Critical Thoughts

Heard and read the news that the new Penang government is abolishing the NEP in Penang. To me it does not make any real difference as to whether NEP is abolished or not. For so long the policy which was intended to help the Malay poor has been abused by the establishment who rely on dosage form development to enrich themselves. The NEP, for all it claims and purposes, has no real relevance in today’s Malaysia. We have come really a long way since then. Look at how smoothly the transition of power happened in the five states that fell to the Barisan Alternatif. This would not have been possible in 1969.

Having said that however, I do concede that my father was a product of the NEP, and had this policy not come into existence, he would have remained in a remote kampung in Johor tapping rubber, and yours truly will be the son of a rubber tapper. But of course, we are talking about fifty years ago.

Incoming search terms:

• nep in penang
• penang\s nep policy

Whatever it may be said about him, as someone who considers Penang to be his home state (and that despite the fact that I currently live in Barisan Rakyat-controlled Selangor), I have the outmost respect for Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and that will not change.

Tsu Koon offers to quit as Gerakan chief

Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon has offered to resign from the party post, saying that he has to take full responsibility for the party’s dismal performance especially in Penang.

In the general elections yesterday, Gerakan was totally wiped out in the state by the DAP-led opposition, which won 29 out of 40 seats in the island state.

“As a captain of the team, I take full responsibility of what has happened,” he announced the decision at a joint press conference with DAP’s CM-designate Lim Guan Eng at the chief minister’s office in Penang this afternoon.

Source: Malaysiakini

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I think some Penangese Malay do not hurt once in a while:

Ni cek nak habaq ni, nampaknya pilihanraya dah nak mai. PM paling raplah jingga dalam sejarah Malaysia ni dah mula dok pi mai sana, pi mai sini, nak mula kempen lah tu nampaknya. Dahlah dok bagi orang kapiaq ni satu lagi ekstra public holiday. Orang tua tu tak penat ka dok pi mai, pi mai, tapi tang tu jugak? Depa ni mana reti nak paham macamana nak tadbir negara ni. Sapalah nak pilih cucu ulama yang kononnya ada “Islam Hadhari” tapi negara tak aman-aman jugak? Nak ketegaq jugak lawan hukum Allah, ni lah kejadahnya yang diterima.

Hangpa ni, dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang, buatlah pilihan yang bijak noh. Sapa tak suka PAS, ramai-ramailah pakat dok pi pangkah dia. Ada paham?

Its funny, but lately I keep having fond memories of my alma matter in Penang. I would love to contact/meet-up with the following individuals when I was in 5 Biru (1991): Shiren Arshen, Gajendran, Kevin Koay Jun Yi, Ezani Azlan, Adrian Soon, Yit Tzen….I have forgotten the rest. But if you were in 5 Biru Class of 1991, you’re included as well (I suppose).

5 Merah class of 1991 is invited to contact me as well (only those who actually know me, though). I especially remember a guy named Manikandran (thanks for all those Hardy Boys books you loaned to me before, pal!) and Wei Sin. But it might take awhile to jog my memory so that I can actually remember the rest of you. LOL!