A good, non-bylined, piece on why Mat Taib and Tengku Adnan are riding high again.
Extract: "... there is more than a good chance that Ku Nan (Tengku Adnan), as he is known in party circles, will be censured by the Royal Commission on the Judiciary for his role in the V K Lingam judge-fixing scandal... The findings of the commission will tar him for life with many Malaysians. But in Umno, he will be revered as the secretary-general. Why? Because the party respects raw power and the ability to use it. Ku Nan has both."
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thoughts on GE 08 Results
Outspoken journalist Kee Thuan Chye is writing a book on the aftermath of the general elections. One of the chapters is devoted to comments by several political watchers. Here's my contribution:
I never thought I’d see, within my lifetime, the Opposition break the Barisan Nasional’s psychologically-crucial two-thirds control of Parliament and take control of states outside the Malay heartland.
The notion of the BN being forever dominant is so ingrained in the national psyche that most of us are still pinching ourselves to see if the results of the 2008 General Elections are a dream.
The impact is profound. The BN is in tatters – every major component party, including UMNO, is facing internal problems. The mainstream news media is already reacting by becoming more balanced in its coverage. And people are, for the first time ever, pondering what life could be like under a new government.
The most amazing thing is that there is an absence of fear. The May 13 bogeyman is forever banished along with the notion that the government of the day can only be BN. In its place is hope for a brighter tomorrow.
I never thought I’d see, within my lifetime, the Opposition break the Barisan Nasional’s psychologically-crucial two-thirds control of Parliament and take control of states outside the Malay heartland.
The notion of the BN being forever dominant is so ingrained in the national psyche that most of us are still pinching ourselves to see if the results of the 2008 General Elections are a dream.
The impact is profound. The BN is in tatters – every major component party, including UMNO, is facing internal problems. The mainstream news media is already reacting by becoming more balanced in its coverage. And people are, for the first time ever, pondering what life could be like under a new government.
The most amazing thing is that there is an absence of fear. The May 13 bogeyman is forever banished along with the notion that the government of the day can only be BN. In its place is hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Welcome to Realpolitik
Realpolitik: (German: actual politics) refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical considerations, rather than theoretical, ethical or ideological notions. The term realpolitik is often used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral or Machiavellian.
Malaysiakini recently published a couple of articles by the Realpolitik team.
What's next for Pak Lah? (By Ong Kian Ming)
Kian Ming talks about the options our embattled Premier has available to him as he trudges forward.
You've got mail... from Pak Lah (By Oon Yeoh)
This is an imaginary e-mail I wish Pak Lah would send to every Malaysian voter.
Malaysiakini recently published a couple of articles by the Realpolitik team.
What's next for Pak Lah? (By Ong Kian Ming)
Kian Ming talks about the options our embattled Premier has available to him as he trudges forward.
You've got mail... from Pak Lah (By Oon Yeoh)
This is an imaginary e-mail I wish Pak Lah would send to every Malaysian voter.
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