How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Frontmen: obvious links and when things go wrong

Tun Dr. Mahathir started the flourish of billionaires through mega privatizations of public resources controlled by cronies. It was such a cozy arrangement: political leaders decide who gets what, and political parties get funded by them. If politicians got super rich in the process, they too got a share each in the spoils. Win-win situations indeed, until recessions set back the arrangements, which depended much on loans, and their plans fell apart. Golden boys like Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Wan Azmi and the like, fell from their lofty positions one by one.

The problem with having nominees is that the real owners of shares is kept secret. Though there are pre-signed documents for any eventuality, the nominees get to enjoy the status of successful super rich businessmen. Never mind if the shares were for so and so, the banks are more than happy to advance huge loans to them. Unexpected problems arose because of untimely deaths when children expect their shares according to official figures; or upon divorce, the wife claimed for half of what he officially owned.

We have seen how some documents signed by Halim Saad were unenforceable, and now those by Tajuddin Ramli are going to meet the same fate too. Isn't it obvious certain political leaders (past and/or present) are just covering their own asses? Is it any wonder foreign businessmen would insist on international court of law for settlement of any possible future disputes?
Link

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