Some of the reasons why The Star is still a good buy...

good columnists like Azmi Sharom and the ever popular Mary Schneider, Amy Beh's recipes, funny comics and some really good medical articles. The news reports just could not be taken seriously. Anyway, Azmi's latest article is good enough for me to keep it for future reference:

Time to act as statesmen http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/20/focus/20674089&sec=focus

BRAVE NEW WORLD
By AZMI SHAROM

It's a whole new type of politics out there and the new state governments and the country too need time to adjust to this change.

After the excitement of the election results (yes, I'm still writing about the election, apologies to those of you with insatiable appetites for the new and the "now"), certain unease seems to be creeping into the collective consciousness.

Headlines scream about cracks in the loose coalition of the Opposition, constitutional crises hang over the horizon of at least two states. Are things going to go tumbling down?

Well, a week is a long time in politics as they say, and by the time this article comes out five days would have passed since I wrote it, so I could end up with egg on my face.

However, I just want to say; cool it, chill out, relax, it's early days and the poor little politicians have no idea what hit them.

Some of them have never been out of power and some of them have never tasted it.

They are still stuck in their old mindsets. We, the people seem to have leaped forward but they are still trying to wrap their heads around this new world; poor dears.

For example, the Opposition leader in Selangor; after days of petulant silence he comes out with this grand plan to watch the new state government with beady eagle eyes.

They are going to register the old folks and the young ones and make sure they all get what the ex-Opposition promised them (healthcare and child care respectively). Well, good on you Khir!

I always said a strong opposition is what we need.

But, a word of advice to the handsome ex-Mentri Besar.

Accusing the new state government of being likely to be racially insensitive is rather rich coming from you.

If I am not mistaken, and I am not, some of the most publicised temple destruction that caused such anger and uproar in the Hindu community, and which was one of the impetuses to the heavy setback suffered by the Barisan, happened in Selangor; when you were in charge.

Besides, Khalid and co have not even managed to settle in their new offices. It's going to take some time to clean up all those shredded documents.

Give them a while to settle in before you threaten to "take action."

Meanwhile in Penang, Lim Guan Eng had barely sat down when he had to jump up again and put out a fire that is the NEP.

I watched the interview he gave on the NEP and he said that he wanted to weed out the corrupt, inefficient and wasteful aspects of the policy.

Nothing was said about marginalising the poor, of whatever race. Surely this is a good thing. Surely the NEP was meant to help the poor and not meant to be corrupt, inefficient and wasteful.

The NEP's time is over. For the Malay professional classes, they should be able to stand on their own feet, and if they can't, then they should not be in that position in the first place.

For the Malay poor, and there are many of them, making up as they do the vast majority of low income families, it would appear that a new approach is needed.

If a policy has been implemented for nearly 40 years and the main group it is aiming to help is still in the same position, it is high time to look at new policies.

The trouble with the NEP and the way it has been enforced is that it promotes Malay interest over national interest. Let's take a look at public institutions for example; Malay people staff them overwhelmingly.

This is because non-Malays feel they don't have a fair shot at promotions in the civil service. A worry that is quite valid.

We are too small a nation to shut out talent based on race. The country has to be run by the best people or we will all suffer and the Malay supremacists will then be the supreme masters of rubble.

Obviously not all Malays feel like me. Some were so angry at Guan Eng's misquoted statement that they have taken to the streets of Penang and Shah Alam. I think this is super.

A democracy needs dissent as long as it is peaceful. The sight of Umno members thronging around Komtar warmed the cockles of my heart.

Umno members have shown the Barisan government that protesting really is part of our culture.

They made a mistake condemning the Bersih and Hindraf rallies. Malaysians do take to the streets when they want to express their feelings.

The country is on the cusp of a new type of politics. It is perhaps no accident that amongst the Opposition in Parliament, the one with the largest number of seats is a multi-racial party that calls for a non-racial method of affirmative action.

And the other two Opposition parties, although more mono racial in their make up are also making similar overtures.

It is odd therefore that the response to the election results by the Barisan component parties has been to reinforce the racial based policies and politics that a very large proportion of the citizens appear to have rejected.

It is also odd to see the old warhorses of the Opposition act like they are still in the Opposition. People, you are in charge of five states now. This is the time to act like statesmen and not like rabble-rousers.

Yes, there is a degree of uncertainty in our country after the elections, but at the end of the day we are going to need to give it some time before we press the panic button; time to see how the new state governments work; time to see how the Barisan reacts; and time most of all to let the old dinosaurs rant and rave using the language of race until they come to the realisation that for the future to be bright, outdated and outmoded politics must be discarded.

The country needs time to settle, let's just hope the politicians do not take too long in doing so.

Dr Azmi Sharom is a law teacher. The views expressed here are entirely his own.

DIY Cabinet - rejections, objections, dissatisfaction, sulks and disapprovals

One can imagine the difficulties of choosing cabinet members to please more people, yet trying to prevent or lessen dissatisfaction among those to be dropped.

Dissatisfaction was obvious from those who declined their appointments immediately, namely, Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar, (appointed Deputy Foreign Minister), and Datuk Anifah Aman, (appointed Deputy Transport Minister).

Heavyweights dropped included Rafidah Aziz, the long-serving Minister of International Trade and Industry (pun intended) and Radzi Sheik Ahmad, the former intends to hold on to her Wanita Chief position while the latter resigned from being Secretary General of Umno.

Generally most people approve of the following appointments:
Shahrir, who will takeover the Consumer and Domestic Affairs portfolio;
Zaid, the new minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who is given the task of reforming the country’s judiciary; and
Amirsham, the ex-supremo of Maybank who is not a politician, who will head the Economic Planning Unit in the PM's ministry;
despite the last two having to go via senatorial appointments ie. the backdoor. Compare them with similar appointment for Muhammad Muhammad Taib:

His name stands out among those in the new cabinet as the most objected appointee. Obviously, Pak Lah’s hands are tied with his own shaky support within the party that he had to ignore the objections from the public, unless he wasn’t even aware of his history!

He got away from his trial in Australia, claiming he didn’t understand English. But for those who know him, especially his ex-teachers, he was obviously lying. Having caught red-handed with a bag full of cash, when modern banking offered convenient transfers, what sort of impression did he give us?

"Perhaps the only question mark in the new line-up is Rural Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, the Selangor politician who forever will have an asterisk next to his name for trying to take $4 million out of Australia." - The Malaysian Insider.

“The appointment of Umno Information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib as Minister for Rural and Regional Development however signifies a return to the old politics of patronage, completely at variance with Abdullah’s pledge 42 months ago to lead a clean, incorruptible and trustworthy government.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that the appointment of Umno Information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib as Minister for Rural and Regional Development has stained the second Abdullah Cabinet right from the start and raised questions about Abdullah’s commitment and political will to the new politics of accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance.” - Lim Kit Siang.

"Interestingly, geo-political representation from Selangor Umno are notorious rejects, namely Noh Omar of the 'nude squat' infamy and the excessive cash-carrying former MB (yes again, RPK's favourite Mohamad)." – Screenshots

"Rural and Regional Development Minister - Senator Muhammad Muhammad Taib (Umno)
(Need I say anything?)" - Marina Mahathir. Her lack of comments was telling indeed.

Seems more like there is indeed a shortage of candidates with integrity!

Some people still prefers the ostrich way...

Spotted this in Malaysia Today:
SAMY: WHO WILL STAND UP FOR INDIANS?

Posted by kasee
Tuesday, 18 March 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: The time is not right for a single party system in Barisan Nasional as suggested by Gerakan, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said here.

He said in today’s political situation, such a move would dilute the rights of the Indian community.

Samy Vellu said a smaller community like the Indians have to fight for their rights and that could only be done through MIC.

He was commenting on Perak Gerakan chief Datuk Chang Ko Youn’s call to all Barisan Nasional component parties to consider amending their constitutions to accept members from all races in line with the voting trend shifting away from racial politics.

He said the results of the recent general election showed that the electorate did not vote according to the racial background of the candidates.

Chang, who is also Gerakan national vice-president, said it was time for Barisan to study the composition of its coalition and the ideologies of the respective political parties.

Chang, the former Jalong assemblyman, lost his bid for the Beruas parliamentary seat against DAP’s Ngeh Koo Ham, the Perak DAP chief. - STAR

The following open letter seems to answer Samy's apprehension in today's sentiments:

An Open Letter to Chandra Muzaffar from someone who voted Opposition
Listen to the youth of today, we didn’t vote out of racial dissatisfaction like you said; we want a new order

Dear Dr Chandra Muzaffar,

I remember the first time I saw you speaking.

I was in my sixth form and you were in a public forum at the Komtar Dome in Penang. I was in awe of your intellectual courage. You spoke the language of justice and equality in an environment where equality seemed a dirty word.

Fast forward two decades later, reading your analysis on BN's dismal showing at the polls (The Polls - and the BN debacle, The Star, March 17), I must say, I was disappointed. You seemed to have regressed. And your words belie a lack of understanding and sympathy for fellow Malaysians who long to be counted as equal citizens of this country.

I have no problems when you criticised Anwar Ibrahim although it was clear you took advantage of the platform readily offered to you by the pro-BN media. You are entitled to your opinions and I believed that you had your reasons to warn us against Anwar.

Although your choice of platform dents your integrity, I am all too willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. After all, I too, do not trust Anwar Ibrahim entirely, just as I distrust any DAP, PKR, PAS or BN leaders.

I would rather invest my time not in bolstering support for any political parties or leaders, but in strengthening the democratic structures of this country - the media, the judicial system, the electoral process, the right to information. For only these structures can guarantee a nation free from the corruption of power and the tyrannies of all too powerful governments.

Back to your article in The Star, I thought your analysis on the Opposition's sterling performance was myopic. You suggest that the Opposition managed to attract votes because they harnessed ethnic discontentment "to the hilt" - from the Hindraf debacle, the Malay response towards it, to the keris-waving incident and the non-Malay reaction against it.

You seem to see everything through a racial lens.

And instead of moving beyond it, you are imprisoned by it.

Your analysis of why non-Malays voted heavily for the Opposition is one of protest and racial dissatisfaction. But I think you fail to realise that many of us voted for a new politics, one that is non-racial based, non-discriminatory and inclusive.

Referring to Anwar as being a successful personality in harnessing this racial dissatisfaction, you said: "...whenever a prominent Malay leader articulates non-Malay grievances, the Chinese and Indian anti-establishment vote shoots up significantly. It is as if they are encouraged, even emboldened, by the stance of the Malay leader."

I am one of the many, many who voted for the Opposition and I did so NOT because I am encouraged, even emboldened by a Malay leader. To suggest that is offensive, and it shows your ignorance and condescension to non-Malay voters.

I voted the Opposition because I am sick of BN racialised politics and corruption. I want a party that reflects my vision of a Malaysia for all Malaysians. Not one that tells me that I need an MCA or an MIC to fight for my rights.

As a citizen of this country, why aren't my rights already protected? Why do I need a party to fight for my rights based on my ethnicity? I also do not agree with you assessment that racial discontentment is the reason why voters deserted the BN. Many international media portrayed the elections like this: "Malaysians go to the polls amidst racial tension." That's misleading. This election is not one of interracial discontentment.

Malaysian-Malays, Chinese and Indians are NOT fighting among themselves or hating each other. What they are doing is throwing out the old order that divides us and continually tell us that some of us are above others, and others should just be thankful for being allowed to exist on this land. That is why we see so many first time voters, and non-Malays voting heavily against the BN, but voting not just for the DAP but for PAS and PKR.

In Titiwangsa, a mixed constituency where Dr Lo Lo of PAS was contesting, I saw many lower-income Chinese in their 40s and 50s wearing PAS caps and campaigning for the party. At many constituencies where PKR was contesting, I saw Indian youths carrying PKR flags, zig zagging on their motorbikes. At Lembah Pantai, when Raja Petra with Anwar Ibrahim declared that Indians and Chinese would be defended with Malay bodies, the largely Malay audience erupted into cheers.

All this clearly shows that many, many of us have transcended the racial allegiance that the BN expects us to hang on to.

I believe we are seeing the dawn of a new nationalism.

Malaysians are asking - what does it mean to be a Malaysian? In fact, we are not only asking, we are answering it with our votes. It's a search for a new Identity. We want a Malaysia where all Malaysians are equal.

I think the role of public intellectuals like you should be to articulate that hunger and move the nation away from the harmful ideology and practices that may have served us before, but no longer now.

In doing so, we need to be aware of our language. Quit drawing on that same old racialised language because it won't work anymore. And listen to the youth of today. It is their vision that will make the country from now on. -- Jules Ong, Kuala Lumpur

Elections, other than political

School House Captain - where an elected candidate was not the best, but most popular?

When I was in Form 5, my classmate suggested that we should nominate each other for the post of House Captain. I went along, not knowing that I would end up being the House Captain! I was the most unlikely one, being the reserved type and especially not a sportsman. I must have been the first non-participating House Captain!

Another classmate, one of those bright ones (among the top 5 in our A class) who must have thought that he could have sailed through the elections, actually was shocked at my victory and complained to our house master that it was unfair as the majority of those who voted for me were from Forms 1 and 2, who did not know who they were voting for!

In fact, our House came close to winning the championship and would have capped my so-called leadership (actually, the lack of), because of good sportsmen and able committee members.

The moral of the story is that in the case of political elections, there are those who are charismatic and able to draw crowds and if the majority of them are actual voters showing their support, then such candidates are likely to be successful in the elections. Whether he is really able or not as a politician, does not matter to the public.

Each eligible person is entitled to one vote, and it does not matter who he is, who voted for a certain candidate. They might be fans of famous personalities, say women or young girls, attracted to actors or singers. In America, personality counts and we have seen former actor, Ronald Regan being elected President, and Arnold Scharzeneger as Governor.

There are those who are good political analysts but would rather be behind the scenes and they are likely to work for those who prefer publicity. Just like in business, there are good managers who cannot be good businessmen themselves.

Election of Liaison Committee for a Golf Club

As far as this is concerned, the candidate for President is likely to canvass among relatives and friends for proxy votes, which would make a big difference to his advantage at the Annual General Meeting.

The perks as President would normally include free food and drinks for himself and friends that he is entertaining. He is likely to represent the Club at competitions in other clubs within the country as well as in foreign countries, expenses paid. Besides, he is likely to be well known among the local community and gets to rub shoulders with VIPs and even royalties. The competition can be stiff if there are other candidates who have strong support. The incumbent is likely to try his level best to keep his position.

I had been approached, through a third party, to give my proxy vote to somebody but somehow, I found the system unfair as it would encourage cliques and cronyism whereby the President would reward his supporters by inviting them where there are occasions which could not be opened to all members. Sounds familiar?

Election of committee members of a Joint Management Body for apartments

My wife happened to own an apartment in a seaside (almost) resort in Perak. It guaranteed a return of 7% net for the first 3 years. Then, the developer proposed a ‘profit-sharing’ arrangement for 3 years with an option for extension for another 3.

It was share of losses for the first 4 years or so and the latest accounts showed a small profit for a change. Last Sunday, we attended a meeting to elect office bearers for a Joint Management Body, which is a new requirement.

The developer’s representative who chaired the meeting was earlier friendly towards us when he introduced himself. Somehow, I couldn’t resist voicing out my unhappiness that from the outset, I had reservations over such profit-sharing scheme as we would be left at the mercy of the management.

Owners had to check their names against the register and a tag given for the purpose of voting. This was to differentiate from those who tagged along like myself.

It was held in the company’s hotel premises in KL and I told my wife that it was a bit odd that the day chosen was a Sunday and the time 9.30am. We parked our car at a public car park across the road, not knowing they had arrangement for free parking within their premises.

Light snacks and beverages were available and the staff were exceptionally polite.

After the Chairman of the meeting and a lawyer in attendance briefed us on the details of the JMB, we were told to vote for the size of the committee ranging from 5 to 12. Then names were proposed and seconded. It was a good job that my wife asked that the candidates introduce themselves and describe their background before we actually voted.

After the introductions, we discovered that except one who is a private owner (intentionally proposed by my wife), the rest were in one way or other, connected with the management! As a result, the exception was outvoted easily and the whole committee consisted of people from the group of companies.

During the meeting, I innocently asked for the breakdown of private owners and those under ‘profit-sharing scheme’. The Chairman was quick to point out that it was not in the agenda, perhaps later when they move on to the other matters.

I could sense the coolness and the reluctance to reveal what I asked for. As soon as the agenda was covered, the Chairman adjourned the meeting without asking me if I wish to continue on the subject I raised earlier.

At the end of the meeting, my wife was discussing with a couple of owners in the same boat who were generally dissatisfied with the return (if any) and the buy-back price offered, which was a huge discount from the original. At least, we were offered the original price but on condition that we buy from one of their projects in KL!

Anyway, SP was glad that she had attended the meeting which helped her in making up her mind to manage the apartment on her own which if properly managed, is likely to generate a better return or at least it would provide us with the convenience of deciding when to offer to any of our relatives or close friends. The present arrangement allows us only 7 free nights a year, subject to availability.

When we were having our refreshments and chat with some owners, the management’s staff who were friendly earlier on, pretended not to know us!

Credit cards cause high blood pressure and waste precious time

I think the credit card companies of banks are making people lose respect for them.
While the aggressive sales personnel are at popular shopping malls approaching all and sundry, offering easy approvals, the bank’s computerised systems, out-sourced telephonists (if you are lucky to wade through the buttons) who have no idea of the operations create really frustrating conversations. In other words, one cannot deal with anybody who can act with authority. We are always advised to write in, whether it is for cancellation or submitting written queries.

I had bad experience dealing with HSBC over the almost impossible cancellation, be it in person, by mail or by phone. Therefore, I sounded, unfortunately for the innocent lady who answered my call at Citiphone, rather rude, almost cursing. I told her that as far as I know, my son had cancelled all credit cards issued in Malaysia before he went to work in UK about 2 years ago. I asked if she was sure that the bank did not re-activate already cancelled card based on their existing record and she answered positively. I had my doubts as to how a telephonist would know the crafty world of business.

Sure enough, when it was waking time in UK, I messaged my son asking for confirmation that he had cancelled his Citibank credit card. He replied, “I cancelled ages ago. Don’t pay anything.”

Again, I knew it is not a solution by just not paying anything when the bank’s computer generated a bill for Rm90.00 for annual membership fee on March 5. I could foresee the consequences of not paying: come due date, penalty and/or interest will be charged according to their computer system. To add to the problem, the address was PJ and any subsequent letters are likely to be ignored unless I happen to be there.

Having known the way the system works, I can see why the credit card companies are trying their level best in getting people to sign up. The more members they get, the more they can create charges on unsuspecting customers.

1. People tend to ignore frequent standard letters. The danger lies in not knowing that a credit card which one thought was cancelled had been re-activated without consent.
2. Even proper cancellation had to be followed up as subsequent letters could show an active account! This follow-up procedure is necessary not only for the first few weeks but as detailed in my son’s case, after one or two years!
3. It is very lucrative because of the large pool of credit card members for the bank to charge minimum penalty of say Rm5.00 for non-payment of a few cents outstanding which most people either ignore or unaware. Soon, the accumulated amount will be sufficient to warrant a demand letter and subsequent legal notices.

I think it is worth re-visiting my post last year:
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2007

How Silly Bank Charges...
What I posted in Lim Kit Siang's blogsite:-

K S Ong Says: March 8th, 2007 at 12:31 am
It is a strange coincidence that I was about to write about How Silly Bank Charges, in connection with HSBC Mastercard and Visa credit cards.

My son went over to UK to look for a job. He did not cancel his credit cards with HSBC and Standard Chartered. The latter account was left with a few ringgit in credit which did not pose any problem.

When I received the HSBC card statements with small balances and knowing the bank charges a minimum of Rm5.00, I had actually called up their call centre to confirm what would be the following month’s charges so that my cheque would be in time as well as sufficient to cover any outstanding amounts.

My son came back on holiday and went to the bank to cancel the cards and I was furious when he showed me the following details:-
Mastercard /Visa
Credit used as of last payment 12.51/11.38
Payment – thank you 10.95/11.34Cr
Late payment charge 5.00/ 5.00
Total credit used 6.56/ 5.04
Your statement balance 6.56/ 5.04

Because of the initial outstanding 1.56 and 0.04, by the time he settled, he was slapped with another 5.00 late payment charge each which totalled 11.56 and 10.04 respectively.

In the first place, it was futile of my initial effort to call up and make payments thinking it would settle the accounts, leaving only the formality of his cancellation of the cards.

Secondly, it showed the inflexibility of using computers and the inability of human intervention in the form of using discretion which in the good old days, a bank officer or manager could effect to maintain goodwill.

K S Ong Says: March 9th, 2007 at 12:01 pm

Sorry to bore readers with story on pennies instead of big bucks.
I am continuing with the saga of HSBC credit cards. My son just received his statement and to his horror, there were still balances of 0.04 and 0.01 outstanding in his Mastercard and Visa respectively.

Just imagine, having personally visited the office to sign cancellation docs and paid outstanding amounts on Feb 27 could not effect it, what else is required?

I bet HSBC’s computer is programmed to leave behind balances so that they can continue with their senseless late payment charges.

What happen to the humans in charge in the silly bank?

I am glad he is still around to give them a piece of his mind.

I was told he was kept waiting for half an hour and they finally agreed that he should pay the 5 sen to settle it.

Imagine the waste of time, petrol and parking charges over a such an insignificant amount. Whatever goodwill the bank enjoyed in the past was gone forever.