tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44016824813768848602011-11-27T19:23:47.345-05:00Following the course of Malaysia's political journey from Boston, Mass.azaleanoreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-72505857301121243092009-04-11T23:06:00.004-04:002009-04-12T00:19:21.912-04:00

Najib is now Prime Minister and the R.A.H.M.A.N. prophecy fulfilled. God help us.His much-hyped new cabinet was supposed to be "lean and mean" and it turned out to be neither. The most talked-about decision is the omission of Khairy, the new UMNO Youth president. Najib is at once kow-towing to Mahathir (Mukhriz was elected deputy minister) while attempting to send Khairy into political oblivion

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-65471491282709839532009-03-26T21:36:00.002-04:002009-03-26T22:22:53.027-04:00

Badawi's best speechOut-going UMNO president and PM Abdullah Badawi gave a farewell speech which critics judge his best ever, calling on UMNO to reform itself, saying clamping down on dissent and criticism were methods of old that would make UMNO obsolete. He suggested giving all UMNO members the power to vote for candidates vying for high positions as a way to eliminate money politics. FANTASTIC

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-58811712887250388042009-03-25T19:57:00.005-04:002009-03-25T20:48:42.296-04:00

Some snippets from the current UMNO General Assembly...Sharizat wins!(Malaysiakini pic)Are these ladies happy or what! Rafidah Aziz, aka AP Queen, was defeated by a big margin (280 to 507). She's like Mahathir; we won't hear the last of her, but her leadership of Wanita UMNO may be over for good.KJ wins!I cheer this news simply because he is not in Najib's camp. Najib has been busy in recent

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-45993901056655448502009-03-14T16:02:00.004-04:002009-03-14T16:39:02.611-04:00

Maybe I've been away for too long and kept silent for too long, hence the need to comment on news stories big and small...Mara to pay RM185,000 for Dr Muszaphar's space suitKUALA LUMPUR, March 14 — Mara plans to buy the US$50,000 (RM185,000) space suit worn by Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustaphar and put it on display for all Malaysians.Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-67153111928098001462009-03-13T10:08:00.003-04:002009-03-13T11:17:50.541-04:00

Topic: PPSMIHelen Ang made a good case for teaching Science and Math in Malay. Among the facts I had not been aware of were that the decision was made unilaterally by the out-going PM, Dr Mahathir in 2003, and that no studies nor consultations had been carried out prior to implementation. Considering that the decision affected millions of school teachers, administrators, school children and their

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-59740404031630600252009-03-12T20:42:00.002-04:002009-03-12T23:24:07.507-04:00

It has been a year since the biggest political upheaval in Malaysia. On March 8, 2008, Malaysians historically denied the Barisan Nasional coalition a majority in parliament - a first since the country's independence in 1957. Extreme disgust with the ruling parties' practices coupled with the great hope placed on the opposition parties led by Anwar Ibrahim contributed to the seismic change in the

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-78324732008291564962008-11-06T14:53:00.006-05:002008-11-06T19:29:51.566-05:00

I don't usually get involved in US politics because I feel that - wars aside - no matter how bad people think this country is, the fundamentals are in place for a just society. The same cannot be said for Malaysia, and that is why I remain a Malaysian citizen, so that I don't lose my right to vote.Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States two nights ago. What surprised me

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-43071501893276304982008-10-08T11:49:00.003-04:002008-10-08T12:52:25.179-04:00

To follow up from the previous post, nothing happened on September 16, save more vocal calls for Malaysia Day to be recognized as a public holiday or true national day. Anwar issued a couple of deadlines to Badawi, and the latter ignored him. Anwar repeatedly said he had the 31 Barisan MPs required to form the government, and asked for the public's patience while he makes this happen in a legal,

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-76796709450310303532008-09-15T22:15:00.006-04:002008-09-15T23:57:13.098-04:00

Happy Birthday, Malaysia (not Malaya). Sorry, I don't even know how old you are.Here we are on September 16th (Malaysia time), the promised date. Last night, Anwar declared to a 20,000-strong crowd that he "has the numbers" to take over the government. Exactly how that starts to happen is supposed to be revealed today.In fact, it MUST be revealed, or Anwar's words will turn into a big lie. That's

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-83632844650814674662008-09-14T13:42:00.004-04:002008-09-14T14:44:44.783-04:00

Historically, when the Malaysian government feels its hold on power is severely threatened, it reacts desperately; by secretly pitting the races against each other. In 1969, Tun Razak's faction stirred up racial sentiment in order to erode Tuanku Abdul Rahman's power. The result: a bloody racial confrontation and the blackest mark in our nation's history.In 1987, the Malay-versus-Chinese

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-39911763165200881162008-09-13T12:49:00.002-04:002008-09-13T14:39:10.964-04:00

...our Home (Internal Security) Minister, Syed Hamid Albar! (cue canned applause)He was left to defend the extremely short-sighted moves of detaining the 3 under ISA. From his interviews in theStarOnline and Malaysiakini, it appears that:1) The police were the ones who decided to arrest the 3. Syed Hamid was merely informed of it. He didn't disagree with it, that's for sure, quote, "The whole

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-29371548340831529592008-09-13T04:45:00.003-04:002008-09-13T21:01:17.835-04:00

As condemnation poured in and demands for her released continued from the NUJ, MCA and MIC, the government released Sin Chew journalist Tan at 4pm today and offered the dubious excuse that she had been jailed for her own good.From Malaysiakini:Speaking from Johor Baru this morning, Syed Hamid justified Tan's detention under the ISA with a rare reason that it was as part of the government's

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-88991861733657707992008-09-12T21:30:00.005-04:002008-09-12T23:40:13.312-04:00

Waiting to see who will be arrested under ISA today. Since the show-cause letters were sent to 3 news publications, namely The Sun, Sin Chew Daily and Suara Keadilan, expect the editors of or contributors to these publications to be stripped of their freedom next.Raja Petra was savvy enough to know this was coming. Some of his articles supposedly belittled Islam, and various Islamic groups had

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-55235310248389583562008-09-12T12:29:00.005-04:002008-09-12T17:17:39.212-04:00

Friday, Sept 12th1:10pm : Raja Petra arrested under ISA, less than a day after access to his Malaysia-Today site was restored by the government. They found a more effective way to shut the guy up.8:40pm : Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who broke the story on Ahmad Ismail, was arrested under ISA. Apparently the government followed Azhar Ibrahim's "advice" to "shoot the journalist", just not

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-58199453704081296832008-09-10T21:28:00.006-04:002008-09-10T22:48:49.551-04:00

So Ahmad Ismail was called up to Putrajaya to explain himself, and thereafter, PM Badawi promised to take "stern action" against the man.Wanita Gerakan wanted Ahmad Ismail jailed under ISA.Charging him under the Sedition Act has been bandied about by various groups.Ultimately, I was persuaded that if I am against the use of neither one on ordinary citizens, then I must be against the use of them

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-68854685999029701422008-09-07T10:53:00.006-04:002008-09-12T16:47:26.257-04:00

As if Ahmad Ismail's stance was not disturbing enough, more of his types are crawling out of the woodwork.From Malaysiakini's report:Penang Umno secretary Azhar Ibrahim has stood by his call for the Sin Chew reporter in question to “be shot” should a May 13-type racial riot breaks out. Contacted today, Azhar reiterated firmly that, “the journalist deserved to be shot if her article causes another

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-12660922797454522822008-09-06T03:10:00.005-04:002008-09-06T15:54:09.376-04:00

On August 26th, Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election and became the Opposition Leader in Parliament.During the course of the 3-week campaign, UMNO brought out dirty, disgusting tactics to try to bring Anwar down, but the most effective was the racial card: a vote for Anwar is a vote for the Chinese to take over and abolish Malay rights.One man has since come under much controversy for

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-63079055166447446192008-04-17T23:33:00.002-04:002008-04-18T00:16:28.636-04:00

From the April 18th Star Online:Government moves to strengthen judiciary KUALA LUMPUR: A Judicial Appointments Commission to help the Prime Minister choose judges is to be set up as part of reforms announced last night by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to renew the people’s trust in the judiciary.Well, well, well. I think Badawi is sick of all the voices demanding that he step

azaleanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-14569261301510602402008-03-30T11:55:00.003-04:002008-03-30T17:37:13.056-04:00

First, the people revolted against the BN, showing that reformasi was alive and well.Then the Perlis, Perak and Terengganu royal houses followed suit, refusing to cave in to demands from any political party in choosing their respective Menteris Besar. Sultan Mizan of Terengganu, aka the Agong, showed Badawi that being Prime Minister no longer means being the most powerful man in the land.Is the

azaleanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-47224780746648181432008-03-27T20:02:00.001-04:002008-04-18T01:11:15.049-04:00

I'll update this post as I think of more to add.More parks, pleaseSorry, Patrick Badawi, take your PGCC plans and shove it! I hope the state gets a smart, sustainable plan for the interconnecting parks instead. With 1.5 million vehicles on the state's roads (and 1.06 cars per person!), a green lung is much needed. Perhaps they could take some pointers from New York's Central Park.Improve public

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-8188978253912620772008-03-26T23:54:00.005-04:002008-03-31T02:23:00.967-04:00

Reduce third-world mentalityWe don't need kiasu attitudes like I-must-get-ahead-of-you-in-that-traffic-lane. We cannot be indifferent to our fellow people and excuse it as the Asian trait of shyness or segan when we don't help the old lady across the street or ignore a potential crime-in-progress. We have to quit being so petty, like the Education Ministry when it issued a directive to Penang

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-14895703535488284942008-03-25T19:39:00.008-04:002008-03-27T14:16:10.223-04:00

Raja Petra wrote a very enlightening article on the power struggles behind the current Terengganu Menteri Besar fiasco, explaining why the Agong chose Ahmad Said, and why Badawi is adamant Idris Jusoh is the MB. Take with a grain of salt, but well worth a read...http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/4906/84/Update March 27, 2am EST: Idris Jusoh stripped of Datuk-ship by the Agong? Guess

azaleanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-5881338315133800182008-03-22T18:54:00.007-04:002008-03-23T13:45:14.390-04:00

Two weeks ago, Malaysians voted for a change. They got a bigger change than most even wanted. If we had a do-over election today, there's a fair chance the non-BN parties would not have won as big as they did. I believe Penang would still have fallen out of BN's hands, and perhaps Selangor too. But Perak, where the difference between the two "Barisans" was only 3 seats, compounded by the Menteri

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-43165062553217632192008-03-14T14:44:00.005-04:002008-03-15T01:11:47.843-04:00

There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.~PlatoOk, so we are screwed. Here are 3 categories of the power players in Malaysia today...The Newly-Empowered:Lim Kit SiangHis

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-83527403823946898582008-03-12T12:09:00.003-04:002008-03-14T01:51:28.200-04:00

The post-mortems, analyses, and dissections continue. The list of reasons for the "political tsunami" that washed away BN's power in 5 states are almost endless.Among them: a relatively freer society under Badawi that has allowed dissent to flourish on the internet; Anwar's release from prison, also courtesy of Badawi; Badawi's weak leadership; reliance on bad advisors (who supposedly operate

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-59377843848617036652008-03-09T14:00:00.004-04:002008-03-09T23:26:30.445-04:00

All I could say when I heard the results was: WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Over and over again!In summary, the BN was denied its 2/3 majority, PKR won 31 parliamentary seats (up from 1 in the last elections), DAP won 28 and PAS won 23. Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Kelantan all now belong to the "Opposition" . Total parliamentary seats: 222. BN : 137, Opp : 82, way more than the 70 it had aimed for!

azaleanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-10461013514378640132008-03-08T03:53:00.004-05:002008-03-08T04:46:24.269-05:00

While I enjoy living in the States where generally, things work like they are supposed to, this is one of the times I wish I was back home. I wish I had been back to attend the many ceramahs. I wish I had been able to feel the electricity of thousands of Malaysians coming together for our common good. And darn it, I wish I had been able to vote. Although looking at The Star Online lately has been

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-20494802349175882222008-03-06T12:45:00.006-05:002008-03-06T22:37:15.177-05:00

And I thought the 10,000 crowd at Han Chiang on March 1st was huge...This crowd tonight at DAP's rally in Han Chiang is said to be 30,000-60,000 -strong. This, and more pictures are from the Malaysian Insider. According to audience members, Jeff Ooi provided the entertainment, singing and playing the guitar. I hope he's enjoying this! It's probably the only time he'll play to bigger crowds than

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-26520724381590070482008-03-05T12:08:00.004-05:002008-03-05T17:50:52.298-05:00

Once upon a time, perhaps it was during the 1990 election, I remember my parents driving me through some pro-Opposition areas in Penang. DAP's rocket posters were densely papered here and I would look at them almost guiltily because they were advertising for the "enemy."Eighteen years on, I have to admit, I've begun to admire the long-time DAP leaders more and more. People like Lim Kit Siang and

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-35958826625148054142008-03-01T10:35:00.007-05:002008-03-02T02:15:48.936-05:00

Anil Netto was at this much-anticipated rally at Han Chiang High School last night...Anwar, Guan Eng join hands to rock PenangThis was one of the big ones.It was one those evenings where you just had to be there to experience the growing sentiment among Penangites seeking change and reforms.Some 10,000 converged at the indoor stadium of the private Han Chiang High School in Penang.Imagine the

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-33083151858138797482008-02-28T16:33:00.000-05:002008-02-28T17:38:33.734-05:00

The candidates for the PJ Selatan parliamentary seat (deputy tourism minister Donald Lim and PKR's Hee Loy Sian) and the Bukit Gasing state seat (MCA's Dr Lim Thuan Seng and DAP's Edward Lee) held a "closed-door" Q&A session with their constituents at a local church. I wonder if the "closed door" was meant to keep the press out, because clearly, it didn't work. Or maybe it was to keep the Malays

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-69900175080290493962008-02-28T02:02:00.000-05:002008-02-28T17:40:34.582-05:00

A few points which I hope will be investigated or clarified soon...1) Why the no-show contestants?The latest count shows that BN has won 11 seats uncontested, with another possibly in the bag as reports surfaced of the PKR parliamentary candidate in Kulim being investigated for not turning in his financial statements. Another PKR candidate was previously disqualified for the same reason. The PKR

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-43747715307361403182008-02-27T01:18:00.000-05:002008-02-28T16:31:53.332-05:00

1) ...even I don't believe in this idealistic proposal...As I said earlier, PKR's proposal of a RM1500/month minimum wage is unrealistic. It likely does reflect the amount needed to live in Malaysia, but I hear RM1500/month is what fresh bachelors' graduates from fancy US universities make.What about the "masses"? Jobstreet's Salary Report states entry-level cashiers make RM600-RM900 per month.

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-19332689088986301352008-02-26T13:22:00.000-05:002008-02-27T03:03:06.065-05:00

Why I should be pro-government or pro-BN (and why I'm not):I am a Malay. Technically categorized as bumiputera, but as the label has been used to discriminate against people of other races, I am loathe to be associated with it.I came to the States to complete my bachelors degree, after 2 1/2 years in an ITM institution, courtesy of JPA. I have to pay back the student loan, which has been heavily

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401682481376884860.post-81282309782720114852008-02-26T07:18:00.000-05:002008-02-26T13:03:23.775-05:00

I wanted to give Azalina and the secret online snoops another blog to spy on - so here it is!This blog's purpose is to record my impressions of the 12th Malaysian General Election. As a Malaysian living overseas, who is neither a government employee, full-time student, nor spouse of either one, I CANNOT VOTE. Voting is a fundamental right of every citizen in a democratic country, so what does it

azaleanoreply@blogger.com0