Anwar Ibrahim |
| Perth in August, Italy in July, Kazakh in June: Time For Umno to Rein in Najib Posted: 06 Sep 2011 07:57 PM PDT There is nothing wrong if one wants to escape the rigors of everyday work and take a short vacation to unwind and relax. A period of rest and recreation is needed and in fact a healthy way of living. So what is fuss about when the Malaysian Prime Minister decided to go Down-Under for some down-time with his family and friends? Firstly, it was on the 31st of August, a key day in the Malaysian calendar for this was the day Malaya obtained independence from the British colonialists. Iin other words, it was Independence Day. Secondly, there was a huge questionmark over who was funding the trip and was it for public or private reasons? No doubt this year, instead of holding nationwide celebrations including the annual parade on August 31, the Malaysian government had finally decided to have it on September 16, to commemorate the joining of Sabah and Sarawak to form the federation of Malaysia in 1963, it is still against protocol to quietly sneak out without informing the people where you are going, not when you are the PM. Half-truths and cover-ups
But Najib walked fine when he finally showed himself to the people on Monday. So what was the real reason behind the PM’s decision to hop onto the Malaysian government’s private jet and make his way to Australia? The latest reason offered was that he had gone to spend Hari Raya, which was on August 30, with Malaysian students there. But was the whole 'speaking to students' session as reported by the national Bernama news agency a sufficient reason to justify such costly use of public funds? Not that our children are not important, but there is justifiable grounds to suspect the PM was taking advantage of public funds to spend a mere two hours or so at a public function, while spending the rest of the week enjoying a spanking good holiday. To many Malaysians, Najib appears to have perfected the art of making use of official trips for personal pleasure. UMNO must take disciplinary action
Consider this. In 2006, Najib’s predecessor Abdullah Badawi enjoyed a publicly-funded trip to the Caribbean. Back then it was stated that the four-day trip was a "working visit", but little appears to have come out from that excursion despite his having addressed the St Vincent Parliament. A reporter travelling with the entourage reported that the Jamaica portion of the trip dealt with possible Malaysian investment in energy exploration and construction projects, while the PM stopped in St Vincent 'mostly for a vacation and to unwind from the pressures of work. This shocking news was revealed in a newly-leaked US diplomatic note written by the missionary here and sent to Washington. So another holiday disguised as a working trip and to think Malaysians used to call their 5th PM and UMNO president their Mr Clean! A new era with many opposition MPs on the lookout
Citizens can expect that any trip the current PM makes overseas will be put through the clothes wringer. Reasons such as generating possible investment inflow will no longer be acceptable without proper detailing. After all, how many of these overseas trips have really generated any good for the nation? Same thing goes for huge commercial or public-sector contracts and other mega projects, especially without open tenders. Costs will be scrutinised mercilessly. Times have changed and really, UMNO needs to wise up and learn to handle the realities of a Malaysia in the 2010s. If they don’t, then this is why they have been frequently accused of being trapped in their own time-warp, playing childish yet potentially lethal racial and religious games. All these can only harm not help the nation, which will be further ostracised by civil society and the world at large. Aussie in August, Europe in July, Kazakhstan in June
Till now, the question remains, did he and wife Rosmah Mansor arrange the Vatican trip so that once they were done there,, they could continue with a personal Italian vacation on the Mediterranean? And this holiday lasted several days until Najib allegedly got wind that his Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was planning a high-level meeting with UMNO warlords to discuss how to rein in his misconduct and mitigate the huge damge inflicted on the country’s image. It was then that Najib cut short his Italian break, claiming he was homesick and even thanking Rosmah for being understanding enough to fly back immediately. Yes, it was a tremendous show but it didn’t end there. On the same day, a French lawyer William Bourdon due to expose the role of top Malaysian officials including Najib’s in the Scorpenes purchase scandal was mysteriously deported from Kuala Lumpur before he could give a dinner-talk and press conference to bare all. UMNO must be responsible for its leaders or risk losing voter support
Is it not time for UMNO to mete out action, perhaps issue a disciplinary letter or ask him to show cause and explain his misconduct? If UMNO feels that this is merely negative politicking by the Pakatan Rakyat opposition, then do an internal investigation and call for whistleblowers to come forward. If UMNO is a responsible political party, then it should do all these. Otherwise, don’t expect Malaysians or Malays to vote in your candidates when even those at the presidential level are not able to clear the basic requirements of honesty and transparency, what more lead the country. It is also laughable that Malaysian sudents in Perth were so disgusted that they have put on Facebook their remarks were twisted to depict the current UMNO president as an “awesome” and ‘inspirational’ leader, just so he could escape more flak at home. Really, if UMNO cannot rein in their president, what a shame it is for the party and country. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Buku Sejarah Umpama Koleksi Solekan Seorang Gadis Posted: 06 Sep 2011 10:41 AM PDT Merdeka Review Kalau sejarah itu bagai gadis disolek sesuka hati, maka buku teks sejarah umpama koleksi solekan untuk mencantikkan wajah gadis tersebut. Lantas, murid sekolah yang diibaratkan sehelai kain putih akan terikut-ikut dengan kecantikan wajah yang disajikan kepada mereka sekian lama sehingga tidak berpeluang membuat perbandingan dan membezakan antara yang asli dengan yang tiruan. Seminggu lagi kita akan meraikan Hari Malaysia, namun pemahaman sejarah kita sama ada yang berkaitan dengan lembaran-lembaran yang memperjuangkan kemerdekaan tanah air sebelum era-UMNO sehingga terbentuknya Malaysia, mahupun yang berkaitan dengan perjuangan anti penjajahan oleh rakyat berjiwa pahlawan seperti Mat Indera masih dilihat dari satu sudut satu interpretasi. Secara amnya, rakyat Malaysia mengenali sejarah tanah air melalui “koleksi solekan” di sekolah atau dalam akhbar dari semasa ke semasa. Berdasarkan kajian yang dilakukan oleh Perpustakaan Negara pada tahun 2005, secara purata keseluruhan rakyat Malaysia membaca dua buku setahun. Membaca dua buku dikira banyak kerana purata sebelum ini sekadar dua halaman buku setahun, terendah antara negara di Asia. Sebagai perbandingan dan secara purata, rakyat India membaca 35 buku setahun, rakyat Thailand membaca 25 buku setahun sementara rakyat Indonesia membaca 18 buku setahun. Tak usah risau sangat dengan bacaan buku yang begitu sedikit. Sekurang-kurangnya UMNO tidak risau. Tidak terperanjant juga. Kerana rakyat Malaysia suka baca akhbar, tak suka baca buku. Keasyikan sebahagian besar rakyat terhadap akhbar khususnya “lidah UMNO” menyeronokkan UMNO. Dengan adanya kawalan ketat, lesen mesin cetak, permit penerbitan, konglomerat UMNO serta UMNOputra dan lidah rasmi UMNO bergelar Utusan, akhbar itu bagai “koleksi solekan” UMNO, maka interpretasi sejarah adalah mengikut acuan dan teknik solekan UMNO. Menjaga kepentingan UMNO dikira peranan besar sekian “koleksi solekan”. Maka sudut berita dan perspektif penulisan haruslah sejajar dengan interpretasi UMNO. Itu namanya sejarah. Yang memeranjatkan UMNO ialah keberanian insan bergelar Mat Sabu (gambar kiri) memberikan bahan solekan baru kepada gadis yang sekian lama menggunakan bahan solekan UMNO dan jentera UMNO. Sebab itu, pengasas Zentrum Future Studies Malaysia (ZENTRUM) Dr. Abu Hassan Hasbullah (gambar kanan) mengucapkan tahniah buat Mat Sabu “kerana mengadiluhung tokoh MAT INDERA yang akhirnya telah menderu-deru keminatan, keinginan, dan kepedulian anak-anak tanahair terhadap SEJARAH peradaban bangsanya. Semoga dengan perdebatan demi perdebatan ini akan mengembalikan sebegitu ramai lagi tokoh-tokoh agung yang tersingkir dari helaian korupsi sejarah ke helaian hakiki sejarah Tanah Melayu, tanahair tercinta,” dalam halaman Facebooknya bernama “Hassan Hayastani (??? ????????)”. Biarpun menggunakan bahan solekan yang sama, terdapat pelbagai cara dalam penggunaannya. Contohnya, apabila manusia yang sukakan buku seperti saya membaca “Perjanjian dan Dokumen Lama Malaysia 1791-1965″ yang diterbitkan oleh Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia (ITNM) pada tahun 2008, dalam bab “Perisytiharan Panglima Tentera Jepun, 1942″, sebahagian kandungan perisytiharan yang ditandatangani Panglima Tentera Jepun Tomoyuki Yamashita berbunyi seperti berikut: “Pada asalnya, orang Inggeris telah menyanjung prinsip mereka yang terlampau egoistik dan dogmatik dan mereka bukan sahaja membenci orang lain, tetapi juga sudah biasa menjalankan intimidasi secara licik, tipu helah serta penuh muslihat dan mereka sanggup melakukan ketakadilan dan ketakjujuran demi mempertahankan kepentingan mereka sahaja, dan dengan demikian mereka sebenarnya telah merosakkan seluruh dunia.” Seterusnya, “kami berharap kami telah menyapu bersih segala kesombongan dan ketakjujuran anasir British dan menanggung penderitaan serta menikmati kemanisan bersama-sama seluruh rakyat… maka angkatan tentera Jepun… berhasrat merealisasikan pembangunan dan dasar abadi Malaya selepas merawat luka yang diakibatkan oleh penindasan berdarah British pada masa yang lalu dan memulihkan kerosakan perang yang diakibatkan oleh perang ini.” Tidakkah deklarasi di atas mencuit hati rakyat jika konteks penjajahan tidak diambil kira? Retorik penjajah terkini mengenai penjajah sebelum itu bertujuan melakar naratif, imej dan persepsi kononnya penjajahan baharu adalah untuk kebaikan dan kesejahteraan penduduk tanah jajahan maka wajar diterima penjajah baharu yang menyingkirkan penjajah lama. Bukankah penjajahan masih berterusan dengan wajah penjajah yang berbeza pada ketika itu? Bukankah orang yang berkomplot dengan penjajah itu dilihat sebagai pengkhianat dalam konteks penjajahan? Bukankah darurat diisytiharkan oleh pihak penjajah atas agenda dan kepentingan tertentu? Bacalah “Pemasyhuran Ordinan Peraturan Darurat, 1948″. Dokumen pemasyhuran tersebut ditandatangani dengan perkataan berikut: “Dengan Perintah, Siapa P.O. Wickens? Bukankah beliau mewakili pihak penjajah? Majlis di atas merujuk kepada Majlis yang mentadbir Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Pentadbiran pada ketika itu diketuai Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Persekutuan Tanah Melayu Sir Edward Gent. Apakah dengan memakai nama Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, maka Sir Edward Gent dikira berdarah tanah air? Seterusnya wajah penjajah menjadi jernih dan wajah rakyat tempatan yang anti penjajah dihitamkan? Seribu persoalan menanti penemuan baharu dari segi penggalian bahan dan sudut sejarah yang pelbagai, bukan solekan “berbau monopolistik” yang disajikan oleh UMNO sekian lama. Izinkan saya memetik kata-kata berikut untuk renungan semua sempena Hari Raya Aidifiltri: “Hai orang-orang yang beriman! Taatilah Allah dan carilah wasilah – yang dapat mendekatkan diri kamu – kepada-Nya serta berjuanglah di jalan-Nya.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:35) Dalam buku Yusuf Al-Qaradawi berjudul “The Lawful and The Prohibited in Islam”, Imam ‘Ali berkata: Truth is not to be learned on the basis of authorities. Learn the truth and then you will know who the truthful ones are.’ Dalam Kajian Malaysia, Vol. 27, No. 1 & 2, 2009, ahli penyelidik C.C. Chin membekalkan fakta berikut untuk renungan kita: “The British deployed a total of 450,000 men consisting of 40,000 soldiers, 67,000 police, 45,000 special constables and 300,000 home guards. In addition 25,000 air strikes were made, more than 100,000 rockets fired and 33,000 tons of bombs dropped against a force of only 7,000-plus guerrillas at the time.” Konteks sejarah berubah mengikut peredaran masa. British hari ini tidak lagi mampu berwajah penjajah. Jangan kita melihat warga British yang berada di Malaysia dengan kaca mata era penjajahan. Jangan juga kita melihat anggota polis yang bekerja semasa era penjajahan dengan sentimen era penjajahan. Namun, jangan juga kita lupakan sejarah penjajahan yang dialami rakyat Malaysia termasuk mereka yang berjiwa pahlawan, anti penjajah dan memperjuangkan kemerdekaan sebelum UMNO menikmati hasil kemerdekaan melalui rundingan. *Ooi Heng ialah Pengarah Eksekutif Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU) dan kolumnis MerdekaReview. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
There is now huge derision over the whole affair which has even attracted the attention of the foreign diplomatic community. The way the PM's aides have sidled and dished out half-truths rather than provide open and honest answers when asked about his whereabouts is rather alarming. Is not the PM of a country a public figure? Instead, a situation developed where one aide said he was away on vacation but declined to state where and why. Then another one staffer – probably overzealous – said he was in Australia for physio-therapy or was it knee-operation, as some blogs reported it to be?
But then, this is not surprising as previous Malaysian premiers have shared the same love for venturing out of the country on publicly-funded escapades. It is high time that UMNO, the country’s largest political party, take note of this because so far all the PMs have been their party presidents. If UMNO doesn’t clean up its own stables, how can it expect Malaysians to vote in its candidates when the next election arrives. If its Supreme Council sits back and does nothing, then expect the public to continuously have the impression that UMNO is the most corrupt party in the country, if not the region!
Now with so many opposition lawmakers on the pounce for any financial shenanigans, it will no longer be easy for BN leaders to sneak away goodies as easily as they did in the past. And this is a positive development for Malaysia.
Another much-watched and glaring case was the hugely expensive trip to the Vatican in July. Najib’s European tour began in England, with the Queen snubbing him for his mis-treatment of the Bersih ralliers for free and fair elections. Then he went on to the Vaticam to establish bilateral ties with the Holy See. But the moment he stepped foot back in Malaysia, he shot down any hopes for greater Islamic-Christianity goodwill by insulting the Christians.
What good has the latest publicly-funded visit to Perth done for Malaysia now? Really, it is time for UMNO to be responsbile for all the shenanigans their party president has put the country through. He may be the current chief but what kind of a party is UMNO? Is it a dictatorship? Can Najib do what he wants, even if it means dragging UMNO’s and Malaysia’s name through mud? Is it not time for the UMNO Supreme Council to evaluate if Najib has not already done this with his lavish spending, poor leadership and scandals galore?| You are subscribed to email updates from Anwar Ibrahim To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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