1. War is about killing people. And killing people is a crime. Yet so-called civilised people choose war in order to settle conflicts between them.
2. I had tried to criminalise war. But I was unsuccessful. Today wars are being fought. They are terrible because everyone is regarded as legitimate targets, not just the soldiers but all the non-combatants, men, women, the old, the sick, children and the babies. No one is spared.
3. And now the weapons. They are more powerful. They destroy whole cities and the people living in them. Buildings, old and new are pulverised and levelled to the ground.
4. The destruction is beyond imagination. The wounded are left unattended, crying and screaming with pain. The dead, sprawled and decomposing on streets, twisted, without limbs or heads, being eaten by dogs and other animals.
5. And all these are done by men, so-called civilised men. And they do it on the instruction of older men. Now they are committing genocide.
6. I would like to appeal to the leaders of powerful countries to stop this carnage. War does not solve anything. But the cost is horrible.
7. Please stop it.
8. Please go back to negotiations, to arbitrations, to courts of law.
9. The result may not be satisfactory. But wars also produce no satisfactory results.
10. But at least no one gets wounded, no one dies, no devastations of whole countries when we do not war.
11. I would like to appeal to the leaders of great powers to stop resorting to wars as a means of settling conflicts.
12. Stop inventing new and more destructive weapons.
13. Stop selling arms.
14. Strengthen international institutions for peace.
All posts by Che Det
A NEW ECONOMIC POLICY
1. It is well-known that Malaysia became industrialised through foreign direct investment or FDI. Malaysia was actually among the first to do this. Prior to this the newly independent countries were unwilling to give a role to foreigners in the development of their countries.
2. But the Malaysian policy showed that FDI did not result in the foreigners controlling the economy. Instead the country became industrialised quickly.
3. Seeing this many other countries followed suit. Today there is a struggle to attract FDI. And Malaysia is unable to attract FDI as well as before when we were able to offer relatively cheap labour and tax incentives. Other countries now offer cheaper labour and better incentives. It is time Malaysia find other ways to develop its economy.
4. It is noted that some of the most successful development has taken place in Japan, Korea and China. These countries do promote foreign direct investment. But they are less dependent on FDI. Instead we see them going into industries that were monopolised by the developed countries.
5. They dared to do this because they felt that the advantage they had should be exploited by themselves.
6. The first advantage they had was a big domestic market. By controlling imports their domestic industries would be protected. They could sell even the early, low quality products in the domestic market. Over time their products improved and they could enter the international market to compete with foreign products.
7. They went into the manufacture of “white” goods for the kitchen. Today they have ousted European and American products in this field.
8. But the domestic market was not the only advantage they had. They had abundance of low cost labour. Their products were cheaper and were able to compete with costly imports and later in the international markets.
9. Their Governments were supportive, legislating needed laws to protect local products. Additionally, cheap loans were made available. Even land was made available.
10. Technology was a problem. Nationals were sent abroad to work in foreign countries and to study in foreign universities. Gradually technology was acquired. Most of these foreign – trained workers, scientists, and top executives were foreign trained.
11. The most important area is manufacturing. It is important to know how things are made. Automation and robotics were acquired and installed in local production lines. Very quickly local industries were able to mass produce sophisticated products for the world market.
12. Support from banks and the Government enabled the industries to grow. The Korean car for example was not of international standards. But supported by the local market the industry grew and became able to be mass produced. With the advantage of cheap labour, the cars achieved good quality acceptable to the international market.
13. Malaysians seemed not to have noticed that very early Malaysia had gone into industries to serve the world market.
14. Perhaps the first was the pineapple canning industry. Under the British the empire’s market was reserved for the products of the Empire. It was called imperial preference.
15. Then came rubber and oil palm. Large tracts of Malaysia’s forest were sold or leased to largely British companies. Very quickly the Malaysian rubber and oil palm estates dominated the world market.
16. But the large estates were mainly British owned. The locals could not copy as they were not given enough land to go big and dominate the market. The locals were small players. It was only after independence that the locals could acquire the big estates. Had they realised the importance of size, Malaysian companies would probably be big like the Japanese Zaibatsu or the Korean Chaebols.
17. Still Malaysians have shown that they have the capacity to be big and dominate the world market. This happened by accident with the glove industry.
18. Taking advantage of the supply of rubber, glove making industries were started. Then came COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for gloves grew by leaps and bounds. The local glove-makers responded.
19. Today Malaysia is the biggest supplier of gloves in the world.
20. We missed the opportunity to become the biggest producer of other rubber products in the world. We made tyres for motor vehicles. But we supply only a small number. Perhaps the quality does not meet the special need of tyres for different use. But we can set up big research laboratories.
21. But besides tyres there are hundreds of rubber products which sell by the millions. We need to go into them in a big way.
22. We also produce palm oil, but largely we export the oil raw. It is time that we add value to our palm oil exports.
23. However, it is not necessary that we go big only when we have the raw materials. We can import the raw materials or the parts and components and re-export them as finished products.
24. The most important thing is to go big. The corporation must be locally owned or majority locally owned.
25. We need to master electronics. We have a microchip producer – Silterra. Investments in microchip is big. But the Government can help. Today Korea and Taiwan monopolise this industry. And the returns are very big.
26. If we go into big industries and dominate the market, much of the returns will accrue to Malaysia. We can still cater for foreign direct investments but we will not be dependent on them for the growth of our industries and economy.
SEBUT NAMA
- Jangan sebut nama Najib kerap. Dia akan jadi lebih popular.
- Lupakan sahaja nama Najib. Lupakan dia curi duit. Lupakan dia dibicara dan didapati salah. Dia dihukum 12 tahun penjara dan denda dua ratus dua puluh million Ringgit.
- Jangan sebut. Kalau sebut nama Najib dia akan lebih disukai ramai. Orang yang popular dalam negara demokratik akan jadi pemimpin, jadi Perdana Menteri pun.
- Perdana Menteri boleh curi berbilion Ringgit. Jangan sebut nama pencuri ini. Ia akan jadi popular, jadi Perdana Menteri dan curi duit lagi.
- Jangan sebut nama dia. Di mahkamah jangan sebut nama dia. Maka keadilan akan berlaku. Kena hukum. Tetapi tak payah jalan hukum. Diam sahaja. Jangan sebut nama dia.
- Kalau tak sebut nama orang yang salah, nak sebut nama siapa.
- Sebutlah nama siapa pun. Tak mengapa. Itu keadilan di Malaysia.
- Boleh tarik balik kes. Ada Peguam Negara (AG) untuk ini. Jika tak ada, tukar AG sahaja. Jangan sebut nama. Akan kena sue kerana menghina.
- Tak ada duit nak bayar peguam. Itu masalah awak. Undang-undang tentang tidak sebut nama masih berkuasa. Tak dapat bayar peguam masuk dalam sahaja. Itu undang-undang. Negara utama the Rule of Law, pemerintahan mengikut undang-undang. Kelentong sedikit dari undang-undang tak mengapa.
- Jangan tegur. Itu contempt of court, menghina mahkamah. Itu salah. Lebih baik lari ke negara lain. Jika tidak. Masuk dalam.
- Itu keadilan.
KEADILAN MALAYSIA
- Tiap-tiap hari dunia dapat membaca laporan berkenaan perbicaraan kes 1MDB yang diadakan di Amerika Syarikat.
- Dalam perbicaraan ini ramai nama tokoh-tokoh di Malaysia yang terlibat dengan jenayah mencuri duit 1MDB dilapor. Kesalahan yang dilakukan oleh mereka disebut. Di antara orang yang disebut berkali-kali sebagai terlibat dengan menipu 1MDB ialah Najib dan Rosmah.
- Laporan-laporan ini boleh dibaca dalam akhbar Malaysia. Tetapi yang peliknya ramai orang Malaysia tidak sedikit pun marah terhadap Najib dan Rosmah, jauh sekali merasa malu.
- Di PRN Johor parti Najib di sokong sehingga menang 2/3 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).
- Dalam satu rakaman video Perdana Menteri (PM) ditolak ke belakang oleh Presiden UMNO, yang tarik Najib ke depan di tempat Perdana Menteri. Dari peristiwa ini adalah jelas Najib lebih dihormati oleh UMNO daripada Perdana Menteri.
- Apakah jenis Kerajaan yang didirikan oleh Ismail Sabri jikalau ia boleh dihina di hadapan dunia.
- Ramai ahli UMNO hendak supaya PRU 15 diadakan segera. Apakah Ismail Sabri akan jadi Perdana Menteri jika UMNO menang. Tentu tidak.
- Yang akan jadi PM tentulah penyokong kuat Najib. Bagi Kerajaan yang akan didirikan, yang utama ialah membebas Najib dari hukuman 12 tahun penjara.
- Contoh sudah ada. Anak tiri Najib terlepas dari penjara kerana bagi balik separuh dari duit yang dicuri.
- Najib boleh bagi balik banyak mana yang dikehendaki oleh Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN). Ia akan diampun.
- Setelah mencuri berbillion Ringgit Najib yang didapati salah, tidak dipenjara barang sehari pun.
- Ini keadilan di Malaysia. Curi seekor ayam masuk penjara serta merta. Oleh itu curi berbillion. Didapati salah oleh mahkamah. Bagi balik setengah billion. Bebas.
- Belum jadi. Tetapi boleh jadi. Saya agak-agak sahaja.
- Ya. Saya akan dipanggil untuk soal siasat.
- Di Malaysia ini satu tekanan yang menakutkan.
- Tutup mulut. Tutup telinga. Awak okay.
HISTORY (PART 2)
14. The Malay governments of the Malay states had always been friendly towards the Chinese migrants. They were allowed to govern themselves through a system of Kapitans.
15. Far from seizing the properties of the Chinese the Tunku at independence actually granted one million citizenships to unqualified Chinese and Indians.
16. The Malay governments of independent Malaya then dismantled most of the British restrictions in business including the abolition of the crown agent and the favoured treatment of British companies. Chinese businesses were allowed to replace the British companies in every field. Naturally they did well and grew big.
17. The role of the big British companies in the development of rubber and palm oil estates, in transport and shipping, in international trade were also diminished. Local companies largely owned by the Chinese found the Malay dominated Governments’ economic policies were far more friendly and open than the British.
18. Chinese businesses began to flourish. Chinese retailers no longer live in their premises but they retire to large and luxurious housing estates. Much of urban land was acquired by the newly rich Chinese traders in the towns and the suburban areas.
19. There is every evidence to show that the Chinese prospered more under Malay rule than under British. It should be noted that for almost 60 years of independence Malaya was ruled largely by a Malay party – the United Malays National Organisation.
20. The Malays could have ruled Malaya by themselves. At the beginning there were enough Malay constituencies. But deliberately the Malays under Tunku Abdul Rahman diluted the Malay dominance by giving non-Malays additional citizenship.
21. Additionally the Tunku appointed Chinese and Indians in his cabinet. The Government may be dominated by Malays but the views of the Chinese and Indians were given due consideration. The Governments have effectively become multiracial.
22. This belies the claims that in independent Malaya the Malays would seize Chinese property. Nothing of that kind happened. Instead all obstruction to Chinese businesses were removed.
23. One of the most significant act by the new independent Malay dominated government was to grant banking licences to two Chinese applicants. It should be noted that the British were reluctant to let locals go into banking. But the Malay dominated Governments were more forthcoming. With that the problems of finance for the Chinese businesses were mitigated.
24. Upon independence Malaya was ruled by a Malay dominated Governments for more than 60 years. It cannot be denied that it was during this period that Malaya developed fast and became known as an Asian Tiger. It was also during this period that Malaysian Chinese businesses expanded and overflowed into many foreign countries.
25. What should be noted is that Malay Governments were more liberal towards Chinese businesses than British Governments. Not only was there no Malay seizure of Chinese properties but the Chinese acquired more properties and citizenship.
26. Pejuang is a Malay party. It is going to contest in election with the aim of becoming the governments of States and the federation.
27. There is no reason for non-Malays to fear governance by Pejuang simply because it is a Malay party. It will follow the path laid out by former Malay leaders. It will work with non-Malays and it will adhere to the Rule of law and strive to reduce disparities between town and country, States and States and race and race. It should be noted that in the process of bringing up Malay participations in the economy, the Chinese and Indians also benefitted.
28. I have written about this aspect of the history of Malaysia because it is not common knowledge. The history books have not mentioned this. Generally it was thought the British provided benign Governments. In terms of competence, yes. But the fact remains that the British discriminated against the locals, in particular the enterprising Chinese.
29. By comparison the independent Malay Governments had been more liberal. Yet generally the impression given is that the New Economic Policy discriminates against the non-Malays, the Chinese in particular.
RASUAH II
Saya dan isteri saya mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin kepada semua rakyat Malaysia, khususnya kepada pembaca blog ini
1. Dalam Pilihanraya Kecil baru-baru ini ramai daripada pengundi gembira menerima duit, beras dan alatan elektrik.
2. Mereka tentu tahu mereka telah menerima suapan rasuah. Yang memberi pun tentu tahu mereka melakukan perbuatan yang salah di sisi undang-undang dan juga di sisi agama yang mereka anuti.
3. Kerana rasuah inilah, pihak yang menyogok mendapat kemenangan.
POLITICIANS
1. There are politicians and politicians. How they behave and how they react cannot fit into any mould.
2. When I was Prime Minister I was called all kinds of names. I was labelled an ultra, a firaun or pharoah, mahazalim, dictator, you name it, just anything derogatory or insulting or demeaning, and I have had it.
3. I did not take any action against them, I did not threaten them, I did not ask the police to question them, I did not arrest, detain and charge them for being terrorists, for sabotaging Malaysia’s banking system, sabotaging Malaysia’s economy.
4 And I did not threaten to sue them, nor did I sue them.
MEMALUKAN NEGARA
1. Saya dicela oleh Anifah Aman, Menteri Luar kerana memalukan negara dengan ditemubual oleh akhbar Amerika “The New York Times”.
2. Mungkin Anifah tidak pernah baca suratkhabar Amerika sebelum usaha untuk memburukkan nama saya dijadikan asas mempertahankan Perdana Menteri Najib. Tetapi seluruh dunia tahu berkenaan Dato Seri Najib, Jho Low dan 1MDB. Ini disebabkan akhbar terkenal Wasington, New York dan London telah menyiarkan rencana panjang sehingga empat muka berkenaan skandal 1MDB, Najib dengan cara hidup mewahnya, Jho Low sahabat karibnya dan Riza Aziz, anak tirinya yang membiayai filem lucah “The Wolf of Wall Street”.
REPAYMENT OF DEBTS
1. There seems to be some confusion over repayment of debts and the loss of money by 1MDB.
2. Even if the debts are fully paid up through the sale of assets bought by 1MDB, that does not mean that 1MDB is free from the charge that it cannot account for the billions it had lost.
3. In business, money can be lost through bad investments or bad management. That is acceptable though the CEO and Managers would be sacked.
4. But when money is lost and the management cannot explain where it went and how it disappeared then management would still be responsible even if there is a bailout or the debts paid.
5. Thus with money claimed to have been invested in Cayman Islands and despite claims that it had been brought back and is now in Singapore, the money cannot be demonstrated to be there in tangible form, then management will be held responsible for its loss. The assumption must be that management had misappropriated the money unless otherwise proven.
THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
1. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, the sitting President of Sudan.
2. The ICC admits that this is the first warrant of arrest ever issued for a sitting Head of State of the ICC.
3. The alleged crime of President Al-Bashir is that he is “suspected” of having co-ordinated the design and implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign or alternatively it is also found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that he was in control of all branches of the “apparatus” of the State of Sudan and use such control to secure the implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.
4. It is also alleged that he was responsible for;
- Five counts of crimes against humanity : murder – article 7(1) (a); extermination – article 7 (1) (b); forcible transfer – article 7 (1) (f) and rape – article 7 (1) (g); (the fifth is not stated)
- Two counts of war crimes; intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities – article (2) (e) (i); and pillaging – article 8 (2) (e) (v) (the second crime is not given)
5. Apparently it was found that the President did not commit genocide and this charge could not be brought against him.
6. The world is aware of the hatred of the Untied States for President Bashir and clearly the US would like to see a regime change. Maybe the fact that Sudan has fairly large oil reserves has nothing to do with wanting to remove a recalcitrant Head of State. But maybe it has. Seems that those who have oil who are not compliant will get into trouble with the United States.
7. But the grounds for arrest can easily be applied to (former President) George W. Bush and (former Prime Minister) Tony Blair. The two are both guilty (proven) of more killings, extermination, forcible transfer and rape by virtue of their having, as Heads of Government, actually co-ordinated the design and implementation of the illegal wars against Afghanistan and Iraq – countries which cannot be proven to have attacked the US the way the insurgents attacked the Government of Sudan.
8. As Heads of State faced with insurgency the President of Sudan has a duty to act against the insurgents. Of course he must be control. He wouldn’t be a responsible Head of State if he left the counter-insurgency measures to others. Since when has it been considered wrong to fight against insurgents? Are Sri Lanka, the Philippines and others also guilty.
9. We are not told that weapons were used by Bashir but Bush and Blair directed the sanctions which killed 500,000 Iraqi children, use of depleted uranium in bombs and shells, instigated a war between Sunni and Shiah Iraqis, killed more than 100,000 “civilian not taking direct part in hostilities,” detaining and torturing prisoners outside the law and a host of other crimes against humanity which deserves to get the attention of the ICC; which the ICC should issue warrants of arrest.
10. If President Bashir is considered culpable, then Bush and Blair must be considered even more culpable. Many other Heads of Governments must also be issued warrants of arrests.
11. But the ICC is obviously applying double standards, picking on President Bashir but ignoring the perpetrators of the same crimes by other Heads of Governments. It is the essence of justice that it applies to everyone equally. How can we respect the ICC if it is so obviously biased and openly discriminates between different people.
12. I would warn the Heads of State of other weak countries that they are likely to suffer the same fate as the President of Sudan. It is not necessary that you have done something wrong. If you are a recalcitrant, trumped up charges can be made against you and warrants of arrest issued. You are aware that the United States is bent on effecting regime change everywhere. The ICC will be a good apparatus for this. It will be cheaper than shock and awe invasions.
13. The world must condemn the ICC action because it represents a travesty of justice. If this is allowed to go through, the ICC will become another apparatus of resurgent imperialism of the powerful countries.
14. We are already living in an unjust world. There will be more injustice with the setting up of ICC.