A Stupid mayor With Stupid Proposal

Kuching
Thursday, 8th April 2010

Stupid Mayor With Stupid Proposal Came Under Fire By DAP Assemblyman

Kuching City South Mayor James Chan's plan to collect parking offence compounds and overdue parking notices and linking it to a 'freeze' on offenders' properties has come under fire.

In a press conference Wednesday, Chan said there would be a linkage with relevant authorities and departments on parking compounds. If people want to sell their properties, they would be in for a hard time if they have outstanding parking fees to be settled.

The plan for such a move did not auger well with Wong King Wei, Special Assistant to MP Kuching, Chong Chieng Jen.

Wong, in a press conference this afternoon, hit out at such a ridiculous idea and urged Chan to drop such plans.

Wong said parking compound may range from a few ringgits to a few hundreds but to ‘freeze’ one properties to force the people to pay would be too much.

“Some properties are worth ten of thousands if not millions,” he said. He said it was such an abuse of human rights.

He added that based on the principle of law, a personal debt did not allow the creditor to caveat even the debtor’s land.

Citing an example of the Miri Municipal Council's suggestion to the Road Transport not to renew a driver’s road tax if he has outstanding parking coupon debts, Wong said such ruling was against the violation of Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.

Outstanding traffic summons

He cited a court case - Leonard Lim vs Director of JPJ - two years ago when the latter prevented Lim from paying his road tax due to outstanding traffic summons.

The High Court ruled that by blacklisting the road user due to an unsettled traffic summon is tantamount to compelling him to admit to the alleged offence and is against the principal that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The High Court further decided that to deny a person of a motor vehicle licence is to deny the person the use and enjoyment of his motor vehicle which is in contravention of Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.

Wong said the judge further stated that the applicant was alleged of a traffic offence which is criminal in nature. He said in the unsettled parking coupons, it is not even a criminal allegation, it is a merely an unsettled debt. The city council should not force the people to admit to the unsettled debt unless they chose to do so in free will. To recover the debt, the city council should take civil Court action before a person can be adjudged as a debtor.

Asking the Mayor and others city council to learn from the court case, Wong said they should think of other legal ways to collect the outstanding parking fees and not to resort to such action.

Mupok Aku



AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

James Masing Blames Taib Mahmud For Failure of Konsep Baru NCR Land Development Concept that he Introduced about 20 years ago

KUCHING
Friday,2nd April 2010

James Jemut Masing one of Iban Leaders that Came forward to blame Taib Mahmud for the Failure of the Konsep Baru NCR Land Development Concept that he Introduced about 20 years ago..Bravo Masing!

First of all I would like to wish all of my christian visitors a happy Good Friday, and for those who is sacrifice from eating I Wish them a happy fasting.

According to christian belief, today about 2000 years ago lord Jesus Christ was crucified for the forgiven of  human sins. Similarly, on this Good Friday I would like to thank Dr James Jemut Masing for Emulate Lord Jesus Christ sacrifices by  condemning his boss Taib Mahmud for the failure of Konsep Baru NCR Land development which he introduced about 20 years ago to rob the natives of their NCR lands .

According to James Jemut Masing as qouted by Borneo Post this morning edition, Konsep Baru NCR land Development is a failure because it cannot make much profit to the land owners as compared to SALCRA and FELDA, because most of its incomes are used to pay the bank loan, with higher interest rates.

Jemut also said that the government is making an effort to study and then implement the new concept of NCR land development.

Land Owners May Withdraw From the JV

With government recognitions that the Konsep Baru of the NCR Land Development introduced by Taib Mahmud as a failure, all the land owners that had participate in the JV can now withdrawing their participations. But the problem is most of the land owners do not know how and where to withdraw from the JV.

Pakatan Rakyat(PR) and the dayak NGO like SDNU, SADIA, SDGA etc. should take this opportunity to get more support from the dayak voters by helping them to withdraw from the JV.

To all the land owners in Empaling, Ubah, Isu, sapak, Keranggas, Kanowit and many more, if you dont want to permanently lose your NCR lands, you must withdraw now. Contact your local PR and NGO offices for their assistances.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

NUTP April Fool For Muhyiddin Yassin - Special Committee to Study Teachers' Burden

Kuching
Thursday, 1st March 2010

Introduction

All Malaysians Know that  Teacher is the most relax, most Annual Leave Entitlement and the shortest working hours Amongst the whole  professions in Malaysia..What burden are they talking about?

According to the newspaper report this morning, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said that the government will study the burden or the additional workload of the teachers. The study was proposed in response to the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) complaint to the government.
According to the report, NUTP had complained to the government that some teachers cannot concentrate on their teaching because they have to attend to the additional tasks like involvement in curricular activities outside their normal working hours.

I am not against the government effort to improve the education system in Malaysia .But most of the requests or demands by the NUTP , most of the times are only focused on the salary and benefits of the teachers.Based on my observations, so far I have not seen any request/proposal by NUTP which were for the benefits of the student.

Just look at their website here and you will see that it only centred on the contributions /proposal for the benefits of their members and very few for the improvement of the education system in Malaysia. Being one of the biggest association in Malaysia, NUTP when making the request must also consider the other government agencies/staff , as their request may affect the benefits of the others.

Talking about the burden of the teachers, I don’t see that they have extra burdens compare to the others government staff from other department like clerk, police or the army. Teachers official working hours start from 7.00AM until 1.30PM, whereas the other government offices start from 8.00AM to 5.00PM. Their Annual leave is more than 60 days compare to 30 days entitlement to the other government staff.

Wow..Teachers have so much Works to Do?

The house where I am staying now, both of my neighbors (left/right) husband/wife are teachers. All of us leave our home for office almost the same time at 6.15AM but when I reach home at about 7.30PM both of my neighbors are already watching tv, and done their exercises. While my teachers neighbors have done their exercise and dinner, my wife and I who are not a teacher , dont  have time to do of these and sometimes have to take our dinner outside.

Teachers are never going to have enough money. If one go to the school nowadays, one will see the different between the cars that the teachers drive to school compares to two years ago. Two years ago, very seldom that we saw teachers driving other than the  local made cars like proton saga or kanchil  to school. But nowaday they  drive Camry, CRV and other cars that valued more than RM 100K to school.

Government Should Not Fall to NUTP Pressure

The government should not blindly entertain the NUTP pressure just merely because they afraid to lose their votes. Extra perks mean extra financial burden to government,  and other government servants will have to give way in order to fulfill the demands made by NUTP.

Those who study economy know very well that increase in salary will normally increase the price of goods and subsequently the inflation will also be increased. Money is never going to enough. As an example,  the teachers nowadays after the pay raise implemented by Pak Lah administration, can afford to drive Camry or other model that cost more than RM 100K, and the end result their saving ( income-spending) remain the same and never going to be enough as I said earlier.

What Burdens Are Teachers Talking About

Don't waste tax payers' monies to study the "no burden claims"...Just ask the teachers to wear this item to teach!

Teachers office hours start from 7.30AM to 1.30PM , seven days week , annual leave more than 60 days and their salaries are not lower than the rest of the government staff. Based on that I don’t see that the teachers have more burden compare with the other professions.

The government should not fall to their pressures, and politically Barisan Nasional (BN) government cannot win the election with the teachers’ votes alone.

So Mahyuddin..don’t be coward, please say this to the teachers :

If you feel don't want to accept additional works entrusted to you , please leave now as 1malaysia doesn't need one that cannot sacrifices and serves the nation full heatedly. There are many people out there who are willing to sacrifice and take the challenge to become a dedicated teacher !

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Palestinian Propaganda to gain Support From Muslim World (Malaysia)

Kuching
Wednesday, 31st March 2010

THE WORLD IS CONCERNED ABOUT PALESTINIAN KIDS.

(These are the images they show:)

Everyday Malaysians have been forced to support Palestinian struggle through government controls TV channels such as RTM1,RTM2, TV3 and so forth.

And for those who do not know the history of Palestinian struggle, it is similar with the Moro National Liberation Front's (MNLF)struggle in Southern Philippines and the Pattani United Liberation Army's (PULA) struggle in Southern Thailand. Their struggle are the same, to gain independent from the non-muslim governments. The only different that the Palestinian struggle compare to PULO and MNLF is that it employs dirty tactic to fight Israel.

One of the dirty tactic that the palestinian used to fight Israel is by using the children.The world has been made to believe of the Israel's cruelties to children, as shown in the photos below.

But What Actually Happened ?

All this while, Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya (HAMAS) has been provided army training to the Palestinian children. Please see the photos below to see by yourself how the children has been trained to fight the Israel army and civilians.

(These are the images they DON'T show:)

 

Conclusion and Suggestion

All this while Malaysian has been made to support Palestinian struggle as we have been made to believe of the Israel cruelties against the Palestinian especially the children. But what we were not informed is how HAMAS trained the Palestinian children to fight the Israel using the military/terrorist tactics.

Well with that I strongly believe that we Malaysian should not interfere with the internal affairs of Israel just like that we dont want Israel to interfere in the internal affairs of our country.

Mupok Aku



AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

What Wrong With Armed Forces Support For Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim

KUCHING
Monday, 29th March 2010

What is wrong With the ARMED FORCES siding with Pakatan Rakyat?

After Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim's revealations in Parliament that Dato Seri Anwar had got the support of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and the armed forces in the planned takeover of the federal government on Sept 16 last year, as many as 11 police report have been made so far, and most of its were by the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) whose members were mainly Malay.

Supposely if Zahrian claim is true, I don't see any problem with it?  If Anwar or Pakatan Rakyat (PR) plan to take over the federal government on 16th September 2009 did materialise, the PR will need to get the consent of the YDPA, and to prevent the "Coup-d'etat" by Barisan Nasional (BN) just like what they did in Perak whereby PM Najib used the police to remove PR's speaker from his chair, with the armed forces support the less powerful police will not dare doing what they did in Perak.

Being the ex-army officer myself, I am very disappointed with how the government treated the members of the armed forces lately. The member of the armed forces have been sidelined by the government in term of  their salaries and benefits compared to what they gave to the police force. The generals in upper echelon of the Armed Forces should consider revamp their  roles in Malaysian politic. They should play a greater role so as to prevent cronyism and nepotism among the ruling coalition BN's politicians. Other than that, Armed Forces involvement in politic could help to neautralise the police power. At this moment the Police is siding with BN . This can be seen clearly from their unfair treatment against the PR politicians especially in their action in monitoring the political campaign by  the PR. This has became more obvious since PM Najib took over the power from Pak lah. Since the police is supporting BN, it is just fair that the Armed Forces supporting the PR in such manner it will to neatralise the situation.
Other than the above reason, another reason why Armed Forces should support PR is to show their protests. Since the end of communist insurgent in early 90s, the Armed Forces has been seen as less important compare to the police therefore they have been neglected by BN government. Recently Najib announced the special allowance for the police, and the automatic or a time-based promotion for a police constable to corporal, but why the same cannot be implemented in the Armed Forces? Are they less important?

What happen to the Pension Scheme For the ex-Armed Forces Personnel Working Less than 21 years Old As Promised During bagan Pinang By-Election?

Last year during Bagan Pinang by-election, Minister of Defense announced that the government was in the process of ammending  the Akta Veteran (Ex-Servicement Act). With this amendment, all the ex-armed forces personnel who had served for more than 10 years will be eligibled for pension .The act was supposed to be tabled in last year parliament sitting but after the by-election, the act was not tabled. And many believed (inclusive Remaung6Renjer) that the minister statement was only meant to win the armed forces personnel votes for the by-election. True enough, after they (BN) won the by-election comfortably, the minister was just keeping quiet and until now the amendment of the act was never been mentioned!

With what the BN's  government has done to the members and ex-members of the Armed Forces, I am totally agree and will give my 100 percents support for the armed forces to supoort PR. The racist Malay NGOs may make twenty or even hundred police reports against Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim but with what Najib and the BN government has done to the members and ex-members of the Armed Forces, we the serving members and the ex-members of the Armed Forces to considering throw our support to Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PR .

Mupok Aku



AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

MCA Leads By Ex-Health Minister Who Involved in Sex Scandal

KUALA LUMPUR
Sunday, 28th March 2010

Its look like that Malaysian Chinese Association's (MCA) the largest Chinese party, members have no problem to be lead by the leader that is considered as morally low.

This is prooven with the election of Dr Chua Soi Lek as it new president in tghe three cornered fights here today. Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was elected MCA president while Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai became the deputy in a hotly-contested party election today.

Dr Chua beat incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who was bidding a comeback to active politics.

He won with 901 votes while Ka Ting took 833 votes and Tee Keat 578 votes. For the deputy race, Liow won 1,171 votes against Kong’s 1,106.

Speaker Datuk Yik Phooi Hoong announced the results at the MCA headquarters this evening.

The four new vice-presidents are Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen (1,528), Datuk Donald Lim (1,469), Datuk Chor Chee Heung (1,202) and Gan Ping Sieu (1,202).

Ong earlier arrived smiling as tension mounted outside Dewan San Choon at the MCA headquarters for the results of the closely-fought presidential race.

Party insiders say early indication had shown that Dr Chua was in the lead with at least 1,000 votes in his favour.

“From what I was told, Dr Chua has 1,085 votes while Tee Keat has something like 600 votes or so. Ka Ting has the remainder,” an insider said.

A total of 2,315 out of the 2,318 central delegates who registered for the polls had cast their votes when the process ended shortly after noon today.

Dr Chua, the former Health Minister whose political career came to an abrupt halt after a sex scandal in 2007, is apparently a favourite among the grassroots leaders, said the insider.

“For Ka Ting, it is not easy for him to make such inroads with the delegates after making a sudden comeback like that. What he is doing is just calling in old favours and reviving old friendships,” he added.

According to officials, three delegates had not collected their ballot papers.

The extraordinary general meeting was adjourned at 12.30pm by assembly Speaker Datuk Yik Phooi Hoong and delegates proceeded to the building’s foyer for lunch.

A total of 101 candidates are contesting for the 31 posts in the MCA central committee (CC).

The election was called after 21 CC members resigned early this month to protest against Tee Keat’s presidency.

The Transport Minister was elected in 2008 after Ka Ting stepped down in the aftermath of the party’s losses in Election 2008.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Sarawak Cabinet Minor Reshuffle 25th March 2010 -Once Against Dayak is Being Sidelined By Taib Mahmud

KUCHING
Thursday, 25th March 2010

Appointed as Special Advisor to the Chief  Minister..25th March 2010

Taib Mahmud today announced minor reshuffled in the state cabinet.Today cabinet's reshuffled as announced by Taib saw the return of Adenan Satem to the cabinet. He was appointed as a special advisor to the Chief Minister, which is equivalent to the full minister portfolio.

Promoted to Minister Of Early child education, family development, planning and training, 

under the Chief Minister Office - 25th March 2010

Another two appointments involved Datin Fatimah Abdullah from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and YB Tan Joo Phoi from Sarawak United People Party (SUPP).Fatimah, the Dalat State Assemblywoman, has been charged with early child education, family development, planning and training, under the Chief Minister Office. Whereas the Batu Kawa State Assemblyman Tan Joo Phoi was appointed Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Environment).

Appointed As the Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Environment).

- 25th March 2010

In the appointment of Adenan and Fatimah, Taib Said to reporters :

"We hope that Adenan (Datuk Seri) will put his experience to good use in his new post particularly in information and broadcasting,".He added, "Since Fatimah has successfully implemented early child education and family development programmes, we feel that a full minister is needed to strengthen the sector," .

Why There was No Promotion For the Dayak?

This time, we can see that Taib only promoted the Malay, Melanau (root by the virtue that Datin Fatimah is related to Taib Mahmud) and the Chinese. Why there is no promotion for the Dayak politicians or from the dayak based party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)? Where are Mawan,Jemut and Jabu ? Are they satisfied with the unequal treatment against the dayak by their boss? Pakatan Rakyat (PR) can use this issue to gain the support from the dayaks during the next state election.

To all the dayaks (voters and politicians) open your eyes, and let's all abandone Barisan Nasional and join PR.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Baru Bian Urges MACC To Investigate Failed Projects in Bario-Ba’Kelalan

KUCHING
Wednesday, 24th March 2010

It has been reported in online portal Malaysian Mirror, that Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian had called on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate a number of failed projects worth more than RM20 million in the Budoknur area in the Ba’Kelalan.

The projects included mini hydro-projects, water treatment plant, a community hall, an irrigation system at Sungai Kumap and bailey bridges.

He said: “I have just returned from Ba’Kelalan to see the projects myself and I was shocked to see that the community hall was not completed. It has roofs and a floor and that’s it. It has been like that for the past one year.

“The contractor after pocketing the money left the half-completed hall,” he alleged on Wednesday.

“And there is a mini hydro project which is not functioning due to lack of water to turn the turbines. It cost million of ringgit to build.

“Similarly there is also no water in the water treatment plant which is to supply clean water to two villages in the area.

Poor quality of construction

“The plant which cost between RM3 million and RM4 million is always dry,” he said,

Another failed project is the irrigation system which is to irrigate water into their padi fields, and because of the poor quality of construction, the walls have cracked and water has been diverted to else where.

“If the system is not rectified, the farmers expect to have bad harvests next year. The whole project was worth RM260,000,” he said.

Baru said that four bailey bridges were to be constructed along the road between Long Semadoh and Ba’Kelalan. Two of the bridges have been poorly constructed, while two more are yet to begin.

“And I have been told the money to the tune of RM12 million have been paid to the contractors,” he alleged.

“My point of highlighting all these failed projects is to confirm what the MACC said that 60% of the funds were leaked.

Carry out investigations

“And what the MACC is going to do with these failed projects and as a tax payer I am interested to know what actions have been done or will be taken?” he asked.

Baru said that he had instructed some people to lodge reports with MACC based in Limbang to make sure they (MACC) will carry out investigations.

He also urged the MACC to monitor the proposed of constructing a ‘temporary permanent’ road of 80km long from Long Luping to Ba’Kelalan which is valued at RM52 million.

“I have never heard such a term as ‘temporary permanent’ road, because to build the road it will cost the government more than RM1 billion,” he claimed.

“I am suspicious with the term as I do not want another failed project costing RM52 million in my area,” he said.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Pakatan Rakyat Slams Utusan Malaysia For Criticising Sultan of Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR
Wednesday, 24th March 2010

Pakatan Rakyat Assemblymen Are behind Sultan of Selangor who are against the Racist Organisation like PERKASA...DAULAT TUANKU!

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state lawmakers here are demanding that the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia apologise for criticising the Sultan of Selangor.

In the Malay daily’s weekend publication, Mingguan Malaysia, its editorial columnist, writing under the pseudonym Awang Selamat, questioned Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for cancelling his plans to officiate right-wing Malay group Perkasa’s inaugural assembly on March 27.

The lawmakers also accused Awang of inciting racial hatred in his article.

“We would like to ask Awang who he was referring to with his statement ‘Why call yourself a Malay if you are too scared and following the lead of those who are eroding the position of Malays?’

This newspaper is no longer relevant to current Malaysian backdrop. It demised with the cancellation of Malayan Union. Utusan Malaysia=UMNO. For all Malaysians..DON'T BUY Utusan Malaysia and DON'T VOTE UMNO

“He also played up racial sentiments with his statement ‘They (Perkasa) have championed for the interests of Malays and Islam in accordance with the country’s constitutional framework. However, they are facing resistance from many parties, especially the non-Malays.’

“It seems that Awang Selamat is trying to show that his actions, together with Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad), to attend Perkasa’s first annual general assembly is better than the decision made by the Sultan of Selangor to cancel his attendance,” said Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari (picture), on behalf of a group of PR assemblymen, today.

In his Sunday column, Awang Selamat praised Perkasa for defending the rights of Malays and Islam.

"Who has become the shield to defend the Constitution of being challenged and rewritten if not for NGOs such as Perkasa. In fact, Perkasa under the leadership of (Datuk) Ibrahim (Ali) has sparked a new sense of confidence among the Malays.

“Do not forget Perkasa’s service. Don’t be trapped with the deception of those who want to threaten the status quo based on motives which are unknown.

“Awang is very thankful and grateful because Perkasa and several other NGOs have helped save the Malay political backbone in this country from collapsing. This was a result of a great conspiracy from the last general election which almost reached the summit,” Awang Selamat wrote.

The PR lawmakers also accused Awang Selamat and Perkasa of being disrespectful by using the monarchy for their political propaganda.

“We find that efforts to include the monarchy in the midst of a political crisis, with their narrow interpretation of the Constitution, is an act which is rude and pollutes the glory of the monarchy,” Amirudin added.

The state leaders also accused Awang of being hypocritical.

“We would like to ask Awang Selamat and Perkasa where were they when Bahasa Melayu was threatened and Malay reserve land increasingly eroded while only a few Malay politicians plundered the country for their self interests.

“We urge Awang Selamat to stop prostituting journalism for the specific interests of certain parties that deliberately want instability between different religions and races,” Amirudin said.

The lawmakers will table a motion in the state assembly’s next sitting on April 12 and identify what action can be taken against Awang Selamat and Utusan.

Amiruddin said that they would not be lodging a police report.

“We think it is better if we brought this issue to the assembly rather than lodging a police report because it can be discussed rationally,” he said.

If government keeping quiet and afraid to take action against Awang Selamat and Utusan Malaysia, there will be another Rwanda or Bosnia in this part of the world. People like Ibrahim Ali and Awang Selamat are not fit to live in this multi-racials country.Being the responsible citizen of this county,and who had sweat to ensure the freedom of this nation...I am appealing to this country to dispell those two , the frog and the monkey to pulau jerjak....Bukittunggal 

Perkasa was formed soon after Election 2008 and has turned into a strong pressure group representing those seeking to defend the constitutional position of the Malays and the ‘social contract’.

It has been at the forefront of lobbying the government to retain the affirmative action policies favouring Malays in the New Economic Model (NEM) scheduled to be announced at the end of this month.

Perkasa is worried that the NEM will increase Chinese dominance of economy.

The director of its economic bureau, Dr Zubir Harun, has said that Perkasa is worried that the NEM will have a Chinese agenda and warned that the Chinese community will use the next general election to take over the country.

Mupok Aku

Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban

Ku Li Blasts Najib For Putting Politic Beyond Policy Reform

PETALING JAYA
Wednesday, 23rd March 2010

Saying that only political change can bring economic reforms to Malaysia, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (picture) last night blamed the Najib Administration for crippling the national economy by putting politics ahead of policy reforms.

In his sharpest barb yet directed at Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Umno veteran urged the prime minister to end race-based affirmative programmes in the New Economic Policy (NEP) drawn up 40 years ago which he said was a cover for “corruption, crony capitalism and money politics”.

“To make that leap we need a government capable of promoting radical reform. That is not going to happen without political change,” the Kelantan prince and former finance minister said when launching the second edition of “No Cowardly Past” by lawyer James Puthucheary here last night. Puthucheary, who was once a politician and economist, died 10 years ago.

The Gua Musang MP mocked Najib for delaying announcing his proposed New Economic Model (NEM) and suggested that the new policy may only be a rehash of the “old” NEP, drawing chuckles from the audience.

The chuckles stopped when the 73-year-old reminded his audience how deeply race-based policies had scored themselves in the minds of the powerful few, noting that the NEP was dragged back to life by Umno Youth six years ago because “it was and remains the most low-cost way to portray oneself as a Malay champion.”

“The NEP is over. I ask the government to have the courage to face up to this,” he added.

He called on the Najib administration to restore independence in public institutions and to overhaul the education system and repeal “repressive laws” such as the Printing Presses Act, the Universities and Colleges Act, the Internal Security Act and the Official Secrets Act.

“Confidence in the rule of law is a basic condition of economic growth,” said the politician popularly known as Ku Li.

Tengku Razaleigh added that “radical reform” and not “piecemeal measures” was needed to move the economy forward but strongly suggested that it may not be possible under the present leadership.

Asked to clarify his meaning, Ku Li explained that Najib needs to move fast and translate his proposed policies into action to plug the swift drain of talent out of the country.

Najib is now in Hong Kong to promote Malaysia to fund managers and investors at the Credit Suisse’s 13th Asian Investment Conference which starts today.

The Prime Minister is due to receive a report on the NEM which he announced when taking office last April. The report and policies will be fully announced in June when Najib tables the 10th Malaysia Plan as the government wants public feedback to shape the NEM.

Malay right-wing groups have said the NEM must be guided by the NEP which was officially abandoned in 1990 and subsumed into the National Development Policy which ran from 1991 to 2000.

Razaleigh, who was unsuccessful in challenging Najib for the Umno presidency last year, remains a harsh critic of the ruling Barisan Nasional government policies particularly its refusal to give 5 per cent oil royalty to his home state Kelantan.

However, he has pledged loyalty to Umno despite calls to quit his Gua Musang seat and his division leadership. The opposition Pakatan Rakyat has privately urged him to join them but he has declined the offer.

Mupok Aku

Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban