III - REJECT PM AND SIL FOR THEIR INCOMPETENCY AND GRAFT

Go to any corner of the country, the answer is the same - practically every ordinary Ahmad, Ah Kow and Maniam, besides those who have been “bought” by money politics or awarded contracts, wants Pak Lah and especially the SIL out of the leadership, pronto. For whatever reasons, the BN/ UMNO leadership refused to accept that the Silent Majority still acknowledges that PM and SIL were the principal causes and sole source of BN’s poor performance in the GE 12. No BN representative is allowed to challenge such misconception without being scorn.

There is no significant improvement in the political situation of the country since the GE 12; in fact, the country’s political, social and economic scenarios have indeed seriously worsened.

Following the formation of the latest cabinet, in addition to certain other elected representatives who were seen as his close associates, PM brought in certain personalities as senators, namely Mohd Taib and Zaid Ibrahim as his principal goons to push though certain of his agenda. The SIL too was responsible for bringing back into fold certain ex-UMNO youth members from PKR into UMNO with much fanfare but to the dissatisfaction and distrust of UMNO members.

Together with the MSM, the President’s men, including the 4th Floor boys form the crux of PM’s paid and loyal supporters, have been conducting a massive PR campaign to bolster the battered image of PM, continuingly trying to deceive the Nation of the stark realities on the ground thus depriving the Nation of the desperate need of a new leadership

Let’s have a brief look at some of PM’s performance to date.

a) Economics Mismanagement and Unanswered Graft
There is nothing credible in PM’s economic policies and actions compared to the 22 years of the previous administration. Many of the PM’s economic disasters and misdeeds also remains unanswered in the minds of the Rakyat and are still unresolved.

i) The Iskandar Region (southern corridor) which many especially Johorians still reject as a development concept which is dangerous and not in the best interest of the country. Singaporeans are expected to benefit massively in this so-called Sanchen project of Malaysia. The difference between Sanchen-Hong Kong and IR- Singapore is mainly the composition of the races; Sanchen-Hong Kong the race is common. Malaysia lost Singapore and to see IR in the hands of foreigners especially Singaporeans would nightmare that the Johor Malays would never want to see that happening in their life. I heard even from reliable sources that the Sultan of Johor was grossly disappointed with the project. Similarly PAS is against the IR.

Then there are so many other corridors which the population look as a mockery, more likely design to plunder the nation rather than for its social economic values. In his recent statement, PM said the idea behind the corridors is equitable distribution of quality opportunities unlike that of the NEP based on equitable distribution of income. His analogy “we don’t that from Ah Seng and give to Ahmad but (what we do is) to accelerate Ahmad’s opportunity” “if we gave them money it will be spent in no time; so we gave them opportunities for productive use” he added. I doubt many of the Bumiputra will buy his idea because he forgot to say “Well, that is after the 1st Family creams the juices (hot money) of the corridors first”.

ii) Combating fuel price increases; the flip flop policies following the recent massive increase in fuel prices, both petrol and diesel demonstrated what an incompetent PM we have. Many believed a staggered increase should have been the desired action considering the ramifications on the traditional resilience and support of the economy and the hardship of the people. Since the enormous hike which makes our retail price of petrol amongst the highest based on income parity, so very often, the Government pronounced new measures to reduce the hardship of the people arising from the reduction in petrol subsidies. It is as though the PM wanted to demonstrate that he is most understanding and considerate about the adverse impact of the fuel increases on the poor.

It has become a joke to many that the massive fuel price as unjustified, thus unnecessary tampering with the traditional resilience of the economy; the economy’s competitiveness in the international markets has been substantially eroded – overall costs of production and services have spiral, social hardship intensified and the threats of stagflation imminent.

Such fuel price hike was deemed a hasty indecision reflected by the kind of cabinet decision reached after just a 3-4 hours discussion on a matter of such great significance to the country albeit a PM who lacks interest in the financial management of the country and aspirations of the people, a leadership heading nowhere except downwards.

iii) The Trengannu Wang Ehsan – still no adequate explanation on what happen to the money and to the wide discrepancies between the state government’s and Ministry of Finance/ PETRONAS reconciliation of the Trengganu oil royalties. Of cause, linked to this, was the infamous plundering by Patric Badawi, PM and SIL and where the local business community of Trengganu were deprived of any benefit. Let’s not forget the excessive cost of constructing the Crystal Mosque and the over-priced expensive bungalows. Why the clampdown on such explanation?

iv) The blatant day light plundering by the 1st Family directly and indirectly via Scomi and others including the nuclear centrifuges case. The PM’s hands indirectly through the SIL or his son seems to emerge almost everywhere when there’s big money to be made from government contracts and economic initiations. Too much have been reported on them and the general public have long most acknowledge such revelations causing many among the Silent Majority and BN/ UMNO members to vote anybody but BN at the GE 12.. Yet PM is advocating reforms in the Judiciary and ACA when he and his interested family should be the first ones to be investigated for graft and prosecuted in court.

Some members of the public even insinuate that the two year time frame was to enable the 1st Family to adequately cover up their corruptive acts.

v) Many other bad economic decisions and shortfalls causing a waste of economic resources without any economic sense except political corruption eg “the sale by Proton of MV Augusta for RM5 while Harley buys for RM350 million”, aborting the crooked bridge, the award of APs etc.

PM had yet to prove his competency in handling the economy. Many would agree his dismal economic performance is his Achilles heals. When PM said the economy was well and under control, perhaps he was over confident on the resilience of the present economy substantially inherited from TDM, none of his doing. However, PM’s undoing of certain of the present economic policies being his rational for economic reforms is expected to cause further disasters and dire consequences to the country especially if the country is confronted with unprecedented world wide economic run-offs arising from the sub-prime loan crises, the depreciating and possible free fall of the value of the USD, a prolonged US recession, stagflation.

I now tend to realize that the massive fuel price hike was to purposely provide the opportunity for PM to demonstrate his consideration and kindness to the most affected, such a disgraceful act of our PM. Check on the latest results from PETRONAS and see how strong its financial results are, there is justification for a staggered fuel price hike!

The economic turmoil, both national and world wide, is expected to worsen in the immediate future especially after the Olympics. Such tsunami is expected to impact the country worse than the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. The present weak leadership under PM by precedent seemed incompetent to handle them. We urgently require a new team to lead the country.

Thus re-electing PM (and SIL) into power would be unwisely of UMNO grassroots members who would have to consider the best interest of the Rakyat at heart. Indeed whoever takes over is expected to inherit a terribly messed up and weakened economy the longer PM stays in office.


b) Social Disorder
I am not being racialist or a religious extremist but I am a concern citizen. A number of racial and religious rumblings and tension never experienced since a very long time is happening under the Flip Flop administration. I would believe this to be the consequence of PM’s promises of populist and liberal reforms and his blatant indecisions which have been taken advantage by the Opposition parties, the Bar Council and other human rights groups. It would not be too far fetch to imply that foreign powers too may have a hand in them.

Some of the troubling sensitive issues are as follows
i) the Social Contract; in particular the NEP have been readily questioned by those aspirants of Malaysian Malaysia and Ketuanan Rakyat while the concept of Ketuanan Melayu has been purposely misconstrued causing agitation and concern amongst the Bumiputra’s and others. The Bar Council (Zaid Ibrahim’s toy) played a pivotal role under the guise of freedom of speech and human rights (like that guaranteed the US constitution) without considering the prevailing and accepted rule of law in Malaysia.

As a consequence of PM’s incompetence and inaction, Malay NGOs have come together united in their stand on Ketuanan Melayu and the sustaining of the social contract. PAS has since come forward to discuss with UMNO on common grounds relating to the Malay race and Islam; any issues relating to the NEP and Islam cannot be compromised. It would appear that with this regard, the PAS president has taken the lead from PM, what sham of a PM who know naught except procrastinate and listen to the advice of the inexperience SIL.

ii) the religious and democratic tolerances in tandem with the demands of the US State Department; in particular the word ALLAH by the Catholic Archbishop. Due to the change in certain governments at state levels, the quest of uncontrolled construction of non-Islamic religious houses of worship, the massive construction of a modern facility to produce pigs etc, etc have also further aggravated the social structure.

Any firm action by PM would be conflicting with his pro-reformist intentions and he would loose ground with the Minority and human rights aspirants

iii) the PSD scholarship ratio issue - manipulated by SIL in posting 2.

iv) Judiciary Reform – unearthing the 20 year old Tun Salleh Abas case, the payment of ex-gratia, the Linggam Video Tapes have been initiated purportedly by the Government to achieve other nasty objectives besides the intention of reforming the Judiciary.

Reverting Article 121 A of the constitution to its original form will have serious social and legal repercussions. The proposed formation of a Judicial Appointment Commission too is expected to have its shortfalls with some insinuating that the appointees will be “friendly” to PM and the 1st Family so that no action would be taken against them after PM leaves office.

To stay on for another two years, PM gave the same lame justification that that “I still have work to do” and the two year time frame would be adequate to push through the many reforms he had promised, this time mentioning specifically graft (ACA) and judiciary reforms.

Note: of late, the ACA seemed to be everywhere when there were problems concerning personalities of BN/ UMNO. When Ahmad Said was named as the preferred choice of MB by the Sultan of Trengganu, immediately the ACA/ BPR was in Trengganu to verify accusations on Ahmad Said’s graft. Similarly Yong Teck Lee when the SAPP announced its earlier intention to support a vote no confidence against PM. Now the Deputy DG of Immigration, his relatives and others have been quizzed by ACA. Why I wonder, can the ACA be that truly independent after being directed around so easily by the SIL and the 4th Floor boys?

UMNO members should take note that most of PM’s populist/ liberal reforms are not in the best interest of the Malay community but are readily welcomed by the Opposition parties particularly PKR and DAP and human rights group headed by the Bar Council.

In fact there are many in the UMNO Supreme Council who are not in agreement with PM’s reformist policies. Thus while PM had put these reforms on hold at the present moment, consistent with his flip flop behavior, he is expected to push through the populist and liberal reforms after his re-election and so as not to have be obstructed within his parties, expect the dissenting members to be removed from their existing positions.

It would appear that PM intends to please the Non-Malay community rather his political base, UMNO, with his pro-reforms. Perhaps he is aware that only the Minority and the Malaysian Malaysia are receptive to support for such reform. Thus leaving his legacy of being Malaysia’s Father of Democracy could find good support among principally the non-Malays; what a joke!

A leader should be aware that reforms can only be successful if it is readily accepted by all concern i.e. the mass population. To forcefully push through will indeed be resisted and in this instant by the bulk of the Silent Majority. For any critical reform that will affect the well being as well as the social and judicial structure of the population, 1 1/2 years is definitely too long for such introductions but seeing them successfully through requires definitely more than 2 years, maybe 4 or more years.

In the past 5 years of his administration, PM has done practically nothing, would anyone believe that giving PM another two years would make any difference? I am sure UMNO grassroots are fully conscious of PM’s lack of credibility and persistent inconsistencies and of cause his prevailing bad performance.

Thus by the time an incumbent inherits the Prime Ministership, the social and judicial fabric would likely be very messy, whacked and the incumbent worse off.

c) Politically Instability

In the GE 12, BN suffered their worst performance, not because the electorates like the Opposition but many traditional supporters voted in their protest against PM. As a result several non-Bumiputra component parties within BN in mainland Malaysia were practically wiped out.

PM now heads an extremely weak government and its small majority in parliament is constantly being challenged by the Opposition, causing consistent political instability. Foreign funds have again put Malaysia off their radar screen.

For the next election due in 2013, some envisaged UMNO/ BN would require about 4 years from now to consolidate their strength; there are a lot of critical areas to be covered. As PM has indicated that he will not lead BN in the next election, thus Najib would have insufficient time to structure BN/ UMNO to be at its best for the GE 13.

The two year period is therefore considered too long and many things can happen before then especially for one like PM who is known for his flip flop decisions, preferring the interest of the 1st Family over everything else. By that time, Najib may just be replaced by someone else. Thus the rumblings have continued and expected to intensify in the days to come.

It is most apparent that PM and the SIL do not actually have the hearts and minds of the people at stake: it is only their selfish interests. Therefore PM and SIL are apparently the present source and cause of the fractional politics within UMNO.

Again PM and SIL showing of genuine concern that competition for the No.1 and No.2 post would cause internal fractions within UMNO is merely a big farce, propagated to block any potential threat against them. By such action, PM and SIL has demonstrated that UMNO, the backbone of BN, is indeed an immature party and thus making a mockery of the leadership within the Malay community.


UMNO GRASSROOTS, VOTE OUT PM AND HIS MEN INCLUDING SIL AND REPLACE THEM WITH OTHER UMNO LEADERS WHO ARE MORE CAPABLE, COMMITTED AND LOYAL TO THE PARTY.

THE COUNTRY NEEDS NEW BLOOD, A NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM, NOT THE PRESENT WEAK PM AND THE IMMATURE SIL.