Since my retirement from active business, I have been more and more concerned about our increasing financial profligacy and irresponsibility. Every day new details emerge about how spendthrift we are as individuals, as households and as a nation. At the national level, the Auditor-General’s recent report pointed out that Malaysia’s national debt rose 12.3 percent to … Read more
I recent made a trip to Bangkok with my old friend Yap Lim Sen, who is an old family friend of Chin Peng. Upon hearing that Chin Peng was critically ill as reported in several media, Lim Sen made arrangements to have lunch with him at Hotel Novotel, Bangkok on 2nd Oct 2011. The two … Read more
The recent announcement by the Prime Minister Najib Razak of pending political reforms is an important step in the right direction for the country. These reforms are needed to complement the earlier economic ones. The Prime Minister’s boldness in enacting these reforms has been applauded by all quarters, except for Malay supremacist groups such as … Read more
I am not a politician but I know politics affects the lives of all of us in everything we do – from the smallest things such as the price we pay for our utilities to the most important ones such as the future of our children. That is why I am here to give my support … Read more
A few days ago, someone sent me an anonymous e-mail appeal addressed to voters. According to the appeal, the coming elections, more so than others, is a vital election because we are at a crossroad. If we get it right we will prosper; if we get it wrong, we will suffer as we have seen … Read more
At the PKR 11th anniversary dinner on Tuesday (April 19) in Ipoh, party vice president Chua Jui Meng alleged that Raja Petra Kamarudin had been bought. Chua said that money could do wonders as indicated by the recent Sarawak election result. Why would the fugitive blogger and Malaysia Today editor just before the election, in the … Read more
The Sarawak election results have come and gone. It has not been able to change the power equation in the state which has for so long been under the control of Taib Mahmud. A combination of dirty tricks and the well-honed BN election firepower of goodies, spin and support from public and private sector bodies, including … Read more
Although much attention has been focused on the fight against corruption, the evidence shows that this problem has in fact worsened. According to the Transparency International ranking of how corruption-free Malaysia is, the country has shown a steady slide downwards. Malaysia’s placing has declined from 36th position in year 2000, to 43 in 2007, … Read more
On Feb 12, 2008, Dato’ Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, the Minister of Energy, Water and Communication, wrote in the foreword to the book, ‘The Water Tablet: Malaysian Water Reforms’ that “The reform model [in the water services industry] that we are embarking on is unique and I hope it will serve as a guide … Read more
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently said in Parliament that the reason Chinese and Indians made up only a tiny proportion of army recruits was because their “patriotism spirit is not high enough”. This is a narrow view of patriotism and it is misleading the public. It is akin to saying that if you … Read more