Blair’s A Journey: Memoirs of a Loser

September 14, 2010 Tony Blair’s A Journey: Memoirs of a Loser by William Underhill (www.newsweek.com) George W. Bush honours his Brit Poodle Thanks, Mongkut Bean for the video Pity poor Tony Blair. This week sees the publication of his much heralded memoirs. By rights, this should be his big moment. Three years after leaving Downing [...]

Formidable Obstacles for Najib’s Economic Reform

September 14, 2010 Malaysia’s Economic Reform will face formidable obstacles by David Chance The country’s plans to revitalise investment by backing national champions and ending race-based policies may sound ambitious, but the details are hazy and real economic reform will face formidable obstacles. The government starts public consultations this month on a new round of [...]

Raw Deal for East Malaysians after 47 years

September 14, 2010 Raw Deal after 47 years in Malaysia CERITALAH www.thestar.com.my It will take more than just granting holidays or constant reassurances of goodwill. Sabah and Sarawak deserve their share of the nation’s wealth and attention. Furthermore, the respective points of the two agreement have to be adhered to. I WAS born on August [...]

Towards Better US-Malaysia Ties, says Ambassador Paul. W. Jones

September 14, 2010 New US Ambassador Paul W. Jones Vows better US-Malaysia Relations United States ambassador-designate to Malaysia Paul W. Jones has vowed to bring the US-Malaysia ties  to a stronger level. Jones, who reported duty at his office here today, said US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had encouraged him [...]

Econ 101: Efficient Price

September 14, 2010 Efficient Price in the Real Economy Is such a thing an efficient price in the real economy? I wonder. There is no pure competition and pure monopoly. But there is in theory an efficient price where  demand and supply are in equilibrium. Read on.–Din Merican Efficient price is where demand and supply [...]

The New York Times-LKY Interview that got KJ hopping mad!

September 13, 2010 “I think if the Tunku had kept us together, what we did in Singapore, had Malaysia accepted a multiracial base for their society, much of what we’ve achieved in Singapore would be achieved in Malaysia.“–Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew “We are different.”–Khairy Jamaluddin. “Yes, we are, KJ. For starters, we are mediocre [...]

PKR Elections: An Exercise in Democratic Politics

September 13, 2010 Contest for PKR Deputy Presidency: An Exercise in Democratic Politics by Terence Netto @www.malaysiakini.com PKR needs a leader in the No 2 slot at this stage of the country’s political transition that knows the enemy and thus can prepare the party at crafting counter-strategy. This is the composite opinion of a slew [...]

PKR Deputy Presidential Race: Let Good Sense Prevail

September 13, 2010 www.sun2surf.com.my Zaid can play advisory role in PKR by David Yeoh ” …much of public discourse has departed sharply from reality. Self-evident common sense appears to have been turned on its head. Reality seems to have been recast, with fantasies recalibrated as facts while demonstrate truths are dismissed as a matter of [...]

The Way Forward for Malaysia

September 13, 2010 www.btimes.com.my Global Competitiveness: The Way Forward for Malaysia by Dato Seri Mustapa Mohamed MITI Minister (mustapa@miti.gov.my) RANKINGS have now become commonplace. Countries are being benchmarked based on the level of transparency and the integrity of their institutions. In the economic sphere, the competitiveness of countries is evaluated on an annual basis by [...]

The Malaysian Economy: Gavin’s Point of View

September 13, 2010 Straight Talk: 6% Economic Growth: Fact or Fantasy by Gavin Khoo Kay Peng (September 11, 2010) PM Najib announced the country is poised to grow by at least six per cent this year fuelled mainly by domestic demand. An immediate reaction from some segments of the public and people on the street [...]

Reform PDRM (?)

September 12, 2010 To New IGP: Reform Polis Di-Raja Malaysia (PDRM–Royal Malaysian Police) by Hazlan Zakaria@www.malaysiakini.com (September 7, 2010) With a new IGP on the way, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) may have another chance at reform if the new police chief makes tough decisions like the British High Commissioner to Malaya, Gerald Templer, once [...]

“We desperately need some Galbraith replacements on the beat”.

Evan Jones: “We desperately need some Galbraith replacements on the beat”. John Kenneth Galbraith: 1908-2006 More than a magnificent stylist By Evan Jones Evan Jones reflects on the Great Economist. John Kenneth Galbraith died on 29 April (born 15 October 1908), only a few years short of a century innings. And compus mentis almost right [...]

Economics and History:Each generation will reinterpret the past and deliver its own verdict.

September 12, 2010 Sweep Economics from its throne by Gideon Rachman When Paul Krugman, a Nobel prize-winning economist, clashed with Niall Ferguson, a famous historian (and FT contributing editor), over how best to respond to the economic crisis, Prof Ferguson’s response was humorously humble. “A cat may look at a king,” he wrote, “and sometimes [...]

Days of Reflection for MM Lee Kuan Yew

September 11, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/world/asia/11lee.html?pagewanted=1 The New York Times: The Saturday Profile Days of Reflection for Man Who Defined Singapore by Seth Mydans (published: September 10, 2010) “SO, when is the last leaf falling?” asked Lee Kuan Yew, the man who made Singapore in his own stern and unsentimental image, nearing his 87th birthday and contemplating [...]

Azmin Ali-Zaid Ibrahim Debate

September 11, 2010 Debate between Azmin Ali and Zaid Ibrahim: A Mixed Reaction by Terence Netto@www.malaysiakini.com The opportunity to offer cogent arguments for the advantage of his approach over his rival’s to party and national affairs remains the most compelling argument for holding a debate between contestants for the post of PKR deputy president. Since [...]

Musa Hassan must be accountable for his statement and misdeeds

September 11, 2010 Musa Hassan must be accountable for his statement and misdeeds by Din Merican Muslims in Malaysia concluded Ramadan on  September 9 and  they celebrated Eidil Fitri  yesterday. Muslims know Ramadan is a very special month. The Takbir Raya which began since maghrib (evening prayer on September 9) is always so poignant and [...]

Message to Mahathir, Perkasa and Fellow Malaysians

September 11, 2010 Prime Minister Najib’s Message to Malaysians on Hari Raya: Tear Down the Walls of Suspicion Muslims in the country have much to be thankful for to be able to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri in peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.“We are free from the wars, conflicts, oppression [...]