Well Done PKR, Pakatan Rakyat and YBhg. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Welcome back Elizabeth Wong

www.malaysiakini.com April 15, 2009 Wong to remain as exco member and state representative by S Pathmawathy Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today announced that embattled politician Elizabeth Wong will remain as both executive councillor as well as Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson. “The Selangor government today decided that Elizabeth Wong should resume her duties … with immediate [...]

Unfettered powers of the executive (Pt 2)

posted by din merican–April 14, 2009 www.malaysiakini.com Unfettered powers of the executive (Pt 2) by Tricia Yeoh* April 9, 2009 Similarly, the Judicial Appointments Commission’s members are selected at the sole discretion of the prime minister. This is a cause for concern as former politicians might be appointed at his will. Although not foolproof, this [...]

Unfettered powers of the executive (Pt 1)

posted by din merican—April 14, 2009 www.malaysiakini.com Unfettered powers of the executive (Pt 1) by Tricia Yeoh* April 8, 2009 Contrary to popular belief, I am not related to Michelle Yeoh, YTL or my former boss Michael Yeoh. I do not even come from a family of politicians. I am here because I simply happen [...]

Professor Nye calls on “governments [to] cooperate to stimulate their economies and resist protectionism”

Note: As you know, my wife, Dr. Kamsiah and I returned a few days ago from a 2-day (April 6-7) Asia Economic Forum Conference (organised by the University of Cambodia and sponsored by The International Foundation for Asia and Culture) in Phnom Penh. The Conference titled “Asia’s Challenges and Opportunities during a time of Global [...]

Introducing Sakmongkol AK47

Note: This is the first time I am posting Sakmongkol AK47 on this blog. By popular acclaim, our man is an interesting and insightful writer with some pungent comments about the establishment.–Din Merican April 13, 2009 by Sakmongkol AK47 Look at Najib Team (1) Some people erroneously think that it’s acceptable to take in below [...]

Batang Ai: Why it do not go to PKR

posted by din merican–April 13, 2009 www.malaysiakini.com PKR plans monitoring panel for Batang Ai by Joseph Tawie April 12, 2009 PKR has agreed to form a committee to monitor the implementation of projects promised during the recent Batang Ai by-election. The defeated candidate, PKR’s Jawah Gerang, said that in the next few days they will [...]

UMNO’s Former Minister of Tourism must take full responsibility for the messy taxi business of Tourism Malaysia, among other things.

www.sun2surf.com (The Sun Daily) April 13, 2009 The numbers don’t add up It does not take a degree in rocket science to come to the conclusion that Malaysia had (yes, in the past tense), the most expensive taxis in the world. At RM7 million for five taxis, it would have cost a whopping RM1.4 million [...]

Bakri Musa on Najib and his “recycled” Cabinet of “political expendables”

posted by din merican–April 13, 2009 The Last UMNO Prime Minister by Dr. M. Bakri Musa Morgan-Hill, California Newly-sworn Prime Minister Najib Razak created buzz when he released 13 prisoners detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and lifted the ban on Harakah and Suara Keadilan, publications of the opposition parties.  He also promised “a [...]

Najib’s One Malaysia (Gagasan Satu Malaysia): Is it the status quo by another name?

Che Det–Ketua Umum UMNO Awang Selamat of Utusan Malaysia, the UMNO controlled mainstream media tries to give us his own spin of One Malaysia (Gagasan Satu Malaysia) in his Bisik-Bisik Mingguan (Mingguan Malaysia -April 12) as follows: “Awang boleh faham gagasan Satu Malaysia. Rakyat didahulukan. Pencapaian Diutamakan semasa ia diumumkan oleh Najib sebaik sahaja dilantik [...]

Anka, Vale and Adams for the Weekend

Hello Friends, I hope you like the tunes I have chosen for you this weekend. Paul Anka, Jerry Vale and Bryan Adams have been selected to entertain you. May they bring you memories of the distant pass. Take care.–DJ Din Merican Paul Anka–You’re My Destiny Jerry Vale–Venice in Summertime Bryan Adams–Summer of 69

Najib’s Cabinet: It is round robin, given UMNO-BN’s dearth of talent

April 10, 2009 Comment: When Najib Tun Razak was announcing his new Cabinet on April 9, my wife Dr. Kamsiah and I were on board the MAS flight from Phnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur. We both were wondering at 34,000 feet above sea level somewhere between the Gulf of Thailand and Kota Bharu what his [...]

Post By-Election Review by Dr. Bridget Welsh: Najib’s a declining slope while Pakatan Rakyat takes the Hills

Pakatan’s rising hills, Najib’s declining slope by Bridget Welsh@www.malaysiakini.com April 8, 2009 The results are in, and the 2-1 victory shows that both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional held onto their original seats. But the final tallies do not suggest a status quo. Far from it. The larger majorities for the opposition indicate serious obstacles [...]

Najib rejected by Malaysians: The Mahathir Factor did not help

Din Merican in Phnom Penh Anwar: Malaysian rejected new Prime Minister by Hafiz Yatim@www.malaysiakini.com April 8, 2009 “What these results show is that Pakatan Rakyat is still very popular with the people and that they want an honest, credible government which Barisan Nasional is unable to deliver.”–PKR Vice President, Member of Parliament and Selangor State [...]

The NST Editorial post UMNO-BN loss of 2 Bukits

Din Merican in Phnom Penh April 8, 2009 The NST Editorial SARAWAK Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud may breathe a sigh of relief at the message from the voters of Batang Ai that they still have faith in the state Barisan Nasional he heads. They have delivered the state seat to the BN [...]

UMNO-Barisan Nasional faces rejection from the Rakyat

Din Merican in Phnom Penh The Malaysian Insider April 8, 2009 The momentum that Malaysia’s new Premier Najib Razak had hoped to create came to an abrupt halt last night, after the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered two heavy defeats in three by-elections. At both Bukit Gantang in Perak and Bukit Selambau in Kedah, the [...]

Congrats to Voters of Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang

From Din Merican in Phnom Penh April 7, 2009 The election results are out. Pakatan Rakyat takes Bukit Selambau (Kedah) and Bukit Gantang, despite aggressive campaigning by Tun Dr. Mahathir and others in Bukit Gantang. Muhiyuddin Yassin as Head of the UMNO-Barisan Nasional campaign suffered his first taste of defeat. More to come to this [...]

Pakatan still Kings of the Bukits and Mahathir has zero impact

posted by din merican in Phnom Penh www.malaysiakini.com April 7, 2009 Pakatan Rakyat has captured both the hills with its candidates in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau chalking up an enviable majority. In Bukit Gantang, the opposition coalition fielded ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, who was unceremoniously shown the exit after Barisan Nasional [...]