Mr PM, let me tell you why we are worried: Cow-gate, Cop-gate, AG-gate and now Anak-gate

Written by Robert Phang

Prime Minister Najib Razak must lead the way, show true reforms and avoid cover-ups. The government’s objective of making crime reduction one of the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) is now showing results. According to the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2011 Report, Malaysia was ranked the safest country in the Asia Pacific Region.

All these are marked improvements of the image of the PDRM than when it was under the previous IGP, Musa Hassan. During Musa Hassan’s time, the PDRM was despised, the Along money-lending syndicate became a national menace and the crime rate was high especially street crimes. In short, Malaysians feel unsafe then. Some may say that was all in the past. But the past shapes the present and the future.

Police need to buck or fall behind

In that regard I feel compelled to remind the PDRM that the positive image now can slide back to what it was before. I feel compelled to remind PDRM that it must not be a law enforcement agency that is involved in cover-ups in protecting only the rich and powerful. As such, current CCID Director, Dato’ Syed Ismail Syed Azizan, must be commended for announcing that the police had recommended for prosecution action in the NFC “Cowgate” scandal. This had forced AG Gani Patail to finally charge Shahrizat Jalil’s husband, the Chairman of the NFC, for CBT. That unconventional announcement was a very brave and smart move by Syed Ismail so that there cannot be a cover-up for which the police will be made to take the blame. That really helped improve the image of the PDRM in the eyes of the Rakyat.

As a Friend of the Police, I call on the Rakyat not to misconstrue the statement made by the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein about the revelations made by former CCID Director Dato Ramli Yusuff of the cover-ups, fixing-ups, fabrications and abuses of power by Musa Hassan and AG Gani Patail in what is now known as the “CopGate Affair”. What Minister Hishammuddin had really said was “Prove it, and we will take action. No one is above the law”. Thus, we must take that positively.

Police duty to investigate and not kow-tow to AG

Since Hishammuddin has asked for proof, YDH IGP Ismail Omar must now take the Minister seriously and direct investigations by his officers. The police powers to investigate crimes are prescribed by the Police Act. If I may, IGP Ismail Omar can show his seriousness, objectivity and professionalism to uncover the truth and obtain evidence by taking the following steps:

> exclude CID Director, Bakri Zinin, from this investigation. This is to protect Bakri Zinin from any allegations of being connected to AG Gani Patail as Bakri is also from Sabah;

> direct independent minded investigators like CCID Director Syed Ismail who is not easily intimidated by AG Gani Patail as has been shown in “Cowgate”;

> not to allow circumvention of police work by any politician, no matter how high that politician may be, from carrying out police duties as that is the oath of duty of a professional police force;

> leave no stones unturned of all the reports made by Dato’ Ramli Yusuff against AG Gani Patail and Musa Hassan that have now been in the public domain for some time, namely investigate:

a) the truths of the SD by Musa Hassan’s ADC of his complicity with the underworld;

b) the truths of 10 other SDs by the other policemen;

c) the truths of the SDs by the other informants about the turning over of their informant’s evidence;

d) the cover- ups for Goh Cheng Poh in the Along syndicate investigations and the circumvention of police work in that case;

e) the unlawful access of Cicero confidential files;

f) abdication of AG’s duties under Art 145 Federal Constitution by refusing to act for and prepare affidavits for CCID;

g) fixing-up of Dato’ Ramli and his six officers by using the fabricated statement of Moo Sai Chin who was then under EO Detention;

h) fixing-up of Dato’ Ramli’s lawyer;

i) AG’s complicity in the matters concerning Tajudin Ramli/MAS and whether there was suppression of evidence;

j) AG’s refusal to prosecute Tajudin Ramli despite the recommendation of the CCID;

k) relationship between AG Gani Patail with Tajudin’s proxy, Shahidan Shafie. It is noted that Shahidan was previously charged for corruption while he was OC Secret Societies of Johor;

l) whether it is proper conduct for an Attorney-General to fraternize with a person of ill- repute (Shahidan Shafie) especially when that person is connected to an on-going investigations by the Police and the MACC. Their consorting together is evident as exposed in the Haj scandal with photographs and other supporting Tabung Haji documents;

m) AG’s complicity in the Ho Hup corporate tussle as evidenced by photographs of the A-G at Ho Hup’s office and the prosecution of the other side.

Not for Nazri to decide

The Rakyat is disappointed that the Speaker of Parliament had rejected the urgent motion by Subang MP R Sivarasa for this matter to be debated in Parliament last Wednesday. The integrity of AG Gani Patail impacts on the whole system of justice in this country. The Rakyat sees this refusal to allow parliamentary debate on a matter of such importance as a cover-up.

To dispel this negative perception, I ask IGP Ismail Omar to discharge his constitutional duties to investigate without fear or favor. I ask Ismail Omar to disregard the misconceived statements of Nazri Aziz that the government will not investigate this further. It is not for the Minister to state whether the complicity of AG Gani Patail should be investigated just as it is not for that Minister to direct GLCs to settle their cases with Tajudin Ramli.

Anak-gate : Where did the lawless son get so much money?

Nazri may be the Law Minister, but he has no legal nor moral authority to tell the police how to carry out the law if he cannot control his lawless son and his bodyguards in connection with the recent assault of a security guard. According to the police reports made available to me, Nazri’s son had even used his father’s Minister’s name card to introduce his entourage. Is that not abuse of power? The Rakyat is not amused that the case has been classified as Affray under s. 160 Penal Code. Affray is fighting in a public place. His son’s body guards trespassed onto private property and assaulted a security guard. How could that be an affray?

Beyond that, the Rakyat ponders how did Nazri’s son afford such luxurious cars - a Porsche driven by him and a Toyota Vellfire by his bodyguards? Why did he need bodyguards? What business is he in? Are we seeing further examples of “Cowgate” amongst the families and sons of Ministers who live in absolute opulence whereas the Rakyat are told to be thrifty and constantly reminded of rising inflation and high cost of living.The MACC should look into whether this Minister’s family is living beyond their means or having unusual wealth. After all, that is what all civil servants are subjected to under the MACC Act. So, it is better that Nazri controls his “anak jantan” and his entourage to behave in accordance with the law than for him to meddle in the affairs of the police.

The IGP must direct PDRM to act independently. That is how checks and balances in government institutions are maintained so that the Rakyat can feel safe and secure. Politicians come and go but the institution of the police cannot be made to succumb to their whims and fancies.

Too much evidence against Gani Patail to ignore

The evidence already in the public domain against AG Gani Patail are just too numerous for the government to ignore. As such, on behalf of the Rakyat I beg PM Najib to hear the Rakyat’s voice. The PM should know that the Rakyat is unhappy that he has said that it is not necessary to constitute a tribunal to look into this. The Rakyat wonders why the government must defend this AG until it affects the credibility of PM Najib’s government. This may only fuel suspicion that AG Gani Patail and Musa Hassan have a hold on the PM and other government leaders. PM Najib must dispel this by taking firm action.

PM Najib must not lose the plot. PM Najib has already shown that he will walk the talk when it comes to the Rakyat. I am sure PM Najib is sensitive to the Rakyat’s feelings. He is already popular with the reforms undertaken so far. So, let it not be dampened by the allegations surrounding AG Gani Patail. The Rakyat will support PM Najib in all his reform plans especially when the Rakyat trust there is no cover-ups.

Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin is a prominent civil society leader, a Justice of Peace and a former member of the MACC advisory panel

Daim: 'BN only safe in three states in GE-13'

by Malaysiakini.com

Former Finance Minister and long-time UMNO Treasurer (Tun) Daim Zainuddin - who had predicted the fall of Barisan Nasional (BN) in Penang, Selangor and Kedah in the 2008 general election - has looked into his crystal ball again.The view isn’t exactly rosy for the Federal ruling coalition in the next polls, according to an exclusive interview with Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau that was published today.

Daim said he expects an easy victory for BN only in Johor, Malacca and Pahang.The key recapturing Kedah and Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat, he said, is to find a suitable leadership line-up.

To keep Terengganu and Sabah, a united UMNO will be essential, but retaining Perak will be an uphill battle for BN, Daim commented.In Negri Sembilan, one of Pakatan's frontline states where BN only rules with a six-seat majority, Daim said the state BN must resolve some specific problems.

Although he did not elaborate on the issues, it is known that a suitable candidate must be found to fill the Menteri Besar’s post because the incumbent, Mohamad Hasan, is likely to move to a Federal Government post.

As for Kelantan and Penang, Daim said BN would be fighting a losing battle in the two Pakatan strongholds.

NONEDaim described Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his team as "generals without soldiers".

"The Prime Minister and other key leaders have done enough. Their current situation is that of 'generals without soldiers'. Where are BN's soldiers? The leaders at division and branch level must be more proactive in engaging the people."

What Najib currently needs, he commented, is a team that is on the same page with him.

"In parliamentary elections, depending on a single person, the prime minister, is not going to be enough for success. BN needs a team. The Prime Minister has done enough, but the problem is that people cannot see his team. He needs to tell the people where his team is." The UMNO veteran advised Najib to be more determined in cutting out the deadwood.

A close colleague of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Daim was UMNO Treasurer from 1984-2001. He served as Finance Minister from 1984-1991 and as Minister with Special functions and Executive Director, National Economic Action Council (NEAC) in the Prime Minister's Department in 1998, before being re-appointed as Finance Minister in 1999. He retired in 2001.

A year before the 12th general election, Daim had warned that BN would lose Penang, Selangor and Kedah.His ‘prophecy' came true when BN was hit by a 'political tsunami' on March 8, 2008, losing not just five states then but also its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

‘PM shouldn’t be Finance Minister’

Sharing his experiences as Finance Minister, Daim commented that a non-Malay leader could hold the post as long as he or she has financial and economic knowledge, as well as an understanding of domestic politics.

NONEThe convention set by Mahathir (right) for the Premier to also hold the Finance Minister’s post is inappropriate, he reiterated, as the workload of a prime minister - who is also the head of UMNO and BN - is tremendous.

"I know that the post needs full commitment," he said, suggesting that giving the post to another individual would enhance checks and balances in the administration.

Daim urged Najib to emulate British practice in creating a world class cabinet, and eliminating the perception that the finance portfolio is intended to help the holder to accumulate political resources.

"British Prime Ministers have never held the post of Finance Minister... why do we need a second Finance Minister? Actually we only need one full-time Finance Minister because it is a post with huge responsibilities."

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has already pledged that, should Pakatan come to power at federal level, these posts will not be held by the same individual.

Alleged Misconduct of Attorney-General and former Inspector General of Police must be investigated

by Hafiz Yatim (03-20-12) @www.malaysiakini.com

Allegations of misconduct by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and former Police Chief Musa Hassan should be probed because these ‘affect the integrity of agencies meting out justice’.

The least the government can do is form a parliamentary select committee to investigate the allegations, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin told Malaysiakini. “We’ve seen the government being bold in charging (those) involved in the National Feedlot Corporation and by forming a parliamentary select committee,” said Shamsul Iskandar (right), who is a lawyer.

“I call on (Premier) Najib (Abdul Razak) to compel a probe of agencies implementing justice, including the allegations that Abdul Gani, Musa and the Anti-Corruption Agency having been used to fix people up.”

“How can the public trust them if such allegations remain unanswered? The question also remains whether Najib is committed to reform.”

Shamsul Iskandar said he is puzzled as to why the government has shot down the call for a tribunal to probe allegations by former Commercial Crime Investigation Department Director Ramli Yusuff and former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim against Abdul Gani and Musa.

Ramli (left) and Mat Zain have said they are willing to testify before a tribunal against the duo, while serving police officers are also willing to come forward.

Malaysiakini has twice tweeted Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein since Saturday for a response, but there has been no reply.

Text-messages to Abdul Gani and an email to the public relations office of the Attorney-General’s Chambers have similarly gone unanswered to date.

Last Monday, Hishammuddin had asked for evidence of the alleged wrongdoing. When this was provided, he said there was “no need” for fresh investigation into the matter.

NFC could be a decisive factor in GE-13 if poorly managed, says Daim

by www.malaysiakini.com

UMNO Veteran and former Finance Minister (Tun)Daim Zainuddin warned that if the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal is not managed properly, it will affect the BN's fate in the next general election.

"Generally, people tend to forget an issue after 14 days but 'Cowgate' is different, regardless of ethnicity, whether Malay, Chinese or Indian, they all know what a cow is about, the rural folk also know the value of a cow.

"You have to be careful, 'Cowgate' can affect many votes," he told Sin Chew Daily in an exclusive interview published today.

The NFC scandal has a far greater impact compared with the Lynas rare earths plant issue, said Daim (left), because taxpayers' money is used in the cattle breeding project.

The rare earth plant at Gebeng, Pahang, will not impact much on other states, he opined.

On the possible political landscape after the next polls, Daim said it will be most unfortunate if UMNO manages to maintain its support but with both MCA and Gerakan wiped out by voters.

It will show that the electorate is voting along racial lines instead of as Malaysians, and the country will continue to be divided by racial differences, he elaborated.

As a close colleague of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Daim was UMNO treasurer from 1984 to 2001.

He served as finance minister from 1984 to 1991 and as minister with special functions at the Prime Minister's Department in 1998, before being re-appointed as finance minister in 1999. He retired in 2001.

A year before the 2008 general election, Daim warned that BN will lose Penang, Selangor and Kedah and the 'Daim prophecy' proved true when the coalition was hit by the 'political tsunami' on March 8 that year.

Why Should Anwar debate Raja Petra?

by S I Tan@www.themalaysianinsider.com

Why should the Leader of the Malaysian Opposition debate a discredited blogger?In any democracy, the incumbent PM debates the leader of the Opposition, not some blogger who has illusions about his own influence.

Raja Petra Kamaruddin (left with Big Dog) may think that he is worthy of acclaim but he is not. He has not stood for elections and is not representing any constituency. In fact, he is just another blogger who owes his loyalty to himself and whoever gives him the time of day.

If you layan him, he is very happy and will be friendly towards you. But if you don’t listen to his advice, then he gets all worked up.

Of course, some people argue that he has crossed over to BN and that is his choice. Maybe they find him more useful in bringing down the Opposition but he is nothing more than someone who puts his views across on his blog.

He is not the Leader of the Opposition, an Opposition which has managed to shake BN’s hegemony. Anwar is the leader and therefore the PM should show some spine and debate him.

But asking Najib Razak to show some spine would be asking too much. So Najib now takes this side issue of Anwar not debating the blogger as his escape route.

After more than 50 years, this is what Malaysiais left with: a Prime Minister unable to act prime ministerial and constantly looking for his script from public relations advisors.

What will People say

by Dr. M.Bakri Musa
Morgan-Hill, California

When the late Tun Razak moved his family to Sri Taman, the Prime Minister’s official residence at that time, his children pleaded with him to have a swimming pool installed. The Tun, acutely aware of the costs to the public, would have none of it.“What will people say?” he told his children.

Not that the Tun did not want to indulge his children or that he was being unduly stingy, rather he was conscious of the need to differentiate the personal from the official. Unlike many especially from the Third World, then as well as now, Tun Razak was the rare leader who did not consider the public treasury to be his. Even when there were grey areas, as with the swimming pool, he would err on the side of not burdening the public with the cost.

It could be argued that since Sri Taman was government property, expenditures on improving it as with building the pool should be borne by the public. However, as the pool would benefit essentially only the prime minister’s family and invited guests, he acted with an abundance of prudence and probity in refusing to have the pool installed.

There was another less obvious but more important reason for his not acceding to his children’s wishes. Malaysia of the 1960s was devoid of gleaming skyscrapers and towering condominiums. There were no modern suburbs with luxurious mansions sporting swimming pools in their backyards. Most Malays were still stuck in their kampongs leading subsistence living and sleeping under thatch roofs.

Tun Razak was sensitive to that social environment; he after all had served as Minister for Rural Development. To kampong folks, a backyard pool would have been opulence on an especially grand scale. This more than the cost was probably what prompted the late Tun not to have the pool for his children.

“What will people say?” As Muslims we are reminded to have taqwa at all times, an awareness of the presence of Allah. “Closer than your jugular vein,” as the Koran put it. If you have taqwa, aware that Allah is watching you all the time, that does tend to restrain you.

“What will people say?” could be viewed as a secular version of taqwa, an internal compass to keep us along the straight path, away from temptations and ill deeds. For a leader, that would be a path that would meet the approval if not praise from his followers. The expression reflects the power of peer pressure, the universal human need for social approval. Yes, leaders need this too.

There is a cautionary note however, especially for leaders. Pay too much attention to what people say and you reduce your leadership to a wet-finger-in-the-air mode. That is not a recipe for success, much less greatness. For others, as well as leaders, you risk being reduced to a pathetic fool, as per the fable of the old man, the boy, and the donkey.

Leaders who pay too much heed to what their followers say risk pandering to their lowest common denominator, appealing to their baser and uglier instincts. That is the leadership of the Perkasa types, obsessed with “them” taking over “our” Tanah Melayu, and of chauvinistic leaders forever paranoid over losing their culture and language. In America this is demonstrated by the ugly spectacles of the current candidates in the Republican Party primaries.

Backyard Pool, Luxury Condos, Half-Million Ringgit Engagement Party

Our leaders today are a far cry from the caliber, competence, and integrity so publicly and unambiguously displayed by the late Tun Razak. We are being painfully reminded daily of these deficiencies, including and especially with his son, Najib Razak, the current Prime Minister.

It did not escape citizens’ notice that when Tun Razak died, his estate, while not exactly destitute, was definitely not brimming with assets. The same could be said of his immediate predecessor, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and successor, Hussein Onn. Today, our ex-Prime Ministers live in mega mansions and travel the world in private luxury jets. I do not know who foot their bills. At least American ex-presidents make a show of earning their wealth through their exorbitant speaking fees.

This brings me to Rafizi Ramli’s latest revelation: Najib’s recent half-a-million ringgit engagement party for his daughter allegedly paid for by the Prime Minister’s Office, meaning the public. Rafizi, who is Keadilan’s chief strategist, had earlier brought us the National Feedlot Corporation’s (NFC) “cow-gate” scandal.

Thus far Najib had issued only a general denial to Rafizi’s serious allegation. Significantly, Najib did it not through a formal press conference but through his Twitter site. He has yet to address the specifics. Perhaps Najib is waiting to consult his high-priced public relations consultants on how best to spin this.

I agree with Rafizi that Najib has to level up with the Malaysian people. A general denial would not do it; it insults our intelligence. As Rafizi has clearly stated, Najib has to address the eight points raised by the allegation. Even if the lavish engagement party were to be paid for personally, I shudder to think what the actual wedding would cost. Malaysia’s self-styled “first couple” is competing with the Saudi royals with respect to gaudy extravagance and obscene opulence. The audacity and hypocrisy for Najib to then lecture the rakyats on the need to save and be financially prudent!

As Rafizi rightly asserted, Najib has to show incontrovertible proof (as with copies of cancelled checks) that the funds came out of his personal accounts. That alone would not be enough; he would have to explain how he accumulated such wealth to be able to afford such extravagance. As alluded to earlier, he certainly did not inherit much wealth from his father, and Najib has been getting government paychecks all his adult life except for his brief tenure at Petronas. That too could be considered as a government paycheck.

As for Rosmah, her father, like mine, was a Malay school teacher. And I knew exactly what my father’s wealth was when he died, and he was a man not given to extravagance. Rosmah has to show that she had been a particularly successful entrepreneur to acquire such wealth. Anything less and the rakyats would have a right to assume that those riches had been illicitly acquired.

The sad part is that this obscene extravagance is but the latest show of unbridled rapacious greed in our leaders. Earlier there was that dentist and former Selangor’s Chief Minister with his million-dollar mansion that he bragged to have bought at half price through his “shrewd” bargaining. Then there was the sleepy head, Najib’s immediate predecessor, with his equally opulent mansion in Perth, Western Australia, and another one given to him locally.

Diligent citizens like Rafizi Ramli could not have exposed these shenanigans without the help of honest fellow citizens, especially those on the “inside.” The rash of such recent exposés signals a significant development. Malaysians are now no longer afraid of their leader or the state. When that happens, many wonderful things follow. Look at Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.

With such sordid examples at the very top, no wonder lowly ministers and others too are in on the act. At least Women’s Minister Shahrizat had the decency to resign her cabinet post even though as she said, “I really have nothing to do with NFC except that I’m married to the chairman of NFC. But as a responsible member of the government, I feel the right thing for me to do is to step down.” Yes, she did indeed do the right and honorable thing in resigning.

Will Najib do the same? As for the engagement party, it certainly cost much more than the proposed pool at Sri Taman. We will know what people say come the next elections. More important however, is what would Tun Razak say if he were alive today?

UMNO will oust Najib unless BN's electoral performance in GE-13 improves, says (Tun) Daim Zainuddin

www.malaysiakini.com

UMNO will kick Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak out if he fails to improve BN's electoral result in the next general election, says former finance minister and long-time UMNO Treasurer Daim Zainuddin.

"Reclaiming two-thirds majority is a good vision but (Najib) should be more practical... if, unfortunately, he loses more seats, UMNO will oust him. This is politics," said the UMNO veteran.

In an exclusive interview with Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, Daim explained that removing a political leader who fails to win an election is a global trend, and not just confined to UMNO.

If the country's economic performance is strong, and UMNO is united as a team, Najib will have the upper hand in fighting the next general election, he said. "But this does not mean Najib can win for sure. Just like a tennis game, you still need to play hard to win. Even if you have the upper hand, you cannot afford to make a mistake. Any mistake will cost you the game."

Should Najib step down from the UMNO Presidency, Daim said, the successor would probably be determined by UMNO through a party election.

Although conventionally the Deputy President will be the next president, there could be other leaders in the challenge for the post this time, since everyone aspires to be Prime Minister, he said.

However, Daim gave Najib the thumbs up as a better Prime Minister compared with his predecessors because he listened to the people, which was evident in his commitment to abolish the Internal Security Act and fight corruption.

As a close colleague of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Daim was UMNO treasurer from 1984 to 2001.He served as Finance Minister from 1984 to 1991 and as Minister with Special Functions at the Prime Minister's Department and National Economic Action Council (NEAC) Executive Director in 1998, before being re-appointed Finance Minister in 1999. He retired in 2001.

'The Daim Prophecy'

A year before the 2008 general election, Daim warned that BN would lose Penang, Selangor and Kedah and the 'Daim's prophecy' came true when BN was hit by the 'political tsunami' on March 8, 2008. For the coming election, Daim expects Penang and Kelantan to remain Pakatan Rakyat's strongholds.

He said the BN still has chances in Kedah and Selangor, on the condition that UMNO stays united and is able to find formidable candidates to take over as Menteri Besar. It will be an uphill battle for BN to defend Perak, said Daim, because the anti-establishment sentiment among the voters after its controversial re-taking of the state was still strong.

For Kelantan, as long as PAS spritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is still the Menteri Besar, Daim is of the view that the BN can say goodbye to the state.

Recipe for success

He also shared his 'recipe' with Najib for winning the next general election. "If I were the Prime Minister, I will focus on Sabah and Sarawak to maintain the status quo there, together with the incumbent seats here (the Peninsula). I will also pay more attention to marginal seats lost in the last election.

"After all, if you travel everywhere, you are also not sure where can get your votes, so you will be just wasting your time."

Timing is also an essential factor that can significantly boost Najib's chances of producing a better electoral result."Election is like a chess game, it is a competition. If I were the Prime Minister, I will know how to play this election game. I think Mahathir also knows," Daim added.

MP Bukit Bendara Liew: Time for a New Malaysian Foreign Minister

by Athi Shankar | www.freemalaysiatoday.com

An opposition MP called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to appoint a new man to take charge of the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra), claiming incumbent Anifah Aman was inept.

DAP’s Bukit Bendera MP, Liew Chin Tong, said Najib should take advantage of the current Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s situation, to revamp his “tired and underperforming Cabinet.”“The Cabinet reshuffle must include a new Foreign Minister,” Liew said.

He said that the Foreign Ministry played a vital role in a government because a nation’s interests were often linked with its handling of relations with its neighbours and the rest of the world.

The leadership know-how that the ministry badly needed to propel the country into the international forefront was sadly lacking under Anifah, he said.He added that Malaysia’s reactive, not proactive, foreign policy made it an ineffective member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

He said that Wisma Putra was more focused on administrative issues and consular services than implementing policies to fulfil Putrajaya’s foreign policy goals. “Diplomatic visits, too, have been a mere formality without clear objectives,” said Liew, who is also the DAP international bureau secretary.

He said Anifah’s inept performance (showed in) forcing Putrajaya to opt for global strategic communications, managed by foreign firms and advisers, as the main foreign agenda.

‘Breach of ethics’

This was evident when the government paid public relation company Fact Based Communications (FBC) Media to make eight documentaries favouring Malaysia for the BBC. “It was a breach of ethics,” Liew said.

He accused Anifah of spending more time politicking in Kota Kinabalu or at his Kimanis parliamentary constituency, rather than being in foreign countries promoting constructive international relationships for Malaysia.

At the current parliamentary session, Liew has already prepared three questions for Anifah to clarify his role since being appointed Foreign Minister in 2009.These questions were submitted in the wake of claims made by former diplomat Dennis Ignatius in his column “Wisma Putra adrift in Foreign Affairs” in English daily, The Star on Feb 9.

Ignatius wrote that “Wisma Putra no longer has the capacity to provide sound strategic advice to the government”.Given Wisma Putra’s poor performance and Anifah’s lack of concrete direction and leadership on foreign policy, Liew said that it was time for Najib to appoint a new Foreign Minister.

“It’s embarrassing that only in Malaysia, the Tourism Minister, who is supposed to promote local tourism, has been spending more time overseas than the Foreign Minister,” he said.

Three Challenges to Asia’s global ascent

by Tommy Koh, National University of Singapore (NUS)

Asia’s regional experts are exhilarated by the fact that, after several centuries of stagnation, Asia is on the rise. Some have confidently predicted that in less than half a century, Asia will be the world’s most dominant region.

But Asia faces three key challenges that may threaten its rise: the need for inclusive growth, good governance and environmentally sustainable development. It is not enough for Asia to simply achieve higher economic growth. The world will not admire Asia unless its growth is accompanied by equity, unless the balance between development and environmental sustainability is restored, and unless Asia embraces the rule of law and rids itself of corruption.

In 1993, the World Bank published a landmark report, The East Asian Miracle: Economic Growth and Public Policy. Eight Asian economies were praised for their sustained and high growth and for their development model of growth with equity. Today, Asia continues to enjoy high growth but with much less equity. The current trend is toward greater social inequality. For example, the gini coefficient in China stands at 0.47, and that in Singapore at 0.48.

Great inequality can lead to social unrest. It threatens social cohesion and harmony. It is fundamentally objectionable because it is contrary to the purpose of development — which is to benefit all citizens, rather than a privileged minority. In order to achieve inclusive growth, Asian governments will have to re-examine their economic model and social compact through economic, tax and social policy reforms.

The second challenge is good governance, and two aspects of good governance in particular: corruption and the rule of law.

Corruption is pervasive and deeply entrenched in most Asian countries. It is a cancer eating at the heart of Asia. Each year, Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index publishes ever more dismaying figures. According to the 2011 index, only one Asian country, Singapore, is ranked among the top 10 least corrupt countries and territories of the world.

Only two others, Hong Kong and Japan, made it to the top 20. Instead, Asian countries are constantly ranked among the most corrupt in the world. What is amazing is that democratic countries such as India and Indonesia are ranked as more corrupt than China. But corruption is not so deeply entrenched that it cannot be eradicated. The recent examples from the Indian states of Gujarat and Bihar, where significantly improved governance has helped reduce the level of corruption, shows that it can be done.

The Rule of Law is also weak in Asia. The World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators include a rule-of-law index, in which the maximum score for a country is 100. In 2010, Australia and New Zealand were awarded 95.3 and 98.1 points, respectively. But apart from these two countries, only Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan have had scores in the 90s, while South Korea and Taiwan have reached scores in the 80s. Clearly, there is much scope for improvement in other Asian countries.

The third challenge is environmental sustainability. In the quest for growth, most Asian countries and cities have made the mistake of aiming for growth at the expense of the environment. The result is that, with the exception of Japan, South Korea and Singapore, Asia suffers from air and water pollution, degraded land and contaminated food. Most Asian cities are becoming increasingly dysfunctional and unliveable. The rainforests of Asia are rapidly disappearing and with them biodiversity is lost and ecosystems are endangered. Asian countries are also becoming major emitters of carbon, while Asian fishing fleets are partly responsible for the crisis in the world’s fisheries.

But these trends are incompatible with the quality of life to which most Asians aspire. Asians want to enjoy their environment in the way that Australians and New Zealanders do. They want to be able to breathe the air; drink the water; enjoy good sanitation; eat their food with confidence; swim in their rivers, lakes and seas; and enjoy their gardens, parks and natural habitats. Asians want to live in cities which are well planned and beautiful, with good housing, efficient transportation and good social amenities.

So, while the rise of Asia should be celebrated, the challenges it faces must not be underestimated. It is not enough for Asia to be prosperous — it must also become more equitable, promote good governance, and be able to ensure a high quality of life for all its citizens.

Tommy Koh is Ambassador-At-Large for the Government of Singapore, and is Special Advisor at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore.

This post is part of the series on the Asian Century which feeds into the Australian Government White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century.