one report put it.

The more conventional gentlemen would say wearing a suit without a tie seems incomplete – even naked.

But I’m glad that the less formal and dress-down trend has taken off. We are emulating what the Singapore Parliament did long ago, allowing their male ministers and MPs to choose to wear a shirt without a jacket.

The tie-less approach has also been adopted at the Australian House of Representatives and Senate.

But more importantly, we need to create a new culture. Can the PM send a message down that there’s no need for a bunga mangga, kompang, silat and lion dance welcome unless there’s a festive element involved?

Not only is time wasted but funds are unnecessarily used, too, even if they are relatively paltry sums.

Malaysians should also dispense with the obligatory salutations by a speaker addressing titles and naming the important guests present. By the time the names of every Tan Sri, Puan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datin Seri, Datuk-Datuk and Datin-Datin are addressed, at least five to 10 minutes have gone by.

It also makes the untitled guests feel less important, which should never be the case.

Worse, it reaffirms the perception that Malaysia is probably the country with the greatest number of titled people. Police reports have been made of impostors who brazenly crow about their titles when they, in fact, have none.

Many African countries have stopped such long salutations and their speakers simply start their speeches or remarks with the standard, “Ladies and gentlemen, all the rules of decorum have been observed” or “Honourable delegates, distinguished ladies and gentlemen”.

Of course, protocols need to be observed and upheld when royalty is invited to grace events.

Finally, we should do away with having to hand VIPs gifts, which is a very Malaysian way of thanking guests. However, there’s a common fate that befalls these cenderamata – they all end up gathering dust in some corner of the ministry’s offices.

The better ones, of course, end up in the minister’s office and, sometimes, the waiting room, but we can only guess where the unwanted ones go.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as the PM of the Pakatan Harapan government after the 14th General Election in 2018, suggested that fruits, flowers and food be given instead.

But when a minister has at least four to five functions a day, what is the YB going to do with all these items with a limited shelf-life?

No wonder his idea didn’t take off, it was simply impractical.

These entrenched exercises in protocol will not disappear overnight, but gradual changes need to be made now.

Voice of reason


Showing the way: Sultan Ibrahim (centre, in red) arriving at the state-level Thaipusam celebration at a temple in Skudai on Feb 5, along with other Johor state officials. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

IT makes perfect religious sense. There’s absolutely nothing contentious about the Johor religious affairs committee announcing a fatwa (religious decree) advising Muslims against participating in rituals of other faiths.

Other beliefs would echo that sentiment too. As a Christian, I certainly wouldn’t take part in a Thaipusam ritual or hold joss sticks when I attend a Taoist funeral.

When my Muslim friends pray, I would do the same in my own way. It’s done differently, of course, but the objective is the same in all prayers, which is always to ask for the best.

It is Taoist tradition to attend the Qingming festival, or tomb sweeping day, to honour the departed, especially family members, and I do so but refrain from engaging in the rituals.

We live in a multi-religious and multiracial country, so for most of us it would be disrespectful to stay away. Nothing can stop me from attending these important events, even if they could be religious in nature, and I think most of us are unwavering in our own faiths.

But it was the lack of clarity that led to some minor confusion. Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar had to issue a statement to clarify the matter.

It was a case of Johor exco member Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid not clearly answering questions posed by reporters at a press conference, even though the statement was precise. It became more confusing when State Mufti Yahya Ahmad reportedly said Muslims in Johor were barred from “observing” Thaipusam processions under the fatwa.

Observing and participating are two different things entirely. It was ambiguous because observing could also be interpreted as participating.

If it meant keeping away, then it would certainly be impractical because there would be Muslim policemen and Rela officers involved in crowd control.

For that matter, even Muslim reporters and photographers would be assigned to cover the event. Also, there would be Muslim onlookers when the processions pass through the streets, for example.

But Yahya could have been misquoted in the article, or perhaps something was lost in translation, or this was simply down to poor writing by the news portal.

His Majesty must be commended for not shying away from attending a luncheon hosted by the Indian community in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebrations at a temple in Skudai, Johor Baru.

He was joined by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi; state Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Raven Kumar; and state Health and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.

Sultan Ibrahim later reaffirmed the “Bangsa Johor” concept, saying the racial and religious diversity of Johor will always be recognised and respected.

His Majesty rightly said the fatwa issued by the Johor Islamic Reli-gious Council was in no way in conflict with interfaith values of tolerance, unity and understanding as espoused under the “Bangsa Johor” concept.

“The fatwa only prohibits Muslims from taking part in other religious rituals. It is a guideline for them. They can still attend festive events of other faiths.

“Other religions must also respect Muslims’ sensitivities. It is a two-way street. We must be sensitive to each other’s religious obligations to get along,” His Majesty said.

It’s important for our leaders to attend events involving other faiths, even if it’s something symbolic like a simple lunch or tea during Christmas, or just to break fast with Muslims during Ramadan.

If Malaysians have no problem embracing public holidays to celebrate the festivals of other faiths, then we should be rejoicing the occasions together as Malaysians.

If these national leaders are unable to attend, then they should at least have the decency to send a senior representative.

But there shouldn’t be lame excuses. These politicians seem to be quite happy to show up at places of worship to canvas for votes during elections but suddenly can’t make an appearance when the polls are over.

They can give an excuse once, but let’s see if similar justifications are concocted in the following years.

The Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) must be commended for lauding the guidelines provided by the Johor authorities.

CCM general secretary Rev Jonathan Jesudas said non-Muslims should appreciate the limits that Muslims are subject to under syariah laws when inviting Muslim colleagues or friends to their festivities or celebrations.

“The clarity provided by the Johor Islamic religious affairs committee is welcome and will definitely promote greater harmony and interaction among the various religious communities in Malaysia,” he said.

Rev Jonathan also noted how Malaysians from various religious communities would join each other in celebrating religious festivals.

“Open houses are definitely a signature practice of Malaysians where all will visit one another, enjoy delicacies and the hospitality of their neighbours and friends who are celebrating.

“This is so much a part of life that in our joy, we hardly stop and recognise that this is religious harmony and tolerance.

“It is also the cement which holds the Malaysian community together, distinguishing us from the other nations in the world,” he said.

The most important reminder came from the Sultan of Johor, when he said that it’s better to emphasise the commonalities and values of all religions than dwell on their differences.

Again, it looks like we must depend on our Rulers to drive common sense home into our politicians’ heads.

Daulat Tuanku!

While on holiday, take the time to visit the dead


George Michael is buried next to his mother and sister. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH

Wanting to visit a cemetery as a touristic pursuit may seem strange to most people, especially the superstitious Chinese, but I was still keen to check it out, even though the Chinese New Year was imminent.

After all, I don’t practice feng shui nor am I a Taoist, so neither convention nor tradition held me back.

Having made numerous trips to London in the past, I’ve checked the essential tourist and shopping stops.

So, this time, I decided to take on a completely different route. My family members were in disbelief, but I was, well, dead serious.

I decided to visit the sprawling Highgate cemetery, which has drawn visitors from all over the world.

It may seem morbid, but cemeteries are truly peaceful places with their leafy and manicured landscapes.

On my trip to Argentina in the 1990s, I went to pay my respects to Eva Peron, the famous late Argentine politician and actress who served as First Lady from 1946 until her death in 1952, as the wife of President Juan Domingo Peron.

The lady is, of course, the inspiration behind the musical Evita and the soundtrack was made famous by Madonna’s rendition of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.


The columnist at Karl Marx’s tomb, which is one of the main attractions at Highgate.

It took me a while to locate her modest tomb at the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires and since then, I’ve been pretty hooked on cemetery excursions.

I checked out the Makomanai Takino cemetery in Hokkaido, with its beautiful lavender-covered landscape, during the autumn of 2018.

It’s easily the most beautiful memorial garden I’ve seen, what with over 150,000 lavender plants.

Fast forward to January 2023. The Highgate cemetery has been described as a place that has captivated visitors “by the evocative atmosphere and magnificent Victorian memorials,” with many coming to see the resting place of its famous residents.

It’s peculiar that this private cemetery, which charges a £10 (RM52) entry fee, promotes Karl Marx, the founder of communism, as its biggest attraction.

Marx, the German philosopher, economist and revolutionary socialist, is renowned for his books Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto. His memorial, with his huge bronze bust sitting on top of a rectangular marble plinth accompanied by gilded lettering of his famous line “Workers of all lands unite”, is an easy find.

There are several tombs of communist admirers nearby, but ironically, directly opposite Marx’s tomb is that of liberal political theorist Herbert Spencer.

Another popular site is that of writer Mary Ann Evans, described as England’s greatest Victorian novelist, who used the male pen name George Elliot.


The lavender-covered Makomanai Takino cemetery in Hokkaido, Japan, which the columnist and his wife visited in 2018.

She wrote seven novels including Silas Marner, The Mill On The Floss and Middlemarch. A plaque celebrating her work and life has been erected in Westminster Abbey.

But these days, the biggest draw is George Michael, who is also buried here.

It was an oversight to not have done my research prior to visiting Highgate, so the result was an unnecessarily lengthy search.

The legendary 1980s singer, known for iconic hits like Careless Whisper, Faith and Last Christmas (with sidekick Andrew Ridgeley in Wham!), has a headstone inscribed with his real Greek name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou.

It’s just a simple rectangular marble slab with the epitaph: “Beloved Son, Brother, Friend”, and he is buried next to his mother and sister.

George was found dead, aged 53, on Christmas Day, 2016, at his home. Tragically, it was his last Christmas.

Highgate is also the final resting place of Prof Man Fong Mei, a poet, physicist and philosopher, who invented the world’s first disposable needle for acupuncture.


Malcom McLaren’s grave at Highgate has a bronze death mask.

The inscription aptly reads, “a positive thinker who bridged East and West with passion and generosity”.

But my favourite grave must be that of Malcolm McLaren’s, with its bronze death mask.

He managed punk rock royalty from either side of “the pond”, guiding both the New York Dolls and later, the Sex Pistols, to superstardom. In fact, he even claimed to have invented punk. McLaren was married to the late fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.

He was also the original drummer for the band Siouxsie and the Banshees, which was part of the punk rock scene of the 1980s.

I spent almost two hours walking in the cemetery, with over 170,000 plots, and it wasn’t enough because there were just too many famous personalities here, especially writers and journalists, which interested me most.

Maybe on the next London trip, I will visit the Kensal Green cemetery, where Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, famous for his many hit songs including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions and Radio Ga Ga, is buried under his real name Farrokh Bulsara.

These well-known figures may be gone, but their inspiration and legend live on.


The grave of writer Douglas Adams, who wrote the best-selling Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. A bouquet of pens is the hallmark at his tomb head which simply says ‘Writer’. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH

The endless stream of fresh flowers placed at their tombs by visitors is a testimony to how they’ve touched people’s lives.

But in the case of writer Douglas Adams, his grave has bouquets of pens.

He is most known for his best-seller The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, a trilogy of five books that sold over 15 million copies. However, the tomb head has only one word – “Writer”.

The words on tombstones speak volumes and sometimes, for a legend, less is certainly more.

Yeoh – our pride and joy


Starring role: Yeoh portrays a frustrated laundromat owner saddled with tax problems in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’. — Handout

Malaysians rarely get cast so prominently, but the Golden Globe award winner is no greenhorn and she could well win the Oscar for the best actress category.

OVER the past few weeks, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has been a busy bee jet-setting across continents.

She made a quiet visit home here on Dec 24 and after that, appeared in talk shows and interviews in the United States and England.

She was interviewed on CNN by Christiane Amanpour and before that, by British talk show host Graham Norton in London.

Her appearances are important in the run-up to the Academy Awards since it’s just a month away – March 13, to be precise.

History is about to be created. The Malaysian icon stands a very good chance of winning the Oscar for the best actress category for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

She faces stiff competition, but she has already created history by being the first Malaysian to secure this nomination.

As one report put it, it has taken 95 years for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognise an Asian woman in its best actress category.

Earlier this year, she had already filled our hearts with pride by winning a Golden Globe award for best actress in a musical/comedy for the movie, the second Asian to clinch the prestigious award.

Yeoh is honest about the movie, which can be viewed on Astro, saying it can be confusing but has resonated with many parents, especially immigrants who would do everything for their children.

The sentiments of their parents may not mean much to the young who see things differently, but the underlying message is about love, relationship and embracement.

It’s about having conversations with their children, which many Asian parents often struggle with.

Yeoh plays Evelyn Quan Wang, whose father is upset about her eloping with a man, with whom she runs a laundromat facing a pile of tax issues.

On top of that, she must struggle with a rebellious lesbian daughter, an incompetent spouse and an ageing and senile father she must care for.

Suddenly, she finds herself having to save the universe from a super villain named Jobu Tupaki, too. Talk about tipping the scale.

One thing stands out from all these high-profile interviews – Yeoh is articulate, intelligent, humorous and speaks impeccable English (with the Malaysian accent proudly intact, without the pretentious clipped Western tone many are only too happy to adopt), and she knows when and how to deliver the right sound bite to make her interview newsworthy for each show.

Yeoh also proudly wears her Asian roots on her sleeve yet maintains a broad outlook with an international appeal.

Obviously Yeoh is media savvy and comfortable to take questions without a script.

Yeoh has worked very hard to get where she is. Her solid credentials include roles in blockbusters such as James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians, all of which have raised her profile.

But Everything Everywhere All at Once, with interdimensional roles and newfound powers to fight bizarre dangers from the multiverse, is her first starring role.

With 11 nominations at the upcoming Oscars, the movie is poised to win many awards but the world, especially Asians, will be cheering for our Ipoh girl to win the best actress award.

Standing in her way is Australian actress Cate Blanchett, who plays Lydia Tar in the psychological drama film Tar, about an imposing female conductor in Berlin preying on women.

News reports are billing it as a neck-and-neck race with Yeoh having a slight edge, but for now, Yeoh is the most sought-after guest in talk shows, which will surely help her in the contest.

This year’s Academy Awards 2023, which will be held on Monday at 8am, will surely be the most watched ever by Malaysians.

We will be rooting for our pride and joy, our hero. Whatever the outcome, she remains our darling and Malaysia is enormously proud of her.

Caught in the act


Maszlee playing the cameo role of jailed PM in ‘Kudeta’. – Photo courtesy of Maszlee Malik Twitter

HAVE we become overly sensitive or perhaps, hypocritically reverent when it comes to local movie content?

There are barely any complaints on social media when it comes to Netflix, Amazon Prime and other similar services.

Is it that our hands are tied given that this is foreign content, or maybe, the usual holier-than-thou critics aren’t paying attention?

Even watching Disney content can be unnerving as subtle shades of LBGT are present. But when it comes to local productions, critics raise a racket, but the point is, they can choose to avoid these movies.

Last week, former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik found himself in an unusual spot.

He had to apologise for using profanity in his cameo role in Kudeta, a local political thriller series on Astro.

Well, as American showman and circus owner Phineas T. Barnum said: all publicity is good publicity.

I’m sure many Malaysians were clueless about the Astro series until recently, but I hope more of us will check out this cutting-edge show, which I had raved about in my article on Dec 22, 2022. (“All-too real TV shows”; online at bit.ly/star_series)


Hot show: ‘Kudeta’, a local political thriller series on Astro, is making waves. – Astro

Maszlee convincingly played the evil, corrupt jailed prime minister Jamal Banna, who is still scheming and making threats against his opponents from his cell, including his successor – the first female PM of Masraya, a fictional country.

Anyone watching Jamal would be forgiven for recalling a former PM of Malaysia. It may be Masraya, but the characters speak Malay and English.

Jamal is understandably in a foul mood and his role obviously involves foul language. Maszlee is an actor here, not an educationist.

Surely we can tell the difference between his acting and political roles.

Do we expect the nasty character he played to be pious, religious, and uttering pleasantries? Honestly, Maszlee would have been sacked in a real-world situation, but he did an excellent job as an actor.

I see no reason why the poor former Member of Parliament for Simpang Renggam had to apologise, admitting the dialogue used was inappropriate and had degraded women.

It looks like Maszlee couldn’t take the heat from social media, which can be nasty and include profanities. How ironic?

“I acknowledge my mistakes for playing the role of an evil prime minister, who uses inappropriate words that have disturbed viewers’ emotional and mental wellbeing,” he said in a Facebook statement.

Well, it looks like Maszlee would now need to look for the role of a clean, honest, pious, hard-working, and dedicated PM. Good luck on finding that unicorn.

Prior to this controversy, there was another uproar over a 35-second movie trailer for Pulau, a Malaysian production.

In that brief time, some Malaysians could raise conjectures on morality, well before even watching the movie in its entirety. Their responses were lengthier than the promo clip!

The producer, Fred Chong, as expected, apologised if any party had been offended by the trailer.

Its promotional materials, such as posters and trailers, had been approved by the National Film Censorship Board (LPF) as well as through the Wajib Tayang list by the National Film Development Board (Finas).

It seems perfectly acceptable if women are in bikinis in a foreign movie, but not in a local production, even if the actors involved are non-Muslims.

But following the hullabaloo, the Pulau trailer raked in a million views on YouTube in nine days – and probably more by now. Talk about Malaysia Boleh!

Well, since I haven’t watched the movie, I wouldn’t dare comment, but the trailer neither offended nor excited me.

The jailed PM role in Kudeta caught my attention, but it was that of Hamid, the hypocritical leader of a religious-based party, that interested me the most.

He was prepared to strike deals for political expediency, proposed a law to make it compulsory for women who wished to work to seek written permission from their husbands, and was even blackmailed in a setup, where he was photographed in a compromising position with a Caucasian-looking woman.

It will be tough for Maszlee to look for another movie role now as dashing Khairy Jamaluddin, who had taken several cameo roles, is also looking for other options and possibilities.

Perhaps KJ could play a politician who has been unfairly sacked from his party and is now hell-bent on seeking revenge in a political thriller, even if he is unbowed, unbent, unbroken.

Learn from our neighbour

LET’S call a spade a spade. Our record of building affordable homes is pathetic, if not a disgrace.

The 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme, which was launched in 2011 with much fanfare and promises, has turned into an expensive fiasco.

It was set up with a purported mission to plan, develop and provide affordable housing and even a pledge to provide high-quality homes.

In the end, PR1MA produced none of the above. Its failures included poor selection of land, projects which were not market-driven, unaffordable house prices, bad quality homes and the technology used was inefficient.

Over RM8bil was pumped into this state-owned housing scheme which turned out to be a flop.

It has been reported that a total of 1.42 million people had registered for the PR1MA programme, with a promise of a million homes by 2020, but only 16,682 units or 1.6% of the target were achieved between 2013 and 2018.

In 2020, it had to fork out up to RM200mil to compensate contractors who were involved in PR1MA “sick projects” that were cancelled in reportedly over 30 sites.

So, there should really be no reason for the outcry when Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming suggested that we should perhaps seek help from Singapore.

No one in his right mind would refuse to accept the fact that Singapore has an impressive record for providing affordable homes to its people despite the scarcity of land.

The island republic’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) deserves to be recognised as one of the best in the world.

In the end, it’s the results that matter.

We don’t need lofty mission statements on websites with fantasies of delivering world-class homes when there is nothing to offer in the end.

Let’s not even get started on the bragging of world-class facilities by our leaders which are crumbling because of our pathetic maintenance culture, or rather the lack of it.

The problem with PR1MA is that it started off as a politically driven plan. Not the entire fault of the people running the programme but the politicians. It was not market driven, just ask the developers.

But in Malaysia, no one takes responsibility. The reality is PR1MA has been badly managed.

Why would any Malaysian citizen pay for a home at between RM200,000 and RM400,000 in a location with no public transport accessibility, as an example, and it includes areas like Kuala Muda and Baling in Kedah.

Perhaps, Kedah Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor should visit these sites and listen to the many PR1MA applicants who are still waiting for their homes instead of shooting-off ill-thought-out statements.

Sanusi had reportedly accused Nga of having a hidden agenda by emulating HDB’s housing plans and purportedly trying to subjugate the Malays by bringing back local elections.

The reality is that nearly 80% of Singaporeans are living in flats administered by HDB.

It is one of the few countries in the world with almost 100% home ownership.

Developed countries like the United States, United Kingdom and nearer to home, even Hong Kong, are still grappling with low-cost homes for its people as high rentals eat up the budget of the city dwellers.

But tiny Singapore has been able to resolve the problem and yet we have politicians and, perhaps officials, who are too proud to want to learn from our neighbour.

Worse, we have someone like Sanusi who churns out outrageous remarks with racist overtones. That’s what happens when politics takes precedence over everything.

Still serving the people


THE past two months have been particularly tough for PKR leader Nurul Izzah Anwar.

A hectic 15th General Election (GE15) campaign in November took a toll on her, and culminated in her unexpectedly losing in her constituency of Permatang Pauh, Penang.

As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim set off to form the Unity Government, Nurul Izzah was also busy working behind the scenes to put the foundations in place. This included crisscrossing the country to talk to people to plan for the Budget. But she paid a heavy price: she suffered a miscarriage.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday Star since that personal tragedy, Nurul Izzah, 42, talks about what she’s been doing and how she will continue to serve the rakyat in her new role in government.

First of all, I wish to say I am sorry to hear the news of your miscarriage.

Thank you kindly. I felt by sharing I could somehow lend a voice to so many other women and their loved ones who shared similar experiences.

Naturally, I am sad, but God always has better plans for everything. So we soldier on, remain hopeful and grateful for all the wonderful blessings in life.

How has the GE15 loss affected you?

I have been in politics for a while now – as my friends say, I’m an “old” young face! I was first elected as MP back in 2008 at the age of 27 but was involved even earlier during the setting up of PKR in 2003.

It’s been more than two decades since my involvement in activism and later politics proper began, and since then I’ve participated in four elections.

What started as a journey to seek justice for my family evolved into a mission to bring justice to all Malaysians. So as disappointing as it is for me personally, it doesn’t matter if Nurul Izzah loses, it’s more important that Malaysians win.

If anything, my electoral loss in GE15 has only strengthened my resolve to serve the people and work on reforms for better governance across the board. To me, I regard it as a temporary setback.

Will you remain active in politics?

Of course! I am currently serving my fourth stint as a VP of Keadilan. I’m still very much involved in serving my party.

But leadership is more than just about partisan politics – it is about service.

There are other avenues to participate in to bring about reforms. While I may not be in Parliament to serve the rakyat, I am now serving the government in shaping public policy and putting policy into practice.

What have you been doing after GE15 as it appears that you have stayed away from the limelight?

I have been serving as Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister on Economics and Finance effective Jan 3, 2023.

It is my fervent hope that my past experience in the legislature as an MP, work on poverty and technical and vocational education, and service on the Public Accounts Committee can be leveraged in my engagement with experts in navigating economic governance, accountability, and evidence-based policies.

One of my goals is to channel and leverage the talents of Malaysia’s best and brightest, both within and outside the government, to add value to the ongoing efforts to improve the rakyat’s economic situation.

I am also a firm believer in listening to people directly. As part of our Budget preparations, we have not only been meeting business groups and the usual stakeholders, but we have also been seeking input from the people, especially those in the B40 group, and not forgetting the M40 group.

The instruction from the PM was clear: talk to the rakyat and listen to their ideas, concerns, and expectations. They are the most important stakeholders of all.

In the years that you have been in politics, you have emerged a leader in your own right. Tell us about your journey in leadership. How do you see this evolving in your new role?

Since my first stint in politics during the spark of the Reformasi movement, to the present day, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot from various leaders whom I look up to.

Values are important. An effective leader espouses compassion and humility, while at the same time being able to make tough decisions and never losing sight of the bigger picture.

Leadership is not about personal glory or seeking glory, leaders must recognise and nurture talent and connect these individuals to opportunities to further improve their skills and abilities for the sake of society.

My new roles will allow me to take on new responsibilities that are no doubt challenging given the economic headwinds we are facing. However, I am confident of being able to contribute to the evolution of a Malaysia that not only seeks growth for growth’s sake, but one that elevates all strata of society and provides equity in opportunities.

Our youth must have hope in Malaysia. Things may not improve overnight, but the decisions we make today will determine the Malaysia that they inherit tomorrow.

The Prime Minister recently spoke of Malaysia Madani*, what is your personal view about what he has articulated? Is Malaysia ready for this?

At its core, the concept of Madani is a call for a “civilised” Malaysia – entailing the rejection of corruption and of disharmonious or undemocratic practices.

It is not an idea alien to Malaysians; these concepts are already embodied by our national philosophies and values, including the Rukun Negara.

As you have written in a recent article, the PM has been talking about Madani since the early 1990s. It simply boils down to good governance, embracing diversity, and creating a fair and just system.

But it’s important that all of us – not just the government – must make this a reality and not just talk. Not mere slogans and big words. The people must be able to relate to it and benefit from it.

So how does the Madani policy benefit the people?

This philosophy is not new – the masyarakat Madani concept was discussed by Anwar 26 years ago. Kemasyarakatan, or community empowerment and inclusiveness, remains the core.

This is the philosophy used during my years as an MP. Projects must be sustainable and centred on community empowerment instead of just being one-off projects. The Permatang Pauh Social Impact Agenda, for example, focuses on empowering the community, that is why many projects include collaboration with local universities and experts to empower the community.

Malaysia is blessed as we have a caring and compassionate society. One need only look to the recent pandemic and floods to see how we banded together to help each other during times of crisis.

However, there are efforts to disrupt the harmony by politicising differences rather than celebrating togetherness. It makes it all the more important for us to ensure that our communities are empowered and driven by the right socioeconomic agenda to face further challenges.

Many Malaysians are concerned by what has been termed the Green Wave, with PAS making gains in the Malay heartland. What is your view?

The results of GE15 have proven that no political party can form the federal government without the other key components, especially from Sabah and Sarawak.

No one party can do without the other parties. That was why the Unity Government was formed.

Malaysia is multiracial and multi-religious. This is why Keadilan is open to all races. For the first time in our history, the country’s PM is from a multiracial party and that is significant.

I won’t go into the hypocrisy of politicians using religion to justify poor governance. Most Malaysians want a PM and a government that embraces diversity and practises good governance.

It is incumbent upon us to demonstrate that we have the will to govern in a manner that is just, progressive and fair both in social and economic terms.

*Madani is an acronym for a policy under the Malaysia Unity Government that embraces six core values: keMampanan (sustainability), kesejAhteraan (prosperity), Daya cipta (innovation), hormAt (respect), keyakiNan (trust) and Ihsan (compassion).