Pour Less Sugar On Me...

I return to one of my earlier series that explores the relationship of subsidies with marginal economics of essential products and its consumption in Malaysia, the 'cooking oil' series. However, as there is a variation in the product focussed on, being sugar, I've chosen to alude to a completely different set of artists to Shakespeare for the title of this piece... and I only chose Def Leppard as it seems to fit one of their hits... no hidden agenda... and of course, I like their music!

Yesterday, one of my favourite NGOs, the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), made the news again when they chose to go to press on the issue of Malaysians being among the highest, if not the highest, consumers of sugar in the world; 26 teaspoons of sugar a day! The CAP then urged the authorities to address this through education and legislation, whilst showcasing the direct and indirect medical implications of such high sugar consumption by Malaysians, such as:

1. Malaysia having the fourth highest number of diabetics in Asia which was expected to increase by more than 60% to 1.3 million in 2010.


2. ~72% of 16 million Malaysian adults are sick with a non-communicable disease like diabetes, hypertension or cancer.


3. Malaysia having the most overweight and obese people in Asia; ~54% of the adult population!

I wish to add a tangent to the lobby against sugar related more to economics though. Why is sugar consumption in Malaysia so high? I believe it is partly to do with the price of sugar, seeing as it is a controlled item, which is hence subsidised by the government! The proliferation of sugar hence is not just due to Malaysians having sweet teeth, but because as a bearer of taste, sugar is a cheap option to fulfill the demands of our discerning food-obsessed nation!

Subsidies on sugar presents a dis-economy in many ways, for not only does it boost the consumption of sugar based on an artificial demand-price trade-off, but as sugar or its raw materials are IMPORTED, there is no real benefit of its low prices to the greater economy! Sugar, unlike rice, is a luxury that is so non-essential that any increase in price leading to a consumption drop may not even result in a balancing consumption of other goods... people just consume less!

So, besides creating tycoons from these subsidised businesses, the only 'gain' to the Rakyat from low sugar prices, hence appears to be a frequently pursued transitional feel-good effect related to enjoying sweet stuff cheaply, probably as often as we can afford to! And the result healthwise...

I had expressed in an earlier posting of the need to abolish altogether the subsidies on sugar and the economics were directly related to health, as:

1. The relationship between high sugar intake and poor Malaysian health presents a link between sugar subsidies with poor worker productivity from absence or ineffective work due to illness. The direct economic impact of sugar subsidies on said reduction on national productivity would require a university thesis to quantify, but the link should be clear to us even now.


2. The direct impact of poor health of the populace would be an increased burden, and cost, on our healthcare system and infrastructure. Effectively, the cost is related not just to higher dispensation of drugs (hypertension pills, insulin, etc) and medical services, but also generally a higher cost to insure the health and death of Malaysian citizens as a whole even by public agencies and corporations.


3. The caring for the ill is still a very personal activity in Malaysia. As the number of those in need increase, the burden upon the healthy productive members of society will result in secondary inefficiencies that will further penalise the economy. Confusing? Well, imagine a working mum having to take time off to attend counselling of an obese child. Imagine the dad then being hospitalised for hypertension. Will the working mum remain working?


4. A generally less healthy populace results in the older generation being more ill and less productive at earlier age. For example, politicians are still considered young and sprightly in Japan at the age of 60, but in Malaysia, even at 55 some are labeled old! OK, politicians are perhaps not the best examples of productivity, but no one can deny the national shame at losing Yasmin Ahmad to stroke at the young age of 51!

The straight-line negative economic impact of sugar subsidies can hence be represented in the following chain (I'll chart it up nicely some other time):

Sugar Subsidies -> Higher Sugar Consumption (-ve economic impact from higher sugar imports) -> Poorer Health of Populace (-ve economic impact from poor productivity) -> Higher Healthcare Costs (-ve economic impact from avoidable increased cost of Health) -> Higher Insurance Costs (-ve economic impact from cost of Health cover) -> More Time Spent Caring for Ill (-ve impact from removal of productive workers to act as carers of the ill) -> Older Members Of Populace Relatively Less Productive (-ve impact on economic potential of population above 50 years of age)

So, whilst in theory potentially unpopular, the government should remove the sugar subsidies above all else. It makes sense in terms of ensuring better long-term health of the populace by effectively increasing the cost of getting ill from high sugar consumption. Hopefully I have also made a convincing argument as to the economic merit of removing the subsidy, not just because sugar is imported, but due to the real cost to our economy of the poor health it engenders.

DAP Pressing All The Wrong Panic Buttons

The DAP appears to be in much turmoil these days. Whilst its Pakatan chums PAS and PKR are continuing their evolution, with the former rediscovering its relationship with UMNO and the latter adding to its leadership and experience pool through BN defections, the DAP appears to be in at panic stations. Unfortunately, it also seems to be pressing all the wrong panic buttons!

Much of the furore over the last week and a bit has been revolving around the death of young DAP political aide, Teoh Beng Hock. However, it should be noted that DAP has been in hot soup and miss-stepping in response for some weeks prior to that. Worth pointing out here some notable occurances in this blogger's tangentially tuned eyes:

1. The DAP has been pointing fingers at the BN government as the instigator of recent investigations of its leaders in the Selangor state government and associated agencies. They've conveniently forgotten that the accusations of misconduct were also hurled at them by PKR MPs YB Azmin Ali and YB Woo Chee Keong, also an ex-DAP man, have been more pointed, carry more weight seeing as they come from 'allies', and mirror the MACC investigations.


2. The DAP made a major song and dance over how a few of their exco members and MPs were being investigated for what are showcased as 'minor contributions' to the 'rakyat'. In this, they have failed to realise that MACC investigations have become routine since it was formed and that far more BN stalwarts have been questioned to date! This show of moral indignation is now seen by some as immature arrogant petulance by the DAP.


3. Even prior to Teoh's death, the DAP had been hinting on the 'racism' practiced by MACC. Upon Teoh's death, this accusation rose to a crescendo! It was hence to the DAP's great misfortune when the MACC revealed that they have been pursuing UMNO, i.e. Malay, political leaders, legislators, etc. harder since the time of its formation. If the MACC was racist, Malays have greater claim of it being anti-Malay than pro-Malay!


4. Upon 'revelations' by the blog t4tbh.blogspot.com of wrong-doings by DAP strong-man and long suspected 'rumah-urut' protector, Ronnie Liu and his men, the finger pointing has now increased in dimension! Ronnie has lodged a police report on the said blog. In the meantime, his long time boss, Lim Kit Siang, has lodged a police report on threats upon DS Ong Tee Keat's life as a distracting polical gymic. Both acts may well backfire!


5. This blogger has been annoyed anyway with DAP's penchant of showing off their 'acts to improve transparency', such as involving the ACA, then MACC, in vetting potential appointees, as these wese already common practices of the BN state governments Pakatan had displaced! Now interestingly, even Ronnie in his own defence, has had to admit that some of these so called 'new' DAP practices were actually established by the BN government!

The DAP has over the years been striving to prove itself not only to be a worthy remnant of the PAP in Singapore, but also a real contender to the MCA and Gerakan as the main Chinese majority/based party in Malaysia's political make-up. However, Lim Kit Siang's incapacity to retain talent and experience superior to his own, leading to the departure of TS Lee Kim Sai and YB Wee Choo Keong, has severely crippled the party in one area, COMPETENCY TO GOVERN.

The introduction of YB Tony Pua and YB Jeff Ooi to the DAP's ranks has been very much a patch-job to cover gapping holes in the party's ability to really be an alternative for the people to choose, for beyond the rhetoric, there must be substance! One can see following their PRU12 success that there has been an effort to build some competence in the collection of young coterie idealists that revolve around Lim Kit Siang, similar to PKR's efforts.

However, the Teoh Beng Hock case has now begun to tip the DAP off its moral high ground. It can no longer claim to be a champion of Malaysian Malaysia, as its current railing against 'racism' is revealing the leaders and activists of DAP to be the actual racists in the debate! And as more evidence surfaces of the crimes of Ronnie Liu and his cronies, the DAP will soon lose its moral high ground against corruption! And all this after just over 1 year in power!

The challenge for the DAP now is to demonstrate whether it has enough maturity and nous to pause and think before it wrongly presses another panic button! Failing to do so would indicate to all and sundry that the party has even lost its COMPETENCY IN POLITICS!

If It Was My Wife...

If it was my wife who's body was found broken from a mysterious fall,
I would scream at the world,
I would blindly place blame on all nearest around,
I would rail for JUSTICE in terms that would fill the hole inside...

If it was my wife who's body was found after a time with the authorities,
I would lose all trust in those meant to protect her,
I would ask for more than the Royal Malaysian Police to seek out her killer,
I would seek personal SATISFACTION from the actions of all from Judge to Coroner...

If it was my wife who's body rests in the ground with questions unanswered,
I would rally all to my call to send those I blame to the grave,
I would insist that government forget all else but the TRUTH that I crave,
I would demand that a Royal Commission no less be formed to hammer and cleave...

... and I WOULD BE WRONG...

Pemimpin Muda UMNO Mahukan Suruhanjaya DiRaja?

Saya terkejut mendengar seorang pemimpin UMNO mendesak supaya sebuah Suruhanjaya DiRaja dibentuk untuk menyiasat kematian Setiausaha Politik kepada seorang Exco kerajaan negeri Selangor, Teoh Beng Hock. Ternyata beliau ingin mendahului para pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang memang gemar mendesak siasatan melalui Suruhanjaya DiRaja. Mungkin pemimpin muda UMNO ini juga serasi dengan Pakatan yang tidak yakin akan keupayaan Polis DiRaja Malaysia?

Mungkin ini sebahagian dari startegi pemimpin muda tersebut untuk memikat hati penyokong pembangkang yang tok-tok? Beliau pun dikatakan rajin ke sana-ke mari bermajlis bersama Tony Pua, budak se-Oxford yang menjadi harapan DAP. Di majlis-majlis tersebut, pemimpin muda UMNO tersebut melafazkan niat murninya untuk mempermodenkan UMNO sambil memohon kesabaran dari penyokong Pakatan kerana kononnya beliau 'tertambat' oleh 'kelapukan minda' orang UMNO.

Tetapi, saya agak hairan, rakyat sebenarnya mahu sangatkah Suruhanjaya pelbagai dibentuk seperti yang didesak ni? Saya rasa, rakyat lebih gemar kalau pemimpin UMNO mendesak supaya harga bas dan teksi diturunkan semula sedikit. Ini rasanya lebih penting kepada rakyat dari kematian seorang ahli politik, tak kiralah yang mendiang itu muda, baru nak kahwin dan baru lepas ditemu-bual Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

Rakyat pun pasti hairan, kenapa pemimpin muda UMNO ini sibuk pula mahukan Suruhanjaya DiRaja ditubuhkan bersabit kematian ahli politik muda DAP tersebut? Apakah kematian beliau lebih penting disiasat dari kematian puluhan mangsa ragut, ratusan mangsa rompak dan ribuan mangsa kemalangan di jalan raya sehingga Suruhanjaya DiRaja diperlukan, padahal yang lain ini tidak? Atau mungkinkah beliau merasakan Suruhanjaya Diraja diperlukan untuk semua ini?

Gamaknya banyak benarlah Suruhanjaya DiRaja diperlukan ya!? Apakah perlu lagi Polis DiRaja dan Mahkamah sekiranya Suruhanjaya DiRaja boleh dibentuk sewenang-wenangnya pada masa ini? Pada suatu masa dahulu, Suruhanjaya DiRaja hanya ditubuhkan sekiranya ada sesuatu tragedi besar, seperti kejadian rusuhan kaum pada 13 Mei 1969 yang menyebabkan kematian ratusan penduduk dan hampir memendekkan umur Malaysia sebagai negara merdeka berharmoni.

Kematian Teoh beng Hock ini juga bukan kali pertama seorang ahli politik disyaki terbunuh. Dahulu, Datuk Mohd Taha Talib, ADUN Tampin dan Dr Joe Fernandez, ADUN Lunas, juga didapati terbunuh, tetapi tak terlihat perlu pun ditubuhkan Suruhanjaya DiRaja. Tetapi pada zaman Pak Lah, sebuah pita video pun boleh menyebabkan terbentuknya sebuah Suruhanjaya DiRaja! Adakah pemimpin muda UMNO ini terlibat juga dalam penubuhan Suruhanjaya tersebut?

Dan macamlah hasil Suruhanjaya DiRaja rakaman video VK Lingam dan yang sebelumnya untuk "Penambahbaikan Perjalanan dan Pengurusan Polis DiRaja Malaysia" berkesan sangat! Hanya sekadar menjadi modal politik pemimpin tertentu sahaja, selain meragut lagi imej dan maruah dua institusi negara, yakni badan Kehakiman dan Polis DiRaja Malaysia sendiri? Padahal yang menjamin keselamatan negara selama ini siapa, ahli politik?

Saya sebenarnya sudah jijik akan tabiat pemimpin politik memperlekehkan institusi DiRaja dengan mendesak Suruhanjaya DiRaja diadakan untuk benda-benda remeh yang seharusnya ditangani oleh Polis DiRaja Malaysia. Kematian seorang ahli politik muda, tak kiralah betapa hiba dan tragisnya, bukan petanda kiamat untuk Malaysia. Biarlah sahaja pihak berkuasa menyiasat, dari kita terus-menerus menghina dan memperkecilkan institusi DiRaja.

Saya faham sekiranya pemimpin DAP sedang bersifat dan bertindak lebih kurang rasional dari lazimnya tentang hal ini... mendiang Teoh tu anak buah mereka! Tetapi mungkin sudah tiba masanya para pemimpin DAP mencapai sedikit kearifan tentang adab dunia. Dunia ini tidak berpaksikan sesiapa... Allah punya semuanya... maka hormatilah adab dunia ini, bukan semuanya harus menurut pendapat dan keinginan DAP... Institusi DiRaja bukan alat politik semata...

Ha, pemimpin muda UMNO yang berkenaan pun kelihatan buang tabiat pula... tapi kenalah faham... pemimpin muda mana yang dimaksudkan...

Hari Ke 103...

Kita di hari ke-103 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di tampuk kuasa sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Saya sebenarnya agak hairan dengan keghairahan pihak media meraikan 100 hari pertama DS Najib berkuasa. Keghairahan ini sebenarnya bukanlah berasaskan sesuatu kejadian atau budaya Malaysia, mahupun Asia, tetapi menumpang keghairahan lazim Barat yang berasaskan tempoh kedua Napoleon berkuasa selama ~111 hari (20 Mac - 8 July 1815).

Sebenarnya, dari segi kekerajaan, tempoh 100 hari pertama mentadbir tidaklah semestinya sepenting mana. Malah sebagai seorang ahli UMNO, hari ini, yakni juga hari ke-109 DS Najib menjadi Presiden UMNO adalah lebih penting dari segi politik pentadbiran beliau. Pada hari ini, UMNO berentap dengan PAS di hati pengundi Manek Urai dan walaupun faktor tempatan menjadi tumpuan pada PRK ini, dalam senario politik semasa, isu nasional juga kuat mempengaruhi.

Dari segala segi, DS Najib dan pentadbirannya terlihat setidak-tidaknya berusaha untuk menyelesaikan masalah rakyat. Walaupun ada keputusan yang dibuat menimbulkan kegusaran, pembatalan PPSMI contohnya, namun di sebalik keputusan seumpamanya, ada hujah-hujah jitu yang menunjukkan keutamaan rakyat dalam agenda DS Najib.

Walaubagaimanapun, malang bagi DS Najib dan kepimpinan baru kerajaan BN, segala usaha baik mereka setakat ini mungkin tidak dapat memikat kembali rakyat pengundi dalam masa terdekat oleh kerana beberapa faktor yang masih harus ditangani:

1. Masih ada ide-ide perosak negara yang muncul di dalam agenda pentadbiran DS Najib, seperti ide membina jambatan ketiga dengan Singapura. Ide beracun seperti yang tersebut mungkin timbul hasil dari wujudnya sisa-sisa pengaruh 'Tingkat Empat' Pak Lah di sisi Najib seperti dikatakan di sini. Ya lah, DS Najib memerlukan teknokrat juga di sampingnya, tetapi diharap beliau menjauhilah jenis yang GAGAL dalam hebat bersuara sebegini...


2. Dari segi penerangan, terlalu banyak usaha kerajaan dengan mudah dapat diputar-belitkan, menyebabkan rakyat sama ada keliru atau terus memikirkan inisiatif terbaru BN tidak merakyat. Jentera penerangan UMNO dan BN kelihatan masih kurang lincah, terutama di seluruh alam media baru. Yang merunsingkan adalah, apabila ramai mengaku 'ahli' semata-mata untuk mencari nama tapi tak reti! Bagaimana harus masalah pokok ini ditangani?


3. Idola-idola RASUAH masih ada di dalam barisan kepimpinan UMNO dan menjadi simbol masalah parah yang harus ditangani segera oleh DS Najib untuk mengembalikan kepercayaan rakyat. Walaupun DS Najib dengan penuh bijaksana mengecualikan individu tersebut dari kabinet beliau, namun rakyat memerlukan lebih dari itu. Islam sendiri mengamalkan hukuman sebagai sebahagian dari proses pemaafan, maka... bila nak hukum ni?

Saya ternanti-nanti keputusan Manek Urai dengan penuh harapan. Namun, saya lebih berharap hal-hal di atas ditangani, tak kiralah siapa yang menang di Manek Urai. Kerana hari ini baru hari ke-103 DS Najib menjadi Perdana Menteri dan ke-109 berjawatan Presiden UMNO. Ada masa lagi... dan sasaran kita haruslah PRU-13...

The End Of PPSMI? - Part V... Alternatives, Salvation And Hope?

I intend for this to be the final chapter of this series... or at least until the tabling of the amendment to the PPSMI on Wednesday.

We begin by sharing what I discussed with my wife last week on PPSMI. She shared the following with me, which I was compelled to agree:

1. The introduction of English in teaching Maths and Science would be disruptive AT ANY LEVEL. If we are dead keen on doing so, for whatever reasons, we must choose the stage which will cause minimum impact. Her point of example were some of our colleagues from the JPA British Top University program who were struggling with the transition when doing A-Levels in the UK... and these were among the top students of the year!


2. Due to the above, she believes that to minimise the pain, if we choose to go with PPSMI, we should go all the way, and not even consider my alternative of having PPSMI begin at Secondary school only. The problem is that the transition, though perhaps less painful, would still be disruptive at the point of moving from Standard 6 to Form 1. By the same token, if the decision is to remove it, PPSMI should be dismantled entirely.


3. The wife's biggest grouse over PPSMI, specifically for our children who are ~bi-lingual from home, was that the infrastruture, including the teaching staff, appears unable to cope with it as it stands. We have found repeatedly a conflict in priority on whether the English or the Maths and Science is important when teachers grade exam papers. And the teaching is clearly hampered, one of my kids find the Maths being taught incomprehensible!

This leads me to amend my views as the above opened my eyes to the disruptive nature of such a transition in teaching and learning. For whilst I still view the retaining of PPSMI at Secondary level for whatever reasons a choice, I now see it as a poorer one and smacking of a need to compromise between the different sides of the PPSMI divide. In fact, I am happy to showcase 2 analogies to illustrate the level of disruption from abolishing PPSMI at Primary School only:

1. Vernacular Primary School students have to go through transition classes or "Kelas Peralihan" in order to cope with the move to a Malay teaching medium. Significant time is given for this transition as it is disruptive to the learning process. This implies that having Maths and Science taught in Malay at Primary and retaining PPSMI at Secondary level would also require transition classes across the entire Malaysian student body in public schools!


2. Those agree with the Parent Action Group for Education, a pro-PPSMI lobby, that learning Maths and Science in Malay is crippling students due to lack of a robust nomenclature, can imagine how parents who practice English as their first language appreciate this 'disruption' argument as it is probably what they fear for their kids. I.e., imagine the horror of a child who does not understand when the teacher says 'Berdiri!' at the first day at school!

But then, how can we salvage the PPSMI or enhance the uptake of English in the rural areas? Ironically, if we take the all or nothing approach on PPSMI, i.e. that it should applied from Primary School or not at all, the solution to both questions would be the same, especially as it is precisely the concern over the impact of PPSMI on the learning of Maths and Science in the rural and urban poor areas that has many intellectuals and educationist opposing PPSMI.

You simply have to start teaching English earlier! Many urban families have the advantage of sending their kids to day-care or kindergartens that do expose kids to English, at least conversational English, early. In the rural areas, what should be done is the Kemas or Kebajikan Masyarakat kindergartens and the like need to be upgraded from being a day-care with teaching only basics to kids in their own mother-tongues, typically Malay, to also introducing conversational English.

Interestingly, such a revamp of the 'Tadika Kemas' would also rejuvenate the program which has been in a bit of a rut in recent years. I even dare argue that in the midst of the current economic downturn, the economic activity related to this effort would have a positive multiplier effect, not just from the need to re-train Kemas officers and teachers to enable to impart conversational English, which is not too hard, but also from having our rural kids catch up on their English!

In writing the above, I realise that perhaps I am only addressing the concerns of the Malay Maths and Science inclined educationists and intellectuals, but analogous solutions exist for the other communities as well. Why not introduce English at temple? Why not have the Chinese kindergartens go bi- or tri-lingual?

In the end, what I also wish to impart here is that, wherever you sit on the PPSMI debate and whatever the decision by the government, there are always options... and there should always be hope...

Punca Sebenar 'Kekalutan' Pakatan Rakyat... Dan Bahaya Kepada BN...

Perpecahan yang kelihatan menjadi-jadi antara anggota Pakatan Pembangkang kini sedang kuat di'analisa' berpropaganda oleh BN. Amnya saya setuju yang pertelingkahan pelbagai yang berlaku ini berpunca dari perlawanan prinsip dan dasar antara ahli Pakatan. Namun, saya rasa terlalu awal untuk menyatakan perpecahan berikut bakal memastikan masa depan BN sebagai parti pemerintah, apatah lagi kembalinya 2/3 Parlimen dan 5+1 negeri secara mutlak kepadanya.

Ketiga-tiga ahli Pakatan mempunyai matlamat berbeza dan tiada kesatuan tujuan selain benci terhadap BN; DAP mahukan Malaysian-Malaysia, PAS memperjuangkan 'Negara Islam' manakala PKR mahukan keadilan untuk DS Anwar Ibrahim, yakni menjadikan beliau Perdana Menteri. Ini lain dengan dasar kesatu-paduan BN yang dari pasca tahun 1969 berlandaskan perlunya keamanan di antara kaum di Malaysia.

Namun, kalau dilihat dari segi keputusan PRU-12 yang lepas, ketidak-samaan dasar bukanlah menjadi faktor utama kemenangan Pakatan Pembangkang di 5+1 dan kebanyakan kerusi Parlimen. Pada saya, 2 punca pokok kemenangan tersebut adalah:

1. Kebencian rakyat terhadap kepimpinan, dasar dan tindak-tanduk kerajaan Pak Lah yang menyebabkan BN amnya ditolak di banyak tepi undi. Malah kalau dilihat, di banyak lokasi, BN kalah kerana pengundi BN enggan keluar mengundi. Kumpulan tidak mengundi inilah yang membawa risiko terbesar untuk BN, sekiranya mereka bukan sahaja tidak mengundi pada PRU-13, tetapi langsung menyokong parti lawan!


2. Kejayaan DS Anwar Ibrahim menyatu-padukan PAS, DAP dan PKR sepanjang tempoh pilihanraya, justeru itu menubuhkan kerajaan-kerajaan negeri dari kalangan Pakatan Pembangkang sahaja. DS Anwar sebenarnya adalah satu-satunya pemimpin Pakatan yang ahli dalam politik persatuan antara parti ini, hasil latihan Tun Dr M sewaktu beliau dalam persediaan mengambil kedudukan Presiden UMNO sekaligus Ketua Barisan Nasional.

Dari segi peranan DS Anwar sebagai 'gam' yang mencantumkan parti-parti Pakatan supaya terduduk bersekongkong, bersuara senada, berpesta seirama, ia telah dibuktikan berkali-kali. Contoh yang terkini adalah apabila beliau kelihatan berjaya, melalui hubungan 'Erdogan'-nya, mematikan usaha PAS untuk bermuafakat dengan UMNO untuk perpaduan ummah Melayu.

Oleh itu, kita tidak sepatutnya hairan yang 'gam' antara parti-parti Pakatan pada masa ini lekang sedikit. Ini kerana 'gam' tersebut, DS Anwar, tengah sibuk dengan kes sodomi beliau terhadap bekas pegawai khasnya Saiful! Kerana beliau kini kesibukan memantau pengendalian kes tersebut, maka tak hairanlah kita melihat DS Anwar kurang mampu meleraikan keruncingan terkini antara 'teman-teman' Pakatannya, sehinggakan mesyuarat kepemimpinan pun ditangguhkan!

Namun, BN harus waspada! Pada masa ini, perpecahan menjadi-jadi kerana ketiadaan DS Anwar sebagi penyatu Pakatan dan ini adalah keadaan yang berkemungkinan SEMENTARA sahaja. DS Anwar mungkin selamat dari tuduhan Saiful, tetapi walaupun sekiranya beliau didapati bersalah dan dipenjarakan semula, masih ada kemungkinan timbulnya 'gam' baru bagi menggantikan DS Anwar dari kalangan pemimpin Pakatan... 'gam' yang nescaya lebih berkesan!

Sebenarnya, BN tidak harus menghiraukan langsung bersatu tidaknya Pakatan Pembangkang kerana pada dasarnya, kita bukan kalah kerana PAS, DAP dan PKR menarik bebenar kepada rakyat, baik dalam Pakatan mahupun dengan sendiri. Malah, kekalahan BN berlaku sebelum Pakatan Pembangkang diisytiharkan secara 'rasmi'nya. Kalahnya BN pada dasarnya kerana isu 1 di atas; kita ditolak hasil kebencian rakyat terhadap kepimpinan, dasar dan tindak-tanduk Pak Lah.

BN seharusnya terus meningkatkan usaha mengembalikan kepercayaan rakyat, baik menerusi dasar dan perkhidmatan mantap mahupun dengan meneruskan pembersihan parti-parti yakni dengan pembuangan anasir-anasir yang dibenci orang kebanyakan. Tugas berat juga harus dipikul oleh bahagian Penerangan setiap komponen BN, yang juga harus celik media di alam kepelbagaian sumber maklumat, terutama bagi menarik pengundi muda. Futsal dah tak cukup oi!

BN juga harus waspada yang kita tidak terus 'syok sendiri', bukan sahaja dengan apa dilihat sebagai kejayaan di dalam parti, tetapi juga anggapan perpecahan lawan di luar. Yang penting adalah pendapat rakyat dan isi hati pengundi terhadap BN... kerana merekalah yang bakal menentukan nasib pemimpin menjelang PRU-13...

Antara Ketua Pengawas Dan Pemangku Ketua Pemuda - Bhgn II

Saya pernah menulis bagaimana konflik kian mekar di Pemuda UMNO antara 'Ketua Pengawas'nya, YB Khairy Jamaluddin atau KJ dengan 'Pemangku' Ketua Pemuda, YB Dato' Razali Ibrahim. Kini pertembungan antara kedua-dua pemimpin ini pasti meruncing hasil 'pengiktirafan' PAS bahawa Dato' Razalilah pemimpin Pemuda yang lebih sesuai berinteraksi dengan Ketua Pemuda Pas, Nasharuddin Hassan Tantawi.

Ini jelas apabila Razali dan Nasharuddin bersama-sama terlihat berusaha menghidupkan lagi muafakat demi perpaduan Melayu menerusi cadangan "wacana" antara Pergerakan Pemuda kedua-dua parti yang merupakan usaha terkini PAS untuk merapati jurang persefahaman dengan UMNO. KJ tak nampak pun...

Tiba-tiba... terbit pula KJ dengan sidang akhbarnya sendiri tentang usaha tersebut! Wah, sang Ketua Pengawas boleh pula mencadangkan yang perbincangan tidak patut 'dihadkan' kepada hal Islam dan perpaduan Melayu sahaja, tetapi isu-isu semasa juga! WOI! Orang Melayu bimbang tentang hal ni! Tau la sdr KJ minat 'isu-isu semasa', tapi biarla kita FOKUS tentang yang penting untuk orang Melayu, bukan sekadar isu diminat KJ! Dahlah lepas KJ SIBUK PULAK NAK JEMPUT PEMUDA BN LAIN JOIN SAMA! SABOTAJ KE?

Hari ini, Karpal Singh memberi sebab kenapa KJ tidak layak menjadi pemimpin Pemuda dalam perbincangan serius seumpama diterajui YB Dato' Razali dan Nasharuddin... Karpal tempik yang KJ "KORUPSI!" dalam Parlimen! Malang bagi UMNO yang kali ini Karpal di buang Dewan kerana menyatakan yang benar dipersetujui oleh Lembaga Disiplin UMNO sendiri...

Kegusaran Terhadap Pindaan Perlembagaan UMNO

Pemuda UMNO Cawangan Bendang Baru yang diketuai penulis baru selesai mesyuarat tahunan pada hari Sabtu lepas. Ketua Pemuda Bahagian, saudara Norsaidi Nanyan berbesar hati menghadiri majlis dan sudi memberi sepatah-dua kata sebagai ucapan penangguhan mesyuarat.

Mesyuarat tahun ini agak santai kerana tiada pemilihan dan kami bersyukur dapat juga cukup kuorum untuk bermesyuarat! Namun yang mengecewakan adalah, mesyuarat tidaklah seharusnya sesantai ini, kerana bukan sahaja kita dalam usaha merebut kembali negeri Kedah dengan mempertahankan kedudukan BN di Langkawi, tetapi tahun ini Mesyuarat Agung UMNO akan meminda perlembagaan!

Tetapi kita di cawangan pun sebenarnya tertanya-tanya, kalau betul perlembagaan nak dipinda, mana dia usul yang nak dibawa untuk meminda? Kenapa tak dibawa ke mesyuarat cawangan untuk dibincang? Atau mungkinkah prosesnya hanya beberapa cawangan atau bahagian sahaja diberikan kepercayaan untuk berdebat dan berbincang tentang pindaan perlembagaan?

Proses apa pun hendak diambil untuk meminda perlembagaan UMNO, yang menimbulkan kegusaran penulis dan ramai ahli UMNO lain adalah bagaimana sesetengah cadangan pindaan diketahui ahli melalui akhbar! Contohnya, saya mendapat tahu yang ada cadangan melanjutkan usia 'Pemuda' ke 45 tahun. Dahlah cadangannya kita tak suka - tapi tak apa, kita buat usul mengekalkan umur Pemuda kat 40 - tapi kenapa tak dihebahkan khusus kepada ahli dulu?

Pindaan perlembagaan bukan hal remeh, tetapi satu proses seakan pembedahan organ yang rumit ke atas badan organisasi UMNO. Untuk memastikan pembedahan berjalan dengan lancar, segala kegusaran anggota yang mungkin menyebabkan halangan mahupun kegagalan haruslah ditangani dengan berhemah. Berhemah kerana kalau tidak, anggota yang tak diubat awal mungkin bernanah atau menjadi kanser padahal pembedahan difikirkan berjaya.

UMNO bukannya organisasi yang berdasarkan retorik semata-mata seperti PKR, di mana tak relevan yang ahlinya kini boleh mengundi pemimpin pusat, sebab DS Anwar Ibrahim yang bukan ahli pun lebih berkuasa sebagai 'penasihat'. UMNO bukan PAS di mana 'Mursyidul Am' tak diundi lebih berkuasa dari Presiden yang diundi. UMNO bukan (lagi?) parti milik Bapa-Anak/Menantu seperti DAP. UMNO parti yang pada dasarnya masih demokratik, maka haruslah diubat dengan betul.

Janganlah usaha pindaan perlembagaan ini menjadi suatu lagi peluang untuk pemimpin menunjuk gah. Janganlah pandai-pandai nak pinda perlembagaan di luar lingkungan memperkukuhkan amalan demokrasi dan mengelakkan dari gejala RASUAH dari terus menular di dalam parti. Janganlah kecualikan ahli pada mana-mana peringkat sekalipun untuk memberi maklum-balas mahupun ide tentang pindaan tersebut.

Dari usaha mempertuakan Pemuda dan cadangan seperti menaikkan kuorum untuk mesyuarat tahunan yang bakal membunuh Cawangan pada tahun bukan pemilihan, kenapa tidak pertimbangkan:

1. Penggunaan semula perkataan RASUAH dalam semua perbincangan parti tentang 'Politik Wang'. Dah RASUAH tu cakap aje RASUAH! Kata nak benteras, tetapi kemudian maniskan pula namanya. Shakespeare menulis lebih kurang,"Bunga Ros dengan nama apapun tetap harum baunya". Maka RASUAH pun sama busuk perlakunya betapa dirempah namanya sekalipun!


2. Pembatalan semua hukuman 'amaran' kepada ahli yang didapati bersalah mengamalkan RASUAH oleh Lembaga Disiplin. Kalau dah RASUAH tu, GANTUNG TERUS!!! Apa amaran-amaran lagi, BUAT MALU AJE! Tengoklah budak yang menang lepas kena hukum 'amaran' aje lepas buat RASUAH... sekarang bila ada PRK aje, dialah jadi MASALAH!


3. Memberi jalan-cara jelas bagaimana menangani situasi apabila ahli didapati bersalah RASUAH di luar. Contohnya, sekiranya ahli dihukum kerana RASUAH selepas tangkapan bukan sahaja SPRM, tetapi Pesuruhjaya Sekuriti dan mana-mana pihak yang bersabit. Sebaiknya kalau diluar dah dihukum sebab RASUAH, secara serta-mertalah Lembaga Disiplin hukum untuk RASUAH dalam parti!


4. Serta-merta melucutkan apa-apa jawatan parti dan menggantung hak ahli memegang jawatan sepanjang menjalani hukuman penjara atau apa-apa pergantungan di luar (bankrap atau tak layak menjadi pengarah syarikat) kerana didapati bersalah kerana RASUAH.


5. Tetapi dalam meminda perlembagaan dan undang-undang kecil parti seperti di atas untuk membenteras RASUAH, kenalah disediakan peraturan jelas tentang duit minyak (had bayaran sepanjang kempen, kelayakan menerima, dsb), mengadakan keraian atau majlis semasa kempen, sumbangan kepada program semasa kempen dan sebagainya.


6. Best juga kalau perlembagaan memberi hak mutlak berkempen kepada mana-mana ahli dalam pertandingan dalam parti. Ini masa kempen dalam parti tak boleh buat ceramahlah, tak boleh ada majlislah, mengarut aje. Parti politik apa macam ni?

OK, melalut sikit bab-bab akhir... tapi kalau simpan aje nanti nanah bang...

The End Of PPSMI? Part IV... Ramblings On Race And Leaders

This series is getting rather rich and burgeoning as one is able to see the various interplaying forces that make the formation of a national education policy a socio-political nightmare. I have great sympathy for the views of Professor Khoo Kay Kim such as here, himself variously renounced for being both idealist and traitor to his race for his integrationist ideas.

This is not the only forum where I share my views of PPSMI, which has broadened to an expression of a need for a single school system. At the same time, my blog has not been a one topic forum either. Nevertheless, it is astounding how socio-politics affects the debate and 'conclusion' of issues in Malaysia, as opposed to economics or faith, and rather pathetic how socio is defined by racial interest whilst politics defined by who's taking which side on an issue.

Professor Khoo is not the first to lament over how across our entire history, our various communities have resisted integration. It is easy for political parties to point fingers at each other. Indeed, one of Pakatan Pembangkang's successes in the run-up of PRU-12 was to brand BN as being too UMNO dominated, whilst at the same time accusing it of encouraging 'race-based' politics. Ironic then when Pakatan governments also drive policies along ethnic lines...

The truth is, political parties do what they do to curry favour from the electorate. If there is a race-based slant to our country's politics then, it could hardly be the fault of our political leaders alone. It is our communities, and its leaders, who must answer the accusations over why this nation is not as integrated as it should be. It is the penghulus, Chinese educationists, Indian temple guardians, these are the people who also have to answer for our continued polarisation.

So when we talk about the racial aspects of a policy, is it really the politicians pushing their agenda, or are they proxies for the leaders of our communities?

Malay elders tend to be visible, even as they take a back seat with little driving beyond 'teguran', with Tun Dr M likely being an exception on the amount of influence wielded. But for the other communities, the Chinese especially, can we get some clear accountability on who's leading? At least with the Indians we are now seeing greater visibility of their 'social' leaders through Hindraf (with all its failings) as well as other more open and liberal Indian led NGOs.

What we really need is honesty, the kind of honesty that Hindraf may have started trying to express , even if we are to accept race as the driving socio element in much of our policy-making.

So, when is a Chinese elder going to admit that the reason why their educationists are against PPSMI is because teaching Maths in Mandarin helps in the teaching of the 'mother-tongue', unlike say... English! And when is an Indian elder going going to pull a small group of other elders aside and admit,"Sorry la, we Indians, especially Hindus, are naturally passionate. One of our 2 main religious texts is an epic love story mah! What can you expect?"

We should then also not be in denial by declaring it wrong to decide based on race! Is it wrong? Remember, the Malaysian model is meant to be an integration model, not an assimilation model. Hence, differences are not just meant to be respected, but celebrated. Hence the issue of race taking primacy on socio-related choices no longer becomes a question of bias, but of fairness; i.e. in accepting we do champion our races' interests, what line shouldn't be crossed?

On race though, it may seem to many that PPSMI is one issue that is actually uniting. Many point to parents from all races uniting in support of PPSMI, but similarly opposition to PPSMI also comes from groups of all races, though typically polarised between the pro-BM and pro-vernacular crowds, myself being one of many exceptions. However, this hides a fact that we have a quasi-'race' in Malaysia supporting PPSMI, Malaysians that have English as their mother tongue!

As they say in Malay,"Bahasa JIWA Bangsa".

Finally, much of the confusion over race is also fueled by personality driven politics that still prevail in Malaysia. Sure, we'd like to say that we support abolishing tolls, but is this really because we have thought about it, or because that is what DAP and Lim Kit Siang has been saying, without sound economic basis by the way, for 3 decades? It is populist, espoused by a populist leader, but it is not mature to support a stand due to who backs it.

Returning to PPSMI, there are many who support it as it is Tun Dr M's idea. Besides that, other leaders have now invested themselves in its success, such as the former Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein. His supporters naturally see an attack on PPSMI as an attack on DS Hisham's record. It would not be wrong also to say a successful revamp of PPSMI would bring pride to TS Muhyiddin's supporters... unless DS Anwar's camp spins it his way of course!

Hence the madness of socio-politics in Malaysia, that is the personality cult behind what is real-politik in our country, threatens the resolution of an issue that is of great importance to our children and successive generations. But PPSMI is not alone in this... Malaysians should focussing on ISSUES, not personalities. The problem is, focussing on issues take EFFORT. Are we mature enough to take the effort? If not, we will continue to be at the mercy of our leaders...

There are too many issues in Malaysia that are being decided by the illogical bi-polar socio-political effects of racial interests and politicals of personalities. My hope is that with PPSMI, the Single School System debate and the need for a total review and reform of our education system will SNAP US OUT OF IT! We need to focus on ISSUES. Then only can we the people truly say we deserve the future we all wish for our children.

NB: One would think we would be more mature having been independent for 50 years. No? Maybe we should be more matured as the literacy and other metrics of education have been ever-improving over the years. No? Egads man, the Malay, Chinese, Indian communities in Malaysia can trace back the origins of over some 2 Millenia, even more! Still we are immature?! Indeed... we are human... not an excuse though!!!

The End Of PPSMI? - Part III

My learned friend Jebat Must Die (JMD) presented yet another impressive treatise, and again puts me to shame. Instead of focussing on individual policies such as teaching Maths and Science in English (PPSMI) or Satu Sekolah untuk Semua (SSS), he has chosen to attack the lack of a comprehensive education revamp whilst mounting an attack on the vested interests and outright profiteering that may the root cause of the mayhem in our education system!

I have chosen to build on my comments at his blog here as part of my body of writing on PPSMI as I believe it is important to put my views on it also in the context of my support for SSS.

The politics of education in any country is passionate, and rightly so, but the policies and implementation are too readily buffeted by other considerations, like politics. Unfortunately, in my view, even high minded goals like achieving or strengthening National Unity is also an irrelevance, or is at best, a secondary consideration, when deciding on our education policy.

The education policy should be focussed on education, the right education for the needs of our children, in order to attain a livelihood and be able to afford to be good citizens of the future, whatever that may mean in the decades hence from the time they begin kindergarten. (And they should all be given a chance to experience kindergarten.) Statistics such as those indicating education being the best long term enabler of social justice help justify such a course of action.

My support for SSS is hence not with National Unity or primacy of Bahasa Malaysia as a national language as a key reason, but simply because SSS if implemented properly would deliver the most efficient allocation of resources to achieve optimum delivery of education to the masses in the history of our young nation!

Just on beauracracy alone, SSS must represent a savings, and when you add to that removal of the need for compensatory mechanisms in the system like ‘kelas peralihan’ all the way to killing the debate and political cost on vernacular schools, it is a step in the right direction!

Perhaps then, it is the sheer efficiency of SSS that the more intelligent of the profiteers of our education policy fears… wallahualam...

In any case, perhaps aiming for compulsory passes in SPM English to lead to the abolishing or amendment of the PPSMI policy, together with strengthening the English syllabus and returning compulsory credit for Bahasa Malaysia at SPM are too shallow as aspirations. Perhaps as JMD has indicated, it is time for not just the Minister of Education, but all of us, to 'Carpe Diem', seize the day, and drive for a total revamp of our education policy once and for all!

Be damned the profiteers... SSS is turning out to be a truly worthy cause to champion!

The End Of PPSMI? - Part II

I participated in a debate on this issue that cropped up following an impassioned posting at one of my favourite blogs. There were valid points on both sides, though I was stunned at how emotional the point of view was coming through from the pro-PPSMI commenters. Here were my comments (preceded by general thrust of comment I was responding to. You can look at the entire to-and-fro-ing, which is not too long, here.

My 1st Comment entry was in response to comments that cited the need to prepare children for technical nomenclature as early as possible and how we will fall behind to our neighbours:

I've been against PPSMI since its inception for reasons similar to (the commenter) SS, but focussing on the negative impact on rural Malays students (SS was focussing on non-Malay students!). I hence celebrated the consideration of compulsory pass requirement for English at SPM level to be a positive way for the government to wind back the flawed PPSMI here.

There is nothing wrong with having English as the medium for Science and Maths at SECONDARY level, when nomenclature becomes important. This is no different from the use of Greek, Latin or Arabic as medium for higher learning in the past.

It will spell the demise of Malay as a language of knowledge of the Sciences though, at least the Malaysian branch of the Malay language (the Indonesians translate significant volumes into Indonesian Malay). Some may not be comfortable with this 'loss' to the Malay language. But the overidding argument for me is the effectiveness from practical application mother-tongues for Primary level education of Maths and Science.

My 2nd Comment came in response to an apparent lack of comprehension as to why the anti-PPSMI people were anti in the debate. We were mainly not at all worried about our loss of cultural heritage from the use of English. We had more practical concerns:

random et al. I think you miss the point that SS, myself and other opposers of the practicalities of introducing PPSMI at Primary level are making. I for one do not oppose PPSMI because I wish to protect my cultural heritage - our Malay cultural heritage is not so shallow.

Indeed I am opposed to the quasi-nationalist line Pakatan Pembangkang and some NGOs are taking when opposing PPSMI and am disgusted with PAS trying to out-nationalist UMNO on this issue as it clouds our more legitimate argument.

The priority in teaching Maths and Science, especially at basic level, has to be focussed on what is Maths and Science! Without a proper grounding of the basics of these subjects at the Primary level, it won't matter what language is used at the Secondary, tertiary or working level, our kids won't even qualify on merit!

(In response to the issue of candidates being rejected at job interviews due to poor command of English)

You have to have the engineering, finance, etc degree even to get to the interview, remember? And much as we dislike it, at Standard 1, for many Malaysians still, the comfort level for absorbing knowledge lies with their mother-tongue or language at home... which for the vast majority is still NOT English!

I've studied and worked in Europe for some 10 years, and in many countries, English is introduced as late as the 3rd or 5th grade! And the populace of said countries are sufficiently bi-lingual, and develop tech-heavy leading products with brands like Nokia, Phillips, Novartis and the like...

I hope that the point is made. Our opposition to PPSMI is not to 'protect cultural heritage', but because the PPSMI at the moment is IMPRACTICAL. And I would bet if we asked the Education ministry to be more transparent with the stats, this would be proven!

As an afterthought, I then realised why some pro-PPSMI commenters may be so passionate. Maybe, for many Malaysians, English has become a mother-tongue! Maybe so many are now using English at home, especially those who use it at work and started the policy of teaching English to their kids first, that they are frustrated that their kids will struggle when learning Maths, Science and other subjects in Malay, Mandarin and Tamil! Food for thought...

Master Of PAS Puppets

With Tok Guru Nik Aziz, the PAS paramount spiritual leader or 'Mursyidul Am' no less, accused everyone who was supporting the Unity Government idea UMNO's puppet, I am sure everyone is confused over who is who's puppet in PAS. Well, I'm not an expert, but this is my best guess:

YB Datuk Seri Nizar & Yang Sama-Sama Derhaka Dengannya => DAP Puppets.
Puppet-masters: Ngeh and Nga.

YB Datuk Husam Musa & Yang Se-Erdogan Denganya => Anwar Puppets.
Puppet-master: YB Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar

YB Datuk Hadi Awang & Yang Bersekutu Dengannya => (Alleged) UMNO Puppets. Puppet-Master: Don't know, but I'm sure Nik Aziz does!

And of course, let's not forget the man himself...

YB TG Nik Aziz Nik Mat => Erdogan Puppet!
Puppet-master: Husam Musa (Hey, don't marah me lah. Ask his son Nik Abduh!)

Of course, to be fair to PAS, other Pakatan Pembangkang puppets exist too, only they tend to be pooh-poohed as old conspiracy theories. However, just a couple as refreshers:

YB Lim Kit Siang => PAP/Singapore Puppet.
Puppet-master: Lee Kuan Yew via Tony Pua.

YB DS Anwar Ibrahim => American/Freemason/Jewish Puppet.
Puppet-master: Ever-changing, but tends to be a Mat Salleh big-shot from a 'Neo' group. Man has ego mah!

Btw, I find this Erdogan label confusing and unfair to the Turks. I mean, I know it is supposed to show the PAS fellows of this faction is pro-Anwar, but I don't think just because Anwar ran and hid in the Turkish embassy when he was afraid to face Saiful's sodomy allegations it gives people license to malign the Turkish PM with an association to this ex-con! Let's just call the Erdogan group the pro-Anwar group in PAS!

Perpecahan PAS: Jangan Dilupai Faktor Kelantan...

Pelbagai berita berkumandang kini tentang perpecahan yang berterusan dalam PAS. Ada yang menyatakan ini gara-gara niat untuk menubuhkan kerajaan perpaduan. Bagi saya, teori 2 mazhab di mana golongan Erdogan tidak dapat menerima kekalahan Husam Musa tempohari merupakan punca utama perpecahan tersebut... biasalah anak buah DS Anwar Ibrahim... mana reti nak mengalah!

Tetapi pada saya, yang sepatutnya lebih membimbangkan lagi bagi PAS adalah bagaimana tokoh-tokoh dari Kelantan kelihatan tersisih dari barisan kepimpinan yang baru. Mungkinlah ini salah taktik atau nasib sususan hasil demokrasi ala-PAS, tetapi agak menghairankan apabila Kelantan, yakni kubu PAS, tiada wakil walau di peringkat Naib Presiden pun. Malah, orang Johor dan Pahang pula berjaya mempertahankan atau langsung merebut kuasa... padahal kubu UMNO...!

Sekadar ini sahajalah pemerhatian saya buat masa ini... menarik untuk terus perhati...

The End Of PPSMI?

I have always been an opponent of the teaching of Maths and Science in English policy (PPSMI) as it stands. This policy and my opposition to the construction of KLCC (I started being annoying to the establishment very young!) have been major exceptions to my general support of Tun Dr M's policies.

The main reason for my opposing PPSMI has been rational, unemotional and often repeated; it is unreasonable to expect students in the rural areas who begin to learn English for the first time in Standard 1 to be able to cope with English as a medium of instruction. My examples are pertinent, such as how English even as a language is introduced late in many OECD countries like Finland and Holland, for practical reasons, and without too adverse as effect to literacy.

I found evidence of problems with PPSMI from teachers and policy-makers; most point to its introduction at Primary level in Rural areas to be a key concern. Any UMNO candidate who cared to ask would have discovered this, though it disappointed me how many chose to couch their views based on the candidates they supported! Not me. Mukhriz's chums in evidence may remember what I said at tea in Ipoh after 'Pengenalan Calon' with Tengku Azman supporting...

My opposition to the PPSMI is also moderate. I am agreeable in general to having Maths and Science taught in English from Secondary level. This makes sense much as how Latin was a medium of instruction of 'Higher Knowledge' in medieval Europe, and this is where Tun Dr M's logic that the terminology of Maths and Science in Malay is lagging really does apply. I have had problems articulating Chaos Maths and even Blending in Malay!

The problem with teaching Maths and Science in English from Secondary level is that it curtails any future effort to build a science nomenclature in Malay. Sad in terms of how it stunts the growth of Malay as a carrier of knowledge, but for the current world, there is need also to be practical. So, PPSMI to me was in short, bad, but could be modified, or fixed. Another way to make it more successful is just to introduce English in rural areas early, through Kemas etc... right...

So, I now greet the news from TS Muhyiddin, that he is considering a Pass in English to be compulsory at SPM level, to be a step in the right direction... but only if it is a precursor to at least a winding back of the PPSMI... something that has been rumoured strongly if I may add...! I am supportive enough of this in said terms to say it justifies UMNO's choice of Deputy President and DS Najib's trust in him by making him Education Minister!

However, I also encourage TS Muhyiddin and his team to take the opportunity given by this policy revamp to look at upping the quality of English taught in our schools. Our English is still being taught at a relatively basic level. This is fine for a baseline, and certainly, the baseline for a compulsory Pass should be retained for the rural folk. However, our A's and B's should be of higher value. At the same time, this may allow for our English syllabus to be more attractive to students.

Besides re-introducing the teaching of grammar (!) I would be keen to see 10 year olds begin enjoying Shakespeare, at least in simple terms. The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing are easily adapted, and could transform English teaching into a fun activity, much as Puisi and Sajak does for Malay. By 12 or 13 years, Romeo and Juliet?... the frowning of religious teachers nonwithstanding... And we can always mix it up with Hang Tuah and Tuhfat-al-Nafis dramatised in English!

Worth considering... one hopes... then perhaps, Satu Sekolah, Satu Bangsa?

NB: And I believe also that TS Muhyiddin should re-introduce a compulsory Credit in Bahasa Malaysia for SPM. Malaysians should be embarassed if they can't get even a Credit in our National Language!

Keputusan Muktamar PAS: Hadi - 1, Anwar - 0

Dengan kemenangan YB Nasaruddin Mat Isa sebagai Timbalan Presiden PAS, maka selesailah perang proksi pada Muktamar PAS baru-baru ini, dengan kemenangan 1-0 kepada pihak Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. Kemenangan kepada Hadi Awang? Eh, bukankah DS Hadi memang sudah menang tanpa bertanding? Bukankah Nasaruddin mengalahkan Datuk Husam Musa dan YB Mat Sabu?

Sebenarnya, pertandingan Nasaruddin <-> Husam baru-baru ini (yang hanya dikelirukan sejenak dengan penyertaan Mat Sabu juga dalam pertandingan) adalah kali pertama 'perang proksi' secara terbuka berlaku dalam PAS di antara 2 pemimpin paling berpengaruh di dalam parti tersebut, terutama sekali sejak PRU-12. Ada yang sering mensalah-tafsirkan perang ini sebagai perselisihan antara DS Hadi dan TG Nik Aziz, tetapi ini suatu andaian yang kurang tepat.

Datuk Husam Musa sering dibilang merupakan anak buah TG Nik Aziz Nik Mat dan semestinya, kedudukan yang ulung diberikan beliau sepanjang berkhidmat untuk PAS di Kelantan seolah-olah membuktikan sedemikian. Namun, ada 3 fakta yang menyangkal perkara ini, yakni:

1. TG Nik Aziz tak berapa banyak pilihan antara pemimpin-pemimpin muda PAS Kelantan yang segenerasi dengan Husam. Memang Husam terserlah yang paling berbakat dalam mengimbangi politik dan kelihatan mahir juga dalam pentadbiran mahupun teori ekonomi. Maka Husam terpilih diasuh ke jawatan penting di Kelantan kerana tiada pilihan lain di depan mata TG Nik Aziz.


2. Penulis yakin 'kepakaran' Datuk Husam sekadar persepsi sahaja, kerana kalau betul beliau hebat dalam mengurus ekonomi, mana bisa Kelantan tetap mundur sekian lama? Fakta ini bila digabungkan dengan pendapat yang dibuahkan oleh Nik Abduh Nik Aziz, yang bapanya 'dipengaruhi', memberi gambaran yang bukan TG Nik Aziz yang membimbing Husam. Mungkin sekali Husam yang memperkudakan TG Nik Aziz!


3. Datuk Husam Musa merupakan anak didik DS Anwar Ibrahim di Yayasan Anda dahulu sebelum beliau giat berpolitik di arena PAS. Kesetiaan beliau juga kelihatan jelas kepada DS Anwar, apabila beliau membantu usaha Datuk KJ PAS (Kamaruddin Jaafar) membatalkan kerjasama PAS-BN untuk menubuhkan kerajaan campuran di Selangor dan Perak sejurus selepas PRU-12. Ini kemudian membenarkan PKR meraih jawatan MB di Selangor.

Maka, pertandingan yang pada lahirnya berlangsung antara Nasaruddin <-> Husam di Muktamar PAS baru-baru ini sebenarnya adalah PERANG PROKSI ANTARA DS HADI AWANG <-> DS ANWAR IBRAHIM!

Pembaca tidak harus terkejut tentang perkara ini. Memang inilah perangai DS Anwar Ibrahim - beliau tak berani menyertai dan memimpin parti pembangkang, walaupun parti PKR yang taksub kepadanya, kerana berharap dapat kembali memimpin UMNO satu hari nanti. Namun, kerana keupayaan beliau menyatu-padukan Pakatan Pembangkang, suara beliau didengari para pemimpin PAS dan DAP. Tambah lagi, di dalam PAS, anak buahnya menduduki jawatan penting.

Namun, kekalahan Husam pasti membimbangkan DS Anwar sekarang. Inilah usahanya yang paling nekad untuk merebut kuasa di dalam PAS melalui pertandingan di peringkat tertinggi menerusi proksinya. Adakah kekalahan Husam akan membahayakan kedudukan semua proksinya yang lain? Mungkinkah DS Hadi akan menuntut lebih banyak pengaruh untuk dirinya dan PAS lalu mula menyisih DS Anwar ke tepi?

Wallahualam... namun PAS mungkin kini lebih sedar akan kekuatannya sendiri. Dari dipimpin peliwat di arena politik kebangsaan, bukankah mereka seharusnya memimpin Pakatan Pembangkang?

Kalau Tugas Timbalan Menyokong Presiden, Dan Presiden Mahukan Kerajaan Perpaduan, Jadi...?

Oleh kerana saya naik seronok tengok pelbagai jenis cyber-trooper membidas posting saya yang lepas tentang perebutan jawatan Timbalan Presiden PAS (sampai bukan saja cyber-trooper Husam/Anwar, tapi siap cyber-trooper KJ UMNO pun masuk campur...!!!), di sini ingin saya teruskan pemerhatian saya. Persoalan yang ingin saya timbulkan adalah:

Lazimnya, Timbalan Presiden bertugas menyokong dan membantu Presiden dalam menjayakan misi serta visi organisasi. Timbalan Presiden tidak berperanan membangkang Presiden. Walaupun lazimnya wujud kegeseran kerana Timbalan menjadi pengimbang dari fraksi lain dalam organisasi, namun tugasnya tetap menyokong. Atas dasar ini, lojikkah Datuk Husam Musa dipilih sebagai Timbalan Presiden PAS?

Sekali lagi, saya ingin melihat yang di atas dari kacamata UMNO... mengkaji... Timbalan Presiden PAS manakah bakal paling menguntungkan UMNO?

Yang mencadangkan rapatnya PAS dengan UMNO dengan tujuan mewujudkan kerajaan perpaduan ummah Melayu Islam di Malaysia adalah Hj Hadi, yakni Presiden PAS sendiri. Satahu kita, Nasharuddin Mat Isa sebagai Timbalan hanya menyokong usaha Hj Hadi. Tetapi, yang jelas menentang ide ini adalah Husam. Tetapi Husam tak pula mencabar Hj Hadi, tetapi mencabar Nasharuddin pula dan menghamburkan tuduhan pelbagai ke arah lawannya.

Dengan melakukan demikian, adakah Husam juga bertindak menentang usaha Presiden PAS menuju perpaduan UMNO dan PAS? Oleh itu, mungkinkah Husam sebenarnya mahu mencabar Hj Hadi sendiri, tetapi kerana kemungkinan besar kalah, beliau bertekad mencabar Nasharuddin sebagai proksi Hj Hadi? Kalau begitu, ini bermakna sekiranya Husam menang, Hj Hadi akan menerima Timbalan yang berperanan pembangkang kepada beliau, bukan penyokong!

Makanya, sekiranya Husam menang, kemungkinan besar perpecahan besar akan bermula di PAS dari peringkat teratas sekali! Husam tidak mungkin dapat meyakinkan Hj Hadi yang kemenangannya kerana majoriti orang PAS menolak ide kerjasama dengan UMNO. Ini kerana Hj Hadi tetap menang tanpa bertanding walaupun cadangan perpaduan tersebut adalah usaha beliau sendiri!

Tambah pula, Husam, sama seperti tokoh-tokoh pro-DS Anwar yang lain seperti KJ PAS, yakni Kamaruddin Jaafar, kian melonjak naik nama akibat keupayaan mereka membiaya pembangunan PAS. Pembukaan Ibu Pejabat PAS di Kuala Lumpur dahulunya tak tercapai, sehinggalah Husam mencadangkannya dengan sokongan beg duit dari KJ PAS, secara tidak langsung dari DS Anwar juga pastinya! Ini kan cara sesetengah orang UMNO naik, bukan cara orang PAS!

Hai, jadi apakah agaknya rencana Husam sekiranya menang? Pemimpinnya, DS Anwar, masih belum ada parti. Mungkinkah beliau akan menghidupkan ide lama arwah Datuk Fadhil Noor untuk menjemput DS Anwar untuk menyertai PAS, sekaligus membenarkan DS Anwar merampas kedudukan Presiden PAS dari Hj Hadi kelak? Wallahualam... Tapi untung juga UMNO sekiranya Presiden PAS suatu hari merupakan seorang peliwat! Parti Islam apa macam tu?

Tapi takpa, setakat ada Husam sebagai Timbalan Presiden PAS pun dah cukup cantik untuk UMNO. Dah lah pembangkang kepada Presiden PAS, anak didik setia peliwat pula tu! Bagus PAS... Husamlah pilihan UMNO untukmu... hihihihi...

Husam Musa... Pilihan Terbaik Untuk UMNO?

Oleh sebab pemimpin Pakatan Pembangkang sering suka memberi pendapat tentang siapa patut memimpin UMNO dan parti komponen BN lain, tergerak hati saya untuk memberi pendapat siapakah pemimpin terbaik untuk PAS. Saya rasa UMNO patut menyokong Husam Musa sebagai calon Timbalan Presiden PAS yang baru.

Ini bukan hanya kerana dari segi pendekatan dan prinsip, Husam adalah calon paling hampir dengan perjuangan UMNO, tak hairanlah memandangkan beliau anak buah DS Anwar Ibrahim di Yayasan Anda pada suatu masa dahulu, tetapi juga beliau telah banyak berbudi kepada pemimpin UMNO serta Barisan Nasional sebelum ini.

Contohnya, Husam terlibat secara langsung dalam usaha memastikan Pak Lah tidak dibatalkan kemenangannya pada PRU-11 oleh kerana masalah teknikal. Beliau dan YB KJ bersepakat untuk membatalkan segala bantahan pilihanraya PAS dan BN anatara satu sama lain, sekaligus memastikan kekuasaan PAS berterusan di Kelantan. Pada masa tersebut, memang UMNO lebih mahukan Pak Lah selamat dari mendapatkan kembali Kelantan... kan?

(Ada ura-ura juga perbincangan tersebut juga menghasilkan persepakatan untuk dibebaskan DS Anwar yang rapat dengan Husam mahupun KJ)

Husam juga kelihatan sedia untuk menonjolkan kehebatan pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO yang rapat. Contohnya, KJ mengadakan debat dengannya menjelang pemilihan UMNO. Pada masa yang sama, Husam juga sedia menjaga air muka anak buah DS Anwar dalam UMNO, walau yang bekas, dari dimalukan. Contohnya apabila beliau saling enggan berentap dengan DS Zahid Hamidi pada program Hujah baru-baru ini.

Peng-UMNO-an PAS oleh Husam haruslah diteruskan, kerana pengikut PAS kini sudah terlalu fanatik. Sekiranya Mat Sabu menang, dengan kesediaan beliau melaungkan visi ala-syaih sekalipun dan kesediaannya mendedahkan DS Anwar sebelum UMNO sebagai seorang peliwat, sudah tentu PAS akan lebih jauh fanatik dari sekarang.

Saya juga agak bimbang sekiranya Nasharuddin Mat Isa terpilih. Walaupun beliau dirasakan susah menang walaupun pencalonannya yang terbanyak... orang Johor la... bukan tapak semaian lazim PAS... tetapi beliau bukan sahaja berupaya mengekalkan prinsip pemimpin ulama PAS, tetapi penampilannya, terutama sekali sepanjang pertandingan setakat ini, adalah yang paling matang sekaligus menarik.

Siapa yang nak menang... wallahualam... tetapi demi melanjutkan umur UMNO... harapan kami Husam le...

Kemaskini 1: Menarik bila melihat cyber-trooper Husam bergerak dengan pantas mengkomen di bawah topik ini. Mungkin juga cyber-trooper DS Anwar membantu. Kenapa, takutkah disuluh kebenaran yang membawa PAS mampir menjadi lebih UMNO adalah Husam Musa? Blog ini bukan membawa 'spin', tetapi bertujuan memberi tangen dari pendapat yang diwar-warkan, kerana yang sering kedengaran tidak semestinya yang benar...

Penanti Kemenangan Besar... Untuk Rakyat Dan Barisan Nasional!

Keputusan rasmi PRK DUN Penanti mungkin menunjukkan kemenangan besar untuk PKR, tambah pula apabila ketiga-tiga calon bebas hilang wang cengkeram pertandingan mereka. Namun, apabila diperhalusi, dapat dilihat yang keputusan PRK tersebut merupakan tamparan hebat kepada agenda merebut kuasa Anwar Ibrahim. Maksud saya:

1. Jumlah pengundi yang keluar hanyalah 46.15% peratus yakni 7,100 daripada 15,384 pemilih berdaftar di DUN tersebut. Ini menunjukkan rakyat menerima pesanan Barisan Nasional yang inilah PRK membuang masa, membazir dan tidak relevan dalam perjalanan hidup rakyat.


2. Difikirkan yang setidak-tidaknya PKR akan mendapat sokongan padu dari penyokong setianya mahupun pendukung kuasa DAP lain di Pulau Pinang, seperti ahli-ahli PAS. Namun, terlihat jumlah pengundi yang mengundi calon PKR cuma ~38% dari jumlah pengundi keseluruhan, yakni 6,052 undi sahaja!


3. Prestasi calon bebas tidak terlihat hebatnya kerana undinya pecah tiga, tetapi jumlah undi sebanyak 1,294 yang diraih ketiga-tiganya sebenarnya hebat memandangkan DUN Penanti dikatakan kubu kuat PKR di kawasan Parlimen DS Anwar Ibrahim sendiri! Apa sudah jadi sama PKR?


4. Akhir kata, Penanti sebagi suatu peristiwa atau tapak susunan agenda politik DS Anwar Ibrahim ternyata gagal. Rakyat lebih mempedulikan hal penyelesaian masalah ekonomi sekarang dan pelbagai isu lain sekarang. Malah, dari segi politik pun, lebih ramai tertunggu-tunggu keputusan muktamar PAS. Malah DS Anwar sendiri mungkin lebih memperdulikan menang-tidaknya Husam Musa dari kemenangan Dr. Mansor Othman !

Pendek kata, sebagai suatu strategi politik, ternyata DS Najib dan Barisan Nasional membuat keputusan tepat untuk tidak bertanding di Penanti. Pada dasarnya, kelihatan rakyat juga memahami mesej yang ingin diajukan BN, bahawa PRK yang dijadi-jadikan seperti di Penanti, kerana kononnya penyandang nak melanjutkan pelajaran (!), hanya membuang masa dan tidak membawa manfaat.

Ada ura-ura menyatakan DS Anwar merancang supaya salah seorang lagi dari pemegang kerusi Parlimen atau DUN PKR meletak jawatan semata-mata untuk diadakan PRK lagi. Diharap ini tidak berlaku. Tahulah DS Anwar tak sabar-sabar nak merebut kuasa, tetapi fikirkanlah tentang rakyat seketika. Ambilah iktibar dari Penanti dan timba teladan dari pemimpin BN seperti TS Muhyiddin yang sibuk menangani masalah rakyat...

Antara Ketua Pengawas Dan Pemangku Ketua Pemuda

Saya mendapat tahu yang Khairy Jamaluddin ada gelaran baru sekarang... 'Ketua Pengawas'. KETUA PENGAWAS? HAHAHAHAHAHA....

Apabila saya diberitahu oleh seorang yang rapat dengan pergolakan dalaman exco Pemuda, dikatakan gelaran ini diberikan oleh sesetengah exco setelah menerima surat pekeliling dari pejabat KJ menyatakan perlantikan Timbalan Ketua Sekretariat atau Biro Pemuda UMNO haruslah mendapat 'persetujuan' Ketua Pemuda. Ini menimbulkan kegusaran ramai ahli exco, terutama sekali yang menang pertandingan tempohari, kerana:

1. Ahli exco yang memang bukan kem KJ tak sukalah kalau ada machai KJ hendak dilantik untuk menjadi 'spy' di biro mereka pula. Inilah disyaki akan berlaku dengan adanya syarat 'persetujuan'nya dalam perlantikan Timbalan mereka.


2. Ahli exco ada juga sangsi ini cara untuk sama ada memastikan segala publisiti kerja baik mereka diraih tempiasnya oleh KJ ataupun mungkin lebih buruk lagi... mempermudahkan sabotaj dijalankan terhadap program-program!


3. Sebagai ahli politik, ahli-ahli exco tersebut juga mengharapkan dapat meraih sokongan melalui lantikan-lantikan tersebut... tetapi kalau ini di bawah 'persetujuan' KJ... ada la yang bakal tumpang tempias pula! (Dah la KJ ada sejarah memberi gambaran kepada para lantikan Pak Lah dahulu kononnya beliau terlibat dalam pilihan bapa mertuanya tersebut... dia belajar dari Anwar Ibrahim la tu!)


4. Ahli exco yang geng KJ pula merasakan seperti KJ tidak mempercayai mereka!

Nescaya tindakan kurang bijaksana KJ ini semakin melemahkan kedudukan beliau. Walau dilihat masih ada Pemuda UMNO yang cuba memperbaiki keadaan sama ada dengan memberi maklum-balas kepada KJ dalam majlis mahupun sewaktu perjalanan mesyuarat exco, biro, dsb, tindak-tanduk YB Dato' Razali Ibrahim, yakni 'Pemangku' Ketua Pemuda UMNO, tidak membantu.

Dato' Razali sering digambarkan sebagai 'gentleman' yang tidak hidung tinggi terhadap perwakilan Pemuda walaupun sudah selesai pertandingan mahupun kini berjawatan Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan. Ahli-ahli exco yang dirujuk juga menceritakan bagaimana Dato' Razali tetap memberi muka kepada KJ si Ketua Pengawas, walaupun beliau kini semakin mampir rasmi Pemangku Ketua Pemuda. Kematangan yang digambarkan Dato' Razali inilah kini mengancam kedudukan KJ.

Sudah pasti ada ketegangan di antara kedua-dua individu tersebut. Namun penulis diyakinkan ini bukanlah disebabkan oleh Dato' Razali.

Ada yang mungkin bertanya, kenapa penulis masih menulis demikian tentang KJ. Sebabnya adalah Pemuda UMNO memerlukan sinar, harapan, akan adanya jalan keluar dari kegelapan era rejim KJ memimpin Pemuda UMNO. Memang ada. Malah, hasil tindakan Ketua Pengawas di atas, semakin ramai exco Pemuda kini merancang program tanpa merujuk... malah sudah ada yang sama sekali tidak mempedulikan beliau! Nasib baiklah juga ada Pemangku Ketua Pemuda...