Malaysiaku, Negaraku

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    ...

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 accummulat...

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 rega...

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 do...

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 quic...

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 sho...

  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 Mal...

YBhg Datuk Bandar MBPJ   YAB Datuk Seri,           Ini adalah percubaan untuk memantau kemajuan kerja oleh salah satu majlis bandar raya terbesar di negara ini - Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ). Datuk Bandarnya YBhg Tuan  Zahri Samington.           Cubaan mengadu kepada Ahli Parlimen dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) memang gagal mendapat hasil yang positif. Kebanyakannya di Selangor tidak langsung peduli untuk menjawab aduan walaupun bergelar, "Yang Berhormat." Sekurang-kurangnya mereka mengarahkan ahli majlis mereka atau pegawai khas untuk cuba menyelesaikan masalah, itu pun tidak berlaku.          Jikalau Kak Wan dapat berbuat demikian , tidak ada sebab kenapa ahli parlimen dan ADUN tidak dapat berbuat demikian. SISPAA, tapi di mana integritinya?            Lupakan tentang aduan yang dibuat melalui SISPAA, di mana jawapan standard seperti "Penyia...