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Shape up or be shipped out

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Despite the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself having emphasised the importance of head of government agencies and departments go down to the ground to know what their people are doing, this has not reached the ears of many in the local councils.           I was told that the Datuk Bandar of Petaling Jaya, (soon to be Datuk Seri, now Tuan)  Zahri Samington visited the PJKita Wet market quietly on his own.           Firstly, the state government (both the Menteri Besar and the state exco in charge of local government) should be made accountable for the failure of the local councils to solve the problems on the ground.           It is directly linked to the people that we are appointed to the job either as Council President or the Department Heads.           Take for example, I was discussing with the YDP of Selayang, Tuan Shahman Jalaludin. I told him about three humps in my area that need to be fixed.           He sent his men to check out the humps and revert to him. Bel
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Softspot for the stateless people

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If you ask me, there should not be any stateless person in the world.         In fact, Malaysia's issue of stateless people was the result of the change of the Federal Constitution from jus soli to jus sanguinis on 31 January 1962.  Jus sanguinis is a principle of nationality law that grants citizenship by the nationality of one or both parents.           However, many people are born stateless because of a number of other reasons. For example, how would you expect a Lun Bawang family, for example, to walk a few hours from their home in the deep forest of Sarawak in those days to register the children's birth?           Being stateless means you are  nulla persona,  a Latin term used in the legal system which literally means "no person." It refers to people who have no legal status in the country where they may be born or reside all their lives.  A Perennial Problem          For many years, we have had many cases of people whose application for citizenship had been
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Reform the Local Government if we want to be First World Nation

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I have said enough, but I need to emphasise once again that no country in this world can reach the First World Status if its local municipal or city councils are unable to perform a good job.          For this reason, Malaysia will remain a third world country if focus is not put on reforming the local government. Everything that the local government fails to do, it affects us directly. What is worse is that not many people know there are three tiers in our administration system. Most will just complain the "government" has failed to provide good public amenities.          Take all the issues raised in t h is blogpos t, for example, Petaling Jaya City Council has already started working on some of the issues, while most of the issues under the jurisdiction of the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) have not been solved.            One can understand there are too many issues, but these have accummulated over the years, and doing nothing about it, means they are just not solving
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Public Service Reform: Signals of Change

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THE SIGNS are clear: the days of unchecked privileges for public servants are coming to an end.            Following the historic 13% salary adjustment for public servants set for December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has shifted focus towards prudent fiscal management, driven by Malaysia's RM1.5 trillion national debt.          It is either they work with him, or we can expect at least a few heads to eventually roll, if not transferred elsewhere. Political Will in Action           For over a decade, the idea of cutting subsidies lingered, but only the unity government recently had the political will to move forward with targeted subsidies.            This approach ensures that subsidies are preserved for those in need while tackling issues like smuggling and preventing unwarranted price hikes.            In this regard, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has intensified its enforcement efforts, with frequent raids aimed at curbing smuggling and il
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Being People's Representatives is about helping Economic Growth in own constituency

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The example set by Sekinchan State Assemblyman Ng Suee Lim is commendable and deserves recognition.            To build on this success, I propose that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, and Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing should engage with all Members of Parliament. Their task would be to encourage MPs to actively promote tourism within their constituencies.           Consider the economic benefits: tourism dollars can significantly boost the Gross Domestic Product. When local MPs excel in promoting tourism and supporting local businesses, they not only contribute to economic revival but also strengthen their political standing for future terms.           With Visit Selangor Year approaching in 2025, it is crucial for State Assemblymen to collaborate with local entrepreneurs to develop and highlight unique attractions. By doing so, they can attract tourists and enhance Malaysia's overall appeal. Credit to Whom Cr
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The Uniqueness of Sabah Politics

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WE IN West Malaysia have much to learn from our East Malaysian counterparts. One such example is former Works Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Similarly, my recent experience with another case involving Sabah highlighted the collaborative spirit often seen in East Malaysian politics.            While attending a seminar in Bintulu, Sarawak, I received a Whatsapp Message from a fellow doctoral student, Pastor Linberg about a Nigerian lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu, who was facing entry issues in Sabah. We had only met the night before for the first time.           Nigerians and Bangladeshis require special documentation to enter the state, and I was unsure how to help. The only person I could think of contacting was Jennifer Lasimbang, a former state assemblyperson.           Though Jennifer was overseas and unable to assist personally, she quickly connected me to Datuk Mandela Malakun, Senior Private Secretary to the Chief Minister of S
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What these new appointments in the government means to the public?

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WITH THE recent appointment of Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar as Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN), there is renewed hope for administrative reforms aimed at improving the performance of public servants.            On September 4, 2024, Shamsul implemented a significant reshuffle, changing the chief secretaries of several key ministries that required new leadership.         With the Chief Secretary to the Government leading by example through " Management by Walkabout (MBW A) "  as I discussed in my article on   November 13, 2022 ) , we can expect to see more surprise visits by top officials to monitor staff performance and ensure public service standards are maintained.            The goal is for this proactive approach to become ingrained in the culture of public administration, encouraging accountability and preventing complacency. Let's hope these visits do not become just a short-lived initiative, or as the Malay proverb warns, "Hangat-hangat tahi ayam&quo
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ANWAR Unveiled: After the Jakim Placement Initiative, Will the Real Anwar Stand Up?

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  This is something for us to reflect on: THERE HAVE been countless accusations against our tenth Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim (PMX).           No matter what he does or doesn't do, there’s always criticism. At times, it's hard to tell which Anwar Ibrahim they are even referring to.           I am glad that the controversy over placement of Jakim officers in government agencies which had begun as early as 2016, the real Anwar Ibrahim finally stood up to explain why he wants Jakim to play a bigger role.         Earlier, I had explained this based on my own observations , but for lack of the correct Islamic terminology, I think Professor Tajuddin Rasdi has done a better job at articulating what I also concur as the direction the country is heading to.          In fact, Anwar's explanation here gives a clearer picture of why he intends Jakim to be more proactive to turn Malaysia into a progressive  nation where Islam is respected. I am mainly addressing you, my fellow non-M
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