FMT LETTER From Selena Tay, via e-mail ‘La Dolce Vita’ (translated from Italian as “the sweet life” or “the good life”) is the title of a 1960 movie by Federico Fellini. The film is considered one of the hallmarks in cinema movie history. The good life is also what many Malaysians way back on the historic date of August 31, 1957 expected that the future will be.  All Malaysians from all walks of life regardless of race or religion had hoped for a better tomorrow after the end of British colonial rule. But it was not to be for many of its citizens. The race riots of May 13, 1969 proved to be a major blip in Malaysian history and there were hopes that it would be rectified by the National Economic Policy (NEP).  Indeed the NEP is a very good plan to lift the Malays out of the poverty trap but for its implementation and abuse by the elite few. Fast forward to the present day.  Where are we now and where are we heading, Mr Prime Minister? Certainly the harsh realities of the present day have only served to heighten the fact that the dreams of the rakyat

SURAT FMT Dari Black Arrow, melalui e-mel Adalah amat jelas sekarang bahawa slogan ‘Rakyat Didahulukan’ merupakan retorik kosong Perdana Menteri Najib Tun Razak jika beliau gagal mengarahkan syarikat-syarikat telekomunikasi supaya jangan membebankan para pengguna kad telefon pra-bayar dengan caj 6% cukai kerajaan. Ini membuktikan dengan jelas bahawa slogan ‘Rakyat Didahulukan’ memang bererti Rakyat akan Didahulukan untuk menyumbang kepada dana Kerajaan Persekutuan dan dana ini kemudiannya akan dibazirkan dengan sewenang-wenangnya oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan serta untuk memanfaatkan kepentingan mereka dan kroni mereka. Adakah ini hadiah dari Kerajaan BN sempena merayakan Hari Malaysia pada 16hb September? Tetapi penulis berpendapat bahawa cukai 6% ini yang akan membebankan pengguna dari golongan pesara, golongan miskin dan yang berpendapatan rendah akan memberikan peluang kepada Najib untuk menjadi hero jika beliau berjaya menghentikan syarikat-syarikat telekomunikasi dari membebankan para pengguna pada masa kegawatan ekonomi yang sedang dialami oleh negara. Bagus!  Bijak!  Inilah strategi murahan Najib untuk meraih sokongan rakyat. Satu situasi diwujudkan dan dipermainkan dan selepas itu diselesaikan oleh Najib untuk menunjukkan yang beliau adalah seorang pemimpin yang berkebolehan. Beliau mesti ‘mewujudkan satu situasi dan menyelamatkan situasi tersebut’ untuk menjadi hero demi meraih sokongan rakyat. Dan rakyat akan dipermainkan dan diperbodohkan dengan cara yang begitu mudah sekali. Ini menunjukkan

FMT LETTER From P Dev Anand Pillai, via e-mail The Indians were never the kind of community in Malaysia that would go against their political masters ever since they had decided to make Malaysia their home and stayed back from returning to India. They were here to make a living and sad to say that is still very much the mindset till today thanks to the stereotyping and indoctrination by Ummo-BN through the education system. What we have today is an Indian society that was simply trying its luck the last time around just to see what would happen. Now after seeing that all their wishes have been slow in seeing its realisation, the Indians are  going back to the same old barn (BN-barn) where they have been the most comfortable, no matter what kind of treatment they would get. The real happennings behind the scene and the understanding of the division of power between the Federal and State governments seem to be an issue which the Malays and Chinese population understand better than the Indians. If not for the incarceration of the Hindraf 5, Malaysian Indians would have never woken up from their long slumber and the MIC will

FMT LETTER Dari Penduduk Shah Alam Prihatin, melalui e-mel Sebagai penduduk Shah Alam sejak sekian lama, saya ingin memprotes kenyataan Abdul Rahman Palil seperti yang dilaporkan oleh Sinar Harian keluaran 12 September 2011. Semenjak Khalid Samad memenangi kerusi Parlimen, saya kerap kali mengikut tazkirah dan khutbah yang disampaikan oleh beliau. Sepanjang mendengar tazkirah dan khutbah beliau, tidak pernah saya mendengar apa-apa perkara yang bersalahan dengan Islam mahupun dengan adat istiadat Melayu. Apa yang diperkatakan Khalid Samad adalah sesuai dengan Islam dan tidak menyalahi mana-mana tuntutan Islam Tidak pernah saya dengar Khalid Samad menghalalkan arak, menghalalkan judi, mengatakan solat tidak wajib, mengatakan puasa tidak wajib ataupun apa-apa ajaran yang pelik dan tidak sesuai dengan Islam. Sekiranya ada apa-apa perkara yang berlawanan dengan Islam, mengapa tidak didakwa sahaja Khalid Samad di Mahkamah Syariah? Saya melihatkan apabila seorang yang berlatar belakangkan professional seperti Khalid Samad member ceramah, menjadi imam dan memberi tazkirah ia memberi semangat kepada pemuda-pemudi Islam untuk beramal dengan Islam dengan lebih baik. Tindakan JAIS dan MAIS jelas bermotif politik dan bukannya untuk menjaga Islam. Bagi saya ianya satu tindakan politik hanya kerana Khalid bukan dari parti Umno. Sekiranya Khalid Samad ahli Parlimen dari Umno, saya percaya JAIS dan MAIS akan

FMT LETTER From Black Arrow, via e-mail For many days in July and August this year and until this very day, the many shenanigans of Umno and the Federal government together with the dubious exploits of the Election Commission (EC) have come under intense scrutiny by the public and the respective task force set-up by PAS, DAP and PKR to monitor the electoral rolls. One after another, mysterious, suspicious and downright doubtful names and identities in the EC have been highlighted by online news portals.  By all accounts and purposes, these fake names and false identities in the voter rolls are found out to have been sourced from the National Registration Department (NRD) and this situation certainly vindicates the need for Bersih 2.0. So far, Umno and BN together with the EC have had to bear the brunt of the Opposition and the public’s outcry over the dirty voter rolls. Even the church raid issue was a diversion from the voter rolls issue. But suddenly out of the blue, or green as PAS’ flag is green in colour, the most unlikely hero has emerged for Umno.  He is none other than Mat Sabu, the PAS deputy president. Mat Sabu’s ceramah

FMT LETTER From Janarthani Arumugam, via e-mail I read with great interest the article in Malaysiakini entitled “Ramasamy snubs forum, wants debate with Najib”. I admit his decision not to be part of the publicity mongering stunt by BN and its honchos, is admirable. Prof Ramasamy has made some significant contributions to the study of Malaysian Indians in his wonderful academic treatises, however his impact has not been as significant in politics. Judging from the lack of proactive policies which have been implemented in Pakatan states for a marginalised community, there seems to be little interest to address the legitimate grouses of ethnic Indians in this country. The thing is, when does the Indian debate rise beyond the petty dialectics of minor politicians vying for a little bit of power? When will these ethnic representatives be worthy of a debate on rights and social justice? To be statesmen, they need to be able to shake off their petty egos so that they may elevate the struggle to one beyond ethnicity and appeasing their political masters. The case in point would be the MIC leaders who have long towed the line in return for two Ministerial positions which benefits the politically

FMT LETTER From Jin Hou Soo, via e-mail Malaysians are no strangers to skewed agreements. From IPP subsidies to guaranteed profits for highway concessionaires, the public has on numerous times endured the consequences of sheer governmental incompetence. Yet, the 12-year tax exemption given to Lynas may prove to be the biggest blunder ever. Lynas is projected to make about AUD 6.2 billion in pre-tax profit in 2012 and 2013 and in exchange, we allow them to contaminate our land for free. The graph below shows the spectacular rise in rare earth price since Q3 2010.  While gold’s bull run has been getting plenty of attention of late, the real star is rare earth, which has taken off to astronomical heights. For Lynas, the price of the rare earths from Mount Weld may increase 15.7 times from JP Morgan’s estimate by the time the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) begins production in 2012. JP Morgan published their stock analysis on June 24, 2010, just prior to the price break out.  They have predicted a ridiculously conservative average price of USD 17.69/kg in 2012.  At that price, they have expected Lynas to be breaking even in making AUD 4.8 million in net

FMT LETTER From MK Periasamy, via e-mail Having recently received a mass forwarded e-mail about an upcoming conference on the future of Indians, I was interested to see who had taken the initiative to organise this event. In any event, another conference is just BN’s and PR’s delaying tactics. It seems to me that what needs to be done for the Indians is clear for all except the politicians and current Indian ‘champions’. The promoters in the case of this conference are P Sivakumar, Malaysian Indian Business Association president and Denison Jayasooria. On Sivakumar, I read with interest a letter from SA Kumaresan recently who correctly questioned the contributions of MIBA since it was setup by Sivakumar more than 10 years ago now. MIBA has generated next to nothing for the Indian community apart from organising talk shop after talk shop, where like minded people get together and lament dishonest politicians and poor delivery but never ever themselves step up to do anything about it. Sivakumar has managed MIBA the MIC way without holding proper elections and summarily dismissing people from his organising committee according to his will and fancies. It would be a surprise to many if this Johor

FMT LETTER From Robert Phang, via e-mail I’m amused by the statement made by Nazri Aziz, the so-called de facto Minister for Law, who declared that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure Chinese representation in a Barisan Nasional (BN) government even if the Chinese component party, namely MCA fails to secure a single parliamentary seat in the coming polls. That seems to be a truly “Jantan” statement in championing the Chinese cause. If that statement is supposed to elevate Nazri Aziz in the eyes of the Chinese community, then he is mistaken. That statement would in fact constitute an insult to the Chinese electorates. Who is Nazri to make such offers if the Chinese voters have rejected this Chinese-centric component party? Who appointed Nazri to be the Chinese champion on this issue? Since it is a historical fact that the BN political parties are race-based parties, it is best that Nazri look into his own backyard. I’m sure my Malay brothers and sisters would appreciate to have their welfare being continuously taken care of by a vocal Malay minister like Nazri Aziz, and not only during elections time. There is more than meets the eye to Nazri’s statement.

FMT LETTER From JC Tansen, via e-mail It is quite intriguing to see some in the water supply industry making a mantra of ‘we will face a water shortage’ (if mega projects are not allowed to proceed) while not taking any initiative of their own to manage demand in a state such as Selangor, where water consumption is excessive in the domestic, non-domestic and non-revenue sectors. Little has been done, for example, in the last couple of years to bring down our non-revenue water which remains high at 32.5 %. Domestic consumers are often being chided for the high levels of consumption. While there is some truth to this, the fact is it is the usage in the non-domestic sector that has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. Between 2005 and 2009, in Selangor, domestic consumption grew by 2.7 % while non-domestic consumption grew by 44%. Meanwhile, the GDP for the same area grew by only 24%. In this period, for the whole of Malaysia, non-domestic consumption grew by 27 % while the GDP only grew by 16%. These figures point to our decreasing economic productivity of water. In fact, many countries have shown that it is

FMT LETTER: From Jason Loh, via e-mail Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya is heavily jammed along the stretch leading towards the Gasing roundabout during evening “rush hour”. Although I’m not a regular user of this route, I have had the occasional experience of having to pass through Jalan Gasing on weekdays in August to see my mechanic at Taman Sri Manja – the end of Old Klang Road which runs parallel to the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and intersects with the Federal Highway. The immediate opposite half of the road would normally be free of heavy traffic till one drives passes the Siamese temple. From experience, I can sense the inconvenience of drivers, many of whom would be returning from their workplace, in having to wait an average  10-20 minutes before finally getting to Jalan Templer or Jalan Othman. To alleviate the traffic congestion, I would like to propose the following simple solution to the relevant authorities, namely the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ)/ Petaling Jaya City Council (Jabatan Kejuruteraan/ Engineering Department): That the small plot of unused land bordering Jalan 5/44 and 5/46 be acquired (if it is not already under public ownership) for road construction purposes to allow for

FMT LETTER From Lee Kee, via e-mail According to MCA little birds, former MCA president Ong Tee Keat was known to have abhorred the arrogance of power perpetrated by Umno in Barisan Nasional (BN). He was labelled by Umno as anti-Malay through its mouth-pieces in the 2008 General Election. He created another wave shortly after the political tsunami when he openly expressed his strong disagreement over Ketuanan Melayu in his capacity as a minister. That earned him several brickbats from his coalition partners. What further alienated him from Umno was the opinion poll on whether MCA should pull out from BN in his blog after he assumed the MCA presidency. This was said to have really irked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration. It was believed that Tee Keat’s insistence on having “leaving BN” as an option had indeed precipitated the determination of Umno top brass to remove Ong in the long run. They grabbed the opportunity when the duly elected MCA leaders like Liow Tiong Lai, Wee Ka Siong (once aligned  to Tee Keat) felt insecure when Tee Keat went on to spearhead the multi-billion-ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) financial scandal probe with gusto. Both were known to

FMT LETTER Ahmad Syazwan Muhammad Hasan, melalui e-mel Dalam kehangatan masyarakat berbincang soal siapa pejuang dan petualang negara, maka pelbagai natijah dan kesan yang timbul. Secara umumnya ia dilihat positif kerana telah membuka ruang dan minda masyarakat untuk membelek semula sejarah perjuangan kemerdekaan negara. Namun hakikat yang lebih besar ialah, sejarah sudah tidak boleh diubah dan sejarah tidak pernah menipu manusia. Penipu dan penyeleweng hanya datang dari mereka yang berkepentingan bagi mendapatkan sokongan moral dan simpati politik tertentu. Media cetak dan elektronik digunakan semaksimanya bagi mempertahankan sejarah yang dilukis oleh pihak pemerintah, walaupun pelbagai keraguan yang timbul didalamnya. Perkara pokok disebalik isu ini ialah masyarakat beralih arah untuk berbincang pasal masa belakang, tidak lagi masa depan. Masa depan yang dimaksudkan ialah kehangatan dan pasca himpunan Bersih 2.0 yang menjadi agenda perbualan rakyat baru-baru ini semakin tenggelam dek kerana isu sejarah yang diputerbelit oleh media. Persoalan masa depan negara bergantung kepada ketelusan dan keadilan sistem demokrasi yang dilakukan. Banyak kepincangan dan kelompangan sistem yang didedahkan oleh pelbagai pihak yang masih belum dijawab dengan baik oleh pihak yang bertanggungjawab. Peri pentingnya soal demokrasi adalah suatu kayu ukur bagaimana corak dan budaya pemerintah yang akan dipilih oleh rakyat sama ada meneruskan legasi yang

FMT LETTER: From Mathias Gomes, via e-mail The 13th GE is around the corner and perhaps the need to walk has prompted the PM to restructure his knee in Australia, most probably fitted with a bionic one to do the walks he promised his Umno warlords? So he didn’t abandoned the people on Merdeka day as many blogs posted, he went to mend his knee and ‘ what is wrong with that? And his wife Rosmah Mansor is allocated a slot on National TV to wish the rakyat for Hari Raya and Merdeka…now what is wrong with that too?  After all  she is the undisputed first lady of Malaysia, the wives of previous PM’s were never the first ladies because they did not demand it. But Rosmah Mansor is different… she endorsed it in the United States and then continued it in the First Ladies summit in Malaysia, she created a FLOM unit in the PM’s office with a website credited to it. Now that’s guts for you. So a mere TV appearance for the first lady of Malaysia is justified. Even the DPM is mum which means he is agreeable to it, and he too kowtows to FLOM  (by

FMT LETTER: From Leroy Luar, via e-mail This is a story as old as time itself. Once upon a time, a gentleman-prince – politician debonair, orator extraordinaire and all around hero – stepped up onto a podium in a stadium and into history where he declared, in no uncertain terms, that his country was to be released from the shackles of imperialism. Malaysia, then called Malaya, was to be free; and along with her her people as well. In one word, repeated seven times – culled to three in televised footage in the interest of editorial brevity – Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj vindicated the struggles and sacrifices of his predecessors and contemporaries, gave voice to the hopes and dreams of a generation of newly liberated citizens and gifted to generations of  Malaysians to come our very own backyard to play in, bedrooms to rest in, kitchens to feed – and be fed – in and libraries to learn – and teach – in. He gave to us the trappings and comforts. He gave to us a home to call our own. “Right from the moment when I became Prime Minister, my aim, my thinking, my planning and as

FMT LETTER: From Scott Thong, via e-mail Three months ago I warned that the Barisan Nasional-Mainstream Media Complex was taking a page from the playbook of the strongly partisan, highly vindictive American media. To briefly recap, the American media – dominated by Liberal Democrats – mocked and misrepresented Sarah Palin as a sexy, but brainless airhead. This was to protect their favoured candidate Barack Obama and clear the way for his 2008 election as President. Taking no chances, the media kept up the attacks even afterwards – to the point that no casual observer can take Sarah Palin seriously today. I should know, I got plenty of mindlessly reflexive criticism from Malaysian commentors for not regarding her as a pure bimbo! Quod erat demonstrandum. This is a classic tactic of Saul Alinsky, who wrote in his book ‘Rules for Radicals’: Rule 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalise it, and polarise it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalised criticism and ridicule works.) Barack Obama is a student of Alinskyite tactics, and the American media’s use of

FMT LETTER From SA Kumaresan, via e-mail

I would like to know on the standings of Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) as they are about to hold something called a forum on the future of Indians in Malaysia.
Miba’s president has been at …

FMT LETTER From Dr Chris Anthony, via e-mail As we mark 54years of Independence of our nation by celebrating the many successes, it may be relevant for us to pause and ponder on some of the prevailing issues today that will determine the direction we will be heading as a nation with diverse ethnicity. The most important of them is the much anticipated 13th general election (13GE) which many believe will be held soon. It is the most crucial general election in our history. There has never been so much excitement and uncertainties in any elections before. It is the first time in our history where the winner is so uncertain. It is the first time when we have such a significant opposition to take on the mighty BN that has ruled with a firm hand for 54 years. It is the first time we have an influential alternate cyber media that become the most important tool to win the hearts and minds of the people. It is the first time when the people of all races and walks of life have realised the power of their vote that would determine who should govern for another term. There has never

FMT LETTER From  P Ramakrishnan, via e-mail At this critical moment, the PM is obliged to give his word of honour that the 13th general election would only be held after the electorals reforms have been put in place. Otherwise, this Parliamentary Select Committeea would become a sham committee. What has transpired since then only seems to confirm this observation.The onus is with the government now to dispel this notion. And the only way to do it is to give a public pledge to the nation that parliament will not be dissolved any time before the PSC completes its work and presents its findings to parliament to put in place the reformation that is urgently required to ensure free and fair elections. This undertaking is absolutely necessary to convince Malaysians that there was sincerity and commitment on the part of the PM in setting up this PSC. We need to be assured that the Barisan Nasional government will go all the way to implement the reforms that are demanded by the people. But what was confusing to Malaysians was the statement made by the PM nine days later that the next general election can be held anytime and will not

FMT LETTER From SM Mohamed Idris, via e-mail Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)  is shocked at plantation activities that are being carried out at a furious pace in Tanjung Upar, Baram Sarawak, which are affecting a group of landowners without their consent. The company involved obtained a Provisional Lease (PL) over Lot No. 1210 of the Puyut Land District several years ago but it has yet to issue official notice to the community regarding their intention to plant oil palm. This PL was issued by the Sarawak state government along with those on Lot 197, Lot 1207 and Lot 1200 within the Puyut Land District, measuring about 21,913 ha and affecting three communities including Rumah Chabop and Melayu Narum. These PLs will soon consume the native land that has been timelessly worked by the people to sustain their livelihood and to ensure their daily sustenance – a way of living that has been in existence since Rajah Brooke days and beyond. Despite having substantial proof of native customary rights on the land, development companies have already taken over the communities’ communal forests and farmlands. The Iban community of Rumah Vincent in Tanjung Upar is reportedly being pressured to stay away from