A PM for all Malaysians or A PM by APCO?

by Eyes Wide Open

Since the Government of Malaysia retained the global PR powerhouse APCO (for a reputed contract of RM20million of taxpayer’s money), Najib’s 1Malaysia seems to be getting a shot in the arm.

There are no shortages of events lately for the PM & DPM to pour their slogans on their (alleged) crowds-for-hire, eagerly gobbled up and regurgitated by the politically obedient MSM.

Coming from a A&P background myself, one can easily identify an A&P campaign in progress. And this is defintely IT!

The tell tale sign would be that there is a definite shift in communication strategy.

1Malaysia? CHECK!

From being an umbrella for a confusing hodge-podge of “anything also can” ideologies, the 1Malaysia slogan now has some semblance of a coherent ideology.

Then their are the tactical PR campaigns. If strategy is the grand roadmap to a destination, tactics would be the individual series of events along that road. The tell tale sign of a tactical campaign in progress would be a sudden spike in events that forward the intended message. Now we know that the MSM is beholden to the BN parties to forward whatever agenda they have. So this spike would have to be very significant to get noticed among all the MSM political spinning.

1Malaysia? CHECK! I can even guess roughly when the latest tactical campaign started.

It could be during the MCA settlement (objective: to demonstrate that Najib has real leadership within the BN and by extension the country – although this sort of backfired as he was seen as UMNO meddling in the affairs of MCA, a PR mistake that only foreigners like APCO unfamiliar with Malaysian politics would make).

Or most likely, the campaign was launched sometime late last week when Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading-BN) called on Ong Tee Keat and Koh Tsu Koon to quit in Parliament. Now, in our Malaysian experience, never has lone BN politicians attacked each other based on “principles”. They only turn on each other when they feel their interests are threatened by their fellow BN pols, like when Tan Lian Hoe was mercilessly attacked for suggesting that since Malays were technically immigrants to Tanah Melayu, all Malaysians should be given equal citizenship.

(Interestingly, the one who humiliated her in Parliament was also a BN Sri Gading MP, Mohamad Aziz. Could it be that APCO was ignorant that Sri Gading had changed representatives and thought the same brute could be used to attack OTK & KTK? We can only guess…)

Well, why is this sudden attack by an UMNO MP significant. Because it gives Najib an opportunity to say this a couple of days later during the Gerakan national delegates conference:

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Najib: Disregard racist remarks from certain leaders

(The Star, 2 Nov 09) KUALA LUMPUR: Racist comments from “one or two Umno leaders” should be ignored because the majority of members in the party are not racists, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Umno president stressed that the party’s policies had always been fair, inclusive, democratic and open.

“Umno is not a racist party. From the beginning, we wanted a multiracial society. Don’t listen to one or two leaders talk; that’s different. Any party has leaders like them. But look at our policies from Day One,” he said at the opening of the Gerakan national delegates conference yesterday.

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Najib also took the opportunity to proclaim that he was the “Prime Minister of all Malaysians”. So touching. However, Najib makes no mention of disciplinary action for serious breach of solidarity – how come? Perhaps because you don’t whack the assassin you hired? We can only guess…

But this outburst also gave our DPM a fitting framework to proclaim the following:

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DPM: None will be left out of mainstream development

(The Star, 2 Nov 09) PORT DICKSON: The Government has reiterated its commitment to all Malaysians that no one will be left out of mainstream development.

“That is what we have been promoting under the 1Malaysia concept. We will continue to ensure that everyone gets treated justly and his or her rights will always be protected as provided for under the Constitution and the principles of the Rukunegara,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

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Then today the news broke that the PAS-leaning former Perlis mufti was mysteriously arrested by JAIS, giving the impression of Government persecution of dissenters. But some questions linger: Why did it take a Selangor religious agency to arrest him? What about the Perlis agency – why no action for all the time he was mufti there, if indeed he committed an actionable offence? Could it be a two-pronged strategy to discredit the Selangor govt and give our PM the wonderful opportunity to demonstrate his magnanimity? We can only guess. What is sure is that for the first time, Najib had a lightning-quick, rock-solid and confident populist response for a controversial issue:

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PM questions motive for Dr Mohd Asri’s arrest

(The Star, 2 Nov 09) KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has questioned the motive behind the arrest of former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

Dr Mohd Asri, who was arrested on Sunday night, was released on a police bond Monday without being charged.

Najib said that Dr Mohd Asri was a truthful speaker whose talks were always backed by proof and clear dalil (quaranic and Hadith verses).

“I don’t know what is the motive of the arrest. It was done by the state religious agency. It has nothing to do with the Federal Government,” he told reporters on Monday after launching a Pasar Tani convention.

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However, in issues that really matter: the billion ringgit PKFZ mega scandal, the TBH possible homicide and the Perak political debacle that he himself created, Najib is absolutely silent.

This is perhaps the most credible evidence that an aggressive PR campaign is on the move, funded by taxpayers money to keep certain parties and leaders in power.

Because real leaders will tackle and at least attempt to resolve the real pressing issues.

A PR campaign will merely create issues that those leaders can easily resolve and respond to because the objective is not to solve problems but to look good.

Amidst all this saccharine sweet hullabaloo, perhaps the most telling statement from Najib (given his penchant for Freudian slips) was during the Gerakan conference, when he declared:

“I am the chairman of BN and I should make the decision for the benefit of BN.”

Eh? Not make decisions for the benefit of all the people of Malaysia meh, Mr “PM for all Malaysians”?

A Dr’s view of Dr Pornthip’s CSI

By Eyes Wide Open

Thailand’s foremost forensic pathologist, Dr Pornthip’s testimony today seriously puts paid the suicide theory already pre-formulated by the government and MACC and vigorously being sold to the judge and the public.

The blatant manipulation of testimony and evidence, and shadowy shenanigans such as the sudden discovery of a dead man’s DNA of TBH’s blazer and secretive summons for TBH’s family to undergo psychiatric evaluation only shows the world an image of the depths of depravity that the ruling junta has sunk to – they are more than ever perceived as willing to resort to anything to hold on to power.

As usual, Dr Rafick is closely following the Teoh Beng Hock inquest. And in his latest article following Dr Pornthip’s testimony, he provides some insight into the larger implications.

Excerpt:

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2. Dr PR background as a no nonsense person with 10000 post mortem behind her certainly will create a dent in anyone theory that TBH jumped out of the window voluntarily. In my previous CSI series, I have indicated that there is just no motive for him to jump. There are more motives for him to continue living as he is getting married in the next few hours.

3. In her testimony she acknowledges that, Dr PR did not visit the site. She did not examined the body but she based her findings based on the post mortem reports, pictures provided by various parties and findings of her 2 assistants that came over a few months ago. Despite that she is confident enough to conclude that there is an 80% probability that TBH was murdered. Would it be 100% or 50% if Dr PR was on site after the body was found and if she were able to do the PM on the body of the late TBH? In the peoples mind, I believe many would believe that she would have concluded beyond certainty (i.e. 100%) that TBH was murdered.

4. What does this testimony means? To some it may means that TBH was murdered by MACC officers. To me it means a lot more.

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(Read the rest of his article here)

The unscrupulous, stupid gossip

By Eyes Wide Open

I was browsing through the Star’s news site this morning and came across an article entitled “Ageing Ku Li gives up on UMNO top post”.which reported that Ku Li had given up trying to take the helm of UMNO and is retiring to focus on armchair criticism.

But KuLi has taken exception to the tone of the report. He writes in his blog:

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How kind of The Star to editorialise some words their reporter overheard while I was speaking to a Singapore news channel into a sweet little retirement story for me, complete with a helpful coda about my retiring into harmless “constructive” political commentary.

I am sorry to disappoint these aspiring scriptwriters but news of my departure is premature. Among the things I am pushing for in my undead condition is the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act which, by protecting a small number of licensee newspapers from competition, and keeping them leashed to political masters, has given us the kind of lapdog journalism you see quoted below.

I made my call for the repeal of the PPPA in a speech on Friday, a message that one mainstream newspaper did not find as newsworthy as the observation that I am going through the novel process of “ageing”(as opposed to just being “old”) and the manufactured news that I have given up an option inconvenient to some.

I may be a little too “old” to be patronised by supine editors.

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Ku Li…always the gentleman.So nice with his words. I would have been much less kind.

A few issues stand out in this report:

1.  Ku Li was NOT even talking to the Star.

Let’s forget the hoity-toity ideals of journalism for a moment. if you overhear something and you spread a juicy story to all and sundry about what you heard without verifying anything, what are you?

Well, the Oxford dictionary defines gossip as: casual talk about the affairs of other people, typically including rumour and critical comments.

I think the Star’s piece perfectly embodies that definition.

So the Star is a gossip.

2.  Ku Li was positioned as if retiring from active politics

Has the Star forgotten that Ku Li is the sitting MP for Gua Musang? And that he’s a much sought after speaker? And that he’s made many policy suggestions (which were completely ignored)?

He is hardly the sunset politician he is being painted out to be!

Not only has the Star reduced itself to being an irresponsible gossip, they have also proven to the world that they have absolutely no idea what is going on in this country.

So the Star is a stupid gossip.

3.  Ku Li has given up all hope to helm UMNO

Has the Star also forgotten that Ku Li made an attempt to at the UMNO presidency a year back? And that he has been an open (although gentlemanly) critic of the UMNO Prez cum PM’s policies. That he has been completely ignored speaks less of his relevance that of the corrupt arrogance of those holding the reins of power now.

And Ku Li himself has called this a piece of “manufactured news”. Of course, the other word for “manufactured news” is “lie”.

How difficult is it for the Star to verify the news with Ku Li? If the reporter was near enough to hear Ku Li quip, wasn’t he near enough to ask a simple question like: “Is that true?”

Well maybe the reporter did. But one thing is for sure, the editorial powers that be decided that the truth was not newsworthy enough, so they had to “manufacture” some. Obviously, the editors had no qualms about publishing lies about Ku Li.

So the the Star is an unscrupulous, stupid gossip.

Please…spread the word to everyone: why would you pay your hard-earned money to buy the lies of an unscrupulous, stupid gossip?

Surely we can put our money to better use – like flushing it down the toilet? At least flushing money down the toilet won’t damage our brains like buying the Star would!

Let’s seriously spread the word to boycott these papers. Let’s bankrupt these political lapdogs so that they know that the rakyat is not going to put up with their nonsense any more!

KuLi is kool but cilipadi Chedet has last laugh

By Eyes Wide Open

Ex-Hartal team member Helen Ang published an interesting piece comparing KuLi’s refined blogging statesmanship vs Dr M’s no-holds-barred style on her Facebook page. Here’s an excerpt:

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Of the two alpha bloggers, is it the Tun (Dr M) or the Tan Sri (Tengku) who is more New Media savvy?

TDM says “follow me on Twitter” and “Find me at Facebook”. Like Dr M, KuLi twitters too and has 1,694 Facebook friends.

Nonetheless, the Dr M Facebook pages have 25,179 fans and a whopping 107,749 supporters!

KuLi’s blog is relatively more low key. A lot of the content comprise of his speeches. He has been updating his blog sporadically since March 2008. Reporters pinch his postings for their quotes.

By comparison, Dr M’s blog is a virtual, full-blown Press briefing. All the major media keep tabs on his every opinionated word; his opinions more often than not make the news.

Ye Olde Machiavellian

Plus he doesn’t only use his blog as a podium but also for his proactive cyber campaigns, like the online poll conducted on the PPSMI about-turn. More than 100,000 Netizens took part in his survey.

Does it indicate that the 86,360 respondents – Double gasp! Demographics: professionals, suburbia, including churchgoers who are friends of my friend of my friend – or in other words, the 86% that support Math and Science in English, are avid readers of Dr M’s blog?

Well perhaps not. Maybe they just dropped in to vote.

They may hate his guts but when it comes to grasping at a straw – they think Dr M has the ear of Najib and can pull strings for a reversal of the policy – then why not let Dr M be their flag bearer to demand that English be retained.

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Click here (Facebook) to read the whole article.

UPDATE: Faisal Mustaffa has also picked-up Helen’s article, so for non-Facebookers, you can read it in blog format here.

What a barking mad-pie!

by Reina & Eyes Wide Open

Rotten journalists, like old generals, should just fade away. These are journalists who use the media to push their personal agenda or for some megalomaniac purpose, or to ensure the interests of their master/s are protected.

They do not write to enlighten the public about an issue / problem, they do not write to try and offer solutions to a persisting problem. Instead, they write to show off. Some write to please their masters – political masters, economic and business masters, social masters, etc.

These people should not even be called journalists, in the first place, because they purposefully break and bend journalism rules for selfish purposes or the purposes of a select group and gamble with the interests of the public. What they should be called are prostitutes – because they’ll do anything their pimp demands.

But at least there are NGOs working to reach out to rescue prostitutes from their fate. Unfortunately, most prostitute journalists do it out of choice and see very little need to repent.

Recently, a Malay Mail columnist broke the cardinal rule in journalism – defamation.

Rusdi Mustapha wrote in his column ‘Seri Menanti: Daulat Tuanku! What
it means’ that the Centre for Policy Initiatives is propagating anti-Malay monarchy sentiments, creating discord among the races, and questioning the special rights of the Malays.

In essence, Rusdi Mustapha accused the CPI of violating the Sedition Act.

Among his wild accussations, he claims that:

“Now, there is this organisation called the Centre for Policy Initiatives
(CPI), a self-appointed think-tank whose smug tagline of “reconstructing
policies and remaking society” is, I feel, just like what the Communist
Party of China and the former Soviet Union had been doing in their
countries.”

“I consider some of the CPI postings in its website to be very anti-Malay
monarchy sentiments.”

“I see CPI as creating discord among the three major races in the country
via its postings and trying to direct the people not to respect the royalty.”

“By questioning the essence of the protocol, CPI is also questioning the
special rights of the Malays under the Constitution …”

“I read CPI as Communist Party Initiative operating under the guise of being
a legitimate outfit …”

“…  there is no difference in tactics between the MPAJA and the CPI: they
both want the royalty to be abolished, the MPAJA wanted to kill them and the
CPI is also inciting that …”

These outrageous conspiracy theories, you would have realised by now already, are not backed by any sort of “evidence”. Rusdi has not deemed fit to provide any semblance of proof to support his claims.

This is an insult to conspiracy theorists worldwide because even the worst conspiracy theories have some sort of convoluted proof to try to justify its existence. Rusdi’s claims are merely – for want of a better phrase – complete bullshit.

Here is where the public will can catch a glimpse into Rusdi’s motives.

A seasoned journalist like him cannot plead ignorance about the defamation and sedition laws in the country. Why would he want to debase himself by writing defamatory article filled with unsubstantiated claims?

Does Rusdi feel that there was no need to fear the country’s laws because he is an adviser of some sort to the Prime Minister (or so he claims) and has been for years now and therefore has a higher level of immunity than other reporters?

Or does Rusdi  have an agenda?

And how can a newspaper go on and publish an article dotted with unsubstantiated claims? Especially Malay Mail, which has seen numerous lawsuits over the years, and its editors would definitely be aware of the defamation and sedition laws in the country either through personal experience or through knowledge?

If the Malay Mail can’t get its act together, it serves them right if they go the way of the dodo. That goes for Rusdi too.

It would be good for those who act with impunity with the arrogance of power to remember the Chinese proverb:

风水轮流转 (feng shui lun liu zhuang)

• Literally: Fortunes will always change.
• Meaning: Nothing is permanent. Change will definitely happen whether you like it or not

Who will Hindraf back in the Bagan Pinang by-election ?

by Vijay Kumar Murugavell

Video : Friday, October 9, 2009

Waytha on the future of Hindraf

Please view above video and discuss.

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In my opinion HINDRAF can no longer mobilize the “thousands” it did on Nov 25th 2007, case in point the recent candle light vigil and the threat to mobilize large numbers nationwide. Hindraf was born out of the M.Moorthy case and given impetus over insensitive temple demolitions. Hindraf often says that Pakatan states did not improve the lot of the Indians.

Hindraf says that though PR is not helming the Federal Govt, they should do whatever they can within the Framework of PR State Govts, but until today I have not seen Hindraf listing down what they are. Have you ? If that is done at least there is a platform for PR to either take action or at least explain why it cannot be done.

Waytha opines that “people” are asking him why the Pakatan is not doing “this and that” would a true leader not engage with the party concerned for an explanation than just echo what his supporters are asking without discerning if those requests are reasonable, well grounded or acheivable?

As opposed to being just a sounding board and issue press statements that are gleefully published by the MSM only for the reason they are critical of BN’s political enemies. The MSM is deafeningly silent on Waytha’s press statements critical of the BN.

The video also mentions Hindraf distancing itself from Thanenthiran and his Makkal Sakhti party who is backing BN and received the blessing of Dr.M and whose opening ceremony was graced by none other than PM Najib- but is silent on Uthaya and HRP (Human Rights Party)

MSP has pledged to campaign for BN in the coming Bagan Pinang by election, what is Hindraf’s stand, there can only be 4 possible scenarios:-

1) Back BN
2) Back PR
3) Neither – Remain neutral
4) Hindraf is still undecided on their stand.

So what will it be ?

(You can read the rest of Vijay’s article here.)

BTN – Brainwashing The Nation (Part 1)

By Eyes Wide Open

“There exists a causal relationship between a free press and democracy. Democratic institutions degenerate into dictatorship in the absence of an independent media.”

Abstract from: The role of the independent media in Africa’s change to democracy

Long-suffering African nations have long woken up to the fact that for real democracy to work, the press has to be independent so that it can act as a check on politicians.

Malaysia, however, is hell-bent on heading in the opposite direction at maximum speed. With most private media playing the role of subservient eunuchs to their political masters, how is real democracy going to exist in our country?

In the absence of a free media playing the watchdog role, Malaysian politicians are given free hand to do and say as they wish without fear of being exposed.

Just look at this pure lie that the DPM uttered during the Bagan Pinang bye-election campaign:

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Muhyiddin: BN has united the various races

(Bernama) – PORT DICKSON: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government will not allow any quarter to disrupt racial unity in the country and will promptly act against those who played up sensitive racial issues.

He said since the Barisan Nasional (BN) governed the country, it had managed to unite the various races which had different cultures, customs and religions.

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Our DPM’s face must be made of Teflon – how can he say that without batting an eyelid?. We the people have still not forgotten the keris, the cow head, nor the UITM protests, among others.

Aren’t all these incidents blatant expressions of UMNO’s Ketuanan Melayu doctrine, designed to teach the non-bumis to “sedar diri” of their place in the nation?

It is very unfortunate that the Malaysian MSM is being used to forward UMNO’s doctrine aggressively among the Malay population. But the MSM is not the biggest culprit – they merely play the supporting role to reinforce the message.

The real indoctrination of the nation is done by another government machinery, whose existence and infrastructre are widely known but whose operations are largely secretive. And the most unfortunate fact is that their primary target is the youth of our nation.

I’m talking about the Biro Tatanegara (BTN).

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He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future! (Adolf Hitler, speech at the Reichsparteitag, 1935 )

The BTN is a government agency in the Prime Minister’s Department and answers directly to the PM. This agency’s organisation and powers enable them to hold the nation’s civil servants and govt scholars by the balls.

This is because BTN courses are compulsory for all students of public institute of higher learning, government scholarship holders and civil servants. Failure to attend or pass the BTN courses would jeopardise their career prospects, academic assessments or aid/scholarship approvals.

In addition, the BTN also conducts courses for GLCs and the private sector as well as organising public seminars, forums workshops, etc. That works out to perhaps tens of thousands of participants per year (we have to rely on educated guesses as there are no official public record of attendance statistics).

Multiply this by the BTN’s 35 years in existence, we can begin to marvel at the reach that the BTN has in the country!

Despite their immense control and influence over our nation’s youth, there is no public record of the BTN’s course contents. Even the course descriptions on the official BTN website say little of what is really covered in the syllabus. In fact, the contents of BTN lectures are classified under the Official Secrets Act!

No one is allowed to record the sessions and course participants are carefully screened before they are allowed into the lecture hall. All cameras, handphones, mp3 players, etc have to be left at the door and any written materials are only given out inside the room and every single piece has to be returned when participants leave the hall.

Why all the secrecy? Anything so hush-hush surely invites suspicion.

It also doesn’t help that the BTN’s statement that it aims achieve its objectives by conducting programmes that involve:

- Attitude change, character development and realising the culture of excellence based on a value system

- Fostering awareness and realisation among the citizenry about the importance of attitude change by experiencing and planting noble values, as well as through exposing and centering the self towards character change as the basis to achieve excellence as a nation

- Experiencing values that are based on realisation of God, co-existence and the realisation of our responsibilities that permeates from the self, to the family, organisations, society and country.

(*all emphasis my own-EWO)

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“Propaganda tries to force a doctrine on the whole people.” Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (1926).

By their own words, the BTN aims to manipulate a complete change of attitude in its participants – beginning with convincing participants that they need an attitude change, then directing the participants along the pre-chosen path of attitude change, to conducting attitude changing activities itself, and finally encouraging the participants to permeate the entire nation with their new attitude.

Now, programmes to facilitate attitude change are nothing new. It is conducted by companies who want to upgrade their staff competence, by religious bodies who want to upgrade their adherents’ faith, or by motivational speakers to upgrade people’s effectiveness in life.

But in all these efforts, most participants want to attend because they can upgrade themselves in the areas offered. It is usually bottom-up participation.

In the case of the BTN, attendance is compulsory. Participants have to attend or face the consequences – this is top-down compulsion. Which means that it is not the people’s desire for attitude change that drives the program, but the government’s desire to change the attitudes of people to conform to its own ideals.

The question is – what kind of attitude does the government want in the people? What attitude is so important to them that they need a large organisation directly under the purview of the Prime Minister himself to ensure that this attitude permeates the citizenry?

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“Propaganda works on the general public from the standpoint of an idea and makes them ripe for the victory of this idea.” Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (1926).

If company programmes ultimately benefit the company, and religious programmes benefit the faith, would it be logical to conclude that government programmes ultimately benefit the government? More specifically, it would benefit the UMNO-dominated government…

So what are the youth of our nation being taught by BTN? The following song pretty much sums it up. This song is called “Warisan” and it is compulsory to be learnt and sung in all BTN courses:

(Click here for the English translation of the “Warisan” lyrics)

The Oxford dictionary defines the word “indoctrinate” as: to cause somebody to have a particular set of beliefs, especially by teaching which excludes any other points of view.

I believe the word “indoctrinate” is exactly the word to describe what the BTN is doing to the youth and leaders of our nation.

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“I became a National Socialist (Nazi) because the idea of the National Community (“bangsa”?) inspired me.” Postwar memoirs of a German woman active in Nazi youth programs

With such a racially slanted doctrine being inflicted on our nation’s young minds, is it any wonder that otherwise highly-qualified and intelligent bloggers like KijangMas, JebatMustDie and SatD cannot see past their coloured perception of Malaysian history & society?

If such intellectuals as these (who rank perhaps among the top 10% of the population) can be thoroughly influenced to see Malaysian social and political dynamics exclusively through the Ketuanan Melayu prism, what of the thousands and thousands of lesser individuals who are unsuspectingly compelled to attend BTN camps/courses?

With large segments of Malaysian society being indoctrinated with this racially alienating doctrine, is it realistic for Malaysians expect all Malaysians to live happily together within the near future?

This is where an independent press could have played its role to expose the insidious machinery, debunk the propaganda and campaign for change. The MSM could have been agents for positive change like how the Washington Post exposed Watergate and helped bring the culprits to justice.

Unfortunately, in Malaysia there is simply no such mechanism capable of checking such abuse by the powers that be. The Malaysian MSM is forced to continually publish government propaganda and cover up government abuses and other vital issues plaguing our country.

And because we do not have a free media, the intense, systematic and on-going programme to poison the minds and souls of our nation’s youth continue to go on, unchallenged and unnoticed.

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(In part 2: the effects of BTN in the participants own words)

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BTN – Brainwashing The Nation (prelude)

BN caught in a time warp

The Star proudly reports that Siow Chen Pin, the sole MCA assemblyman in the state, immediately got on the phone to call the authorities and get them to erect street lights in the rural town of Siliau (this name is very cute la – sounds like Hokkien for “die already”).

One of the people who was watching the spectacle – Gan Teck Seng – thanked Siow for his concern and prompt action.

“I have been living here for ages and we never had a streetlight. This is sad and I hope we get our wish soon,” he said.

Come on la…this kind of news ah, maybe tickle the folks back in the 60’s when most of the country still consisted of rural areas and public infrastructure was poor. Now we are well into the new millenium – you still want people to be grateful for having streetlights erected after decades of neglect?

March of the Common

Curious? Well, go here for the SABM perspective on the Bagan Pinang by-election.