The ruling Barisan Nasional has told its media to play up “feel good”, “positive” reports and to find flaws of its political foes for the next few months ahead of a likely March 2011 federal elections, sources told The Malaysian Insider.
Since the beginning of PM Najib's tenure, it has always been about "feel good", carefully planned and expensive PR campaigns, sloganeering and more. Public are forced to take in an overdose of terms and slogans e.g. 1Malaysia, ETP, GTP, NEM, KRAs, KPIs and a host of other similar sounding programmes.
But where are clear, concise and definite reforms? The government is still dragging its feet on the ISA. It is a draconian act which must be abolished since it was misused and abused by none other than Dr Mahathir and Abdullah Badawi to detain political opponents, journalists and dissidents. Nothing short of an abolishment will put Malaysia on a road to real democracy. The pro-ISA demonstration in Penang is an eye opener for Malaysians. Why? The proponents are mostly Umno members.
Since the global economic crisis hit the country in 2007, the government is still going around its business as though we are trouble free. There is no serious debate on how to manage the slid and glitches in the Malaysian economy. Why are investors heading to Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam but not us? Where are the new areas of growth? How to create more jobs? Apart from announcing targets on GDP per capita, additional 3.3 million jobs and others, the government does not give us an impression that it has the right strategy to help achieve these optimistic targets. Where is the RM1.47 trillion investment is going to come from?
Several public institutions such as the judiciary and the police have not improved their image and perception. The government should make all efforts to distance itself from these institutions and encourage them to be truly independent. The way Anwar Ibrahim's defence team has been denied access to key information and materials does not augur well for judiciary independence. The police is still acting arbitrarily on stifling democratic rights to assembly, free speech and peaceful gatherings and demonstrations. An IPCMC was mooted by a BN formed royal commission and it has yet to be implemented.
Najib is trying toying with obvious uncertainty over his NEM announcement to do away with rigid race based quota and adopt a fairer need based socio-economic model. NEP is set to be retained although it had been bastardized for decades. His 1Malaysia slogan stands out like a sore thumb in an administration composed of race based political parties and a majority based party with a clear race-based agenda.
Freedom of press is going to suffer a worse perception the direct acquisition of the Star Publications by MCA. The main stream media has lost its credibility and is treated as nothing more than a party organ by increasingly disillusioned readers. I buy them only for the adverts.
Apart from the media frenzy about BN's change of fortune, where are the real reforms?
6 comments:
So Najib and his RM70m a year APCO-inspired propaganda machine still banking on trying to fool all the people all the time? Glitzy wondow dressing to hide the festering, corruption and abuses of power?
While counting on the new sedition rules for cyberspace to muffle the altenative media and members of the rakyat who voice dissenting views and revelations of UMNO/BN shortcomings and wrongdoings?
Is that what transforming the government amounts to? Is that the sort of government I want to vote for in the coming General Elections?
Just what sort of political coalition resorts to such low tactics in their desparate "even if bodies are crushed, lives are lost" attempt to hang on to power? Can we entrust the future of our children and the country to such a coalition?
To me, Najib and his bankrupt government have yet again testified by their own words and deeds to the rakyat far better than any Opposition expose can just why they need to be kicked out of Putrajaya.
Where are the real reforms? I think we have none if you take into accounts of the following facts:
1)The stock market,recently hit historical high is bcos the index is being propped up by the GLCs.The real economic movers,the 2nd &3rd liners are not moving.
2)The new IGP is doing monkey thing by setting a gambling school for their officers so that they can know how to catch gambling cheaters,whereas this job is already in place in the gambling house itself.
3)We have a Defence Minister,who is a PhD holder,talking and thinking like a "Permanent Head Damage(PHD)person.
4)We also have a minister,who acted like a gangster head,telling his opponent(the opposition adun) not to encroach into his territory or else will get beaten up.And recently I read this minister will get promoted as head of liasion(currently he is deputy)for the party in Selangor.
5)And what happens to all the police reports on corruption charges against the big heads of BN? Seems like the govt is using the delaying tactics.
So in conclusion,the only reform we need is "Chnage The GovT!"
I thank you, Sir, for this article. As you must be aware that we are not only surrounded by evil politicans and their servants but also many not-so-bright bloggers changing their mode now, brandishing the PKR internal hiccups as their excuses. We shouldn't give a damn yet to this visual effect because they don't affect us like price of petrol, street crime index, taxes, water cannons, judiciary and lots more because they are not government happenings that dictate you and me. We shouldn't single out a politcal party as our enemy BUT instead we should and always will direct our anger towards highly corrupted politicians in GOVERNMENT. These are our country's TRUE ENEMIES NO.1. Our main focus mustn't be awed by party political auroras if we ever want change. We must bring on the 2-party system B4 we can see real reforms. So people, whether you are BN or PR, stop your tantrums B4 you are drowned in your own saliva or get lost even in your own dreams and never be awakened by your shadow.
Are not real reforms what we want? people are so easily taken in by the BN-Najib rhetoric.We want change. Enough of 53 years of draconian UMNO-led BN rule.We, the people must ensure this at the next GE.We must not be take n by the "feel good" factors but push for real reforms. We want a two-party system of governance, that gives us alternatives. Enough of only BN rule!Change! Change! Change!
Some people say to reform is to change for the better. To change social systems and laws for the betterment of society. Because something is no right, so the need to reform.
Yet some people say reformation can only come when the people want change. Do the people of this nation really want a change in their life that has never experienced before? Do they really want a just, fair and democratic system? Isn't not the incumbents providing them this satisfaction?
Then again the people like to sit at the kopitiams and count their fingers on PFTZ, TBH, The French submarines, Police gambling school, Perkasa, Sodomi2, The Sel Water scandals,the 100story skyscraper, etc, etc, etc. , they have a lot to talk about. Now even the taxidrivers are joining in. This prompted a famous politician to play act as a taxi-driver.
This trend of play acting seems to catch on in the incumbent's endeavours to garner support for the coming GE. The people have been entertained by various mega projects which time can only tell its implementation and fruition. Therefore it's like throwing a big party with Paris Hilton as the guest of honour and the people are supposed to gasp in awe. The PR game has been played to a tilt in the nation as well as in the States.
On the other hand , all is well if it ends well. The people will at least benefit by learning how the incumbents use PR to pull wool over their eyes. So the only one or thing needs reforming is the PR company in view of the GE.
Malaysia have to take a hard look. Especially UMNO. Why investments are running away from this country? No doubt it is a bitter pill to swallow. But we have to accept the reality that Malaysia is no longer attractive?
The Government must change things, corruption, ISA, transparency,religion and racial equalities,judicial fairness, jobs and education opportunities for all Malaysians irrespective of races.
Unless the above matters are resolved, foreign investors would not come into this country. It is like they are sitting on a volcano which can erupt any time. And thus affect their businesses.
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