Friday, July 11, 2008

What An Israeli Thinks About Mahathir

By Israel Shamir:

Malaysia is an 'alternative' country where many Western ideas were found wanting and were rejected. We are used to frequent changes of prime ministers and presidents and see it as a success of democracy. But Dr M, this benevolent king-philosopher in Plato's mould, disagrees. It takes many years for policies to produce fruits, he says. First year in power, the ruler learns to be addressed and to address others properly. Next year, he forms his opinions. Then he makes decisions, and only in a few years can we judge his decisions properly. He succeeded because he had enough time, he says.

This idea is unusual for us, but as the matter of fact, three of the most charismatic and extraordinary statesmen of our days, Dr M, Dr Fidel Castro and the Pope, persist in power for tens of years with great success. Commercial companies, nowadays as powerful as any state, also do not change their helmsmen without urgent need.

Surely, if a statesman like Dr M were to lead Japan, (or China, or Russia, or, indeed, the EU) the world would be different
. Many things have changed since WWII, and Europeans, together with ordinary Americans, are now experiencing the brunt of the same policies Asia suffered in its colonial past. 'The Open Society' has become the tool for robbery brought home, as the New World Order is the colonisation of Europeans and Americans by their new financial elite.

Dr M is a strict opponent of the American War on Terror
. For him, "terrorism never dies until the causes for terrorism are eliminated". He speaks against the impending Anglo-American aggression in Iraq, he refuses to accept the rant of 'Islamic terror'. Dr M supports the much-suffering people of Palestine without the caveats usually produced by his meek-hearted colleagues in Europe. His voice is heard, for Malaysia has not surrendered its discourse to its enemies.

Malaysia reminded me of Cuba, the Island of Freedom in the Caribbean Sea. It is also an alternative society where highly educated men map a different future for mankind, for "today's world is in shambles. The abuses of the free trade system, the unlimited greed of speculators, have resulted in the world losing its way", in the words of Dr M. Similar ideas are expressed in Castro's speeches. The two politicians met a few times and expressed mutual admiration, despite their huge ideological differences: Castro the Communist and Dr M the Nationalist. In Cuba and in Malaysia, one can read a newspaper or watch TV without nausea. These two small countries have much for us to learn from.

About The Author:-
Israel Shamir is a critically acclaimed and respected Russian Israeli Writer and Journalist. He wrote for Haaretz, BBC, Pravda and translated Agnon, Joyce and Homer into Russian. He lives in Jaffa and has become a leading champion of the 'One Man, One Vote, One State' solution in all of Palestine/Israel. His writings are mostly in English but you can also read some of his articles translated into Arabic, French, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Turkish, Russian and Spanish.

Sources: 13 Mei Dari kacamata melayu.

4 comments:

  1. KP imigresen direman - Bantu siasatan kes rasuah cepatkan kelulusan visa pekerja asing

    Oleh NORLIZAH ABAS dan NORLIZA ABD. RAHMAN


    DIREMAN... Wahid Mohd. Don (kiri) dibawa seorang pegawai penyiasat BPR bagi mendapatkan perintah tahanan reman di Mahkamah Majistret Kajang, semalam untuk membantu siasatan kes rasuah mempercepatkan proses pengeluaran visa pekerja asing. – Gambar SAIFUL BAHARI ASHARI

    PUTRAJAYA 11 Julai – Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) menahan reman Ketua Pengarah Imigresen, Datuk Wahid Mohd. Don selama empat hari bermula hari ini bagi membantu siasatan kes rasuah mempercepatkan proses pengeluaran visa pekerja asing.

    Wahid, 55, dibawa ke Mahkamah Majistret Kajang dekat sini pukul 3 petang ini diiringi oleh enam pegawai BPR.

    Mereka beredar dari pekarangan mahkamah kira-kira setengah jam kemudian selepas berjaya mendapatkan perintah tahanan reman.

    Majistret Mazuliana Abdul Rashid membenarkan permohonan BPR untuk menahan Wahid sehingga Isnin ini bagi membantu siasatan mengikut Seksyen 11(a) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997.

    Wahid yang dilantik sebagai Ketua Pengarah Imigresen pada 1 Oktober 2006 ditahan oleh BPR di rumahnya di Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur kira-kira pukul 10.20 malam tadi.

    Siasatan awal BPR menunjukkan ada pegawai di Jabatan Imigresen dipercayai menerima rasuah sebanyak RM350 bagi setiap pekerja asing sebagai ganjaran mempercepatkan kelulusan permohonan pengeluaran visa.

    Kes tersebut terbongkar berikutan aduan yang diterima BPR pada awal bulan ini yang mendakwa seorang ejen meminta bayaran RM350 daripada setiap pekerja asing untuk diberikan kepada pegawai kanan di Jabatan Imigresen.

    Pada sidang akhbar di sini petang ini, BPR mendedahkan ia telah menahan tujuh orang termasuk tiga yang bergelar Datuk bagi membantu siasatan rasuah dalam pengeluaran visa untuk pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI).

    Pengarah Bahagian Siasatan BPR, Datuk Mohd. Shukri Abdull berkata, kesemua mereka kini direman antara empat hingga lima hari untuk membantu siasatan.

    Dalam operasi yang bermula sejak Selasa lalu hingga malam tadi, BPR turut merampas wang tunai hampir RM500,000 serta sejumlah besar visa yang dipanggil calling visa.

    “Ketujuh-tujuh mereka yang berusia dalam lingkungan umur antara 35 hingga 64 tahun ditahan di sekitar Lembah Klang mengikut Seksyen 11 (a) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997,” katanya.

    Menurut Mohd. Shukri, kebanyakan yang ditahan adalah ahli perniagaan yang berperanan sebagai orang tengah.

    Kata beliau, BPR telah mengenal pasti syarikat-syarikat yang memohon mendapatkan pekerja asing itu serta individu yang terlibat dalam kes tersebut.

    Beliau bagaimanapun enggan mendedahkan identiti negara pekerja asing berkenaan dan sektor pekerjaan yang terlibat.

    Ditanya mengenai jumlah ‘calling visa’ yang dirampas, beliau hanya menjawab: “Banyaklah, banyak... saya tahu berapa jumlahnya.”

    Mohd. Shukri menjelaskan, syarikat-syarikat yang terbabit dalam kes itu menjalankan perniagaan membawa masuk pekerja asing.

    Beliau turut menyeru syarikat-syarikat dan individu yang terlibat dalam kes itu supaya tampil memberi kerjasama kepada BPR bagi melicinkan siasatan.


    Bagus paklah!!!!lepas ni siasat najib pulak kes kapal selam!!!!!!Harap ezam boleh lakukan!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. en anon

    saya mengendaliikan banyak kes2 imigresen, kalau timbul isu2 sebegitu, saya yakin ianya tidak melibatkan politik, malah lebih kepada kepentingan dan ketamakan diri sendiri.

    Posting tuan nampak terdesak dengan isu lapuk.

    Takpela, mungkin situasi PR terutama pemikiran ahli2 PKR sedang tidak stabil.

    P/s;tuan moderator, saya mcm pernah nampak posting ni, tapi dimana ya...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Biasalah PR atau lebih tepat PKR...mereka memang tak stabil....setahu aku dalam sejatah mereka tak pernah stabil pun...dari kepala sampaila ke ekor....semuanya pening....kesian2....dahtu ajak pulak orang2 melayu PAS lain turut tak stabil ngan mereka...dua kali kesian...

    ReplyDelete
  4. en. abafahim,

    posting yg terdapat di blog tu kurang popular. jadi blog ini cuba mempopularkannya.

    ReplyDelete