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.)

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Understanding the US electoral system

Before this US Presidential election, I did not pay much attention to their elections, simply because their electoral system is very different from our British-based one. This time, with Astro subscription and BBC World News and CNN available at the touch of a button, I had no choice but followed the news every now and again. Still, it is nice to read articles explaining the US system.

Emeritus Professor of Law at UiTM, Shad Faruqi, in his column in The Star, Reflecting on the law, explains with his article An electoral road paved with quirks...

Excerpt:

"Despite a nationwide poll, the popular vote does not determine the winner of the presidency. That power belongs to the Electoral College.
WHETHER Americans rejoice or bemoan the results of the acrimonious 58th presidential contest, the impact on the globe of Donald Trump’s victory will take time to manifest.
One must remember that no matter how powerful the President may be, hisprogramme is moderated by the checks and balances that the presidency is subject to from the Congress, congressional committees and the judiciary.
Additionally there are extra-constitutional centres of power like the military-industrial complex, the arms merchants, the media, banks, bureaus and lobbies whose entrenched agendas compete with the President’s.
Contrast with Malaysia: the American presidential election contrasts significantly with our system of choosing the prime minister. The United States president is elected by the entire nation.
Our prime minister is a Member of Parliament from one constituency who is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong because he (the prime minister) commands the confidence of the majority in the lower House.
The date of the presidential election is fixed by law. The president has no power to hold an early poll or to postpone it. In Malaysia, the prime minister can advise the King to call an early election.
Unlike our parliamentary system, no president can seek more than two terms in office of four years each.
The US system permits one party to control the legislature and the other to capture the presidency. This often results in executive-legislature gridlocks. In Malaysia, legislative-executive cooperation is assured because the prime minister controls the elected House.
In Malaysia, the maximum period from dissolution to election is 60 days. In the US a presidential election takes about one-and-a-half years to grind to completion."
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