There are too many of such cases, which even the blind could see, that have gone unpunished.




On Explosive allegations against ACA chief

Peter: Such allegation is no more surprising in our 'boleh' land. There are too many of such cases, which even the blind could see, that have gone unpunished.

I believe we are a unique nation where many of the law breakers are law makers and enforcers.


On Kit Siang: CJ's 'nude' views ill-advised

Concerned Non-Economist: The words truth and transparency are now featured prominently in malaysiakini's 'letters to the editor'. And a new term 'nudity' has been injected.

Those with vested interest do not like the naked truth. They will always try to dress it up. These same people will also tell you that transparency is like watering a plant. If you add too much water, the plant will die.

I would like to take this one step further. If the plant is going to die because of too much water, so be it. At least, we can start something new.


On Mugabe has a mansion in Malaysia

Sadirah K: Rhodesia, as it was then called, was a beautiful and rich nation. With the end of white rule, it became Zimbabwe. This was a nation that could have build on its fundamentals and become an example for Africa.

In the end, what has Mugabe got to show despite all his rhetoric? This is a nation that has thrived on the colour divide and so long as this is played up, Mugabe thrived. They have now even bankrupted the white farmers and settlers.

He failed to take advantage of the diversity of his nation and move it in the direction of progress and development. In fact inflation is now running at figures ranging near 3,000 percent. How can a nation reach such a dire state?

Mugabe can stop blaming the whites and it is time that this dictator looks at himself. It is sad that even Mahathir has not been able to help him mend his ways. On the contrary, he has brought his ill-gotten wealth to this nation and even Mahathir has helped him to build his house here.

Perhaps Mahathir should consider him as a possibility for trial before his International Court of Justice for crimes against the people of Zimbabwe. Mugabe for all his rhetoric will go down in history as another African despot who has the likes of Mahathir as his supporters.


On M'sia may face long wait for trade deal: US envoy

MR Saat: Recent critics against the FTA with the US are mainly based on the argument that we, Malaysians, will only get small benefit at best while it can potentially pose severe negative effects to the general labourers and farmers. With neighboring countries have already struck the
agreement, our success to get the FTA may become a matter of survivability in years to come.

This may be not an issue when we enjoy a healthy 6-8% growth in GDP. In fact, a recent article in the Economist points out a report that shows reforms are only likely to happen when a country is in an economic crisis, for example when the growth in GDP is 4% less than the potential.

Given that the US is ranked first - both as our main trading partner and source of foreign investment, according to Matrade and Mida respectively - I strongly think that we need to get the FTA done when we still have the leverage to negotiate.

The opponents of the FTA cry for more debates and an in-depth cost-benefit analysis. There is an approach in the decision analysis field in which if a decision maker - in our case the government - found that a strategy is deterministically or statistically more dominant among all other alternatives, there is no effective need to spend more resources to consider the less beneficial alternatives. Of course, the burden of prove is on the decision maker.

By the same token, the government needs to be responsible to the victims of globalisation, including those rice farmers from the northern areas. One successful system is employed in Denmark called "flexicurity". The system provides financial support and training for a specified maximum period to help jobless find a new job in new sectors.

For the older displaced workers, the government may top up their salaries to any lower-paying new job. This approach, or any of its variance, is not cheap. However, if the government believed that the FTA and open market for that matter will greatly benefit us, this social scheme should be included in the agenda.

Time is the essence now. Next year, the Democrats seem poised to take over the White House and control both chambers in the US. God knows how business-unfriendly and protectionist they can be.

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