Monday, July 19, 2010

The plight of foreign spouses in Malaysia

Malaysia is a wonderful country to earn a living and also to live comfortably in comparison to most other countries in the region. The nation's security and economic stability provide an ideal environment for many emigrants to enter the country, either legally or illegally through syndicated human trafficking activities that the authority has discovered recently. Although the government does not have an accurate statistics on the actual number of illegal immigrants, it is believe to be in the region of more than 2.5 million people. It is an indirect human capital asset to the government which also provide a reasonable economic impact to the nation's financial resources.

In post independent Malaysia, the issue of citizenship and domiciled permanent residence are being regulated by the provisions as stipulated in the Federal Constitution. However, in the post 1957 era after independence, various steps were taken by the government in approving any outstanding citizenship applications as guaranteed by the Constitution. According to the Constitution, all persons born in 1957 are automatically citizens of Malaysia.

Today, Malaysia like any other countries faces global challenges in the intervention of human rights and transmigration issues as we live beyond the borders of our neighbors. The world is becoming smaller through the rapid and efficiency in communications and ICT global networking. Malaysians travel worldwide to seek better business and professional opportunities as well as in furthering their quest for education excellence. Thousands of Malaysians of all ethnic origin, Chinese, Malays, Indians and others are living, working and studying overseas around the world. The United States of America, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand top the list of preferred countries for Malaysians in seeking new opportunities. Over the last few decades, thousand of Malaysians decided to adopt foreign citizenship or stayed on as permanent resident.

As a result of the above global integration, intermarriages became a matrimonial trend and resulted in the increase of foreign spouses on their return to Malaysia. It is neither a choice nor preference that these patriotic Malaysians returned to their homeland in order to be with their loved ones and extended families. The majority of these new bred of Malaysians with international exposure are young professionals. Some are also married to foreign spouses who are professionals that may enhance our human capital development for the nation.

It is hope that the government will consider seriously the plight of foreign spouses who are required to apply and obtain their permanent residence. Over and above the security clearance requirements for the consideration of a permanent resident, the government should review the bureaucratic application procedures. In most developed countries, foreign spouses are allowed to seek employment on the basis of work permit while waiting for the outcome of their PR application.

Malaysians who are married to foreign spouses should be given an equal opportunity to enjoy the same social benefits like all other citizens. It is a positive move by the Home Ministry to consider children who are born overseas of mixed Malaysian and foreign parentage, are now considered as citizen upon their birth registration with the Malaysian Embassy or High Commission. Malaysia is now on the right track to resolve our transmigration issues in line with international practice and convention.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Malaysians are encouraged to learn Mandarin and Tamil

In the spirit of 1Malaysia, I support the call made by DPM Muhyiddin that the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil should be made available in all national schools. There is no need for the government to study the proposal that will go a long way to create racial unity and understanding of our ethnic cultures at the academic level. Comparatively speaking there are more non-Malays who can speak and write bahasa Malaysia than Malays who really bothers to learn Mandarin, which is also widely spoken in this country. We are proud to see non-Malay news presenters in bahasa Malaysia over our TV networks.

The majority of Malaysians today are born and bred in this country, and thus they are not "pendatang" or immigrants from other countries. Malaysia is our homeland and the nation building should be our common goal to bring this nation to the next level of development. As the prime minister had also reminded us that the ultimate success of this country depends on the undivided loyalty and support from the Malays, Chinese, Indians and others to move Malaysia forward in line with vision 2020 and beyond.

The present generation of young Malaysians will be the prime shakers of the future if our thinking reflects on the theme of 1Malaysia and 1nation in line with the inspiration of our current political leadership and BN government under prime minister Najib Tun Razak. We do not need opposition that are not contributing to our nation building, though at the same time we continue to demand a more transparent and responsible government for the benefit of our people. The government needs to do more in order to seriously combat corruptions and bring to trials those who had committed such crimes and immoral activities without fear or favour. Thus MACC should be a truly independent entity, with the power to investigate and prosecute corruption cases without any interference from the executive power of the government.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The two faces of Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia during the Mahathir administration was a student activist before he was invited to join the government in 1982. Today, he is still one of the most vocal and outspoken politician who had enjoyed the privilege and confidence of the Barisan Nasional government and currently the opposition leader in parliament.

In September 1998, Anwar was ousted in disgrace by the then prime minister Dr Mahathir for being immorally involved in scandalous sexual acts in the infamous sodomy I. It was a historical legal battle that had emerged from the late 90s until he was found guilty after more than two years of sensational trial. In mid year 2000, Anwar was found guilty and subsequently jailed.

Anwar did not overstay his term in sungai buloh and was released by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2005 0r 2006. One could only speculate that the then prime minister had misjudged his political strength as a result of the overwhelming Barisan National victory in the 2004 general election to release Anwar. Anwar became a free man to once again pursue his political ambition to topple the Barisan Nasional government.

In the 2008 March general election, Anwar through his PKR and PR coalition managed to capture five states, including Penang and Selangor, the two important states under the BN government. Anwar's political sentiments were high and he was elected as the MP for Permatang Pauh which voted him as the Opposition leader in parliament. In September 2009, Anwar became over ambition and in his attempts to topple the BN government and move on to Putrajaya, he had enticed a number of Barisan Nasional MPs to join his opposition camp, but was unsuccessful. On the contrary, the PR controlled state of Perak was recaptured by BN in a most controversial move with a number of ensuing legal battle between BN and the dethroned PR government. The matter was finally resolved in favour of Barisan Nasional as the legal state government of Perak. The rest is history though the condemnation against the BN leadership and the Sultan of Perak is still ongoing even when the State Assembly was legally convened according to convention.

Currently, Anwar is still being embroiled with his second sensational defence case in sodomy II. Apart from the sexual case involving his own aide Saiful, there are also some other cases of defamation, etc in which Anwar is directly or indirectly involved. Anwar is now facing a series of trials and one wonders if he could live in peace and settle his own personal problems. He has no time for his constitutional duties as the MP for Permatang Pauh and yet he is being retained as the opposition leader. In most democratic parliamentary practice, Anwar could have been impeached or suspended from parliament pending the outcome of his ongoing trials. In accordance with parliamentary ethics, the government should review the parliamentary laws relating to member's privilege and immunity. How can Anwar justify his position as a Member of Parliament when he is being implicated by serious allegations of unnatural sexual assaults in the previous sodomy I and currently in sodomy II.

I wish that all Malaysians would like to believe that all that had happened in sodomy I & II in which Anwar had been accused was all fabricated or conspiracy acts to end Anwar's political career. I think it is a long and up hill legal battle for Anwar to clear his name and also to restore his political creditability, although nobody is guilty until proven otherwise. Good luck to you Anwar and let Allah be the first and last witness in your actions. You can fool us one time but not all the time. Hope to see you again in the coming PRU13.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Post blogging sydrome

I NOW REALISE THAT HAVING MY OWN BLOG IS EXCITING AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT UPDATING IT SINCE MY LAST POSTINGS IN JULY 2008. TIME FLIES ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN JOTTING MY OWN THOUGHTS. IN FACT, THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES THAT WOULD HAVE PROMPTED ME TO POST THEM IN MASAGUNGKL D' SCRIBE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT TOTAL HIBERNATION BECAUSE I HAD FREQUENTLY BLOGGED UNDER THE COURTESY OF ROCKY'S BRU, DATUK ABDUL KADIR JASIN SCRIBE AND OCCASIONALLY IN MALAYSIAN INSIDER.

LOOKING BACK, I DID NOT GO INTO HIBERNATION OR NEITHER JUST IGNORED WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS MAD MAD WORLD. MY OWN COUNTRY MALAYSIA TOO IS NOT LACKING IN SENSATIONAL NEWS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, ESPECIALLY PRE AND POST MARCH GENERAL ELECTION OF 2008. IN POLITICAL TERM, IT WAS A DISASTER FOR BARISAN NASIONAL DURING THE REIGN OF FORMER PREMIER TUN ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI, THE NATION'S 5TH PRIME MINISTER.

PAK LAH WAS A NICE GUY AND A KIND MAN TOO SO TO SPEAK. HIS DOWNFALL WAS NOT ONLY DUE TO THE OVER EXPOSED KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN, HIS SON-IN-LAW BUT HE HAD FAILED IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO MANAGE THE COUNTRY ON AN UPWARD SWING. MANY THINGS WENT WRONG AND CERTAIN ISSUES BECAME HOT POTATOES WHICH HAD ACCELERATED HIS DOWNFALL THAT HAD CAUSED HIS PREMIERSHIP. HIS PREDECESSOR TUN MAHATHIR WAS CONSTANTLY EXPOSING HIS WEAKNESS AND CONTINUE TO LASH AT HIM FOR ALL HIS FAULTS IN POLITICS, ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES.

FINALLY, PAK LAH COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE PRESSURE FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS COVETED POSITION AS THE FLIP-FLOP PRIME MINISTER IN APRIL 2009. HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FINALLY HANDED OVER THE HOT SEAT TO HIS DPM DATO' SRI NAJIB TUN RAZAK.

IT WAS A NEW MALAYSIAN CHAPTER FOR THE NATION.EVERYONE HAD HIGH HOPES TO WELCOME NAJIB AS THE NATION'S 6TH PRIME MINISTER. THIS CHANGE OF POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP HAD BEEN LONG OVERDUE AND THE PEOPLE'S EXPECTATION FOR NAJIB TO PERFORM WELL WITH MIRACLES WAS ON EVERYONE'S ASPIRATION.

LET ME STOP AT THIS POINT AS NAJIB STEPPED PROUDLY INTO THE PRIME MINISTER'S WEST WING OFFICE IN PUTRAJAYA ON 3RD APRIL 2009. I WILL CONTINUE WITH THE POLITICAL JOURNEY OF NAJIB AND HIS TEAM TO LEAD THE NATION INTO THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE UNFINISHED TERM OF BARISAN NASIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN MID TERM AFTER THE DISMAY PERFORMANCE OF BN IN THE MARCH 2008 GENERAL ELECTION. MORE TO BLOG IN MY NEXT EPISODE ON NAJIB'S AGENDA TO TURN THE COUNTRY AROUND WITH HIS NEW IDEALS AS PROMISED IN HIS 1MALAYSIA SLOGAN.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

UMNO AND PAS WILL NEVER AGREE ON A COMMON POLITICAL IDEALOGY

I am not optimistic with the latest approach by UMNO to reach out to PAS on a common political ideology through the concept of "muzakarah". This initiative is not the first time as UMNO had tried in the past to entice PAS into a joint political venture, on every general election in the past but nothing happens. Do you sincerely think that Tok Guru will trust the UMNO warlords in Kelantan? PAS has bigger political agenda to create an Islamic identity on its own, but will not succeed if the other sleeping partners, PKR and DAP are not sincere in their political alliance with PAS. It's a political illusion and based on a marriage of convenience.

UMNO will never understand PAS and how can we believe that the proposal for a "muzakarah"will benefit both parties. Speaking from a non Malay persepctive, the Malays in UMNO are materialistic and tend to adopt the western values especially the younger generation. They dance and wine to western music and prefer using forks and spoons rather than eating with their fingers like their forefathers. This is the reality of the Malay modern urban culture and most of them will not feel comfortable with the kampung environment whenever they accompany their parents back to the village. The young ones will look for hotel accommodation.

UMNO political strategy is based on capitalism and materialism whereas PAS is more concern of the possessing the good deeds in this world and prepare for akhirat. UMNO leaders and their senior politicians, especially head of divisions are "bodoh sembong"and egoistic. PAS leaders are simple and easily approachable without much protocol.

However, the concept of "muzakarah"can be viewed positively in order to unite the Malays which is essential to better future political understanding between UMNO and PAS without any compromise to compete with each other's political idealogy. I do not see the fear of the Chinese, Indian and the other minority Malaysians will be suspicious of the plan to unite the Malays that will result in reducing the political polorisation among the Malays. If the Malays stop fighting against each other in order to achieve political leadership, there will be more peace and stability in this country.

As a point of reference, we should not be in a state of denial that Anwar Ibrahim in his quest for political power and his dreams to be the next prime minister, is destroying Malay unity and destablise the political and economic situation of the country. Anwar's influence through his street demonstrations and political illusion to lie and bluff the people had gone beyond control due to the current weak political and management leadership. Generally the people are suffering and the local Chinese tycoons are shifting their investments overseas.

The concept of "muzakarah"can only be realised if both the Malays in UMNO and PAS are sincere in their efforts, otherwise it's a waste of time or remain an empty slogan. "omong-omong kosong aje". Malaysian unity can only be achieved through racial integration in our political and social system with the assurance that the non-malays will not be marginalised.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Anwar has no political and religious principle so keep on lying and may ALLAH be his only witness.

Today, I'll raise two relevant points of deliberation based on Anwar's open challenge to the government as well as all those who had tracked his diplomatics runs in the United States from the time when he was appointed as the DPM/Finance Minister in the cabinet after the 1994 general election. However, the good citizens of Malaysia have already known that Tun Dr Mahathir, the then prime minister of over 22 years of rule, did the biggest political blunder in his life by having appointed to the financial cabinet post. Tun Dr Mahathir had since regretted to the nation, that appointing Anwar as the DPM/Finance Minister was in a big mistake.

Anwar as the DPM then, should not have been appointed as the Finance Minister, which was one of the two most important cabinet positions, the other being Minister of Home Affairs. The finance portfolio is traditionally a trusted and worthy post, powerful in terms of appropriation of development budget and fund allocations based on patronage through political connections with absolute loyalty and support to UMNO and those senior politicians in ruling government. There were accessive reports of massive corruptions and abuse of power by the incummbent minister and his cronnies in order to maintain political leverage for party positions, from UMNO divisional and State levels as well as those aligned to the coveted Supreme Council members.

Malaysia was an active and supportive member of the powerful IMF/Word Bank in the early years Anwar Ibrahim was disgrace and sacked from Mahathir's cabinet in September 1998 and put on trial for the unethical wrongs and acts of accused sodomy episodes, which spearheaded the Anwarsaga crisis until today.

Hence, the people, the nation and the whole country are suffering now under the international spotlight with all kinds of conspiracy that the Anwar and his allies in Pakatan Rakyat can lay their fingers on everyone, in order for him to blame the PM, DPM, Home and National Security Minister, the police as well as those senior civil servants who are the hears and eyes of the current administration.In the process, many innocent people had been implicated in Anwar plot to overthrow the BN government, previously under Mahathir, now Pak Lah and eventually to prevent Najib from taking over as the next PM, as speculated to in December or early 2009.

The politically shrewd Anwar had misused his position as one of the most powerful Finance Minister of Malaysia, who had very strong and personal linkage to the US administration for a number of years, and managed to cultivate a strong and trusted alliance with the US senior officials, both in the government as well a few key Congressmen in the Capitol. Anwar and his boys had all kind of personal or official deals in Washington, New York and Hong Kong, linked to the monetary supremacy through IMF/World Bank financial entities. Subsequently, Anwar was nominated to chair certain high power development committees both in IMF/World Bank, with authority and easy access to the international funds.

Based on the above conclusion, given Anwar' s exemplary and extentive financial connections in the past and also the period after his release from Sungei Buloh, Anwar now demands proof that he is not a US snitch. There is a Chinese saying that "those who tell lies will keep on lying until the cows come down from heaven". Anwar is one of the rare muslim specimens who will continue to lie and blackmail others, including all those innocent beings, no matter what happen in order to meet his ambition and target in life.

Anwar thinks that he is powerful enough to destroy this beautiful nation with his lies, drama and his stunt conspiracies one after another. Don't worry Malaysia is not a banana republic to be bullied by the United States of America, who should clean up their own backyard instead of being diplomatically nosy and destroy the whole world through their CIA operations.

Do all Malaysians now believe that the government through our agents overseas do not have any documentary proof of Anwar's unethical dealings with USA in order to sell this country, which does not only belong to the Malays, but also to all rightful citizens of this democratic country????????????. My conclusion is Anwar lies and he can't be bothered even if the government pronouced him guilty and throw him back to another 20 years jail term. It sounds cruel in a way, but nobody is above the law and more so we have just revamped the judiciary system, and if Anwar is legally committed of his own criminal acts, then his political career will be distinguised for good until his last day of judgement on earth. Malaysia will be in peace again.

On the question of Anwar swearing upon the holy Al Quran, it is pointless to challenge Anwar because for what he had done in the few decades of his talented life from his student days until now, he had proven over time and again that he is not afraid of the unseen God. Being a muslim, Anwar has already committed another sin by having demanded that "he will only swear upon the Al Quran in order to indemnify his innocence under certain stipulated conditions in accordance with his own personal belief or rather [hadith] in the Islamic term". Don't play God Anwar and surrender yourself and devotion to Allah swt. before it is too late. I suggest that Anwar and his whole family members, including his son-in-law who works in USA, to swear upon the Holy Book in the National Mosque, to be witnessed by the King and all cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament.