The changing colours of Malaysia

I wonder if any of you notice this subtle change in Malaysia over the last couple of years. There is change in the making in the mindset of UMNO. I am not referring to their racial politics. I am not referring to the fading era of Mahathir. There is a physical change, the choice of ceremonial colours. It used to be green. The new colour is red. UMNO is turning red, even in their party uniforms and colour. Would this mean anything? China was red but turning more blue. The Americans were blue but turning a little red. The Islamic states were green and so was Malaysia. But Malaysia is turning red. Indonesia, the most populated Islamic country, has always been red. Malaysia has seen the passing away of the second generation of political leaders when Mahathir left. Badawi was the transition stage. Now we have Najib, Muhyiddin, Hamidi, Hishamuddin and several other new generation leaders in the driver's seat. Hamidi and Hishamuddin came from UMNO youth and cut their teeth as ultras, riding on the cause of championing Malay supremacy to power. No one can fault them for taking those stands when young and full of fire in their bellies. Have they matured while rising to their present positions and able to see the bigger picture, the longer term of socio economic development and progress for nation and all? Today's report concluded that they are fully behind Najib to work with Singapore for the good of both countries. Such developmental approach, a break from the berserk politicking mindset of the past, is a big step forward. If they are to pursue this earnestly, instead of wasting time politicking to score empty victories, the relationship between the two states will have a long way to go and both will benefit along the way. Between the two countries, there are more to learn and gain through cooperation and working together to better the livelihood of the people of the two states. For this to be true, to materialise, serious and conscientious effort must be made to change the whole psychic of the people both in the corridors of power and the kampong folks. Will Malaysia be able to transform itself into a vibrant economic power, or will it still stick to its kampong mentality, living in a fast pace modern world but led by leaders with attitudes and mindsets of medieval kampong chiefs? Is the changing of colours a sign of real change, deep seated change, or just cosmetics?

A better public transport system

Our public transport system has improved since it was privatised. If it still remained as a stats board, it will continue to crawl at snail pace. That is if one believes the mantra that privatisation will naturally lead to efficiency and profitability. I don't believe a little wee bit in this stupid assumption. Neither do I believe that a stats board will be inefficient simply because it is not privatised. How efficient is an organisation depends on the top management and the will to make it efficient. Even low pay can be efficient but not for long as the underpaid workers will leave for greener pasture. Political will or management will, is the key to efficiency. The other point is the unimaginative mindset that an efficiently run public transport system must be packed with commuters and Tokyo is the standard to live by. The train and buses should be made a preferred mode of transportation by being fast, efficient, clean and comfortable. Not being squeezed and forced to smell everyone's body odour. A little lesser profit or less profit minded may be the reason for an overhaul of the public transport system. And with the pandemic of H1N1, our trains and buses are death traps. One person can literally infected the whole train or bus. The more compact and crowded, the more will be infected. Hygiene and health consideration must take priorities under the current flu crisis. This could be the cause of why New York and Melbourne are now so deadly, the centres for the spread of H1N1 viruses.

Straits Times wins 2 Asian publishing awards

2 premier awards, one for Excellence in Reporting Breaking News and one for Excellence in Business Reporting. And the winners were Carolyn Hong, Reme Ahmad and Leslie Lopez! How come the names are so unfamiliar? Oh, they are our correspondents and bureau chief in KL. And the news they covered was the Malaysian General Election. I thought our local correspondents covering our General Election were equally deserving for the voluminous pages they put out during the election. And the news were fresh from the oven. In the citation for the KL correspondents, the judges praised them for 'smart, balanced election reporting'. Ok, we missed the chance this time. Maybe next year we will win some awards for the coverage on the Aware Saga. This was the hottest news of the year with great interests from the people and working up the senses and sensibilities. It was some news that was really newsworthy.

Foreigners are grabbing properties again!

I was wondering whether to put this in the thread, 'Signs of Progress' or 'Signs of Decline'? Property prices are sure to surge. Property developers will be laughing all the way to the banks. The govt will also be laughing as it will be able to launch more new sites for sales. Property owners, especially the private properties, will be in glee. This will trickle down to the HDB owners. Yes everyone will be happy if they are already property or HDB flat owners. Can charge higher rentals too. What about those young people who have yet to buy a HDB flat? No worry. If cannot afford 3rm, buy 2 rm flats. Buy according to how deep is your pocket. See, everyone will have a roof over their head. And it will be still Swiss standard, though smaller. And the advantage is that smaller area to clean. Progress!

The pros and cons of LKY in Malaysia

Despite the years of battling him and attacking him, there is a big change in the mood of the younger Malaysian leaders towards him. They have disagreed, opposed each other, and fought, but on the personal level they still respect this towering leader of 50 years in power. They could see his wealth of knowledge and want to know how he sees and reads the political trends, and how to bring a country forward in economic, social and political developments. From the reports coming out from Malaysia, the visit LKY is well appreciated and seen positively as a great statesman wanting to share and understand what is going on in Malaysia, and the importance of Malaysia Singapore relations. This love hate relations aside, the presence of LKY in Malaysia is probably a bigger event than if an American president were to be there. On the cons side, his immense presence still overshadows the rest of the younger Singapore leaders. As long as he is around, all the attention will go to him. Everyone will want to listen to him, talk to him, be seen with this mammoth leader of the 20th Century stretching into the 21st Century. In many ways this is bad for the younger leaders to grow and be their own men, carving out a presence for themselves. They will have a hard time breaking out of the canopy of this huge tree, to be seen. As long as the thick canopy is there, you can't really see what is beneath, or even notice anything there. The fortunate thing in Malaysia is the parting of ways with Mahathir to let the younger leaders more breathing space to choose their own destiny. The continued presence of LKY in the Singapore leadership is a blessing, as well as a curse in a way, to the younger leadership here.