K Haridas

As we peer into the haze of information that is currently in the public domain, some things are coming clear. The amount of RM2.6 billion is no longer in doubt. The fact that this was in an account under the name of the prime minister seems to be an accepted fact. Despite its circuitous route, the debt or donation was eventually credited into that account.

Mysterious events take place in Malaysia. There seems to be no one accountable or courageous enough to say that they have been directed to take a particular course of action.

So the saga continues. What baffles me is the reality of the disclosures that the ordinary man is required to make even if he sends or receives US$12,000. Try this at a bank or money changer and you will see the controls in place. The source and reasons for remitting or receiving are needed. Is there one requirement for the ordinary Malaysian and another for Umno politicians?

Dear prime minister and ministers,

For decades the rent-seeking culture has been rampant within the ruling Barisan Nasional(BN) coalition. The goose has now been cooked and answers must be forthcoming. The time for forked tongue expressions, one for the politicians and another for citizens at large, are over. “You help me and I will help you”, the famous refrain of ‘rent-seeking’ approaches, is now under intense scrutiny.

The cyber war is on and there are clear attempts to discredit online media. Sarawak Report is being vilified and the hoax on the AmBank staff member’s resignation is aimed at getting readers to begin to question the veracity of what is published in the online media.

There is too much graft in this country that we have even lost clarity by all the rationalisation that takes place. It has reached an endemic stage where VIPs can get away with transactions into their bank accounts, defeating even regulatory requirements, and yet remain insulated from legal action.

The psychological warfare is on and the public relations and communications specialists employed directly and otherwise are both planning strategic and diversionary tactics to distract the minds of readers and also exert indirect control of the media.

Where is the accountability, transparency and integrity within our civil service and government institutions? The Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) fiasco also illustrates how valuations reports were used to jack up prices.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition party that governs Malaysia is often presented as a multi-ethnic coalition party. This is a myth. In reality BN represents a coalition of ethnic based parties led by Umno. In semblance they portray themselves as a multi-ethnic party. Nothing can be further from the truth. In reality all coalition members champion ethnic interests be it Umno, MCA or MIC.

COMMENT Until we come out of the box of ethnicity we will never see a Malaysia that has so much to offer all Malaysians.

COMMENT Like the earlier charters this has been consumed by ‘ethnic Islam’ promoted by BN in the form of ‘Ketuanan Melayu’.

COMMENT The vision for a united, peaceful and prosperous nation has failed, and we should now watch out for the nightmares in our society.

COMMENT The tenets of Rukunegara have been so violated that it remains today a charter to be referred to without substance.