Before the Mat Cemerlang’s club is up and running, Putera Umno chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has a strong contigent of 2000 guaranteed Mat Cemerlangs to become part of the founding members.

More than 2,000 Mat Rempits (bikers) roared in approval when Putera Umno chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim declared them to be one of the nation’s "biggest assets".

"They (Mat Rempits) are sorely misunderstood. Because of a couple of bad seeds they have been discriminated against as a bane to society," Abdul Azees said.

"I truly believe they have the potential and excellence to become the leaders of tomorrow. All they need is a chance to prove society wrong."

By seizing the moment of Merdeka and capitalizing on sentiment of fellow Mat Cemerlangs, Abdul Azeez has to make sure the Mat Cemerlang’s club is able to live up the expectation and not merely providing an illusion, else a cheap ride it is.

Nevertheless, I love this "biggest assets", sounds bombastic, loud and tastefully orchestrated too? What about giving the Putera’s chief the benefit of doubt?

Dear Malaysia,

Happy 49th Independence Day!

Hope you enjoy the Merdeka banner, as well as the background Negaraku.

Thanks reader Justin Lai and Kai Sheng for the effort, my gratitude to you.

Via Screenshots:

This is the advisory from the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum Complaints Bureau pursuant to the Mediation Results set forth on August 29, 2006 with regards tot to P. Gunasegaram’s complaint against a commentator’s posting in the feedback section of this blog:

"Any comments posted on this blog that are obscene, blasphemous, racial or overtly threatening, including the use of partial words or phrases where the intent is clearly offensive, will be removed immediately by the host. Such comment could also render the person posting them liable to legal action or prosecution."

If you love to do potshots, think twice, my friend.

"Has corruption gotten worse in Malaysia?", blogger Unspun asked.

Why does this sound more and more like Indonesia? Perhaps Indonesians should not complain so much about how bad corruption is in their country, certainly if compared to their serumpun neighbor.

There is void of any real indicator to determine the level of corruption in any particular country, thus we’ve to rely on the general perception, which of course, is varied across community.

But really, the question is, what do you think of the corruption level right here in our home soil? Is it better off compared to Tun’s era or has it gone down the drain ever since?

Pray do tell.

Via Channel News Asia:

SINGAPORE : Singapore mainboard-listed healthcare group Parkway Holdings is giving up control of Malaysia’s Pantai Holdings.

Under a deal announced on Monday, Parkway says it is selling its 31 percent stake in the healthcare company to a fully-owned unit of the Malaysian investment firm Khazanah Nasional.

You can’t be wrong with the "feel good factor" from Khazanah’s managing director Azman Mokhtar.

Khazanah has identified the healthcare sector as one of the key new strategic sectors to invest in as part of our broader investment strategy.

And "NO", it’s "NOT" driven by the need to regain control of Pantai by Malaysian interests.

However the "backdoor factor", Parkway’s acquisition of Pantai, which holds two government healthcare concessions, came under scrutiny recently with attempts by political parties to reverse the normal business transaction for political reasons.

Apparently, Rocky is getting more and more desperate on his unanswered question.

Apparently, Umno Deputy Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin is not going to apologize over his controversial remarks made as demanded by MCA Youth.

(SOURCE: Sin Chew Daily, 27 August 2006)

According to the report by Sin Chew Daily, the Umno Deputy Youth Chief argued that any action that "upholds the dignity of religion and the interest of ethnic community" does not require an apology, adding that Umno Youth must remain firm on its stand, even on matters involving other BN component parties.

"Many people say our criticism is too harsh, provocative and extreme, but this does not matter as we are upholding our religious dignity and pride. So why should I apologise?"

The daily also reported that KJ’s boss Hishamuddin Hussein was upset with MCA Youth for repeatedly asking his deputy to apoglose, saying that the issue should be resolved internally.

MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai, who on Saturday condemned KJ’s statement, saying that he intended to solve the issue through proper channel, however it’s understand for Umno Youth to understand the views and opinions of MCA Youth.

PM: Khairy must clarify

Coincindentally, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the father-in-law to Khairy, was quoted as saying KJ’s controversial remarks has stirred dissatisfaction among MCA and the Chinese community, so a proper explanation must be made by him, adding that it was necessary for leaders to be mindful of their words.

(SOURCE: Sin Chew Daily, 27 August 2008)

MCA president Ong Ka Ting in his keynote address squashed the perception that MCA or the community takes advantage of friends who are facing challenges is totally incorrect and said that MCA had always stood together with Umno through "thick and thin".

The Reality

Right, no apologise. My two questions remains unanswered.

Nevertheless, we’ve been hearing much about traditionalism, or sometimes so-called ethnocentrism, the belief in the overriding sanctity of the way we used to think, can ruin civilizations as well as invidual lives. But over time, the process worked.

The ideology of multiculturalism as practised in Malaysia since the era of Tunku Abdul Rahman, in a way trying to forge a common national identity out of a multitude of cultures, might lurch into crisis if the feeling of whole community is not being taken into consideration.

I’m born in this country. I grow up in this country. I’m educated in country. It’s of tremendous importance to me that I’m part of the vibrant, challenging, frustrating, beautiful and above all, this is the only country that I know and the country that I call home.
What I’m asking for, is just a little respect from you.

Can you please, KJ?

The andrelina rush keeps going, void of sign of slowing down.

The comedy show

First, when Umno Deputy Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin remark that the Chinese Malaysian community would take advantage of infighting to make demands to advance their interests went to the public, leaders from MCA and Gerakan condemned the statement, calling it unwanted and insensitive.

Almost immediately, Khairy, who is also the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law, quoted by Bernama as saying  MCA and Gerakan’s leaders has misconstrued the message in his speech, which means, all leaders who condemned him were interpreting his incorrectly that he didn’t mean to be so.

Then, medias reported that MCA Deputy Youth Chief Ling Hee Leong has a private meeting with KJ and reached a "consensus", by clarifying that Khairy had no intention to hurt the feelings of the Chinese Malaysian community, and that the two of them had agreed to "look forward to the greater interest of the nation".

Apparently, that’s not the end of issue when MCA Youth secretary-general Wee Ka Siong said the matter should be sorted out through the proper channel while MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai said KJ must be sincere in solving the controversy created and explained why he was misunderstood as quoted.

KJ’s boss Hishamuddin Hussein, who is also the Barisan Nasional Youth Chief, then came out to the protection of KJ by saying that issue has been resolved and not to play up the issue anymore.

"Only great leaders will do great things"

Today, during the MCA Youth 43rd annual general assembly, MCA Youth wanted KJ to apologize for this remark as his statement has not only hurt the MCA’s feelings but also that of the Chinese community.

MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai condemned KJ’s statement, saying that there is no market for such heroes in this globalised world.

"There are people claiming that shares of a company cannot be sold to non-bumiputeras … some claimed that (whenever) Umno (is in a weak position), the Chinese would take advantage and make demands. […]

"I want to remind them, such actions are a form of myopic racial sentiments, meant to create self inflated heroism to exaggerate a community’s insecurities. Such actions have no market in the globalised era," Liow said to thunderous applause. […]

"Those who spread such sentiments, if not meant as a distraction, are out to gain political mileage.

MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy congratulated Liow for his speech and saying that MCA leaders must voice their stand and opinion as one in order to let the people know their duties and challenges.

"We must be united and defend the rights of multi-ethnic Malaysians via the principles, cooperation and increased competitiveness that have been agreed on.

"This is the only way for all the ethnic groups and the nation to have a future. "Our effort is to defend our nation and face the world."

The REALITY

Apologize or not is one issue, but more importantly, sincerity of the intention is which matters most. To put that aside, what make me wonder is, firstly, there are other paths and means which are more acceptable, civilised and noble in achieving fame and glorious success, but why a brilliant oxbridge graduates who represents a new generation of Umno leaders has chosen to cling the old ways of ethnocentrism?

Second, as 49th Merdeka Day is merely a few days down the road, unfortunately, we’ve not grown any wiser. Instead of connect and collaborate well to prepare the nation for a globalized world, our young politicians are occupied with playing up racial issues, which leads me to the next question: How can someone whose political ideology runs along these lines lead the next generation of UMNO in the face of the challenges of globalisation?

Now, you tell me.

The Star’s SMS alert at 3:30pm.

MCA Youth wanted Umno Deputy Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin to apologise for his remark that BN component parties would take advantage of a weak Umno.

More details soon.

Before this, there were only illegal street racers or Mat Rempit.

Due to the global evolution, Mat Rempit went through a new revolution, then we’ve Mat Cemerlang.

Now, the latest, Putera Umno will set up clubs for them around the country, in an effort to reach out to the youngsters and change society’s negative perception towards Mat Cemerlang.

Umno Deputy Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the clubs would give the youngsters a sense of belonging and the movement would use the platform to create awareness on the hazards of negative activities like drug abuse and juvenile delinquency.

(SOURCE: The Star,  26 August 2006)

Look at that "we’re brothers" handshake.

A classic piece of masterwork.

On Tuesday, MP Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin) calling on the Government to release the list of the 159 people who bought the seized luxury cars from the department.

Mohd Said told the House that he learnt that of the 159 names, seven were politicians including one deputy minister. 

"The deputy is said to be with the Finance Ministry in charge of the Customs."

Yesterday, Nanyang Siang Pau revealed to have received a name list of 150 buyers through reliable source, which contains information of at least 8 politicians.

(SOURCE: Nan Yang Siang Pau, 24 August 2006)

Based on the report, those who’re alleged to be among the list:  Deputy Finance Minister Ng Yen Yen and Awang Adek, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurs and Cooperatives Development Khamsiyah Yeop, Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom, Parliament Secretary of Prime Minister’s Department Masitah Ibrahim, Senator Lim Kee Moi, Pahang State Executive Councillor Shahiruddin Ab Moin.

Most of the cars were Mercedez Benz, while others include expensive makes such as BMW, Jaguar, Audi, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Honda. National carmaker Proton however, did not make the list.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ng said the procurement of the care was done through a "normal process" and a large sum had to be spent to make the car, a 1998 model, road worthy.

Meanwhile, Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary Hilmi Yahya said the list of the 159 names had been handed to Bernard Dompok, who is the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity.

Thanks blogger KY for the head-up.