SAPP And The Week's First Can Of Worms... Some Observations

SAPP will likely try to open the first significant can of worms of the week. This is of course the highly expected vote of no confidence in Pak Lah as PM.

There's been much said by Pak Lah's supporters, both sincere and appointed, of SAPP's move to oppose Pak Lah whilst remaining in BN as hypocritical. Actually, it isn't. Perhaps many of Pak Lah's supporters are so unfamiliar with how a parliamentary democracy works; there have been many leaders of other democracies that have been removed by their legislative allies before, only to be replaced by another ally. It should actually be easier than a 'lompat pagar' act!

This effort should nicely open a whole lot of can of worms though, such as:

1. Will the speaker allow the vote to proceed? If not, this may be yet another confirmation of Pak Lah's weakness that he dare not allow 'his' BN MPs to demostrate their confidence in him... or otherwise...
2. If called, a vote will test the sincerity of the opposition. My suspicion is that Pak Lah will win as the opposition is split on this issue. PAS wants to see Pak Lah go for the sake of Islam, Malays and the nation. PKR wants Pak Lah to go as it would like to see Anwar or his wife as PM. DAP however would prefer for Pak Lah to stay! Note how they are defending Pak Lah against Tun Dr M? DAP would let the country suffer so they can win bigger in 2013!
3. The vote will also ultimately test the resolve of many on the BN bench who are sick of Pak Lah. Interestingly, even Pak Lah's BN opponents may be split. KuLi has already declared he will vote for Pak Lah thinking he can beat Pak Lah in UMNO elections come December.
4. It would also be interesting to see how Pak Lah then manages the aftermath. He may now threaten BN MPs to ensure all vote for him, but even if some don't and if he survives, Pak Lah can't punish these 'traitors' to him anyway as he needs every MP he can get to stay on the BN side! Sack SAPP from BN? Rubbish!

Enough worms from one act for the week perhaps? More coming...

Pak Lah's Contribution To The English Language?

I got this from a friend and was immediately impressed:

There are possible plans underway to apply to the Oxford and Webster Dictionaries to include a new word for their 2009 edition:
Badawi
(baa-daa-wee) {noun} : To start something full of promise but end in disappointment, failure and/or disaster.
e.g. 1: I'm trusting you to perform this task well; don't do a badawi, ok?
e.g. 2: France badawied their Euro 2008 campaign. England pre-badawied theirs, whilst Italy was guilty of over-badawification!

Surely after Pak Lah's 'Badawying' of Malaysia's democracy and the 'badawification' of our economy, it is only fitting that his achievements be immortalised in this way. Best also that it be shared for all English speaking peoples, at least as a warning against a future with any badawis...

I Was Planning To Write That This Was A Good Time To Raise GLC Staff Pay When...

I was planning to write about this being the best time for the government to raise GLC pay when I read Khazanah's backing a 100% pay hike for TNB's boss instead. On the back of this rubbish, as well as TNB's suppression of staff pay increases at a level likely below inflation rate this year, my proposal would probably be pretty much a wasted effort.

Oh well, since I was planning anyway...

There is one unifying reason why many of the best Malaysian talents leave to work and eventually live in another country, what's called the 'brain drain'. No, it is not because of the DEB, as Malays account for a sizable number of those leaving these days, many to the Middle East and interestingly a majority emigrating to Australia are now Malays.

The reason is because Malaysian pay sucks. I mean seriously, Malaysian pay, for the same quality of talent, is not enough to make the best Malaysian professionals loyal to the nation! The reason for this is because GLC pay has been and continue to be suppressed year-on-year, despite the increased need for quality in these firms as they mature.

As GLC's in Malaysia so dominate the employment scene, the pay rate for THE ENTIRE PRIVATE SECTOR in Malaysia is poor relative to the region! This is as non-GLC's, even MNC's, don't really need to pay much more to secure the best talent available (what's left?) in the country.

The pathetic Malaysian pay is one reason why many work in Singapore at local pay rates - the pay in purchasing power terms is generally higher even before converting. This is also the reason why Malaysian medical grads prefer to stay on in the UK until they become specialists as the money only rolls in when you're a specialist back home!

GLC's tend to be all nationalist when challenged about this, citing 'national service' for instance. The problem is, how can a professional reasonably perform 'national service' when he or she's forced to make ends meet with the pathetic pay the GLC's continue to pay.

The clever 1/3 economist running around on the 4th floor is sure to say that raising GLC pay by say 25-30% a year for 3 years, the minimum increment needed for middle-management downwards, would be inflationary. However, as Pak Lah has stuffed up inflation control in the country this year anyway, why don't they do something right for a change!

Then maybe we can start reigning in the 'brain drain' at long last, as MNC's, the rest of the private sector and perhaps even the civil service are forced to follow suit.

And if the GLC's complain about the salary impact on their P&L, ask them to cut the CEO and CFO salaries first before kicking out all the expats and replacing them with returning talent. They're paying some expats in GLC 7-10X what they would pay a local currently anyway... have a heart for us Malaysians... please...?

No One Resigning From UMNO? Really?

I was starting to believe the propaganda that the number of resignations from UMNO following Tun Dr M's quiting the party had diminished when a friend called to declare that he just did! So why is this bloggable? Because of who he is.

The friend who claimed he was quitting the party was Zarique Zulkifly, son of Dato’ Zulkifly Rafique, the Managing Partner of UMNO Law Firm Zul Rafique & Partners. He's also the nephew of Pak Lah's staunch ally and family friend, Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Minister of the Federal Territories!

Zarique declared over the phone ~an hour ago that he effectively quit UMNO by sending a resignation letter to his Ketua Bahagian, supposed KJ ally cum UMNO Treasure Datuk Azim Zabidi. Whilst thanking Azim for his leadership, Zarique's letter did not hint on any reason for his quitting the party, other than it being 'due time' for him to do so.

Zarique had been communicating with me over the last 2 weeks, where he expressed a desire to be more active in the articulation of issues. Surprisingly to me, he had always expressed a desire to express himself on NGO platforms, such as Prowaris and Promuda. Rather astutely, he was not planning to join any of the Pakatan Rakyat parties - he actually laughed this off as a possibility!

Zarique's departure will not likely send as big a shockwave througout the UMNO rank and file as Tun Dr M's departure, but it should! If UMNO cannot retain talented professional youths, even those as 'cabled' or connected like Zarique, what hope does it have in retaining anyone of quality for the future... other than KJ and his goons of course!

Zarique's actions will certainly make members still in the fold, such as myself, think again about our decision to stay and fight it out. Is it already time to give up on UMNO and fight the good fight elsewhere?

The Horrors Of RM625 Rebate Per Car

I wish to add to the pile of horrors being shared across the old and new Malaysian media on this RM625 rebate we the rakyat should be getting per registered vehicle of less than 2,000cc or RM150 per motorbike below 250cc. The following list is not comprehensive, but still...

1. How come rebates are for a maximum of 5 vehicles per person? I thought this was for the benefit of the middle to working class? As far as I know, very few in the 'middle-class' bracket can afford to own more than 2 vehicles - usually one cheaper or older vehicle (kapcai or old Proton) and a newer one. Why are we helping people who can afford to own 3+ cars!
2. Why is government supporting these rebates for vehicles using the criteria of less than 2,000cc? On this basis, the proud more than-middle-class Malaysian owner of a brand new BMW 3 Series Convertible (1,995 cc) would be equally eligible for the rebate as a working class owner of a 3rd hand Proton Iswara (1,300cc)!
3. This rebate targets people who own vehicles, but many of the poor, especially the hard-core, will not be eligible for these benefits but will suffer the impact of higher inflation anyway! This was not just expressed over teh tarik over the weekend, a couple of bankers were quoted in the papers today as saying with recent policy changes "more Malaysians could slip into the poverty bracket, if not below"!
4. My young friend here has an analysis that shows that key beneficiaries of this rebate policy include a particularly well connected investment bank, chaired by an infamous almost-Tan Sri! How consistent with past Lah-ist government policy!
5. Poeple are rushing for the rebates, despite the government saying they can do this over the course of the year. The reason? People are afraid Pak Lah will flip-flop again and cancel the rebate before they can get their money! Early signs here?
6. Implementation? Long queues, grouses over Post Offices running out of cash, but the minister is still smiling and declaring early success!
7. etc.
8. etc.
9. ad-nauseum...

Yet again one ponders a question now so asked it's getting rather stale... can Pak Lah's government do anything right?

Shaziman, Ezam Atau Norza Proksi Khairy Jamaluddin?

Sejak mula kerja balik di Malaysia, saya berpeluang lebih berinteraksi dengan kawan dan lawan dalam UMNO. Baru-baru ini diketengahkan kepada saya teori baru, bahawasanya Khairy Jamaluddin al-Oxfordi hanya akan sekadar mempertahankan kedudukannya sebagai Naib Ketua Pemuda UMNO Disember ini.

Ini tidaklah begitu mencemaskan, cuma membingungkan dan merunsingkan. Bingung kerana kalau betui 'KJ' sedaq yang dia adalah punca besar kekalahan BN dan UMNO di PRU-12 baru-baru ini, awat dia tak pi 'cuti' sat dari politik ni? Runsing kerana kalau boleh, majoriti Pemuda UMNO pun tak mau kat dia lagi!

Tetapi mencemaskan bila ada cerita yang la KJ nak pasang kroni dia pulak sebagai 'proksi'nya di jawatan Ketua Pemuda UMNO. Ada 3 nama yang diwar-warkan, tetapi semuanya ada kekurangan sendiri sebagai calon.

Norza Zakaria kelihatan terlalu rapat dengan KJ, jadi nampak sangat nanti dia calon siapa. Si Ezam Md Nor pulak orang UMNO masih ada yang terlalu meluat kat dia sebab derhaka bersama Anwar Ibrahim. YB Shaziman Abu Mansor pulak kelihatan berpotensi, tapi malangnya mai dari negeri sama dengan KJ!

Ni cerita saja takat ni, wallahualam betui daknya. Tapi cemas... cemas... Camana nak pebaik UMNO kalau ada orang pasang calon lagu ni!

Pak Lah, Bukan Soai Bila Saja, Tapi Betui Ka?

Saya bersyukur apabila melihat ada kesedaran pada pihak Pak Lah bahawa rakyat tidak menerima kepimpinannya lagi. Pengakuan ini dibuat secara tidak langsung apabila Pak Lah sekali lagi mengesahkan niatnya untuk berundur dan menyerahkan kuasa kepada Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Yang masih menjadi tanda-tanya adalah bila, terutama sekali apabila soal tarikh peralihan kuasa sering dielak oleh Pak Lah. Semakin keliru rakyat apabila Pak Lah kerap kali mengulang niatnya akan mempertahankan kedudukan Presiden UMNO menjelang Disember ini. Kalau nak berundur, buat apa buat kerja ni?

Busuk-busuk tarikh peralihan kuasa pun, yang ada diwar-warkan oleh orang-orang Pak Lah adalah pada tahun 2010! 'Sorry' la Pak Lah, kalau lambat macam tu nak tunggu, tiada makna, UMNO, Melayu dan Malaysia mungkin dah 'hancuq' dah kalau tunggu lama tu!

Lebih teruk lagi, walaupun sekiranya Pak Lah sendiri yang menjanjikan tarikh peralihan kuasa, ramai rakyat takkan percaya! Maaflah Pak Lah, tapi maklumlah, terlalu banyak kali sangat yang Pak Lah dah isytiharkan tentang tarikh bila akan berlaku sesuatu, tiba-tiba pada masa lain pula berlaku benda tu. Pilihanraya lagu tu... dan yang baru-baru ni pun...

Lagu ni lah saya sarankan. Rasanya ada baiknya Pak Lah tak usah bincang lagi tentang peralihan kuasa ni. Mengaku sahaja yang Pak Lah masih mahu berkuasa. Dengan cara ini, lebih jelas pilihan pemimpin lain seperti Datuk Seri Najib sama ada untuk berdiam diri atau bangun menentang Pak Lah demi kesejahteraan negara dan masa depan UMNO serta Melayu.

Lainlah kalau Pak Lah betul-betul nak berundur, baik dilakukan secepat mungkin, supaya tugas-tugas penting negara boleh diberi keutamaan semula...

Pak Lah... The Most Astounding Finance Minister In The World

Pak Lah has already achieved the impossible by his singular contribution to democracy in Malaysia as he continues to prove that ANYONE could be our Prime Minister.

However, in his most recent acts, over just a period of weeks, he has outdone all other Finance Ministers from any relatively open economy across time and geography by departing from both major schools of economic thought of the last century.

On Thursday, the Bank Negara chief, Zeti Akhtar Aziz, admitted that the central bank needed more time to assess the extent inflation would rise to this year. This was barely 1 week after her expressed view that inflation can be managed with confidence, even if it hit a 10-year high this year. In my view, there are 3 elements likely to cause such high inflation expectation here:

1. Government policy that have direct or indirect impact on prices. (Due to conflict of interest on my part, I'll let you draw your own arguments for and conclusions on this)
2. The on-going negative impact of government policy flip-flops, resulting in reduced interest in investments or even retained deposit savings, both foreign and local, for fear of instability
3. Government's competency (or incompetency rather!) in mitigating the negative impacts of the global financial crisis, that now may have a found a second contributor as the UK and Spanish property bubbles have burst (notice how there are no more 'Profitable Plots' ads anymore on TV?)

Note the strong influence of government on domestic inflationary pressures? It would appear Pak Lah has managed to defy the monetarist priority of managing inflation so much that even Bank Negara has had to revise its earlier confident view of inflation management within days! Eat your heart out Milton Friedman! Imagine if Bank Negara is forced to try to manage things with higher interest rates?

But then one wonders... perhaps Pak Lah is planning to go Keynesian? After all, this theory whereby government spending (fiscal policy) helps pump-prime the economy, a Tun Dr M favourite, has been used with great success globally since the 1930s depression era. Pak Lah can even get political points by distributing 'pump priming' projects to UMNO leaders prior to the general assembly.

However, Pak Lah had earlier announced, in response to the ever-ignorant opposition calls, to cut government spending by about RM2 Billion. No, no, no, no, no! This is not Keynesian! Sure, there is a benefit in the government cutting ministerial allowances, but cutting back on functions and small projects is counter-Keynesian! The government should instead re-allocate long-term spending to increase the number of projects, large and small, with high, immediate impact!

OK, I admit, some of the cut-backs are good, besides being good politics, like cutting back on the allowances for outfits for events (why did we have this in the first place?!) and budgets for restructuring (aren't these supposed to save money??!!). However, as spending on new assets, conferences, etc. increases circulation and business activity, the net benefit of cancelling many of these to the national economy, even if the funds go to subsidies support, may be negative!

Rather than cut back on small projects, why didn't Pak Lah cancel silly long-winded, slow and low return on investment projects like the 2nd Penang Bridge and re-allocate the savings on this to projects like the one he launched yesterday on increasing padi production. Instead, he has just cancelled a collection of small projects to fund another collection of (otherwise rather excellent) small projects, with a net loss from the effort to re-allocate the funds as a minimum!

Surely Pak Lah's friendship with Patrick 'Badawi' Lim is not worth spoiling Pak Lah's Keynesian efforts to boost the local economy! Pak Lah has already made monetarism unworkable in Malaysia by pushing inflation potentially beyond the control of Bank Negara. Will he now defy Keynesian economic theory by only half-applying it for the benefit of his friends and family?

If he does so, Pak Lah will certainly earn another accollade worthy of inclusion in the history of world finance, for being the first PM & Finance Minister who is both Anti-Monetarist and Anti-Keynesian... shall we call it Economic Irrationa-Lah-ism?

Pak Lah And 4th Floor's Hadhari Act Of Removing Sanusi Junid (The Blogger) From UIAM

I had written before of Pak Lah and his minions' plans to remove my Ayah Tan Sri Sanusi Junid from the post of UIAM President. Well, this has now come to pass, which is sad for my Ayah and the family in general, but is perhaps even sadder for the university and the nation as a whole.

I wish not to elaborate further on this here, but would rather refer you to Sanusi Junid's new blog, where you may read the press relase of his acceptance of as well as his reponse to the dismissal. The first press release on the issue had been posted earlier.

I would also like to record my thanks here to Che Det for also coming to my Ayah's defence.

This posting I think best analyses the issue by far.

And a typically astute observation by another blogger friend here.

Has Sanusi Junid Been Sacked?

This question has been asked of me a lot since last night, whether my Ayah, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid has been sacked from his job as UIAM President. This follows much talk of this happening, but as is the norm for the Lah-ist regime, not much action. Well, it would seem that the time for talk was over and there's just too many goodies at UIAM to leave the Presidency well enough alone, despite recent assurances from the Minister of Higher Education.

Not wanting to pre-empt too much here, but there will be a press conference this afternoon on the matter. Will update later, as it is adab Islam and adat Melayu that the young give way to elders in words and deeds.

Tan Sri Kalimullah Hassan? (NOT!) So KJ How?

There's an important update at the end...

There is a rumour swirling about Putrajaya at the moment among the higher echelons of the Civil Service. The rumour surrounds a 4th Floor plan to turn Kalimullah Hassan into a Tan Sri!

Now, normally, the Civil Service would just go through the motions when instructed by the PM or, in recent years, by the 'children' and their 'new Dato' friends on the 4th floor. However, it seems that many Civil Servants are sufficiently appalled of the thought of calling Kalimullah Hassan "Tan Sri" that they are resisting the attempt to make him one!

The man on the street of course probably also don't see a reason why Uncle Kali should be made a Tan Sri. A Dato', of course... I mean anyone with a bit of a name gets a plain Dato' in this country, but a Tan Sri? One wonders which of these achievements merit Uncle Kali getting a Dato'-ship?

1. Successfully getting Pak Lah, as well as a large number of other VVIPs, to believe that Kali was somehow 'responsible' for securing them higher office, when he was not?
2. Successfully turning the New Straits Times into the least read of the mainstream dailies in Malaysia whilst transforming it into little better than a mere tabloid in the process?
3. Getting appointed to numerous high ranking corporate positions because of 1?
4. Getting a big slice of the ECM-Libra pie and then helping the facilitation of numerous financial rapes, the most celebrated being the rape of Avenue Capital by ECM?
5. Successfully being exposed as a liar with his fake recollection of the event of Pak Lah's kow-towing to Tun Dr M in Tokyo a couple of years ago?
6. Successfully, showcasing his skill as the most accomplished psycophant or 'maha-pangampu' of this or any other era of Malay history?
7. And just to add some conspiracy spice; successfully being accussed of spying on high-level Malaysian affairs for Singapore?
8. etc.
9. etc.
10. ... ad nauseum...

Could these achievements be good reasons for him to get a Tan Sri-ship? Pity all the other Tan Sri's in Malaysia. If Kalimullah Hassan does get his Tan Sri-ship, Pak Lah and his boys would again be responsible for transforming yet another honoured tradition in Malaysia into a mockery... Well, at least Mat Taib will have company in the lower quality bracket of Tan Sri's...

But perhaps that is not the end game. Maybe what they wish to do is give Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) a Tan Sri-ship? With many of KJ's mate's being Dato's already, how could KJ's title also be limited to a Dato'-ship! But of course, they need to test this first, so why not have this idea tested by giving the title to another K?

Tan Sri Khairy Jamaluddin... hmmm... has a certain ring to it... Wonder what the Civil Service would think about that?! So much for Pak Lah being the hero of the Civil Service...

Important update:

Alhamdulillah, sensible minds have prevailed it would seem... Kali merits only a Dato' from the Agong. Thanks Hard-T for the update...

Melindungi UIAM Dari Gejala Politik Dan Hadhari

Pada hari Khamis, 5 Jun 2008, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid mengumumkan kepada media arus perdana dan media alaf baru akan niatnya untuk turut kekal sebagai Presiden UIAM. Sudah tentu tindakan beliau mengecewakan pihak-pihak tertentu yang giat mencanangkan pemecatannya dan sekelompok yang mengesyorkan pengundurannya secara senyap.

Yang menarik sekali adalah bagaimana TS Sanusi merujuk kepada pendapat Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Dato' Khalid Nordin, bahawa beliau tidak perlu berundur dari jawatan Presiden UIAM asalkan kedudukannya tidak digunakan untuk politik. TS Sanusi juga menjelaskan bahawa DYMM Sultan Pahang sahajalah boleh memecat Presiden UIAM atas nasihat Perdana Menteri... nasihat Pak Lah sendiri lah ya, bukan mana-mana anasir dari tingkat 4!

Saya sendiri lega dengan keputusan tersebut kerana UIAM insya'Allah akan kekal terselamat dari gejala politik dan dakyah Islam Hadhari buat seketika lagi.

Pada masa yang sama, Tan Sri Sanusi juga menyatakan kesediaannya untuk disiasat Biro Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) bila-bila masa kerana beliau tiada apa-apa untuk disembunyikan. Beliau mengulas sikit tentang perkara ini kerana perasaan kurang puas hatinya terhadap tindakan Tingkat 4 menghatar BPR untuk menyiasat IIUM Holdings sejurus selepas TS Sanusi mula berkempen untuk Mukhriz di Jerlun para PRU-12.

Alhamdulillah, siasatan BPR telah mendapati tiada korupsi di IIUM Holdings mahupun ada juga orang yang tidak putus-putus mewarwarkan fitnah mengenainya. Mungkin adanya musuh sejahat ini adalah lumrah hidup ahli politik, walau yang 'bekas'. Tetapi yang membimbangkan adalah bagaimana usaha menolak BPR ke IIUM Holdings kelihatan disubahati Tingkat 4, mungkinkah ini juga berlaku tanpa pengetahuan Pak Lah?

Setidak-tidaknya, saya sendiri semakin membanggai Ayah saya TS Sanusi yang ingin terus kekal berbakti di UIAM sambil melanjutkan tradisi ketua-ketua IPTA dahulu yang begitu lantang menegur dan kritikal terhadap kerajaan, seperti Ainuddin Wahid dan Engku Aziz. Dan mereka juga dahulunya kritikal dari luar UMNO namun berjaya sesekali mengubati sedikit masalah Melayu dan parti.

Usaha membuang kanker dan parasit dari UMNO memerlukan suara lantang yang semakin menyaring dari IPTA seluruh negara... tak kira lah ahli UMNO ataupun tidak...

Untuk pendapat yang lebih neutral tentang hal ini, layarilah...

Wartawan berhemah ini pula mengutarakan anjakan pemerhatian yang lebih jauh... dan ia kemudian meruncing di sini...

To Sack A President...

It's been a busy week at work and we're doing a short hop north with the kids, but I find compelled to blog on something seeing as I've been smsed and called today on this repeatedly.

There is a rumour going around that my Ayah, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, is about to be sacked from his post as International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM or UIAM) President. The post may sound honorary, but it does have some executive pull, and in his time, my Ayah has been able to do some cool things at UIAM.

The rumour goes that whilst my Ayah has another 2 years of his current contract as UIAM President to run, some people are interested in the post. These interested individuals hence wish to take advantage of Tun Dr M's clash with Pak Lah to influence 'Putrajaya' to sack my Ayah, who recently also declared his wish to see Pak Lah resign.

(This idea of Putrajaya, probably a 4th floor area of the town, sacking TS Sanusi Junid in itself is a little strange as it is the Sultan of Pahang who has such authority)

Well, sack is a rough word. My Ayah informs me that he has heard 'whispers' that he should perhaps consider 'going quietly'. We are a little puzzled by these whispers as Pak Lah knows Sanusi Junid well enough to realise that he's not the type to 'go quietly' and in fact would likely be provoked if such whispers came from the wrong people!

Anyway, perhaps we can all help my Ayah out. He is actually also now puzzled as to what excuse Putrajaya is dreaming up to have him 'go quietly' or sack or whatever. Could it perhaps be because:

1. My Ayah has helped found and built IIUM Holdings, the university's investment holding company, into a multi-million ringgit business for the benefit of the students?


2. Is it because the current UIAM President has been busy building the International Institute of Muslim Unity (IIMU) to foster brotherhood between Muslims globally with the help of UIAM's international alumnus, teaching force and student body?


3. Is it because TS Sanusi Junid refused Putrajaya's request some years ago to use UIAM to spread the deviant Islam Hadhari teachings across Malaysia and the wider Muslim community?

But in drawing up the list above, I realised that I was probably biased! So, can some of you perhaps help list a few reasons perhaps why my Ayah may be sacked soon?

To Resign From UMNO Or Not To Resign From UMNO, That Is The Question...

I had earlier posed the question to readers here on whether I should follow the lead of Che Det and my Ayah and resign from UMNO. I have had a decent number of friends leaving and a large number who are 'staying for now'.

It may disappoint and excite some to know that as of late last week, I had decided to be among those who are 'staying for now'. The reasons are various, as befitting a complex question for any long-time UMNO member, but up front, as I make no money from UMNO, I can duly declare that it has nothing to do with money. It does however have to do with:

1. Mukhriz's decision. It would have been embarassing for me to stay in UMNO if Mukhriz had left. However, as Mukhriz has chosen to stay for now, I cannot leave and allow my action be used as yet another, albeit perhaps less significant barb, for UMNO's enemies within to use against him.
2. The different battles between the generations in the on-going war. Note that the battle between Tun Dr M <-> Pak Lah <-> Anwar is a battle of the so-called 60+ generation. I am not part of that battle, but I am a small participant in the Mukhriz<->KJ battle of the 30's-40's generation. Whilst resigning is a key battle tactic of the 60+ generation, the time is probably not right for it to be applied for the younger generation in UMNO.
3. The on-going sand-shifting among the Najib and Mahyuddin generation would be a key factor in whether Pak Lah survives, and that is developing in a positive direction. Already Mahyuddin is seen as a shoo-in for Deputy President, making Najib's declaration for the Presidency no longer a question of if, but when. The when he may choose to declare himself if Pak Lah's intentions to stay become clearer.
4. In line with 2 and 3, if I and other UMNO 'youngsters' do choose to leave, we need to give meaning to the departure and make the event significant. Already we have heard of groups holding back from resigning so that a larger group of 'young' UMNO members may depart en-mass, in the tens of thousands, in a symbolic gesture of disgust should Pak Lah not resign.

So for now, I shall continue with my 'Duri Dalam Daging' activities to convince the mamoth, 'Tanduk Seladang Dalam Daging' that is Pak Lah to resign from the UMNO Presidency and from the PM-ship of the country...

Besides, it'd be more ego-boosting if I could get them to sack me...!

Someone "Innocently" Calling Themselves A M U Sanusi? NOT ME...!

I was alerted by a friend that someone called "A M U Sanusi" had been making comments in the most excellent Saiful Nang's blog. The friend was concerned that the comments were most unbecoming of me, or 'brainless', hey Saiful's own words, not mine!

Well, as a younger me once declared that it was "Better To Die Clever Than Live Stupid", I thought it wise to clarify the matter with Saiful directly and to comment the following in his blog:

Assalamualaikum,

Firstly I thank Saiful for alerting me of a person signing off comments with my initials such as it may tarnish my name.

The person writing as A M U Sanusi is not me. I would typically sign off as A M Ubaidah S on blogs, my own or when I comment on others’, or as Akhramsyah Sanusi, Akhramsyah M U Sanusi or indeed my full name. I don’t recall any occassion over the last few years when I ever did sign off as A M U Sanusi so if there was, it would be confined to history, and where such records may be active still, would only be due to technical limitations for naming.

So, the A M U Sanusi commenting here is not Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah bin Sanusi or A M Ubaidah S. If this is an attempt to sabotage my good name, you would be able to sus out why probably from reading my blog: www.thoughtsintangents.blogspot.com if you haven’t already.

And say perhaps there may then appear another fellow signing off as A M Ubaidah S in future that was not me, I would hope readers of my blog would know what I stand for and those who don’t would deign to check for consistency.

Just for Saiful’s good name, my family and I as a whole have always remained happy with his and his firm’s delivery to us, are admirers of his wider body of works and indeed if we were to meet more often beyond his professional capacity, I dare say we would be friends. Appreciate his efforts in clarifying this matter, and I indeed find the views of the A M U Sanusi that commented on this blog crass, unbecoming, unprofessional, obtuse and just within the boundaries of moronic literature… hence again, NOT my words…

Thanks and wassalam,

My wife then wisely advised me to add this to my own blog... for reference... you know... in case...

P. Ramlee, UMNO Member And Critic... Ah, The Good Old Days!

P. Ramlee was an UMNO member for bahagian Jerai, my former Bahagian. He even ran for AJK UMNO for the Bahagian, or was it Cawangan, once, but lost. At the time, you had to be more than 'glamer' to be an UMNO leader. But P. Ramlee stayed a staunch UMNO supporter.

P. Ramlee probably didn't get attacked for his sindiran of UMNO members of his time in this funny discovery by OpEd because he was an UMNO member.

You see UMNO members, especially ordinary members, used to have an open license to criticise the party leadership. We wee members only started getting attacked viciously for being critical of the UMNO-led government since the Lah-ist regime began in late 2003... leaders of 'national traitor' status like Siddiq Ghause and Anwar Ibrahim were always clear exceptions of course...

Batu Nisan Putih Politik Pak Lah

Tanggungjawab mempertahankan kedaulatan dan sempadan tanah milik negara merupakan peranan pokok sesebuah kerajaan. Makanya, apabila hilang hak negara atas Pulau Batu Putih kepada seteru lama yang ganas walaupun kerdil, Singapura, sekali lagi ia membukti kelembapan pada pihak Pak Lah dan kepimpinannya dalam menjalankan tanggungjawab asas sekalipun.

Makanya bertambah lagi perkara yang perlu dibimbangkan rakyat selagi Pak Lah berkuasa. Kalau memang sudah sedia rakyat bimbang tentang

1. keselamatan dalam negeri, yang kini dimenterikan bekas Menteri Luar yang patut duduk tertuduh bersama Pak Lah sebagai menteri yang gagal dalam kes Pulau Batu Putih. Patut lah Syed Hamid Albar, teman setia anak-anak Pak Lah, cepat-cepat tukar kementerian yang diserah kepada saingan lama Pak Lah, Datuk Rais Yatim... Pak Lah dah lama dah tahu ke nak kalah?
2. kenaikan harga barang, kini dimenterikan seorang menteri yang dahulu memerlukan pertolongan kakak bos lamanya untuk memanjangkan kerjaya politiknya
3. masa depan UMNO, yang kini 'diterangkan' seorang yang hanya selamat dari dipenjarakan akibat membawa wang berjuta ringgit kehulu-hilir seberang laut kerana mampu mengaku dirinya tak tahu cakap orang putih
4. pertelingkahan yang memanjang tentang kedudukan agama Islam sehingga terseret nama baik agama dan dipergunakan nama besar Allah sebagai alat kempen masuk agama lain... sementara Pak Lah tak sudah-sudah berIslamkan yang ada Had harinya...
5. dan seorang anak muda yang naik sebagai wakil rakyat atas dasar tauliah sijil nikah sahaja... dan yang bersekutu dengannya... si KJ la!
6. dll
7. dll
8. ...

Kini rakyat harus bimbang pula yang dalam menangkis serangan perundangan dari sang Singa yang ber Pura-pura sekalipun, Pak Lah tidak mampu mempertahankan hak Malaysia, yang baru malam sebelumnya dipaparkan di kaca TV, jauh lebih berhak-milik terhadap Pulau Batu Putih.

Ternyata kekalahan Malaysia dalam kes Pulau Batu Putih teruk sekali ke tahap kalah-kalah, sebab kalau menang-menang seperti dipaksa Datuk Rais Yatim isytiharkan, kenapa Pak Lah tak sambut sama? Kenapa dirakam pula di RTM konon Pak Lah menyangkal tuduhan dari Amerika yang tak ketahuan pun? Hebat sangatkah tuduhan sehingga PM yang harus menyangkal? Pakar sangatkah Pak lah sehingga "terpaksa" melepaskan tanggungjawab hal Pulau Batu Putih?

Dah la tu, semakin kalah-kalah Malaysia bila RTM tunjuk konon rakyat kebanyakan 'menerima keputusan'. WOI! Tak malu ka! RTM tu orang tengok la di Singapura! Apa, Pak Lah nak tunjuk rakyat Malaysia mengaku kalah macam dia kah? Oh ya lupa... Pak Lah mungkin terasa dia menang... sebab kalah pulau pun dapat juga simpan batu-batu laut ni kan?

Mungkinkah ada orang Johor yang berani menyaman Pak Lah dan kerajaannya, terutama sekali bekas Menteri Luar yang bertanggungjawab kemudian cabut kementerian, Syed Hamid Albar, kerana terlalu lembap dalam mempertahankan bumi Johor... dari IDR hingga kini Pulau Batu Putih? Oh ya juga... Pak Lah yang besar macam IDR pun sanggup bagi free ke Singapura, apatah lagi pulau... ada nasihat anak angkat Singapura dari Oxford kut!

Moga-moga hikmahnya adalah kini, sudah tersedia Batu Nisan Putih untuk kubur politik Pak Lah...

Who's Fault Is It The Current Crisis?

It has been entertainingly painfull reading the mainstream press over the last few days in the aftermath of Che Det's resignation. The mainstream Lah-ist forces have certainly ensured continuous growth of blogging as against all that is happening, all is being reported as being fine in Lah-Lah land.

The spin seems to be centred around pitting Tun Dr M's actions against Anwar Ibrahim's quest for power whilst keeping Pak Lah innocent of all that is happening. Of course, whilst we acknowledge Pak Lah's inaction and somewhat sedentary nature, that's part of his problem, we should take the time to remind everyone, including the surprisingly naive but intelligent looking Karim Raslan why we are where we are.

1. Anwar Ibrahim is a contender for Prime Minister of Malaysia because Pak Lah has been and continues to be an incompetent leader. If Pak Lah was not so incompetent in making sure the benefits of a 'growing' economy his press keeps reporting benefits the people instead of his people, Anwar wouldn't have had a soap-box to stand-on at Dataran Merdeka, let alone be able to address 10,000 people at the place of UMNO's conception.
2. Tun Dr M has quit UMNO because Pak Lah is destroying the party. In the quest to secure power for not just himself, but also his son-in-law, Pak Lah has abused the instruments of control and discipline in the party to quell all dissent. He allows the opposition to be more quoted in the media to maintain an image of 'openess', when in truth, the people who can challenge and topple him in the party are silenced with money, threats and 'disciplinary actions'.
3. The people know this is not about Tun Dr M or Anwar Ibrahim, but about Pak Lah, the man who has proven that it does not take a genius to ruin this country, but a lazy incompetent fellow can ruin it just as well, if not more. A man who can turn one of the region's tigers into a pussy cat happiest when playing golf with Singapore. A man that in 4 years could turn one of the most impressive democratic victories in history in to the worst vote swing exprienced by a government in power against a still not fully united opposition!

Anwar claims that a fresh general election in September will bring the opposition into power. For once I would have to agree with Anwar, but only if Pak Lah chooses to remain as PM and President of UMNO. BN will then indeed lose to PR in September, following a walk-out of UMNO members through to MPs, as the people will wish to demonstrate more strongly how they have already rejected the leadership of Pak Lah and wish for the end of Lah-ism.

And then Pak Lah will find himself in ISA as a flight risk, waiting for the cases to be brought up against him on Iraq Oil, SCOMI Nuclear Parts Shipping, ECM-Libra, abuse of funds to buy airplanes, boats and holding a George Benson private concert for Merdeka, forcing Proton to sell MV Agusta to a 'secret buyer', selling out to Singapore on the bridge, Pantai, Telekom and other stuff, enriching the "K Linked Companies" or KLCs in Malaysia, ad-nauseum. At least he would have Kamal, KJ and other K's with him... and BSA Tahir who would be preparing to sue him...

Then only perhaps Pak Lah would realise that it would have been better for him to resign... now...

UMNO Post Resignation Of Che Det: Early Observations

A friend tried to alert me as I was driving back from the East Coast that Tun Dr Mahathir or 'Che Det' the blogger has quit Umno! As I could only call my friend back proper a couple of hours later, I'm a little off the pace, but some early observations can already be made based on the e-mails, comments, blog-postings and smses flying around.

The most immediate material impact to Che Det's resignation would be the departure of many of his stalwarts or those similarly disgusted at the continuing nonsense that passes for 'running the country' under Pak Lah and the 4th floor. And yes, my Ayah's gone and resigned too... the day before actually...!

There are some interesting things that may develop though now that Che Det has launched this surprise move. Among them:

1. Che Det has provided a formula for UMNO MPs to leave the BN side of the Parliament and still stay loyal to the party - by resigning their party posts but crossing over as independents! This would be a far more doable and dangerous threat to Pak lah's government than Anwar's cross-over threat ever was (since not many people believe Anwar would be credible as a PM anyway!).
2. Pak Lah's denials of an on-going rift with Che Det, especially effective in the rural areas where the government controlled media still holds sway, are now clearly empty words to all. What spin can be done to mitigate this act, one cannot know, but by tomorrow, via the sms network, it would be clear to the majority of Malaysians that as far as Che Det was concerned, Pak Lah has ripped UMNO far from its roots; and as one of UMNO's surviving founders, Che Det would know!
3. With the first UMNO Branch or Cawangan meetings less than a month away, it would only take a few to begin a trend of mass resignation of members and closure UMNO branches such as to leave the party in disarray. These mass resignations are also a much more doable act than the recent feeble attempt to call an EGM at the Bahagian level. The Cawangan are still controlled by the grassroots, with a large majority still angry at Pak Lah and are easily stoked by the memory of Che Det.
4. Worst of all for Pak Lah, early excitement at his 'enemies' leaving the party, hence 'strengthening' him, would prove a poison chalice, but unfortunately he and his key advisers on the 4th floor may be too incompetent to realise it! Hah!

The way Che Det has phrased his resignation has also helped UMNO in another way. In his actions, he has proven that UMNO under Pak Lah is not UMNO, that UMNO is not directly responsible, if momentarily still culpable, for Pak Lah's decisions to:

• deviate from Islam with his Hadhari concept
• clash with the Sultans on appointing leaders and on simple issues of etiquette
• abuse the DEB so much, then threaten to dismantle it despite the nation still needing it
• excessively favouring his friends and family above the more deserving Malays and Malaysians, especially on fiscal decisions
• the list goes on... ad nauseum...

A more tangible signal to UMNO members and the nation that Lah has deviated cannot be given. Now UMNO members have a choice to make... kick Lah out, or leave ourselves... I am still deciding. Care to help me decide anyone? Your (sensible) words are welcome...

Kuasa Diketagihi Pemimpin, Lina Joy & Musuh Melayu Yang Untung Lagi

Pemimpin Melayu terlalu pendek fikiran. Yang Anwar terkejar cara menidakkan dosanya, Pak Lah pula merebut peluang mengaibkan musuhnya. Yang rugi umat Melayu Islam akhirnya.

Gara-gara kedua-dua 'pemimpin Melayu' ini bersekongkong memperagakan, memperbicarakan DVD Lingam yang mencelakakan, seorang Ketua Menteri Cina sudah bersuara supaya kes-kes lama hakim-hakim Melayu yang telah dimalukan dibuka semula.

Yang kes si Lim yang dipasang oleh Chin abad lepas Melayu nak peduli apa? Masalahnya, kes Lina Joy pun mungkin dibuka semula! Selepas Tun Fairuz berjasa menutupnya, kerja Pak Lah dan Anwar membukanya semula! Astaghfirullah!

Mungkin ada Melayu yang ingin mengesyorkan diri bahawa kes Lina Joy diputuskan ikut prinsip undang-undang dan tiada pengaruh lain yang boleh mengubah keputusan tersebut. Memang betul juga yang penting adalah rakyat ingin Mahkamah bebas dari tuduhan tidak telus dan penuh rasuah.

Namun tidakkah terfikirkah Melayu kenapa Bar Council yang sememangnya sekular dan sentiasa mencabar ketuanan Melayu turut mencanang kejatuhan Fairuz hasil paparan DVD durjana tersebut. Ini sejak Fairuz menolak tuntutan Lina Joy yang memaksa Melayu subahat dalam murtadnya. Ini sejak Fairuz mengisytiharkan keinginnya membawa undang-undang negara merapati lunas-lunas Islam & menjauhi Common Law tingalan penjajah?

Pada masa musuh-musuh Melayu dalam gembira, haruskah Melayu bersorak sama? Belum tiba lagikah masa menolak pemimpin yang durjana?!

Seperti kata seorang temanku yang setia,"Masalah melayu berputar kepada kegilaan kuasa. Mudharat orang melayu datang dari pemimpin yang hanya mementingkan diri sendiri. Sekarang semakin suntuk masa untuk orang melayu mempertahankan hak kita.

Dari Melaka ke Malayan Union negara kerap digadaikan oleh pemimpin dan raja, hinggalah semua tersedar dan bersatu menentang musuh bersama. Terpulanglah kepada semua kaum melayu untuk membela nasib bangsa. Kepimpinan yang suci datang dari keikhlasan. Keikhlasan datang dari kebenaran."