ASJournal

About blogger heh! Talks about this subject many people still feel uneasy if not fearful. Because it sounds technical, because its mind blogging no wonder ‘they’ called it blogger-unless you have the latest edition of English dictionary, otherwise you wouldn’t find definition of blog.

My miserable story began when I was student doing Masters Degree in Strategic Planning in Birmingham University way in 1983 , and this subject was made compulsory, I've never thought it develops that fast.

I hated the subject on computer so much I used to sleep at the back of Lecture Theater whenever there were computer lectures. In those days computer lecture was combined with Statistics-I meant in that university. I didn’t see it then as I see it now, that the two subjects are actually closely related, having the same foundation that is called logic.

It also meant not very long time ago I was one of those people who were tormented by what I heard and saw.

Not until I was indoctrinated for several weeks at the ANU, Australia, where I did my bar training. There each student was given one set of computer to mock around with.

But blogging to me only came very recently, and since its computer related activity without having basic knowledge of it there is no way I can do blogging

Computer has changed my perception and even life style to a point. The ugly beast turns beauty, very often the urge creeps on like a cave spider whenever I have nothing better to do.

I created this AS Journal June last year (2007), after messing up with a few. A lady friend helped me to put up the clock to see a rough idea of my visitors last January and up to February 2^nd.

On the 2^nd February I posted an articles title We are Sabahans before Malaysians followed by two more articles related to it. In less than two weeks the numbers jumped from 200 to four 4,000, even Sabah Development Corridor was by passed within days. I was astounded- a friend said we’d better slow it down. Meaning (we) now found a way to get visited, next in mind perhaps is to prepare for any upsurge.

Obama & “Orang Malaya”

 By Awang Buntak

Allow me to give my two sen worth on this very interesting debate
on "Orang Malaya” which you have started.

A.G. Mustakim has stirred the proverbial hornet's nest when he talked about Orang Malaya. To me, he is doing everybody a favour by being openly honest about the undercurrents in Sabah. There is a method in his madness. I salute him for bringing into the open how Sabahans feel about certain things. Look at his number of hits your blog has been getting to show how spot on he's been.

He clearly stated that he is not against Orang Malaya per se; I can't imagine him or other right thinking Sabahans going against the poor souls in Malaya who appear on TV3's "Bersamamu" programme. He's pissed off and rightly so with Orang Malaya who are sent to Sabah thinking they are above everybody else and they can rip off the place as they please. You know the "Ketuanan Melayu" mindset and all that.

Let's get real. There are many Sabahans who have inter-state marriages in the family. So, this is not what he is talking about. There are also many from Malaya who have settled here way back before Malaysia, some can even trace their family history back to Brunei rule, so, this is not the issue here.
These people are as Sabahans as anyone else, they came here on their own merit...

Sabah is the most accommodating state in the country, look at the Chinamen from China who married local women, their off-springs are automatically given Bumi status and accepted as such by the people.

How open and tolerant we are, somehow, things changed with the arrival of new Orang Malaya after Malaysia, things are made worse with the coming of UMNO .We are now a mere state instead of an equal partner in the federation.

We have lost control of our political direction in our own land. The Chief Minister has to be approved by KL, even though our state constitution says otherwise. He has to dance to the tune played by KL, even if it's against local realities or interests. Like Mustakim said, the greed of these people is insatiable. They have taken 95% of our oil, now; they want our body and soul.

So, what upsets the average Sabahans about Orang Malaya?

Basically, their political culture is not in tandem with ours. Sabahans are well integrated, regardless of ethnicity or religion. So, the orang Malaya mantras of Melayu, China and India are alien to all of us here, or for that matter untuk "Bangsa, Ugama dan Negara". When you have Muslims, Christians and Buddhists in the same family, you tend to accept people as you find them, and religion is very much a personal matter.

Orang Malaya use religion as a political weapon to screw up the country. It's" them and us”, in Sabah we tend to be more inclusive.

Personally, I have problem with the way Orang Malaya talk Malay, I don't like "I" and "You" business. If you think these speakers could string a proper English sentence, well, think again.

Orang Malaya doesn’t know their own geography and history.

Ask them where Malaysia is, the answer is "between Thailand and Singapore". Ask them when Malaysia came into being, the answer is 1957!

Muslim as I am, I detest the way they practice Islam. Around them, they don't make you feel comfortable with your own belief unless it's approved by them. By doing so, your passage to Heaven is guaranteed!

They can be so intolerant, what's justice and fairness to them?

I don't want to talk about those with skullcaps, when they come here they think they are God's gift to our more liberated local women.

On top of that many Orang Malaya get confused between being "Muslim" and being "Arab". To many of them being Muslim is to forget your own culture and try to be as much an Arab as you can. Even the Arabs don't want to know. For goodness sake, 10% of the Arabs are Christians. Tell these Arab Christians not to use the word ” Allah".

There is one Orang Malaya female singer, an Arab wannabe, who was supposed to have got engaged to an Arab guy, but she was not accepted by his family. This is Arab racism at work. Talk to the KL taxi drivers about these people.

Yet, the Orang Malaya prefers "Khinzir" to the real and original Malay word of "Babi".

I admire the Jews for what they have achieved for themselves after the Holocaust. Have they blown up any German in a restaurant? They march on with their knowledge; it's something we all can learn from when faced with adversity.

Between being practical to the ways of the world which bring success and primitive emotionalism, I know which one I prefer.

I don't like Putrajaya, maybe it reminds me too much of Karachi. What's Mughul domes got to do with Malaya? The Chinese Muslims in China show creativity with the architecture of their mosques, at least they stay true to their own cultural heritage.

I don't want to talk about UMS, SESB, and the Police et al because I am sure Mustakim is better informed than me. Let me say this, the so-called federal setups run by them, are they any better or are they better managed than some of the institutions run by Sabahans? Or, are they just as sloppy or as inefficient?

To me, the biggest trick played by Orang Malaya on the country is the switching of English to Malay in schools.

I accept we have to learn Malay, but, why at the expense of English? Who is suffering now in terms of global competitiveness?

The hypocrisy of the politics of language in schools irks me tremendously, while the Keris waving Minister sends his daughter to study in Australia, the bulk of our people here get their university education in Malay and end up as cashiers in the supermarkets. Or, if they are smart enough, they become drug couriers!

My strange relative said this to me the other day, ” I know what I'll do, I'll vote for Obama. I want to vote for change. I don't know about you".

A Malaysian voting for Obama? Go figure.

How wise is Vote Wisely this time?



Click the picture to see clearly

A.G.Mustakim

“Opposition parties may raise a lot of issues but they are unable to come out with adequate solutions”, he said “they are long on promises, but short on delivery unlike Barisan that delivers what it promises”.

Deputy Prime Minister at the award ceremony of world affiliates and world prize winners of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant – January 27, 2008

The opposition is not obliged to come-up with any solutions. By all counts, it is the duties and responsibilities and the trust that they people have given the incumbents to seek the most appropriate solution. The opposition has their duties and responsibilities to point out where the incumbents have gone wrong. In this context, the government needs to be transparent so that all the stakeholders (the opposition included) can assist the government to deliver its promises to the people. Unless, the government has something to hide then it becomes opaque.

However, most often than not transparency and accountability is a rare virtue. Hiding facts from shareholders become the norm. After all without information all stakeholders are blind and the one-eye jack is king of the hill. The opposition being industrious will use all means in their disposal to extract the facts from the government. This often led to tensions between the two opposing parties. On party may say it is facts whilst the other may insist that it is just speculations, heresy and rumors. Is it not obvious for everyone’s sake that the government should come clean and let all facts be known?

After all after 44 years of independence how do we really judge whether the people have been short changed or not? If Malaysian wants to use Singapore as a yardstick then is it obvious that Malaysian have really been short changed. At the very least we could be at par. I really could not believe that because of the NEP, Malaysians could not progress to be at the same league as Singapore. This is a blatant excuse for all the inefficiencies, ineffectiveness, mistakes, wastages that we have made. Why can’t we come clean and admit to all these? Why do we insist on living in delusions, cheating ourselves on what we could have achieved?

Whether the opposition believes that there are short comings or inconsistencies between what the government is claiming and what is in reality. It is the duty and responsibilities of the opposition to highlight these issues. It is for the sake of the country and welfare of the people rather than just to score points.

As an alternative, it is the right of the opposition to tell the people what they can do when they form the government. The incumbents often respond to these criticisms as empty promises that the opposition cannot keep. But without giving the opposition a chance to govern, how will we the people ever know?

It is actually a choice between going forward with the devil that you know and the devil that you don’t know. If you choose the devil that you know then you can anticipate the type of life and future for your children that you are going to get. The question is, can you live with that, or will there be always a question in your mind that things could have been better.

If there is always a doubt, why not make a change now. After 44 years, it’s a long time to still have doubts in your mind. It’s high time that there should not be anymore regrets. After all choosing the opposition does not mean that the world is going to end in a clap of thunder when you make your choice. That is in the movie, in real life mistakes will take time to manifest itself. There is still opportunity for you to make adjustments. But 44 years of mistakes and adjustments is way too long, it is therefore high time real change should take place and the people play their part to make it happen.

Take a good look at the United States, between the Republican and the Democrats. Take a good look at the United Kingdom, between the Labor Party and the Conservatives. I have not seen these countries reverted to the stone ages when changes were made. In fact they make changes when the policies of each of them are not acceptable to the people anymore. In this way, they manage to maintain their competitiveness and their standing in global matters.

Fear of failure is not an option, if we want to progress further in this highly competitive world. It is the same as falling in love with a girl from a distance. You will never know if she feels the same way as you do unless you have the courage to approach and talk to her. Imagine living all your life regretting that you should have spoken her when you had the opportunity. Yet you did not because you fear of being snub or turned down. These are unfounded fears, even if she did snub and turn you down; you are not going to drop dead in front of her because of that. A little embarrassed may be but you won’t die. Perhaps it may make you a better and a stronger person. I can assure you after a while the embarrassment can turn to humor and life is worth living after all.

After living for 44 years with the devil you know, obviously you know what to expect when you make your choice. Do they really deliver what they promise? Can your life be better? Have we been short changed or they are also giving you empty promises over and over again? The choice is yours VOTE WISELY.

Mr. Prime Minister Sir, I beg to differ.

In response to the maiden speech made in Johore during the launching of Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandariah on 13^th June 2007

By A.G. Mustakim

“Let me stress that this is my idea. It did not come from anyone else. It is my own vision & plans to create this super corridor in South Johore to make it the nation’s premier growth centre”. Mr. Prime Minister Sir, I beg to differ. No matter what your advisors or backroom boys have told you. You did not do anything new; the Development Corridor Concept has been in our five year national plan since 1970. As the saying goes “plagiarism is the highest form of flattery”.

Perhaps all your advisors or boys did not read or understand the history of this country; after all they are mostly Oxford trained. Talking about history lets rewind this story back to the 1970’s. It was right after the 13^th May incident and the Malaysian Premiership has just been taken over by Tun Abdul Razak Hussein from Tengku Abdul Rahman. This is the period of the first Outline Perspective Plan (OPP 1970 – 1990), a development goal for Malaysia to achieve in 20 years. Yes, no point in guessing, this is the birth of the New Economic Policy (NEP). As caveat, the Sabahans and the Sarawakians did not enjoy any special preference during the NEP period. Even when our rights are protected in the Malaysian Constitution, the reality is that enforcing the Constitution is subject to the whims of the delivery system. Sabah and Sarawak were marginalized from the national main stream development right from the start. In order for us to get any Federal funded projects and programs we have to give concessions to Malaya.

I have a whole lecture series on these issues, so I will not waste yours or my time to dwell on these issues at this point in time.

The first OPP long term plan have 2 main objectives, firstly to eradicate poverty irrespective of race and geographical location (this is where the Regional Development Concept were to play its part) and secondly, to restructure societies such that they will not be identified by economic function.

The first five year plan within the OPP was the 2^nd Malaysia Plan or RMK2. If anyone cares to read this plan, Regional Development Planning Concept (RDPC) was introduced. This should not be confused with the the Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) that is found mostly in the East Coast States of Malaya. The RDAs were formed as part of the industrial dispersal strategy and New Land Development strategy. The idea of RDPC covers an area larger than RDAs. All together there exist 6 Development Regions, supposedly to address economic imbalance in Malaysia:

• Southern Region which is made up of Johore only;

• The Central Region made up of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor;

• The Eastern Region made up of Trengganu, Pahang and Kelantan;

• Northern Region made up of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak;

• Sabah Region covers the whole of Sabah;

• Sarawak Region covers the whole of Sarawak.

At a glance we see a lot of similarities between the Regional Development Region and the current Corridor Development. Therefore, is the Corridor development a new thing or just old wine in new bottle? So who is copying who? Therefore Mr. Prime Minister Sir, I beg to differ at your claim that the Corridor Development is your idea or that it did not come from anyone else.

Now, if these plans have existed since 1970, why was it not been properly implemented? What difference does it make then and now? Or is it your intention just to create the feel good mood which will only last until the election is over, and then everything is back to business as usual.

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written by Lim Lim, February 10, 2008 | 21:01:52

ask any right minded malaysian,this suck is where he is today not becos he posesses any righteous charisma of a top gun or stateman,it is becos he has poked his head into the right.....!! (u name it for him)

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written by asguard, February 11, 2008 | 12:11:51

Well... the monkey should be staying in forest rather than giving comments about state affairs of Sabah... since he has monkey brains.. should remained in the jungle ...

MR Prime

Now, if these plans have existed since 1970, why was it not been properly implemented? What difference does it make then and now? Or is it your intention just to create the feel good mood which will only last until the election is over, and then everything is back to business as usual.
……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… …………………
Ini corridor thing action saja! It is part of the RMK5 thing. Kalau RMK5 lain, corridor lain, Malaysia mana ada wang?

Dollah is interested only to show the development mock-up replica placed on the table for the feast of the haprak TV1 and TV3. Bila rakyat tengok dalam TV, “Huh! Dollah terror le, dia punya project ada keretapi roda getah, masuk laut, keluar atas gunung!”
Ini serupa cerita itu Mamak Kutty bila dilancar itu Cyberjaya dulu. Sekarang pergi tengok apa ada? Lalang penuh tepi jalan banyak la!
Begitu juga itu WETLAND Dengkil – Floridan everglade of the east!. Puh! Tapin apa ada? Buaya kurus tak cukup makan ada la!

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written by oknyua, February 12, 2008 | 14:54:22

I can only guest that his boys found the "corridor" papers all dust-covered and got excited over it - after all they were not born then. Then they put the papers into "power-point" to make it impressive - not forgetting getting a consultant firm to do it, paying them a few million.

What is obvious now, if the papers were presented in 1970, found (re-discovered) in 2008, it will take another 38 years before someone dig it up again because I don't have the slightest belief that AAB is capable of implementing it. If Tun Razak can't do it, what makes AAB better?

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written by Flex Tan, February 12, 2008 | 17:22:43

"..... THE DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR CONCEPT has been in our five year NATIONAL PLANS SINCE 1970S. As the saying goes “PLAGIARISM (COPYING)IS THE HIGHEST FROM OF FLATTERY (CHEATS/ LIE TO ONESELF)”.

AAB'S ANSWER: ERR ... LET ME LOOK INTO MY NOTES.

THEN HE ANSWERED BACK: WHO IS YOUR PM NOW ??

HAHAHAHAH

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written by Debbie, February 12, 2008 | 18:52:56

nobody is going to waste this guys time...coz he is always snooozing...siesta time every 20 mins..so dont bother yrselves

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written by Nonama Nomane, February 12, 2008 | 22:53:03

“plagiarism is the highest form of flattery”
Bukan plagiarism tapi revised and update version.
Sebab author dah tak ada, so AAB pun claim stake lah.

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written by Badaksumbu, February 13, 2008 | 01:02:12

Bukan revised or updated version, tapi hijack which can amount to stealing dia kena permission dulu from the author before allow to revise or update.Shortly means these people don't read or if they read they can't remember, that is why they forget everything easily after general election.

Who are Orang Malaya?

Dear Anonymous

Thank you for your comment and your protest is well taken.

Actually it is not a broad swipe at orang Malaya. I have stated that I have nothing against orang Malaya per se. You see when a Chinese from Malaya comes to Sabah, we call them Chinese. When an Indian comes to Sabah we call them Indian. As you can see there is no reference to Chinese or Indian Malaya. Therefore orang Malaya refers to orang Melayu from Malaya.

All orang Malaya be they Melayu, Chinese or Indians see Sabah as a land of opportunity. Unlike the Melayu, the Chinese and the Indians genuinely comes to Sabah to work and prosper. Through hard work they get their rewards. It’s different with the Melayu orang Malaya, they come to Sabah with a preset mind that they have a right over everything. Perhaps this is because of the Eugenic philosophy of “Ketuanan Melayu” that the leaders from Malay have been drumming into their head. Even the Melayu in Sabah are not treated as equal, to them we are of a lower class Melayu. In terms of religion, they try very hard to make us believe their religious belief is even better than the Arabs. If we practice it with them, it is a sure ticket straight to haven. But we see it as religious zealotry and it does not fit into our society or the way of life that we have been practicing all these while.

They said they come to Sabah because they want to help and save us from our leaders’ excesses. Yet most projects are given to “KL company” while our locals are marginalized, even the local leaders are often by-passed. Some Sabahans are lucky to be just a by-stander; those unlucky ones are given sub-sub-contract from “KL company” end-up they often get their fingers burnt. It is very unfortunate the Director of JPPS in Sabah has more authority over federal funded projects than our own YBs.

Almost all of the teachers from Malaya are put in the urban areas, while local teachers are pushed out into the rural areas. Teachers from Malaya are given housing allowance, while the local teachers send to the rural areas are not even given decent housing. There was an incident where a female local teacher has to share a Kongsi (labour lines) with mainly male immigrants because there are no teacher’s quarters. No thank you to our Kris waving Minister of Education.

Often time when these orang Malaya arrive in Kota Kinabalu you can hear them saying “oh, I have just come from Malaysia”. Excuse me but without Sabah and Sarawak there is no Malaysia, only Malaya. The rest of orang Melayu Malaya is staying back in Malaya ensuring and helping the elite orang Malaya to stay in office all because of the Eugenic philosophy of “Ketuanan Melayu” which I believe similar to Hitler’s “Master Race”.

So my dear friend do you honestly think that I have made a broad swipe at orang Malaya?

A.G.Mustakim

A National Leader or only fit to be a Penghulu




By A.G.Mustakim

T This is a response from a Sabahan to Khairy Jamaluddin’s press statement on the 6^th February 2008 distributed by BERNAMA.

“The issue raised by the opposition for instance, about Sabah for Sabahans and oil royalty for Sabah only and not sharing with others ……. This can incite emotion of parochialism, which at one time, pose a threat to national security” (bold added). This is part of the press statement made in Kuala Lumpur another orang Malaya young upstart. In one sentence such as this, he made so many blunders that instead of appeasing the voters in Sabah; he may well have created discontent and discord. Is this the best candidate with the potential to lead Malaysia by the age of 40? To be a Penghulu in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan may be but to lead Malaysia there must be a better choice from amongst the 15 million people in Malaya than this. Otherwise if there is no one better suited, why not give a Sabahan a chance? Allow me to elaborate on his blunders:
1. Issues raised by the opposition:
this should be as clear as day that the incumbents have not been listening to the people. The incumbents must have lost touch with the heart and minds of the people. This is the reason the opposition picked these issue up. Do you honestly think the opposition is so desperate that they simply want to pick-up just any issues from thin air or just because they overhear someone talking in coffee-shops. They are also garnering for popularity which means popular vote which also means bringing up issues closer to the heart of the people. If the incumbents have been doing their work at the grassroot level as they often claimed, how they could possibly missed this dangerous under-current? This is the result of widespread hypocrisy. In order to please, the incumbents tend to hide the truth simply because they failed in their duties and responsibilities. They prefer to give good tidings and will always say “everything is okay” and their favorite word is “everything is under control”. When the final tally is done, the same people will create a thousand and one excuses why they failed. Worse still if they claim they did not fail, it’s the people that failed them.
2. Sabah for Sabahans & oil royalty is for Sabahans only: As a true blooded Sabahans, we are not as selfish as those elites that can be found in Malaya. In Sabah we are use to sharing, we brought our identities, traditions, culture and system of values from the longhouses into this modern world. However, do not take our kindness to share as our weakness that those from Malaya tend to forget their place and start taking everything. In the end you may be surprise what a Sabahan can do. After 44 years of sharing our resources and wealth with Malaya, why is it that a resource rich Sabah and Sarawak is still poverty stricken? How much more do you want us to share? After 44 years of taking from us is this not enough? What does it take to satisfy you? Is it possible for Sabahans or for that matter ordinary people of Malaya to support a leader with rapacious and insatiable appetite? Think before you speak!
By nature a Sabahan is reticent, he/she will not argue with you. Instead if there is any discord or discontent he/ she will normally keep quiet. The ability to read body language and facial expression is an asset here. Its better when they are loud and boisterous. But when they suddenly grow quiet, something must have gone wrong. They may be clapping at your every word, but who knows they may be imagining slapping your face to pulp.
3. Incite emotion of parochialism: In this I beg to differ. This is the word used by Mahathir to classify the nature of politics in Sabah. Like so many other orang Malaya, Mahathir was wrong in his diagnosis of Sabah politics. During 22 years of Mahathirism he did everything to create more problems in Sabah which became our legacy today. He had the audacity to rescind his promise “to sink and swim” and when going get tougher his friend sinks into political oblivion while he swims away happily ever after. A typical elitist Malayan attitude, they get what they want they throw you away like soiled cloth. Therefore do not use Mahathir words unless you are of the same breed or aspiring to be one.
Actually to use the word parochialism in Sabah is a misnomer. This is because Sabahans are not narrow minded, close minded, provincial, insular or unsophisticated. In reality, Sabahans are really the opposite of all these. That is why orang Malaya can never understand us Sabahans. Racism or religious zealotry has never been an issue in Sabah. Sabahans have live harmoniously ever since we can remember. Inter-marriages are so common that people in Sabah do not think along racial or religious divide anymore. There are elements which have tried to take advantage of this perceived “social cleavage” but failed miserably. Just take a good look at the obituaries in the local papers and observe the social cohesion is not based on race or religion but based on kinship through inter-marriages. So orang Malaya should have a care when talking along racial or religious lines. If in the company of Malays, belittling the non-Muslims or another race may offend the Malays in Sabah as well. This is because you may be talking bad about their grand-parents, parents, uncles, aunties, cousins, in-laws or even their brothers and sisters.
It is for this reason; racial and religious politics that orang Malaya has been trying to preach in Sabah can never work. Therefore it is wrong to categorize Sabah politics is based on parochialism. Social cohesion in Sabah in Sabah is based on kinship which transcends race and religion for generations. So how do you think you can apply the concept of divide and rule to Sabah? Unfortunately, you have to be a true Sabahan in order to even grasp the meaning of a Sabahan’s kinship.
4. Last but not least, parochialism poses a threat to national security: this is the type of hype that the Americans used. With politics of fear that Bush had successfully implanted in the minds of his people they have the excuse to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. Perhaps in order for the ruse to it to work, he had to blow up 2 towering landmark in New York. So what does this young upstart wants to blow up in KL in order to get his politics of fear going? Street demonstration did not create fear in people, demonstrations only make people angrier.

As I have explained parochialism in Sabah is a misnomer so how can a wrong word be a threat to national security? Far from it, the street demonstrations and bombing in Sabah in 1985 and 1986 was not a typical Sabahans handiwork. These were perhaps imported design, purposely instigated to create misunderstanding and eventually spilling over into the streets. It is unfortunate; our local leaders from both sides then were blind to conspiracy theories. Perhaps the best person to elaborate on this is Tun Musa Hitam, it happened conveniently during his watch.

If parochialism is a threat to national security then racism is even worse. A province can be isolated and the threat eliminated, but racism is everywhere. Based on this logic, it means that in Malaysia a political party should not be created along racial lines rather based on ideology. Why then should Malaysia condone ethnic based party then creating a mediocre multi ethnic party as an umbrella and using consensus as an excuse to allow its existence? If this is not hypocrisy of the highest order, then I am an “Orang Utan’s Uncle”.

Following this line of thought, then it is obvious kinship is also a threat to national security. Do the leaders in Malaya now want to issue a decree that all inter-marriages are now taboo in Malaysia too? And as part of their final solution will all the products of inter-marriages be eliminated as well? Well then all these elitist orang Malaya can shout about and wave their little keris all they want, compared to our Kelewang (Gayang) the keris is nothing, ours have real human hair.

written by malsia1206, February 10, 2008 | 14:27:52

WHO is this chap Khairy IF NOT for the person who stand behind by relationship? Before the PM assumes office 4 years ago (because he was initially chosen by the former PM) not many happen to have heard this name. Now his name appears to be buzzing around like there's honey in Putrajaya. Is he a bird? Is he a plane? He's definitely NOT Superman.

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written by oknyua, February 10, 2008 | 17:20:04

I like this article; it indicative that Sabahans are now starting to wake up.

KJ was just a baby, probably just weaned from milk when Pairin woke up Kadazan-Dusun patriotism. When Pairin became the CM, many Kadazan changed their names, throwing off their Westernised names to that of original Kadazan. That is the atmosphere like nowadays; the more KJ criticised the Sabahan, the greater is their awareness of cutting themselves off from “Malaya”. If Malaya is represented by UMNO, this KJ should be thanked for putting the last nail of UMNO’s coffin with his remark. That shows what a young upstart could achieve.

Who is KJ to gain such prominence and notoriety? He may be worshipped in W Malaysia, but to Sabahan and Sarawakian, he is living off the name and position of his inept father-in-law.

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written by Mr Smith, February 10, 2008 | 14:46:03

Malaysia was formed with four equal entities. That was why Lee Kuan Yew continued to be Prime Minister of Singapore and the Tengku, the PM of Malaysia.
Of course Singapore did not want to be pushed around by the Big Brothers in KL and they left or rather, was kicked out.
Sabah and Sarawak leaders, unlike Singapore's had no pride, and allowed themselves to be slavish to KL in exchange for political power and of course riches. They allowed Sabah and Sawarak to become a state just like Perlis.
So equal entities have now become non entities.
By right the Chief Minister of Sabah must be equal in statues to his counterpart in KL. Now he is even lower than the Mentri Besar of Perlis.

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written by Tompios, February 10, 2008 | 15:27:46

That's true Mr. Smith,

As Sabahan or Sarawakian, we shouldn't call our states as 'Malaysian's state' but republic of Sabah or Sabah nation.

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written by Flex Tan, February 10, 2008 | 15:29:07

KHAIRY JUST CREATED A WAR WITH AMAN (OF COURSE THROUGH THE OPPOSITION)...

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written by hakunamatata, February 10, 2008 | 15:29:14

Nobody bothers about Khairy except those in UMNO.
It is time everyone wakes up from their slumber and change the government before it does more damage. Because of a selfish few, the whole nation has to suffer.
If we let this be, we are just BN's accomplice. The future generation will blame us for the damage as well.
Malaysians of all walks of life, please think of the future of the country where corruption,injustice,unfairness will be the norm IF it is not CHECKED NOW.

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written by The dragonheart, February 10, 2008 | 15:48:54

UMNO looks at KJ like son of God... He graduated from a University from a far far land, never deal with the local people, go to private school, live in and elite family, now wants to lead a country where almost 1/3 are in poverty...

I suggest he go and live like Mathama Gandhi or Lord Buddha first before he wants to talk about leading the masses...

KJ if put in power would destroy the nation because he only understands the plight of the masses on paper only...

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written by krising1, February 10, 2008 | 16:04:58

Dear Sabahan,

I only take issue with you in one matter. Your quarrel should be with the UMNOputeras and not orang Malaya. We are equally the victims here. The UMNOputeras have been robbing all and sundry.

Otherwise I agree with all that you say. And this KJ is a boy still wet behind his ears. All the UMNOputeras lick his butt because he is the PM's son-in-law. Othewise is he kosong upstairs - his Oxford education nothwithstanding.

If he every dares to set foot in Sabah, pelt him with rotten eggs. I will share the cost of the eggs.

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written by hiro, February 10, 2008 | 16:58:35

That's what happens when the boss is not diligent and is not checking on what his ministers are doing and saying. It's so true that there must be leadership by example. The boss not only has to work the hardest, but also the smartest. It's a wonder how our Cabinet has regressed to this level, when a taxi minister can end up becoming a law minister, and a law minister is demoted to a cultural minister. UMNO has really lost its bearings and the rakyat must help reclaim what is right and just for Malays by supporting the opposition.

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written by Flex Tan, February 10, 2008 | 17:02:12

TELL THAT TO THE REMBAU FOLKS... HE IS NOT THE SON OF GOD.

We are Sabahans before Malaysians

We are Sabahans before Malaysians

By A.G.Mustakim

Anak Keningau tries to be a Sabahan but failed miserably, the reason is because he is not from Sabah, perhaps from Negeri Sembilan. I am a Sabahan first before I am Malaysian. No one can dispute this; Sabah was an independent sovereign state before we decided to form Malaysia. This is the reason Sabah and Sarawak are unlike the states in Malaya and should be treated as such. History should not be written for their convenience of a few but for the good of all Malaysians. This is the basis of our existence from my father to me and from me to my children and probably beyond that. We will keep on preaching until someone realizes that truth is more powerful than lies or hypocrisy.

Yayasan Sabah sent me to study in Malaya when I was only 12 years old. I have even spent some years working there. Personally, I have nothing against orang Malaya per se. But I am against the injustice, unfairness, discrimination and condescending manner that they have shown to Sabah and Sarawak ever since the formation of Malaysia 44 years ago. It appears that these people are willing to change history, for their own convenience, every year they insist on celebrating 50 years of Malaya independence rather than 44 years of Malaysian independence. As the saying goes “history is written by the victors”, but since when Sabah was vanquished that we have to accept the version written by Malaya? They even made this into exam questions in schools a wrong answer will render a Sabahan to lose a mark. An innocent thing to provide the “right” answer but unconsciously preconditioning our children to accept Sabah is a defeated state.

Anak Keningau is a typical orang Malaya; coming to Sabah trying to help Sabahans in a condescending manner but do we really need their help? Orang Malaya may give the wrong impression that without development fund from the central government, progress and development in Sabah may be retarded. This may be true but then where is the money in central government coffer coming from? I am sure without the contributions from Sabah and Sarawak, industrialization in Malaya may remain a pipe dream. Orang Malaya may still be tapping rubber and panning for tin. Yet we see states such as Negeri Sembilan and Melaka without any resource other than a few depilated stone fortresses and muddy beaches is categorized as developed states while resource rich Sabah and Sarawak as a less developed state. To top it all, Sabah records the highest incidence of hardcore poverty to boot.

Therefore development fund from the central government is our right not a privilege bestowed upon us just because there is close relationship between the leaders in Sabah and the central government. Perhaps they want to show Sabah and Sabahans as beggars rather than partners. In fact Sabah has more right to these development funds than states such as Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Perak Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.

Anak Keningau is right in saying that all these will be decided by the rakyat and not by our politicians. The rakyat in Sabah made their choices known before, and has thrown out 3 governments. Never discard the possibility, the existing one may face the same fate. It is also naïve for Anak Keningau to advise Sabahans by going through the right channel and voicing our grievances’ through the elected rep. Doesn’t Anak Keningau know that all elected rep is selected and approved by the centre? This means that those elected rep that does not toe the line or does not work for the benefit of the centre will not be selected as candidates in the first place? Is it not possible for the centre to do this?

Remember who put the rotation of “our CM” in the first place at the expense of disregarding our Sabah constitution, the TYT and the state legislative assembly? It is obvious, when orang Malaya wants something, they will be your best buddies but when they got what they want, they will throw you away like some soiled cloth. They have done this many times to our late Tun Datu Mustapha, perhaps they will do the same thing to the present leaders when they are no longer useful. Just wait and see how many present elected reps are dropped in the next election.

This is why, in Sabah today “the people have the right to vote but not the right to choose”. Our right to choose has been taken by leaders in Malaya. In this context, leaders in Sabah may destroy and depleted its richness and resources for the benefit of those in Malaya. Otherwise their term in office is over.

Why the need to impose sales tax on palm oil Fresh Fruit Bunch by MPOB in Sabah when there is not enough cooking oil in Malaya. Why penalize Sabah and Sabahans such as levies on foreign laborers and fomema. Why do a ringgit spent in Kuala Lumpur gives one ringgit of value but a ringgit spent in Kota Kinabalu is only valued at seventy cent? Why does the price of chicken goes up one ringgit in Malaya, the whole world knows about it but when the price of chicken rises five ringgit in Sabah nobody cares.

If the majority of students, police officers, civil servants, armed forces, plantation investors or tourism operators from other parts of Malaya refuse to come to Sabah, it will not make any difference. Just take a good look at Sarawak. Perhaps Sabah can become a much better place to live in. Racism was unheard of in Sabah until orang Malaya came; disunity, hypocrisy, corruption is unknown in Sabah until it was introduced. If the central government stops people from Malaya coming to Sabah, they will definitely save a lot of money from unnecessary expenses. Imagine the cost of transfer allowance from Malaya to Sabah, the housing subsidies and regional allowances that is paid to them. Instead of creating closer rapport and cohesion these actions creates discrimination and discontent amongst the locals. Are Sabahans so undependable that even office boy and drivers have to be imported from Malaya?

Students from Malaya or for that matter from all over the world will flock to Sabah to study if the university is academically excellent and teaching staffs are credible and academically prominent. Just ask some parents why do they want to pay so much money sending their children overseas to study?

Is it not a police officer that is now in trouble within the force for having huge tract of land in Sabah? When we have to buy or fight to own a piece of our land. Is this his payment to rid of all the squatters in Pulau Gaya and hide them in Talipok? With all the police officers and Arm forces in Sabah, how is it that our borders are still porous? Does Sabah need to give up more land to more orang Malaya to ensure our border is impenetrable?

Look at what “plantation investors” has done to Sabah? Are they really helping Sabah to progress or are they doing the same thing as what European plantation investors did to Malaya during the British rule? If this is the extent of their sincerity in helping Sabah progress, if this is their perception of one country, one nation but in the process treating Sabahans worse than step brothers and sisters, then sad to say Sabah and Sabahans do not need them.

As Anak Keningau admitted, to get the VC position is all a matter of playing good political game rather than being an outstanding and credible academic. A Sabahan will always be passed over not because he is unqualified but because a true Sabahan will not grovel nor become a hypocrite just to gain a position. It’s a small wonder in the world ranking all Malaysian Universities are below the 200 position. Perhaps it is because all Universities in Malaysia are headed by aspiring politicians who knows how to grovel and “kow tow” but missing a lot of grey matters. In this, my sympathies to all parents who cannot afford to send their children overseas yet still have to pay expensive Universities fee and to their children for attending substandard institutions of higher learning.

Perhaps in order for a university in Sabah to excel, we need a committed Sabahan to lead this fine institution. Orang Malaya in Sabah is not dedicated or committed to improve the university. Their sole purpose in Sabah is only to enjoy the privileges, perks and get a Datukship. It is appropriate since Sabah and Sabahans had invested a lot of land, money and efforts to ensure this university was established. Twice a Sabahan was by-passed as VC yet until today the university has not shown academic excellence or become an outstanding institution of higher learning in the country or in the region. If Malaya is really sincere in ensuring Sabah can achieve excellent academic progress, then give a Sabahan a chance to lead the university. Perhaps orang Malaya cannot stand it when a Sabahan succeed where they failed miserably.

What Islamic Thinking Thinkers Thought

What Islamic thinking thinkers thought...

This is not a specific reply to the accusation level against me with reference to my articles Happy Maal Hijrah 1429 & Happy New 2008 posted in AS Journal on 13 January, 2008 as I have not spared much time reading the details of it (the accusation). But rather just as the earlier response, as I scanned through, I cognised something was not well understood. The refined reply will take sometime as I have to be away most of the time from my blog-amde

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That article of mine -Happy Maal Hijrah 1429 & Happy New 2008 posted on 13 January, 2008 in AS Journal was found to be controversial by one person, so far one person only. (Circulated among the Gmail subscribers). According this one person, he consulted three Islamic religious experts to verify my writing. After reading ten times, he came out open, which is to me, falling short to declaring me as ... So, shall I say, four of them lah!

My question is what to verify? I still failed to see. Is it about the idea in that article? The way I presented? Badly constructed materials? The phrases I used? My English is so horrible? Or a person like me is not competent to write religious matter especially on Islam.

A kind of ..."Amde this isn't your territory, keep away you! This is religious subject. Writing about Islam is only meant for Muslim with sound religious record, had formal education in Islamic religion, had memorized the Quran numerously, understanding of it is not included if it is from English translation. It is only writings from Arab prominent Universities, notably from the Al Azhar University (I am not insinuating the University)"

To back track, the jest of my article is, how do we answer questions on Islam global image in general sense -just see and hear around the world, and the second part, what do we know of the image/s in our country? I have not provided answers, not even a suggestion, because the article is going be extended. For those who have not read, it is hardly a paragraph touches the core of Islam or religion per se. I know it would take me bigger space to have a real debate. It wasn’t intended to be.

Because it’s hardly a paragraph on Islamic religion, I now ask, is it worthwhile jumping into conclusion that the writer knew nothing about the subject or which part of it gives indication that he is betraying his own religion?

I remember not that long ago, a highly educated in Islamic religious graduate from our own home grown UII plus Al Azhar University, and this is not the only one, not to mention the rest in order not to be too personal. This religious expert/s I noted did not give us good impression about the prudence of good Islamic religious education. The media say … murtad

Or Amde needs to be nailed anyway, because he is as he is? Poor me! I really don't know.

I don’t intend to be boastful, but I have to introduce myself no matter how unethical it sounds to some, because for me, to reach this stage was a long journey. A journey with candle light to start with.

Three writers inspire me to read Islam and religion continuously, namely Feisal Abd Rauf, a Kuwaiti of an Egyptian ancestry, educated in Egypt, England, Malaysia, and USA; he is now Imam of Masjid al Farah New York City Mosque. He has written numerous books on Islam and Islam in connection with Physic among others.

Dr Zaiuddin Sadr a friend in England, international best seller special writer in mathematic and Islam, a technical designer he who helped design water system- Zam-Zam in Mecca, coincidently happened to be Datuk Seri Anwar adviser on Islam at one time. He used to say about himself an ulamak without beard!

(Hajj) Michael Wolfe, his father a Jew and mother devote Christian, and he is a devoted Muslim, a travel writer, notably -Thousand Roads to Mecca 1997. One can still watch him every Hajj season at CNN, sometime BBC, giving views on Islam-I haven't heard of him being banned to visit Muslim countries unlike Osama Bin Ladin who has price tag on his head any where at any time by President Bush

That would give inkling, how I view religion, and how I view Islam. The rest of the views I got are all mine, mine alone, and I hope to progress with it. Insyallh. See if I can contribute something one day in a way of thinking about religion even if is not specifically Islam

Call any Ustaz who wants to have a debate with me on that topic, views on religion and views on Islam against global background. I am prepared.

I don't have big name like Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, David Yalopp or the infamous Shalman Rashdi sort of. But I am fortunate enough that media in Sabah are generous to me to make me as I am now, especially Daily Express. So what do I do?

I tell you something, writing is not something one can resign when one is pressured, especially if one is innocent. It is not as simple as what David Blanket did or in our local scene as Dr Chua Soi Leck did recently.

I can write more on this, but if I continue, we are surely going to miss the point again, i.e., the original contention I want to tell my readers are. See, I am a writer. I am not a reporter nor I am journalist-may be sometime what I wrote are rubbish, only Daily Express , Gulf News, Canberra Times or South Morning Post take up those rubbish from me.

Let me give a simple methodology when I do my writing, but again just let me first explain the word methodology, the first time I heard about the word methodology was when I did my Masters of Science Degree in University of Birmingham way in 1983. What it means simply is how do you do it or how do you investigate it? What do you use to prove or to substantiate your findings, are your findings significant enough? Hear these words? They don't tell you exactly what they want to mean, all are waffled and blurred if not dubious. If it happens in science what about it in art and any other fields, later in life I did my Law degree, this discipline helps me to understand two things: when facing with large and messy materials, one should deduce it. If the materials is too little one should induce it; this may not tell my readers a lot, even practicing lawyers are still missing the point.

I hate academic stuff! Tell me in real world, who would want to read academic stuff? Not even 5% of those from the house of universities read by general public. Because of this reason many people start writing heavy stuff into a very simple and less elaborative manner –read Feynman on Physic. It doesn't mean the writers are stupid who can't present succinctly. To some, I supposed, when people find attraction or something blogging their heads while reading, they would come back to the phrases, and start paying attention or asking question. Tell me how many those read Quran bother to knock someone's house asking for something about what blogging his or her mind? I supposed very few unless you are students, only when asked by their lecturers to do so.

Many would be asking Amde is a graduate in writing, its rubbish! I couldn't even speak English when I was in form three- a few of my teachers are still alive and kicking, ask them- Mr. Thanda, Chin Hock Yen, Liew Syn Chong or Liaw Ben Teck., how stupid, how poor and how ugly I was. I was and still am so bad in language even today, when I concentrate my Malay I forget my English, if I concentrate in English I forget my Malay, except one dialect, my Kadayan dialect. I hold it intact, but some sometime I pretend not to know it, especially, in front of boastful Kadayans who say they know a lot about Kadayan. You see, by my pretending not to know it they start telling me what they know of it but actually ninety percent of what they said I already knew. For me you would only be master of it until you write a book. I did my part. The catch is; people appreciate if you asked something from them by first putting him or her superior or above you are. That is why even in Islam used to emphasize to be humble, but sadly many misconstrued into thinking that being humble, quiet, look stupid are the real manifestation of stupidity. You watch this when confronting with civil servants in Malaysia, say, you are asking for application form for something related to government department; you are chicken dead, especially if you are just wearing salipar jepun and torn T shirt in front of them. Or you do that when meeting with a tau keh start bargaining the price to buy hardware, the tau keh would just close his eyes, you are not there. You start speaking in English with him, he will jump to you. Does this mean your ten ringgit isn't equivalent to YBs ten ringgit? I want to hear from Islamic religious thinking thinkers thought about this -I am in fact hinting to those who dispute my understanding of my faith. http://www.kadayanuniverse.com