I am willing to contribute RM300 for the fund to support Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan and support Malaysia's anti-corruption fight, says one reader.
Tan Chong Chuan:
I am a Malaysian working and living in Singapore. I fully agree with the need to have more people like Ramli come out and bring change to this corrupt Malaysian political culture, which was institutionalised by the ex-premier.I am willing to contribute RM300 for the fund to support Ramli and support Malaysia's anti-corruption fight.
Sabahan: Please count me in. All Malaysians with righteousness in mind should chip in. Show that you hate corruption of any form in our beloved country.
If Ramli succeeds in putting the ACA director-general behind bars, it would have a long-lasting effect, and corruption might drop drastically. People in power will have to watch their backs because one of their subordinates might blow the whistle on them.
Ramli, you have lots of support from your Sabah friends.
Justice: Thinking aloud, perhaps the fund need not be Ramli specific but the donations can be directed to a common fund with specific aims in relation to the rakyat's desire for justice to be done to such victims and anyone with a need can draw from it.
Please, please don't delay. Set it up soon for I am dying to chip in.
On Confessions of a collaborator
Anak Desa: A friend of mine (an energetic young middle-class Malay) applied for a loan from a SME Bank recently to bring in nano-technology materials and other materials from Europe to manufacture and then sell the finished products in the Asean market. After the interview, he was informed that this project would be approved.
But after three weeks, he was verbally told that his loan was rejected. Nothing was given in writing. However, upon further queries, he was told that he had to pay 15% commission based on the total loan applied as the officer had to take care of 10 people in the approval department. The 15% amounted to RM350,000. These people are milking money from prospective business people.
The officer has the guts to mention that even with Pak Lah's signature; the loans won't be given out. These are the little Napoleons' dictating terms. I am not surprised why foreign investors are shying away from investing in Malaysia.
The corruption disease is very deeply rooted and it will need a major surgery.
On Gov't mulls longer national service
Chiajoe: I, for one, do not agree that NS instils patriotism. Patriotism is from the heart and not from the mind. It is not like rote learning.
When the rakyat is treated fairly, they will be proud of their country and that is when genuine patriotism reigns, not when one is send for a three-month course.
How is the rakyat considered as being treated fairly? It is when equal opportunities are given to all regardless of race or creed. In such an environment, no courses on patriotism need to be conducted. The rakyat will naturally be proud of the country.
On Election date: Be transparent, PM told
Venze Chern: Why is our prime minister so anxious in calling an early poll when it is only due in 2009? One reason is because he has been unable to fulfill his promise after being given a overwhelming mandate in the last election.
He swore to get rid of corruption. Unfortunately, hardly any big gun was prosecuted or convicted. Instead, bribery and embezzlement move on under his very nose and the very eyes of the public.
He argued strongly to curb nepotism and cronyism. Sadly, these 'isms' continue to raise their ugly heads if not getting worse.
The PM knows what is happening. It is just that his hands are tied, he cannot exercise his power to the full. In short, he simply hasn't got the grassroots support to implement his multiple objectives.
Will calling a new election allow him to redeem his image which has been rather badly tarnished by his less-than-efficient and effective administration in the past few years? The answer is an emphatic 'no'. Sad to say, he would not be able to garner enough "support" to do what he really wants.
How deflating! How pathetic!
On Delegates lament no-show of CEOs at economic congress
Yee: I recall that there was a clear statement by leaders of the BN government that GLCs were not considered Malay companies. They were public companies and therefore should not be included in the bumiputera calculations of Malay equity.
If that is the case, then why should GLCs feel responsible to replace their non-Malay suppliers? Why should they be made to attend a forum organised by any political party? Why should they be rapped for not attending when they are not subject to any political party?
It is nothing but arrogance once again showed by the son-in-law of the most powerful man in Malaysia. If this does not further turn away Malay and Chinese Malaysians from the BN government then what will? If they are not racial then why force GLCs to change their non-bumiputera suppliers.
The BN government is further dividing the nation as they have in the last 30 years. What if Chinese businessmen say from now on that they will only use non- Malay suppliers? Will this not create a divisive county and rob Malaysia of all forms of unity?
Pak Lah says one thing but the actions of his lieutenants reveal the opposite, which makes the rakyat fed up of this administration.
