Under The Angsana Tree: Dawn of a new era, in our own backyard!

Photo of the press conference by Dr Mahathir in the morning of Thursday, announcing that Pakatan Harapan has over the simple majority seats to form government (Photo: Lim Huey Teng/Malaysiakini)

As I awoke to news that a change of government has occurred in my neighbor, I'm sure the process has been equally as nail-biting for our Lee Hsien Loong who has to grapple with losing his Bestie!

The result is not only surprising but just as baffling for the People's Action Party government has often accused Malaysia of being racist leading to our succession but I see the opposite happening here instead. M'sians have by and large, casted aside racial differences to oust a government which they deem is the cause of their division, lack of respect for the rule of law and rampant abuses of power in the State Organs.

What's left to be seen now is, how the days and months ahead will play out for Najib (and Rosmah) who by now, should have been deserted by their cronies. Will Anwar (or Mahathir) release to the public, any corrupt deals that were done between LHL, Najib or any of the Royal Families from GE 2008 up to now? Will existing agreements inked by S'pore, M'sia and China still be honored provided no corruption took place? Will there be a reopening of the "Altantuya Shaariibuu" case and other such cases where further investigations were hindered by the BN is best left to speculation.

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Mahathir does for Malaysia what Lee Kuan Yew Preached but Couldn’t for Singapore

One of Lee Kuan Yew’s most quoted lines, from a National Day Rally long past, “And even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave, and I feel that something is going wrong, I’ll get up.”

Then he flipped in 2015 at the age of 92, leaving Singapore in its current mess of an uncertain leadership transition, declining public infrastructure standards, and our people no longer being our “greatest resource” as seen in our dearth of innovation and adaptability. And, cost of living rising to the extent that incomes cannot keep pace.

This morning, Mahathir did what LKY preached but couldn’t for Singapore – rise up, wrest power from a government on the decline, and offer hope (and hopefully solutions too) to millions of Malaysians clamouring for change. Angered by the 1MDB corruption scandal involving PM Najib Razak, the 92-year-old emerged from retirement to lead the opposition. His win for Pakatan Harapan broke the Barisan Nasional’s 60-year-old rule. It must have been a proud day for the nation, though Singaporeans might not be too pleased with the return to power of an old “adversary”.

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Dr M reminds me of Lee Kuan Yew, says ex-Singapore PM

Goh Chok Tong, who was Singapore's prime minister from 1990 to 2004, praises Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his 'indomitable will and energy to right what he thinks is wrong with his country'

Singapore’s second prime minister Goh Chok Tong has hailed the political developments in Malaysia, comparing Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s campaign for the May 9 polls with that of the city-state’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.

“Watching Dr Mahathir fight Malaysian GE14 reminds me of Lee Kuan Yew who famously said, ‘Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.’

“One must salute Dr Mahathir for his indomitable will and energy to right what he thinks is wrong with his country,” Goh said in a Facebook post yesterday.

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Malaysia-Singapore Union Flickers Back to Life

The election shock may give fresh currency to an idea raised repeatedly by the late Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, was a canny politician, an extraordinary statesman and an astute analyst of geopolitics. At times it was hard to tell which hat he was wearing.

That seems to have been the case when, speaking to the press in 1996, a little more than three decades after his city was ejected by Malaysia and forced to become a nation-state, Senior Minister Lee 1 boldly speculated on the idea of a re-merger.

Let politicians across the causeway that links the neighbors drop race-based discrimination, giving the Chinese and Indian minorities the same rights as the majority Malays, and a reunion wouldn’t be impossible, he said.

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Najib, Mahathir on 'crooked bridge': What is the issue about

The so-called "crooked bridge" never took off in the 14 years after it was first mooted by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, but the recurring national issue may yet take down a second successive Malaysian leader.

In 2003, just before ending his 22-year tenure as PM, Tun Dr Mahathir announced that Malaysia would go ahead and build a crooked bridge - a six-lane S-shaped highway that would curve in such a way that it allows vessels to pass under it - if Singapore refused to demolish its half of the Causeway.

The failure of his successor Abdullah Badawi to push ahead with replacing the Causeway led Dr Mahathir to viciously attack him in 2006. The move, observers say, eventually pushed Tun Abdullah to resign in 2009.

related: Mahathir: 'Crooked bridge' not reason for criticisms of Najib

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OLD MAHATHIR MOHAMAD WAS NOT ALWAYS PALS WITH SINGAPORE. WHAT ABOUT THE NEW ONE?

Lee Kuan Yew, left, and Mahathir Mohamad in 2005. Photo: AFP

Does Mahathir Mohamad’s return to power in Malaysia mean Singapore will soon find itself fending off – once again – the veteran leader’s grand plan for a so-called crooked bridge between the two countries?

Mahathir’s second time at the helm as prime minister is not only rattling Chinese investors. Singapore, which endured periods of being his main whipping boy during his turn as premier from 1981 to 2003, is having anxieties of its own. The crooked bridge is one of several projects pundits and policymakers are watching as they try to anticipate how ties will change between the neighbours – which were one country before they split in 1965.

The idea for the bridge dates back to 2001, when Mahathir wanted to replace the 1km causeway that links Malaysia and Singapore with a bridge to improve traffic flow and – crucially for the Malaysian economy – allow ships to cross the Johor Strait, providing a boon to the ports in Johor, Malaysia. Singapore never agreed, saying the project was unnecessary because the causeway was in good condition.

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How Mahathir being PM again might (or might not) affect us

Under Dr Mahathir, Malaysia and Singapore had many disputes. These included disputes about the water agreement between Singapore and Malaysia, issues concerning the CPF of Malaysians working in Singapore, and the construction of a “crooked bridge" to replace the existing Causeway.

Dr Mahathir has also publicly expressed that he’s against the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR). He had earlier said that should he come into power, the SR contract signed between Malaysia and Singapore may not be a done deal. He said:

“We need to do a study whether it is feasible or not because we don’t have the money and we have to borrow money, and that is not something the Government can bear at this moment. We have to know whether we really need this HSR or not”

And here I was, looking forward to being able to make regular day trips to KL soon… Sigh… Beyond the HSR, what other agreements will Dr Mahathir relook? Will Dr Mahathir want Singapore to give in more to Malaysia?

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Singaporeans wish Tan Cheng Bock will follow Mahathir’s lead and contest the next GE as an opposition candidate

92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad made history last night by defeating the incumbent at the polls and ushering in Malaysia’s first transition of power since independence, at the watershed 2018 Malaysian General Election.

Mahathir, who helped establish the ruling Barisan National (BN) coalition in power and served as Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, stepped out of retirement and left the ruling party to lead the opposition. Breaking the BN’s six-decade long monopoly, Mahathir beat his one-time protégé Najib Razak and is set to become the world’s oldest head of government when he is sworn in.

Mahathir’s stunning election upset has prompted many Singaporeans to express their desire to see veteran politician Dr Tan Cheng Bock contest the next General Election in Singapore as an opposition candidate.

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4G leaders must sincerely listen to the people and make changes to avoid similar fate to BN: Ex-PAP MP

Former PAP Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Mr Inderjit Singh, has opined that the fourth-generation leaders of the country must sincerely listen to and try to understand what Singaporeans are tired of in order to solidify the people’s trust in them.

Drawing lessons from the historic Malaysia General Election that unfolded yesterday – in which the opposition snagged a stunning majority in what became the nation’s first transition of power in the past 61 years – Mr Singh seemed to imply that the 4G leaders need to do this to avoid a fate like the one Barisan National suffered last night, where he felt people got tired of issues and “spoke at the elections through their votes.”

This is not the first time that Mr Singh has shared his opinions on hot button topics in Singapore, since he retired from politics in 2015 after serving the Kebun Baru ward within Ang Mo Kio GRC for 19 years.

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A former PAP MP on what Singapore’s leaders should learn from Malaysia’s political upheaval

In the wake of the political upheaval with our neighbors up north, parallels have been drawn between the historical defeat of Malaysia’s ruling government and our own situation here.

Like Barisan Nasional, Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) have enjoyed continuous power over the country since independence. Unlike Malaysia’s ousted regime, however, PAP has maintained a corruption-free status, and a reputation for pragmatic efficiency — but at the cost of having a supremely heavy hand on citizen lives and privacy, among other things.

Though he’s stepped down from his position as a PAP Member of Parliament (MP) in 2015, Inderjit Singh remains a key pundit in the political arena, thanks to his 19 years of experience in the civil service.

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Inderjit Singh 9 May at 23:17

It is also useful for us to reflect on the Malaysia election results that came in this morning and hopefully draw lessons that our MPS and 4G leaders will address during next week’s debate on the President’s Address. Malaysians created history today- for the 1st time in history after 61 years a new government will be formed. The ruling BN not only got ousted but lost convincingly. The people exercised their right to change government as they got tired of kleptocracy and exercised their democratic rights. Well done Malaysians, very few expected the BN to lose.

Lessons Learnt from the Malaysia Elections - So, what happened in Malaysia yesterday and how is it relevant to Singapore? There are three lessons that interestingly were also signalled by President Halimah Yacob’s address to parliament:

The ruling elite lost touch with ground and did not listen to people
Lack of Bold Changes - What worked in the past does not always work today or in the future
Right to lead and form govt is not an inherited right

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ST editor to PAP: Beware of mini-tsunamis that could add up to one large-tsunami

On Sunday (13 May), ST Opinion Editor Chua Mui Hoong wrote a piece entitled ‘Malaysian General Election: 5 takeaways for Singapore’.

Yet if Miss Chua’s article is anything to go by, Singapore’s share of “mini tsunamis” are more prevalent that one might think. How many Mini Tsunamis have we seen in Singapore:

Last September, the Halimah Yacob was inaugurated as President without a single vote being cast
After controversy and international media attention, PM Lee later responded that this was the “right thing” to do.
That June, PM Lee's two siblings came out and said that they were “disturbed by the character, conduct, motives and leadership” of their brother and had “lost confidence” in his leadership
In March this year, 4G Ministers ganged up on Worker’s Party Chairman Sylvia Lim and demanded an apology for her comments that the government was “test[ing] balloons” for a GST hike
A month later, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam subjected historian Thum Ping Tjin to a 6-hour grilling over the latter’s allegations that the late Lee Kuan Yew was spreading falsehood early into nationhood

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PAP jumps to third spot in list of world’s longest serving ruling parties still in power, after Malaysia’s historic GE2018

The stunning election upset dislodged the BN from its spot in the list of the world’s longest serving ruling parties still in power. Interestingly, Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) takes BN’s spot and climbed to the third place in the list.

Like the BN previously, PAP has remained in power since Singapore attained independence and has been the ruling party here for the past 59 years. The party has been overwhelmingly dominant in local politics since it came into power in 1959 and presently holds 82 out of 101 seats in Parliament.

The number one spot in the list of the world’s longest serving ruling parties still in power is taken by the Workers’ Party of Korea, which has been in power in North Korea since 1948.
The second place on the list is taken by the Communist Party of China, which has ruled China since 1949.
Singapore’s PAP comes after the Chinese ruling party
Followed by the Cameroonian People’s Democratic Party in fourth place
The Communist Party of Cuba in fifth place

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The Economist suggests govt in S’pore should change peacefully in wake of M’sia election

The Economist is being cheeky with Singapore again

In a May 10, 2018 article, in the aftermath of the tsunami unleashed in the Malaysia election, the United Kingdom-based weekly magazine made the suggestion that a peaceful change in government up north, might be a good thing if it can become a contagion.

The article explicitly talked about how the loss of the ruling party in Malaysia will pave the way for reforms and a cleaning up of past detrimental practices. This effect can then hopefully spread to surrounding countries in the region, resulting in the same peaceful changes and establishment of new governments.

The last paragraph of the article, “Mahathir’s back: Malaysia’s chance to clean up”, presented as a flourish with the most sting, said:

"Perhaps the new government will succumb to infighting and fail to get much done. But its very existence is a potent reminder to Malaysians and their neighbours that governments can and should, from time to time, change peacefully. With luck, Cambodians, Singaporeans, Thais and Vietnamese, among others, will begin to wonder if something similar might one day happen to them".

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Malaysia’s chance to clean up

The ruling party used every dirty trick in the book and still lost

ELECTIONS in Malaysia are normally predictable. In fact, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and various allies had won all of them since 1955, until this week. Over the years UMNO has resorted to every conceivable trick to remain in power: stirring communal tensions among Malaysia’s ethnic groups, locking up critics, rigging the electoral system in its favour, bribing voters with populist handouts and threatening chaos if it lost. In the run-up to the election on May 9th it did all of that. It was testimony to the awfulness of the government of Najib Razak that the opposition was even in contention.

And it is testimony to the good sense of Malaysian voters that the opposition won, convincingly, paving the way for Malaysia’s first ever change of government.

For a country where politics has always been run along communal lines, the shocking upset holds out the prospect of a more meritocratic form of government. For the region, where rulers with authoritarian instincts have been steadily curbing political freedoms, it is a heartening victory for democracy. And for Mr Najib, who was accused by America’s Department of Justice of personally pocketing $681m looted from a Malaysian government agency, it is a welcome comeuppance.

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Malaysia's shock poll result gives hope to besieged Southeast Asian oppositions

Singapore, ruled by the People’s Action Party since its independence 57 years ago, has political parallels with Malaysia, analysts said.

The city-state has tough defamation laws that critics argue have been used to quash political opposition. It also has a strongly pro-government media. “Like Malaysia, it has competitive but flawed elections,” said Morgenbesser. “Unlike Malaysia, it doesn’t have a major corruption scandal.”

Former government lawmaker Inderjit Singh said Singaporeans were “shocked” by the result in Malaysia. “The immediate reaction among some is that it could happen in Singapore too,” he said. “But I don’t see Singaporeans ready to change to an opposition government until they can see potential national leaders emerging.”

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A Warning Shot to the PAP

Apart from the pull factor of the irrepressible Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, analysts have identified two other key factors that led to the shock Opposition victory in the Malaysian elections.

Firstly, the 6% Goods & Service Tax (GST) introduced after the 2013 elections has been a sore point with Malaysians. While the country’s macro economic fundamentals appear sound, the majority of Malaysians have found the going hard, with the cost of living surging beyond their means. The Opposition’s promise to abolish the GST – which Mahathir has reaffirmed since the election victory – has been a sweetener to voters.

Will the Singapore government take heed? It has yet to make a compelling case for the impending hike in GST and the genuine fear for Singaporeans is that costs will keep surging once the hike kicks in.

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92-year-old Nightmare for 4G Leaders

Opposition leader, Mahathir Mohammad speaks in front of his supporters in Kuala Lumpur on May 6, 2018

Who would have thought that a 92-year-old man could present the biggest test for Singapore’s 4G leaders? Now that Mahathir Mohamed has triumphed against all the odds to become Prime Minister of Malaysia once again, it could signal challenging times ahead for Singapore. The wily old fox will be no pushover. The relations between Singapore and Malaysia, the good vibes shared by the Prime Ministers of both countries, could soon be a thing of the past.

It is safe to say there is no love lost between Mahathir and Singapore, at least on his side of the equation. We keep hearing that the 4G leaders have a big challenge ahead. It now comes in the form and shape of Mahathir, who does not suffer fools gladly and who will seek to undo much of what his predecessor has done.

For Singapore’s sake, let’s hope that the likes of Chan Chun Sing is up to the task. But one fears that it could be a mismatch. If our 4G leaders do not step up their game, they will be easy meat for Mahathir who is a sound strategist and a wily politician. Will the comeback of Mahathir make it necessary for Lee Hsien Loong to delay stepping down and handing over the baton? Will it be a major setback for Singapore just when relations with Malaysia have taken a more cordial turn in the past several years? Will the high-speed rail still go ahead? Will there be a crooked bridge? Many, many unanswered questions.

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Dr. Mahathir’s Victory Changes Everything. Just Not For Singapore

As a Singaporean citizen, political change never fails to surprise me. So imagine the shock when a 92-year-old former strongman triumphs over his handpicked protege AND the world’s longest ruling political party to become the world’s most senior Prime Minister.

What a time to be alive. Thanks and congratulations, Dr. Mahathir. That being said, this ‘historic’ underdog victory seems to have inspired some wishful thinking back here in Singapore.

Some have interpreted Mahathir’s upset victory as a sign of things to come. The BN has fallen, and soon our PAP must follow, so the logic goes. If change is possible in Malaysia, then Singapore will soon have its own mini-revolution as the tendrils of progress spread across the Causeway like a meme. Makes sense? Sounds good?

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How will Malaysia's elections shocker affect bilateral ties with neighbour Singapore?

Analysts are divided on the impact of the new leadership, but some said key infrastructure policies need to be watched.

Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s coalition party, Pakatan Harapan (PH), delivered an unexpected win in Malaysia’s general election, scoring a simple majority with 113 seats in parliament. The results have broken the 61-year rule of the Barisan Nasional party and could now break the previous characteristics of the country's policies and relationships, especially as Mohamad has campaigned for reform and a new government under his rule.

Singapore has immediately responded to the outcome of its neighbour's elections. Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote in a Facebook post that they are now awaiting the formation of a new government.

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Mahathir's victory a warning shot for Singapore's PAP

Malaysian voters chose to forgive Mahathir Mohamad his many authoritarian moves while he was in power last time.ies.

For far too long, Malaysia and Singapore have been exceptions to the rule that rapid development tends to bring democratisation in its wake. Among their East Asian neighbours, as the economies of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan advanced, their political systems came under pressure to open up and democracy expanded a notch or two.

This did not happen in Singapore or Malaysia. While their economies expanded in leaps and bounds, both remained one-party states. The two share many other similarities

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Lessons from Malaysia Polls: Expect the Unexpected from Voters

The Washington Post published a very perceptive column on 5 May with the headline, ‘Is Malaysia about to follow the path of Erdogan’s Turkey?’

The key takeaway here, as elsewhere, was that incumbent Prime Minister Najib tun Razak was set to get a third term in office. After all, he has been part of a coalition that has ruled the country every single day since it acquired independence in 1957.

Drawing parallel with Turkey’s strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the column observed that if he wins, “Najib looks set to potentially transform Malaysia, which has been a semi-authoritarian state with some degree of the rule of law, into a more illiberal, politically Islamicised autocracy.”

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Why Malaysia's Surprise Election Result Should Be A Wake-Up Call For Global Leaders

Another national election has produced yet another unexpected outcome. This time it was Mohamad Mahathir’s stunning upset victory over Prime Minister Najib Razak—which ended 60 years of rule by the National Front party—and caught many observers of Asian politics off guard.

But Malaysia’s 14th general election results should come as no surprise. This latest event is affirmation, yet again, of the convergence of fundamental forces that are sweeping the world: digital disruption and its economic and social consequences; a middle-class backlash against entrenched and corrupt elites; and, like it or not, the growing influence of China.

How is this playing out in Malaysia and beyond? Among other things, Mahathir has said he would repeal Malaysia’s hugely unpopular General Services Tax (GST) of 6% and re-examine Malaysia’s big infrastructure projects—including the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail link. He’s said that he wouldn’t seek “revenge” against Najib, but rather, that he would “restore the rule of law to Malaysia.” For many, this could be interpreted as a return to heavy-handed, authoritarian governance.

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Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad Is Sworn In, Signals Tougher Line on China

Malaysia—Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia’s new prime minister Thursday and signaled a tougher line toward an influx of Chinese investment after a stunning election win a day earlier.

Dr. Mahathir, who at age 92 is beginning his second stint as prime minister after turning the country into an economic powerhouse in the 1980s and 90s, signed the oath of office at around 9:30 p.m. local time—completing the first transfer of power since Malaysia’s independence in 1957.

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Malaysia May Renegotiate Some Deals with China: Mahathir

Malaysia may renegotiate some deals with China, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday, May 10, just hours after his coalition secured a stunning election win against the government of Najib Razak.

Mahathir said that his government would likely reverse some policies implemented by the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, including a highly unpopular goods and services tax.

The 92-year-old told a news conference he supported China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI) but said Malaysia reserved the right to renegotiate terms of some agreements with Beijing, if necessary.

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UN chief applauds Malaysians for ‘strong commitment’ to democracy

Secretary-General António Guterres addresses Security Council meeting on peacebuilding and sustaining peace

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief welcomed the formation of a new Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The UN chief added that he was looking forward to working closely with Malaysia on issues of mutual interest. The new Prime Minister is no stranger to the job, having led the country for much of the 1980s and 1990s, and at 92 he has become the world’s oldest elected leader.

The coalition of parties which he led to victory, secured 113 of the 222 seats being contested. The elections, held on 9 May, saw a voter turnout of 76 per cent, according to media reports.

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Top 5 Things to Know About Returning Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad

The opposition "Alliance of Hope", led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, won a snap election in Malaysia on May 10, making the 92-year-old politician the oldest elected leader in the country's history:

Strong But Smart Nationalist
From Protection of Freedoms to Crackdown on Dissidents
Controversy over Academic Freedoms
Economic Miracle Despite All Odds
Proud Anti-Semite

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Is Mahathir a changed man?

As Singapore continues to digest the implications of the election result and as the flurry of revelations continues to pop out of Putrajaya, it is the name of Mahathir that keeps coming up again and again. Of immediate concern is how he will deal with the RM50 billion High Speed Rail contract that Najib signed with Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong in 2016. Mahathir has been talking publicly about mega projects like this. His latest comment – that the project might be ditched – was the clearest indication so far of its likely fate.

How Singapore deals with a resurgent Mahathir will be its biggest international challenge and a good test for the 4G leadership. PM Lee had a symbolic 30-minute meeting with the Malaysian leader on 19 May. Beneath the warm congratulatory messages, the anxiety was evident. Lee’s uncomfortable body language as he walked in to meet Mahathir, his late father’s old adversary, was palpable.

There are signs that Mahathir is a changed man. But he may just go back to his old ways if he sees in Singapore a difficult partner in the expected talks on the rail contract. That is not something Malaysians and Singaporeans want to even think about.

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Goodbye Malaysian cronyism, hello Anwarnomics

Anwar Ibrahim shakes hand with Mahathir Mohamad. They both will lead Malaysia after winning the elections on Wednesday. (Handout via Reuters)/Najwan Halimi)

Only 24 hours ago I was lamenting the Malaysian political system’s incapability to self-correct after a plunder as brazen as the alleged US$4.5 billion looting of 1MDB, a state investment firm. The voters proved me wrong.

By unseating Prime Minister Najib Razak, and handing his Barisan Nasional coalition its first loss of power in six decades, Malaysians have sent a clear and optimistic message: Corruption matters.

But what now? Mahathir Mohamad, the 92-year-old former leader who staged the upset, was undoubtedly the vehicle for channeling anger against Najib, his protege-turned-foe. However, he can’t be an instrument to address the disquiet.

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Dr M: Agong has indicated 'immediate pardon' for Anwar

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V has indicated that he would grant an immediate pardon for Anwar Ibrahim. The Pakatan Harapan de facto leader is currently serving a 5-year prison sentence and is scheduled to be released on June 8.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur earlier, Mahathir said Harapan would now initiate the necessary procedures to secure the pardon. He said Harapan leaders raised this issue with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during an audience with the monarch at Istana Negara yesterday.

"In the course of our 4-member discussion with the Agong, the Agong had indicated to one of us - (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng - that he is willing to pardon Anwar immediately.
"So, we will go through the proper process of obtaining a pardon for Anwar," he said.
"It is going to be a full pardon, which of course, means he is not only pardoned but to be released immediately when he is pardoned.
"After that, he will be free to participate fully in politics," he added.

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Agong has agreed to grant Anwar a full and immediate pardon, says Dr M

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V has consented to granting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a full and immediate pardon, says the Prime Minister

“The Agong has told (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng that he has agreed to granting a full pardon to Anwar,” Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told a press conference Friday after a Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting.

"We will go through the proper process of obtaining the pardon for Anwar. It's going to be a full pardon, which means that he is not only pardoned but released immediately," he added. Dr Mahathir said that Pakatan would immediately begin the process of getting Anwar's pardon formalized.

When asked if Anwar would be a Cabinet minister, Dr Mahathir said that Anwar would have to become a member of Parliament first. "That might take a long time," said Dr Mahathir.

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'Punish' Dr M by electing him again

GE14 represents the best and possibly the last chance to initiate a two-party system which usually symbolises a vibrant, liberal and healthy democracy.

With a star-studded team comprising Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah, Muhyiddin Yassin, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Azmin Ali, Tian Chua, P Ramasamy, Xavier Jayakumar, R Sivarasa, Mohd Sabu and others, there is a big possibility of tipping the balance this time and ushering in a Pakatan Harapan government almost 60 years after Merdeka.

It is no point favourably comparing Malaysia to Singapore where a one-party rule has brought stability and prosperity. Malaysia should, in fact, be unfavourably compared to South Korea and Taiwan which have attained stability, prosperity and a vibrant democracy in a short time of only 30 years despite having major security threats.

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Setting a world benchmark in reclaiming democracy

Malaysians set a world benchmark, a gold standard in how to reclaim democracy against all odds yesterday.

The government coalition that had lorded over a country with various alliances for 61 years threw everything against its citizens for the 14th general election - the judiciary, the police, the universities system, the election commission, its very parliament, race and religion.

Gerrymandering and mal-apportionment saw some federal constituencies with as little as a few thousand voters sit side-by-side with seats that housed more than 150,000 registered voters.

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Malaysia’s first new government in six decades revels in a shocking victory

In an shocking upset, the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for all 61 years since independence, Barisan Nasional (BN), has lost power. It was ousted by a coalition of four parties, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), whose combined seats amounted to a parliamentary majority. Its candidate for prime minister, 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, has now been sworn in. A former BN prime minister of 22 years, he now becomes the world’s oldest sitting elected leader.

This is a galling defeat for BN, which was widely expected to win yet again. In the last vote in 2013, it retained enough seats to govern even though it lost the popular vote. In this election, it was expected to retain a majority, or at least be able to work together with the third party of significance, the Malaysian Islamic Party.

BN also usually benefits from the highly racialised nature of Malaysian politics. Its largest member party, The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has previously retained overwhelming ethnic Malay support. By contrast, the Democratic Action Party, part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, is widely distrusted among Malays partly because of its image as a party of the ethnic Chinese population.

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PM Lee said Najib has the confidence in GE14 results 4 months ago

GE14: Video of two PMs' exchange goes viral

During the 8th Singapore-Malaysia Annual Retreat, which was held in Singapore in January this year (16 Jan), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an off-the-cuff remark on the 14th Malaysia GE looming then at the retreat's press conference. Video of his remark immediately went viral, especially in Malaysia.

Speaking to the media at the time and in response to a journalist's question, then-former Malaysian PM Najib Razak said that the outcome of the Malaysian general election (GE14) would not change the nature of relations between Malaysia and Singapore.

Najib's remark then drew an immediate response from PM Lee, who said that this is "because you have confidence in the result", which saw the two leaders laughing.

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Video of exchange between Singapore and Malaysia PMs goes viral

A video of the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore at a press conference in Singapore has gone viral after an off-the-cuff remark on the coming Malaysia general election.

Speaking to the media after the eighth Singapore-Malaysia retreat in Singapore on Tuesday (Jan 16), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the outcome of the 14th general election (GE14) would not change the nature of relations between the two countries.

His remark drew an immediate response from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who said that this is "because you have confidence in the result", which saw the two leaders laughing.

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Dr Mahathir only gives PM Lee half an hour to meet him

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived at Kuala Lumpur today (19 May) to meet Dr Mahathir, after the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan led by Dr Mahathir achieved a historic win at the Malaysia GE14 last Wednesday (9 May).

However, Dr Mahathir only met him for half an hour.

According to Yahoo news, PM Lee was seen entering the Perdana Leadership Foundation building at 11am, where the meeting was held. Then at 11.30am, he was seen leaving the building after shaking hands with Dr Mahathir.

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Singapore's PM congratulates Tun M as Malaysia new PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on being sworn in as Malaysia's seventh Prime Minister.

"I wish Tun (Dr) Mahathir and his team every success, and hope to catch up with him in person soon," he said in his latest Facebook posting.

"Malaysia is a vital partner of Singapore, and our peoples share a strong and deep bond. I look forward to working with Tun (Dr) Mahathir and the new government to enhance our cooperation. We can do much more together," he ended his posting with his initials LHL.

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PM Lee wishes M’sia all the best but didn’t congratulate any leader yet

PM Lee looks forward to developing an equally constructive relationship with the next Malaysian government

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has made his first public statement about the Malaysian election held yesterday.

Early this morning, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 92, held a press conference saying that opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan has achieved majority in parliament.

In his Facebook post this morning (May 10), PM Lee said that Singapore wishes Malaysia “all the best in its political development”, noting that Singapore has enjoyed good relations with Malaysia with successive Malaysian leaders for many years. PM Lee said that he “look forward to developing an equally constructive relationship with the next Malaysian government”.

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Lee Hsien Loong 2 hours ago

Many Singaporeans would have followed the news about the Malaysian election yesterday. It is clear that the outcome represents a major change in Malaysian politics. We are now awaiting the formation of a new government.

We are following the situation closely. As Malaysia’s closest neighbour, we have a vested interest in Malaysia’s stability and prosperity. While Malaysian politics are for Malaysians to decide, Singapore wishes Malaysia all the best in its political development. Singapore has enjoyed good relations and close cooperation with Malaysia for many years, with successive Malaysian leaders. We look forward to developing an equally constructive relationship with the next Malaysian government, and to work with it to take our bilateral ties forward and benefit both our peoples. – LHL

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Malaysia's Najib accepts 'verdict of the people'

Malaysia's outgoing Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks to reporters in Kuala Lumpur on May 10, after his ruling camp lost the general election.© Reuters

As Malaysia's historic election night turned to dawn on Thursday, the country began to digest the full implications of the first change of government since independence in 1957. Incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak said he accepts the "verdict of the people" in a morning news conference, making way for 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad's return to power.

Najib did say it is ultimately up to the king to choose the prime minister, "since no single party gained a simple majority." He said it had been a "tough election."

The government earlier in the day declared Thursday and Friday to be national holidays, as citizens, businesses and markets reacted to Mahathir's upset victory with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

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Najib 'accepts verdict of the people' after shock loss

Malaysia's defeated leader Najib Razak said Thursday he accepted the will of the people after his long-ruling coalition suffered a shock election loss to 92-year-old former strongman Mahathir Mohamad

"I accept the verdict of the people," the leader, who looked shattered after his coalition's defeat, said. But he added that because no single party got a majority in parliament, it was up to the king to decide who will become prime minister.

Mr Mahathir's opposition won 121 seats, if a small ally from Sabah state is included. There are 222 seats in parliament and a majority is needed to form a government.

The veteran ex-leader, who led the country with an iron first for over two decades, stormed to a shock victory at the hard-fought election early Thursday, beating Najib's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that has been in charge for over six decades.

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Opposition takes Malaysia in historic polls

Supporters of former Malaysian prime minister and opposition candidate Mahathir Mohamad celebrate in Kuala Lumpur on early May 10, 2018. Malaysia's opposition alliance headed by veteran ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 92, has won a historic election victory, official results showed on May 10, ending the six-decade rule of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition

IN a truly historic vote, Malaysia for the first time since independence has fallen to the opposition coalition.

“The Palace has contacted us to tell us that we have achieved an unofficial majority,” opposition leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad told reporters at a press conference in Petaling Jaya at 2.50am on Thursday.

“PKR (People’s Justice Party) achieved a simple majority a long time before the official announcement, but if you add the 14 from Warisan (Sabah Heritage Party), Pakatan Harapan now has a ‘substantial majority.'”

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Malaysia’s ruling party defeated after 60 years

In the General Election result yesterday (May 9), the Opposition led by former Prime Minister Dr Mahatir Mohamad have secured a clear majority, 113 seats out of 222, to take over the government. This is the ruling party National Front’s first defeat after 60 years, but what is more impressive is that Dr Mahatir is a 92-year-old who came out from retirement after he was angered by the former PM Najib Razak’s corruption in the country’s 1MDB state fund.

Dr Mahatir will be the oldest elected leader in the world, beating Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew record (who technically won by walkover in 2011 when he was 88). The former Prime Minister ruled Malaysia with an iron-fist until he completely retired in 2003, unlike Lee Kuan Yew who stayed on as MP after making his son Prime Minister.

A representative of Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy has contacted Dr Mahatir congratulating and thanking him for the win. The veteran politician also announced that Thursday and Friday would be a public holiday, which was supposedly an election carrot promised by Najib Razak. The Malaysian leader said he would not “seek revenge” in his rule, but directed his comment at Najib Razak that he will go after the corrupted who breached the law.

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Meritocracy is an Indian Youth Winning in a 4-Cornered Political Fight in Malaysia

Singapore prides itself on being a highly meritocratic nation, and many here often mock our next-door neighbours for perceived rampant cronyism in the echelons of government.

Then, Malaysia came up with P Prabakaran. The 22-year-old law student, elected last night in Batu is an independent candidate and Malaysia’s youngest parliamentarian.

In Singapore, he would barely have completed full-time national service.
Prabakaran, in a 4-cornered fight, beat candidates from established political parties BN and PAS (and another independent candidate), He’s an Indian in a Malay-majority country.

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Opposition wins Johor for first time in M’sian history

Johor, the birthplace of the UMNO party, the reliable Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition stronghold, fell to opposition hands for the first time in Malaysia’s history

The various candidates competing on behalf of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition won 36 out of 56 state seats, enabling them to form the next state government in the southern state.

BN’s caretaker Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) Khaled Nordin lost his state seat of Permas.

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5 THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO PAKATAN’S WIN THAT MALAYSIANS NEED TO TALK ABOUT MORE

After more than 60 years of one-party rule, some of you may not have thought you’d live to see the day Pakatan Harapan take office, did you? As Malaysians, we can certainly be proud that we changed things without shedding a single drop of blood. No violence, no looting, no burning of cars, homes or shops, no ugly manifestations of racism.

Here are 5 things that contributed to Pakatan’s win that Malaysians need to talk about:

Our electoral process (!?) - Gerrymandering, alleged blackouts, foreign voters, and other alleged hanky-panky aside, the electoral process itself can be said to be arguably better than some other countries because of the level of transparency.
Our Polling and Counting Agents (PACAs) - Can we just give it up for the ordinary Malaysians who volunteered to spend their whole day in schools or wherever your polling station is, to be the polling and counting agents (aka PACAs) on Rabu. Invoke Malaysia announced that 17,594 volunteers had signed up nationwide, as of April. In fact 3 of us from the CILISOS team PACA-ed. Two of us had to travel 2-3 hours away to their assigned stations outstation.
Rafizi and INVOKE - Rafizi Ramli is no stranger to the public. Thanks to his exposes, many alleged leakages in the ex-government came to light, including the. All this stuff might have had a hand in opening the rakyat’s eyes where they couldn’t in the pre-Internet age.
Parti Pribumi…er… Keadilan - In 2016, a group of Barisan Nasional rejects, leavers, a retiree, and a fresh-faced 24-year-old formed a new party called Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM). As the name says, PPBM upholds the Bumiputra agenda, so people were like, huh not another Umno. Whyyy?
WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube - You could say that social media is also one of the factors that contributed to Pakatan’s shock victory. Even right after GE13, people were using WhatsApp and Facebook as a platform to share news – whether good or bad news about whichever party, information was making its rounds. This was a change in the way people consumed information and probably helped to change perceptions, whereas we formerly had only traditional newspapers to turn to.

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Three strategies PH used to pull off a stunning electoral victory

The PH election victory was founded on the ability of its parties to sacrifice their rigid ideological leanings and identity for a larger purpose, writes Ronald Benjamin.

Here are three critical element that helped Pakatan emerge winners in the general election:

Using a common logo and struggle - First, there was something distinctive about the kind of political cooperation it forged. PH used a different political approach from the earlier Pakatan Rakyat, which was a loose coalition in which all parties held on to their respective identities and ideologies while working on certain areas of common interest, sometimes uncomfortably as they seemed head on, on an ideological collision cause. For example, Pas’ goal of forming an Islamic state required a corresponding response from DAP. In the end, the coalition collapsed.
Connecting to Malay psyche and pride - Second, there was an underlying theme of change to restore the nation’s pride. Such a theme would not have been possible without confronting the BN’s Achilles heel: Najib’s “cash is king’ mantra. Mahathir consistently portrayed Najib and Umno as morally corrupt and willing to buy over anyone to meet its objective. In social psychology, anything that is repeated tends to stay in the subconscious mind of the masses. Mahathir’s strategy to connect to the psyche of the Malay-Muslim community by saying that the the community’s pride was at stake was a political killer blow to BN.
Banging on GST and rising cost of living - Third, there was a common and widespread issue: the rising cost of living, with GST being singled out. The high cost of living cuts across all ethnic communities and this was a great opportunity for PH to capitalise on this issue. The broader strategy of highlighting the high cost of living reverberated around the country, sparking a significant Malay tsunami.

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Malaysia GE 2018: Results at a glance

PH is made up of DAP (42), PKR (49), AMANAH (10) & BERSATU (12) Total = 113

Malaysia's Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition pact scored an upset electoral victory on Wednesday (May 9) over the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Here's a breakdown of the key results:

Parliamentary seats: 222
PH: 113
BN: 79
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS): 18
Warisan Sabah: 8
Solidairi Tanah Airku: 1
Independent candidates: 3

Key states:

PH overcame BN in states such as Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Kedah, Perak and Malacca, while retaining Penang and Selangor.
BN also lost Terengganu to PAS, which retained control of its stronghold in Kelantan.

Political casaulties - Prime Minister Najib Razak retained his Pekan seat, but lost eight ministers and 19 deputy ministers, according to a tally by the Malaysiakini news portal. The eight Malaysian ministers who lost include:

Transport minister Liow Tiong Lai
Health minister Dr S Subramanaim
Plantations industries and commodities minister Mah Siew Keong
Agriculture and agro-based industry minister Shabery Cheek
Finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani
Communications & multimedia Salleh Said Keruak
Ministers in PM's Department Jamil Khir Baharom & Abdul Rahman Dahlan

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Malaysia Cabinet members agree to 10% salary cut

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced this at a press conference after chairing the first weekly Cabinet meeting at Perdana Putra on Wednesday

The Cabinet has agreed to cut the salaries of all ministers by 10%, in a move to cut government spending.

"The cut is on the minister's basic salary. This is to help the country's finances.

"This has been a practice of mine. I also did the same thing when I became prime minister in 1981," said Dr Mahathir.

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Tale of 2 Finance Ministers: One abolishes GST while the other increases

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who became the 7th PM of Malaysia on Thurs (10 May) announced yesterday (12 May) that Lim Guan Eng, also the deputy president of Pakatan, would be the new Finance Minister of Malaysia.

The Star reported that Lim's appointment as Finance Minister has been lauded by businessmen and observers.

“This news of Lim Guan Eng being the Finance Minister is great and very encouraging,” said the president of the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Malaysia. The view is that the son of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who was once a political detainee, will be able to understand better the financial needs of ordinary Malaysians.

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Advice for Malaysia's new ex-PM

Dear Prime Minister Mahathir, It has been a while since I have seen you personally. It seems you have been well, especially since last week when your upstart coalition won control in Malaysia's first surprising election.

During my two years at Bloomberg's office in Kuala Lumpur, from 1996 to 1998, I regularly attended press conferences you held as prime minister. You once chided me for seeking too many details in your answers. That annoyed me, because when one was based in KL -- as opposed to stopping by to write a quick dispatch, as most Western journalists did -- nuances and details mattered greatly. I'll give you this: You were very available and ready with an answer to almost any question. You didn't hide behind mystique, like Suharto in Indonesia. Look what happened to him!

The time I spent in Malaysia was formative. I have an enormous reservoir of fondness for the country and its rich culture and, yes, awe at its political brutality. As one who watched what went wrong 20 years ago (remember when you jailed your finance minister?), let me offer some advice as your team settles in.

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A viral message against LHL

1. Next time when you partying with your new friends, don’t forget your old friends outside the gates. When you were eating Durians with Najib and Rosmah you did not even pay a visit to the old man Mahathir to say hello? Well I guess I was a pariah and you did not want to be associated with me. I understand. But good and insightful politicians never assume fallen leaders people can’t make a comeback.

So don’t just visit me or Anwar, make time for Najib later after all he is still your Friend is he not and who says he can’t make a comeback? Look at what I have done at 92. Najib still has some years to go.

2. There is no need to wear a batik shirt and smile all the time when you come to congratulate me. We are both PMs and are equal in status. If you are filled with humility and respect it will show in other ways so no need to put it on show.

I did not care much for your father and disagreed with his policies but I respected him for his firm resolve and standing up to other countries when it mattered. He was a true leader and had balls.

3. Be wise in placing your bets and if you lose it is Ok but never do a Tony Fernandez. When your horse doesn’t come in don’t go around telling people it was a mistake or you were forced to make the bet. People will lose respect for you. Don’t forget the same horse may win the next race. I am a good example.

4. Choose your cabinet ministers wisely. Scholars and Generals may be fine in intellect but are they leaders with courage and conviction who care enough for the Rakyat? Look at my team. Many have been imprisoned, persecuted and ostracised by BN and their henchmen but they stayed and fought for the Rakyat.

Guan Eng has done wonders for Penang. He was jailed twice but he had steel in him. He did not migrate but stayed on to fight because he believed in Malaysia. Now that’s what I call true leaders of the people not those who have high IQs and come out with fantastic income generating policies that contribute to GDP and GNP but with no real benefit for the Rakyat.

5. Choose men and women with backbones. Don’t choose people who always say yes to you. Look at Khairy, BN’s former Youth Minister. He is an Oxford grad and highly intelligent. But what did he do when BN was thrown out? He said “Oh we should have spoken out and it was a mistake not to tell Najib that his policies were wrong, etc.” What bullshit!

He had no guts to say no to Najib because he was a Yes man and enjoying all the perks of a Minister. You know what happens when you have Yes men in your cabinet? They think only of themselves. Like Judas they will disown you when the chips are down because now they hope they will be absolved of their past crimes.

6. Always remember to govern your country with a paramount emphasis on the rule of law. I admit I did not do so in the past when I was PM and that was a bad mistake. When you politicise the police, the attorney general, the civil service, heads of statutory boards, etc, they take the liberty of enforcing your rule with strong-armed and undemocratic tactics and practices.

That is not only wrong but harms your integrity, your people’s integrity and the reputation of your country. The world distrusted us because of it. I realised this when I was in the wilderness and part of the Rakyat.

7. Don’t get your wife too involved in the affairs of the state. Look at Rosmah. She did not hold any official appointment but she did give orders to many government officials and they obeyed because she was the PM’s wife. Plus Najib was under her spell.

Your Father was wise, your Mother played a very supportive role. I do the same with Siti Hasmah. She like your Mother are highly educated women but they stay in the background and are detached from any form of role that has a say in government, state investment or what to do with the state’s coffers.

You must remember the Rakyat will always talk and such talk can also contribute to a tsunami which happened in our case.

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The protege toppled by his mentor

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks to the press at a polling station during the 14th general elections in Pekan on May 9, 2018. (foto: AFP)

Najib Razak's administration was rocked by allegations that he was involved in the scandal-plagued state investment fund 1MDB, slammed by the US as "kleptocracy at its worst".

But for voters saddled with rising living costs, there may have been economic reasons closer to home for the shock electoral result that wrenched the 64-year-old from power.

The polls on Wednesday (May 9) delivered a historic defeat to Najib which included electoral losses for 4 ministers, in a major political upheaval likely to reverberate deeply across the country's political landscape.

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Former National Solidarity Party chief has applied to form new political party

‘We want to form the government’

The people are fed up with government policies and want their voices to be heard, said former National Solidarity Party (NSP) leader Lim Tean.

It was with this in mind, that Lim applied to form and lead a new political party called Peoples Voice.

In an exclusive interview with Yahoo News Singapore at Far East Plaza on Tuesday (8 May), Lim, a 53-year-old lawyer, even made the bold prediction that within a few election cycles, the opposition will be in a position to shake up the political scene and form the government.

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Full Coverage:
Fall of Najib Razak rings fear into Lee Hsien Loong

What Tommy Thomas thinks of Singapore's legal system

This speech in 2009 by newly appointed Attorney-General Tommy Thomas is being shared and commented by netizens in Singapore.

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“We are hundred times better than Kiasuland”: Malaysia’s new AG’s comment on Singapore law goes viral

A nine-year-old speech by Malaysia’s new Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, in which he slammed Singapore as “Kiasuland”, has been going viral on social media here.

Contrary to speculation that the AG’s remarks comparing constitutional law between Singapore and Malaysia is recent, the AG’s sharp criticism was actually made on 9 Dec 2009 at a public forum in Petaling Jaya. The speech was actually made months after the Perak constitutional crisis, during which Perak’s one-year-old Pakatan Rakyat state government toppled.

Asserting that Malaysia was fortunate to be a member of the Commonwealth nations – since this means it could refer any constitutional disputes with fellow countries who share similar legal systems that originated from the “intellectual home” of Britain – the 66-year-old cited several examples of nations that he considers to have “constitutional courts of respect”.

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“Singapore does not have a constitution”: Malaysia’s new Attorney-General, Tommy Thomas, in 2009

In a speech froom 2009 which focused on where Malaysia's constitutional lawyers seek inspiration and precedents from, the current Attorney-General ("AG") of Malaysia and constitutional expert, Tommy Thomas highlighted the jurisdictions of India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In listing these jurisdictions, he made reference to how their constitution and the constitutional courts have developed a robust system over the years.

However, in addition to stating where their constitutional lawyers seek inspiration from, he also stated, in no uncertain terms, that the one place that they never look to is across the causeway.

"The one place that Malaysia's constitutional lawyers never look to is to Singapore. Singapore does not have a constitution. It does not have a constitutional court. It does not have constitutional judges. It does not have lawyers. So I cannot make this speech in Singapore. So whenever we criticize Malaysia, we must remember that it is a 100 times better than kiasu-land." - Tommy Thomas, Malaysia's AG

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Wake Up, Singapore shared Martyn See's post Yesterday at 18:50

"The one place Malaysian Constitutional Lawyers never look to is Singapore. Singapore has no Constitution. So I cannot make this speech in Singapore. Whenever we crticise Malaysia, we must remember that we are 100 times better than kiasu-land." - Tommy Thomas, the newly minted AG of Malaysia

Following the precedent set by the prosecution of Jolovan and John Tan (https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2018/06/06/malaysias-new-attorney-general-once-argued-that-singapore-does-not-have-a-constitution-heres-what-would-have-happened-if-he-had-made-the-same-statement-today/), who merely made the observation that Malaysian Judges are more independent than their counterparts across the causeway, will Lucien Wong, in the spirit of consistency, also charge his fellow AG for scandalizing the judiciary?

Martyn See Yesterday at 18:31 · Will Singapore's AG Lucien Wong, a former personal lawyer to Lee Hsien Loong, prosecute Tommy Thomas for scandalising our judiciary?

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Martyn See Yesterday at 9:31am

Will Singapore's AG Lucien Wong, a former personal lawyer to Lee Hsien Loong, prosecute Tommy Thomas for scandalising our judiciary?

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Not sure if fake but good points nevertheless

Excellent read written by my retired Friend. .... Seven pieces of advice Mahathir probably gave to Hsien Loong on his short visit to the comeback man in Putrajaya:

Next time when you partying with your new friends, don’t forget your old friends outside the gates. When you were eating Durians with Najib and Rosmah you did not even pay a visit to the old man Mahathir to say hello? Well I guess I was a pariah and you did not want to be associated with me. I understand. But good and insightful politicians never assume fallen leaders people can’t make a comeback. So don’t just visit me or Anwar, make time for Najib later after all he is still your Friend is he not and who says he can’t make a comeback? Look at what I have done at 92. Najib still has some years to go.
There is no need to wear a batik shirt and smile all the time when you come to congratulate me. We are both PMs and are equal in status. If you are filled with humility and respect it will show in other ways so no need to put it on show. I did not care much for your father and disagreed with his policies but I respected him for his firm resolve and standing up to other countries when it mattered. He was a true leader and had balls.
Be wise in placing your bets and if you lose it is Ok but never do a Tony Fernandez. When your horse doesn’t come in don’t go around telling people it was a mistake or you were forced to make the bet. People will lose respect for you. Don’t forget the same horse may win the next race. I am a good example.
Choose your cabinet ministers wisely. Scholars and Generals may be fine in intellect but are they leaders with courage and conviction who care enough for the Rakyat? Look at my team. Many have been imprisoned, persecuted and ostracised by BN and their henchmen but they stayed and fought for the Rakyat. Guan Eng has done wonders for Penang. He was jailed twice but he had steel in him. He did not migrate but stayed on to fight because he believed in Malaysia. Now that’s what I call true leaders of the people not those who have high IQs and come out with fantastic income generating policies that contribute to GDP and GNP but with no real benefit for the Rakyat.
Choose men and women with backbones. Don’t choose people who always say yes to you. Look at Khairy, BN’s former Youth Minister. He is an Oxford grad and highly intelligent. But what did he do when BN was thrown out? He said “Oh we should have spoken out and it was a mistake not to tell Najib that his policies were wrong, etc.” What bullshit! He had no guts to say no to Najib because he was a Yes man and enjoying all the perks of a Minister. You know what happens when you have Yes men in your cabinet? They think only of themselves. Like Judas they will disown you when the chips are down because now they hope they will be absolved of their past crimes.
Always remember to govern your country with a paramount emphasis on the rule of law. I admit I did not do so in the past when I was PM and that was a bad mistake. When you politicise the police, the attorney general, the civil service, heads of statutory boards, etc, they take the liberty of enforcing your rule with strong-armed and undemocratic tactics and practices. That is not only wrong but harms your integrity, your people’s integrity and the reputation of your country. The world distrusted us because of it. I realised this when I was in the wilderness and part of the Rakyat.
Don’t get your wife too involved in the affairs of the state. Look at Rosmah. She did not hold any official appointment but she did give orders to many government officials and they obeyed because she was the PM’s wife. Plus Najib was under her spell. Your Father was wise, your Mother played a very supportive role. I do the same with Siti Hasmah. She like your Mother are highly educated women but they stay in the background and are detached from any form of role that has a say in government, state investment or what to do with the state’s coffers.

You must remember the Rakyat will always talk and such talk can also contribute to a tsunami which happened in our case.

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ESM Goh: "Ministers are not paid enough"
Can Singapore “Do a Malaysia”?
Old Mahathir could be frosty with Singapore: New Mahathir?
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In perverse fashion, the Malaysians might have done the PAP a favour
Goh Chok Tong & Tan Cheng Bock ‘do a Mahathir’?
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The protege toppled by his mentor
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From Lim Lui Teo to Yaacob

11/05/2018

Dawn of a new era, in our own backyard!