Now the Challenge!

So, the election of new UMNO leaders' over. A new President (and PM),new DP (and DPM) new VPs, new Wanita Chief, new Youth Chief, new Puteri Chief. This augurs well for a big change in outlook and party culture. Everyone seems to endorse the big change.But what change? In which direction? The Opposition seems to be somewhat saddened by Paklah's withdrawl for they have never had it so good. Their worst fear is a reversal to Mahathirism - a strong, "ruthless" (sic) but deft hand at the helm. Paklah, they say could not push his own reform through his partyline for he was such a nice guy - not ruthless.

Whilst there's so much talk about change in UMNO especially with regard to the attitude and behavior of the leaders, I haven't yet seen any clear focus on the national problems that need to be addressed. What's being done to halt the economic crisis, reduced productivity and export, increasing unemployment/layoff, increasing debt ratio to GDP and deficit, ensure the effective use of the RM60 b.stimulus package and stop leakages, dispel the negative or destructive charges made by foreign countries on the character of some leaders, stop corruption and misuse of power and previleges, reform the Police as recommmended by the Royal Commission, review the use of English in Maths and Science vis-a-vis the use of Bahasa as an integrative factor in nation-building, regularize/normalize/improve' the relationship between opposition State Govt. and the Federal Govt., revamp the solidarity of the Barisan coalition itself, reestablish respect fot the Sultan, face the reality of a two-party system in Government etc.

When we hold up these issues and relook at the new UMNO leadership line-up together with those in MCA, MIC,etc. do we feel very comfortable? We certainly need to see some party stalwarts and strongmen to be held up against certain issues and problems, to make us feel confident that firm hands will start to work on them. Otherwise the promised changes can just remain a..promise. Let's see what will happen in the next few months. Hopefully there'll be a Cabinet shakeup to show up the
giants appointed to deal with the issues.

New Line-up of UMNO Leaders.

The waiting to see who will lead UMNO after Paklah/Najib combination, is about over. The Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri leadership is already known. This post is entered to register a few concerns, hoping that they will soon be removed.

Paklah's legacy seems to have a chance to linger through KJ. Rafidah's going to end. Puteri shows a strong will to try out new leadership. If the DPM's role is filled up by a 'clean stalwart' with new brains in the Majlis Tertinggi, Najib's new line-up ( the saf) will be very promising.

Clearly, the shadow of doubts on those suspected of money politics, does not count for much. But, whatever the shortcomings of Paklah's soft-sell regime were, the concern for corruptions has increased such that no new leader would dare to be as adventurous as their predecessors. The rise of PKR could be a blessing to make sure that shadowy characters would not any longer flaunt their ill-gained acquisitions openly.

The economic crisis that we must face is a great challenge to the new leadership line-up.Let's see what happens after this 59th
UMNO General Assembly is over.

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.