Menjawab pemikiran pejuang liberal demokrasi

Beberapa hari yang lepas di alam twitter, begitu hangat diperkatakan mengenai gadis 14 tahun 'Adinda Evans' yang tanpa segan silu bercerita di blog tentang 'sudah hilang dara'.

Maka ramailah pejuang liberal demokrasi yang mempertahankan tindakan si gadis ini. Seperti kebanyakan isu moral yang dipertahankan, argument yang paling kerap digunakan adalah: "apalah sangat gadis pecah dara seawal 14 tahun jika dibandingkan dengan pemimpin yang makan duit rasuah berjuta-juta."

Dan argument ini disubscribe oleh ramai pihak.

Memang benar mengambil rasuah itu salah. Tetapi adakah kerana ada sesetengah pemimpin yang makan rasuah bermakna kita boleh mengambil ringan terhadap fenomena gadis hilang dara seawal 14 tahun?

An evil is an evil. Kejahatan tetap kejahatan. Kejahatan perlu dihapuskan simply because ia adalah kejahatan. Bukannya kerana "apalah nak dibandingkan dengan....". Jika kejahatan hanya boleh dihapuskan hanya selepas satu lagi kejahatan dihapuskan, mana satu kejahatan yang pelru dihapuskan terlebih dahulu?

Jika kita bertindak hanya selepas satu pihak bertindak,di akhirnya tidak ada mana-mana pihak yang mengambil tindakan. Hasilnya semua kejahatan akan terus berlaku.

Kenyataan "apalah nak dibandingkan gadis hilang dara 14 tahun dengan pemimpin makan duit rasuah berjuta-juta" sebenarnya secara tersiratnya memberi pemahaman bahawa selagi pemimpin tidak berhenti makan duit rasuah juta-juta, gadis 14 tahun tidak perlu disalahkan jika pecah dara dan bebas mengamalkan seks bebas di luar perkahwinan.

Memandangkan adalah tidak logik dan tidak mungkin pemimpin berhenti makan duit rasuah juta-juta, maka pecah dara seawal usia 14 tahun tanpa ikatan perkahwinan would continue to exist. Adakah ini yang kita mahukan?

Seliberal-liberal mana pun kita- cuba tanya pada diri bagaimana jika yang hilang dara itu adalah anak, adik, kakak, ataupun sedara mara kita? Is that what we wish to see? Tidakkah kita merindui zaman di mana sekalipun pemimpin makan duit juta-juta tetapi generasi muda tidak se'daring' tanpa segan silu berbangga akan 'sudah pecah dara'? Generasi muda sepuluh tahun dahulu masih tebal rasa malunya dan tidak seliberal ini walaupun ramai pemimpin yang makan rasuah juta-juta.

Pemikiran 'apalah nak dibandingkan ini'lah yang menyebabkan kejatuhan nilai moral.

Oh, in any case jika ada yang kata 'biarlah negara tu rakyat makan babi, buat seks rambang, minum arak- tetapi negara maju, berkebajikan dan rasuah tak ada- saya ingin tanya kepada anda- is that what we wsih for? Tidakkan kita boleh menjadi maju dengan acuan kita sendiri without perlu compromise berkenaan dengan value system masyarakat kita?

ps: Artikel ini bukanlah untuk memprovok siapa-siapa mahupun mana-mana pihak. Tetapi untuk membetulkan pemikiran yang saya kira salah berkenaan isu ini. I've done my part and I hope if you guys think this is the right thing to think, yuo're allowed to copy paste this article and RT it on tweeter.

Please do that if you love our people. May God bless you.

A reply to Shin Chew- Isu Subsidi

Selepas menjawab surat daripada Henry T dua hari lepas mengenai migrasi, kali ini aku ingin menjawab artikel Shin Chew yang berbicara mengenai subsidi.

Basically artikel ini inderectly cuba memberitahu kepada kerajaan mengenai 'candu' sebenar dalam isu subsidi. Dan selagi kerajaan tak address candu ini, jangan nak buang candu seperti harga petrol dan makanan. Ada beberapa perkara yang aku ingin betulkan atau memberi sisi pandangan baru terhadap apa yang dibangkitkan.

Berikut artikel penuh:

Causes and Effects: Lim Sue Goan- My SinChew

The country has been caught in a dilemma. It needs to quit opium (subsidy abolition) but hesitates about it. In addition to external uncertainties, it is worried about triggering public discontentment and aggravating economic downturn.

The factors causing the dilemma could be traced back to the wrong decisions made in the 1980s and the 1990s.

(No, the dilemma is not about the wrong decisions made in the past. It simply because government of the day is not a strong government. And we have irresponsible opposition which will politicise all the things done by Government and provide no solution.)

Malaysia has been experiencing a financial deficit for 14 consecutive years since the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the government has to borrow money to expand the economy. However, it is not the only factor.

(Financial deficit is not much a problem. It is a question whether it can be sustain or not. And to face economy crisis, it is the right thing to do. Kalau government pun tighten its belt, what do you expect from private sector and ordinary people? Bila semua sibuk simpan duit dan berjimat cermat- siapa yang akan berbelanja? Bila tak berbelanja macam mana ekonomi nak berjalan untuk pulih? Surely being in a financial deficit has its benefit.)

After Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over the office, he turned agricultural economy into industrial economy. There was nothing wrong with it but the government had focused only on manufacturing while ignoring agriculture for about 20 years. It has caused deterioration in food production. As a result, we have to import food.

Today, international food price hikes have caused our food price index to increase by 4.9%. Food prices are expected to continue surging due to climate anomaly.

(We have been importing food not since Tun Mahathir took over the office. It is in fact after turning into industrial economy- we, the ordinary people have better purchasing power to buy food from other country. If American can buy Fillet O Fish with 5 dollar, so does Malaysian with 5 ringgit. Even if we think about ROI (return on investment), satu hektar tanah yang dimajukan untuk bina kilang lebih banyak berikan pulangn berbanding dimajukan sebagi pertanian. You just think satu bidang sawah padi dengan satu kilang Intel- which one give a greater impact on economy? And please remember as I stated before- we have limitation and so we have to choose.)

The second mistake was the move of bringing in a large number of foreign workers. After the development of labour-intensive industries, the government has failed to transform the industrial economy into a value-added economy.

To maintain low wages, retain foreign investment and create a sight of prosperity, the government has provided substantial subsidies. As long as they kept necessity and fuel prices low, workers would not ask for pay increment. It was indeed an approach of seeking temporary relief regardless of the consequences.

In addition, the authorities have also provided assistance to Bumiputeras, civil servants and entrepreneurs, such as allowing contractors with a Jusa F to manage government projects, assisting Bumiputera companies to obtain contracts and cultivating Bumiputera entrepreneurs. Expanding racial wealth in such a way has eventually evolved into a walking stick culture, or some called it an alternative subsidy.

(The problem with this stick culture is not only confined to the Bumiputra community. Dont forget the form of subsidy such as petrol, food, electricity, utility has been enjoyed by all races. So basically Malaysian- regardless of races has a problem with this stick-culture.)

The third mistake was the signing of unreasonable concessionary contracts. Under the privatisation policy, the government has transferred national resources to private companies while providing subsidies. For example, after the massive blackout in the peninsula, Mahathir allowed the establishment of Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) provides the IPPs natural gas subsidy but the IPPs sell electricity to the TNB at higher prices. The annual subsidy has increased to RM22 billion. Khazanah National Berhad is the major shareholder of the TNB and thus, the subsidy actually come from the government.

Unsuccessful privatisation projects have been taken over by the government and the government has to make compensation if it does not approve price increment. The burden of the national treasury has been worsened and this is contrary to the objective of privatisation.

(Selepas massive blackout di Malaysia, kerajaan sedar supply elektrik tidak boleh hanya bergantung kepada TNB. There should be alternative supply and this must come from private sector. Plus, TNB tidak mempunyai kapasiti. Tetapi menceburi industri penjana bebas bukanlah sesuatu yang diingini. Jadi untuk menarik minat sektor swasta menceburi bidang ini, kerajaan terpaksa membuat satu perjanjian yang dianggap berat sebelah- of course favour the IPP supaya mereka ini bersetuju untuk menjadi IPP.

Memang benar elektrik di Malaysia disubsidi dengan dashyatnya. Tetapi elektrik yang murah inilah dahulu yang menyebabkan kos perniagaan di Malaysia rendah lantas menarik pelabur asing. Elektrik murah ini jugalah yang dinikmati oleh rakyat Malaysia yang biasanya dibazirkan di asrama dan juga untuk mengecaj ipad berjam-jam. Kita boleh membayar harga gas ikut harga pasaran- kalau itulah yang diminta pembangkang. Ya, kita boleh. Tidak ada masalah. Tetapi adakah kita sanggup membayar harganya? Atau apa sebenarnya solusi pembangkang terhadap masalah yang bakal dihadapi oleh syarikat2 dan orang ramai?

Kita juga jangan lupa syarikat IPP ni kebanyakan dimiliki sahamnya oleh GLC dan agensi2 seperti KWSP dan PNB. Dan ini adalah institusi yang memberikan pulangan kepada pelabur. Dan pelabur adalah kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia.Jadi sekiranya kita mengurangkan keuntungan IPP- bermakna dividen keuntungan yang kita dok bising sebab hanya 4 dan 8% itu akan jadi lagi sikit. Bagaimana pembangkang nak adrress isu ini pula?

IPP ini juga banyak menceburi perniagaan lain seperti perumahan, jalur lebar, kapal, etc. Dan ini memberikan pendapatan kepada negara dan juga mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan. Tidakkah kita melihat apa yang dikatakan subsidi itu sebenarnya adalah pelaburan?

Memang benar perjanjian itu adalah lopsided. Tetapi we can only renegotiate. Bukan semudah untuk merevoke perjanjian yang dibuat.)

The fourth mistake was the pursuit of the big government concept. Mahathir believed that large-scale projects would bring greater economic benefits and thus, massive constructions projects, including a new administrative centre, a huge airport and the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), were carried out. Meanwhile, the number of civil servants has not been reduced after the implementation of the privatisation policy. Instead, it has been increased to 1.29 million people.

(Since when kejayaan penswastaan bergantung kepada peningkatan jumlah kakitangan awam? I reject this point.)

The year of 1998 was the turning point of the national economy. The implementation of capital controls has caused many subsidies to be increased year by year. If labour-intensive industries were gradually eliminated, the multimedia super corridor was developed successfully and subsidies were reduced or removed in the 1990s when the national economy was still good, the national economy would not be the same today.

Subsidies have become a political need but we can never get rid from the "middle-income trap" if we continue relying on subsidies.

(As much as subsidies have become a political need, removing it is a political suicide.)

A reply to unwanted Step Child...

Portal The Malaysian Insider (TMI) telah mengajak rakyat Malaysia yang bermigrasi ke luar negara untuk menulis 'Mengapa mereka berhijrah?'

Seperti yang dijangka, ruangan khas ini tidak lebih sekadar ruangan untuk melepaskan kemarahan dan meniupkan kebencian. Tidak apa-apa solusi yang diberikan.

Daripada beberapa tulisan para pembaca, saya ingin menjawab rencana yang ditulis oleh Henry T "I am unwanted step-child". Di sini saya muatkan keseluruhan rencananya dan juga jawapan balas saya kepada beliau:

I AM AN UNWANTED STEP-CHILD- HENRY T

MAY 20 — I am a Malaysian Chinese and please notice that I did not mention Chinese Malaysian as I feel that one should be a Malaysian first and a Chinese second. I love Malaysia and as a kid I had wonderful memories growing up in Penang. When I was 19, I went to Singapore for my university education as my Bahasa grade was not good enough to qualify for local university entrance.

(See the contradiction here. At one hand he claimed to be as a Malaysian first. Then he admit his Bahasa is not good enough. So, may I ask you- if you're really a Malaysian first, why your Bahasa is 'not good enough'? So why blame your poor commanding of Bahasa when you can't enter local university? Are you trying to say it is wrong for local university to make it compulsory for student to have a good grasp on Bahasa? Malaysian first apa kalau penguasaan Bahasa Malaysia pun tak bagus.)

I worked in Singapore for 20 over years, married a Singapore girl and in 2000 migrated to New Zealand and have been there for 10 years. Over the years, I truly appreciated my adopted countries of Singapore and New Zealand as they made me quite welcome. I never felt unwanted (which I sometimes do in Malaysia simply because I am Chinese).

I left Malaysia because of the following reasons in order of priority:

1) Better prospects overseas (and this is sometimes race related… no jobs for non-Bumis in the public sector and promotion only for Bumis).

(No jobs for non-Bumis? Hello, check your fact brader. Berapa banyak yang apply kerja kat government? Paling clear cut punya contoh- tu yang kerja polis dan tentera tu, berapa ramai non-Bumis yang mintak? Bila kerajaan kata non-Bumis kurang patriotik sebab tak nak kerja kerajaan, korang kata itu rasis dan korang pun prefer nak kerja kat private sector. Jangan tipulah. Just tengok sendiri kat sektor swasta berapa banyak non-Bumis. Cermin diri sendiri dulu ok?)

2) Racial discrimination (look if I am unwanted I can contribute to other countries that appreciate me... e.g. I work as an educational IT consultant for groups of schools and colleges in Auckland).

(Are you saying that you can't work as an educational IT consultant in Malaysia? Brader Henry, cuba beritahu saya kerja apa dan di bidang apa yang ada polisi oleh kerajaan yang kata non-Bumi tak boleh ceburi? Nak bina masjid pun kontraktor non-Bumis boleh dapat tau. What is racial discrimination you are talking about?)

3) Environment and weather... beautiful environment here in NZ (although certain parts of Malaysia in the old days could be just as nice but alas on my recent trip back some of these places have truly deteriorated due to bad maintenance).

(Now after blaming the government, you want to blame God for making Malaysia as a hot and humid country? So you tell me, how can we fix this thing? Any brilliant solution from NZ? Please share. You might be the first Malaysian to receive Nobel prize winner)

In spite of all these reasons I still sometimes dream of going back to retire in Malaysia... why? I do not really know except that deep inside me I am still a Malaysian boy at heart if only the political and religious situation is more salubrious!

But things are not getting better. In fact it’s getting worst and the way things are developing there can only be one ending... racial chaos and bloodshed with possible military conflict with neighbouring countries and international condemnation of human rights violations. So heck no! I think my family and I are far better off staying put but I fear for my many friends and relatives in Malaysia.

(WTF? Racial chaos and bloodshed with possible military conflict with neighbouring countries? Bila pulaklah ada pergaduhan kaum sampai pertumpahan darah? And since when we are in military conflict with Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand? Sorry brader, your fear is unfounded and baseless.)

So do I miss Malaysia. Yes, it is my country even though I am an unwanted step-child. Do I owe Malaysia anything? Maybe to the people but not the bigoted and corrupt system on both sides of the divide!

So all the best Malaysia. May I be wrong!

(Of course you are wrong!)

ps: anak angkat ke anak kandung ke anak tiri ke- kita tetap satu keluarga. Runtuh binasanya rumah ini- kita merana bersama. Dan kepada Henry T yang merasakan dirinya sebagai anak angkat, please bear in mind. This anak angkat once is anak jiran. How grateful this house/family to accept you as anak angkat.

Forum Suara Inteligensia

Selepas pilihanraya umum 8 Mac 2008, kononnya rakyat Malaysia semakin menolak perkauman. Tetapi apa yang berlaku sebaliknya ialah, we're more racial than before. Buktinya hampir setiap hari kita disajikan dengan berita-berita rasis. Yang sana tuduh sini rasis, yang sini label sana rasis. It seems semuanya adalah rasis.

Lebih menyedihkan apabila setiap kali isu berkenaan bangsa melayu dibangkitkan- terus ianya akan dianggap rasis. Yang kononnya Islamik dan ahli syurga pula menganggap isu berkaitan melayu adalah tidak islamik kerana ia memperjuangkan nasionalis.

Ini adalah dilema Melayu yang terkini. Jika berdiam diri- risaukan nasib generasi hadapan. Tetapi jika bersuara akan dituduh rasis dan tidak islamik.

Atas kesedaran ini, Kelab Debat Bahasa Melayu (KDBM) UIAM mengambil inisiatif untuk menganjurkan sebuah forum Suara Inteligensia bagi membincangkan salah satu perkara yang dianggap dekat dengan dilema Melayu iaitu hal kuota dan meritokrasi.

Bagi membuktikan Suara Inteligensia sebuah wacana yang bebas- panelis merentasi garisan politik negara iaitu daripada BN dan PR. Lebih menarik isu ini akan dikupas dari sudut sejarah dan dari perspektif bukan melayu.

BasuhBaju amat mengalu-alukan kehadiran para pembaca sekalian.

Jika berminat, bolehlah melapangkan masa pada jam 8 malam hari Khamis 10hb Mac ini. Bertempat di Main Aduitorium, Kuliyyah of Engineering. Pakaian tak skema.