Republic of virtue, 12/07

Remove our 'national security' straightjacket! PDF Print E-mail
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Friday, 21 December 2007 18:23

"Work with me… not for me." - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

A REPUBLIC OF VIRTUE

Dr Azly Rahman
aar26@columbia.eduThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/

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Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled for 22 years, once spoke about the nine challenges called ‘The Way Forward-Vision’, said to be a culmination of his work throughout his tenure.

The document charted the challenges the nation must confront in order for it to develop on par with the advanced nations.

These challenges are summarised as follows:

1. Establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny

2. Creating a psychologically liberated, secure, and developed Malaysian society with faith and confidence in itself, justifiably proud of what it is, of what it has accomplished, robust enough to face all manner of adversity

3. Fostering and developing a mature democratic society, practising a form of mature consensual, community-oriented Malaysian democracy that can be a model for many developing countries

4. Establishing a fully moral and ethical society whose citizens are strong in religious and spiritual values and with the highest ethical standards

5. Establishing a mature, liberal and tolerant society in which Malaysians of all colours and creed are free to practise and profess their customs, cultures and religious beliefs and yet feeling that they belong to one nation

6. Establishing a scientific and progressive society, a society that is innovative and forward-looking, one that is not only a consumer of technology but also a contributor to the scientific and technological civilisation of the future

7. Establishing a fully caring society and caring culture, a social system in which society will come before the self, in which welfare of the people will revolve not around the state or the individual but around a strong and resilient family system

8. Ensuring an economically just society… in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation, in which there is full partnership in economic progress

9. Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient

With the Internal Security Act (ISA), how do we then meet these challenges? How is it an antithesis to what a civil society means? Do we still deserve the ISA?

Snapshot of protests

We are on the threshold of 2008. We have created a larger middle class, educated and imbued not only the taste of progressive Western secularist ideals synthesised with deep cultural and/or religious values still preserved, but also a better understanding of the principles of human rights. We know that Malaysia ratified the 1946 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We know that these involve the rights to the freedom of speech and assembly.

Our nation no longer deserves the ISA or any other intolerable Acts that kill the creativity and imagination of its nation. The ISA is an ideological state apparatus must go if we are to move forward as a nation that is known for it wisdom, intelligence, tolerance, and commitment to social justice - one that takes care of the needs of the poor of all races, without fear or favour.

The ISA which provides for detention without trial for up to two years at a time is anathema to the idea of a civil society. If we charge the detainees in court, we could learn a lot more about the meaning of ‘national security’. It is not merely about maintaining public order but about trying to understand why citizens are publicly acting in manner deemed ‘disorderly’. The history of the use of the ISA is tied to the history of the ruling class and how those who own the means of production own the means of silencing progressive voices of change.

Let us look at some snapshots of the protest movements in our history:

Why did Raja Haji the legendary Bugis warrior mount a revolt against the Dutch, ending in his martyrdom atop a hill in Malacca? Why did Mat Kilau, the legendary warrior from Pekan Pahang act up against the British ending in his mysterious self-imposed exile and death by natural cause at the age of 122? Why did the Malay Nationalist Party, a continuation of Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Semenajung and an early radical Malay party in the late 1940s act up, only to be met with witch-hunts by the returning British?

Why did those fighting for Independence in the 1950s under the banner of Saberkas act up against the dying colonial British Empire, paving the way for the creation of what is now knows as United Malay National Organisation? Why did those truly multiracial group of social activists act up by organising the hartal against the British in the early 1960s only to be met with heavy- handed reaction? Why did those calling themselves the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army revolt against the powers-that-be, end their persecution by the British that returned to power when the Allied Powers crushed the Axis Powers?

Why did the Malaysian intellectuals and social activists speak out over almost 20 years of the Kondrietiff cycle, beginning from May 13, 1969 to October 1989, to this moment in time to be met with the American McCarthy Era-type of response form the present government?

The answer lies in economics. Human existence, motivation, the rise and fall of nations has been attributed to economics. One's existence is defined by the material condition on is in or born into.

Question of power

Deeper than simple economics lies the question of power and the powerless, and the politics of under- representation. The Americans revolted against the British in the late 1770s under the banner ‘no taxation without representation’, symbolically registering their protest with the Boston Tea Party.

Essentially they revolted against intolerable laws set forth by the British - the 1765 Quartering Act and Stamp Act of 1765, Townshend Act 1967 and Coercive Acts 1774.

In our case, the answer lies in the ideology of Malaysia-style Oriental Despotism. The complex, dynamic, systematic, contradictory, sustaining, and consensual politics of the political-economy of a dependent communal-based capitalist state has made it possible for the use of the ISA to be rationalised and legitimised by arguments that touch merely on the symptoms of the breakdown of public order, rather that the root cause of the order in which the public need to be organised.

Had there been a sound developmentalist agenda from the onset of Independence - an agenda that retards the evolution of a corrupt corporate capitalist pluralist neo-feudalistic neo-colonialist capitalist state - we would have avoided or abandoned the use of the ISA and seen the evolution of a truly civil society that practises politics of inclusion.

To put it in simple words: we have made the wrong historical turn. We have to come back to where we began - back to the drawing board. This is the challenge - how do we undo hyper-modernisation and the politics of mistrust?

We are actually doomed as a nation. We need to get out of this quagmire if we are to save ourselves from total destruction in an age wherein the centre cannot hold, as the poet WB Yeats wrote.

How are we doomed? Why have we come to a point in which the ultimate keris - the ISA - is used to silence the voices asking the government to look into the plight of the oppressed and the desolate? Why is the voice of reason cast aside and force used instead? What might the consequence of this in an age of globalised, high speed, split-second information flow, consumption, and instantaneous revolution?

How do we evolve - or rise form the ashes of destruction brought about by internal contradictions that we have failed to resolve?

This nation needs to conduct soul-searching. Urgently.
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written by Anak Desa, December 21, 2007 19:54:17
Talks and write -ups are cheap and would be collecting dust in the cupboard when the politicians corrupted to the core.Our Country would prosper if we have politicans who are honest ,trustworthy,transparent and works with the people without color and creek,that day our country will prosper beyond anybody's dream.
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written by KopiO, December 21, 2007 20:00:23
"Work with me… not for me." - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Come next GE, we must vote for the Opposition to the extent that Abdullah Ahamd Badawi will say, "Kerja dengan saya, jangan kerjakan saya." It's time we make him accountable.
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written by rastafarianz, December 22, 2007 07:00:37
There should be some kind of guidelines for people contesting for parlimentary seat. These guidelines should be stricter for people who want to become minister and should posses relevant academic qualification to hold a specific post. Come on la, even for jobs & etc, the education standard par is raised from time to time, why not for the post where a person is given a task to lead the country? Who can come out with such guidelines? Agong? Rulers? Any idea?
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written by Dogboy, December 22, 2007 10:40:55
Work with me… not for me." - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Comment: "You should be working for us!." - Bewildered citizen

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written by skc, December 22, 2007 11:13:01
Dear Dr Azly,
Is there really still hope for this nation ? Can anyone of us give up what we have to help the poor that we know in our midst, let alone those we have not even set eyes upon ?
Soul searching is well and good, but it does not put food on the table, all of us will be proud if our child will to give up some of his toys to the poor kid next door, but how will we react if our only child education place must be given up to the kid next door because the poor kid next door needs it more ?
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written by skc, December 22, 2007 11:16:36
Nobility of purpose ?
We always read about how noble this person or that person is, but ultimately it is all in self interest. Do any one of us know what the small time farmer does ? Is he noble ? Most will say who know and who cares ? Do you Dr Azly ?
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written by Dr Azly Rahman, December 23, 2007 13:21:05
Hi Folks,

Glad to be back in this new site. Still trying to learn how to navigate through this new format. Our dialogue continues. The song remains the same, as Led Zeppelin would say. Onwards to the march of "digital proletariatism".

Dear skc,

Your question of "who cares" is certainly paramount to what we are doing here in cyberspace. Who cares about the farmers? The fishermen? The taxi drivers? The rubber tappers? The construction labourers? Or even the Alongs and the Mat Rempits?

Indeed do the academicians care about social activism and speaking up for the oppressed and the marginalized of all races?

Soul searching might not put food immediately on the table, any more than giving a few pennies or quarters to the beggar on the street. But I suppose we as a nation have not done much reflecting in the midst of this "feel good" economic program we have been shackled into, that we are now experiencing these collapse of our own Berlin Wall out o four own failed glasnot and perestroika.

At the level of intellectual discussion, we care in our won way so that the messages we share in our Republic (of Virtue) might be of value to those policymakers who will learn a bit more about perspective s that might radically change the lives of the farmer, the fishermen, the taxi drivers, etc. Perhaps an example would be how the plight of our fellow Malaysian Indians are being highlighted and raised through countless reports, comments, and analyses in cyberspace. I suppose we in cyberspace who do our job best through these discussions care enough for others.

Look at the power of the Internet in raising issues in Malaysian politics since we learn how to tame this Frankenstein/Badang. Look at how fast corruption cases are being paid attention to. Things are happening in cyberspace as well as in physical space. This is what I call the power of digital proletariatism/Internet marhaenism in our gradual peaceful wisdom-based social revolution sped up by the Internet -- carried out amongst others, by this band of social activists called "bloggers".

Ultimately, as Marx would say it is "technological determinism" that is triumphing over human agency. In other words, technology rules over consciousness.

Any further thoughts on this?
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written by Fart Fart Wah, December 23, 2007 19:49:11
How do you work with a KUCHING ALIM when he lets other run country????
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written by hiro, December 24, 2007 23:07:36
Well, my soul searching was already done when TDM neutered the Judiciary, as is with many many Malaysians. In the course of time, we have collected quite a bit of redemption points. It would be nice if we could redeem some of those points this time round by having a potent opposition in Parliament.
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written by SUV, December 25, 2007 14:45:23
waah..doc..ur comments r superb!!let the principles of LIFE govern us,our society,and our country..yes..principles,the fundemantal building blocks is there in us,outside us,everywhere..but effort needs to done to find out what r those buliding blocks,and use those bb's to recontruct life ..
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written by SUV, December 25, 2007 14:47:04
potent opposition,human rights bla bla..tak cukup!!!ini semua western style metal gymanstics has even failed western nation!!!we have to back to our roots pal!!
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written by SUV, December 25, 2007 15:02:57
Life is about harmony and equilibrium..yes sar...seelah mother nature..haha..in supreme reality,an emperor is no greater then d kuli kuli yg bikin jalan jalan,..each got a role to play,and thier roles,jobs,tasks r to maintain equilibrium of any entity ..haha..aaah when the elites think they r d supreme,d rest r mere sub humans dat need to be used,country,society become kecoh,..habis,pochee!!
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written by Malaysiaku, December 26, 2007 09:06:24
We should only vote for those that will promise to do away with the ISA once they come into power. Otherwise,once they are in power, they will not want to give up the ISA because it is a powerful weapon against your opponents.
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written by surgeffect, December 26, 2007 19:56:49
ISA is the 'shut-up' tool to put it simply. If you don't shut up, you will go missing so that you will be silenced. Who would not want such a useful tool to use against anyone? Only those willing and able to take constructive criticism and are free of wrong-doings may be able to do away with this draconian ISA.
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written by emirateswenger, December 27, 2007 08:28:27
n the past, I voted for "a STRONGER opposition" and never for a "change of Government", but not this time. This time I am voting for change "a CHANGE of Government". Corruption is endemic. The press is totally "useless" of informing the Rakyat, no not just a failure to inform but doing a great disservice of propagating shades of lies.

Counter balance institutions such as police, courts etc must be re-established. I hope a royal mandate is possible for this.
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written by skc, December 27, 2007 09:43:48
Dear Dr Azly,
It is not that I do not agreed with you, but the translation from cyberspace to physical space needs to be done or this will remain as an intellectual discussion only. I want / need more then that but I cannot find it in myself to deny my children for others more needy.
Before we ask what can others do, what can we do our self ? Yes the current Government has a lot to answer for, but then who does not. If all of us will to leave it up to the power that be, then are we also not responsible for it ?
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written by skc, December 27, 2007 09:48:13
I am very sorry if that comes across a bit too strong, I am just depress due to the facts that holiday season is almost over. Have a Happy new year everyone here.
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written by salakkan, December 27, 2007 13:22:14
{"...written by skc, December 27, 2007 | 09:43:48

then are we also not responsible for it ? ..t."}

Aren't we? Or are we?

Go do it! Go get it! Sock it to them, skc!!!

They're socking it to us ! Using the new technology, juga!!! Let's sock it back to them!!!

Technology is a tool. Don't worship it. Take it to new heights, ya, boleh! Betul then sock it back to them!

If we don't, we're not only chickens but sitting ducks!!!

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written by skc, December 27, 2007 15:11:45
Dear salakkan,
Thanks for the vote of confident, but that is not the respond I was hopping to get. Anyway wish you a good day and a very happy new year, next year or come 31st midnight.
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written by salakkan, December 27, 2007 15:42:19
Please don't "dear" me, skc! Curse at me! Swear at me! Throw the keyboard at me! The Prof can take it. There shouldn't be too many things he can't!

There are not too many ways to get things out, except to open the box and you do know why Pandora always kept it closed? I don't but who cares?
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written by skc, December 27, 2007 17:30:21
Hahahaha, I was more trying for the "inactivity is worst then those actively robbing you - since they get a direct benefit out of it, where as those that stay inactive is condemning without have anything to gain"
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written by lokenpal, December 28, 2007 09:33:42
Nice piece Dr Azly,
There is a difference in what I say online and what I could/may say in public; perhaps it depends on how democratic the country you live in is. The private and public selfs also matter
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written by KopiO, December 28, 2007 10:23:13
testing one
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written by KopiO, December 28, 2007 12:27:51
testing two
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written by cosmic, December 28, 2007 16:06:11
There is always poor among us, even today all the wealth of the world is fairly distributed, within a few years it will come back to the current state where 20% of the world's population control 80% of the world's wealth. There is always someone who is more witty and smarter than some other in creating opportunity for wealth creation. We do not help the poor to the extent it jeopardises others or ourselves. We need to teach the poor to thrive and create the environment where they are constantly challenged and compete for excellence. UMNO, please stop destroying the nation with NEP.
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written by Loh, December 28, 2007 17:58:13
I like to make some comments on some of the nine challenges summarized by Azly Rahman.

///1. Establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny ///

Any nation where the citizens enjoy equal rights would automatically wish for the well beings of the country which would determine their own destiny. Unless the government acts contrary to the equal rights expectation of the citizens, that the nationals have a common and shared destiny is given. However, when the government chooses to implement its divide and rule policies, the nationals would not share a sense of common destiny for the nation. TDM was the main actor in highlighting the differences among different ethnic groups in the country. Whatever intentions he harboured in the name of making his race dominate in political and economic life, he has set the people who benefited from his reign on the path of get-rich quick, and grounded with the mindset of entitlement and supremacy. He would not be able to return the genie into the bottle, however hard he tried, if he was sincere in seeing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common shared destiny.
Modern science and technological developments make easy changes to mountains and streams, but it is almost impossible to set right human thoughts which have gone haywire. It takes decades to develop cultured human beings who internalize the noble quality of modesty, politeness, righteousness, reasonableness, fair play and justice. These noble values are set aside when morally wrong actions are legalized, for the powerful and connected, and even for beneficiaries of state institutionalized corrupt and unfair practices, in the name of affirmative actions. The belief that moral values could be temporarily suspended to be returned later, to experiment with some social engineering work for leveling playing fields, proved futile. The temporary indulgences turned out to be permanently temporary, where the all powerful emperor TDM was not able to end NEP in 1990. Or did he choose to be politically correct, or worse, pretended that the 30% equity target were yet to be achieved. The lesser ruler PM AAB is simply gutless to examine whether the ASLI’s calculations truly confirm that the targets had already been achieved. He promised to reveal the methodology a year ago. The methodology adopted by EPU only tells half the story, the other half relates to what have and have not been correctly included in the computation of the single most important economic figures, when the results of which should have been acted upon to end the most important obstacle to returning to Malaysia a future where the people share a sense of united and common destiny.
It is the government’s active social engineering experiments which have now made the country deviating from the path where the people automatically share a sense of united and common destiny.



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written by Loh, December 28, 2007 18:00:19
///2. Creating a psychologically liberated, secure, and developed Malaysian society with faith and confidence in itself, justifiably proud of what it is, of what it has accomplished, robust enough to face all manner of adversity ///

Malays are led to believe that they have no place under Malaysian sun unless they support the racist policies of UMNO. Malays are psychology insecure as to their ability to survive without government crutches, so declared UMNO as savior of Malays. The insecurity could turn into riots if the concessions do not continue, as uttered by delegates to the UMNO general assembly, displaying a report and reminding the nation of May 13. Until UMNO stopped using race differences to collect votes, the challenges have no solution. In fact it is doubtful whether a solution was indeed desired as claimed.

///3. Fostering and developing a mature democratic society, practising a form of mature consensual, community-oriented Malaysian democracy that can be a model for many developing countries ///

The government has the control of the development, or more correctly the curtailment of democracy in the country. The community-based political parties were convenient to satisfy the demand of the British for obtaining independence for the country. Had the UMNO leadership the vision and desire to forgo the community oriented political parties, the society would not have been as polarized like it is today. A community-oriented democracy is against the basic requirement of fair play for all its citizens, and the set-up of race based political parties cannot foster a mature democratic society.

///4. Establishing a fully moral and ethical society whose citizens are strong in religious and spiritual values and with the highest ethical standards ///

The community or race-based political parties do not provide the environment for the stated objective.

///5. Establishing a mature, liberal and tolerant society in which Malaysians of all colours and creed are free to practise and profess their customs, cultures and religious beliefs and yet feeling that they belong to one nation///

The political set up of the country works against the objective.

///6. Establishing a scientific and progressive society, a society that is innovative and forward-looking, one that is not only a consumer of technology but also a contributor to the scientific and technological civilisation of the future///

That can only come about when the society practices meritocracy. But the powers-that-be chooses to operate a pseudo meritocratic system such as equating the results of matriculation to STPM for evaluating university admission, while reserving 90% of the examination candidates to one race, the dream can continue.

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written by Loh, December 28, 2007 18:01:35
///7. Establishing a fully caring society and caring culture, a social system in which society will come before the self, in which welfare of the people will revolve not around the state or the individual but around a strong and resilient family system ///

All the good ingredients for developing into the society were destroyed when the state thought it proper to bribe the entire community for electoral votes. Half the population more were made to be dependent on the state from cradle to grave. NEP made the undesirable effects irreversible.
///8. Ensuring an economically just society… in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation, in which there is full partnership in economic progress ///

That is the thought of a man who thinks that he is more capable than God. The society would have justice at the macro level when the people practices justice and fair play at the lower level. To a person at his and his family level, besides health, wealth was important. They get the leisure time to count their money when they have been able to earn a decent means of living. For him, any assistance to lighten his load in earning his keep is appreciated. This is true for all races. The surplus one has can go to finance how a person looks goods, and to feel proud of his achievements. The invisible hands make the economy ticks, and the same hands direct how economic decisions are made. The statistics on cumulative wealth remains a statistics, and serves no useful purpose in terms of the success of the individuals. Politicians certainly could make use of the statistics, and most importantly, they distorted figures to serve the route to political success. If the powers-that-be truly believes that cumulative wealth of a community is a basis for them to keep peace, then he has created a following to chase after something nebulous.

///9. Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient///

As the nation moves in tandem with social and economic developments of its neighbouring countries and the world, and the government observes proper governance of a civil, fair and democratic society with freedom for the people to alert the government to its wrong policies or implementation, the society should attain the aims as desired by the rest of the world. The requirement must be that the government should be made up of people who intend to serve the nations rather than taking the official positions to enrich themselves. They should then be happy to allow others to serve the nation, and be modest to accept that there are other capable hands which are honest to serve the public. A fair and clean election allows regular renewal of talents. For a start, the race-based parties which have outlived it usefulness should cease to exist. Government policies and regulations should respect no race, and be equal for all. Religion should be a matter between the persons and his god. People should not make use of political position to create religious merit.
Conclusion
The preamble of the text of the United States declaration of Independence has the following sentence: (from Wikipedia).
//We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.//
The original Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaya was to be reviewed after 15 years from 1957. That article is not equal to the concept of ‘all men are created equal’. Though USA cannot be considered a perfect country, except for item3, it has at least overcome eight of the nine challenges listed above. There may not be great thinkers in USA who set up specific vision to accomplish, and yet it is the country that attracts people who are capable to work in the pursuit of happiness.
The nine challenges would remain insurmountable because the nation does not accept the concept that all men are created equal. In particular challenge 3. Fostering and developing a mature democratic society, practising a form of mature consensual, community-oriented Malaysian democracy that can be a model for many developing countries implies a continuation of the race-based political parties in the country. The leaders of the more powerful race-based party would not forgo the decade-old tested ‘kampong champion’ strategy to win political power, and hence they would be embroiled in racial politics rather than endeavoring the charting of common destiny for the people.
The first step towards establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny begins with accepting that all men are created equal, and they are so treated by the government, the institutions, and the public at large. Until that first step is taken, the vision remains a dream.
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written by Dr Azly Rahman, December 29, 2007 07:28:00
Very nice thought-provoking and elaborate commentaries on the nine challenges, Loh. We appreciate your contribution. Let us read comments from others.

Dear all,

Do you think that these are merely "statements of hope" framed in "neutral terms" masking the fundamental structure of injustices and inequality that characterize Malaysia's paradigm of economic development?

How is it possible for this country to see the gap between the rich and the poor widening when election after election we see slogans renewed? There seems to be an empty space between hope and implementation.
What will the slogan for this coming election be like considering the chaos we have been experiencing since the last three years? Will it be the end of sloganism and the beginning of realism?
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written by skc, December 31, 2007 09:38:17
Realism has no place in the Malaysia politics. It is all a matter of perspective. When will this end ? never. We are doom.
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written by Dr Azly Rahman, December 31, 2007 22:59:41
Good comments to all!

How do we bridge realism and idealism -- to bring back nationalism?
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written by salakkan, January 01, 2008 01:07:52
cut that nationalism thing out, Doc!

stick to the realism and idealism! smilies/grin.gif
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written by Dr Azly Rahman, January 01, 2008 09:58:36
dear salakan and all,

good point, but...

isn't a nationalized economy better than the one being auctioned to and controlled by foreigners? isn't a loyalist to a multicultural malaysian malaysia better than ones who build corridors to facilitate plunderer from outside our borders? what is your idea of nationalism? who are our nationalists?
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written by Loh, January 01, 2008 11:59:58
I am not sure what is meant by nationalised economy. My layman idea of economy tells me that we produce for our own use, and export the excess, import what we require. When we are able to produce more for our own, we can raise our own standard of living which could be supplemented by imports what have to be financed by export. With the advance of communication technologies countries in the world can make use of their comparative advantages to concentrate on the production of what they do best, rather than producing every product that they need. Thus, globalization helps to raise the standard of living of theoretically every nation. But that hinges on pricing of products produced by the countries concerned.

We see that raw materials do not command high price, mainly because there are alternatives to replace them. Material science helps to create synthetic products to suit almost every need possible. Natural rubber was almost replaced by hydrocarbon products, and it is the high oil price that has brought back the price of rubber to the level at the time of the Korean War, in term of number of Ringgit, and certainly not the purchasing power of the 1950s.

The high price products are those that have high technology contents. That requires human capital. That means training and education of the people, and to retain them for the use by the countries concern. One needs financial capital to be able to make use of human capital, and human capital covers a wide range of expertise. An industry will need a certain number, the so-called critical mass of human capital for it to operate efficiently, and with related industries to create knowledge-based economy, a country require a large number of talents, some might have to be recruited from outside. A country can only hope to improve its earning capacity, and raise its per capita GDP when the production capacity includes the production of high value-added industries. Then other not so knowledge-based industries such as food and services industries would get to increase their earning abilities.

Even though the education system in the country has deteriorated mainly because of the so-called nationalism since 1970s, people on their won initiatives had managed to acquire tertiary educations from good institutions overseas. Unfortunately the racist policies of the government have caused two million Malaysians to leave it shore. That included the better educated non-Malays, and bright Malays who do not wanted to be tainted with the image of NEP on their efforts and success. Consequently over the last 40 years when countries in the west were advancing towards knowledge-based economy, Malaysia was stagnating in the old commodity-based and labour intensive industries. That continues unabated until we had 3 million legal or illegal workers which have caused a strain on the police force in the country. Now, the government has almost lost its ability to ensure peace and security for its citizen.

We are in the 21st century where outside power cannot just conquer this land and make it its colony, we need not talk about nationalism as though preparing to defend the country against outside aggression. We should not be talking about a race that has no future under Malaysian sun, and require the NEP to stay forever. That is especially so when the tern Malays only says that the person is a Muslim and practicing Malay customs and nothing more. There are Muslims in every corner of the world, and they do not need NEP in Malaysia to endure their prosperity. But as citizens of the land, we would like to have an environment where the people can earn a decent standard of living, having a level of income equating to countries that practiced knowledge-based economy. For that we need to have a government that observe proper governance, the institutions that serve to ensure government toes its line. When the government can be elected through democracy based on track records, the parties need not make use of racial issues to win. Hence the political parties do not have to bribe the people based on racist policies. The people than can achieve their best potential for themselves, and benefit the rest of the society.

We are at least 35 years behind the developed countries in pursuing knowledge-based economy. Are we too late to catch up, even if the politicians realize the need to?
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written by SUV, January 01, 2008 12:20:27
Helo Dr.Azly,
Happy new year to U n ur family smilies/smiley.gif.....Doc,nationalism's days r over(imo)..it was needed to fight 4 independence..a new,more potent 'force' is emerging..a unifying force based on human spirit..hehe..alangkah besnya if architects,organizers of society r under this force ...umm..parti keadilan is a unifer..and PAS practices asiatic version of democarcy..yes..

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alo folks,wanna know wats the purest form of democracy?4 the divine,by the divine,2 d divine..now i tunggu 2 c ow many negatives i get...d more the merrier smilies/cheesy.gif smilies/cheesy.gif smilies/cheesy.gif smilies/cheesy.gif smilies/cheesy.gif
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written by Dr Azly Rahman, January 01, 2008 12:33:18
i like these comments on nationalism folks! i think we need to find out if it still exists in this age of globalization.

and the idea of democracy for the divine is also appealing. does this mean that a system of 'divine justice' must be installed in order to create perpetual peace for all of humankind since human beings are arrogant? based on what religion would this divine justice be installed? or a republic of virtue sort of...?

any further thoughts on this?

btw-- happy new year to all of you wonderful contributors out there!
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written by surgeffect, January 02, 2008 07:12:46
HEY EVERYONE! IS IT ME OR DOES IT SEEM THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN GOING AROUND VOTING DOWN EVERYONE'S COMMENTS? IT JUST SEEMS A LIL ODD. smilies/shocked.gif
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written by skc, January 03, 2008 12:09:50
Talking about nationalism, how many of us here drive a local design and make car (Proton) ? One cannot reach the heaven with a single step. Nothing of worth comes for free. Think about it. Nationalism indeed. Only make me sad reading all this and seeing a very different story on the outside. That is why translation from cyberspace to physical space needs to be done on a major scale, but then the current government does not believe us, bloogers at all.
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written by myke, January 03, 2008 14:59:49
Noble writer...
but BN is not about to give up that fat chunk of meat...
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written by skc, January 03, 2008 17:07:47
Dear Myke,
The question is are you willing to give it up yourself ? Whatever meat it might be, that you are currently having.
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written by educationist, January 03, 2008 20:58:51
So many hard questions! And there are no suggested answers. I will like to believe that enough of us will have ponder those questions to make a difference in the coming elections. If the BN is denied the 2/3 majority, I believe it'll mark the beginning of positive change for a more civil and democratic society.
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written by hiro, January 05, 2008 03:34:08
Belatedly, I have this to add about what UMNO means by "national security"... http://hiroblog2007.blogspot.com/
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written by Dr Azly Rahman, January 05, 2008 03:40:36
America is ready to make a change, judging from the popularity of Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton in the recently-concluded Idaho primaries. Barak is African American and Hillary a woman. Two more primaries and the nation will see a clear picture of the shape of American politics to come.

Is Malaysia ready to discard race-based politics and got for "issues-based" politics and campaigning rather that be trapped in the old paradigm/old school thinking? What about a non-Malay prime minister if he/she is ethical and can see beyond racial lines and can dismantle race-based thinking? Am I suggesting something too radical here, given the "advancements" we have made such as sending a Malaysian to the moon?

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written by Dr Azly Rahman, January 05, 2008 03:44:03
Sorry, I mean the Iowa primaries...
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written by Loh, January 05, 2008 15:30:34
///What about a non-Malay prime minister if he/she is ethical and can see beyond racial lines and can dismantle race-based thinking?///---Dr Azly Rahman

It will be a giant step forward for the country if BN would just remove its component party setup, and merge as one party with direct membership. Samy Vellu was the first to object because he would not make it to the Cabinet, with his records. I don't mind to have a purely Malay Cabinet, so long as they are selected at the branch level by multiracial voters. This would stop politicians playing racial and religious card. When the politicians cannot make use of race and religion for climbing up political ladder, they would not create sensitive issues to exploit and present themselves as champion.

We need good leaders who serve the nation, and believe sincerely that citizens are equal and are entitled to a shared destiny. They are not to play God to give favours at their discretion. The government should extend help based on needs and not creed, and out of compassion rather than voting consideration at general election.

It is not important of what race the PM belongs.
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written by cmoon, January 07, 2008 22:20:33
PUT INTO BLACK AND WHITE IF U WANT THE PEOPLES SUPPORT!

What we need now ! a committed opposition who are willing to put a system that will allow people to dethrone them if they too fail to live up to peoples expectation! Any peoples representative to declare their asset annually so that they would be responsible to the people.(MP ,council members, ministers etc )

Area of improvement needed:
Education: Equal opportunity for all Malaysians base on ability not on any quota system.
Develop new education system practicality with time , continues improvement to the system, which is out dated.
if you say whats wrong with it ? it is still good ? then you are a stick in mud for blocking progress of the nation! Develop new ways teaching methods and developing knowledge base community and put our universities where it should be.

Develop independent EC, so that gerrymandering(see wikipedia) can be avoided as in develop countries. Postal votes are abolished: why? because the guys who i have talked to says that this is monitored by their superior thus if they do vote the opposition , they may get the silent treatment and unable to progress in their career.

Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be developed .
to check and balance, no police force (in the world)has been clean when they are unchecked and do not take responsibility for their action! the attitude of the police is one of the worst in the world! arrogance !

Independent Judiciary : including for promotion of judges so that they can live up to democratic expectation.
Clear guideline /jurisdiction of civil and shariah court!

NEP which would help all the poor people regardless of religion or race.

Promotion in civil service to be based on ability not on race. ( one of the reason why our civil service in a bad shape- to many people on top who are there because of their race rather their ability)

Religious activities at school and universities level, for peoples respective religion.
freedom of religion.(not to have Islam as the official religion !)

Allow participation of University students in politics!

In a Nut Shell : a transparent Government that is accountable to the people! by the people for the people!
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written by DontPlayGod, January 17, 2008 21:40:00
Don't talk about a non-Malay PM. They won't even consider a non-Malay as the Mayor of K.L. And UMNO is aiming to take the only non-Malay CM's position and put a Malay in its position. UMNO aims to make all the 13 states into Malay controlled states with Malay CM/MB's.

And I don't see any improvement/changes to the Malay thinking for the next 50 years, as long as UMNO's propaganda machine(BTN) continues to brainwash the Malays into hating the non-Malays. In a nutshell, racism, discrimination, and khas istimewa benefits UMNO's brand of politics.
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written by Shinada, January 19, 2008 08:23:38
I'm wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Azly. I think someone like him should be elected as our PM. Dear Dr. Azly, I seriously think that you should serve in Malaysia as a politician. The country really need someone like you. I'm the new generation of Malaysia and I really want to see alot of changes in the country's system.
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