12 theSun | TUEDAY JANUARY 6 2009

speak up!

Time to batten down

pied with its internal problems that
many are wondering who is actually
minding the store. Also it may have
forgotten that it was punished. But
it is perceived as going about doing
the same thing as if March 8 didn’t
happen.
also mention prime minister Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Abdul Razak.
Abdullah is passing the baton to
Najib at the end of March because of
what happened last year.

the hatches
Chong: And the opposition parties? Chong: Then you would have to
Mohan: Let me do it, Cikgu. You also mention Tan Sri Muhyiddin
marked them as below average. I Yasin who because of his action
think I know why you did that. In- was seen as less a Malay but more
stead of proving themselves they are a Malaysian.
fighting among themselves. Fighting Zain: In Malay culture it is an act of
over the spoils of war. Right, Cikgu? durhaka. One Johor chieftain died
Scene: Naab Restaurant the cards. ever, it was not a tsunami. A tsunami Zain: Right, my boy. a painful death after he stabbed his
(BB), KL Chong: Unlikely. would have wiped out everything in Azman: I agree. Maybe they will be sultan. The ruler pulled out the kris
Sarawakians are unen- its path. It was a gigantic wave but it punished when they face the elector- – what else if not the kris – and man-
Azman: Wonder what’s amoured by peninsula- was no tsunami. ate again in four years or less. aged to graze one of the chieftain’s
in store for us this year. based parties lording it Azman: Yes, I agree. The BN, after Chong: Plenty of time for every party legs with it. Grass sprouted from the
Last year was a good year over them. One of my years of second chances, was pun- to correct themselves and serve the wound and spread to all parts of his
– exhilarating, breathtak- Chinese friends over ished and the opposition parties were rakyat and the nation the way they body killing him three days later.
ing and inspiring. there says even the DAP rewarded with a chance to prove should. Azman: Wow! Well if you mention
Chong: This year? which has a few seats themselves. The BN had a good track Zain: OK. If you are asked to re- Muhyiddin then you must mention
Well, you can be sure of there may lose all or most record. It developed the country to call personalities that hogged the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who
one thing, an economic of them. Cikgu? what we see today, and what we are limelight last year, who would you was seen as egging him on. You
downturn. I think it is WhatTheySay Zain: You may be right. today. But then years of incumbency name? mustn’t forget that what Muhyid-
going to be bad for many It sort of explains why made it careless, even autocratic. Mohan: I would name Mongolian din told Abdullah after March 8 the
by Zainon Ahmad
of us. Umno is not there. But Thus there were excesses and many national Altantuya Shaariibuu. The former PM had told Malaysians what
Mohan: Despite all the let’s talk about last year. perceived wrongs. March 8 was the way she was murdered is still haunt- they must do three years ago.
assurances? Mohan: OK, why not. After all most people’s reminder: correct yourself. It ing the nation. Next should come Zain: The voters acted on Mahathir’s
Chong: Yes. Maybe the situation people are still talking about last year also gave a chance to the opposition former Health Minister Datuk Seri advice. But they did it their way.
won’t be as bad as in the rest of the like 2008 hasn’t yet ended. to show what they can do after years Dr Chua Soi Lek to be followed by Mohan: Don’t you also have to
region, but don’t tell me we will be Chong: I agree with Azman that of merely criticising. lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam, former mention Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?
completely sheltered. So it is best that 2008 was an exhilarating, breathtak- Chong: What marks have you de facto law minister Datuk Zaid After all he soundly thrashed the BN
we brace ourselves for the worst. ing and inspiring year. After years of awarded them after about nine Ibrahim. in Permatang Pauh. Then there is his
Azman: OK, what else is in store for wishful thinking it finally happened. months in their respective roles. Zain: How about chief justice Zaki Sept 16 bluff; what is today referred to
us? Zain: I am glad. Below average or above average? Azmi? as Anwar’s bluff.
Mohan: A Pakatan Rakyat takeover Chong: I think it is all on account of Zain: All scored below average. Take Mohan: Yes, him too. Chong: What about Saiful?
of Sarawak? You think it could be on what happened on March 8. How- the BN for instance. It is so preoccu- Zain: Surely, you would have to Azman: Saiful what? Saiful who?

letter
letters@thesundaily.com

Long road to peace and justice in the Middle East

WHAT is blatantly missing regarding the Palestinian
issue is the political will to find a workable and fair
solution, and here the main burden is very much on
the shoulders of Western powers, since their might
– economic and military – is far superior. It has be-
come obvious that various factions have a selfish
interest in maintaining the chaos. The vast amount
of aid being poured into Israel by the US points to
the even more vast benefits which it stands to gain
(military bases bang in the middle of a “trouble-
some” region; a long-term significant market to
feed its hungry arms industry). History is replete
with examples of Western nations reshaping other
countries at their whim and fancy. Their motive was
solely to benefit their own country and that benefit
was sometimes just a short-term one.
They did not see any moral necessity to consider
the probable negative impact on that unfortunate
country – an impact which often lasted for dec-
ades if not hundreds of years. The creation of Israel
is of course one of the examples. And yet they are
blaming Hamas, which is persistently labelled a
terrorist organisation. But two things are routinely
and conveniently forgotten.
Firstly, most of the former presidents of Israel
could equally be labelled terrorists, and the rhetoric
of Israeli leaders advocates annihilation of the “ter-
rorist-led” government of the Palestinian people.
So what’s so different when Hamas leaders vow to
destroy Israel? (I don’t agree with either of them).
Secondly, the West, which casts itself in the role
of champion of democracy for the whole world,
a few years ago sponsored elections among the
Palestinians. Having lost faith in the PLO leadership
which was corrupt and far too cosy with Western
governments, the Palestinians gave overwhelming
support to Hamas.
However, it would seem that democracy in
other people’s countries is only acceptable to the
West when the “right” leader/party is chosen: they
nearly all refused to recognise Hamas and arranged
to freeze all of its assets which were then held
in Western banks, making it impossible for it to
function.
Many “terrorist” organisations have been tamed
and drawn into the democratic political system
by transforming them into political, rather than
activist, entities. When elected to become a for-
mal government, they have to play by the rules,
including complying with international laws and
conventions. The West’s rejection and obstruction
of this transformation process for Hamas was thus
not only a human rights transgression, but also
ensured that Hamas had no choice but to continue
with its more aggressive style.
The West’s habit of propping up weak and/or
corrupt regimes in countries they want to control
WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN
– and ensuring the downfall of those which refuse
to cooperate with them – is also something to
be strongly censured. It has created havoc in so
many emerging democracies, and has meant that
these countries have taken very much longer to
establish a modern democratic system. In con-
sequence, their people suffered in so many ways
and their economies got left even farther behind.
Unfortunately, despite resolution after resolution
by the UN, which is supposed to represent the
whole world, these grossly immoral and selfish
practices continue unabated.
A look at the video clips showing the situation
in Israel and in Gaza during this round of violence
(as in all the others before it) is enough to make
clear one of the main underlying problems: the
huge difference in standard and quality of life of
the respective communities. Focusing on Gaza
one sees cheap housing (what’s still left standing),
chronic overcrowding, and a lack of basic ameni-
ties. We learn from further reports that schools
only operate sporadically because the teachers

AUSTRALIA?
don’t get paid even their meagre salaries. Only
basic medical services are available, and these
are often short of supplies – serious cases have to
be sent to better facilities in Israel, but permission
to get through the border control is often delayed
for no real purpose. There are shops, but flow
of supplies is controlled by the occupying force,
Israel, so that even basic necessities such as food
and fuel are not enough. The video switches to
Israel, and we see a modern city in all respects,
looking very much like any Western one. Israel
has also allowed settlers to take over, usually by
force, most of the fertile land formerly worked
(very profitably) by Palestinians. So the Israelis
have everything, including assets which are not
YOUR FAMILY DESERVES : legitimately theirs, and the Palestinians are left
with nothing to help them stand on their own feet.

✓ quality lifestyle
✓ family assistance
benefits
✓ universal health
133,500
They are thus rendered dependent on Israel and
on the limited aid allowed through the blockade.
skilled visa I am sure Palestinians, if given the chance,
places in would be able to build themselves a thriving

2008–09
economy and a far better living environment. And
care system once they have a solid and dynamic economy,
✓ world class education which will enable their young people to dream
and plan for a good future for themselves, on par
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to migrate to Australia! more motivation to offer themselves as martyrs.
It is time to break away from the habit of
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