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1. What do you think will be the most important issue that the new government must address?
National reconciliation and the re-emphasis on nation-building, education and foreign policy on the basis of universal citizenship and that idea that ALL Malaysians are Malaysian CITIZENS.
2. What do you think is Barisan Nasional’s greatest strength?
Its power-sharing policies and culture of compromise between the parties, recognition that no component party can/should go on its own.
3. What do you think is Barisan Nasional’s greatest weakness?
Handbag stories, cow stories, etc. All of these will be used against it as BN is facing a subaltern class war by the opposition.
4. What do you think is Pakatan Rakyat’s greatest strength?
Anwar Ibrahim. He unites as much as he divides.
5. What do you think is Pakatan Rakyat’s greatest weakness?
Anwar Ibrahim. He unites as much as he divides.
That reason will prevail and emotionalism (sectarianism, racism, intolerance) will be removed from politics, and from ALL parties.
Farish Noor (Badrol Hisham Ahmad-Noor) is Associate Professor for the Research Cluster on Contemporary Islam in Southeast Asia at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
New Mandala is asking Malaysians and Malaysianists worldwide their views on the two coalitions vying for power at the 13th general election in Malaysia. Their responses are published unedited.
I don’t think it is possible to stop corruption totally. I don’t mind paying eg 10 to 15% more for a certain project, but the workmanship and after sales service must be up to par. However, what we have here in Malaysia is way too much. More than double the cost and shoddy workmanship because we have too many layers of “middleman” to feed. Malaysia is a decent and quite comfortable country to live in if you work hard. It could be much better though because of its rich natural resources. We need to increase the salary of our cabinet member. No, not the current one. We need to pay big money to attract the talented ones. We need leaders with INTEGRITY and who are responsible. It is not easy to lead a country and make policies that are sincerely good for the rakyat. I really hope that Malaysia can achieve that, so my children will have a better future as a Malaysian. There are a group of upcoming politicians such as Tony Pua, Nurul, Zaid Ibrahim, and a few from Pas who are the True Malaysian politician who I respect. There are also a few from BN who I respect, but I guess they happened to be in the “wrong” party. Look at Koh Tsu Koon. He admitted defeat in Penang gracefully when they lost. Khairy is smart but a little to aggressive perhaps. Then there are the respected KuLi, shahrir brothers. I hope they will represent their people in the parliament and not their party when discussing issues.
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I can’t agree more with the sentiments expressed. You also score a bull’s eye in identifying some of the noteworthy politicians who are intelligent, committed, sincere and above all level-headed with a pan Malaysian outlook.
If anyone is really serious about wanting to eradicate institutional corruption you have to, for a start, attack the rat-hole itself i.e. the corrupt-minded politician and his political party. A few basic steps will go a long way to tackle corruption.
1 Stop party hopping. Make it mandatory for a sitting MP/Assemblyman (including Independents) to vacate his seat should he resign or join another party. He should be barred from standing for elections for a period of 5 years. He could contest thereafter, if he wishes to.
2 All election candidates should publicly declare the assets they and their immediate family members own. Few countries like the USA and India are already practicing this.
3 Enact laws to prohibit political parties from owning or co-owning (as major or minor investor) any business outfit. A grace period of 1-2 years should be given to a political party already owning such interests to divest and monetize the interests to be distributed equitably to party members and individual shareholders as may be applicable. (e.g. UMNO will have to sell off Utusan Melayu, NST etc.)
4 Set up a special fast track court to hear corruption cases against politicians. The case should be completed and verdict given within 6 months from the day the charges are filed and where an appeal is lodged a further 6 months given to dispose the case.
5 Partial funding from the State for political parties to pay for election expenditure should be granted as done in some countries.
An incoming Government – whether BN or PR – should seriously consider the above proposals. It may be a pipe dream. But one thing I am very sure. If PAS were to form a Government with a two-third majority you can bet your last dollar (sorry I slip here) that the above, if not their version of it, will be implemented in double quick time.
For moral conduct, ethics and fair-play there is nothing to beat PAS.
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What kind of analyst says that BN’s greatest asset is its power sharing. There is no powersharing right now there is just patronage. MCA and MIC get crapped on daily by UMNO but they just take it, not because of power sharing. Because they have no real choice. Malaysian public intellectuals, in the interest of being neutral and impartial, say the most naive things.
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“Subaltern class war”? Really
Does the author really think using tax payer’s money to buy multimillion condos etc as classy… and the “rakyat” (citizens)is told they have to fight that because the citizens are of a lower class?
Sometimes I wonder at the quality of these so called analyst – maybe they just want to sound “classy” using words that sounds BIG!
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