What we do today shapes up the future, and the consequence whether is for the good or for the bad, it will surface in 1 or 2 decades after.
That is why there are many living Malaysians are missing the kind of life which they experienced 25 years ago.
The politics of divide and rule by Mahathir ever since he ascended to the Premiership in 1981 resulted in what we see today.
His pleasure is our anguish, and there are still many who are in denial that they were deceived far wayward to the extent of adoring him like dummy god.
I agree out rightly that Abdullah was too weak a Premier and he never had a material of a Prime Minister, but UMNO was in denial then and blindly accepted Mahathir’s choice to put him in Putrajaya, without knowing Mahathir had his own raison d'être for choosing Abdullah.
UMNO leaders then went all out supporting Abdullah even though many of them came to term that Abdullah being a PM was not at all a good deal for Malaysian.
Abdullah’s popularity was short lived as people found him a misfit for that position and one of those who was openly throwing hard shots at him was Mahathir himself.
I was so eager to know what was inside Mahathir as he was starting the whisperings and commenting negatively on Abdullah and for that purpose we agreed among some friends and various NGOs to organize a forum like, which was chaired by me.
We invited Mahathir to speak on an officially organized forum for everyone to hear why he was too crossed with Abdullah.
Eventually the forum took place at Century Club, Taman Melawati on the 24 June 2006 and Mahathir wasted no time and bashed his protégé to the optimum on the stage.
He touched on only 3 issues: the AP, crooked bridge and the 4th floor boys and of course in deliberating all the 3 issues he never missed mentioning the name of Khairy Jamaluddin.
One of the participants passed me a question to be handed to Mahathir asking why he chose Abdullah to be his successor when large portion of Malaysian have reservation on Abdullah even before he was selected to be the PM. This question was never answered.
But many among the participants were on the opinion that Mahathir wanted Abdullah to succeed him because Abdullah was weak. To him a weak Abdullah would give him the pleasure of having a PM who could turn and curve with him.
But much to his disappointment Abdullah did not give him that concession and that made him so annoyed and crossed with his weak successor.
As for DS Najib, if he works his politics the way Mahathir did, it would bring UMNO and BN to the yard.
He should not say or do anything on personal premise as each an individual leader however small have his followers.
Many people think that the only way for DS Najib to be afloat is to have unity participation within the divisive intra party like what advance countries which adopt democracy in real sense.
I want to quote one of my commentators, flyer168 wrote in my blog. He said “the strongest chain is only as strong as the weakest link”.
A strong government can ultimately goes in disarray if we have weak link with the people at large however weak they are.
The fundamental issue that Najib is facing is the inter-racial problem that makes up the basic pillar of perpetual harmonious living in the country.
To the minds of serious and caring citizen of the soil, no unity means there is no good life in this country.
I have to brave myself saying this, but the fact remains a fact. If the national unity is eroding we must submit that nothing can any leader do, let alone to talk about development of this nation.
For the past decades we have been listening to the pranks of leaders who talk in rhetoric about nation building but cared too little about this very pertinent point which no leader should ignore.
The unity among races went well until mid 80s. Everybody was working hand in hand to achieve the agreeable solution among races, that was to work for 30% Bimiputra equity, and there was no quarrel on inter-racial premise.
The Bumiputra equity went up to 18.2 % in 1984 from 2.7% in 1970. The jump was tremendous and we were quite positive to achieve the target.
But personal politics was above everything as such that this statistics became stagnant and circumvented the effort to achieve the target.
When somebody else came in to take charge of the economy the statistic became so blunted and the reality came to the open just a day before Mahathir stepped down when he gave his parting speech in Parliament.
You and me heard it very clearly that the Buniputra participation was just at 18.6%; meaning that Mahathir and Daim had only succeeded in adding a fractional percentage to the statistics of 0.4 % in almost 20 years.
As I have written in my last posting that the formula of National Unity has not been followed through and like in Mathematics if we don’t follow the formula there will be no right answer to it.
During that important period we were too focused on gigantic projects to show the world that we are having the tallest twin tower and all kind of that sort to impress the world.
To us having those biggest and the longest and the tallest in the world were our ultimate and we forget the development of good and reasonable middle class population.
In all the 11 Scandinavian countries, we don’t see skyscrapers, and we can’t find elaborate physical development of our sort, but these countries have the population of the highest income bracket, many percent higher than even the G7 or G8.
We can’t see tall buildings in these countries like Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark and around the rest of the Scandinavian countries.
Their leaders develop their country for the sole purpose of enhancing their people’s lives and never in their mind to show off.
Their leaders are not known to the world like ours and let me ask everyone: who is the Prime Minister of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and other members of the Scandinavian Nations?. Bet you less than 10% of Malaysian knows them.
With all these in place right in front of DS Najib, can he emulate that kind of values for us in this beautiful nation?
DS Najib whether he likes it or not he has to be sure that all leaders including himself have no personal encumbering baggage in order to bring this country to greater height.
As long as there are Ministers having proxy companies in hand and are competing in business with the people they rule than let us forget about everything and for God sake no more rhetoric please.
If this important component does not exist, we let nature finds its course and the water finds its own level. I hope I won’t be reprimanded for disposing my true and honest opinion.
Do remember this country is also mine. Let us agree to disagree on some matters.
That is all for me to write on this topic; it may be short but to a person of no consequence like me, I think it covers most of the essentials.
Thanks……………………………………………………………Aspan Alias
Mr Aspan, It is a very good piece and nice to read. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is simple to understand, and to me it is inspiring writeup. But to dogmatic UMNO minds it is not likable. They prefer to sweep everything under the carpet.
ReplyDeleteCHOW Aspan
Dear Mr. Aspan,
ReplyDeleteAssalamualaikum. You hit the nail right on the spot. Do you know that Norway and its neighbour countries enjoys free education and their subsidised benefits on living expenditures far exceeds any other countries in Euro?
The reason? Its all down to superb management of its economy both micro and macro level, competent administrators of local and federal agencies and by far the most transparent and citizen friendly policies being implemented in EU.
Sigh..if only M'sia could start emulate them and not harping on 3rd world countries..which we are becoming day by day..
Thumbs up very well written. Facts cannot be changed but will any of these facts change anything?
ReplyDelete///The Bumiputra equity went up to 18.2 % in 1984 from 2.7% in 1970. The jump was tremendous and we were quite positive to achieve the target.///
ReplyDeleteThe figure at 1970 was officially 1.43%, but it was higher than 18.2%if the million acres of rubber and oil palm under FELDA run on corporate basis purely for the benefit of Malays had been included, like estates owned by branches of foreigner companies were included in the official statistics.
The figure of 1.43% was used to justify NEP. If Razak had called Harun half an hour earlier, May 13 would have been avoided. Mamaks would not have the chance to make this the most corrupted country in the world where UMNO president and his ilk could play God to make millionaires out of the supporters who then finance their invincible positions in party election.
Even the award of scholarships, where scholarships is another word for rewarding merits, has been used to create divide and rule. The PSD purposely denied scholarships to the best and known to be deserving candidates so that controversy on scholarship award would hog the news and UMNO would once again prove to be Malay champion. The PM does not believe in doing right, otherwise he would have sacked the DG of PSD for the fiasco. The DG Ismail Adam said that he needed permission to speak on a forum on scholarship awards. If he had done based on criteria that he could convince the citizens that it was a fair basis, he would have done the country a great service to explain and end the controversy. Who would need permission to explain actions where one was authorised to do? Permission might be needed if he was directed to serve only UMNO interest whereby he needed the permission of UMNO President to reveal the instructions he received.
Dear evilcooler,
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated that you are back to my blog.
I am indeed thankful to you for reminding me the very important facts of the Scandinavian countries which we could have similarly achieved if we here have leaders who is focused on human development holistically.
You should be just doing this as all these are the good and valuable inputs for us here to get our leaders to buck up.
Thanks again bro.
To Anonymous, I am also gratrful that you gave me the figures adjusted.
ReplyDeleteFor all intend and purposes these figures are important as the guideline of what our leaders should do to balance the the development between races.
I do appreciate views from anybody at least for our mutual knowledge and purpose to see fairness prevail.
TQ
I appreciate your blog because it provides your readers to interact with knowledge in place.
ReplyDeleteBro, what is your next topic?
Aspan!
ReplyDeleteIts inspiring, I am delighte there is at least somebody who is clear in his mind as to what a nation should be.
Congrats, I must insist you be a panel of forums.
din.
Aspan,
ReplyDeleteThe German are enjoying free education too. I just need to pay for lodging and daily expenses for my pair of children there.
Just to let you know Aspan, because you are serious in matters relating to the issue you all are talking about.
Thank you.
Mr.Aspan,
ReplyDeleteAmazing article i must say. U hit the nail right.
I once read that Norway has one of the highest petrol price although they are a main exporter of Crude Oil. Its because they do not encourage their citizents to use car as they have first class public transportation.
all the crude oil produced are sold and the money generated and put into national trust fund which means the money is well managed and will benefit the country forever.
Malaysia is not unlike Norway when it comes to natural resource. but ask the UMNO government how much of the income are put into Tabung. everything are wasted on unnecessary and hiked up projects. the money used to "subsidize" petrol price when petrol consumption could be reduced if we have a good public transportation.
the subsidized petrol money is then offset by hiking up car prices to benefit AP cronies and outragous Toll price to benefit consession cronies.
Malaysia would have been Asia's Norway if not of all the mismanagement done by those UMNO goons.
Anwar once mentioned...our country has enough resources that if distributed fairly, it is sufficient to all Malaysians.
I wonder when it will dawn in Malaysia.
-amer
Brother Aspan,
ReplyDeleteA very well written & holistic picture of the gap between the HAVES & NEGLECTED HAVE NOTS....
Yes, the ULTIMATE strength of any Chain is only as Strong as its WEAKEST Link....
That will ultimately BREAK the Camel's Back!
Malaysia badly needs “Role Model” established Leaders & Politicians of HONOUR with Calibre, Maturity & Tolerance without Fear or Favour on Both sides of the Political Divide - not “Recycled Politicians”.
Further, this nation Desperately needs Intelligent, Time Proven Pragmatic Successful modelled, Financial & Politiical “SOLUTIONS” on Both sides of the Political Divide NOW , to mitigate the IMPENDING Political & Financial fallout.
Let us ALL also learn that Tunku & his 1st Malaysian cabinet of HONOURABLE, ESTABLISHED TRUE TUANS, EARNED the RESPECT, TRUST & SUPPORT of ALL the Malayan citizens.
Quote:
Former Lord President Tun Mohamed Suffian Hashim repeatedly insisted in his foundational written texts that in Malaysia,
the constitution and nothing but the constitution is “the supreme law of the land”.
Malaysia cannot afford to see constitutional principles imperilled, and constitutional processes jeopardised
— not even out of an understandable impatience, or a conscientious determination, to see the urgent political and practical problems of the day speedily resolved.” unquote.
Clive S Kessler is Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the School of Social Science and International Studies at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
So, is the PM & his UMNO/BN Leaders willing to LISTEN, ACKNOWLEDGE their SHORTCOMINGS, LEARN from CONVENTION & from our neighbour down South....
To get back to our Westminster style Democracy with the Rule of Law & RESPECTING our National & State Constitution....
To Consider a Royal Commission of Inquiry to establish his "Standing" prior to his appointment as the Incoming PM or even at this juncture....
To also make a stand to “GET THE PERAK DUN DISSOLVED NOW” for a fresh State Elections, inview of the "HUNG" Assembly from the start.
Contd....
Contd....
ReplyDeleteI would like to share this article with you & your readers....
This was presented in DECEMBER 3RD, 2007
GOOD GOVERNANCE - TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
BY TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATNAM
(PRESIDENT TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL - MALAYSIA)
AT THE COLLOQUIUM ON GOOD GOVERNANCE
AT THE ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS FOR
GOOD GOVERNANCE.
ON DECEMBER 3-4TH, AT THE PRINCE HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR.
ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, NOT ONLY MALAYSIAN, BUT ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS!
THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE RIGHT THROUGH MY CAREER IN THE MALAYSIAN CIVIL SERVICE, I’VE HAD TO LISTEN TO MINISTERS ND MP’S. I WAS RARELY ABLE TO GET THEM TO LISTEN TO ME. TODAY AS A RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT, A CORPORATE PERSON AND PRESIDENT OF TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA, I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, TO SHARE MY VIEWS FROM BOTH MY GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES, ON THE SUBJECT ;
SUBJECT - “GOOD GOVERNANCE - TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY”
TO ME, THE THEME OF YOUR COLLOQUIUM : “GOOD GOVERNANCE, RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS - THE WAY FORWARD”, CAN ALL BE ENCOMPASSED IN THE NOW VITAL SUBJECT OF JUST “GOOD GOVERNANCE”!
CHAPTER 1 OF THE ASEAN CHARTER AND PURPOSE SEVEN (7 ) STATES:
“TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY, ENHANCE GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW AND TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS”-
DEFINITION:-
THE U.N.E.S C.O. DEFINITION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IS AS FOLLOWS :-
“THE PROCESS OF DECISION MAKING AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH DECISIONS RE IMPLEMENTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED!)”
Contd....
Contd....#1
ReplyDeleteLADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I ) WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF GOVERNANCE?
I SEE GOOD GOVERNANCE AT 3 LEVELS :-
1. FIRSTLY - THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
IF THE RICH AND POWERFUL INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES IN THE NORTH PRACTISED THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF “GOOD GOVERNANCE”, THROUGH BETTER STANDARDS OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE, EQUITY AND FAIRNESS – THERE WOULD BE HIGHER STANDARDS OF INTERNATIONAL GOOD GOVERNANCE AND HENCE GREATER WORLD PEACE, PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS – FOR ALL PEOPLES, AND NOT MAINLY THE PEOPLES OF THE INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES
INSTEAD THE RICH COUNTRIES HAVE INSTITUTED UNJUST AND INEQUITABLE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL GLOBAL STRUCTURES, TO TRY TO PERPETUATE THEIR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND DOMINANCE. THUS THEY WILL AIM TO PERPETUATE POVERTY AND MISERY FOR 3 BILLION PEOPLE ON EARTH, THAT IS, HALF THE WORLD’S POPULATION, MAINLY IN THE POOR SOUTH COUNTRIES THE THIRD WORLD WHO EARN LESS THAN US 2/- A DAY. I MIGHT ADD THAT THIS SITUATION WOULD HELP PROVIDE FERTILE GROUNDS FOR CONTINUING TERRORISM WORLDWIDE.
2. SECONDLY, AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, OF ASEAN AND ASIA.
WITH WHICH WE ARE ALL PRIMARILY CONCERNED, THE LOW PRIORITY GIVEN TO GOOD GOVERNANCE, CAN WRECK HAVOC ON OUR COUNTRIES IN THE LONGER TERM, IF WE DON’T ADDRESS IT EFFECTIVELY NOW AND IF IT IS NEGLECTED TOO LONG !
INDEED THE PRESENT ASEAN UNITY, COOPERATION AND STABILITY CAN BE NEGATED BY A DECLINE IN GOOD GOVERNANCE - TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE NEW ASEAN CHARTER`S FUTURE SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON THE PRIORITY AND THE STRENGTH OF THE POLITICAL WILL THAT ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS WILL EXERT, ON ENHANCING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN ASEAN !
WHEN THE ELITE IN ANY SOCIETY LOSE TOUCH WITH THE REALITY AT THE GRASS ROOTS, THERE WILL BE TROUBLE AHEAD.
Contd....
Contd....#2
ReplyDeleteAS OUR MALAYSIAN PM DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH BADAWI SAID YESTERDAY - “LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE!” AND I WOULD ACT “TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION BASED ON GOOD GOVERNANCE”?
ASEAN COUNTRIES, LIKE COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, WILL IGNORE ASEAN PEOPLES LEGITIMATE DEMANDS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND BASIC RIGHTS -- AT THEIR PERIL!
WHERE PARLIAMENTARIANS, EVEN IN DEMOCRACIES, STRIVE FOR THE PERMANENCY OF THE RULING CLASS, THEY BRING A DECLINE AND DECAY TO OUR SOCIETIES. THIS IS BROUGHT UPON US, THROUGH INADEQUATE SAFE GUARDS AGAINST BAD GOVERNANCE, CORRUPTION, THE ABUSE OF THE RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS AND BASIC HUMAN NEEDS.
THE ASEAN CHARTER NOW SEEKS TO MOVE FORWARD, BY INTRODUCING A "RULES BASED” INSTITUTION, AFTER 40 YEARS OF GOVERNANCE BY “DISCRETION”. ASEAN LEADERS DESERVE THE ASEAN PEOPLES WARM CONGRATULATIONS!
SOME OF US WONDER HOW WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH PEACE AND PROGRESS AND STABILITY IN ASEAN, THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF “DISCRETION” ONLY?
MAYBE WE COULD HAVE MOVED MUCH FASTER IF WE HAD BEEN BOLDER EARLIER AND INTRODUCED BETTER ASEAN GOVERNANCE, THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF THE ASEAN HARTER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, AFTER 40 YEARS!
IN EUROPE, THEY JOKE THAT NATO STANDS FOR NO ACTION, TALK ONLY!
Cont....
Contd....#3
ReplyDeleteI HOPE THAT IN ASEAN WE WILL NOT SAY IN HE NEXT 40 YEARS - THAT ASEAN STANDS FOR - “ASEAN SLOW, ENERGETIC ACTIVITIES NECESSARY”!
3. THIRDLY, IT IS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHERE THE REAL ACTION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE, SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
ASEAN’S INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES WILL PROVIDE THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ASEAN’S NEW MOTTO “ONE VISION, ONE IDENTITY, ONE COMMUNITY!”
NO ASEAN COUNTRY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BECOME THE WEAK LINK FOR THE ASEAN CHAIN WILL BE AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK!
ASEAN CANNOT AFFORD TO LET ONE COUNTRY OR ONE BAD APPLE SPOIL THE WHOLE ASEAN COMMUNITY!
BUT THE ASEAN CHARTER UNDER ITS “PRINCIPLES” - IN ARTICLE 2(e), STILL STRESSES NON-INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ASEAN COUNTRIES. AT THE SAME TIME THESE VERY ASEAN PRICIPLES, INSIST IN ARTICLE 2(h) ON THE “ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW, GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY AND CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT!”
SO WHAT DOES ASEAN DO ABOUT COUNTRIES THAT FLOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE DENIAL OF GOOD GOVERNANCE INCLUDING BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS LIKE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, TO FREE SPEECH, THE RIGHT TO FREE ASSEMBLY, TO INDEPENDENT JUDICIARIES, AND THE RIGHTS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY, ETC?
THIS IS A BASIC CONTRADICTION IN TERMS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED SOON!
II) CAN WE FORM MORE ASEAN CAUCUSES, TO IMPROVE GOVERNANCE?
WHY CAN’T ASEAN DEVELOP SOME INSTITUTION OR MECHANISM WHERE HIGHLY REPUTED INDEPENDENT ASEAN PERSONALITIES, CONSTITUTE AN ASEAN COMMISSION OF ELDERS, TO ADVISE AND INFLUENCE MEMBER GOVERNMENTS ON GOOD GOVERNANCE?
CAN WE FORM AN ASEAN CAUCUS ON TRANSPARENCY IN CIVIL SOCIETY?
THIS CAUCUS COULD PROMOTE INTEGRITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMBAT CORRUPTION.
Contd....
Contd....#4
ReplyDeleteTHE EXISTING TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS INDONESIA, THAILAND, THE PHILIPPINES AND MALAYSIA AND OTHER NEW ASEAN CHAPTERS, CAN FORM THIS PROPOSED CAUCUS ON TRANSPARENCY WHICH CAN ENJOY FORMAL CONSULTANT AND OBSERVER STATUS IN ASEAN FORA?
1)WHAT ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS?
AS I HAVE SAID GOOD GOVERNANCE INCLUDES HUMAN RIGHTS. HOW CAN WE HAVE GENUINE GOOD GOVERNANCE , IF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ARE ALLOWED - AS IN THE CASE OF SOME OF OUR ASEAN COUNTRIES?
HOW CAN INDIVIDUAL ASEAN COUNTRIES HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO SAFEGUARD HUMAN RIGHTS, WHEN SOME OF OUR ASEAN COUNTRIES DO NOT EVEN HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS?
HOW DOES ASEAN SERIOUSLY ADMINISTER ARTICLE 14 OF ITS NEW CHARTER, WHICH SEEKS TO, QUOTE, “ESTABLISH AN ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS BODY”?
THE ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE TO WORK OUT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THIS HUMAN RIGHTS BODY.
CAN THE FOREIGN MINISTERS WORK OUT THESE TERMS OF REFERENCE, WITHIN A DEFINITE TIME FRAME, RATHER THAN LEAVE IT LOOSELY HANGING IN THE AIR?
2) WHAT ABOUT A RULE OF LAW CAUCUS?
THE RULE OF LAW AGAIN COMES UNDER THE PURVIEW OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. HOW COULD WE RECONCILE GOOD GOVERNANCE WITH THE WEAK AND NON-INDEPENDENT JUDICIARIES, POOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND A LACK OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY, THAT WE HAVE IN SOME COUNTRIES?
3) WHAT ABOUT AN ANTI-CORRUPTION CAUCUS?
AT THE HEART OF BAD GOVERNANCE IS USUALLY - CORRUPTION, LACK OF INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND POOR ACCOUNTABILITY, LEAD TO CORRUPTION.
CORRUPTION IS DEFINED AS :
“THE ABUSE OF POWER FOR PRIVATE GAIN”.
III) WHERE DOES CORRUPTION MAINLY OCCUR?
CORRUPTION CAN TAKE PLACE IN POLITICS – SUCH AS MONEY POLITICS FOR ELECTIONS. THIS IS OFTEN THE MOTHER OF CORRUPTION! BUT CORRUPTION ALSO IS PREDOMINANT IN :-
PUBLIC CONTRACTING
PRIVATE CONTRACTING AND BUSINESS DEALS.
AID PROGRAMMES.
Contd....
Contd....#5
ReplyDeleteIV) WHAT IS THE WAY AHEAD - TO GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TO COMBAT CORRUPTION ?
1.) INCREASE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS THAT:
CORRUPTION DESTROYS SOCIETIES AND BRINGS MISERY ESPECIALLY TO THE POOR
CORRUPTION RAISES COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES AND REDUCES COMPETIVENESS
2) ACCEDE TO AND RATIFY THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
3.) MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SHOULD DECLARE THEIR ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TO AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION
4) STRENGTHEN ANTI CORRUPTION LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
5.) INTRODUCE “INTEGRITY PACTS” IN OVERNMENT AND BUSINESS CORPORATIONS
V) HOW CAN ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS UPHOLD GOOD GOVERNANCE AND FIGHT CORRUPTION.
THEY CAN DO SO BY:-
a) MONITORING YOUR MINISTERS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION - THEY HAVE THE POWER TO ABUSE; YOU DON’T!
b) INFLUENCING YOUR GOVERNMENTS TO GIVE HIGHER PRIORITY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TO FIGHT CORRUPTION. CLAMPING DOWN ON THE OPPOSITION IS ALSO A FORM OF CORRUPTION.
c) REFUSING TO BE USED BY MINISTERS TO DEFEND THEIR INDEFENSIBLE BAD GOVERNANCE POLICIES AND ACTIONS.
d) WORKING TOWARDS ESTABLISHING AN “ASEAN PARLIAMENT” WITH LEGISLATIVE POWERS USING THE BENEFICIAL POINTS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT.
e) IN THE MEANTIME, DON’T LET THE AIPCGG, TO BECOME A TALK SHOP!
V1) FINALLY, HOW DO WE GIVE LIFE TO ARTICLE 15 OF THE ASEAN CHARTER, WHICH READS AS FOLLOWS ?
“TO SUPPORT THE ASEAN COMMUNITY BUILDING, BY PROMOTING GREATER AWARENESS OF THE ASEAN IDENTITY, PEOPLE TO PEOPLE INTERACTION, AND CLOSE COLLABORATION AMONG THE BUSINESS SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, ACADEMIA AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS IN ASEAN”
Contd....
Contd....#6
ReplyDeleteASEAN HAS SO FAR DONE WELL TO PROMOTE PEACE AND STABILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN S.E.ASIA.
HOWEVER IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADEQUATELY BUILD AN ASEAN COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY !
BUT IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS ASEAN MUST SHOW REATER PROGRESS, TO ENHANCE ITS RELEVANCE IN THE NEW ERA OF GREATER LOBALISATION AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION -- ESPECIALLY NOW WITH RAPIDLY ADVANCING CHINA AND INDIA!
CONCLUSION
“GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY MUST THEREFORE BE ASEAN’S NOBLE GOALS - IF ASEAN IS TO SUCCEED ON A SUSTAINED BASIS IN THE LONG TERM!”
OTHERWISE ASEAN WILL RAISE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS SUCH AS - WHETHER ASEAN MEANS
“ASEAN SLOW, ENERGETIC ACTION NECESSARY”
WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ASK OURSELVES THIS HONEST QUESTION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH DETERMINATION, FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL OF US!
ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE GOOD GOVERNANCE A REALITY IN ASEAN!
I THEREFORE WISH ALL ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS THE VERY BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU.
TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATNAM
MALAYSIA
DECEMBER 3RD, 2007
I hope this will give some impetus for UMNO/BN Leaders to PONDER upon & ADOPT the Recommendations mentioned....
Failing which....may God Almighty help us all!
Cheers Bro.
Assalamualaikum, sahabat ku yang dikasihi Sdr Aspan .
ReplyDeleteSebaik baik yang boleh kita lakukan ia lah doa. Kita sama sama berdoa supaya DSN boleh mencapai hasrat dan cita cita majority rakyat kita. Saya yakin DSN boleh lakukan walaupun dalam keadaan dia di hantui oleh DSAI yang akan sentiasa akan menghalang dan meletakkan obstacle di jalan yang akan di tempuhi DSN.
Tun Razak, bapa DSN, telah menyediakan asas Pembangunan Negara ini. Bak sebuah bangunan ,Tun sudah menyiapkan bukan sahaja foundation dan structure bangunan itu malah atapnya sekali. Yang belum sempat di siapkan ada lah dinding dinding dan finishing nya . Akiteknya waktu itu ada lah TR.
Yang silapnya di zaman Mahathir dia tak mahu meneruskan usaha untuk menyiapkan bangunan itu seperti yang telah di designed oleh Tun kerana dia tak suka pada akiteknya. Jadi dia cuba rombak design asal dan structure yang ada kerana di dapati di dalam bangunan asal itu tiada plan bilik bilik untuk dia dan croniesnya. Jadi dia cuba merombak .
Itu sebabnya hasil nya hanya 0.4% sahaja equity bumi putra yang bertambah dalam jangka waktu 20 tahun dalam era Mahathir .Dan tahu lah umum bahawa Mahathir untuk siapa.
(Aspan says: The Bumiputra equity went up to 18.2 % in 1984 from 2.7% in 1970. The jump was tremendous and we were quite positive to achieve the target.
You and me heard it very clearly that the Bumiputra participation was just at 18.6%; meaning that Mahathir and Daim had only succeeded in adding a fractional percentage to the statistics of 0.4 % in almost 20 years).
Dari segi rekod , performance Tunku Abdul Rahman sebenarnya lebih baik dari Mahathir. Apa yang saya ketahui dari siri penerangan TR dalam bab ekonomi Malaysia zaman 46 dulu ia lah; bila Tun Abd Razak ambil alih dari Tunku, equity bumiputra sudah di tahap hampir 11%. (Masa merdeka dulu 1%?, cuba you verify balik dengan TR).
Apa yang saya nak katakan di sini yang di perlukan oleh DSN ialah teruskan menyiapkan bangunan yang sudah di designed dan di bina olih bapanya dan kalau boleh gunakan khidmat akitek yang asal iaitu TR. Jangan sekali ada dealing dengan Mahathir kerana Mahathir ada agenda dan perjuangan peribadi yang belum selesai. Percayalah.
Tuan Haji, saya cuma nak berseloroh mengingatkan balik joke Tuan Haji: Orang selalu menyebut hero hero negeri masing masing; Di dikedah, ada Tunku Abd Rahman, Di Johore ada Datuk Onn, Di Melaka -Hang Tuah dan Ghafar Baba, Di Selangor -Datuk Harun ; diPahang -Tun Abd Razak, Di Kelantan ,Tok Kenali,Di Trengganu -DYMM Zainal Abidin, Di Negeri Sembilan- ada apa?
ReplyDeleteTuan Haji jawab - Negeri Sembilan ada Abdullah Chik, Mustafa Maaruf dan Ito the blue Geng....
Izinkan saya nak tambah sikit. sekarang di Negeri Sembilan ada Tuan Haji Aspan!he he he
Tapi walau macm mana pon jangan lupa cadangan saya supaya muatkan ruangan you-tube memperdengarkan Tuan Haji membaca AlQuran, saya dah rindu akan suara Tuan Haji yang lunak tu.Tk
I move from blog to blog and at last I a found yours.
ReplyDeleteDear Aspan,
I must say that reading your blog is like a new discovery which I too grateful to read.
I am 40 years of age and what you wrote helps me in understanding the underlying reasons for today's circumstances.
Good luck Mr Aspan.
Mr Aspan,
ReplyDeleteBeing able to write is very good skill that one should own as it jots down our thoughts in writing,
Your thoughts can be of use even if you are no more living in this world.
Aspan, I appreciate your seriousness and I wonder whether you can be set up somewhere where you can put your thought in practice.
Thanks Aspan.
Splendid, very honest and visionary!
ReplyDeleteTuan, please maintain this quality of your disposition.
ReplyDeleteTerima kasih.
Cheers Aspan. You are saying it right!
ReplyDeletebvn
Our hopes remain as hopes and our inspiration remain an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThat is the real answer.
Aspan says : "One of the participants passed me a question to be handed to Mahathir asking why he chose Abdullah to be his successor when large portion of Malaysian have reservation on Abdullah even before he was selected to be the PM. This question was never answered."
ReplyDeleteKhabar angin bertiup kencang pada masa itu bahawa Mahathir akan lantik Paklah sebagai Timbalannya dan bukan Najib, salah seorang kawan kita telah bertegang leher mengatakan itu tak akan berlaku iaitu Mahathir tak akan lantik Paklah. Kalau berlaku juga dia akan potong jarinya.Agaknya cerita itu sampai ke telinga Mahathir, dan sebab nak tenguk kawan kita tu betul tak akan potong jarinya lalu dia lantik Paklah.itu saja alasannya .Hingga hari ini Mahathir pun kecewa kerana kawan kita tu tak jadi potong jarinya. he he he.
waiting for your next writeup. please tell me when.
ReplyDeletesdr Aspan,
ReplyDeleteusaha saudara ini amat saya hargai memandangkan penulisan sdr ada sequen yang baik.
Bukan mudah untuk menyusun kandungan yang mudah difahami.
tahniah dari saya sdr
"Their leaders are not known to the world like ours and let me ask everyone: who is the Prime Minister of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and other members of the Scandinavian Nations?. Bet you less than 10% of Malaysian knows them."
ReplyDeleteYou are right. I personally don't know.
Perhaps, if your question to everyone was 'Have you heard about Dr. Mahathir?' "Yes, he is a great guy, a President" responded someone from Turkey, 'Yes, He was a president, tell me, from which country is he then?' " Not mistaken Sir,From India" answered by the same guy.he he he he
"Out of 200 odd countries in the world with government and constitutions, we are the only country where her sons of the soil, which is the Malays, are strongly defined by the constitution and we should give warmest gratefulness to our fore fathers for the forwardness in their thinking."
ReplyDeleteBah, saya datang ke Malaysia, dari South Africa , mahu cari roots saya "Melayu". Sampai air port KLIA saya jumpa Bangla. Kat hotel, jumpa Philipino dan vietnamese kat Petro station , Indon + bangla. Kat bangunan bangunan tinggi under construction Indon +bangla , masuk kampung kat ladang kelapa sawit dan kebun getah jumpa Indon.
Singgah kat shah alam , nampak restaurant "Zahara" .Saya suka hati at last jumpa Melayu dah lama tak makan Melayu.
masuk dalam jumpa Indon juga. order makan masak 'melayu' "oh ini rasa apa?" 'Itu dia panggil cekor bapa' oh saya tak suka cekor . masakan melayu mana ada cekor.
Saya memang kecewa. Sudah berapa hari di sini tapi masih melayu tak di ketemui.Kemudian saya pergi bank pasal duit sudah habis .ada security guard, oh ini mesti Melayu, tapi bukan Bah, ini Bangali.Saya masuk dalam mahu jumpa taukey .kok kok orang Melayu semuanya sudah jadi taukey.Bukan juga saya jumpa Cina.
Saya keluar dekat kereta ada parking boy .Oh ini mesti melayu. sekali lagi kecewa . Ini India dari India betul.
Besuknya saya buat keputusan pergi ke Negeri Perak .Sudah tentu ada Melayu di Perak. Mereka ada Menteri Besar baru seorang Melayu diorang kata.
Oh Tuan aspan saya sungguh kecewa .Ini Orang yang jadi Menteri Besar bukan Melayu yang saya cari! Mak dia India Muslim dan maknya seorang Bibi, indian muslim juga.Ini Melayu " constitution" Saya sangka dia Melayu jati.
Beri tahu saya Tuan Aspan di Mana Melayu Aspan .Di mana masakan lomak cili api dan sambal tempoyak? saya Melayu dari south africa mahu makan Melayu. Saya tak mahu cekor!Tolong Tuan Aspan .
Ada kah saya sedang bermimpi cari Melayu tak jumpa !Apa? Melayu sudah jadi tuan duduk di bilik bilik aircon cermin gelap atau Melayu sudah hilang dunianya sudah lari ke benua afrika macam saya juga?Tolong saya Tuan Aspan
Dear Bro Aspan,
ReplyDeleteTq for updating/sequencing my comments.
Maybe it takes someone WITHOUT any name, without any position, without any past attachment, no political baggage,
Someone only WITH the sincerest interest to right a wrong, being guided by the Almighty,
having the unseens praying for him as they too are concerned of this state of affair of this blessed nation....
Maybe the time has not been so near yet....for such ‘event’ to happen.
Yes, many Chosen Situational Leaders will evolve in the process from amongst the Rayaat....
Followed by God Almighty’s “Anointed” Phoenix…
A True & Wise, Humble but Firm Leader for Malaysia will arise like a “Phoenix” from amongst “the Downtrodden Rayaat....Insha Allah!
All our prayers to God Almighty seeking “Sanity, Truth, Justice, Equality & Freedom” will be answered.
Cheers.
Absolutely spot on as usual brother Aspan & fully agree as well with the splendid coverage/ comments by flyer168.
ReplyDeleteKeep up with your ever excellent articles and remember, berani kerana benar !
Cheers bro.
Muhammad Firdaus Christopher
Hey I'd love to congratulate you for such a great quality forum!
ReplyDeleteWas thinking this is a nice way to make my first post!
Sincerely,
Laurence Todd
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