Lynette Ong is “off topic” on the question: Can and should Malaysia learn from Singapore on how to reduce corruption?
But she raises an important point. And another important question re the nepotism/cronyism of the Lees: which is worse for development; corruption (or lack of on TI’s measure of Singapore) or nepotism/cronyism?
On this point Malaysia is no different. The riches go to the Umno cronies. The difference is that it is far easier to trickle down the riches to five million Singaporeans — and so keep them in check — than it is to 29,820,917 Malaysians and ticking. Which goes to my point — and rockjianrock’s — of island city state Singapore.
There is a difference between corruption and cronyism. When we talk about Singapore, people often conflate the two. I believe Singapore is relatively free of corruption, which is what TI measures, but is repleted with cronyism. The Lee’s family wealth and power go unmeasured and unexamined. The question is which is worse for development.
So, it took you almost two weeks to come up with such an inane and insulting comeback?
Yes, of course, many Indians that were part of the British forces died in WW2. Many Germans died fighting the Nazis as well – while in the resistance, in the French Foreign Legion (and, somewhat ironically, after WW2 many former members of the SS found refuge there), or German Jews in the allied forces.
So what? What difference does that make in my point that there are many large political organizations in India with mass support that have expressed admiration for Hitler?
Is it that because you seem to judge people based on their nationality – especially your quite obvious chip with my German nationality (which for reasons quite possibly beyond your scope of comprehension i have many difficulties with) – you automatically assume that I do the same?
I don’t.
If i like people or not does not depend on their passport or citizenship – but on their behavior.
As an example – i dislike you, based on your behavior here – and i neither know nor care where you are from.
The common majority Malays may be ignorant and denies that some Malays are not Muslims. The government is secretive about its harsh ways in persecuting Malays who have converted out of Islam. It is a crime in almost all states punishable by prison sentences for apostates. May suffer physical and mental torture for their new faith. Christian Malays are the most persecuted lot.
Insightful thread. Thank you. Just picked up; if I may resurrect the discussion.
Can and should Malaysia learn from Singapore on how to reduce corruption?
Reminds me of the time Lee Kuan Yew, lacking all irony, suggested Beijing could learn a thing or two from Singapore about governance. I spluttered my roti canai all over the breakfast table.
Singapore is a(n economic) “success” story. No argument there. But the notion that any country (with emphasis) can model itself on Singapore is laughable — unless it were a Monaco, Luxembourg or Lichtenstein.
One truism from rockjianrock demolishes all suggestion that Singapore has anything on Malaysia (or any other country): “Singapore is an island city state”, with none (without contradiction) of the complexities of any (with emphasis) country.
It applied then (circa September 2011 to September 2012), as it does today — Lee Kuan Yew’s remarks at the launch of his book One Man’s View of the World. Thus my lament of once-revered statesmen refusing to accept use-by dates to all things good/great.
VichaiN – if you’re really serious – rather than simply rhetorical – why don’t you do a proper historical comparison of Thaksin compared to Hitler ? May I suggest you start with the following – despite massive injustices inflicted by the Versailles Treaty (including COLONISATION of the Rhineland), most Weimar Germans remained democratic. The Nazis won not much more than 2% in the 1928 elections. It was the Great Depression – and massive street and parliamentary thuggery – which rocketted the Nazi vote to more than 33% – the largest of any single party, but still nothing like an overwhelming majority – in the 1932 election, following Wall St’s 1929 Crash.
By comparison – after the 1997 economic crash, Thaksin won a GENUINE overwhelming majority in 2001, without any obvious street or parliamentary thuggery. He does n’t look like Hitler, to me.
Hitler rose to power by two stages – First was the development of the hard-core Nazi cadre, hugely embittered soldier “victims” of the grossly unjust Versailles Treaty. But they only counted – at maximum : 2% plus of the vote in 1928. Second was the Depression – the results I’ve outlined above.
Thaksin’s Thailand is almost nothing like this. Eg. Thaksin does n’t have the unified, highly disciplined street – and other – thug gangs Hitler had, targetting anyone who disagreed with them, especially Jews (in Thailand’s case, it would be the Chinese).
Before the Western world’s press(fresh from their ASSK groupie/fanclub delusion in Burma) climbs onto San Rainsy’s bandwagon as the “new hope for Democracy” in SE Asia, they should consider Rainsy’s actual words regarding the sizable ethnic Vietnamese minority who live and work inside the present borders of Cambodia.
Rainsy’s constant scapegoating of Cambodia’s ethnic Vietnamese is very close to campaigning for the ethnic cleansing and expulsion. In his speeches and public statements, he often uses various derogatory and racist words when referring to ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia.
In fact, in all his campaigns going back some years, this has been a prominent Rainsy strategy per Satya Sivaraman/IPS article/link below:
Hard to imagine that Sam Rainsy would not also need extra money to grease the wheels of Cambodian bureaucracy. If his hold is fragile I would imagine the greasing would only need to be increased.
Burma does not have territorial integrity. The central governments of Burma, elected or not, junta or “reformed” never had full control over its “official” territory, so forget about about a piece of paper if the “State” does not “rule” over the “Land”. Suu Kyi’s favourite banal fuzzword “Rule of Law” doesn’t make sense until you know where and to whom the law applies (and that includes citizenship questions and revenue/taxation)
There are simply still too many crooks and thugs everywhere in Burma, especially in the military, the government, police, customs, but also in all these ethnic insurgent groups (lots of smugglers and traffickers). People in Burma seem to “worship” drug warlords like Hsinghan(Heroin) Lo, who recently died (his funeral was grander than Ne Win’s funeral!) and his billionaire son Stephen Lo who now “resides” in that money-laundromat city Singapore.
I’m not even talking about the constant Chinese meddling and bullying in Burma (I was a University student in Rangoon in the 60’s when Mao tried to forcefully introduce the Cultural Revolution. I remember watching those Chinese kids born in Burma, waiving their little red books. Very funny!). Now its the UWSA (United Wa State Army),the drug-dealer-army that the PLA is supporting: http://www.janes.com/article/12159/china-sends-armed-helicopters-to-myanmar-separatists
My prediction: Burma will either break up like Yugoslavia or will simply become a Chinese Protectorate or both. Obama/Clinton’s “Pivot to Burma” (with hugs and kisses for the Posh Lady) as a strategy to contain China seems to be backfiring. The Lady wants to become President so she suddenly discovered her “fondness” for the “Tatmadaw” (her father’s Army (sic)) and even for Chinese State Owned Businesses (beautiful acronym!) who treat Burma as a convenient takeaway kitchen in their own backyard. Even the Taiwanese (KMT) say that Burma belongs to China and not to the USA http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/world-issues/2013/08/07/385672/Uncle-Sam.htm
LOL
[email protected]
You’re extrapolating rather freely there Norman. I’m sure the young officer in question at the time was “only following orders” as every good soldier does. I don’t know what area of operations he was situated in.
Again if you find a copy of “politics of heroin” (easily found as a pdf with a web-search)You’ll see that many august sino-thai dynasties started the slippery road to respectability in the opium trade in much the same way as Don Corleones immigrant family went from rags to riches in “The Godfather”.
“t’was ever thus…”
Dear All,
Prime Minister Hun Sen has just signed a sub-decree raising a 40% salary increase for public servants. Look like the explanation about the household income works. Please visit the link below. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/civil-servants-see-raise
Topic: Laos – DFAT action on Mr Sombath Somphone’s case
Question on Notice
Page: 76
Senator Rhiannon
Question
Could you update us on any further actions DFAT personnel have pursued with the Laos authorities regarding the Sombath Somphone investigation?
Answer
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr, raised concerns about Mr Sombath’s disappearance during a meeting with the Lao Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Sounthone Xayachack, in Sydney on 12 June 2013.
Senator Carr, also raised concerns about Mr Sombath’s disappearance with the Lao Prime Minister, Mr Thongsing Thammavong, and the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, during a bilateral visit to Laos from 17-20 February 2013.
Australia’s Ambassador to Laos, Ms Lynda Worthaisong, has raised concern about Mr Sombath’s disappearance with the Lao Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alounkeo Kittikhoun, senior officials in the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lao Ministry of Defence, and with the Lao Ambassador to Australia.
Senior officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra have also raised concerns about Mr Sombath with the Lao Ambassador to Australia.
Question No. 34
Senator Rhiannon
Question
What measures is Australia taking to ensure the safety of Laos civil society partners who are working in sustainable participatory rural development in Laos, which is the area where Mr Sombath Somphone was working?
Answer
AusAID advises it has established open and regular communication with its civil society partners working on rural development and other programs on critical matters including staff safety. In our partnerships with civil society
organisations, we require comprehensive staff safety and operational procedures to be in place to ensure there are adequate duties of care provisions provided.
Question No. 35
Senator Rhiannon
Question
To Senator Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs:
Will DFAT issue a formal statement of concern on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone? I imagine that DFAT has a process when these issues arise. You are then making public statements. Have you gone to the highest point?
Answer
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr, has made a number of public statements, noting Australia’s concern about the disappearance of Lao NGO leader Mr Sombath Somphone.
Senator Carr raised Mr Sombath’s case with the Lao Vice Foreign Minister, Dr Sounthone Xayachack in Sydney on 12 June 2013.
Senator Carr also provided a full account of the Government’s representations on Mr Sombath in reply to a question from Senator Sterle during Budget Estimates on Wednesday 5 June 2013.
Senator Carr made representations on Mr Sombath’s case to senior members of the Lao Government during his official visit to Laos from 17 – 20 February 2013. Senator Carr spoke to journalists following these representations, and used social media to further highlight the government’s concern and representations.
On the question of process, DFAT, including officials at the Australian Embassy in Vientiane, makes representations on individual cases in the manner it considers will be most effective. We have consistently raised Mr Sombath’s case with senior government representatives in Laos. DFAT is continuing to monitor this case closely.
Elvin mah, of coas nt. Why always u serious one? It not even serious book, so why serious analysis? First u say
…a somewhat frustrating combination that is enjoyable, but that also raises more questions than it answers.
Why u expect then that it shuld hv a “teory of comparative authoritarian” regimes? U got to be joking liddat.
Sudhir constantly “floats” between repeating official dominant ideologies and noting the various instances in which they require qualification, so much so that one cannot quite conclude what to make of the issue.
That shld be yr job as a future autoritarian leader rite?
While some students or casual readers may find this conclusion satisfying, serious academics will find such a concluding line entirely frustrating.
U saying athropologists not serious academic wat?
Perhaps Jack Neo understands the Singaporean psyche better than we do? Are we already victims of the growing inequality that we constantly deride?
U see this is the big s’pore fallacy. Singaporean looking for victimhood, u guys got nuttin better to do? Just complain, sit in ur luvely campus and wonder if ur victim. Give me a break aiyo, try workin in that McDs or selling VCDs like me.
Read again and comprehend: I stated that a particular statement was crass; not that the reviewer was crass. My comment was a reaction to the summary; not the review. It seems some academics are not used to receiving criticism.
I agree with the author’s argument, and I wanted to add that most Cambodian people might have realized that they are being led to the wrong direction. Corruption one of the main issues in this country, but losing land and territories is probably what Khmers fear the most. Thousands of hectares of lands have been leased to foreigners, Vietnamese included. Cambodian people’s own representatives were repeatedly prevented from visiting their own border posts. The current government even defends in public that Koh Trol belongs to Vietnam, not Khmers. Most current leaders are old and if they have read Khmer history at all, they should have come across the part that Koh Trol along with Koh Ses and a few others belong to Cambodia.
Voting was a bit of a shambles – lots of people couldn’t find their names on the lists. Not sure how much faith to put in figures like that one of 60% turnout.
It seems that many eligible voters did not vote this time (participation only around 60%) and among them probably many who voted CPP before but now rather abstained than change their vote to the CNRP. Any comments about that?
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Corruption in Malaysia and Singapore
Lynette Ong is “off topic” on the question: Can and should Malaysia learn from Singapore on how to reduce corruption?
But she raises an important point. And another important question re the nepotism/cronyism of the Lees: which is worse for development; corruption (or lack of on TI’s measure of Singapore) or nepotism/cronyism?
On this point Malaysia is no different. The riches go to the Umno cronies. The difference is that it is far easier to trickle down the riches to five million Singaporeans — and so keep them in check — than it is to 29,820,917 Malaysians and ticking. Which goes to my point — and rockjianrock’s — of island city state Singapore.
We cannot compare apples with oranges.
Corruption in Malaysia and Singapore
There is a difference between corruption and cronyism. When we talk about Singapore, people often conflate the two. I believe Singapore is relatively free of corruption, which is what TI measures, but is repleted with cronyism. The Lee’s family wealth and power go unmeasured and unexamined. The question is which is worse for development.
Malaysia-Singapore Update 2013 programme
Murray Hunter, a regular contributor to New Mandala has an interesting article on PAP’s cadre system. Its worth a read.
“…One thousand faceless men have allowed one man’s view of the world…”
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/one-mans-view-of-the-world-and-a-thousand-faceless-men-singapores-cadre-sys
Hitler again
So, it took you almost two weeks to come up with such an inane and insulting comeback?
Yes, of course, many Indians that were part of the British forces died in WW2. Many Germans died fighting the Nazis as well – while in the resistance, in the French Foreign Legion (and, somewhat ironically, after WW2 many former members of the SS found refuge there), or German Jews in the allied forces.
So what? What difference does that make in my point that there are many large political organizations in India with mass support that have expressed admiration for Hitler?
Is it that because you seem to judge people based on their nationality – especially your quite obvious chip with my German nationality (which for reasons quite possibly beyond your scope of comprehension i have many difficulties with) – you automatically assume that I do the same?
I don’t.
If i like people or not does not depend on their passport or citizenship – but on their behavior.
As an example – i dislike you, based on your behavior here – and i neither know nor care where you are from.
Malaysian Muslims responses to conversion
The common majority Malays may be ignorant and denies that some Malays are not Muslims. The government is secretive about its harsh ways in persecuting Malays who have converted out of Islam. It is a crime in almost all states punishable by prison sentences for apostates. May suffer physical and mental torture for their new faith. Christian Malays are the most persecuted lot.
Corruption in Malaysia and Singapore
Insightful thread. Thank you. Just picked up; if I may resurrect the discussion.
Can and should Malaysia learn from Singapore on how to reduce corruption?
Reminds me of the time Lee Kuan Yew, lacking all irony, suggested Beijing could learn a thing or two from Singapore about governance. I spluttered my roti canai all over the breakfast table.
Singapore is a(n economic) “success” story. No argument there. But the notion that any country (with emphasis) can model itself on Singapore is laughable — unless it were a Monaco, Luxembourg or Lichtenstein.
One truism from rockjianrock demolishes all suggestion that Singapore has anything on Malaysia (or any other country): “Singapore is an island city state”, with none (without contradiction) of the complexities of any (with emphasis) country.
It applied then (circa September 2011 to September 2012), as it does today — Lee Kuan Yew’s remarks at the launch of his book One Man’s View of the World. Thus my lament of once-revered statesmen refusing to accept use-by dates to all things good/great.
Hitler again
I get the sense that Nick doesn’t like Indians very much.
And he seems to have missed that 10s of 1000s of Indians died fighting the Nazis.
Weird.
Maybe he was too busy worrying about the terrible racism he has had to endure here?
*cough*
Hitler again
VichaiN – if you’re really serious – rather than simply rhetorical – why don’t you do a proper historical comparison of Thaksin compared to Hitler ? May I suggest you start with the following – despite massive injustices inflicted by the Versailles Treaty (including COLONISATION of the Rhineland), most Weimar Germans remained democratic. The Nazis won not much more than 2% in the 1928 elections. It was the Great Depression – and massive street and parliamentary thuggery – which rocketted the Nazi vote to more than 33% – the largest of any single party, but still nothing like an overwhelming majority – in the 1932 election, following Wall St’s 1929 Crash.
By comparison – after the 1997 economic crash, Thaksin won a GENUINE overwhelming majority in 2001, without any obvious street or parliamentary thuggery. He does n’t look like Hitler, to me.
Hitler rose to power by two stages – First was the development of the hard-core Nazi cadre, hugely embittered soldier “victims” of the grossly unjust Versailles Treaty. But they only counted – at maximum : 2% plus of the vote in 1928. Second was the Depression – the results I’ve outlined above.
Thaksin’s Thailand is almost nothing like this. Eg. Thaksin does n’t have the unified, highly disciplined street – and other – thug gangs Hitler had, targetting anyone who disagreed with them, especially Jews (in Thailand’s case, it would be the Chinese).
Rethinking Cambodia’s political transformation
Before the Western world’s press(fresh from their ASSK groupie/fanclub delusion in Burma) climbs onto San Rainsy’s bandwagon as the “new hope for Democracy” in SE Asia, they should consider Rainsy’s actual words regarding the sizable ethnic Vietnamese minority who live and work inside the present borders of Cambodia.
Rainsy’s constant scapegoating of Cambodia’s ethnic Vietnamese is very close to campaigning for the ethnic cleansing and expulsion. In his speeches and public statements, he often uses various derogatory and racist words when referring to ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia.
In fact, in all his campaigns going back some years, this has been a prominent Rainsy strategy per Satya Sivaraman/IPS article/link below:
ipsnews2.wpengine.com/1998/08/rights-cambodia-anti-vietnamese-card-still-plays-well/
Here’s also a link to a short summary of ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_Cambodian
Rethinking Cambodia’s political transformation
Hard to imagine that Sam Rainsy would not also need extra money to grease the wheels of Cambodian bureaucracy. If his hold is fragile I would imagine the greasing would only need to be increased.
Constitutional amendment for Myanmar
Burma does not have territorial integrity. The central governments of Burma, elected or not, junta or “reformed” never had full control over its “official” territory, so forget about about a piece of paper if the “State” does not “rule” over the “Land”. Suu Kyi’s favourite banal fuzzword “Rule of Law” doesn’t make sense until you know where and to whom the law applies (and that includes citizenship questions and revenue/taxation)
There are simply still too many crooks and thugs everywhere in Burma, especially in the military, the government, police, customs, but also in all these ethnic insurgent groups (lots of smugglers and traffickers). People in Burma seem to “worship” drug warlords like Hsinghan(Heroin) Lo, who recently died (his funeral was grander than Ne Win’s funeral!) and his billionaire son Stephen Lo who now “resides” in that money-laundromat city Singapore.
I’m not even talking about the constant Chinese meddling and bullying in Burma (I was a University student in Rangoon in the 60’s when Mao tried to forcefully introduce the Cultural Revolution. I remember watching those Chinese kids born in Burma, waiving their little red books. Very funny!). Now its the UWSA (United Wa State Army),the drug-dealer-army that the PLA is supporting:
http://www.janes.com/article/12159/china-sends-armed-helicopters-to-myanmar-separatists
My prediction: Burma will either break up like Yugoslavia or will simply become a Chinese Protectorate or both. Obama/Clinton’s “Pivot to Burma” (with hugs and kisses for the Posh Lady) as a strategy to contain China seems to be backfiring. The Lady wants to become President so she suddenly discovered her “fondness” for the “Tatmadaw” (her father’s Army (sic)) and even for Chinese State Owned Businesses (beautiful acronym!) who treat Burma as a convenient takeaway kitchen in their own backyard. Even the Taiwanese (KMT) say that Burma belongs to China and not to the USA
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/world-issues/2013/08/07/385672/Uncle-Sam.htm
LOL
Fresh from the fair
Interesting information from Prachatai http://prachatai.com/journal/2013/08/48102
(р╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╣Гр╕Щ р╕кр╕бр╕▒р╕вр╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ц)
Hitler again
[email protected]
You’re extrapolating rather freely there Norman. I’m sure the young officer in question at the time was “only following orders” as every good soldier does. I don’t know what area of operations he was situated in.
Again if you find a copy of “politics of heroin” (easily found as a pdf with a web-search)You’ll see that many august sino-thai dynasties started the slippery road to respectability in the opium trade in much the same way as Don Corleones immigrant family went from rags to riches in “The Godfather”.
“t’was ever thus…”
Rethinking Cambodia’s political transformation
Dear All,
Prime Minister Hun Sen has just signed a sub-decree raising a 40% salary increase for public servants. Look like the explanation about the household income works. Please visit the link below.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/civil-servants-see-raise
Open letter on Sombath Somphone
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
Budget Estimates 2013–2014, 5-6 June 2013
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=fadt_ctte/estimates/bud_1314/dfat/dfatqonsindex.htm
QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Question No. 33
Program: DFAT
Topic: Laos – DFAT action on Mr Sombath Somphone’s case
Question on Notice
Page: 76
Senator Rhiannon
Question
Could you update us on any further actions DFAT personnel have pursued with the Laos authorities regarding the Sombath Somphone investigation?
Answer
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr, raised concerns about Mr Sombath’s disappearance during a meeting with the Lao Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Sounthone Xayachack, in Sydney on 12 June 2013.
Senator Carr, also raised concerns about Mr Sombath’s disappearance with the Lao Prime Minister, Mr Thongsing Thammavong, and the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, during a bilateral visit to Laos from 17-20 February 2013.
Australia’s Ambassador to Laos, Ms Lynda Worthaisong, has raised concern about Mr Sombath’s disappearance with the Lao Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alounkeo Kittikhoun, senior officials in the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lao Ministry of Defence, and with the Lao Ambassador to Australia.
Senior officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra have also raised concerns about Mr Sombath with the Lao Ambassador to Australia.
Question No. 34
Senator Rhiannon
Question
What measures is Australia taking to ensure the safety of Laos civil society partners who are working in sustainable participatory rural development in Laos, which is the area where Mr Sombath Somphone was working?
Answer
AusAID advises it has established open and regular communication with its civil society partners working on rural development and other programs on critical matters including staff safety. In our partnerships with civil society
organisations, we require comprehensive staff safety and operational procedures to be in place to ensure there are adequate duties of care provisions provided.
Question No. 35
Senator Rhiannon
Question
To Senator Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs:
Will DFAT issue a formal statement of concern on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone? I imagine that DFAT has a process when these issues arise. You are then making public statements. Have you gone to the highest point?
Answer
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr, has made a number of public statements, noting Australia’s concern about the disappearance of Lao NGO leader Mr Sombath Somphone.
Senator Carr raised Mr Sombath’s case with the Lao Vice Foreign Minister, Dr Sounthone Xayachack in Sydney on 12 June 2013.
Senator Carr also provided a full account of the Government’s representations on Mr Sombath in reply to a question from Senator Sterle during Budget Estimates on Wednesday 5 June 2013.
Senator Carr made representations on Mr Sombath’s case to senior members of the Lao Government during his official visit to Laos from 17 – 20 February 2013. Senator Carr spoke to journalists following these representations, and used social media to further highlight the government’s concern and representations.
On the question of process, DFAT, including officials at the Australian Embassy in Vientiane, makes representations on individual cases in the manner it considers will be most effective. We have consistently raised Mr Sombath’s case with senior government representatives in Laos. DFAT is continuing to monitor this case closely.
Review of Floating on a Malayan Breeze
Elvin mah, of coas nt. Why always u serious one? It not even serious book, so why serious analysis? First u say
…a somewhat frustrating combination that is enjoyable, but that also raises more questions than it answers.
Why u expect then that it shuld hv a “teory of comparative authoritarian” regimes? U got to be joking liddat.
Sudhir constantly “floats” between repeating official dominant ideologies and noting the various instances in which they require qualification, so much so that one cannot quite conclude what to make of the issue.
That shld be yr job as a future autoritarian leader rite?
While some students or casual readers may find this conclusion satisfying, serious academics will find such a concluding line entirely frustrating.
U saying athropologists not serious academic wat?
Perhaps Jack Neo understands the Singaporean psyche better than we do? Are we already victims of the growing inequality that we constantly deride?
U see this is the big s’pore fallacy. Singaporean looking for victimhood, u guys got nuttin better to do? Just complain, sit in ur luvely campus and wonder if ur victim. Give me a break aiyo, try workin in that McDs or selling VCDs like me.
Review of Cauldron of Resistance
Read again and comprehend: I stated that a particular statement was crass; not that the reviewer was crass. My comment was a reaction to the summary; not the review. It seems some academics are not used to receiving criticism.
Rethinking Cambodia’s political transformation
I agree with the author’s argument, and I wanted to add that most Cambodian people might have realized that they are being led to the wrong direction. Corruption one of the main issues in this country, but losing land and territories is probably what Khmers fear the most. Thousands of hectares of lands have been leased to foreigners, Vietnamese included. Cambodian people’s own representatives were repeatedly prevented from visiting their own border posts. The current government even defends in public that Koh Trol belongs to Vietnam, not Khmers. Most current leaders are old and if they have read Khmer history at all, they should have come across the part that Koh Trol along with Koh Ses and a few others belong to Cambodia.
Rethinking Cambodia’s political transformation
Voting was a bit of a shambles – lots of people couldn’t find their names on the lists. Not sure how much faith to put in figures like that one of 60% turnout.
Rethinking Cambodia’s political transformation
It seems that many eligible voters did not vote this time (participation only around 60%) and among them probably many who voted CPP before but now rather abstained than change their vote to the CNRP. Any comments about that?