Election Campaign in Pandemic Era

Malaysia is having an election for one of her state in Johor on 12 March 2022. The election campaigning tactics have evolved due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused many changes to ways of life in what is loosely known as new normal. Each political party is resorting to new normal ways to reach voters in the face of the constraints as a result of social distancing and big crowd gathering restrictions. 

You can see the below video to see how video of Tik Tok style aspect ratio has been distributed via WhatsApp chat platform to send the political messages to potential voters.

Innovation or Adaptation out of necessity is not new but the concept can be adopted into the new environment in this fast changing world. Time will tell if this method of communicating ideas will work effectively.

Marriage of Convenience: Muafakat Nasional

UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) and PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) which were both championing Malay rights and Islamic rights respectively formed a Muafakat Nasional (MN) after both lost in the 2008 general election in Malaysia. Both parties were deepening their propaganda by working together to attract Malay voters in Malaysia. All ethnic Malays are Muslims in Malaysia.

UMNO had been governing Malaysia for more than 60 years but the Malay population, except for those elitists linked to UMNO, is largely quite poor. PAS governed Kelantan for a few decades but the state remains one of the poorest state in Malaysia. When both of them joined force to revitalize their political influence, their new rhetoric garnered some support among the Malays believing that MN was finally and truly going to fight for their race and religion. On paper, their political propaganda made some sense but but it is merely propaganda and nothing else.

With the ongoing political maneuvers, UMNO had gained upper hands by out-playing PAS and PAS's the other partner, Bersatu which is also a splinter group from UMNO, in recent months. UMNO and PAS are now in collision course again in Johor state election after UMNO's landslide victory in Melaka state election without working with PAS. At the same time, UMNO, PAS and Bersatu are still able to work together to hang on to the majority to form national government of Malaysia. 

You can see the contradictions among three of them. Muafakat Nasional or not, UMNO and PAS are just political marriage of convenience to gain power to rule the country or any state therein. The morale of the story is that their political narratives are just not to be believed at all.

They failed to uplift the wellbeing of Malays who are also Muslims for the last 60 years. One cannot trust any of them to do a better job for the country or any state in the next 1, 5, or 60 years.

Michelle Yeoh and Vincent Tan on Flood

Credit to New Straits Times, Malaysia

Several cities and towns in Malaysia were flooded on the eve of Christmas 2021. This has proven to be the worst flooding in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor for a few decades. Michelle Yeoh, Malaysian born Hollywood actress, and Vincent Tan, top 10 richest man in Malaysia joined armed forces to clean up one of the hardest hit township, called Sri Muda.

As recounted by the victims in Sri Muda, Michelle Yeoh and Vincent Tan both came in and left in helicopters. Nonetheless, you will be surprised that both of them got their hands dirty while trying to help the victims in cleaning up on Christmas Day. On that day, water level at most of the flooded area had not subsided yet. Many victims and households were still sitting at their rooftops waiting for rescue.

You can see how both of them have contributed to the cleaning up as compiled by the Star news portal. Michelle Yeoh's father,  the late Yeoh Kian-Teik, was a politician from Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). The Star is controlled by the same political party, MCA.

Malaysians praise their efforts. Some have called for alternative ways for them to contribute to ease the flooding situations rather than doing the physically strenuous hard work of moving spoilt furniture and cleaning:

1. Michelle (aged 59) and Vincent (aged 69) are both seniors by age. They should really not get themselves involved in potentially harmful physical hard work for their age that may get themselves injured even in the interest of helping others.
2. They joined the 502 Territorial Army under the 4th Malaysian Infantry Division (4 Div) soldiers in their cleaning work. They should really let the young and strong soldiers attend to physically demanding activities. These young and trained soldiers would surely do a better job than the 2 respected elders.
3. Michelle is a multi-millionaire who is famous in Malaysia. Perhaps, it would be better that she donate money, clothes, food, blankets, etc to the victims. Vincent is a multi-billionaire in Malaysia. He would have been able to donate tens of million to relief efforts providing swift help to the victims.
4. Michelle has a strong fan base in Malaysia including social media e.g. facebook, instagram, twitter. If she called upon her fans to help out, it is certain that hundreds if not thousands of fans from all over the country, especially the young ones, would have come out to help the victims. One must understand that Sri Muda is one of the worse-hit by flood but by no means the only one affected. Klang, Bentong, Mentakab, Temerloh, Raub, Maran, Hulu Langat, Segamat, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, etc were all  and some are still badly affected by the flood. The widely spread-out of locations of fan can provide an immediate relief by volunteers at many different locations at one time, without just focusing on Sri Muda.
5. Vincent owns many listed companies in Malaysia including Sports Toto, Berjaya Land, Starbucks, 7 Eleven, etc which have a combined staff force of 40,000 employees. If Vincent mobilized some of these employees who are scattered throughout the country, the relief efforts would have gotten a much needed impetus.
6. With helicopters at their disposal, one wonder if those helicopters would be at better use if they were channeled to fly the victims out of inaccessible flooded areas in Sri Muda. As the prime minister of Malaysia explained it, many areas remained inaccessible at the time because the road signs and names were submerged in water. Governmental rescue workers were perhaps confused, but bird's eye view of helicopters were immensely valuable at that time.
7. Vincent owns many boats and yachts. Whichever suitable transportations could have  commissioned by Vincent to all the flooded areas to help rescue work. With Vincent's generosity in providing boats, there can be many more 'Abang Viva' or Azwan Omar.
8. Michelle and Vincent are pleaded to spare more days in the relief work just like Abang Viva and not just spend one morning of presence. They can certainly inspire many more to come out to help out. Victims in Pahang, Johor and Negri Sembilan still need help as of today. 

Many of us thank Michelle and Vincent. Some of us would like them to contribute better, and yet without hurting themselves physically, by having larger impact in the real hard work of rescuing victims and the cleaning aftermath...

Kleptocrat and Wheeler Dealer: Najib Razak

The world renown kleptocrat, Najib Razak (a ruler who uses political power to steal his country's resources) in Malaysia is now also known as a big-time political wheeler dealer. He is willing to and can do anything to maintain influence and hang on to the stolen wealth.

In a book written by his ex-aide, Romen Bose, it was revealed that Najib was willing to concede his prime ministership to his political foe, Wan Azizah to hang on to political power despite losing the Malaysian general election in 2018.

Najib said, "I spoke to Anwar (Ibrahim), as you know, and Wan Azizah can be sworn in as prime minister immediately if Anwar can agree that PKR will come out of Pakatan (Harapan) and be BN friendly. But he has not responded so far. I am happy to hand over to Wan Azizah and Zahid can be deputy prime minister, as long as we keep Mahathir away from the premiership."

Anwar Ibrahim is Wan Azizah's husband and the de-facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) then. As the history played out, Anwar did not agree to do the deal with Najib.

Malaysians BEWARE!!! Najib was and is till willing to do anything to hang on to power directly or indirectly in order to keep the wealth stolen from country during his tenure as the prime minister of Malaysia 2009-2018.

Credit to newmandala.org

Malaysian Politics- PAS only joins the Winner

I would normally not comment about a neither here nor there political party like PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia). It is not that the party is not significant politically in Malaysia, it has strong grassroots and support base over several states in Malaysia. It has however become more of a power hungry party that is more than willing to 'sleep' with any coalition or party that can hang on to power, namely form a government at federal or state level.

When PAS was out of power, it was willing to work with Barisan Nasional (BN, which is dominated by UMNO or United Malay National Organisation), but when Perikatan Nasional (PN, which is dominated by Bersatu, a splinter party from UMNO) had an upper hand to form a new government, PAS immediately had a change of heart and switched its allegiance to Perikatan Nasional (PN).

This is utterly glaring when PAS abandoned BN totally to join PN in the upcoming Melaka state election on 20 November 2021. PAS went further to abandon its party logo that is in existence and has been used since 1947 in the coming state election of Melaka in favour of PN's logo, a coalition party that is less than 2 years old.

It is believed that PN has a stronger chance of winning the state election and forming a government in Melaka. So much for PAS's self-proclaimed religious values. Is it just a party that is playing its cards to its advantage and maximize its ability to stay in power? Time will tell...

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/11/02/pn-banner-only-for-melaka-ge15-is-another-matter-says-pas-man/

You will appreciate how 'strong' is PAS's allegiance to PN when you read the above article, and further understand what is the key focus of this modern PAS in the era of current leadership.

When Lawmakers are Only Capable of Reading Script...

The prime ministers of  Malaysian political party, UMNO (United Malays National Organization) since 2009, including ex-UMNO prime minister Mahiaddian Yasin who formed Bersatu party, have a history of appointing less than capable personalities to be the ministers and deputy ministers. Some of the appointed ministers had since become laughing stocks of the world. These prime ministers preferred loyalty over competency, and the outcome is obvious.

The result is disappointing when you see each of these 70 ministers and the deputy ministers drawing tens of thousand of Malaysian Ringgit a month are only able of reading pre-prepared script provided to them in the parliamentary debate on 5 year national development plan 20021-2025. Parliament is a formal conference for the discussion of public affairs. It is a place for intellectual discourse to discuss and decide the important policies for the whole country. Treating it like a 'Reading Class' at a school in Malaysia simply does not cut it. It is plainly wrong for a country's important policies to be pushed through without check and balance, and discussion on the appropriateness of the policies.

Mr prime minister of Malaysia, Malaysian parliament is not a school classroom. I beg your pardon.

Outside Malaysian Parliament

Inside Malaysia Parliament ?

Tumultuous Politics in Malaysia

Malaysia had a general election on 9 May 2018, formally known as the 14th Malaysian general election (GE14).

In an unprecedented victory, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, which had been the country's opposition at federal level prior to the election, won a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat (the legislature's lower house) together with the Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN).

PH and WARISAN cumulatively secured 121 seats in the 222 seat legislative house. The election heralded the first regime change in Malaysia's history, as the erstwhile ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had enjoyed an uninterrupted reign over the country since Malaya's independence in 1957, despite rampant corruption and abuse of power, was eventually voted out of power.

In a blatant act of betrayal, Mahiaddin Md. Yasin of PPBM (as splinter group of PH) worked with BN and other smaller opposition parties, by offering ministerial and governmental positions to these parliamentarians, to secure enough support on 1 March 2020 to form a new government and there forth went against the mandate of the people in GE14.

In a twist of fate, the BN team withdrew their support for Mahiaddin causing his government's collapse. Ismail Sabri of BN however turned around to offer benefits to PPBM members and other unprincipled smaller parties to regain the control of the Dewan Rakyat by getting assent from the king to form another new government on 21 August 2021, although he has not gone through a vote of confidence in the Parliament as yet. A confidence vote has never been undertaken by Mahiaddin or Ismail despite the fact that it is constitutionally required under the Westminster styled government inherited from the British.

Malaysian modern history is becoming more like a Star Wars saga. George Lucas will probably  be delighted to know this 😄 :

A New Hope                        (9 May 2018)

The Empire Strikes Back     (21 August 2021)

Return of the Jedi                 (?? ?? ??)

The saga continues...

Democracy - the Ways of Mahiaddin

The prime minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, as he is made known, which is only a fake or convenient name for his real name, Mahiaddin Md. Yasin. This secret has been kept away from the Malaysian public through out his 50 political years including the times as the Menteri Besar (chief minister) of Johor state.

He was likely to have lost the majority confidence of the members of the parliament (MPs) in Malaysia since Jun 2021. He however had used numerous tactics to delay or avoid parliamentary seating that allow a vote of confidence against him. He has further delayed a proper parliamentary seating to 6 September successfully, despite public outcry and pressure of the country's royals. Mahiaddin can practically write a book on how to shamelessly stay in power despite losing parliamentary majority for future tyrants.

He has embarked on buying spree to secure support from more members of parliament for him to survive a vote of confidence in September 2021. He has not been subtle in doing so at all by offering what is known as Malaysian Ringgit 30 million each to as many as 8 opposition MPs within 24 hours on 7 August. See below:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/opposition-dap-mps-claim-bribes-offered-in-exchange-for-backing-muhyiddin

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2021/08/07/usaha-beli-ahli-parlimen-pembangkang-sedang-rancak-kata-saifuddin/

Democracy has been reduced by Mahiaddin into a pure trade of buying and selling of parliamentary votes. Malaysians have to rise to the occasion and stop opportunist like him who takes advantage of parliamentary democracy in Malaysia. Rise or Stay Suppressed.

Malaysian Prime Minister: The Diarrhoea Affairs 😏😏

 

Many Malaysians woke up to a surprise on Wednesday morning, 30 June 2021 to learn of the prime minister's media statement by his office to publicly announce that he had been admitted to an unidentified hospital in Kuala Lumpur for diarrhoea. The 2 liner media release immediately caught the attention of journalists and the imagination of Malaysians.

It was unusual for a public figure to proudly announce his diarrhoea (definition: passing loose or watery bowel movements 3 or more times in a day) when he could have received treatment without public knowledge. Similarly, you won't see any celebrity, influencer or netizen to proudly announce that they are experiencing diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea is a common illness caused by food poisoning, etc that one would probably not even go to a doctor.  One may get a outpatient treatment at a clinic or hospital if it is serious. It seldom requires hospitalization for treatment. Hospitalization may happen only if the symptom persists and remains serious for several days. 

The eagerness to make a public announcement of a diarrhoea was most perplexing to Malaysians. There was no rumour that the prime minister office was trying to quash or clarify. His office was just happily announcing that he had diarrhoea and wanted to be hospitalized for it. What was the prime minister trying to get at?

Rumours swirled after (but not before) the media statement of the prime minister's office. Some accused him of evading a meeting with the king on that day itself whereby his majesty was expected to ask the prime minister to convene parliamentary seating immediately and before 1 August 2021, while others said that he might be unwell due to recurring of his pancreatic cancer. His office insisted that he only suffered a digestive system infection on 4 July and not a recurring cancer. Factually, the prime minister was still hospitalized for his diarrhoea after 5 days. The truth remained a mystery even though a clarification had been made mainly due to vague choice of words in the most recent media release. The morale of the story is to not issue a media statement when there is no necessity to do so, unless there is an hidden agenda unknown to others...

Equally Interesting Fact: The prime minister has been known as Muhyiddin Yassin officially for decades in Malaysia, when his actual name unknown to all Malaysians is actually Mahiaddin Md Yasin.

WORLD CHAMPION: Malaysian Covid-19 New Cases and Deaths

It shows when rampant corruption is taking its toll on the finance of a country. Malaysia is a classic case of a country that is depleted of its wealth and additionally incurred huge amount of debts beyond its capability to repay. The wealth of the country has gone into personal accounts of a handful of elitist individuals.

When Covid-19 hit the country in 2020, the country was ill-prepared to fund financial measures to alleviate the burden on the people due to the requirement of lockdown to stem2 the spread of coronavirus that endangering lives. 1.5 million Malaysians of lower income would be adversely affected by any lockdown that stalls economic activities. In Malaysia's failure to offer financial assistance to these people, the country allows them to withdraw their own money from the national employee provident fund putting these people at risk financially when they retire. You wonder if any other well-managed country in the world is doing the same. Does this government even care about the ordinary people?

The country faces a situation of knowing the dire need to lockdown but the government has no financial ability to withstand the economic losses. The government has no choice but to allow economic activities to go on. This limited lockdown has failed to contain new Covid-19 cases in Malaysia for the last 2 months. Somehow, the government thinks that if it keeps doing the same things that have failed previously, the same things may somehow become a success.

Malaysia is currently recording the highest new cases and new deaths per 1 million of population in the world! Malaysia has surpassed India and the USA on both counts. Yes, Malaysia is the reigning  world champion in taking the brunt of economic hardship and loss of lives as a result of Covid-19.

The situation is so bad that the world renown kleptocrat, Najib Razak, who is also one of the elitist individuals from Malaysia is poking fun at the Malaysian government by showing the below chart.

Kleptocrat Vs Clown

Amazing things happen in Malaysia. You can have a convicted kleptocract, Najib Razak, telling the professionally appointed finance minister what to do with the latter's job.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/04/26/zafruls-kwan-response-unbelievable-says-najib/

A career banker turned politician, Zafrul Aziz, used RM3 billion of National Trust Fund (KWAN) for Covid-19 vaccine expenses on the basis that the expenses were never allocated in the budget that he presented at the Parliament of Malaysia. Zafrul was certainly humiliated when Najib said, “It is certainly unbelievable that such an important spending as vaccines was never allocated for in the government’s RM310 billion budget last year.”

Would you believe that is the quality of work by a career banker, previously CEO of CIMB Bank?

At the same time, Covid-19 vaccine expenses have been increased to RM5 billion from RM3 billion to buy vaccines and RM2 billion is now spent only for the logistics of carrying out the vaccinations. If you find the costs astonishing, you are not alone. Malaysia, what a wonderful country you are!

The kleptocract further asked, “Are we to believe that vaccines suddenly cost 50% more while logistics cost has increased 100% within five months between last December and April?”

It looks like a career banker is really not better than a kleptocract. Do you not agree?

       WHO LOOKS MORE LIKE A CLOWN NOW ?

Double Standards are the New Norm

Many worsening governance and health conditions in Malaysia have been brought about by Muhyiddin Yassin's administration since he led the coup to take over and form the government of Malaysia in March last year. He has shown how basic integrity of a governmental agency can be adversely degraded within 1 year.

The once respected Health director-general, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, has been reduced to a spokesman for double standards to defend the Covid-19 home quarantine decision for a member of Muhyiddin's ministerial cabinet, Edmund Santhara, upon his return from New Zealand when everyone else except for key members of Muhyiddin's administration would have to stay at a designated quarantine centre.

Noor Hisham's claim that New Zealand is a low-risk country and Edmund has a suitable home for quarantine are untenable as Edmund is still exposed during the 10 hours flight, transit, waiting  and boarding time at the airports. Having a suitable home has never been a key consideration unless quarantine centres are unable to cope with the number of cases, which is not the case now. Most of the quarantine centres in Malaysia are fairly empty for some time. Noor Hisham's afterthought defense makes him look like one of the political stooges of Trump's era but in Malaysia.

On the other hand, a Malaysian pilot, Mani Vannan of Singapore Airlines, said his request for home quarantine to take care of his cancer-stricken mother had been refused. He said he had sought exemption early last month after doing seven Covid-19 tests and having been vaccinated in Singapore. 

Seriously, Noor Hisham? Vaccination is not better than having a controversial stay of 55 days in New Zealand. Perhaps, more Malaysians should fly to New Zealand to build up immunity as opposed vaccination. 

An opposition member has criticized the double standards between one who is rich and powerful, and another who is an ordinary citizen, as displaying arrogance and contempt for right against wrong. The truth is Muhyiddin allows rampant double standards in his administration because he cares more for his position as prime minister than the health of Malaysians. He needs the support of Edmund as parliamentarian to have his allegedly already lost razor-thin majority in Malaysian parliament to stay in power.

Anything but Parliament in Malaysia

Malaysia's king, as advised by the prime minister, recently declared a nationwide State of Emergency in January this year to curb the spread of Covid-19, while at the same time the government enforces Movement Control Order (cordon sanitaire) as provided by Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967 to also curb the spread of Covid-19. 

What is the end result of the doubly measures?

Effective 5 March, all sectors are open, without restrictions but must be in compliance of health ministry's standard operating procedures (health SOPs) on wearing masks, distancing, etc. All social events like reunion, wedding, birthday and holidays are allowed. Business sector has been able to operate much earlier.

The parliament for lawmakers is however still restricted from reconvening. Apparently, Malaysian lawmakers are the worst people when it comes to compliance of health SOPs. They are not allowed to do their work as representatives of the people. One would have thought they are honourable elected members of the society who has some civilized decency. Would you not think so?

This is a wicked democracy, if there is still a democracy. In fact, there is no democracy, no check or balance, and no accountability if there is no parliament to watch over the shoulder of executives of government. The prime minister and his cabinet ministers, as executive branch of the government, have almost unlimited power to act. Abuse and corruption immediately crop into the minds of many Malaysians. Malaysia has a long history of abuses and corruptions by the ruling regime.

Malaysia State of Emergency 2021

Malaysians would not have been bored sitting at home even if the country has been going through several series of lockdowns during the last one year as a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic. The latest excitement is the national State of Emergency (Darurat in Malay), the first in 50 years. Your read it right. The country is having Emergency for 7 months till 1 August 2021. It may sound like the cause of pandemic but it is not. Malaysia has more than enough laws to handle infectious diseases with Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967 whereby the government is able to issue Movement Control Order (cordon sanitaire) to control movement of people and enforce lockdowns.

The only Emergency before the country is the emergency felt by the prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin after losing the majority support of the people's representatives in the parliament. It is emergency because he is losing his job. The only way to arrest the problem is to declare State of Emergency to prevent parliament from convening whereby vote of no confidence can be tabled against the prime minister.

You will not find that many democratic countries, if any, which are enforcing Emergency rule because the prime minister is losing his job. Why should him still be prime minister if he does not command the majority support of parliamentarians? Well... His supporters say it is because he cares. Yes, in the name of 'he cares', he can continue to rule the country without democracy or any kind of checks and balances of the lawmakers.

Remember this: if you care, you should be prime minister too!  😜  

Would you not care?!?

It is of no surprise if there is a 'musical chair ' game for Malaysian prime ministership, so many Malaysians care ! Perhaps, it is more democratic if you care more... 💁

The First Lame Duck PM

Prime minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, is ruling Malaysia with a lack of 'majority'. He currently only enjoys 111 support out of a total of 222 parliamentary seats. His allies, Umno (United Malays National Organisation) and PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia), have tremendous influence over what he can or cannot do. A lame-duck prime minister is a term commonly used for his situation. He is the first in Malaysian history to be called a lame-duck prime minister. 

He has more fear of losing his prime ministership than to care about the welfare of the country. Would he even care about the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the country when he keeps losing sleep over his job?

On the eve of Christmas last year, 2 prominent leaders of Umno, Tengku Razaleigh (Ku Li) and Puad Zarkashi, speaking at different locations but stating the same messages against support for Muhyiddin's government. Puad urged Barisan Nasional to withdraw its support for Muhyiddin because he did not honour his 2021 budget promises on EPF i-Sinar scheme and the automatic loan moratorium extension. Ku Li shared the same sentiment. 

Puad also urged the party not to rigidly rule out working with others, such as the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP (Demoratic Action Party). The “No DAP, no Anwar” position by Umno should not be the party’s final stand, hinted Ku Li, the Umno veteran. Puad further asserted that the “No Anwar, no DAP” slogan would not necessarily remain relevant all the time, as political scenarios and the people would keep changing.

With prominent leaders of Muhyiddin's allies speaking openly against him, what else is in store for him? How long can he claim a majority government at the same time what his government has is the lack of majority? A majority so thin that it will collapse if 1 or 2 parliamentarians change their mind at any time.

The End of UMNO ?

If you look at the following political parties in Malaysia, you will find one thing in common among them:

1. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM)
2. Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang)
3. Group led by Azmin Ali (AA)
4. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)
5. Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan)

All of them, in one way or another, have a significant group of politicians from United Malays National Organisation (Umno). PPBM and Pejuang are practically ex-Umno parties.

Should you put Umno and the 5 spin-offs together, you can imagine how strong a political force Umno can be. Umno has for decades been known as a synonym of Malaysia insofar politics are concerned. All the prime ministers of Malaysia thus far are all closely linked to Umno's dominance.

Umno, as a once formidable political force deciding who was the prime minister of Malaysia, has degraded into a political faction that has to work with other parties just to maintain its relevance in the ruling coalition. Why? Umno has lost its shine due to its own corruption and abuse of power over the decades when the party helmed the country.

The leaders in Umno have become so greedy that Malaysia was getting too small for Umno. Malaysia was incurring huge debts just to feed the luxurious personal appetite of Umno leaders and their cronies. If history is of any lesson, Umno is expected to go down the slippery slope and become an even less influential party in the years to come. The situation is not dissimilar to those political parties once very dominant in other countries. 

The end of Umno is near. Do you agree?

The Ball-Less PM ?

No One Can Be More Ball-Less Than Him !

The sitting prime minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, is not a person you will expect him to be a world-class leader. He has not dared to hold a press conference with open questions from the press ever since he took office. Instead, he read out press release and excused himself immediately thereafter.

He did not have the courage to allow his finance minister to present the next year's national budget to the parliament. He tried to call for the state of emergency (darurat in Malay language) in Malaysia with a view of bypassing the parliament in pushing through his budget 2021. Yes, he invoked the state of emergency for his own sake and conveniently drew on Covid-19 as an excuse. He failed in his attempt when the council of Malay rulers and the king rightly rejected his advice for the state of emergency. 

Illustration by Zunar. All credits go to Zunar.my

The prevailing laws on prevention of contagious diseases from spreading is more than adequate in Malaysia but the laws do not allow Muhyiddin to put into effect his budget without going through the parliament. Perhaps, he has many things to hide from the public as regards the national budget.

He however shamelessly turned around and convinced the king to urge all parliamentarians to support his budget in the name of fighting Covid-19. Well, he just did not have the balls to do his job and to convince the parliamentarians himself. How thick skin do you expect him to be?

It is obvious to everyone that he does not command the majority support of the parliamentarians in Malaysia to approve the budget but he wants to hang on to power nonetheless. Power crazy? It is for reader to interpret. Historically, the failure of a government to obtain sufficient parliamentarian votes to approve its budget may mean the government is a minority government. This prime minister may well be the most ball-less leader of any country in the modern history of mankind.

Fun Facts about Malaysia in 2020

When you are part of the ministerial cabinet members in Malaysia, you are exempted from complying with the Covid-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOP). The general public have to comply with SOP unless risking fine and imprisonment, but not the cabinet members. Such is a rare privilege accorded to leadership of the country.

Furthermore, when Malaysia is seeing a spike in Covid-19 infections, surpassing previous highest record of cases, and the students for tertiary institutions are being turned away on the day they are supposed to be checking-in to the accommodation for registration, the prime ministers and a large number of cabinet ministers are busy playing golf and have sumptuous dinner at a remote resort while the students face tremendous hardship. This is a rare privilege accorded to leadership of this country.

At the same time, another deputy minister who is known to have fictitious university degrees went around attending official event without a simple face mask for preventing Covid-19 infection.

Independence Day has a New Meaning

A picture speaks a thousand words...

* All credits must go to Zunar. Please buy at https://www.zunar.my/

Muhyiddin Yassin, the current prime minister of Malaysia, is famous for buying support among the members of parliament to prop up his backdoor government. He did not win the election to legitimately form a government. He succeeded in forming the government by buying support of parliamentarians with money and benefits in kind while his own party is smaller than other political parties in his informal coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN). In local colloquial jargon, these members of parliament are known as frogs for hopping and switching their support. Muhyiddin's government was formed by apparently only the support of 112 out of a total of 222 parliamentarians.

According to Nur Jazlan, the outspoken leader of UMNO party which is one of the coalition party within PN, Muhyiddin is still going around buying support from members of parliament to secure his position as the prime minister to date.

For those members of parliament who are willing to support Muhyiddin, it is clear that their motivation is not for the well-being of the country but for their own flow of cash and monetary benefits. When a political party is driven by cash flow and profit, it should be known as business entity which is rightfully motivated by cash flow or profit. Its leaders and members should be known as businessmen and not politician. 

You can see the grey area is so huge in Malaysia. Business and politics are all for cash flow and profit. Poor Malaysians who voted for these politicians. Literally, these Malaysians will just get poorer over time.

Please see https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/98919/BERITA/Politik/Muhyiddin-berhentilah-cari-sokongan