Are We Moving towards a Two Party System?

Political development in Malaysia today indicates that we're moving towards a two party system but we are most ill-prepared for it. The US for example has the Democratic and Republican party as alternative choice for setting up the government while the UK has the Conservative and the Labour Party. Most other democratic countries follow this line and Malaysians may have no choice but to do the same.

We now have the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat, both made up of smaller parties as in other countries, which are never free from internal bickerings and power struggle. But once the two major parties are formed, they become the choice for the people in electing their government at both the national and state level. The party in power at the federal level does not always hold power at the state level. That's democracy!

But what's happening in Malaysia when five States ( or now four) go to the opposition? We've endless wranglings and struggle for
power, a continuous exchange of charges and insults, demoralizing efforts to persuade assemblymen to cross over party lines,
the washing of dirty linen in the media, and a continuous outpouring of grievances and condemnations between parties, leaders and followers which can put the country and nation to shame. Worst of all, it can even cause a social upheaval or a racial disharmony!

How come other countries with a two-party system have been able to work out things pretty well? They have changed government even at the national level, each party forming the government at one time and becoming the loyal opposition at another. Malaysians (especially our political leaders) must begin to learn some of the principles that must be abided by if the
present political uncertainties in the country are to be overcome. Some obvious ones include:

* both the role of government and loyal opposition are important to keep a country on even keel, balanced and healthy;
* the two parties must respect each other in the role that the people have chosen them to perform;
* the right of the people to choose the role that each party will play at different times and under different circumstances
should be respected;
* each party must be able to control it components members and keep them disciplined; and
* both parties in the two-party system must work towards the same goal, to promote the best interest of the country and the
people.

Based on these principles, there's no need for one party to look down on the role of another: whether you're in the government or the opposition you've just as important a role to play. The people have a right to reassess the role you're playing and changing it according to the need of the time. We all know that a very fast pace of development can bring about several undesirable consequences such as an increase in crime and it viciousness, moral breakdown, money politics and corruptions,
breakdown of values, disrespect for the old etc. We, therefore, need to be more critical and disciplined, more discreet and stringent with our choice, if we're to remold our identity and image, rebuild our strength and character and set a new pattern of development, different from the 'anything-goes' type of the past.

Hence we need a more critical approach to development now and a government that asks a lot of questions, raises issues and problems and not just sweep them all under the carpet. If that be so then a role switch for the party which has been in power all the time may be good, though it can also be disastrous. Whatever it is, a role switch as chosen by the people must be respected and the party involved should not be causing unnecessary political turbulence in the nation to retain its position.

Malaysians have to be ready to move towards a two party system. The earlier we learn the rules the better. Politicians must be the first to understand, appreciate and abide by the rules.

This is Not an Ugly Muslim but a picture of innocence and kindess. The Muslim mother loves her daughter like any other mother from any other races. Only murderers have no qualms in
hurting and killing mothers and babies for any reasons whatever. Nothing but nothing can pay for the blood of the innocence.

The Ugly Muslims.

I've finished reading Jack Higgins' Rough Justice, and couldn't help feeling that all Muslim characters are seen as murdering rouges by western writers. Fahy, Hassim. Ali Hassim, Selim, Abdul, Ayeshah etc, are all brutal killers who'd shoot, slice a neck or stab a human chest without betting an eye.Al-Qaedah and the Brotherhodd of God are portrayed as most ungodly. Is it any surprise that all the western countries are siding with the US, UK and the EU countries( and all supporting Israel), against the Palestinians, the Hamas, Lebanese Muslims etc. in determining the conditions for peace talk.
The novels are read by millions. What can a half hour or less meeting with the western world leaders do to explain the Muslim's pov by OIC politicians?

Malaysian Govt and other rich Islamic Govts too should commission writers to write mind-boggling novels to show the Muslim's cause and present god-fearing characters ( not necessarily Mullahs and Ustazs) as heroes or co-heroes. A good, readable, entertaining, page-turner novel. readable by western readers would be worth more than all the money spent on negotiations and
seminars to explain the Muslim's plight and sufferings, especially in Palestine and the Gaza Strip. Why would the the western readers and tv-watchers watch scenes of murder and brutalities brought upon Muslim women and children ( the men are all rouges and terrorists!, when they Muslims as a whole are seen as ugly barbarians and ungodly. Only good, entertaining and mind-blowing novels, showing some of the ugly scenes behind the President's and Prime Ministers offices in the western world
as also shown by Jack Higgins' novels and those of other writers, would set the world-view of Muslims in the right perspective.
The money-seeking Muslim OPPORTUNISTS, SPIES, DOUBLE-DEALERS, AND VILLAINS in the novels and terrorists' acts ARE NOT TRUE MUJAHIDEENS, or jihad fighters who only want justice for their oppressed and deceived brothers, even at the cost of their lives.

Put the millions spent on useless or fruitless negotiations ( at very expensive places and luxurious living) on powerful writing to psyche and pry open the closed western mind, appeal to their conscience through a creative and intellectual expose of human lives, stop cursing the west and bemoaning the Muslim's fate, and we may make more progress towards human understanding. Let even western authors participate. They need to do research to write the novels and doing research is the best way towards a full understanding of a situation. If money talks let it talk to create literary works that can appeal to the literary mindset of the west - but pay as well as they do for their creative writing. Pay with peanuts and you only get the monkeys. Government must take the lead in this venture or INVESTMENT IN HUMAN UNDERSTANDING.

Anxious Month

Malaysians be must very anxious this month, waiting for the Abdullah-Najib transition. And what a time for a change when the economy is in turmoil, politics is at its worst in terms of moral turpitude, assemblymen ( and women) are disappearing or (allegedly) being offered big money to crossover, the authority of the Sultan is being challenged, and the rights of the Muslim's are being trampled on by the superpowers. The transformation of the ACA into a Commission seems to place the decision to prosecute or not on a number of Commisioners. Will that ensure speed and justice or delay the process while the former ACA DG
seems to be free to make prejudicial statements.

I think a lot will happen this month. Malaysians must remain calm and cool, and let the show roll on. LETS WAIT N SEE, for ultimately the people must decide for themselves. The politicians are only powerful until the next call for election. Let us, the common people, sit in judgement while the politicians do their battle. This will enable us to make a better choice of leaders in the next poll.

The Gaza

Tun Dr Mahathir's comments last night ( 5.1.2009) about the situation in the Gaza, brought me to this blog after a long hibernation. After saying that the Israeli's bloody and destructive aggression into the Gaza ( 560 dead and 2400 plus injured so far including innocent children) had the support of the US and UK, that the Muslims countries had no way of forming an armed pact to stop the aggression and Obama himself would not survive without giving his support to Israel, T.D. Mahathir concluded that "there's no alternative but for the armed terrorists to continue fighting for the rights of the Palestinians."

For a very sharp and resourceful ex-Premier to say this is very disheartening. He further said that the OIC could do nothing but protest to the UN which could do nothing. He also said that the Arab World and the oil producing countries would not use their oil to go against the US. This is like pronouncing the death warrant for Palestine and later, Islam. And the sad thing about it is that T.D. Mahathir is probably right.

So what can the Muslim world do? Nothing at all? Just boycott US' goods or throw our shoes at the US President ( Bush perhaps but not Obama).

I think the Muslim world and Muslims all over the world can do more than that. The Israelis are not Christians.Their influence or power on the Christians in the US and UK is based on the financial strength of their business Mafia in those countries. Both are now in the worst kind of financial trouble they had ever faced. The Arab oil Mafia are now the strongest in the world. Can't they do something to influence the US and UK? Are the Muslim intellectuals too dumb to suggest something that can be done
to use the petrol dollar to good use, in the name of Allah!

I wouldn't pretend to be able to suggest anything at this point. Let the Muslim scholars put their mind to work, to bring out the wisdom of the al-Quran and Hadith to good use, to save Islam and the Muslims from a terrible shame and a terrible defeat. Don't just say Allah is Great. Prove it through the actions of His abid - His faithful followers, to lend support to the freedom fighters or Mujahideens. Terrorism is certainly NOT the way. Find an alternative which can be more acceptable to the western world,

Watching Things Happen!

It's some months since I posted anything on this site. The reason is: there were too many thing happening and I prefer to just watch. Let things settle down somewhat before making any comment. Giving views while things are happening is like evaluating a film before it ends.

The most significant happening to me in the last few months on the world scene is Obama's victory as the next President of the United States. Who'd have guessed that a non-white would make it to the White House? It just showed that even the whites can get fed up with their own kind when the leaders they chose failed them. Does that say something for the Bumiputeras? Or for UMNO, MCA , MIC, Gerakan etc for that mater? Pushed to the point of nausea, it doesn't matter who leads so long as he seems able, capable and has a clean record.

A second glaring truth that the last few months since August have shown is that: a transition plan for a change of leadership made by the leaders themselves may not hold any longer. People are becoming suspicious of a planned change because a plan carries many aspects the values (and interests) of the past. These can nullify the objectives of the change although some kind of continuity is required for sustained development. It's just that continuity should not mean 'more of the same'.

That says much for what we want in Malaysia. 50 years of independence have given birth to a new society with new values. The prosperous Malaysians already have enough of crowded modern shopping complexes and supermarkets, jammed-up highways and roads, beautiful house, fast cars, fast food, satellite TVs etc. The poor feel that they have been short-changed, neglected or cheated. Hence the increase in the illegal means of getting what they need, crimes and vengeance. If the rich continue to get richer and the poor poorer, the Police will not have an easy time to keep the peace.

Another interesting development is the changes brought about by the new Pakatan government in the states. Many old issues (some of them swept under the carpet) are being reexamined. If anything at all, the complacency and compromises on the part of the old regime would be shaken. It's of course too early to judge the performance of the new leaders but how the old leaders react to being put under the magnifying glass, is very interesting to observe.

Most interesting, we hear some old leaders defending what they have done in the past. Listen to them carefully. Any admission of errors or mistakes? It would be so heartening to hear any such admission for it means that the errors or mistakes would not be repeated the next time around, if and when they come into power again. More importantly, such admission would prevent the current leaders for pursuing the same course of event.

We have a couple of months more to wait for the next important step in the new political development of this country. I'd prefer to just watch until then, unless something disturbing happens. Life can be quite calm and peaceful when you choose to just watch, until you find a place where you can chip in with some impact.

Confidence Crisis