Monday, January 4, 2010

Get out of the time warp

Another year gone. Just like that, in the blink of an eye. But in Malaysia, there is always this recurring frustration that we are trapped in some kind of a political time warp.

A new year is supposed to bring new hopes, new commitments and new aspirations.

We can see and feel that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is setting new targets and plans to take the country ahead.

To read the rest of the On The Beat column, click here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You wrote about the missing jet engines and ludicrously blaming it on low ranking officers and yesterday, the AG said it was so, slapping you on the face and say, "What can you do?"

It is not about time warp! It is just old habits die hard! Sin is as old as Adam and Eve and same in 21st Century!

Unknown said...

Dear Wong,

2010. A new year. A new decade.

Let us who believe in God or Allah, pray for peace, harmony and prosperity for this nation.

This is a blessed nation.

Let us not fight over how to address God. God addressed by whatever name is still God.

He is the Almighty God. There is none like Him.

There is only one God and He knows His own.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats! You’re summarized the situation well. Quote
• [reduce crime, … corruption, … quality affordable education, uplift the living standard …infrastructure … improve public transport]. Unquote.

You’ve also stated what obviously needs to be stopped. Quote
• [“… bogged down by bureaucratic resistance and obstacles”.
• “… incredulous, mindless politicking, … bordering on provocative racism in the name of race and religion.”
• “Issues such as schools, languages, labels such as pendatang and quotas…”
• “Instead of driving a wedge into our plural society, our politicians and media should be encouraged to capitalise on our diverse backgrounds and talents.
• “… if our political brats (sic) continue with their erratic behaviour”] Unquote

With all due respect, you’re just a journalist, but even you know what has to be done. So why aren’t the nation’s leaders doing the obvious – stopping all the negative behaviours and acting morally, according to their religious beliefs. Or if they don’t have a religion, according to basic human decency?

The issues are not poverty, corruption, divisive politics, religion, language, pendatang etc. Anyone can identify those as issues. You did! [Sorry:)] Every one knows they have to be addressed. Failure to address them is not for lack of skills or incompetence. Incompetence alone can’t get a schmuck into all that s***.

The issue is “Why is a small group of people deliberately and systemically plundering & pillaging a country’s resources?”

To do that and sleep peacefully at night, they must have a completely different world view, a completely different set of religious and moral values. The leaders know what to do. (Sorry, you’re not the only smart guy in the world). However, in their world view and in their moral system, they see no need to do what you and I see as morally right, or to practise basic human decency and fairness.

That’s why the real problem is much deeper than the presenting issues of poverty, corruption etc. which you've so ably stated. The problem is that they can't tell morally RIGHT from morally WRONG.

The issue is the soul of the leadership group. If they have any.

Anonymous said...

This Allah case has just sunk 1Malaysia. How can there be a 1Malaysia?