Why Anwar Ibrahim is not Prime Minister Material – Part 1

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Why Anwar Ibrahim is not Prime Minister Material – Part 1

by Anas Zubedy

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar will attest that there are two people who have been consistent about Anwar Ibrahim since his days in UMNO; a chap in USM Penang and myself. I have since the first time I heard him speak found him to be a person who delivers grandiose entertaining lectures with little meaning. I found his speeches lack depth. (Unfortunately, we can find many of these folks in the training and development business too).

I am not saying that Anwar has no outstanding talent. On the contrary he has some really outstanding competencies which I will elaborate in part 2 of this article. However, his strength does not match the capacity and skills needed for general management. This is especially for the number one position of a CEO or PM. As early as 1990, I predicted that he was unlikely to become Malaysia’s Prime Minister – and if he did, he will not last for long. Events over the last two decades have proven me correct.

If you are an Anwar fan, or from Pakatan, or a supporter of the political coalition, before you go into conniption, spewing angry words, accusations, and going mad with this article, kindly note that I would have written this article even if Anwar Ibrahim is still in UMNO. I suggest you lend me your ear, and listen to my rationale. Thank you.

For a start, let me explain with three simple examples.

1)    When he was the Minister of Education he introduced Bahasa Baku – a more difficult way to pronounce words where we were told to pronounce BM words as they are spelt. For example ‘teknologi’ is pronounced as technolo-‘ghee’ and ‘universiti’ is pronounced as ‘oo’-niversity – articulating the ‘u’ as per the pronunciation of the first syllable for oolong (tea). Historically, language especially the spoken variety does not evolve that way. You cannot force it on the population. In fact spoken words evolved from the more difficult to pronounce to one that is easier to vocalize. For example, in the English language we have the silent ‘k’ in knife, know, knight etc.

These are remnants of Old English, and wasn't silent at all but was pronounced along with the 'n'. This change is believed to have transpired sometime around the 16th to 17th centuries. Basically, "kn" was considered to be difficult to pronounce and it is much easier and comfortable to follow the "new" pronunciation "n”. (Others: gn, hn, hl, hr, hw -to know more please Google phonotactics constraints). In modern day Indonesia when one says, “Ori”, it is understood it means ‘Original” as the language has evolved to make words simpler.

While we do not expect Anwar to know this as he is not a graduate of linguistic studies but top management must be equipped with the ability to ask the right questions to get to the right answers in order not to end up with such blunders.

2)    During his budget speech as the Finance Minister, analysts were made to pay attention to language rather than economics, the Dewan Bahasa Dictionary rather than to the calculator. That was Anwar’s biggest contribution to the budget speech. Big Bahasa Malaysia words. Unfortunately, bombastic words cannot make an economy fly let alone help us out of the 1997 Financial Crisis.

As a young man I was rather worried when most Malaysians were debating the meaning of BM words rather than the budget allocation and plan. I felt that perhaps as Anwar is not that confident with economics, he focuses on showing off language instead. It ended with Anwar not truly explaining the budget and the nation not really understanding his speech. Sigh!

3)    A more recent example is the push to abolish the PTPTN. Accordingly, the loan scheme was approved during Anwar’s time. Some say it was him who approved it too. Events today made it obvious that Anwar did not really understand the economics of the loan then when he sanctioned it. I am convinced that he has no idea on the repercussions of abolishing it in favor of free education for all. Loan schemes like PTPTN are not just good noble platform to help people; but rather it is also good economics and therefore good for business. Let me explain.

The purpose of business is to create customers.

Only when a business creates customers, do they add value to society. When a business creates a customer, it sets a chain reaction of interconnected, interrelated, and correlated businesses from raw materials to end products coupled with service needs like distribution and communications that is required for delivery and information. IN SHORT, BY CREATING CUSTOMERS, BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS. As such each time a business sells to one customer they touch the lives of thousands if not millions of people.

Any smart and pro-business government policy must help the creation of customers. Basically there are four main ways for businesses to create customers. Innovation, Advertising and Promotions, Selling and Credit.

For example, the INNOVATION of the hand phones has created jobs we never knew could exist. ADVERTISING and PROMOTION draws us to product and service offerings that we are not aware of – like waking up on a Saturday and discovering there is a furniture sale at Fella Design and making a trip to the store and get that nice easy chair you have always wanted. As for SELLING, sales people help us understand product features and benefits better thus helping us decide what, when, where, and whom to buy from.

Last but perhaps one of the most powerful components of customer creation is CREDIT. Credit can create customers almost out of NOTHING AT ALL simply because we humans have learned to trust each other with ‘a promise to pay back at a later date’ system. Can you imagine if we do not have credit facility to purchase houses, cars, and start a business? There would be a total collapse of the world economy and the loss of millions of jobs.

PTPTN is a credit facility. PTPTN has created customers not only by way of students but all other interconnected, interrelated, and correlated businesses from construction, teaching and administration, transportation, food and beverage, retail, entertainment, etc in an endless chain reaction that made not only the world a better place by giving needy people an education but by making our economy more viable, jobs aplenty, and profit for taxes.

It was PTPTN that helped spur and catalyst our education industry like the mushrooming of colleges and universities in the Sunway area. Not only we attracted students from Malaysia but also from all over the world who did not benefit from PTPTN but contributed to society and our well-being.

Let me put it simply. If we take away PTPTN, not only the lecturers, administrators and rich owners of the colleges and universities will lose their jobs and money but that poor Makcik selling nasi lemak in front of the institute of learning will need to close shop because there would be not enough customers buying her products.

End of part 1

“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do Sir? “

 – John Maynard Keynes

Anas Zubedy

Kuala Lumpur

The original article is here

GE13: How did Malaysians with disabilities vote?

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Here is an interesting article by Anthony Thanasayan on how Malaysians with disabilities voted in the recent GE13.

A welcome change for disabled voters

Wheel Power by Anthony Thanasayan

The STAR, May 16, 2013

OUR much anticipated 13th General Election has come and gone. So, how was it for Malaysians with disabilities who joined the crowd that turned up to cast their votes?

Equal opportunities: The disabled and the elderly were given all the help they needed at polling stations throughout the country during GE13

This was the first time my helper was allowed to enter the classroom at the polling station to assist me in my wheelchair.

Marcus Foo, 19, from Sri Hartamas in Kuala Lumpur drove over to my house in Petaling Jaya to help me get ready and pushed my wheelchair about a hundred metres to a nearby school where the voting was conducted.

We sailed through the crowd of about 100 people who had made a beeline to the polling station by 9am. We were duly guided by the election staff on what to do and where to go, and we were done within 10 minutes.

I was pleased to see empty wheelchairs provided by the Election Commission for the elderly and those with walking difficulties. They were placed in front where everybody could see them.

As an added bonus, I noticed that the school had done some renovations. They had levelled the ground in several places since I last voted there five years ago.

However, I was disappointed to see that the entrance to the classroom still had a four-inch step. I needed some assistance to get in. The single step is a barrier to students in wheelchairs.

As I cast my votes, I closed my eyes and wished for all such barriers to be removed from schools across the country so that Malaysians with disabilities would have equal opportunities to education in the country.

For TKC, 44, a wheelchair user, last week’s voting turned out to be a pleasant family affair. TKC was wheeled by his brother to a nearby school in the morning. He was accompanied by his sister-in-law, mother and a curious two-year-old nephew.

TKC and his elderly mother did not have to queue up, but the abled-bodied voters in his family had to wait out the queue. Needless to say, TKC and his mum finished long before the rest. TKC found the ballot box too high, though. One of the lady officers had to tilt the box so that he could slip in his ballot papers.

Chong Tuck Meng, 52, who is paralysed from the neck down, was pleased that one of his two helpers was allowed into the classroom to assist him as he voted for the candidates of his choice. Everything was over in 10 minutes.

This was a welcome change for Chong who hails from Bentong, Pahang. During the last general election, Chong was not allowed to bring a helper into the classroom to assist him.

The only issue Chong had this time round, was a small uncovered drain outside the classroom. Fortunately for Chong, he had his helpers to carry his wheelchair over the drain.

Antony Leopold, 61, was delighted when the parking cones that blocked cars from entering the polling station were immediately removed when the police found out he was a disabled driver. Some of the benches were also removed to make way for his car as it was raining at the time. Three officers with umbrellas helped Antony, who had walking difficulties, into his wheelchair and accompanied him all the way to the classroom to cast his vote.

However, things did not go so smoothly for Yap Khen Siong, 39, from Bandar Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur. Yap travelled in his electric wheelchair to the polling station 2km away.

When he arrived at the polling station, he found that the voting room was on the first floor. It was clear that it would be impossible to carry his wheelchair up the flight of stairs. So, he had to wait for almost half an hour to cast his votes.

Yap’s ballot papers were brought down from upstairs, and he had to sign some documents before casting his vote.

His ballot slips were then put in an envelope and taken upstairs – something Yap didn’t quite like. His ballots were no longer confidential as they had to be removed from the envelope and placed in the box.

For Yam Tong Woo, 59, it was his first time as a blind voter. He was accompanied by his sighted wife and son who were also voters.

An Election Commission official spotted Yam’s white cane and approached him immediately. Yam and his wife were ushered to the queue for the disabled and the elderly. Yam was helped by his wife to cast his votes. She had to fill up a special consent form as a helper.

“I look forward to the day when the blind will be able to cast their votes independently, with assistive technology at the voting booth,” said Yam.

Original article here

The people who taught me

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My primary school teachers
ACS Lumut. A long time ago.

The school had only 12 teachers (the other three in the photo are support staff). But I think the school did a great job of educating my friends and I.

I remember liking my teachers very much. Back row, 2nd from left is Mr Tan who was also a King Scout. He would take us (scouts) for great hikes once a month. Back row 3rd from left is Mr Jayaraj who was a great artist. He could draw amazing pictures. 

Back row 2nd from right is Mr Appanan who was the school gardener. Yes, you read it right. Mr Appanan was the school gardener who took care of the field and grass and had many other tasks. Those days the staff photo included everyone.

Front row. 2nd from right. The pretty lady was the school clerk. I can't remember her name. The only thing I can remember is all the male teachers got excited whenever she passed by.

My headmaster was Mr Ling Ong Doong (front row, 4th from left). He was a good man.

I don't know where all these good people are now. Wherever they are, I wish them all the best. I would like them to know that I turned out pretty okay (although my kids and my cat think otherwise)


Selamat Hari Guru.

Cabinet : Where did all the women go ?

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Of the 30 ministers named today, only 2 are women.

Rohani Karim (MP for Batang Lupar) was named as the Women, Family and Community Development. Nancy Shukri (MP for Batang Sadong) was named as a Minister in the PM’s department. There are 5 women deputy ministers.

Nancy Shukri

Rohani Karim

The total number of ministers and deputy ministers in the new cabinet is 57 (30 ministers and 27 deputies). Women make up about 12%. Pathetically low.

Come on, Najib. You have to do better than this.

p.s. Please take note that there are very few women in most state excos  

Related article

Najib, women directors and cakap tak serupa bikin (3 Oct 2012)

Orang Dusun bukan orang Malaysia ke ?

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In the past weeks, many have been trying to tell others that they are not racists. We must move away from race-based politics, they say. We must shun racism, they shout. We are all Malaysia, they scream. And together with their scream and shouts, they have also produced cute posters and images (see below) to tell the world that they are "color blind".

I want to ask them ..........

Orang Dusun bukan orang Malaysia ke ?

Orang Asli bukan orang Malaysia ke ?

Orang Murut bukan orang Malaysia ke ?

Orang Bidayuh bukan orang Malaysia ke ?

Kawan saya, bapanya orang Punjabi + Serani. Emaknya pula orang Dusun - Bajau. Jadi kawan saya ni bukan orang Malaysia ke ?

Darah orang Iban warna biru ke?




Malaysia is more than just Malays Chinese and Indians. We are a nation of hundreds of ethnicities. If you count the mixtures, we have thousands of varieties.

By lumping Malaysian just as Malays, Chinese and Indians, we are insulting the rest. By lumping Malaysian just as Malays, Chinese and Indians, we are mocking the rich diversity of people in this country.

In our eagerness to produce cute posters, we conveniently forget about hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who do not fit into the Malay, Chinese and Indian pigeonholes.

So stop this Malay-Chinese-Indian nonsense. Malaysia is a lot richer than that.

What really happened on May 13?

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What really happened on May 13, 2013. Nothing much really.

Woke up at 6.15 a.m. Sent my kids to school.

Had breakfast at home. Bread and coffee. In fact, this was the highlight of the day.

After breakfast, went to a seminar at Putrajaya. Presented a paper. Collected goodie bags. Met a whole load of people. Stared blankly at the ceiling for some time. Drank a lot of terribly sweet teh tarik. Had some sandwiches too.

Came back home at 6 pm. Finished some office work. Posted this article on the blog.

Planning to go to bed early.

This is what really happened on May 13, 2013. Nothing much. 

Time to get a life. Time to move on.

The greatest temple

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I was at a wedding in Ipoh today. An Indian Hindu wedding

Tamil songs were being repeated played.

One of the songs had these lyrics

Thaiyai siranthe kovil illai
Thanthai siranthe manthiram illai

Roughly translated it means

There is no temple greater than your mother
There is no prayer stronger than your father's advice

Happy Mother's Day, people

A breakfast at the Mamak place

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An old Chinese man sits nursing a kopi O Beng,

Two Banglas discussing things back home,
Three Malays talking about kenduri,
And then there was me.
A bearded Sikh on the phone,
Two Chinese devouring fried mee,
Three salesmen checking invoices,
Amidst a cacophony of multilingual voices.

Astro on the screen, an NG documentary,
A Chinese man calling for more kari,
The local doctor taking a breather,
A break from his clinic just round the corner.
His teh tarik arrives with foam but less sugar.
The Sikh man is still on the phone.

A call goes out for three rotis
With dhall mixed with fish kari.
There was a time when I was away,
For several lonely years and a day,
How I missed this atmosphere

By Hazidi @ Hazidi Al-Kajangi @ hazidi.blogspot.com

The original article here

Roti canai image snitched from lagunamerbok.blogspot.com

PEMBODOH : Membership application is still open

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Automatic membership for all those people who think that if something is on Facebook or twitter or the internet, it must be true.

Caution : you can join anytime you like but you can never leave.

We crossed the line against the Bangladeshis

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In the current brouhaha about Malay and Chinese tsunami, Utusan's headlines, and other so-called racist statements, most people have conveniently forgotten that we went through one of the saddest episodes of racism in Malaysia. I am talking about many Malaysians' behaviour towards Bangladeshis in this country.

If you go to Bangladesh now, people there will probably tell you that Malaysia is the most racist country. 

Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if others denigrate you, mock you, insult you simply because of your looks? How would you feel if the entire people of your country are lumped and labelled as cheats, accused of selling their souls for a few ringgit, and cursed without any basis. 

The Bangladeshis are in this country to simply earn a honest living. Just like many of our forefathers. Simply earn a meagre living and support families back home.

They are mocked in this country for one reason and one reason only. Because they cannot fight back. They are voiceless in this country. Everyone takes advantage of them, employers cheat them, the public shuns them, and politicians conveniently use them as bogeymen.

I have been to Bangladesh 3 times. The people there are among the nicest I have ever met. Their hospitality was awesome despite the widespread poverty. If only Malaysians knew how nice they are.

All of us poke fun of others nationalities for time to time. Most of the time, it is harmless fun. BUT in recent weeks, Malaysians crossed the line. The last two weeks, I think, have been outright insulting to the Bangladeshis.

I would like Anwar to visit Dhaka this week and repeat his allegations there.

Stories from my previous trips to Bangladesh

Who is Rizwana Hassan

Bangladesh, poor country, rich country

Photos from Bangladesh

Apa lagi orang India mahu ?

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Orang India mahu cekodok pisang

Orang Dusun pun mahu cekodok pisang

Orang Iban pun mahu cekodok pisang

Orang Melayu pun mahu cekodok pisang

You see folks. If you care to look carefully, all of us actually want the same thing. We all want to live and be healthy. We all want the best for our family and community. We all want to live in a safe environment. We all want to grow beyond our current horizons and experience the world. We all want friendship, and to laugh and play together. We all want to love and be loved.

We want our voices to be heard. We all want to respect and be respected.

We all want a better FUTURE.

Regardless of race, religion, gender or creed, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

Photo of cekodok pisang snitched from ixoraroxi.blogspot.com