What people expect in this brand new year - 2023.

It may be a new year may but I believe the hopes and expectations of the Rakyat remain the same in principle. 

Firstly, we all want to be able to live a life of dignity and have equal opportunities. Dignity is something essential to all human beings. It means being worthy of respect and honour. The opposite of this clearly means being treated as worthless or being disrespected. A true leader would do his/her utmost to ensure that the citizens have the opportunity to lead dignified lives. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”. 

A person’s self-worth and dignity can be lifted or destroyed by government policies and the laws of the land. A child who grows up being discrimination or ostracized from mainstream society simply because of the accident of his/her birth may become unhappy adult who feels oppressed. Only a leader with compassion, good conscience and who truly “fears” God can understand this. Therefore, a compassionate government should ensure that policies and processes exist that provide ample opportunities for those with talent to thrive. Policies should also exist to ensure the less fortunate among us, whether socially or economically, can lift themselves by way of positive assistance. 

Cruel discrimination in the name of race, religion or social status should never be allowed to be part of society, especially in a society that has a majority Muslim population like Malaysia. This is because any policy which is race based is clearly against the teachings of Islam. 

Furthermore, under the heading of “human dignity” are also economic and employment opportunities, positive working conditions, and equitable distribution of resources. I think it is time the government focuses again on small and medium enterprises, and cottage industries. There has been so much focus on mega projects that do not seem to benefit the common rakyat. Development in the country has also been too Klang valley-centric while the rest of Malaysia does not benefit. A proper policy would be able to create employment opportunities outside the Klang valley so that more balanced development can take place in Malaysia. 

Secondly, the government and political leaders should properly understand the provisions of fundamental liberties enshrined in Part II of the Federal Constitution – articles 5 to 13. Citizens themselves should familiarize themselves with these important provisions. You can only protect your rights if you know you have them. 

The Government should ensure that whatever policies that are passed strengthen these fundamental rights and not whittle them away. Parliamentarians should be engaging intelligently in debates and committed in ensuring that whatever bills that the Government passes does not contravene these Constitutional provisions. The Rakyat would be pleased to benefit from positive contributions from the minds of the parliamentarians rather than annoying sounds from their mouths. 

Thirdly, I hope that this Government is serious about and courageous in fostering true national unity. It is very sad that after more than 60 years of being independent we still allow blatantly divisive speeches, statements and politics to flourish in this country. 

I am not only referring to unity between the Malays and the non-Malays but between every Malaysian. And the Government ought to be wary of efforts to divide the Malays themselves for political reasons. They should also be vigilant of the rise of religious extremism which seems to be creeping quietly into Malaysia, posing serious security threats. 

Hence, it is my hope that this government addresses the issue of national unity substantially and designs long term policies that can unite Malaysians in striving for a common Malaysian Dream. Obviously, this effort must begin in the formative periods of Malaysian children. 

Fourthly, there needs to be serious efforts made to halt or reduce corrupt practices in all of our institutions and in all spheres of society. Corruption is not only cruel in the sense that scarce resources are diverted to feed the greedy rather that help the rakyat, but it also increases the costs of living. The negative effects of corruption are well known and I would not want to repeat it here. However, I have to emphasize that if there is real political will and efforts made, corruption can be significantly reduced. 

The Government should establish a task force or a committee with powers to come up with a way to tackle corruption in all institutions in the country. It is no doubt a major task but one that needs to be urgently undertaken. The corruption agency can audit lifestyles of even past political leaders to take back wealth that has been stolen through corrupt practices. If there is will, there is a way. The laws are certainly there.

Lastly, there needs to be continued respect for and upholding of the rule of law. Rule of law is a vast area that includes equality before the law, equal access to the law and so on. Essentially, adherence to the rule of law is the ordinary citizen’s last line of defence against oppression by the privileged or the powerful. Hence, our parliamentarians must ensure that any law approved is just. 

It is also important to ensure that whenever discretionary powers are given, as may be necessary, there are effective checks and balances. This is because, discretionary powers may also result in corruption, abuse and oppression. 

With this, I wish the readers: Happy new Year ! 

Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos.

Rakyat Mempertahankan kesejahteraan negara

Memang pun semua orang tahu bahawa kerajaan perlu untuk mentadbir negara dari pelbagai segi. Pada amnya, Kerajaan boleh dikatakan terdiri daripada wakil-wakil rakyat yang menjawat jawatan dalam kabinet dan keduanya daripada sektor perkhidmatan awam.

Amanah Sektor Perkhidmatan awam

Perkara 132 (1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan mengariskan siapa kah yang tergolong didalam sektor perkhidmatan awam seperti berikut:

Bagi maksud Perlembagaan ini, perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan awam ialah—

(a) angkatan tentera;

(b) perkhidmatan kehakiman dan perundangan;

(c) perkhidmatan awam am Persekutuan;

(d) pasukan polis;

(e) (Dimansuhkan);

(f) perkhidmatan awam bersama yang disebut dalam Perkara 133;

(g) perkhidmatan awam setiap Negeri; dan

(h) perkhidmatan pendidikan.

Senarai diatas jelas merangkumi pelbagai aspek penting yang menyentuh kehidupan Rakyat serta kesejahteraan am Negara. Kumpulan ini lah yang lazimnya mentadbir negara secara hampir otomatis samada piliahan raya ada atau pun tidak. Maka, mereka di berikan kuasa dan pengaruh yang besar untuk menjalankan amanah bagi pihak Rakyat jelata.

Sebagai imbuhan atau balasan untuk menjalankan amanah mereka dengan seefisien dan sejujur mungkin, mereka di bayar serta di beri kemudahan-kemudahan dan keistimewaan yang tidak dinikmati oleh rakyat lain. Sebagai contoh, pekerjaaan mereka pada amnya tetap/stabil, gaji tiap2 bulan pun tetap/stabil, dapat pencen, dapat kemudahan luarbiasa untuk memperolehi pinjaman perumahan dan sebagai nya.  Semua ini di tanggung oleh Rakyat jelata sebagai "majikan" kepada mereka. 

Maka, tidak harian lah dan sebenarnya di alu alukan oleh Rakyat apabila SPRM di bawah pimpinan Pesuruhjaya SPRM Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad kini mengambil langkah berterusan untuk memastikan bahawa gejala rasuah di kalangan sektor awam di hapuskan.  Adalah menjadi harapan Rakyat bahawa usaha SPRM ini akan melahirkan sikap benci rasuah dan melihat rasuah sebagai kemungkaran yang menindas Rakyat jelata dikalangan anggota perkhidmatan awam. Rakyat yang bertangunggjawap dan cintakan kesejahteraan Negara wajib menyokong usaha SPRM ini melalui beberapa cara. 

Disamping menyokong usaha SPRM, Rakyat harus sentiasa perihatin bahawa menjadi tanggungjawap kita bersama untuk mempertahankan kewibawaan, integriti dan maruah institusi-insitusi negara seperti yang disenaraikan dalam Artikel 132(1) Perlembagaan Malaysia daripada di cemari oleh tindakan sebilangan kecil dalam institusi-insitusi tersebut mahupun oleh tindakan sesiapa yang lain. 

Eksekutif atau Wakil Wakil rakyat dalam Kabinet 

Kabinet memainkan peranan yang teramat penting didalam menentukan polisi negara serta memastikan bahawa wawasan atau polisi yang di tetapkan bersama dicapai dalam tempoh yang di tentukan. Disamping itu, kabinet juga berkuasa didalam mempengaruhi agihan harta dan sumber-sumber negara. Pendekata, sebagai manusia, mereka juga terdedah kepada bisikan syaitan untuk berlaku tidak adil, bersikap korupsi dan menindas.

Kumpulan ini juga perlu di awasi oleh Rakyat supaya tidak berlaku sebarang penyalahgunaan kuasa yang merugikan negara dan rakyat. Rakyat harus memastikan bahawa golongan ini juga tertakluk kepada undang-undang tertentu yang dapat mendorong mereka kepada tindakan-tindakan yang baik dan menjauhi bisikan syaitan. Peruntukkan didalam Perlembagaan Malaysia bahawa semua Rakyat adalah saksama dibawah undang-undang perlu di  manifestasikan. 

Rakyat perlu ingat bahawa terdapat banyak pemimpin politik yang memang ikhlas dan berusaha untuk berkhidmat kepada Rakyat. Namun, ada juga yang hanya menggunakan kedudukan untuk memperkayakan diri  dengan anggapan bahawa mereka tidak akan tertangkap dan rakyat tidak boleh buat apa-apa. 

Pemimpin politik yang korup harus tahu bahawa tidak ada had masa dalam mendakwa sesiapa untuk suatu perbuataan jenayah. Maksudnya, jangan lah mana-mana pemimpin politik korup menjangka bahawa selepas mereka bersara, undang-undang tidak boleh membawa mereka ke gelanggang keadilan walaupun berdekad dekad telah berlalu.

Rakyat sentiasa berawas dan mempertahankan kesejahteraan Negara.  Kalau kita sendiri tidak buat, orang lain tidak akan.

Salam ramadan.

Ok, If I am Ok !!!

By: ASP Nik Ezanee

 1. When the topic of corruption comes up, people are quick to point
fingers and the usual suspects are the politicians and the police.

2. There are probably many good reasons why most fingers are pointed
to that few direction. Some may agree, some not. However, we can agree
that many people want this to change.

3. Have we checked in with ourselves lately? What I have notice is
that people are quick to point the mistakes of others, while condone
the very same mistake if it benefits them personally. Hence, "It is ok
if I am ok with it."

4. It is NOT ok for Officials to accept gifts. But it is OK for me to
buy the Officials the latest Iphone 5 each to maintain good rapport
with them. Dinner, overseas trips, golf? karaoke sessions?

5. It is NOT ok for Police to accept bribe. But it is OK for me to
offer it to them to save my neck. (and later brag about it to friends
and family, "they even settled for $50", "oh I paid $100, rather than
getting $300 ticket")

6. It is NOT ok for ME to take bribes, but it is OK to ask my staff to
find sponsors for golf games, company events, overseas trips, birthday
gifts for bosses. "Sponsors" ??

7. It is NOT ok to take $100 from contractors like the previous guy!!
That is Corrupt and Arrogant! But it is OK to take $60.

8. It is NOT ok to ask for $100, but it is OK to receive $100 since it
was offered and not demanded.

9. It is NOT ok to accept bribe but it is OK to add extra milage on
that claim. How about that extra hours or 'business lunch with
friends' claim? How about using company's property for personal use?
Car, helicopter, jets? Stationaries maybe?

10. It is NOT ok that politicians live lavishly but it is definitely
OK to hide some amount of my income from the IRB.

11. It is NOT ok for everyone else to do it.. But it is definitely OK
FOR ME to do it.

12. Change doesn't mean you have go out there condemning everything
about our country.

13. Change starts from you and me.

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Ex_Telcom Minister & Ex-CM's daughter arrested and jailed

Form the high-profile bungalows , rubbing shoulders with power, to a dingy ladies cellular cell in Delhi's most notorious Tihar Jail, it has been a nightmare for member of Parliament, Kanimozhi. She was denied bail because of her involvement in the 2G scam and sent to Tihar Jail. Most of the other accused in this case including the ex- Telecom Minister A. Raja are also lodged there.
Kanimozhi's first night in Tihar Jail was a far cry from the hustle and bustle, and the media attention that she has got, ever since her name came up the 2G embezzlement case.

You can read the rest here.

Former Minister Returns RM200 million to Treasury: An Act Of Conscience.

Putrajaya: In a totally unprecedented move, a former Minister took the step of returning a total of RM200 million that he had allegedly amassed during the time he was serving in the cabinet holding various ministerial positions.

Dressed in a clown suit to avoid recognition, he told the press conference the reasons that prompted him to do so, citing disturbance of his conscience as the main reason.

[image thanks to here ]

“It is pointless for me to go on hoarding the ill-gotten wealth when I am not able to sleep well at night anymore. My family also had undergone various challenges including two of my children who have actually grown up not to be exemplary at all. Maybe that is nature’s way of punishing me for taking away other children’s’ rightful resources”.  

“Furthermore, I cannot take anymore the superficial and insincere respect that I seem to get whenever I attend any functions. It is as if they think I am the scum of the earth in their hearts”. 

A reporter asked if he could just explain it away as having made the money through investments and business.

He responded, “The people are not stupid anymore. They can calculate the number of years I was a minister with the official salary I get and the lifestyle my family leads. They also have access nowadays to the property I own. It is not possible anymore to explain that I got the wealth from business because I should have been busy as a Minister serving the People”.

“I can see the people’s trend now very clearly. The Rakyat are suffering and it will not be long before they all start lobbing for an Act to compel ex-Ministers and government servants to return ill-gotten wealth. I thought I’ll do it first before the law compels me”.

"I have also asked my children to give back all the government contracts because I am finding it embarrassing to explain how they could have got it while many other qualified ordinary Rakyats could not".

He ended the press conference by saying, “I hope my act will motivate others to do the same before they face the wrath of the Rakyat”.

I went back home and started drafting the Recovery of People’s Property Enactment (ROPPE) to be tabled at Parliament.

[I woke up and I realized all the above was just a dream. Damn!]

Peace!

You are at the Mercy of the System – do you not want to make sure it is does not oppress you?

The majority of us are ordinary citizens. Ordinary in the sense that we go about our own lives without much influence on the system that surrounds us. However, with every turn, our lives are affected by the system we live in. Let me make myself clear by giving an example.

It can be a very simple thing like: - you want to start a small business because you want to support your family and earn an income. Having registered your business, you now may want to apply for the relevant permits or licences. This application process should be a simple and routine process. The relevant authorizing officer should simply ascertain whether your application complies with the law. If all requirements under the law are complied, then, the application should be expeditiously approved. If there are any shortcomings, he should advise you to rectify the same. After all, civil servants are supposed to be civil and “servants” of the Rakyat.

However, do things always go according to what I have described above?

You may meet an officer who wants to be taken “care of” before he can “speed up” or even approve your application.  You are in a dilemma. You are starting a business because you need income to live but you have to pay toll first. You also know that the request is immoral and illegal because it is corruption. You get frustrated, maybe angry but you realize you need the licence. 

You have bills to pay. You have a family to support. You have to find money to live because God has given you a life. So, you need the licence or permit. All you want is to do a business and earn honestly. But the system seems to oppress you and prevent you from doing so.

So, you weigh your options. You can report the officer to his superiors. But will the superior protect his officer and put you into trouble instead, your mind worries. All you want is just the licence or permit. Maybe you should report the officer to the MACC, you wonder. But all you want is just the licence, your mind insists. Further, you are concerned about “how to prove”. It is just your word. You are also concerned that your application for the licence may be further jeopardized. In this country, we still do not have an Act to protect whistle blowers adequately.

You may also consider the last option of doing your business without the licence – illegally and run the risk of “greasing” enforcement officers instead. Or finally, you may decide to forget about the licence application and tell your family that they just have to starve.

Someone comes along and suggests that you get a letter of recommendation from some MP or Adun or better still from a political secretary to a Minister. They tell you that the “surat sokongan” will help. You do it and go back to the officer. Two things may happen: 1) he asks you how much you paid the political secretary for the letter (you didn’t pay but he does not believe you anyway!) and/or 2) he still insists on his toll payment which you refuse and/or 3) Your application is “considered” and rejected though you comply with all the requirements of the law.

You go back home and tell your kids that papa cannot afford to support them since the government does not give him the licence to start a business. They and your relatives begin to hate the government whom you now see as wanting your family to suffer. Your kids ask what wrong have they done. You have no answer. It is the system that YOU have allowed to evolve.

I am not exaggerating here. Over the years, I have heard these complaints so many times from low and lower middle income people who want to start a small business honestly. I have offered to pursue the matter but most of them are afraid. It also does not help that some of the complainants are Malays because the oppressive officer is also a Malay.

It is such stories that have convinced me that corrupt and evil people come in all skin colors and labels. They eat the flesh of the weaker ones from any tribe including their own to satisfy their evil and selfish desires. This is why I have always maintained that tribalistic mentality is not good for the majority weaker ones in the tribe. Racism is a cover to exploit one’s own race and spread hatred.

You can apply the above story to every aspect of your life – every single government department, agency, the so called Courts of justice, etc, etc. There are rotten people everywhere. However, not all become unjust due to money. There are other motivations or reasons – friendships, pure laziness, indifference, arrogance, etc, etc. The effect is: you are inflicted with injustice and you feel powerless to do anything about it. You feel alone in the fight.

The system should work. It should work for the People. We have to study the system and rectify its weakness so that ordinary people are not being pushed around, bullied and oppressed. People must insist that they too have a dignity that must be respected and recognized.

If you have a high sense of dignity and refuse to be cowed by people in seeming power lording over you unjustly, what do you do? You know there will be risks in opposing these people because even other citizens may not support you. Citizens tend to be selfish. “Not my problem”, may be their mindset.

I am sure many times, you may have wanted to take the law into your own hands and “get justice”. Inflict a pain on the oppressors. Make them suffer as they make you and your family suffer. However, such an approach will not solve the problem in the long run. It may also get you into problems with the law.

So, if you are a Rapera – what would you do??? What would you do????

What I know is that a single voice is never loud enough to be heard.

Peace !

RETURN ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH TO THE RAKYAT

What the People would really love to see is the return of ill gotten wealth by some of the "past leaders" returned to the Rakyat.

For the past weeks， I have been hearing the same call again - investigate past leaders. Examine their adherence to accepted government procedures, examine whether there has been any corrupt practices while in office and scrutinize their wealth portfolio. People in positions of power and responsibility must know that resignations will not absolve them of any crime against the Rakyat.

Take the money back and give it back to the Rakyat.

PEACE！

MALAYSIAN ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION (MACC) IMAGE SMEARED?

MACC is one of the bodies that has emerged from Pak Lah's reform moves before he quits in March. Formerly, it was known as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACA). The MACC is meant to be independent, transparent, efficient and carry out their duties according to the rule of law.

The claim by the opposition leader in Parliament recently that an operation concerning corruption which was carried out by ACA has yet to see any development is indeed disturbing. The facts and validity of this claim must be investigated and made public. Otherwise, the public may perceive that the MACC is indeed ACA in new clothes. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he would seek information on the claims. Read TheStar for the full report.

It is important that the image of MACC is intact for public confidence to be maintained in the body. Corruption must be weeded out but must be done in accordance with the law.

GROOMING FUTURE LEADERS .

Imagine the following scenario when the President of the party chairs a party meeting to choose potential leaders.

President: " we need to select 15 people to groom as the next generation of leaders. Ok. Lets start. Anyone with sons to propose?

[Five committee members raise their hands and hand over cards with their sons particulars written on it.]

President: Ok. Thats 5, anymore? none? Ok...how about daughters?

[Two committee members raise their hands and hand over cards with their daughters particulars written on it ]

President: Ok. Thats 2, anymore? none? Ok...how about son-in-laws?

[Two committee members raise their hands and hand over cards with their son-in-laws particulars written on it ]

President: Ok. Thats 2, anymore? none? Ok...how about daughters-in-laws?

[No one raises their hands]

President: Ok. I understand. We can't have our daughters-in-law in politics. Ok...how about nephews or nieces?

[Three committee members raise their hands and hand over cards with t particulars written on it ]

President: Ok. Thats 3, anymore? none? Ok...how about any relatives?

[No one raises their hands]

President: Ok. I know. We cannot have our relatives equally powerful and rich as us, What about friends or your cronies?

[Eight committee members raise their hands and hand over cards with particulars written on it]

President: Ok. We have more than enough. Next week we shall identify projects that can generate funds and set up these potential young leaders financially in poltics. Meeting adjourned.

Everyone reads some prayers and break off for tea.

Excesses and Others of the 1970s onwards - some thoughts

It is important for us to understand and maybe even revisit some of the events in our country post 1970 to mid-1990 in terms of the culture of excesses that we have allowed to grow.

Since the 1970s, our government (read: civil service) has grown and grown but noticeably there was not even a hint that government should be accountable. It was then mostly a notion that being government, it can do anything it wants. Hence as far as the delivery “system” was concerned, the rakyat was at its mercy. You are simply expected to be grateful for whatever service you receive. The quality or lack thereof of the civil service reflects on those responsible for the thinking and planning (if any) of the civil service. For more than 20 years, the civil service grew into a powerful, non accountable, bulky, corrupt and inefficient body that burdens the taxpaying rakyat. Sadly, no politician appear able or willing to stop the rot in the civil service – for fear of losing votes.

There was also the DEB which, I believe had good objectives. Unfortunately while a small minority gained, the majority did not. I believe much of the DEB’s measures were hijacked by greedy, selfish individuals for their gain at the expense of the target groups. I also believe that the DEB was used by irresponsible, cruel individuals to enrich themselves using the most dubious methods at the expense of the larger target group. Hence, the Ali Babas, the numerous “projek terbengkalai”, the failure of many companies and the terribly sick state of many GLCs.

At the outset, I must say that it is totally unfair and inaccurate to blame the whole Malay population as appears to be the unhealthy trend today. It is as a result of unholy alliances of individuals from various ethnic groups thinking only of themselves that have landed us in the state we are in today. This, Raperas must be clear of, for should we not be tired of being bondaged in cliché thinking after all these years???

The other factor of course is that we totally lack politicians with radical thinking abilities and determined persistence to get done what needs to be done. Everyone was thinking not only within the box but within a small corner of the box. Everyone developed a “tutup satu mata” value.

It is under such circumstances that the culture of excesses among the government began to flourish and became the norm. It became a socially acceptable Malaysian culture to “pay something ikhlas” to the civil servants to make them do the very job they are supposed to do. If something “ikhlas” is not given, the task may still be done but may be done many months later or completely shoddily. Sometimes, without the “ikhlas” element, your work may be doomed. When the Rakyat still does not understand the importance of an independent judiciary and the rule of law, puny napoleons make their own laws wrecking your lives.

The power of the “gomen” is not something you may want to complain because of fear that you may end up the victim. For short term and personal gains, the few corporate rakyat who were in cahoots with the corrupt civil servants actually sold off your children’s future. It must be gotten back.

To compound the problem, accountability is not a culture in our society which unashamedly pays lip service to Islam and eastern values and such moralistic diatribe. The systematic exclusion by the relevant authorities of any intelligent discussion of Islamic and Asian values only prevents the opening of the Rakyat’s eyes. The teachings of the Quran, however is very clear. Accountability and responsibility for personal actions are pivotal to one’s faith in Allah. One such verse is as follows:

“Therein (in hell) will they cry aloud (for assistance): "Our Lord! Bring us out: we shall work righteousness, not the (deeds) we used to do!" - "Did We not give you long enough life so that he that would should receive admonition? and (moreover) the warner came to you. So taste you (the fruits of your deeds): for the wrong-doers there is no helper." (35.037)

A believer (mukmin) or a submitter (muslim) will have no choice but to undertake steps that will truly create a norm of true accountability in society. The task is not easy but certainly it is not impossible. In any event, the only existing alternative is to allow the rot to continue until the entire of civilized society collapses.