Stronger Rakyat are good for Multi-racial Malaysia

This entry is brought forward by Azer Leadership Unfounded.

Adapted (In Red) from the ex-Malaysia Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed's (TDM) blog titled: A Weak Government is not good for Multi-racial Malaysia.

This entry is contradictory to his views on his subject in two ways:

a) Definition of Strength and Weakness
b) The Rakyat (People) way of thinking comparatively to the way politicians like him think.

Political Thinking

Previously, this blog did mention that political thinking CANNOT whatsoever solve any political problems simply because there are no such thing called political problems. Regarding any nation, there are two issues SOCIAL AND ECONOMY. Social problems can be solved only through social thinking. Economic problems can be solved only through economic thinking. Politics represented by politicians however can act as mediators BUT not as problem solver.

Who are the politicians?

Who are the politicians depend on how they themselves define who they are as politicians. Basically they are the representatives to the Rakyat they represent. So whatever it is, when comes to politics, two groups involve directly: (a) The Rakyat (b) The Politicians

Strengths and Weaknesses

To define what are strengths and weaknesses depends highly on who are considered to have the strengths and weaknesses:

a) Both rakyat and politicians have the strengths
b) Both rakyat and politicians have the weaknesses
c) The rakyat have the strengths while the politicians have the weaknesses
d) The rakyat have the weaknesses while the politicians have the strengths

The correlation related to Strengths and Weaknesses:

a) Independent - The more independent a group is, the stronger the group. The more dependent a group is, the weaker the group.
b) Decision Making: The more involvement a group has in decision making, the stronger the group. The less involvement a group has in decision making, the weaker the group.
c) Information: The more information a group has, the stronger the group. The less information a group has, the weaker the group.
d) Behavior: The more behaved a group is, the stronger the group. The less behaved a group is, the weaker the group.
e) Knowledge: The more knowledgeable a group is, the stronger the group. The less knowledgeable a group is, the weaker the group.
f) Freedom: The more freedom a group has, the stronger the group. The less freedom a group has, the weaker the group.
g) Unity: The stronger unity a group is, the stronger the group. The weaker unity a group is, the weaker the group.

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Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla ...
With regards to my first posting on the appointment of judges, most commentators disagreed with my comment that when Government works with the opposition it is a sign of weakness, and that I consider the opposition as the enemy.

Most commentators disagreed BUT there are not much of the disagreement comments displayed on his blog. I guess one of the reasons why he hesitated to display those comments is due to some profanities. Still I'm sure, some of the views against his are professionally written and relevant to his content. Not showing the comments is so against the concept of blogging as this is how we can really learn with each other.

Politically, the opposition is the enemy.

This is a bit tricky. TDM himself once said: "In politics, there is no friend and there is no enemy".

To say the opposition is the enemy is so contradictory against his own saying.

Being forced to work with the opposition is not undemocratic but it shows up the weakness of the Government.

TDM may say whatever and however he wants to say it. I myself can put it this way: "... to work with the opposition is democratic".

Does it show any kind of weakness in the government?

It depends on how one look at it. The rakyat way of thinking is so opposite comparatively with how the politicians may look at it. The result of the latest General Election clearly shows how balance in national political power is needed. The rakyat (who voted for the opposition) want more say in the nation administrative decision making.

That the rakyat (who voted for the opposition) have more say in the decision making could most probably means that the rakyat is gaining strength. That the rakyat have more strength could mean that there is a better collective effort comparatively to few politicians in the government who have the political power. Probably there is a sign of weakness in the government BUT this is also a sign of strength to the nation as a whole.

A weak government is not good for multi-racial Malaysia. It leads to unwarranted challenges against its authority.

Any unwarranted challenges against the government authority does not mean it is not good for multi-racial Malaysia.

Say the rakyat demand more transparency ... is that not good? That transparency can lead to healthier competition ... is that not good? That healthier competition can lead to competitive products and services ... is that not good? That competitive products and services can curb corruption, cronism and nepotism ... is that not good? That curbing corruption, cronism and nepotism can attract more investments ... is that not good? More investments can provide more employment ... is that not good? More employment can reduce crimes ... is that not good? Reducing crimes may lead to peaceful living ... is that not good?

Governments cannot please everybody.

It is not the question of pleasing anybody. It is a question of pleasing the rakyat as a whole. It is certainly also the question of not to please the few who are the cronies.

If a Government cannot be firm and is forced to flip-flop there will be a lack of confidence which does not augur well for the smooth implementation of policies or project. Some people might already have noticed this.

The rakyat have noticed too many things once the government is given too much of power in so many areas. How about judiciary fixing for example? Better consultation with the rakyat does not mean a government is lacking confidence. It could also mean implementing a policy or a project with conviction.

A Government with little need for opposition support would be better able to disregard the sniping that all Governments must face. It should however take note of opposition views and respond where necessary.

Ever heard of synergizing things up where two teeth is better than a tooth?

In today's context, the Federal Government is unable to initiate necessary changes to the constitution and would be held to ransom every time.

It depends on what kind of changes. Is OSA good for rakyat?

One of the most important things about a two-thirds majority is that there would be hardly any threat of defection. Today we hear of this threat everyday. The leadership of the Barisan Nasional is like a cat on hot bricks. And cats on hot bricks cannot achieve anything.

Since when do us cats stupid enough to walk on hot bricks??????!!!!

Previous Federal Governments had never failed to obtain the two-thirds majority. As a measure of strength, a two-thirds majority allows a Government to do everything on its own and be totally independent.

That the government can do everything on its own is something worth to tout about. No? :-)

But perhaps the proposed request for opposition support is made with sincerity in the spirit of democracy.

Are you asking people to walk on water to prove sincerity?

The question is why now? Why not when the Government had 90 percent majority after the General Election of 2004? Changes to the way judges are picked could have been done after the 2004 resounding victory.

Let me answer this question!
Let me answer this question!
Let me answer this question!
Hello! I'm raising my hand here!

Thank you :-)

I think because of you ... hehehehe

I have always been of the opinion that this country must have a strong and independent Federal Government which can then serve the country and people without fear or favour.

Hmmmm ... anything on independent judiciary? How about independent BPR? How about independent ... you know ... many things?

But I have been on record in advocating a strong opposition. This is to ensure the Government does not stray from the right path, or abuse its authority.

Oh please ... the last General Election clearly shows the rakyat are watching ... closely ... intimately ... passionately :-)

The combination of a strong (two-thirds majority) Government and an Opposition with the capacity and willingness to check abuses by the Government would serve Malaysia well. As to the Government's latest proposal to set up a judicial commission, is it because it now thinks it is a good thing or is it a desperate attempt to win back the support it has lost?

You know what they say, desperate people resort to desperate action *wink*

As for my criticisms of the leaders of the present Government, I believe I have every right to do so. Retiring from the Government simply means giving up authority and power. It does not mean I must abdicate my role as a citizen.

Go ahead, it is always funny listening to your criticisms on the management you once led for 22 years ... hahaha

I have every right to be concerned over the flip-flopping mismanagement of this country and that of the party I helped to revive in 1987. The party does not belong to Dato Seri Abdullah alone. Nor is it meant to support him as leader even when he mishandled the elections and the country. The party does not belong to me either. It belongs to all its members. Presently the members are not permitted to be critical. They can merely say yes to what Dato Seri Abdullah says or does.

Your party is no concern to the rakyat as a whole. Tupperware party ... YES!

Since the opposition is also supporting Dato Seri Abdullah, if I do not criticise, then no one will. And without criticisms the Government and Dato Seri Abdullah can really go wrong.

Ehem ... ehem ... without criticisms, you too can really go wrong ... hahahahaha

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Never Mind The Elite

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa
Vocals (Horrible bin Terrible) by Azer Mantessa





Never Mind The Elite

Let's pay a deaf ear to this monotonous society
Let's roll ... Let's smile ... Let's dream ... Let's speak ...
define what is humanity
Let's show the Elite
the real strength is in unity
walking together
into the true prosperity
with dignity

Let's look away from this narrow minded society
Reject ... Discard ... Decline ... Deny ...
say 'no' to dull supremacy

Let's show the Elite
There's only one ethnicity
living together
in one true nationality
in harmony

The real strength is always in our hearts
So keep believing without a doubt
Though they will keep on breaking us part
and blinding us
while we do share the same red blood
and much more between you and me
so much more

Exchanging glances
Towards each other
Wishing the kisses
So full of pleasure
It's human nature to love each other indeed

Exciting moments
While we desire
A bit of torments
When I did tremble
It's human nature so never mind the Elite