Malaysiaku, Negaraku

  I FIND IT amusing when netizens go abuzz over one short comment by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.           Frankly, when someone apologises, what would you expect Anwar to say, regardless of whether it is genuine or a mere pretence? Only God knows!          The context in which he had uttered these few words has yet to be understood but people are already making  a mountain out of a molehill. Do not forget that the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was ousted because of the surat layang by Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his younger days. Abdullah Badawi was also forced to vacate his post because of Dr Mahathir. Now, there are simply people who are trying to topple Anwar for some very obvious reasons.          One netizen said restitution has to be made as RM2.3 billion has gone into his private account, and now claiming that he knows that the money is not from the Saudi prince, he should pay back t...

Belle pours her heart into her paintings. Photo: Angie Lim (2021) By Shaun Ng BELLE CHOK lived as a stateless child for 17 years until that status changed recently when she received positive news from the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN).            Although the ministry staff had worked very hard to process her application for citizenship and hardly realised how important that piece of paper was to her, to the 17-year-old girl, the citizenship paper brought hope and great joy.           Chok, who suffers from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) requires medical treatment and expensive medicine, can now expect to receive free treatment from the Selayang hospital.            Before this, her father had to pay her high medical expenses, putting a strain on his finances.           Her father works as a plumbing and electrical contractor, earning enough just to surv...

‘12 million’ stateless people globally, warns UNHCR chief in call to States for decisive action By Evelyn Kristel *Note: This is not her real name* October 8, 2024 is the day that brought tears to my eyes. No, it wasn’t because I was sad but these were tears of joy, tears of excitement             T his was the moment I have been looking forward since 2017. It was a long wait of over eight years. I received a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding my application for citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.             Finally, my Malaysian citizenship was approved at last!           Indeed, it has been a long journey for me, through all the struggles that I had to endure as a stateless person in a country where I was born, but could not refer to it as ‘my country.’           Now, I am proudly a Malaysian, thanks to the...

WHAT AMAZES me is that Malaysians continue to harp on the nation's stance on Palestine, despite it being just another issue exploited by certain forces trying to undermine Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.           We are all aware that some individuals are now facing the consequences of their corruption during their time in power. It’s believed that billions of ringgit are stashed overseas, and part of this money may be used to fund cybertroopers to influence the opinions of the Chinese and Indians.           Take, for instance, the special stamp titled “Palestin Merdeka,” which has been in circulation since 2023. Despite this, a WhatsApp message on the issue is still making its rounds, and people keep asking me for my thoughts.           It is clear to me that this WhatsApp post is intended to stir up negative sentiments against PMX and the Madani government. Before social media, we calle...

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...

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...