KT by-election

Now, everybody talk about the KT by-election.

(Even though I feel that the "sure come" financial crisis is also critical for us to worry).

Why is KT by-election important?

a) It will test the creditability & capability of our PM in-waiting?

b) It will test the supporting level of PR-BN?

c) It will indicate the momentum of change still keep going?

d) It will indicate the index of "hudud-phobia" among Chinese Community?

e) It will indicate the index of "Ketuanan Melayu" among Malay Community?

After "Change", what are next?

After "Change", What are next?

We got now total 5 states in peninsular Malaysia are under the new coalition party (Pakatan Rakyat) that never happened in the history of Malaysia. Also, we got more than 2/3 of opposition MPs in the Parlimen.

This is a "not bad" results that the people had made . The people had given sufficient mandate for the opposition members that always claimed that they are too weak in terms of representatives in the State & Federal level.

So, the people had done their part, what are next?

PR is now has a stronger platform to perform as a government and they are 10 months old today. As for Penang, DAP-led government never denied that they have shown their energetic, enthusiasm, innovation and trying to demonstrate a different way of administration.

However, many people also felt that they are still celebrating their 308 victory and too much of politicking in all policies and issues. Hope that they have read the letter from "silent majority" (Here) after attended the Victory Dinner in December, and I would said that this represents most of the view that used to support them during 308. Obviously, it is now not the time to celebrate victory, but is time for delivery.

The "change" also hoped that the 51 years old ruling coalition BN could awoae and realise what is actually happening on the ground people that they have left for so long. But, have they changed or going to change?

2008 - Year of Change

"I cannot say whether things will get better if we CHANGE. What I say is they must CHANGE if they are to get better." - George C. Lichtenberg

2008 - Year of Change for Malaysia. I think either you like or dislike to change, you may not disagree that 2008 is the Year of Change for Malaysia, especially in our political arena.

In fact, Gerakan is the ONLY one party in the BN ruling government who realised the needs for change looking at the current political situations. They avoid to use "Change" as the slogan and use "Reinventing" which bring the meaning the change for the government to face the new challenge. Unfortunately, it is been too late and the People has lost confidence for this 39 years old party to continue to rule.

DAP was more direct as the "Change" was always their unchanged slogan. And this time, with Uncle Kit and Karpal Singh slowly hiding behind the new group of young and fresh new comers led by LGE, the "Change" appeared to be more appropriate, acceptable & hopeful. This time, people of Penang finally decided to give them a try. Many of them simply felt that, " Nothing will be worse than now, so, why not we change?".

PKR was the one who benefited the most from the "Change". With "Harapan Baru for Malaysia", PKR fully utilise the sense of "change" of people to gain the reborn of the party and became the biggest Opponent Party, and nearly took over the government.

BN, or more precisely the UMNO, MCA and MIC were the most no sense & no sensitivity to the wave of change. With the slogan of "Selamat, Aman & Makmur", the people of Malaysia felt that they want to bring back to the old days. Insensitive, arrogant, ignorance, greedy, take for granted, etc made them became blind & deaf to the surrounding, resulting the biggest lost in the political history.

Is Vision 2020 achievable?

Vision 2020 - Will Malaysia achieve its target by the year 2020?

But, first of all, do you still remember what is this vision all about?

In 1991, our ex-PM outlined the following 9 challenges that Malaysia must overcome to achieve its target to become developed country, refer Here:

• Challenge 1: To form a nation that stands as one.
• Challenge 2: To produce a Malaysian community that has freedom, strength, and full of self confidence.
• Challenge 3: To develop a mature democratic community.
• Challenge 4: To form a community that has high morale, ethics and religious strength.
• Challenge 5: To cultivate a community that is matured and tolerant.
• Challenge 6: To form a progressive science community.
• Challenge 7: To cultivate a community rich in values and loving culture.
• Challenge 8: To ensure the formation of a community with a fair economy.
• Challenge 9: To cultivate a prosperous community.

However, the architect of this vision said unlikely to achieve in the recent forum due to Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, the current global economic turmoil and policies of the Abdullah administration.

But we noticed that above reasons are not able to damage a community financial foundation easily if the community is united, fair, understanding and able to work together. The main reasons that will hindrance the progressive is the mentality of the people, especially the leaders. If the country continue to practice racial-orientated politics, religious-sentiment based politics, money politics, "ketuanan" politics, etc., then the vision will end up as "mission impossible".

Bukit Antarabangsa Lanslide, a Disaster or a Carnival

Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, a disaster or a carnival?

Thanks to God, our country is free from natural disaster like earthquake. Unfortunately, He give us "man-made" disaster.

But, more unfortunately, the God also give us silly minister who said this is "Act of God" and also leaders who visited the tragedy area like attending the carnival. They come, listen to the brief, and go. The hawkers, the thieves, the reporters, the leaders, the irrelevant busy body, etc.....filled in the area.

Hardly heard any good news or motivation or touching stories from the area except complaints. These include ineffective rescue plans, the residents are going to sue the government, the victims reported that the rescue team refused to give helping hands, the current and the ex-government blamed each others, the lost of valuable items, the silly minister gave lecture of how to do the media reporting, the other silly minister said no clear evidence that the landslide was resulted by human negligence after the "visual" inspection.

But the most unfortunate one is those victims and residents affected that still worry about when they can go home.

And the most most unfortunate one is those "still unknown victims" (probably including us) at "still unknown location" (probably including our area) that waiting for another disaster to come by looking at our star leaders' attitude and administration, our prevention & precaution plans, our disaster rescue response plans, our "tak apa" policies, our "cepat lupa" policies, etc.

Penang Cultural Fest 2008

If you are in Penang or happen to visit Penang during 4~6 Dec, 2008.

Join the Penangkia at Penang Cultural Fest 2008.

Could UM back to its Glory?

Prof. Gauth Jasmon was appointed as new Vice Chancellor of University Malaya, the oldest university in Malaysia.

UM used to be one of the best university in Asia. However, the ranking dropped in these few years in THES Top University Ranking Table. UM was 169th in 2005, 192th in 2006, 246th in 2007 and 230th in 2008.

This became a hot issue and frequently criticised by many parties every year especially from the opposition parties. Thus, the main purpose of the appointment is clear - to improve the ranking of UM.

During the interview by Sin Chew Daily, Prof Gauth outlined his plans to improve the ranking. He aim to bring UM back to Top 200 in three years and Top 100 in six years. On of the major move is he will remove those lower quality and low performance lecturers. He welcome those first class graduates to continue their studies and research. He will instruct the academicians to submit a minimum numbers of their papers/thesis to the famous and well recognised research magazines. He believed that this will improve the overall quality of the university.

In short, he will run the university administration based on the merit.

However, he understand that he will not have the free hand as compared with what he had during his time with MMU. He brought MMU from zero to one the best university in the country in 12 years time.

We hope he keep firmly his original aim to bring back the glory of what UM was recognised in the old days and more importantly, the strong supports from the higher education ministry towards this aim must be consistent without influenced by those immature parties or policies.

To improve the university is not difficult, but to prevent interruption from "outsiders" is difficult.

As UM alumni and was a Prof Gauth's student, I wish professor every success and make UM back to its glory again.