Any competent cabinet minister around?

I get increasingly impatience when reading this piece, and wanted to yell at Jacqueline -- "Come on, Jac! Anyone with a primary education and a simple mind would have known this fact. It's UMNO's tradition and budaya. Would anything changed on your complaint?"

The question should be that how many of our ministers are actually competent?

...and KPI? Ha ha... Isn't that chief of the zoos scored more than 100% in his KPI even though approval rating among conscientious Malaysians failed miserably?

The fact is that, the country is ran by a bunch of corrupt, unqualified, unprofessional jokers.

Nonetheless, I salute Jac's courage in shouting out loud her mind in this publication...and admire her more than ever.

Great job! Conscientious Malaysians are behind you.


Following article adopted from TheNutGraph.

Hishammuddin’s incompetence
20 Nov 09 : 8.00AM

By Jacqueline Ann Surin
jacquelinesurin@thenutgraph.com

HERE'S what I want to know: why was Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein appointed to the cabinet, and why is he still a minister despite an appalling track record of saying and doing the wrong things?

Hishammuddin's statements as Home Minister since he was sworn into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration in April 2009, betray either how clueless or disrespectful he is about human rights, democratic principles and gender equality.

Examples abound. Most notably:

• Hishammuddin famously said he was "thankful" that no "serious incidents" occurred in Perak on 7 May 2009 despite police action in arresting scores of people, including elected representatives, and the unlawful imprisonment of Perak Speaker V Sivakumar.
• He also famously declared that lawyers were not above the law in justifying the arrest of five legal aid lawyers who were trying to represent their clients who had been arrested at the Brickfields police station on the night of 7 May 2009. It wasn't just the Bar Council who was outraged, even the MCA was appalled at the arrest of lawyers who were merely doing their job. But Hishammuddin still found it fit to defend such police action.
• Of course, the starkest example of the kind of minister Hishammuddin is was demonstrated when he not only welcomed the Shah Alam cow-head protestors, he also defended them. With Hishammuddin's powerful and public legitimisation of bigotry and the threat of violence against Hindus in Malaysia, I reckon that Hishammuddin's behaviour was far more shameful than the protestors'. After all, his is a public office paid for by all tax-paying Malaysians to protect the nation's, and not some thugs', interest.
• Hishammuddin also became the butt of ridicule when on 12 Nov 2009 he defended the police yet again despite the country's high crime rate.
• And most recently, Hishammuddin demonstrated a total lack of gender awareness when he declared that Section 498 of the Penal Code was here to stay. His statement in Parliament also reminds us that actually, Hishammuddin, a lawyer by training, has no understanding of Malaysia's commitments under international law. In this case, it would be the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or Cedaw, which Malaysia signed in 1995.

Incompetent

What do these gaffes by Hishammuddin tell us? Clearly, he's an incompetent minister who seems intent on defending the police force for their disregard of human rights and for their inefficiencies.

After all, the Home Ministry's mission statement, according to its website, is the "administration of internal security matters in ensuring peace and wellbeing of the people". How can a minister entrusted with this defend police incompetence and the threat of violence by non-state actors such as the cow-head protestors?

Also, what is Hishammuddin doing about the sheer incompetence of the Sarawak police force? Why has no action been taken against the police in Sarawak for its sloppy investigations into the rape of Penan girls and women despite a government task force report finding evidence of the rapes? Already, the Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) has reported yet another rape in a primary school in the interiors of Sarawak where a teacher is a suspect.

As SWWS points out: "... the lesson for society to learn is that rape happens in the interior and will continue to happen until people who commit this crime know they are going to be found out and held to account for their actions."

But with Hishammuddin so busy defending the police force for its incompetence and lack of respect for human rights and democratic principles, will those who threaten the "peace and wellbeing of the people" ever be taken to task?

I'd be curious to know what Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will eventually be put in place for the Home Ministry. And if these KPIs are drawn up intelligently and fairly, I'll be willing to wager that Hishammuddin is more likely to fail in meeting his KPIs than succeed.

Cabinet appointments

Even so, will Hishammuddin be retained? That would really be a measure of whether Najib is serious about meeting his own KPIs as the nation's chief executive officer.

See, the problem with Hishammuddin being a minister isn't who he is per se. The problem with Hishammuddin is that the selection process of cabinet ministers is governed by political patronage.

On 13 Nov 2009, theSun ran a translation of the Chinese language press reports that quoted Najib as squashing rumours about an impending cabinet reshuffle involving MCA leaders. The Chinese press had speculated that MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat would ask for vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to be removed as Health Minister because of the fighting between both men.

We all know that such a scenario is entirely possible. After all, by convention, the leaders of the main Barisan Nasional component parties have always been given cabinet positions.
In Hishammuddin's case, it would not be surprising if he was appointed to a powerful cabinet portfolio because he is Umno vice-president. Not only that, he is also Najib's cousin and the son of a former prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn.

This begs the question: who merits being appointed to cabinet positions in this country? Surely, if we are to achieve all the development goals that our prime ministers have been so fond of announcing, what we need are appointments based on meritocracy. Not political patronage nor family ties nor positions within a party.

For all intents and purposes, Hishammuddin should step down for his dismal and embarrassing performance as minister. And if he doesn't have the integrity to do so, he should be sacked. Neither is likely to happen, of course. But I would be happy to be proven wrong.

________________________________________________________________
Jacqueline Ann Surin can't believe how little shame, intelligence and integrity some cabinet ministers in Malaysia have.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah advocating PR's causes

This indeed a great news, seeing that Tengku is willing to move a step closer towards the justice for people. Wish to have more actions demonstrated and people of conscience would be supporting.

“Anything that could protect the constitutional rights of the people, in particular of the states ... I will definitely not let any side down so I will try to play my part if I can in order to resolve this problem, if it is considered a problem at all,” said Ku Li.

Following article adopted from TheMalaysianInsider.

Pakatan wants Ku Li to head caucus on oil dispute

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 – Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders today met Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (pic) to discuss the possibility of the former finance minister chairing a proposed caucus on the Kelantan oil royalty dispute.

The offer came about when the veteran Umno leader met with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Machang PKR MP Saifuddin Nasution, Kubang Kerian PAS MP Salahuddin Ayub, Batu MP Tian Chua at the MP's lounge in parliament.

After discussing for nearly 30 minutes, the Gua Musang MP told reporters that he would consider the offer but did not give a timeframe for an answer.

“They have proposed to form a caucus on oil because oil is a very hot subject being debated between the government and particularly the state representatives. They think that through the caucus there could be some kind of logical reasoning in order to arrive at an amicable solution to the problem," said the Kelantan prince.

“So they have decided to approach me to head the caucus. I have not given an answer. I will still consider and think about this,” said Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li.

Razaleigh said that he would consider the request as he was “involved in the oil business” since the formation of national oil company Petronas and the drafting of the Petroleum Development Bill. He was Petronas’s first chairman when it was formed in 1974.

“Anything that could protect the constitutional rights of the people, in particular of the states ... I will definitely not let any side down so I will try to play my part if I can in order to resolve this problem, if it is considered a problem at all,” said Ku Li.

“I think it was indeed in the vesting deed agreement that was signed between the states and Petronas that the states where oil is found on shore or off shore will benefit from such fund.

“They (Kelantan) should be given ... according to the agreement, they should get the oil money,” he added.

Razaleigh reiterated his stand that “there is no such thing as wang ehsan” or goodwill payment.

“Oil is the right of the people and it is not for the federal government to distribute as a largess. The government can distribute from the revenue collected from taxes in such line and that is the prerogative of the federal government but when it comes to this, it’s the right of the people.

“That is why I feel inclined to say my piece because I was involved from the beginning and I know the intention why we had the agreement,” he said.

When asked if prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was wrong in calling the oil royalty a “goodwill” payment, he replied that “it is left to your interpretation.”

Najib sparked an uproar when he announced that the Barisan National (BN) federal government woukd pay Kelantan “goodwill payment” for oil extracted in its waters instead of oil royalty.

PAS lawmakers are disputing the “goodwill payment”, saying that it is akin to receiving alms instead of rightful oil royalty.

Najib told Parliament that Kelantan has no right to claim for royalties from Petronas since oil was extracted beyond the state’s waters, similar to the situation in Terengganu.

Shame - Malaysia is certified a corrupt country

Article adopted from TheMalaysianInsider.

Malaysia seen as more corrupt than ever

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 - Malaysia is now seen to be more corrupt than ever, anti-graft watchdog Transparency International said in its global corruption perception index 2009 launched today.

Malaysia now ranks 56 out of 180 countries in the world with a corruption index score of 4.5 out of 10, with 10 being the least corrupt, said the world corruption watchdog. Last year, it placed 47 with a CPI score of 5.1.

The three least corrupt countries in the world are, in order, New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore.


p/s: also refer to LimKitSiang blog of Major blow for Najib premiership – Malaysia’s worst ranking and score in 15 years in Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2009

Students brainwashed by BTN of PM

Article adopted from TheMalaysianInsider.

Young Pakatan lawmakers slam BTN ‘brainwashing’
By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Nov 18 — A group of young Pakatan Pakyat (PR) elected representatives urged the Selangor government today to stop allowing students to be sent for what they called “brainwashing propaganda” programmes conducted by Biro Tata Negara (BTN) under the Prime Minister’s Department.

According to the group of seven PR lawmakers, BTN courses — compulsory for local university students and civil servants — taught students to hate and was contrary to its original purpose as well as the Constitution.

Speaking from his own experience as a student made to attend BTN, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said they were taught that PKR members were Jewish agents, that DAP was a Singaporean Party, while PAS was labelled a deviant movement.

“There is no room for debate, and there were Chinese students in attendance during one of the programmes and I can only imagine the fear they would have felt,” said the Seri Setia assemblyman.

Teratai lawmaker Jenice Lee questioned why BTN programmes are being held in secrecy and called for the “brainwashing” to stop.

“If they have nothing to hide they should open up the programmes so the public can see for themselves.”

PKR’s Amirudin Shari said they were aware that BTN courses taught those who attended that PR were enemies of the state or foreign agents.

“From the feedback we received from those who attended BTN, a big part of the programme has nothing to do with nation building or education but is an Umno and BN race-based programme,” said the Batu Caves lawmaker.

“Participants are indoctrinated with propaganda about ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and outside threats. There is no room to challenge what’s being said.”

He said they will urge the state government to stop sending students from Selangor-owned institutions of higher learning, including Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel), Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor and Inpens Selangor, from attending BTN.

Kota Siputeh BN Assemblyman is OUT

Article adopted from TheNutGraph.

Court declares Kota Siputeh seat vacant, orders fresh election
16 Nov 09 : 8.35PM
Updated at 8:35pm, 16 Nov 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Nov 2009: A fresh election will be held for the Kota Siputeh state seat in Kedah after the High Court here today declared it vacant.

Justice Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin ruled that the seat was vacant after incumbent assemblyperson Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif absented from two state assembly meetings this year.

Following the High Court decision, Abu Hassan will be barred from attending the state legislative assembly sitting tomorrow.

In her decision, Justice Alizatul held that the Election Commission (EC) had acted irrationally. Its decision that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyperson for Kota Siputeh and that the state seat was not vacant ought to be quashed, she said.

"While I agree that the EC has the power to determine the casual vacancy, I do not think the EC can override the power of the speaker under Article 51 of the Kedah Constitution," she said in her decision delivered at 5:30pm.

"In my view, Article 51 sets out the conditions which render the seat to be vacant, and the first respondent (Abu Hassan) had satisfied the conditions," said Justice Alizatul in allowing the judicial review filed by Kedah Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail.

Abdul Isa, represented by leading counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, filed the judicial review on 1 Oct after the EC decided that there was no vacancy of the Kota Siputeh seat and that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyperson.

Abdul Isa wanted the court to declare that Abu Hassan was no longer the assemblyperson following his failure to attend two consecutive sittings of the state assembly on 19 April and 9 Aug this year, and that the seat was vacant.

In his application, Abdul Isa also sought an order for the EC to call for a by-election.

Article 51 of the Kedah State Constitution provides that if any member of the state legislative assembly is absent from the assembly without leave of the speaker for two consecutive meetings, his [or her] seat shall become vacant.

In her decision today, Justice Alizatul said it was not disputed that Abu Hassan did not obtain leave from the speaker to absent himself from two consecutive meetings, and had only issued his medical certificate to the speaker on 10 Aug 2009.

"The speaker has the power under Article 51 of the Kedah Constitution to grant leave, and he did not act unreasonably in rejecting the medical certificate dated 10 Aug 2009 after knowing that the assembly[person] had also attended a function on the same day," she said.

Justice Alizatul held that the EC had acted illegally in accepting the medical certificate issued by Abu Hassan as being the reason for his absence.

The EC had also made an irrational decision in deciding that Article 51 could only be invoked after the speaker referred the matter to the Rights and Privileges Committee, she added.

"There is no mandatory provision imposed on the speaker to do so because the decision to refer the matter to the committee or not is his discretion since leave matter is not a privilege conferred on an assembly[person]," she reasoned. — Bernama