One Love, let’s get together and feel alright

This article previously appeared in The Malaysian Insider.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been the prime minister for three weeks and his 1Malaysia policy has attracted a wide range of responses from Malaysians of all walks of life. It shows a thirst for something new, even if its just to criticise — constructively or destructively.

Yes, there seems to be less consensus from the people on the details of the policy. Almost everyone from the Wan’s in Kelantan to the Lim’s in Johor have a different interpretation of 1Malaysia.

Many people seem to be stuck in the old racial divisions that seem to continue plaguing the country The central disagreement with a successful 1Malaysia policy is still the age old question whether the New Economic Policy favouring the Bumiputras is still relevant today.

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Papa, don’t preach

The article previously appeared in The Malaysian Insider.

My father is 71 years old and cannot stop smoking cigarettes. I have asked him many times why was it difficult for him to stop smoking even though it is dangerous to his poor health. He always replies: “Don’t deny me the last pleasure I have in life. I can’t do the other vices.”

I suppose that analogy can also apply to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He likes to criticise and derives the greatest pleasure from it. He would be an unhappy man if he doesn’t get to spew criticism to all and sundry. And he must be right and in the political centerstage all the time.

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I won’t let the son go down, on me

This article previously appeared in The Malaysian Insider.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is back in charge. Well, at least that is according to the latest speculation.

Datuk Seri Mohamad Najib Abdul Razak is expected to appoint him as an adviser to the government when he takes over the reins as Prime Minister from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

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De-politicise UMNO Deputy Presidency: Division Chief

This article was first published by Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) - The post of UMNO deputy president should be de-politicised so
that it would no longer be perceived as a platform to gain the country’s top
premiership, an UMNO division leader said.

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The name of the game is change

This article previously appeared in The Malaysian Insider.

Umno must change or it will be changed. It begs the question: who will effect the change?

Will it be the incoming party president Datuk Seri Mohamed Najib Razak or the delegates at the Umno General Assembly next week who will be choosing the new leadership bench and the supreme council?

Or if Umno fails to change, will the voters decide to change Umno at the next general election? Read the post »

Just beat it

This article first appeared in The Malaysian Insider.

Michael Jackson. Bank of England. Malaysia. Perak. What do they all have in common?

The one-time King of Pop is attempting a 10-concert run in London this summer, singing his hits list that can raise some RM1.48 billion to pay off his debts and beat the blues that have afflicted him these past years. Read the post »