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.)

Monday, June 15, 2009

Buying people with positions in a political party?

I wish to refer to the following blog post (in my blogroll):

CHARLES HECTOR: 'Buying' Zaid Ibrahim and other ex-BN people with gifts of 'positions' into PKR must stop - it is betrayal of the Rakyat...

Well, it depends on which party one is referring to, because each has its own standing in our political scene in terms of attractiveness.

I would agree with Charles if it were the BN making the offer. But accusing Anwar of enticing with positions in PKR is stretching a bit. What Anwar has to offer is something, which is just a probability, maybe a possibility but definitely not a certainty.

I would still consider Zaid’s entry into PKR as something very positive to the party, and this was shown in the NTV7 polls, which gave a 90% thumbs up. He is already a rich and respected lawyer owning the largest legal firm in Malaysia. He had just resigned as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s department in a matter which ran contrary to his principles which is an exception to the rule in Malaysia.

The following is my little experience dabbling in local politics:

At the lowest level, I was re-elected Chairman of an inactive branch of another party simply because none of the members are really ambitious as in having to show their mettle to convince party leadership in the hope that they might be considered as potential candidates in state or parliamentary elections.

I have just heard of one branch election where the top positions went to the incumbents but for a minor position like Assistant Secretary, there was a challenger and the votes ended in a tie (10 against 10) and the decision was via a toss of coin!

On the other hand, I have heard of a branch chairman of a BN party intimating that he refused an offer from someone willing to bring in x number of members simply because the numbers would have threaten his own position!

Then there are those who fought, even physically in the process of election, for positions. Why? Where there is certainty of positions of power and the intention of abusing that for personal gain would be the likely answer to that question. As I have mentioned before, the least they can hope for are the range of state awards ranging from PPN, PJK, AMN, KMN, JP or even Datukship to hope for, in the case of BN component parties. That’s the difference.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This Charles Hector is a twit! He can't reason beyond his nose. To capitalize on good talents is an asset to the acquirer.

Should PR become the Govt in the next election (very likely), Zaid as the Home Minister or the Law Minister, can do a good job for the country, and turn the corrupted judiciary and watnots around.