Dr. Wan Azizah

The hottest news today surround the Permatang Pauh constituency where the 1st female Head of Opposition in the Parliament announced that she resigned as the MP of Permatang Pauh and give way to her husband to contest in the by-election.

Despite the fact that this is a highly expected scenario long awaited by the Reformasi regime and Pakatan Rakyat supporter, yet it is a dissappointing scene where the female/wife has to give way to the husband.

As the Head of Opposition and the 1st MP of PKR which stand and won all 3 terms, much is expected of Dr. Wan Azizah Binti Wan Ismail.

As a highly qualified professional and a woman, she can and should use her power, position and influence as the Head of Opposition to fight for women's rights and gender equality. Yet, she had wasted the golden opportunity to reform the gender bias society and willingly stand behind her beloved husband and give way to an insecure society.

Being the president of PKR, she could be the woman who change the society and build her own reputation. But yet she satisfied being the wife of Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and maybe she has found happiness in there.

In my opinion, however, this is an opportunity that she lost in gripping for the betterment of Malaysia. Alas

Social Instability

Nowadays in Malaysia, we can hardly see where we are going.

With all the political plots (roadshows), national security seems to be the least important or rank after:

(a) Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case;
(b) UMNO-PAS negotiation;
(c) PI Bala and the Altantuya's case;
(d) Economy instability;
(e) BN's party elections within the component parties;
(e) Terengganu's mercedes issue; and

(f) etc.

The Pedra Blanca and the Exclusive Economy Zone (EEZ) issue has raised some sparks but seems to neglected.

EEZ (see wikipedia.com for its definition) normally give the country which is near to the sea enjoy sovereignty over certain extend of the sea within its territory and if nothing is done to it, Singapore will expand its border and enjoy the precious materials under water ie fishes, corals, petroleum and natural gas (though there is no sign of petroleum and natural gas discovered as yet).

Malaysia should not treat this issue lightly as it may be treated as a national threat and an invasion of territory. Although the matter may not be serious as yet, but if the matter is left out of hand, it may creat chaos and a reason for war to the benefit of those who deem it fit to raise one.

The government are urged to view the matter seriously as any mismanagement at that area may creat a spark of no return.

Tan Chun Ming

Asia Innovation Dilemma

As we talked about innovation and technology,we will straight away think of the success stories of the American start-up companies from Silicon Valley, such as the Microsoft, Apple,Dell or Google etc.Now the question arise is that why Asia is lagging behind in innovation?

Professor Clayton M. Christensen of the Harvard Business School had changed the way we think of the innovation in technology since 10 years ago. With his now a classic study "The Innovator's Dilemma", Christensen recognized that only few technologies are intrinsically disruptive. Rather, it is the business model or the strategy, that is disruptive.

This insights had provided us a very clear clue to the understanding of why the innovation is lagging in Asia.

When Asian Companies were trying to sell their products to the America or the European countries, the expectation is that our product quality is inferior. The white people is expecting that our products to be of low price or low quality.

Let us use the Taiwan's Acer as an example to illustrate our point here. As we acknowledged, 90% of the world's PC (personal computer)components were coming from Asia. Yet the Acer still can not be Hewlett-Packard (HP).The easy availability and the low price of the PC components still can not give the competitive edge to the Acer over the HP.

Another example is that the Sony from the Japan and the Samsung from the Korea. Both are the recognized , successful and leading Asian brand names. However, both Asian companies can not come out with products as the like of the iPOD which had been sold out for more than 1.5 millions units, until to date, across many countries of the world. This single particular innovative product had itself been contributing billions of dollars in profit to Apple Corporation.

So, now another question arise of what has drive the US to be a world leader in innovation and technology for decades since the mid 20th century ago.

In US, there is the entrepreneurship culture which promotes innovation and disruptive change. And this entrepreneurship culture is being fueled by a synergistic convergence forces of :- venture capital, research universities and the risk taking culture.

As for Asia, the barrier to creating the entrepreneurship culture are both institutional and cultural. Let us dissecting a challenging landscape of dilemma facing the Asia countries currently:

Firstly, Asia lacks a critical mass of independent venture capital groups, which are essentially required to support a significant numbers of start-up companies.

Secondly, the Asian research universities are far lagging behind those in US like Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Last but not foremost, perhaps, the biggest impediment is the fear : the fear to risk failure.

In US, the failure can be seen as a good thing, a badge of honor and the entrepreneurs will try it again and again. While in Asia, apparently, the failure is often being seen as a bad thing.

As a conclusion, by avoiding the risk of failure in innovation, the Asia is definitely risking itself towards long term economic failure.

As in the future, the innovation will play key element to drive for the sustainable growth of the economy in the particular country of the world.

A new generation

In the wave of the so called "Political Tsunami" in 8 March 2008, we have seen the unimaginable became reality. We have witnessed an event that many during the Mahathir era thought would not be possible.

Shock, as we witness the flags of Barisan Nasional fall, being swept by the wind of change. One by one, we saw the strong tide from the west coast in Penang, heading towards Kedah then hit on Kedah and crushed Selangor, such political power and such destruction by the Political Tsunami have crippled the Abdullah Administration and gone the generation of strong leadership.

With the dissatisfaction against the current administration, the opposition had gained the power that they never thought possible in the near future. Pakatan Rakyat or so they called the People's Alliance have taken over the state administrations of 5 of the richest states in Malaysia, the west corridor which consists of the most developed region in Malaysia and highly educated civilians who have no hesitation to vote on conscient and not on fear of the shadow of May 13, 1969.

And so rise a new generation...

Tan Sri Musa Hassan suing Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim for Defamation?

Weeks ago, we saw our Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim ("DSAI") announced to the public that he has evidence to prove Tan Sri Musa Hassan, the now Inspector General of Police ("IGP") and Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail, the current Attorney General ("AG") cum Public Prosecutor have involved in the cover-up or fabrication of his medical report during the infamous "black-eye" incident in 1998.

DSAI alleged that the now IGP and AG had assisted in the fabrication of the second medical report which intends to cover-up his black-eye caused by the then IGP, Tan Sri Rahim Noor.

Last week, DSAI had walked into the office of ACA to record his statements pertaining to the allegations he made. Hours later, he was arrested and stripped naked (or so he claimed) to assist in the investigation of the sodomy case lodged against him by his ex-assistant, Mohd Saiful.

Today, we saw in the Newspaper that the current IGP had filed a defamation suit against DSAI for his open remarks against Tan Sri Musa Hassan in public thus defaming him.

The question here is, whether Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who is under investigation should file a defamation suit now or after the ACA investigation is completed?

If everyone who had lodged a police report make certain remarks, allegedly defamatory, against a certain suspect, should the suspect be entitled to sue the complainant for defamation before the completion of the police/ACA investigation?

True, the right to file a suit in the Court of Justice is at the sole discretion of the current IGP, however, I must disagree with the filing of defamation suit prior to the complete of investion. It is my opinion that the right to sue arise only after the police/ACA has completed their investigation and find no case to prosecute (and if a case is made out, after the completion of the trial). To sue at this stage tantamount to intimidation and threats by a suspect against a complainant and should not be encouraged. It is against the public policy should such flood gate be open.

For example, a female alleged that she was raped, can the suspect accused her of defamation as the statements to police were defamatory? Surely this cannot be right and against the interest of the public if we apply Tan Sri Musa's suit herein.

Of course, we must say that DSAI should not be making public remarks pending investigation and that Tan Sri Musa is entitled to file a suit to protect his reputation and dignity which is being tarnished by DSAI in public. But as a politician, media is his greatest weapon for offence and defence, surely it would be a foolish act if he let the matter in the hand of the administration which caused him the "Black-Eye" and let his life at the mercy of others.

What I think should be done is that Tan Sri Musa should just quietly obtained an ex-parte injunction against DSAI pending the disposal of his ACA case, then only annouced that a defamation suit has been filed and which will only proceed after the conclusion of the ACA case. At this juncture, DSAI is to be prohibited from making further allegations.

Should these steps are taken, Tan Sri Musa will not be perceived as trying to intimidate DSAI and to threaten DSAI from revealing the truth.

Debate between the Giants

The debate yesterday night on the Topic "Form Government Today, Fuel Price Drop Tommorrow" was held in Dewan Bahasa dan Pusaka yesterday night and broadcast live throught the Astro Awani and TV9.

This debate create a new milestone in our Malaysia political arena when battle of the Giants were held in front of life audience and broadcast to the whole nation.

To the debators -Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ("DSAI") and Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, a fine presentation although I must say, the presentation are impressive though not convincing.

DSAI had said that should the Pakatan Rakyat take over the government, he will ensure that the fuel price is reduce by 50 cent. To which our current Information Minister said that the manifesto by the Pakatan Rakyat before the raise recently was that the price of petrol will be reduce (from the then RM1.92 per liter).

Our Information Minister had said that the lowering of petrol price doesn't warrant low inflation as shown in Venezuala, Saudi Arabia and Iran where the food and lifestock price are much higher. DSAI did make a point by saying that which economist says that when the petrol price is high, the inflation rate won't go up?

There are other points to be observed but I would just like to stress on one point, what have the money so called "saved" by the government are used for? Is "money saved" equal to "money earned"?

If the money is used to bail out and compensation to GLC, cronies and subsidies to industries which have no impact to the progressive economy and human capital development, it serve no purpose. Cash at hand should be used diligently and prudently.

Debates On The Fuel Hike Issues

In less than 2 hours time, we will be witnessing the Malaysia first on-air debate between our current Information Minister and the De Facto Head of Pakatan Rakyat. I have high hope that this will be a start for the transparency of the nation in discussing sensitive issue in sensitive time.

Let us not deny that many are interested not to how Information Minister has to say or what figures or statistic that he will come out with. At the end of the day, the audience and the public are more than well aware that numbers can be play around and whatever things our Information Minister has to say will not ease the pitch felt by the people.

Our interest lies on our current De Facto Head of Pakatan Rakyat, the controversial Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or better know by the abbreviation of DSAI in the cyber world. DSAI has been spreading rumours and making announcement that the wind of change which brought to the political tsunami in our Nation on 8 March 2008 will come to its height in 16 September 2008.

Ever since the election, DSAI has been in the limelight and the centre of the political stage. He promised change, he promised the lowering of fuel price, he promised that there will be equality among race and that he promised that he will shake the Barisan boat before the beginning of the 49 years of Malaysia Day.

But what are we hoping for in his announcement? What shocking news do we want to expect from him in his debate tonight?

Well, he promised the lowerring of petrol price, that can be easily done. With the establishment of the new Pakatan Rakyat Federal Government, he has less cronies to share the juice of Petronas as compare to Barisan and if he can have the nation, why worry about the money?