Happy 4th Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia

BAHTERA NEGARA MENUJU GEMILANG

8.3.2008

Ribut senja melanda sempadan

Angin reda membelai kemenangan

Malam indah tersulam rintangan

Subuh menjelang Negaraku keriangan



8.3.2012

Sinaran terang menanti di ufukan

Kian hari dinodai barisan

Nakhoda pakatan bersedia halakan

Bahtera Negara ke arah kegemilangan

Four years ago, as I was enjoying a lovely Thai meal in George Town, I received a call from a friend who had been following the election results that day, informing me that three states had fallen and one more impending. He was, of course, referring to the success of Pakatan Rakyat in taking over power from Barisan Nasional in the states of Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.

I must say that it was the best meal I had for a long while, topped up with that wonderful news. For the first time in our nation’s history, many people, including me, felt the power of our single vote. It was a glorious feeling to know that many Malaysians of all creed and colour, still uphold the common principles of justice, truth and freedom.

It was an outright rejection of the policies of Barisan Nasional which have strayed from the basic founding principles of our country since Merdeka. The greed to hold on to power, and the monetary gain that follow suit, have created monsters out of ministers throughout the 50 years they were in power.

Thankfully a lot of Malaysians have started to realize this ongoing abuse of power, and on that fateful day of 3rd March 2008, the message they sent out to the Government was crystal clear – “Malaysia is ready for a CHANGE!”

But for the past four years, instead of reforming and changing for the better, the present ruling party is still adamant at plundering our nation’s wealth; dishing out policies and initiating programmes that drain the nation’s coffers. From the millions of ringgit lost during the scandals of the 70’s and 80’s, the stake has gone up to billions now.

Not a single day goes by without a news report of a billion ringgit of this project or a billion ringgit of that project. The spending of the Rakyat’s money has reached an insane stage and has to be stopped immediately, lest we end up like a pauper nation.

The refusal of the government to heed the warnings and messages of the various demonstrations and protests by the people, will spell the end of their reign soon. This is because the people, whether they know it or not, STILL has the one determining tool to break or reinstate the Government, and that is through the General Elections.

I stress the word “STILL” because with the ever-encroaching grip of power over the various supposedly independent government bodies like the Election Commision and Judiciary, the ruling party might one day soon be able to castrate our basic rights.

It is therefore crucial that we encourage all eligible Malaysians to register themselves as voters and to perform their duty and right as citizens of Malaysia, when voting day comes.

“Let our voices be heard before our freedom is strangulated,

Stand up before our rights are amputated,

Mark that cross on the ballot before our pencils are taken away!”

For the past four years, we have witnessed obstacles upon obstacles being thrown in the way of the people’s march to Putrajaya. Budget allocations are unfairly distributed among the various states and one sided justice is constantly being served onto the opposition.

And the cows get off scot-free and are able to go home to their condominium....

But that’s another story.

Today we celebrate the 4th anniversary of our Enlightened Malaysia.

May we never go back to the dark ages again.

Edmond R

Confusing the Nation

“If you can’t convince them, CONFUSE them!” This is the battle cry of all salespersons in desperate need to sell their products, no matter how dubious their product may be.

And this is precisely what the current Najib administration is doing to the unsuspecting citizens of Malaysia. First the Health Minister said that Lynas needs to send their radioactive waste product back to Australia for disposal, if they are to be allowed to operate in Malaysia. Then a few days later, the Prime Minister announced that the hazardous waste will be transported and disposed off in a non-populated area in Malaysia itself.

For such an important issue that affects the nation’s safety and health, these two differing statements from the top two people in the Cabinet tells us how incompetent our present care-taker government is. How in the world, are we to believe that everything will be alright, when decision makers themselves are not in agreement as to what to do with the waste!

Politicians everywhere around the world are salespersons. But just like there are honest politicians and dishonest ones, so are there good salespersons and bad ones. The bad salespersons are the ones who use all sorts of tactics just to sell their product, even though they know the product is harmful. And if they can’t convince you to buy their product, then they will try to confuse you with twisted numbers and statistics.

When Najib said that the ‘Lynas plant is factually and scientifically safe’, did he mention that it is also medically and environmentally safe? When he said that the waste product will be dumped in non-populated areas in Malaysia, did he specify which area it is, and where in our comparatively small country, can we find an area which has not been populated?

And even if there are no human beings, what about our diverse flora and fauna? Just imagine what will happen if we dump the radioactive waste in Taman Negara. A few years down the road, we might have green-haired orang-utans with Doctorates from Curtin. Bless the monkey, if it studied hard for the degree due to mutated intelligence. We all know that some Doctorates can be bought nowadays, right?

Let us come back to our bad salesmen in the Cabinet.

We all know that our Prime Minister has gone beyond the point of being convincing, ever since the launch of his rhetorical 1 Malaysia concept. And we know that the government is adamant that Lynas should go ahead with its plan.

So watch out! It’s time to CONFUSE THE NATION in the hope that we will be hoodwinked into accepting untruths to be truths.

But I am sure nowadays we Malaysians are more savvy and knowledgeable to be able to decide what is good and what is bad for ourselves.

Let’s not be confused. STOP LYNAS. SAVE MALAYSIA

Edmond R

Happy 3rd Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia

The sound of silence is too loud for me to bear. And three years of abstinence from the blogging world has nearly made me stone deaf. With these few words, I hereby announce my return to Betel Nut Chronicles.

A new dawn brings with it a new beginning. And I am happy to say that ever since Pakatan Rakyat took over the helm three years ago, every new dawn that breaks in Penang is indeed a new beginning for all of us. Every sunrise is a celebration of a brighter future for the whole nation and every sunset marks another day of contentment, that finally; we have a government who listens to the people and works for the betterment of the people.

I am proud to say that we now have State leaders who listen to and respect the wishes of the people and in turn are respected by the people. Everywhere you go and everyone you meet in Penang these days seem to have an upbeat outlook of our future. There is no doubt that we are in for a rough ride to achieve our goals, but if the present government continues to stand for what is right and do what is right for the people, this ride will be a worthwhile journey.

Unfortunately, what is right might sometimes be unpleasant and unpopular with the public. Take for example the ‘No Plastic’ ruling which is now in full swing since the beginning of the year. There were some resistance at first and complaints of inconvenience and impracticality could be heard amongst shoppers. However, this is the right thing to do in order to curb wastage of plastic products and the ever increasing problem of its disposal.

I am glad to observe that with proper and gradual implementation coupled with continuous public announcement and education, this project has become a great success in Penang. It has managed to open the eyes of the people towards their environmental responsibility and to make us realize that each of us has the power to change the way we live and the world we live in.

In fact, the campaign itself has inadvertently conferred a sense of empowerment on the people.

The power to decide.

The power to choose.

The power to change.

I suppose this is precisely the reason why Penangites are generally more confident about their future nowadays. Before 2008, all we could feel was hopelessness and helplessness as we watch the previous leaders plundered our wealth and pulled our economy down into an infinite spiral. It was as if the whole State was out of control, and we the tax-paying public was being dragged into oblivion.

It became one of the major reasons why Penangites voted for change in 2008 because ‘casting the ballot’ seemed to be the only power that remained with the people and it appeared to be the only way out of all the negativity and foulness of that time.

CHANGE WE DID! And the rest, as they say, is history.

What I respect most about the present government led by The Right Honourable Mr Lim Guan Eng, is that it gives us a sense of empowerment. A government that is empowered by the people to govern, and in return, empowers the people.

Which other government, may I ask, has ever made us feel this way?

With that, I would like to wish everyone here a very Happy 3rd Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia and many more to come!

Edmond R

Happy 2nd Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia

As we celebrate the 2nd. Anniversary of the March 8 2008 Political Tsunami that hit Malaysia two years ago, let us stand together in justice, equality, progress and a new freedom. A toast to the New Merdeka of Malaysia!

Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!

Pantun Rakyat Merdeka
By See Teik Guan

Tanah pasir gersang terbentang
Anak pertiwi mencangkul tulang
Merdeka apa yang sering dilaungkan?
Terlepas kongkongan, masuk cengkaman?

Bumi hijau warisan bonda
Bencana insan rakus melanda
Hilang begitu sekelip mata
Tangisan sedih kampung ke kota

Pendekar palsu barisan negara
Keris dijulang sorak membara
Tatkala benak akal kemarau
Sembunyi dibalik panji harimau

Bulan tiga subuh menjelang
Bulan lapan terang benderang
Suara rakyat melambung angkasa
Permatang diharungi wira perkasa

Apakah ini babak kedua
Hikayat bangsa negara Malaysia?
Bebas dan adil terserlah di muka
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! MERDEKA!!!
 
Commentary in English
1. The arid land lies far and wide before our eyes, despite the years  of hard work and struggles of our forefathers and many generations after them. What then, is the meaning of Merdeka, if we still remain slaves after achieving freedom?

2. Our land was once rich and prosperous. But the greed of man turns out to be the greatest plunderer of our wealth. All our hard work has gone to waste in the blink of an eye and tears flow from the villages to the cities.

3. We are led by false warriors who scream and shout and raise their keris. And when their minds are devoid of plans and ideas, they cower behind the banner of the tiger.

4. In March this year (2008), we witnessed a new dawn. And in August, the sky is bright and sunny again. The people’s voices are heard throughout the nation as they cheer the new warrior’s success in crossing the ridge (permatang)

5. Does this mark the beginning of the second chapter of our nation’s history? The people’s faces are smiling with hope of a new freedom and justice for the country, as they shout Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! MERDEKA!!!

The Irresponsible Prime Minister

A Prime Minister of high calibre should always be impartial and act to protect his fellow countrymen regardless of their political leanings or religion. To say that he "cannot stop the people from gathering at mosques on Friday to protest over the 'Allah' issue" is a dangerous precedent which clearly shows how deliberately selective his decisions are. These careless words can be misconstrued by the overzealous as an endorsement for their proposed action and can lead to total mayhem. Refer to article in Malaysiakini entitled 'Najib: We can't stop people from protesting' at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/121331 .

I only hope that the people of Malaysia are more intelligent than that and are able to see past the political shenanigans of the ruling party. All that we need to do now is to sit back, remain calm and be rest assured that Barisan Nasional will definitely have a bleak future in the next General Elections.

This is the Prophecy of the Malaysian People.

A Flame is Lit in the Courts Today

Persistence, patience and practising what we preach - these are the values that will one day elevate our beautiful country Malaysia to become a nation of justice, freedom, equality and peace. Today, the High Court of Shah Alam has ordered the release of Raja Petra Kamarudin from detention under the Internal Security Act.

Perhaps all the previous candle light vigils around the country have finally managed to enlighten the judiciary about the plight of the nation and the need to abolish this draconian act once and for all.

Today, after weeks of abscence, Raja Petra will finally be free again!

May this be a good sign that our country is finally on the right road to success.

Abolish ISA!

For more information on Raja Petra's release, see Malaysiakini's article 'Court orders Raja Petra's release' at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92620

Valuecap - Gambling the People's Money Away

If we remove the family theme park element and the resort façade from Genting Highlands, all that is left is Malaysia’s one and only legalized gambling den located 2000 metres above sea level. Millions of Malaysians have been enticed by the prospect of winning big money on this hill top casino only to realize that the only winner at the end is the casino itself. In fact the company has become so prosperous that it is helping to built one of the two mega casinos in one of the most conservative countries in South East Asia, Singapore.

Yes. Malaysians are gamblers at heart. Our ancestors risked their lives by coming to these shores to start a new life. In that sense, they were the first gamblers in our country. Until today, we continue to gamble with our lives as we live and work amidst the threat of draconian laws that often violates our freedom of speech, equality and justice. Many people have been jailed and detained for speaking out to protect these three pristine values of democracy.

But these are acceptable risks which we take in our gamble to create a better future for ourselves and for our fellow countrymen.

The present government has also taken to gambling in one of their latest move to prop up the economy of the country. The new Finance Minister has proposed to inject RM 5 billion from the Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) into Valuecap Sendirian Berhad for the purpose of investing in the share market.

Don’t they realize that it is the people’s hard earned money that they are using, to place bets in the high risk world of the stock market? It is highly irresponsible of the government to gamble away the sweat and tears of millions of Malaysian workers especially during these times of economic recession.

The share market is but another major gambling den disguised as a legal mechanism for companies to garner capital for expansion. Judging from the world’s obsession with the ups and downs of share market indexes, one wonders whether the numbers actually represent the true economic status of a country or is it merely a roulette of speculation and chance.

My mother has always warned us to be wary of the stock market as it is a place which can drag a person from riches to rags. Penangites describe the act of investing in the share market as chi toe share (playing with share) or phuak share (gambling in the share market). Both these descriptions have connotations of frivolity and risk in them.

Indeed it is wise to avoid dabbling in these games of speculation if one is not familiar with the rules and regulations.

Does our government then think that they are experts who are capable enough of winning the lottery when they invest RM 5 billion of the people’s money into the stock market?

The government should have spent the money to upgrade our national education system, which in the long run will produce intelligent and creative Malaysians. This is a sure bet that will produce winners in the long run, as compared to the uncertainties of the stock market.

More money should also be spent to improve the infrastructure of both the cities and rural areas in order to provide a better quality of life for all Malaysians. The people deserve better facilities rather than the occasional random election promises that they are getting from the government now.

The agriculture sector could also benefit from an increase in the allocation of funds for research and development. Efforts should be made to revitalize our basic food crops sector because this is one field which provides stability of food supply in the event of any economic downturn.

The new Finance Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak might want to be seen as a decisive leader in these times of economic turbulence. But making a glorious entrance into a new job and making a decision that might cause the loss of billions of the people’s is surely not a wise thing to do, especially if one does not have any prior experience in the field.

The trouble with our government is that they never listen to the voices of the people. I doubt they will ever appreciate the interesting comments in Malaysiakini’s Vox Populi article ‘Why should Valuecap borrow from EPF?’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91787 and ‘Valuecap: Explain how Average Joe benefits’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91852

The EPF is a retirement fund for all Malaysian workers and will be an important source of money once they cease to work. The government should not treat this cash rich establishment like a candy jar from which each Minister has a free hand to scoop whatever sweets they like, to satisfy their whims and fancies.