Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger

Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ BloggerFront Page Din Merican’s Welcome Din Merican’s Welcome
The Reluctant Blogger/The Malaysian DJ Blogger

Hi, my name is Din Merican. Just call me Din. Welcome to my blog. “The Reluctant Blogger” is my label as I am now really enjoying this blogging thing. It is fun to stay in touch with my fellow Malaysians. I welcome your comments, suggestions and ideas. Please do not be shy to share them with me.

I served in government as a foreign service officer and central banker and then I moved on to industry and commerce. Right now, I am Program Director, Parti KeADILan Rakyat in the Office of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

I am also with the University of Cambodia as Visiting Professor (Global Strategy) (since 2002) and a member of the Advisory Board of the University’s Asia Economic Forum, and serve the Phnom Penh based Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (since 1996) as Senior Research Fellow. I received my tertiary education from the University of Malaya, and did postgraduate studies at George Washington School of Business, The George Washington University, Washington D.C in the States respectively on Kedah State and Bank Negara Malaysia scholarships. I was also at the INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France (1989), thanks to Sime Darby. I am indebted to the people of Malaysia for taking great care of me. The time has come to pay back.

I enjoy reading, poetry, philosophy and writing, thinking outside the box, and music, mainly jazz and classical. I am also a keen golfer. My personal goal is to see Malaysia out of its current doldrums. Right now, we have a serious leadership problem. I want to change it in a democratic, peaceful, and constitutional manner.

Come along with me and let’s go change Malaysia. You can contact me by handphone at 017-366-0897, or e-mail me at din.merican@gmail.com

ps. I changed my label from “The Reluctant Blogger” to “The Malaysian DJ Blogger” since I decided to add some entertainment stuff for you. It is for the weekend, so that we can recall some wonderful evergreen songs and enjoy listening to them.

195 Comments
195 responses so far ↓
mikebravo // December 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm

simple and nice introduction. bravo
najwan halimi // December 19, 2007 at 4:21 pm

short and sweet..enough said!
rastom // December 23, 2007 at 2:18 pm

No, you can’t be serious! Once you start blogging, you’d have to remove that “reluctance” Anyway, best wishes and warmest welcome to the blogosphere!
Din Merican // December 26, 2007 at 9:04 am

Once I start blogging, it becomes just a label.

Rastom, I will like to read your comments to stuff I put on this blog. Otherwise, I will not meet my objective of promoting idea exchange and rational discourse with you of the Generation-X. Din
dinobeano // December 27, 2007 at 8:12 am

This is an e-mail I received on December 25, 2007 from my 16-year old daughter, Thalya Merican who is a student at The British International School, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia:

“Dad,

This is Thalya in Phnom Penh.I am happy to know you have become a serious blogger with your own blog. I enjoy the poems posted on your blog. I am not into politics of Malaysia, but I am pleased to read about many things, good and bad, that are happening out there. You are cool.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love, Yaya“.
sri ram // December 29, 2007 at 8:53 am

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year
Keep up the excellent work and be assured of my undivided support.
Best Regards
sri ram
THE CHETTYNAD BANGSAR
dinobeano // December 30, 2007 at 7:20 am

Sri Ram,

I miss your South Indian cuisine and the pleasure of your company and the many conversations we had at Chettynad Bangsar. Time has passed us by.This is a different Malaysia, not in the positive sense.

You have been concentrating your efforts beyond our shores. It is time for you to come back as our country needs all able bodied and thinking Malaysians to change the system.

I am a political activist because I just cannot stand back when I see rising corruption, blatant abuse of power, and incompetent leadership. Since my activism, I have travelling quite a bit to our rural heartland in Sabah, Penang, Kedah and Negri Sembilan. After 50 years of independence and economic development,I was shocked to see poverty at the grassroots. We have failed to deliver the promise of Merdeka to millions of Malaysians.

I was recently in Kuala Ketil(near Sungai Petani, Kedah) and saw, for example, how marginalized the Indians are. I saw sadness in their eyes. Samy Vellu and his MIC cohorts have done nothing about the Indian dilemma. In stead, like the partners in UMNO, MCA and the Gerakan, they have enriched themselves.

Please tell your friends that the time for change has come and it is now. Anwar Ibrahim will lead us, and together we can end race-based politics. We must begin “politik berjiwa rakyat” and manage our country with justice for all.

Have a great New Year’s Day. 2008 is going to be a tough year since the US economy is heading into serious recession and inflation is on the rise globally.

Best regards, Din
brianfong // December 31, 2007 at 3:22 am

Hi din - i am still checking out desiderata for your posting and was about to say - hey what happened to Din writing! when I found out from another blog - a commentator gave a link to your very OWN blog!

Great!

Now i hope you can update much more frequently as compared to last time so that we can learn and know more!

cheers and all the best!
dinobeano // December 31, 2007 at 4:18 am

Kamsia, Brian.

Let us work for a better and inclusive Malaysia. Never be afraid to speak your mind. Just be objective and balanced.

I am trying hard to find ways in which I can say something kind to this present government, but have failed as this leader is very confused and accident prone. Flip Flopping is the name of his political game.

Cheers, Din
Free Malaysia // January 9, 2008 at 1:56 pm

Dear Din,

How can I sign up to assist PKR in the coming GE??

My dear Free Malaysia,

Please call me at 017-366-0897. We can meet and talk. I must warn you though. It is going to be long hours and risky. But if you are truly committed, nothing can stand in your way. Here is an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause. Let us go change Malaysia for all Malaysians, and be free Malaysians. Cheers, Din Merican.
Fair Malaysian // January 10, 2008 at 6:18 pm

Hi Din:

This is Fair Malaysian from the Bakri Musa blog. Hope you still remember. I am glad to hear that you have decided to do something about the present govt. The message of Anwar is good and in this era of corruption and decadence, he seems to breathe fresh air of unity among Malaysians. Wish you all the best
nspirasi // January 14, 2008 at 6:09 pm

hey din…i am like u a disillusioned malaysian..except that i have spent most of my last 30years away…and therefore not been totally desensitised like my poor brethren…

ive not been party to the goings ons at home…and altho i was ‘aware’ of the anwar case and its subsequent development…do not ‘know’ anwar except for the things ive been told about him…eg. how he too was lining his pockets…used the race card for his own political enhancement…and was an UMNO putra thru and thru…

we r desperately short of able leaders to kick BN’s ass…and i know LKS to be honourable man…but just LKS alone will not be able to cause enough ‘damage’ at the GE…

DAP is also a multi-race party…altho predominantly chinese and indians…and to win the malay vote, it would require a malay leader..theres no way LKS will gather enough support from the malay grassroots…

which then leaves Anwar..leading a multi-racial party..and primed to win enough support from the malay community…

BUT…can we trust him?

are his moderate views and inter-racial stances all an act…an electioneering gimmick..to win our hearts and votes and then to resort to his old self after?

im sorry to be so blunt and im sure u have had similar questions posed before…

anyone can say anything to persuade…and we all know how convincing AAB was 4years ago…

how do i know Anwar is the man who will make the malaysia i have only so far dreamt about?

give me your assurance…and i will give u my vote…

nspirasi, join us in our effort to change the politics of Malaysia. May the Force and Master Yoda be with us.—Din Merican
Dr. Tan Chee Hong // January 16, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Hi, Din. Glad to know you have your own blog. Been reading your articles in Malaysia Today. Go easy on the banana leaf rice - you have put on some weight.

Dr Tan,

Great to hear from you. Are you in touch with Wong-yen? I have lost touch with this wonderful and brilliant thinker. I am doing exercises and have reduced my intake of Indian food. I am trying via my blog to reach our younger generation in whose hands the future of our wonderful country lies.Men like Badawi are too much in their comfort zone. I am happy with the response I am getting. There is hope yet for Malaysia. Quitting has never been an option for me. Take care. Din Merican
marshall // January 17, 2008 at 11:02 pm

To my dearest Din,

Thank you with abundance for educating my country …. I personally stand for what you belief and i have read with ardour what you feel , your thoughts, and your writing
marshall // January 17, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Din,

I have been subject to racism in Malaysia.I adore my country and i’ve never ever EVER EVER imposed
on anyone …. God willing I will have a chance to speak with you.

Dear Marshall,

Only small minds and insecure people hide behind race and prejudice. Now it is an open world where knowledge is power. It is time we change the way we think about race relations. This has to start now. There must be opportunities for all who call Malaysia their home to be the best that their talents and hard work can take them, not be indentified by their race, status, or political power. There is no such a thing as a free lunch. I learned that in Economics 101.

We cannot just take; we must give back to society which has nurtured and invested in us. To standby and take no action is not an option, not unless you want to wallow in self pity and bitterness. Welcome to join my world of political activism. Cheers, Din Merican
Steven Wong // January 30, 2008 at 6:53 am

Dear Din

Only the best of the best for this year and in this effort of yours. More courage, more power and more fortitude to you and our beloved rakyat.

Steven,

Thanks, pal. Great to receive your comments. Have not seen you in a while. Let us touch base and keep writing. All the best, Din
Fred // January 31, 2008 at 10:13 am

Dear Din,

We have not crossed path in any blog before, but I have been following your much of your inputs through Bakri Musa’s blog. I share most of yours and Bakri’s sentiments about the country’s leadership and where we should not be heading.

While I am happy that you now have your own blog to further express your views, I am, however, having reservations about it arising from your professed and direct link to PKR. Please forgive me if I sound blunt about this; I enjoyed your views because I found them refreshing because you were always objective and apparently not plugging for another political party against the BN government. It is sad that now to read your blog I have the tedious task of having to also read between the lines. This is the main reason why I do not venture into LKS blog and have abondoned surfing into Jeff Ooi’s Screenshot.

Anyway congratulations again on your blog and may PKR benefit enormously from your participation to rise from the ashes and live up to the expectations of many frustrated Malaysians. Cheers.

Dear Fred,

Yes, I am with PKR. My struggle for change found a home in the mission of PKR. In life, there are times when one has to make a stand. I cannot now stand idly by, and be academic with regard to the current state and future of our country. Without speaking for Jeff Ooi, I do believe he feels the same way. The difference is between Jeff and I is that he is standing for elections while I am a boiler room person sharing ideas and experience with my political colleagues in PKR. I am a political activist and I assume that there is a difference between that terminology, and being a politician. Mine is a ennobling partisanship and yours, I am afraid, is crippling indifference.

There is no way anyone can be completely objective when Badawi is creating such a big mess for our country. Pardon me, I feel it is time for you to stop being a bystander and be in the arena. Seize the moment and join in the excitement of promoting change. PKR started this movement for change almost a decade ago, long before it became the theme of America’s 2008 Presidential Primaries led by Barak Obama. Gong Xi Fa Cai, Xin-Nian-Kuai-Le.—Din Merican
Zaib // February 12, 2008 at 9:20 am

Dear Din,

AB was once your juniour at UM. He was your hope to continue TDM’s grand plan to bring Malaysia further worldwide. What has gone wrong? What did you tell him about this and what was his reply?

Zaib,yes, I wrote AAB a few letters in the early days of his administration, but got no response. He listens only to Khairy Jamaluddin. When I realised that he was not serious about his job and responsibilities, I started to write with Bakri Musa about his policies and politics. That too did have any effect on this sleeping leader. So, I am a political activist with Parti KeADILan Rakyat and with the help of all concerned Malaysians, we in PKR can replace the corrupt and incompetent UMNO-BN government. We will do it peacefully via elections—Din Merican
Zaib // February 13, 2008 at 3:09 pm

True, we can replace the so called corrupt and incompetent government, but can we lead the transformation by encouraging the people to see, evaluate and agree to our opinion? Can we not let them be blinded by the worldly materials that most of them have incessantly enjoyed? It’s not that easy to cure a myopic vision. In the din of the day, I believe your voice will still be heard if you say it loud and clear…before a prayer…but remember, be sincere:-)

I know you are all alone by yourself there. Find an AIDA to help you out… not a girlfriend ok…I mean a campaign strategy to create ‘A’wareness, develop ‘I’nterest, build ‘D’esire and lead people to ‘A’ct accordingly on the ballot box. The Turkish did it. The Aussies did it. And if we cannot do it this time around, don’t run away to Kemboja Hahaha. Allow me to laugh out loud. I don’t mean to be rude. Wassalam

Thank you.

Correction. I went to Cambodia because I was married to a Cambodian. I am still engaged with the country through my affiliation with the University of Cambodia and the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace. I am grateful to these institutions for respecting my political affliation as they know that I would never implicate them. I have confidence in what the Cambodian leadership is doing for their people and for giving priority to economic and social development and education. The Cambodian economy is growing faster than ours. It has a free press, and a strong and focused leadership. Malaysia has Badawi and we all know what he has done over the last 4 years.

People do not change easily because change takes them into unfamiliar and uncharted territory. People who are used to voting the UMNO-BN for 5O years will stick to that habit (like the man who use the same road every morning, when he knows he will be caught in traffic jam) even when they know now that UMNO-BN is a corrupt regime led by a weak and incompetent leader. I believe in the younger generation of intelligent and loyal Malaysians who care about the future of our country. PKR has an outstanding leader with a clear agenda for our country. It deserves your support and others like you. It can be sure of mine.—Din Merican
din bunga // February 18, 2008 at 4:23 am

assalamualaikum..pakdin
terima kasih kerana sudi datang kat kg melayu ini akan menambahkan lagi semangat ahli2 keadilan untuk terus berjuang bersama dengan barisan altenatif…

din bunga,

Aku tak sangka ada banyak kawan kita dari Kedah dan Perak Utara yang tinggai di situ. Marilah kita berganding bahu demi perubahan dalam ekonomi dan politik negara. Lawn tetap lawan, dan InshaAllah kita dapat ahli Parlimen baru (Sivarasa). KS Nijhar dari MIC kalau berani bertanding di Kawasan Parlimen Subang boleh di tumpaskan. Sampaikan mesej kita kepada kawan kawan kita dan keluarga mereka. Kita kena kerja kuat dan yakin bahawa perubahan akan tiba dibumi yang bertuah ini.—Din Merican
thiru // February 21, 2008 at 7:04 am

After 50yrs of independence, BN is still play with the racial card to gain votes. I don’t understand why Najib wanted to refresh the May 16th’s racial clash to everybody, BN talk about national integration but what is the point if their keep on playing racial issues and religion.

We have good infrastructure, English speaking skilled and semi skilled man power, but FDI flow to Vietnam is better off then Malaysia, what a shame. Mainly this due to government policy and level of corruption which not favoring the investor. In about another 5 years, what will happen to Malaysia economy.

Instate of creating interracial competition and fears in Malay on the special rights. the government should focus on how to compete in international market and attract more investor to country for beneficial of all the races. Basically now the discrimination already started from primary school, what the non-malay feel? This refer to article on Malaysia Today by Raja Petra “ NON-MALAYS ARE NOW KNOWN AS WARIS BUKAN BUMIPUTRA”. Why this happening in primary school?
an asset to DSAI // February 23, 2008 at 6:23 pm

i am happy that the team behind DSAI is of high spirit. together we can bring change - the change that is needed most now!. dear DM have you handed over the proposals that i handed over to you on 15/2/08. some of the proposals can bring lots of votes. i am looking forward to meet DSAI soon. ? probably tuesday afternoon (26/2/08) for about 10 - 20 minutes. thank you and we are behind you. TOGETHER WE MAKE THE CHANGE!
din bunga // February 25, 2008 at 3:11 am

assalamualaikom pakdin
apa kbr?
26/02/08 anwar turun kat kg melayu.kami sedang buat persiapan untuk menyambut beliu.u turun tak?harap u turun lah boleh kita sembang2 dan ramah mesra dengan masyarakat disini.

Din Bunga,jam berapa? Mesti kena tentukan bahawa semuanya sempurna. Dato Seri kena disambut dengan baik. Jangan relax saja.—Din Merican.
sun // February 25, 2008 at 5:27 pm

all abstracts of DSAI speeches can be burn to cds and circulated. it will reach the rakyat more effectively in a short period. when is the manifesto being released?

Sun,

HIs ceramahs are record and made into vcds for public circulation.

The manifesto will be released by Dato Seri Anwar himself at a press conference in his Petaling Jaya office today, February 26. You must compare the quality of thinking that was involved in its preparation. He himself had a big hand in its drafting. I am personally proud of the final product because it reflects the vision of Anwar Ibrahim for a better and more competitive Malaysia, where all Malaysians can be the best that they can be. The difference between Anwar and Badawi is that the former has the political will to keep his promises whereas the latter has no clue about running our country.

Regards, Din Merican
zaib // February 26, 2008 at 8:45 am

Plug possible loopholes fast, avoid potential frauds, and pray and pray and pray for the best.
bibomedia // February 27, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Have a nice day !

You too but we need nicer days ahead.Din Merican
zaib // February 28, 2008 at 8:34 am

A Victor is one who is on constant Zikir and Fikir.

A victor is who is that you said and more. He must deliver results to the benefit of all. Badawi probably “zikir tetapi tak fikir” and only NATO(No Action Talk Only). Never trust a man who sleeps on the job.—Din Merican
Joey Lim // February 29, 2008 at 8:09 am

I’m a visitor to your website by random. An ardent follower of malaysian news although working and living in the Gold Coast Australia as an engineer. Your blog on our prime minister misleading the public by skewing the competitiveness placing of Malaysia has certainly been an eye opener.

I have certainly felt the foreign opinions from over here when I came across an australian who was about to choose Singapore as his branch base as opposed to Malaysia. I’ve unfortunately failed to persuade him to change over to Malaysia for many compounded reasons.

The company that I work for had their AGM held in KL for the first time in history, and it was that same weekend that the Hindraf demonstration took place. My colleague and his family even had a taste of the teargass that was pelted that day. Again, my efforts in promoting KL had came to an abrubt end. Are there any means of not resolving to force and just allow the people to demonstrate freely?

As a young malaysian, I pain for unipolar state of politics in malaysia. The root of this failure IMHO, is simply the lack of press freedom. A politician in Australia was stung by the press like bees drawn to honey recently when he was suspected of corruption amounting to $100k. What can I say for my own country in this regard?? Thankfully there is now the blog, and the uncensored Internet to rely on delivering real news.

What Malaysia needs is a newspaper called ‘The Followup’ instead of ‘The Star’.. picking up on traces of news left behind to be done and forgotten like the ‘Mongolian Murder’ case, wasted funds on the ‘Kilim Bridge has Fallen Down’.

Ultimately, I wished we had a stronger and more united opposition to give Barisan a run for their money. Have a great campaign!

Dear Joey,

They play with statistics to mislead ordinary Malaysians and our media does that for them. You will see more of this nonsense in the next 8 days. Malaysia is no longer the place it used to be. It is rotten because of rampant corruption. We will soldier on because the next option is to pack one’s bag and leave. I am not going that. We cannot leave this country in the hands of a pack of wolves. Thanks and keep well.—Din
Jude // February 29, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Dear Din,
I’ve been following your blog ever since Jong told me about it.Guess I’m part of the great silent majority who read but do not participate in your blog.Even so, congratulations on your very interesting site. I really enjoy your postings. I know it can be so lonely in cyberspace when there is nothing but silence from most of
us. So on behalf of The Reluctant Blogger I would like to invite others like me to respond.

In the meanwhile, Happy campaigning and together we will see change!
Best regards
Jude

Dear Jude,

It is really nice that you have decided to join and speak up. There must be a movement for change as we can no longer sit idly by and watch our country slide. Thanks and stay in touch—Din Merican
zaib // March 1, 2008 at 6:53 am

My notes always got erased as soon as I send them.
din bunga // March 1, 2008 at 12:35 pm

Assalamualaikum pak din..
salam reformasi..
sudah seminggu kita melepasi penamaan calon,saya lihat gerakan kerja masih lemah biar pun dari cawangan dan pemuda.kita masih lagi terikut2 dengan cara UMNO dimana kerja untuk duit.sungguh sedih kita masih lagi keliru dengan perjuangan yang sebenar dimana keikhlasan itu perlu diberi bagi setiap orang.kita harus mencontohi pada perjuang PAS dimana para pemuda berkerja tanpa meminta sebarang balasan,mereka berkerja kerna perjuangan yang ikhlas dan sanggup meletakan para ulamak dan ISLAM yang utama.saya menyeru agar pihak atasan KEADILAN boleh mengtarbiah pemuda2 KEADILAN agar ada jati diri dalam perjuangan yang ikhlas…
ubah sebelum parah
ALLAH HU AKBAR
zaib // March 1, 2008 at 12:59 pm

(i) Though he sleeps on his job, he has an aide who has wide pair of telescopic eyes lurking on his preys, determined to spike them to sleep. That’s more worrying! Once the majority are asleep, there could be no change. So what’s the tactical plan to overcome this? The Greeks had their Trojans. The Malaccans had Tun Perak whose idea to light up torches along Melaka’s shores warded off Siamese attack. What do we have?

(11) My reply to Dr. Azmi’s opinion on Secular Oriented compared to Islamic oriented Constitution: For his information, Islam is a religion of peace, suitable for any community, period, or geographical location. It is a religion that protects just anybody as long as they are loyalists - people of any races, creeds, skin colours, or social status. Islam as conveyed through the Qur’an has never propagated cruelty, injustice, or other negative elements. It’s the people who preach contradictory teachings are the real culprits. I’d like to recommend him to read and fully understand the Qur’an first before making such judgement. Please be fair to yourself and be fair to everybody.
ROY // March 3, 2008 at 4:45 pm

Dear Bro Din,

Hope your memory still fresh remembering me as one of your close buddies in our Cambodia days. We’d been evacuated together when the “war” erupted - ruining our beautiful days in Phnom Penh but memories. Glad you are back there more often now, seriously they still need you.

More to it, glad to learn that you are now becoming a warrior of sorts yourself to our very own country and very own people. I pray for you, may your spirit and aspirations be there forever, for the sake of our future generations.

Keep in touch and my soul is with you.

Thanks.–roy, ex-country manager, telecom company

Yes, Roy. Thanks for your very kind words. Of course, I do remember you. I rarely forget friends. Yes, Phnom Penh. It is a beautiful place at the convergence of Tonle Sap, Bassac and the great Mekong. I am still involved through my colleagues in the University and the Institute, and constantly monitor developments in Cambodia.

I am back in Malaysia where we Malaysians today face many challenges. Frankly, I am not at all happy with the way our government manages the country.We are lagging behind the rest of the ASEAN region and there is a serious need to regain our competitive position. —Din Merican
resident.wangsamaju // March 3, 2008 at 7:07 pm

I think I’m reluctant too but there’s a need to stand up for justice and freedom. Permission to add your site as a link please?

R.WM

R.WN,

I am proud to be associated with you. You are welcome to add my blog as link. We need more Malaysians like you who know their rights and will stand for justice and freedom. We must hold our leaders and representative to high ethical and performance standards.—Din Merican
thirtysomething // March 6, 2008 at 10:32 am

Uncle Din (hope you don’t mind me calling you as such)

What do you think Tun Dr Ismail would have thought about present Malaysia (think you worked under him for a while, am i correct?). Would be interested to know your views/feelings…

Dear 30something,

I am honored to be regarded as Uncle by men and women of your generation who must now take the fight for change from my generation to the next level. Yes, I worked for Tun Dr. Ismail and also Tun Ismail bin Mohamed Ali, the first Malaysian Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia. Yes, both were professionals when it came to work and public service. They were both respected as men of integrity and demanding bosses. Given the level of corruption and incompetence, I am sure both Ismails would be disappointed to see what happened to their legacy.

UMNO of Tun Dr. Ismail’s generation is different from what it is today. There was no such a thing as money politics then. But today, UMNO is no longer true to its objectives. It has become a party of individuals at the leadership level who want get rich quick. The ordinary members of UMNO have yet to recognise that their leaders cannot be trusted to champion their cause. There is a Malay saying: “harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi”. That is what UMNO leadership at this juncture. It is also the reason why I am with Parti KeADILan Rakyat. I just can’t stomach their abuse of power and arrogance. Regards, Uncle Din
Zaib // March 6, 2008 at 12:35 pm

Do you know why the pagar we’re suppose to depend on eats the padi instead of protecting the field? The answer is very simple: It is heartless. It is dead. It does’nt fear God, no real sense of faith…takda Iman la tu Din. So its time we tell such leaders “tobatlah wei jangan tunggu Tuhan murka, jangan tunggu Tuhan ambil nyawa kita… Even after the election fever is over, this sort of nasihat must still go on. We should continuously persuade people to get back to basic values. We can’t just let low moral value leaders to spread morally unacceptable values among our society. Hence, teruskanlah perjuangan Din, even after the Election.
dinobeano // March 6, 2008 at 12:54 pm

Zaib,

These guys go to Umrah almost every year, use Islam for their politics, and rake in millions upon millions of ringgits for themselves, their families and their cronies. But the Malays in the rural areas are denied access to information, so they think their leaders are devout Muslims, clean and respectable. With time, this will change when the media is free and independent.

I have been in this struggle for a long time. Bringing about change is a real challenge. But I shall persist. Thanks for your response.—Din Merican.
Zaib // March 7, 2008 at 11:50 am

I see moons all over the place…They were once at isolated places, but now they are right in the heart of KLites not just in KB anymore. Can you believe it? KL is going green?

Hopefully Dr. Loqloq (The Green Lady, I would like to call her… not green per se though), Nurul Izzah and Ms Kok (Teresa) can get rid of the many unwanted ghosts in town and cautiously keep eyes on their ballot boxes while in transit to counting stations. Bakal bergempakah Parlimen Malaysia dengan wakil puteri Wilayah Persekutuannya:-) Begitu jugalah di tempat-tempat lain. OK Din.

Thanks, zaib. Let voters get rid of the Blue with a daching for their injustices, abuse of power, arrogance and corruption. We have only less than 24 hours for the moments of truth when voters have cast their ballots.—Din Merican
kyra // March 8, 2008 at 9:55 am

En Din,

I have always enjoyed reading your thoughts via Bakri M. Musa’s blog and desiderata but although you seemed very fixated on criticizing the ills brought to the community by certain political leaders, I did not for a moment think you would actually be in the political mainstream, doing something…instead of just ranting and spitting vitriol on that particular political leader.

It just goes to show how wrong I can be at judging someone. More power to you! I have voted this afternoon for the representative of my choice…have you?
kyra

Kyra,

I am just a plain Din. Yes, I have done so in USJ early this morning.

The ranting bit was just the beginning of my conversion from a critic to a political activist in PKR. Don’t you think Badawi deserves the heavy hammering Bakri and I gave him? I could no longer stand by and watch our great country slide into being a third rate nation, where politicians in UMNO-BN can act with impunity against the overall interest of our people. Let us hope the winds of change we are now experiencing will translate into a strong opposition in our 12th Parliament and PKR will gain due recognition as a party working with DAP and PAS which can govern our country in 2013.

Badawi, beware the Ides of March and 13 may not be your lucky number after all.

Thank you for your kind comments.

—Din Merican
an asset to DSAI // March 9, 2008 at 1:32 am

good morning dear DM, we have done it! it is definitely ANWARs WAVE- the arrogant BN knew it but would not admit it. if we had 40 more seats …..send my regards to all the winners! dear DM can you furnish the e mail addresses of all our victorious candidates? ( including from DAP and PAS) we can share ideas and views.congratulations and well done to you and all the ground workers (including the silent workers)pkr would be the opposition head in parliament. congratulations! i would like to meet you and DSAI in the near future.thank you. bye bye to racial politics! a new dawn has emerged! the light of new hope is evident!a New Malaysia -a true malaysia is being liberated from racial thinking.together we will realise the ultimate goal - to rule Malaysia!
Laura // March 9, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Encik Din, you have not answered the questions raised by nspirasi on 14Jan2008 pertaining to Anwar. Do you think you can put our fears to rest as I feel the same way.

Laura,

You are a victim of UMNO-BN propaganda. You are reading the mainstream papers and watching the government controlled tv channels. PKR is a party for all Malaysians. There is nothing to fear as far as Anwar Ibrahim is concerned. Just read our 2008 Elections Manifesto carefully, reflect on it and then you will find that there is nothing to fear except fear itself.

Anwar is the PKR leader who had a big hand in the drafting of manifesto and he approved its final version which is also on my log. He believes in it, and stands by it. The fact that PKR performed exceedingly well shows that the people have confidence in his leadership and support his vision for our country. You should do so as well. Anwar is neither pro-Jew, pro-Chinese nor pro-Hindraf; he is pro-Malaysia and champions our constitutional rights and the rule of law.—Din Merican
CaRoLiNe // March 10, 2008 at 2:31 am

Dear Din..
Recently stumbled onto your blog! Not sure if you remember …. My (then) boyfriend (now husband) and I met you on a flight to Bali in Dec 2004.

Exciting times in Malaysia. Changing times are upon us…. hopefully it is for the better!

Caroline,

How is Dr. Ryan? How is his golf? Did he get the golf book I sent him? Of course,I never forget a beautiful and engaging face like yours. I am glad you are married to this good looking cancer specialist.

Change is always for the better, and that is progress by definition. Stay in touch and keep visiting my blog where I try hard to present different views and ideas. We are a country of very intelligent people and we must create space for them to express themselves. —Din Merican
ariffin abdullah // March 11, 2008 at 5:18 am

Brother Din, I have been hearing your name mentioned by friends during the last few years and started reading your articles in Bakrimusa’s blog. It makes a lot of sense and high intelectual contents. It has also been made known to me that you have written dozen of letters to Dollah Bodohwi in the past to extend your hand in helping him on many issues and sad to hear that none of your letter got any response. I believe this applies to many Malay leaders. The worst part they will use you and will not lift a finger to help if we need their help. Anyway, Brother Din, I am glad that you are with DSAI and I sincerely believe you can make a lot of contribution to PKR and nation as a whole. Salam and looking forward to your writings.

Ariffin,

I realised that Dollah does not read. So it was a total waste of time. I learned not to depend on people, be they politicians or otherwise.

I think Anwar is genuine about wanting to make Malaysia a better country for all. I see him practically every time in the office when he is not away outstation or abroad. We chatted often and I share his vision and will help him make his dream for Malaysia come true. I also understand politics. It is risky,but then, what is not risky. Even a turtle has to stick its neck out to move forward!! Thanks for writing and also for reading my blog.—Din Merican
ariffin abdullah // March 11, 2008 at 6:09 am

Brother Din, Just to add to my prior comment above, I hoping very much that you ‘pandai2 lah jaga diri’ because you are dealing with ‘politicians’. I guess you can understand what I am trying to drive at. Tak nak you kecundang satu hari nanti. Sayang. Your experiences and talent takut di peralatakan.Salam

I am not a fool. I joined PKR of my own choice as a political activist, not to seek office. Our country is in serious crisis, like it or not, believe it or not. Anyway, thanks for your concern.—Din Merican
zaib // March 11, 2008 at 9:51 am

Of course you’re not a fool Din. The man closest to the post of CEO for Malaysia’s largest multinational conglomerate in SEA then, is definitely not a fool, nevertheless, he missed it because …. I have no misgivings too. But to a certain extent I tend to agree with Ariffin’s opinion. Don’t let history repeats itself.

Zaib, I didn’t play their game. Sime Darby was full of corporate politicians. I have taken risks before and I am doing it again.—Din Merican
theerga // March 11, 2008 at 11:00 am

Dear Din
I hope I have not offended you. My recent comment was regards the aftermath of the 2008 elections not about yourself. You see I am still in a state of shock! albeit a pleasant one. The hubris and the analogy of the crowing cock on its on dung heap - having its neck wrung is for the umnoputras. To use that much hackneyed phase ‘I AM OVER THE MOON’
ariffin abdullah // March 12, 2008 at 2:00 am

Brother Din, thanks for the response. Never meant to offend you.As Bro. ZAIB says in his comment that I am not undermining your capablities.( Bro. ZAIB, thanks for comment) In fact I am envious of your track record. The main reason being that my experiences with some Ministers and politician made me feel that way. Jutaan maaf. Maybe, DSAI is a totally different breed of politicians and will take care of you.The timing is just right with the change of leadership in Selangor by PKR (TSKI). I am hoping very much that DSAI and TSKI will give you the opportunity to participate in the running of the state. May be as Special Advisor to the MB as this is your forte.

With the 40 over years experiences and wisdom that you have, I sincerely hope DSAI and TSKI will be able to see these edge. If I may suggest, your focus has to be the marginalized hard core poor Malays in the urban and rural areas. Let DSAI and TSKI focus on the political aspect of it. With the existing excellent infrastructure in Selangor, I believe you can make tremendous contribution.It is only a question of packaging good deals may it be agricultural or industrial sector.

My suggestion is that you focus on rural Selangor. I have come across many incidences in the rural area in Selangor that some of them cuma mampu makan satu kali sehari, rumah seperti kandang kambing and many other sad stories. Kadang2 saya terfikir juga akan nasib malang mereka. Setiap kali election undi UMNO because they are suppose to the backbone of UMNO and yet they are left behind. Thefore, PKR can capitalize this situation. Help them sincerely and their votes will be with you. Make your presence felt by helping them. All these suggestions Bro.Din bukan hendak mengajar you dan perjuangan you tetapi it is worth to think about it. Salam dari saya. Looking forward to see your name as Special Advisor to the MB. I believe in you.

Dear Ariffin,

Give Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim a chance to select his own EXCO and then set the agenda for the first 100 days and create the momentun for the next 4-5 years. If I am asked to help, I will certainly respond positively. Helping the rural poor will be part of our agenda. I am not important; our agenda for the people is. Thank you for your comments and advice—. Din Merican
zaib // March 12, 2008 at 4:38 am

Din,

I’d like to recommend that you to read through the history of Malay Archipelago since ancient time till today to grasp lessons from in-between the lines. Please dont read those from the west. Go for those written by learned local historians. It’ll then make you a more sensible activist. Selamat membaca dan selamat menghayati!

Zaib,

Just recommend me a decent book on the history of the Malay Archipelago, but do not waste my time by recommending me one that is written by our local academic like Professor Khoo Kay Kim or Dr. Agus or Professor A. B. Shamsul. You assume I am a bloody fool who cannot make sense of what I read. What is being a sensible activist? It is probably someone who agrees with you. Frankly, it does not take a genius to see that the UMNO-BN Government has failed us.—Din Merican
Tazar // March 14, 2008 at 10:13 am

Encik Din Kenapa ada penapisan kepada mesej dalam blog ini? Saya tertarik juga membaca kritikan yang diutarakan di bawah iaitu:

Lost of Demeanour Sebab Terlalu Yakin Sangat Dah Nak Tuju Ke Mana?
One angry man surely cannot rule the nation, for every time he gets agitated he’d spew his hot and harmful lava on the foreground. In the process, of course the soil gets more fertile, but lest not forget the number of poor peasants writhing in pain to death on the foot of his volcanic peak. He’d also be proud to be the writer of a new book (not only as the new chapter writer as described by the Royal Professor Ungku Aziz) and also one responsible man who’s about to erase the footprints of his ancestors. And the man is no other than the one who doesn’t know how to utter ‘Alhamdulillah’ or ‘Subhanallah’ either in good or bad times. He needs to repent or else at any unexpected time his volcanic heart may self-explode and rip him apart.

Well, just tell me direct that you don’t want me to be in your intellectual blog anymore. I’d leave you to enjoy your landslide victory. All the best Din. Turut menyampaikan Salam sorang budak degil di SDB who is still in shock because his dear state is lost to your affiliate. Sdr Ariffin thanks kerana menegur sebagai seorang kawan! Salam.

Note: I do know that you are not a bloody fool because you sensed where you’d end up, my due respect to you sir! Baca la buku-buku sejarah tulisan Buyung Adil ka, Sulalatus Salatin karya Tun Sri Lanang ka … Where to get? …go to DBP!
kyra // March 15, 2008 at 6:41 am

En Din,

What will your role be now that the BR has succeeded beyond your wildest dreams? Securing the victory that the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition can only attract congratulations and of course, adulation of the masses. The real work starts now - what can we do to ensure that what has happened to BN last week does not happen to the BR in the next election?

Already there are rumblings in Penang and Perak that all is not well in the current corridor of power. Already the rakyat are looking quizzically around for ‘real leaders’ to come to the fore to pour oil on unsettled waters. Will DSAI and you say something to ‘cool’ tempers and perhaps reduce the intervention of the palace in Perak please? it would be a shame to have this historic victory, only to tarnish it with petty squabbles among the victors.
More power to you En Din and the dynamic team that is helping you and DSAI.

kyra

Thanks. We all have a role to play in developing our country. I will do my bit and come join us.—Din Merican
cucu tok chat // March 15, 2008 at 7:01 am

Din,
finally found your blog! Great piece of work for a reluctant blogger - and thanks for keeping a forum for people to share what has been until now been unspoken - the silent majority now has a voice thru your blog - and can hopefully speak directly to DSAI and friends.Will you be advising behind the scene, now that the BR state governments have all (except for Perak, thanks Kyra…)been sworn in?We, myself and a few good friends would like to join you and make this peoples’ revolution the success that it is destined to be. Please let us know and we will be there!
salam!

cucu tok cat, you and your friends are welcome to drop in for chat. Just give me a call (017-366-0897) just to check if I am in. The winds of change are here to stay. Badawi can only think of continuity (corruption, incompetence and abuse of power). Read our manifesto which is on my blog. I serve the party and if I am needed, I will always be there for, and will stand by, my colleagues.—Din Merican
Din Merican // March 15, 2008 at 8:12 am

Kyra,

Perak is okay now. My role is simple and that is to assist Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR.

Don’t be overly concerned. This frenzy is being created by the mainstream media. As partners, PKR, DAP and PAS are working well at various levels and we want to serve the voters.—Din Merican
ariffin abdullah // March 16, 2008 at 3:36 am

Bro. Din,

Fully understood for being modest on my suggestion. But in politics. you have to ask. By now,I believe, there are already dozens around TSKI and DSAI aiming for the job. Salam and much obliged to make contributions to your cause.

Ariffin, you are welcome. Join me in the movement for change.—Din Merican
cucu tok chat // March 16, 2008 at 3:55 am

Din,
Thanks for the mobile number - i shall be in touch soon. My friends and I are not gunning for any positions - you have been a good role model - we would rather be faceless but contributive (some of us have jobs within the GLCs too!)and hopefully add to that constantly increasing talent pool that the BR is presently attracting.

Please do not think of us as opportunists - we have been waiting to help change the way our beloved nation is progressing for the better. We are not politicians, rather seasoned corporate types (again like you) who think that what little skills and exposure/experience we have, can add some value to the struggle. The dawn is always darkest before light - and we are talking about a new dawn, aren’t we?
salam.
ctc

Thank you, cucu tok cat. Hang pun ada nilai nilai yang boleh jadi contoh untuk angkatan muda. Selamat berjuang sebagai seorang profesional. Yes, it is a new dawn,but hard work awaits all of us, if we are to repair our country, ravaged by corruption, abuse of power and incompetence. How more can we tolerate a leader like a laksamana tembak like Badawi!— Din Merican.
ariffin abdullah // March 18, 2008 at 1:08 am

Bro. Din, Just to share on your article on the accountablity of the Royal Commission. My reading is that, none of questions will be answered. This is for the simple fact the all characters up there are of no substance. It has been illustrated during the hearing. We could see how VK Linggam and Vincent Tan really manipulated and making a mockery of it with their statements.

The most irritating part is that none of the members of the Commission utter a comment or rebuttal to these statements which sometimes insulting our intelligence. As an example when VK Linggam made statement ‘ I will have to call my expert to testify whether the voice and pictures in the video belongs to me’. To me , it is just like a murder suspect asking the court to have his own witness to testify or his own DNA test that he did not commit the murder. The worst part is that even the Chairman of the Commission did not even utter a word to rebut or commented on the statement. Apatah lagi ahli2 yang lain. The rest is history. This remind me of the article written by Bakri Musa not long ago commenting on the integrity of the Commission. ‘ Boys Trying to Mens Job’. It fits very well. Salam and selamat berjuang.

Ariffin, let us see what happens next, although we know the sleepy head is just hollow and deceitful and— now that he is a lame duck Prime Minister—will not act on the RCI findings. The RCI must complete its report since it has consumed our tax dollars. But yes, it will be garbage in (the testimonies) and garbage out (the report). It is naive of the ruling government to assume that we all forget. Some of us have elephant memories, especially people like me who make it their business to monitor on a continuous basis what the government says and does. Thanks for your comments.—Din Merican
ariffin abdullah // March 18, 2008 at 9:05 am

Bro. Din, Very well said and how I wish I can write like you. The ’sleepy head is not just hollow and deceitful’ if I may borrow your words but also ‘damaged and twisted’ if I may add. Suffering from the denial syndrome. He believes that the rakyat OWE him a living and being up there is his RIGHTS.Damn you DOLLAH!!!. Maaf Bro. Din for being carried away. Salam and selamat berjuang.
Tazar // March 18, 2008 at 10:49 am

Dalam Mengejar Kesamarataan, Jangan Lupa Masalah Melayu

Parti atau pertubuhan mungkin ditubuhkan dengan niat dan matlamat yang baik, tetapi seringkali disalahgunakan oleh individu tertentu di dalam parti atau pertubuhan itu untuk kepentingan tertentu, umpamanya mengukuh kedudukan untuk meningkatkan kuasa, atau mendapatkan sesuatu daripada kedudukannya dalam pertubuhan berkenaan.

Hakikatnya, parti atau pertubuhan itu tidak bersalah, tetapi sebaliknya individu-individu tertentu yang mengemudinya yang sepatutnya dipertanggungjawabkan. Jadi saya harap janganlah mengutuk UMNO berlebihan sangat Encik Din kerana yang salah bukannya UMNO sebaliknya para pemimpinnya.

UMNO yang pernah melorongkan laluan kepada Encik Din (atau beberapa pemimpin barisan alternatif lain) ke gerbang kejayaan sehingga mampu melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara, membina kerjaya dan membentuk pemikiran intelektual. Bersyukurlah kepada Tuhan kerana mendapat semua nikmatNya itu. Kalau kita tahu UMNO salah, sepatutnya kita tegur dari dahulu lagi. Adakah sindrom tak mahu tegur dari dahulu disebabkan termakan budi, tetapi sesudah tak mendapat budi lagi maka barulah hendak mengamuk? King Ghaz beri pendedahan diplomatik yang tidak ternilai kepada Encik Din, Almarhum abang ipar Tun Dr Mahathir beri biasiswa belajar ke Amerika, dan kemudian hantar bekerja di Bank Pertanian dan Sime Darby. Tun Daim bawa balik ke Malaysia … dan bermacam lagi … kutuklah mereka ini semua kerana mereka ini ada hati, ada jiwa, ada perasaan; bukannya UMNO kerana UMNO itu bukannya seorang manusia yang ada perasaan! Jika barisan alternatif dilanda gejala yang serupa, ia pun tidak terkecuali akan menghadapi nasib yang sama suatu hari nanti. Tetapi saya bukan nak bertegang urat tentang UMNO atau Barisan Alternatif yang betul. Masalahnya sesudah mendapat kemenangan janganlah terlalu emosional macam budaya UMNO, sebaliknya harus memikirkan bagaimana hendak bekerja menyelesaikan tahi yang dicipta oleh UMNO.

Kita dah tau salah kita betulkanlah demi perpaduan dan kesejahteraan Melayu dan tidak lupa juga bangsa-bangsa lain di Malaysia. Melayu memang mudah lupa … jerit sana jerit sini tak sedar bangsanyalah yang paling banyak masalah mencengkam diri ibarat dijajah…bangsa mana yang paling terbesar bilangan penagih dadah, mat rempit, bohsia, lepak, remaja bermasalah moral, buang anak, sumbang mahram dan yang papa kedana? Jangan lupa pula nak ubat masalah ini kerana selagi ia tidak selesai sampai bila-bila pun masalah Melayu ketinggalan tidak akan selesai. Nak selesaikan kena guna banyak sumber dan tenaga. Mulalah bekerja dari sekarang Encik Din kerana jika tidak lagi sepuluh tahun pun bangsa Melayu akan tercicir dan apabila kerajaan asyik mengeluarkan belanja, masa dan tenaga merawat masalah-masalah ini bangsa lain tentu akan bising kerana menuduh kerajaan membazirkan sumber negara kepada usaha yang tidak produktif. Kalau tak diubatkan pasti bangsa Melayu akan terus ketinggalan. Nah selesaikan. Selamat menjalankan tugas.
ariffin abdullah // March 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Bro. Tazar, Maaf jika saya mencelah sedikit mengenai komen2 diatas. I have a ‘mixed’ feeling after reading it and I would like you to note that I am not trying to defence Bro. Din. He can handle it better than anybody else.Trust me!!!
Cuma saya ingin memberitahu Tuan yang saya membacanya in ‘between the lines’ apa sebenar nya yang maksud yang tersirat.Have been reading your comments before this and I shared many of your views. Salam dari saya.
malgal // March 18, 2008 at 2:16 pm

May I suggest that the fonts be a little bigger ? I find it really hard to read the small prints. I am sure there are many out there like me. Thanks
Tazar // March 19, 2008 at 8:23 am

Bro Ariffin,

Terima kasih kerana mengambil perhatian dan Bro. Din terima kasih kerana membiarkan komen saya terus dipaparkan.

Memang saya sendiri hendakkan perubahan, tetapi bukan perubahan yang membawa perpecahan bangsa, kerugian masa, tenaga dan wang ringgit yang akhirnya boleh membawa dosa, bala atau bencana. Melayu sesama Melayu bergaduh orang lain akan capitalise. (As I see it 53% of Malays in Perak couldnt become a real force in the Perak State Government is already a catastrophe or whatever term you may wanna use; in contrast to that in Penang - so who’s the loser?) Jika benar kita ikhlas hendak membawa perubahan itu kita boleh lakukan sesuatu yang serius secara senyap dan pembuktian kejayaan kita itu biarlah diadili sendiri oleh rakyat yang akan menyaksikan kesan kerja kita. Saya tak mahu lihat menang sorak kampung tergadai. Banyak lagi saya hendak cakapkan tetapi masa tidak begitu mengizinkan. InsyaAllah ada masa saya jengah lagi. Untuk masa ini itulah saja Bro Ariffin. Jumpa lagi. Salam.

Tazar, let us not worry about race. The Malays can work hard and will succeed. Jangan terlampau manja.—Din Merican
Shobhan @ Malaysian // March 20, 2008 at 8:25 am

Hi there Din,

You were clever to note that Shobhan and Malaysian were related very closely. Anyway this is to congratulate you and all who went along with you in your struggle to deprive the BN of its 2/3 majority. It’s indeed merdeka ! Shall I say it again? Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! It is the end to a govt. that practised racial and religious discrimination. We now have a level playing field where all Malaysians irrespective of race and religion join hands in competition to make this land a wonderland and paradise where all live in peace and harmony. Welcome to a new ERA! You would have noticed that I have already written in Mr Anwar’s Blog.

Yes, friend, Sobhan. Thanks for your contribution. We need lots of gutsy Malaysians who have the courage to stand up for, and do what is right for Malaysia. Let confine ethnic politics to the dustbin of history. Merdeka means freedom or uhuru in swahili. Right, we have a bunch of pseudo colonialists with the worst habits of the British colonials ruling our country. They are corrupt to the core,raking billions of ringgits into their personal coffers.—Din Merican
Shobhan @ Malaysian // March 20, 2008 at 8:39 am

Mr Din,

I like the way you replied Mr Zaib. This so called historian Prof Khoo Kay Kim has contorted Malaysian history. A no. of ministers in the BN had been his ex-students in one of our local universities. I came to know of this from the New Straits Times, Wed 19th March 2008.

Sobhan, I try to be polite with everyone. I can also take as much bashing as I give. Age and experience do not give me any advantage. In the end, may the best ideas prevail. My sincere advice to all my blogger friends is “never sulk” or suffer withdrawal symptoms when you are challenged or criticised.—Din Merican
Margaret Chan // March 21, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Shalom to you Din!

I’m delighted to see that you are a “full fledged blogger” (if there is such a term?) : ) I’m awed! You must be sooo… computer-savvy!

Seriously, I thank you most sincerely for your efforts in helping to bring about the much needed change in Boleh-Land.

I am convinced that God can’t stomach anymore our corrupted BN in general, (UMNO in particular) and mercifully sent the following to the aid of the short-changed Malaysians, for all of which all right-thinking Malaysians have to be humbly thankful:

* the increasing number of people (Malaysians) of
conscience who have been bravely speaking up against the
ills of the BN-led government..(special mention: Citizen
Nades in our mainstream media)….
* Internet…..
* Malaysiakini, for steadfastly offering an alternative media -
not just to the Malaysian public long misinformed by the
mainstream media, but to the world as well……
* all the countless people of conscience who have bravely
contributed their writings and letters to Malaysiakini…….in
their blogs….(and this includes you!)
* Raja Petra, for relentlessly ‘whipping’ the indifferent, the
apathetic and fearfully cowered Malaysians out of their
comfort zones to vote for change…and for being
instrumental in helping the Opposition parties to strategize
for a decisive win in the elections…
* the professional members of Malaysian Royalty who spoke
wise words about the compulsion for politicians to be
conscience-led in performing their duties…..
* the foreigners who lent their voices of support…
* the final rising of the populace in carrying out peaceful
demonstrations…etc,…etc,.. etc..

Lets hope that these UMNO fellows will continue to indulge in their idiotic finger-pointing blame-game for the next 4 to 5 years - at the end of which, they won’t know what hit them - when they should be suddenly jolted awake to see that their UMNO will have become, by then, a mere little “opposition party”!! : )

Meanwhile, I read with misgivings the news: “BN MP quits, may join PKR”. Yes, shame to the BN to have enabled such things to take place, but of course, this is BN-nurtured’s Boleh-Land! My immediate reaction to this piece of news is that the Opposition MUST NOT accept such cross-overs - and of course, there just can’t be any question of payments or other inducements!

In my opinion, any BN politician who is ready to cross over at this late stage (AFTER the elections) cannot be principled people - and whom the new alternative, CLEAN government must do without, if this alternative government is to be credible!

I’m further dismayed to read the article “ANWAR BECOME PRIME MINISTER IN NEXT FEW WEEKS?” It’s bad enough to have ONE unprincipled politician hopping over, but we are now talking about “30 something”!!!

Anwar should not be in THAT sort of a hurry to be PM! the alternative CLEAN government should not lend itself to BN’s hitherto dirty money politics. No matter how anyone is assured that there is no inducement of ANY kind for such cross-overs, can such people answer the simple question as to WHY they didn’t see it fit to switch camp BEFORE the elections?

Anwar should not treat the whole thing as a chess GAME of numbers. After 50 years of corrupt government, Malaysians deserve to have more credible politicians to run the country. Certainly disenfranchised BN politicians crossing over at this late stage can’t fit the bill!

The Alternative Coalition should want to win the next General Elections chin-up! Perhaps, if these “30-something” BN politicians are so (suddenly) sincerely transformed, and if there should be even more - say another 50? : ) - surely they can all wait for the next General Elections - proving their sincerity meanwhile?

Warm regards from your friend from Sime Darby days!
Margaret

Dear Margaret, Shalom to you too. How I can forget you. You are the best taxation specialist I had the privilege to know as a colleague in Sime Darby.

Yes, we in Barisan Alternatif must deliver the goods and show voters that we deserve the mandate to run 5 state government and our strong presence in Parliament. We just cannot fail our Malaysian brothers and sisters.

We are not courting BN politicians. We will not buy them but we welcome anyone who abides by our party Constitution, believes in our struggle for freedom, justice, democracy and good governance and supports our Malaysian Economic Agenda.
zaib // March 21, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Dear readers, Bro Din and Mr Sobhan,

For your information Mr Sobhan, I’m a business graduate. However I take great interest in the history of our nation and see things from our Asian perspective. In my past posting, I didn’t mention anything about Khoo Kay Kim or other historians, except for Tun Sri Lanang who wrote Sulalatus Salatin (Sejarah Melayu) and Buyung Adil who penned a series of books on local history. Why do we have to be so proud to read books with distorted facts adapted from colonial writers (though rewritten by local writers) and make self-conclusion out of these unreliable sources when we have better options from local authors? Why do we have to idolise foreign freedom fighters such as Che Guevara when we have so many local freedom fighters such as Dato’ Maharajalela, Tok Janggut, Tok Ku Paloh, Rentap, Mat Salleh, Leftenan Adnan to name a few; who fought for the nation’s sovereignty with tears, sweat and blood?

We do not want to create another state ala USA or UK here. Why do we have to submit to their ideologies, values and culture when we have our own unique ones? Why don’t we adapt to for instance, Ibu Khaldun’s concept of nationhood instead?

My due respect to Bro Din Merican because I know very well that he reads a lot. I’m not opposing to all his opinions though. All I want to say is that he needs to also look into our current needs with due consideration of our unique local circumstances and perspective. Bro. Din the Malays were once warriors, inventors, shipbuilders, navigators, traders … Panglima Awang from Melaka for instance, is said to be the first Malay to have sailed around the world and its not Magellan (source of fact from Tom Pires – a Portugese writer).

Over four hundred years of colonisation – oppressed and marginalised through dirty tactics such as ‘divide and rule’, ‘educational, social and economic deprivations’ , ‘planned isolation from physical developments’ to name a few; implemented under guise of advice, protection and prospering schemes for generations, weakened the Malays. What the past leaders did for the betterment of the Malays have produced the progressive Malays of today, one shining example is our Bro Din who completed his Masters degree in Washington DC, USA. I know you adore Che Guevara.

Selawat ke atas Nabi Junjungan Muhammad S.A.W sempena sambutan Maulidur Rasul.
(I just came back from outstation and is actually not fresh to write but got excited to reply immediately)

zaib,

When I choose Che, it does not mean that I ignore the role of past Malay warriors,etc. Che’ is a symbol of a contemporary paradigm buster, someone I can relate to, and a man who saw injustice and did something about it. He fought American or Yankee imperialism.

History written by some Malaysian academics is intended to glorify themselves as “experts”. We cannot continue to blame others for our own weaknesses; it is convenient to “blame” colonialism. In fact,today UMNO leaders are the local version of colonists. They still have a colonial, worse still feudal, mindset. While I acknowledge the role of past leaders including Tun Dr. Mahathir who was my boss in FIMA in the 1970s and had a great influence in my intellectual development and work ethics, I must say that I studied and worked very hard for my personal advancement. Our past leaders created the opportunities for me, no doubt and they taught me to think for myself. In that sense, I “terhutang budi”.

You can only develop through self development; mentors can guide you but you have to motivate yourself . My early education up to university was sponsored by government; but continuing education is my personal responsibility. I learned that I cannot depend on the government for the rest of my life because that means not denying others the support they deserve to break social barriers. To me, based on my own experience, the best investment that our country can undertake is in quality education. This is my message to Hishamuddin Keris aka Kerismuddin.

The UMNO of today is different; its leaders are arrogant and corrupt, not willing to learn (in stead they blame others), and out of touch with the ordinary people. They forgot that we elevated them to positions of trust and responsibility. They think that they are “Yang Amat Berhormats” and “Yang Berhormats” and behave like the British Raj in India.They think that our resources are there for the taking. It is no small wonder that the Malays including those in our kampongs gave UMNO a rude shock in the 12th General Elections. Salams—Din Merican
Shobhan @ Malaysian // March 22, 2008 at 3:35 am

My Gutsy Friend Din,

It is good to know someone as gutsy as you has at last spoken the truth, the absolute truth without favour and prejudice. Yes we cannot point fingers at others for our own pitfalls. I can’t deny that there are great men amongst us. We can see that in our 12th General Elections not to say that there weren’t great men before us as stated by Mr Zaib. But we have to correct ourselves whenever we go wrong. It is not for others outside ourselves to do so because this brings shame onto ourselves. We as one nation of matured thinking and knowledgeable individuals should not depend on outside elements to create an awareness in us when we go wrong. It is in fact the opposition parties that have created and induced the BN to think deeply where it is and was wrong in its policies. BN has never realised that its direction was leading to DOOMSDAY. Thanks to the opposition that our beloved nation has been saved from a CATASTROPHE!
Shobhan @ Malaysian // March 22, 2008 at 3:50 am

Mr Zaib,

When Mr Din mentioned Che G, a freedom fighter outside our country, he is learning from him. He is using him as an example. He has a right to his choice of a mentor. This doesn’t mean that there are no heroes amongst us. Today,Britain uses Gandhi as an example of a great freedom fighter who used non violent methods to fight British rule in India. Does this mean that there are no heroes in Britain for the British to emulate? We are globalised. We are not living like Robinson Crusoe in a paradise island. People all over the world are watching us. We need the world to survive economically, politically and socially my friend, Mr Zaib
din bunga // March 22, 2008 at 7:08 am

assalamualaikum pak din,,
apa khabar?,,
syukur kita ke hadrat ilahi,kerna diberi limpah kurnia olehNya,,memenangi beberapa negeri.dan sekarang kita meraikan kemenangan dengan mengadakan kenduri2 disetiap kawasan.dengan itu kita boleh merapatkan hubungan diantara wakil rakyat dan pengundi.bak kata pepatah,,yang jauh didekatkan,yang dekat dimesrakan,,,dan disini saya ingin menyatakan,kita jgn lupa masih ada segelintir masyarakat kita yg gila kuasa,sanggup mengaku bekerja keras untuk parti,sedangkan semasa kita menjalankan aktiviti selepas penamaan calon mereka ini menghilang ,dan sekarang mereka ini bangkit dengan mengangkat tangan “kami telah MENANG” .dan sanggup melobi seseorang untuk jawatan dan mereka merangka JKKK bayangan.
disini kita harus berhati2 dgn golongan ini dan kita harus bekerja keras drpd sekarang menyalurkan maklumat kpd semua.

Jamuan rakyat bersama pemimpin DUN PAYA JARAS.

Tarikh : 23hb mac 2008
Hari : AHAD
Masa : 12.00 t/hari - 3.00 ptg
Tempat : JLN LENCONGAN BBSB
FASA 1D,BNDR BARU SG BULOH

tetamu jemputan;

YB DATO’ HASSAN ALI (exco ker.n.selangor/pesuruhjaya pas)
YB USTZ NASIR ZAKARIA (ahli parlimen pdg terap/YDP PAS sbg)
YB R.SIVARASA (ahli parlimen subang)
SDR MOHD KHAIRUDDIN HJ OTHMAN (calon N 38)
zaib // March 22, 2008 at 11:59 am

Shobhan,

Correction! I was merely saying that ‘Bro Din adores Che G’ (I know him longer than you do, so mind me reply him in my own intonation and at a point of time I used to interact with him way back….) no more than that and I dont mean to argue about who he should or should not idolise because that’s his basic right I must respect.

Mr Shobhan, I am also aware that we are living in a globalised world, but it doesnt mean we have to copy all the global values without considering the stengths of our very own. The Malay proverb says (though not really 100% directly related) ‘Kera di Hutan Disusukan Anak di Rumah Mati Kelaparan’ When we have all the good values of our own why do we need to apply imported ones?

Nevertheless I still respect whoever you wanna idolise becuase it is your basic right.

zaib, good values are universal values and all religions teach us to do good. Tell me what is unique about our values. Our problem is that we have become corrupt, arrogant and bloody minded (selfish).—Din Merican
Shobhan @ Malaysian // March 23, 2008 at 2:47 am

My dear friend Din,

I have kept my word haven’t I? I told you that my pen is mightier than the sword. No doubt I was elevated when you invited me to help with PKR. By now you would have known that I am a lady, a woman crudely put. I am 57 years old and I am sure you are much younger and stronger being a man. I feel and I have always felt that I should contribute my bit for the country and this was the only way for me my friend. I am also delighted to communicate with Mr Zaib. Anyway he shows great patriotism and concern too for the current state of affairs. Have a nice day friends. I’ll keep in touch when time permits.

Dear Sobhan@Malaysian,

I am very much older than you. I will be 69 in May, 2008. Thanks to God. I still put in lots of work and have the stamina to last 12-14 hours daily week in and week out working for an ennobling cause of “Justice for All”. You are always welcome to share your ideas and views with us on this blog.—Din Merican
Shobhan @ Malaysian // March 23, 2008 at 3:37 am

Dear Friends Din and Zaib,

It only takes the mind to understand feelings, sentiments and emotions. Friendship cuts through all barriers which includes race and religion. All it takes is basic understanding of man’s feelings, sentiments and emotions, isn’t it friends?

Zaib, Sobhan@Malaysian and Ariffin,we face the challenge of a culture based on corruption and abuse of power. It is going to take time, but the voters have high expectations. We on PKR, PAS and DAP are working hard to produce results in the next few years. We will definitely do better than the UMNO-BN money raking characters.—Din Merican
ariffin abdullah // March 23, 2008 at 4:08 am

Bro. Zaib, lama juga menunggu comment you. Your last comment was well said and I believe Bro. Din will appreciate that. We are here to express our concern on what’s going in the country with no other agenda except untuk keharmonian negara. Cuma kadang , rasa agak terkilan bila membaca komen2 yang yang kurang matang.
Quote ” It is the end of government that practiced racial and religious discrimination” . I am not overly concerned on it but one can see how shallow , distorted and naive their thoughts are. Lain kali kena fikir betul2. Open up your mind and be objective.
Untuk Bro. Din, thanks for letting me in your blog and selamat berjuang. I have been following up on development in Selangor and am glad that TSKI sudah mula mendapat tempat di hati rakyat Selangor. Hidup PKR!!!. Salam dari saya.

Thanks, Ariffin. Zaib knows me and I do not think my manner of writing and speaking have changed. Always ready to engage in idea exchange.—Din Merican
Abdul Rahman Majeed // March 26, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Dear Bro Din,

I happen to be the latest blog fan after the recent GE12 when M’kini went Free. Among all the blogs I have visited, yours seems to have an intellectual exchange of ideas and positive vibes that inspires me to write in for the first time. It’s high time the new state governments taken over by BA have think tanks like you to steer them to greater heights and show the Rakyat that BA can govern with greater intellectual sense and listen to the right people. It’s a pity indeed that AAB did not respond to your letter that you wrote him. Keep up the intellectual discourse…..

Dear Rahman,

I know of a Rahman in Bank Negara those days. Are you the person? Even if you are not, I am honoured by your remarks. It is worth a lot to me to be appreciated for the little things that I have tried to do for our country over many decades. The satifaction I get from recognition by citizens, not by all those “nose high in the air” types, is immense.

Please write when you are free. Let us share ideas and dreams. There is nothing wrong in having different dreams and different ideas. I for one have been brought up by late mother—my Dad died when I was 5 years old—to respect the dignity of difference and to be humble before God.—Din Merican
saleema // March 30, 2008 at 4:10 am

salam pak din
terima kasih kerana luangkan wktu …
suara pak din mmg sama dato’ Ahmad Daud..
tq again..

saleema, Ahmad Daud lebih baik dari saya kerana sepupu saya itu ada darah seni. Saya lebih baik jadi teknokrat saja.—Din Merican
ariffin abdullah // March 30, 2008 at 4:37 am

Bro. Din, Ini selingan sedikit. Did send you few mix of some contemporary jazz and oldies to your e mail. Salam
Zaib // March 30, 2008 at 8:06 am

Bro Din and Bro Ariffin,

Havent been able to write these days due to workloads. Will catch up whenever possible.
Jack // April 2, 2008 at 10:44 am

Din’

Recently I received an email sent to me by a friend pls read.//

To all mothers with teenage and young daughters.

Subject: Beware of local university’s African students..!!
Please pass the news and warn the parents, government, students and society.

This is true and all happened within these two years!

I have a friend’s daughter who is studying in Limkokwing University , and she was kidnapped by a Botswana student studying there as well. The African is 37 years old!

The daughter was kidnapped and managed to escape from that African. However, she had been raped, beaten, tied up and punched by the man. That bastard even got his African friends ( Botswana students too) to rape the daughter. Now the daughter is in trauma.

Because of this case, I have investigated amongst the Limkokwing students, and there are more serious cases that had been happening within these two years. Please read and spread the news to your friends, it’s not rumours. Trust me, or you may ask any of the Limkokwing students!

I am sad as it is all covered up by the Limkokwing’s president - Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing.

The covered issues about Botswana students (African black):

(1) They take drugs in the University toilet and had been caught by security guard. However the president warned the guard not to spread the news.

(2) They take drugs in the university’s event, especially in the Orientation night organized by the students’ society and faculty. The lecturers saw the incident and they tried to stop, but they like to use the same sentence too against the lecturers: “who the fuck you are, we paid to Tan Sri and Tan Sri paid you, just shut up!”

(3) They get drunk and many accidents happened in Cyberjaya (too many accidents, you can check with the police station)

(4) They keep drugs in their apartments, i.e. Desa Ria, and even bring drugs to class. In the University party in Desa Ria, they took drugs and alcohol (Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing’s daughter was there too).

(5) They disturb the female students, especially the Malay and Chinese students. They just take away and use their handphones without asking for permission (means they just grab!). The girls always feel scared and just keep silent as they do not know what the Botswana students (Africans) will do to them.

(6) There are classes in which of the students’ population is 70% Botswana students. They do not pay attention and cannot keep quiet in the class and the local students are disturbed by them. They even argue in the classes (not only once) when the male local students asked them to shut up, end up they fight. Lecturers tried to stop the Botswana students, again, they showed the same respond “who the fuck you are, we paid to Tan Sri and Tan Sri paid you, just shut up!”

(7) They love to sexually harass the female students. This statement needs no further explanation! Ask the students!
(8) They do not submit assignments and are late in submitting assignments, but still pass! The concern is they still pass! What kind of quality I wonder? They deserve to repeat and fail. Is it the University policy? Their (African) government paid more to Limkokwing University , so they can pass easily? They don’t even follow the lecturers’ guideline, how they can pass?

(9) They even act rude to the lecturers. The lecturers just keep quiet.

(10) They scratched the lecturers’ cars.

(11) They insulted the students’ counsellor in front of the crowd when they not managed to cut queue.

(12) They forced the female students to give their contact numbers.

(13) They gather at their hostel every night and get drunk.

(14) They kidnapped my friend’s daughter!

(15) They used Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing’s and the vice president’s names to cover their ugliness, of which Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing and the vice president knows! They allowed this to happen.

I hope you help to spread the news and I hope there will be a petition to ask the Higher Ministry of Education to look into the African students’ recruitment in Malaysia , especially Limkokwing University . It is already the hell of crime in Cyberjaya. I am sure the African students bring harm.

If you do not believe, you can ask anyone of the Limkokwing students, and ask them how is the African students’ attitude! The dark side of Limkokwing University is all covered up. Please take serious action and discipline the Africans ( Botswana students). Just lodge the police report and do not feel fear! At least we stop them bring harm to our children!

PS: This email is also to tell the management of Limkokwing to take action now. I need the students to spread the email and tell them that it is serious now, and no more covered! Soon we will record the videos and put in YouTube. It is so easy to capture their bad behaviour! STOP GIVING THEM TOO MUCH POWER! STOP COVERING UP FOR THEM!!

Jack, the parents of the girl must do something like making a Police report, and they must consult to the lawyer whether they can sue LimKokwing University colleague. I hav nothing to say about Tan Sri Lim except that he has connections in high places. He used to bodek Mahathir.—Din Merican
Naseer Ahmad // April 2, 2008 at 11:41 am

Hello Din, At last time to sit at the computer and log on to your site. And very good it is too. We are in for some exciting times ahead and it will be interesting to see how the new coalition works but I tell you if they can do a good job UMNO will probably never recover. Isn’t it strange though how a person so shabily treated by the political establishment and especially by Mahathir should now find himself a kingmaker. Divine justice? But with UMNO facing extinction and its gravy train derailed you can be sure that knives are being sharpened for you guys - beware!

Naseer,

Thanks for your comments. Life is full of risks. We shall leave matters to Almighty. We have to do what is right.—Din Merican
enufsaid // April 2, 2008 at 11:47 am

Syabas Din . Carry on the good work .We hope you guys don’t forget the other weapon that the Govt still has the many controlled agencies . Money is power . Sime Darby ,telekom , TNB ,PNB , are like little independent states and the heads like big chief . Maybe they can do with more corporate governance and some opposition too .
Naseer Ahmad // April 3, 2008 at 11:50 am

Strange these goings on at Lim Kok Wing University College. I know. A couple of foreign students there have told me exactly the same sort of stories that are mentioned here. But the real mystery is how come the college does not seem to be taking robust action about this? Do we really need this type of foreign students here when there are thousands of others from different countries whose behaviour is admirable? I know what I would do if I had a child there - make a Police Report and cause a real stink until somebody listens.

Naseer,
Lim Kok Wing is in education for the dough, and safety is expensive for him. Blame the Immigration Department also for giving foreign students visas without carefull vetting..—Din Merican
Zaib // April 4, 2008 at 7:11 am

Salam Bro Din,

Referring to issue raised - ‘bodek Mahathir’ - there were so many people who did that; including those who were once his close allies but are not anymore now. They were the people who saw many of his wrongdoings but chose to keep quiet and closed their eyes because the malpractices were after all not affecting their personal interests. It was only when their interests were jeopardised that they got jerked and forget about all his past favours and good deeds. There were also not much political differences then, but suddenly things changed swiftly when favours were not returned, and that’s also the day we hear people started to politicise issues. Of course he couldn’t afford special favours for everyone, but he performed excellently as the country’s CEO. One shining example was when he took home Sime where you had your illustrious career for many years

Remember, Rome wasn’t built overnight! So was Malaysia’s rise to where we are today; albeit many lackings here and there. With so many political tremors during his early days, bringing Malaysia to its present position wasn’t an easy task. Yes, he (I may be wrong) used fastrack development plans and at the same time employed political tactics to thwart his opponents’ efforts from derailing those ambitious plans. Had he allowed himself to be subjected by too many political pressures, he could have failed to deliver his service to the nation. Wallahualam.

I used to despise him too, but on second thought, seeing how he saved the nation during the last economic crunch (I suffered seriously from the impact which opened my eyes then), and how he survived two heart operations and yet dare to continuously speak his mind. I must say I salute him: for his bravery, wisdom and quick thinking; though there may be some points I oppose. What I want to say here is just my personal expression, derived from my direct and indirect experience. Let’s respect this old man, though he may have erred during his administration. Friend, I don’t want to witness another episode where someone I know was late in paying his last respect to a grand old man he admires.

Wassalam
nor'aini // April 4, 2008 at 9:41 am

pak din..

i visited your blog everyday but this is the first time im posting a comment. i told my friends and family about you joining pkr..becos so many still cannot trust dsai.. congratulations to you..a reluctant blogger to a dj blogger.. lagu-lagu lama tu best la…

nor’aini, your friends and family have been unfair to Anwar. We trusted Dr.Mahathir, what did we get? Judicial and constitutional crises, corruption and abuses of power and poor successor. Anwar has been badly treated by us all and yet he is the one who will save our country from the present mess. Thank you for reading my blog, and I hope the articles and comments in it are useful for you.—Pak Din
Jimmy Tan // April 4, 2008 at 2:19 pm

I will never send my kids to limkokwing ……they are only interested in your money. I am sure alot of people knows about the real limkokwing by now …. MMU will be a better choice in cyberjaya ….
tourman53 // April 5, 2008 at 3:46 am

If you meet a guy (especially Indian) who rides a motorbike with bloody hand knocking your window demand you to stop and asking for tissue paper to clean the blood when you are driving a car, remember DO NOT stop the car at all. Even how he damages your car or holds the side mirrors tightly also DO NOT stop the car but directly drive to the nearest police station. This kind of criminal tactic had been reported about 40 cases in Seremban police station (actually around the whole country also happen). The guy is mainly Indian, he was dare to commit this criminal even in the crowded area whereby no body will dare to stop the car to help you. The main purpose of this dirty tactic is to rob you and even commit rape if you are female. Please forward this message to the people you care about at your best.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
如果你正在驾车时遇上有人 (尤其是印度人) 驶摩多举着血淋淋的手敲你车窗，叫你停车，向你讨纸巾抹血, 记得千万别停车。就算他怎样破坏你的车或抓住车的侧边镜不放也千万别停车，直接将车驶去警局。此类案件在芙蓉警局已接获40 多宗投保 (其实全国都有发生), 匪徒是一伙印度人，就算在人多的地方也敢造案，因为没有人敢停车帮你。这些匪徒最终的目的是男的就抢劫和女的就劫财劫色。尽量将此讯息转发给你关心的人。
Pat@thegallery // April 5, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Hello - I had the pleasure of meeting you yesterday at Mahani’s gallery. I shall be a frequent visitor to your blog from now on. Pardon me if I don’t seem to have much to say - trouble is I have so much to say I don’t know where to begin! Thank you for this avenue of expression. I have so much admiration for people like you, Raja Petra and other bloggers who have the courage to do what you are doing.

I believe that the Opposition’s victory was won on the internet.

I hope we can speak again.

Thanks, Pat. Yes, I remember attractive people like you and Mahani. I welcome your comments, ideas, suggestions and feedback. We need transformational change, not plumbing of the existing system, if we are to move forward. Stay in touch and I promise you that I will respond.—Din Merican
jack // April 5, 2008 at 2:08 pm

College students caught with drugs

KUALA LUMPUR: Petaling Jaya police believe that many foreign students

studying in local colleges are involved in the use and sale of drugs.

Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Arjunaidi Mohamed said this is based on a recent case where three foreign students were caught with several packets of ganja.
“We have instructed college administrations to keep an eye on their students,” he said.

He said police are also working closely with colleges to combat the problem.

On Thursday, three students in their early 20s were arrested in Kota Damansara.

Policemen found several packets of drugs, believed to contain ganja, on them.

Arjunaidi said the trio from Africa and the Middle East are computer engineering students from a local college.

“They were stopped by police at 12.30am on their way home,” said Arjunaidi at a Press conference on Friday.

He said urine samples from the trio tested positive for drugs.

The students are being investigated under Section 6 and 15 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (revised 1980) for possession of raw opium, coca leaves, poppystraw and cannabis, as well as self-administration of dangerous drugs.

Arjunaidi said three other foreign students and a local, also in his 20s, were charged under Section 39B of the Act for drug trafficking.
Zaib // April 6, 2008 at 6:46 am

Hi friends,

Drug menace should be addressed comprehensively. We have to go the root of the problem. Authorities must continue with their good work to aggressively cripple the supply bases and distribution networks (ensure that rate of success in raiding operations are increased by ensuring that there are no informers [in case] among members of the raiding team). Drug users should be hauled for more systematic rehabilitation at professionally run centres (existing ones must be reformed - modules revised, manpower retrained, malpractices identified and corrected, more professional counsellors recruited). Once out the centres, the relevant authorities must institute a mechanism to ensure they can continue to keep tabs with the developments of the ex-drug users (form a Jawatankuasa Sosial or suitable bodies, with members made of the Police Force, NGOS, Youth Organisations, Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Kampung, etc - for monitory or surveillance purposes) The composition must be as broad as possible and the Jawatankuasa must be established nationwide - for better coverage - demarcation of area of coverage for each Jawatankuasa would be the present area of each Parliamentary/DUN constituency. Both the Governing and non-Governing parties must participate in this programme because the issue at stake is common to all of us.

The public may play their roles too by being the eyes and ears to the related authorities and hence an effective channel for information input (infoline) from them must be established - and necessary immediate actions taken upon checking the validity of info provided.

Volunteerism activities in prevention of drug abuse among potential users and ex-users who have undergone rehabilitation, must be encouraged to ensure that chances of getting these target groups back into drug consumption is curtailed.

We hope the sate governments of Permuafakatan Rakyat would look into this issue seriously and take effective and serious actions which other states may emulate. Be the first, be different and an effective social problem solver. Selamat berjuang!

Zaib
ariffin abdullah // April 7, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Bro. Zaib, ingin mencelah sedikit on your comments on Tun Mahathir. As much as I tried to agree with you on his good and bad deeds to the country, I still have some reservation with some of his style in managing the country as a whole.

For starters, what about the creation of UMNO PUTRAs yang telah memonopoli banyak peluang2 besar perniagaan . Maka lahirlah character like Tun Daim dan ’stables2 nya’ ie.. Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Amin Shah and Wan Azmi to name a few, There were the so called ‘czar’ of the Malaysian business world during the period. There were supposed to the be ‘payung’ to the Malay business community but what really happened was the reverse. They were the one that ‘ payung ‘ the small businessmen. Saya percaya , Bro. Zaib faham akan maksud saya ini.

The second most glaring mishaps ,was what happen to the some of the GLCs namely, MMC, PERNAS, BERNAS, FIMA and … others. The existence of the companies were supposed to safeguard Malay interest in the business sector. Now, it seems that it has been ‘personalize’ to few individuals of whom are croonies to Tun Mahathir. FIMA to the late Tan Sri Basir and family, MMC to Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar to name a few. To make matter worst,they all got it with ‘dirt’ cheap price. Once become personalize, for sure the 1st move is to ’strip’ the asset and since it is already free market, the one that can afford are the non Malays. Hilang lagi ‘equity’ Melayu.

Banyak lagi yang boleh saya sebut. Saya rasa Bro. Zaib sudah membaca buku ‘The Unmaking of Malaysia’ oleh Dato Ahmad Mustapha Hassan. It has given us a good understanding on what Tun Mahathir’s good and bad deeds to the country.

Salam and I wish to thank Bro. Din for allowing me to write on your blog.
_____
It is a pleasure to read your comments, Ariffin. We must start this trend towards dialogue and discourse as it will be good for our country. There is plenty we can learn from each other and share. Knowledge is not subject to diseconomies of scale and diminishing returns. There is nothing more refreshing than an open society.

I hope Malaysians write and use my blog and I will do my best to respond or challenge conventional wisdom. Dissent is healthy.—Din Merican
alfred // April 9, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Bro. Don, thanks for the comment. Very refreshing. Like a ‘tonic ‘ for the say. Salam and Selamat Berjuang.
Zulkarnain // April 10, 2008 at 6:28 am

Salam Pak Din,

I hope you still remember me. We were in Jakarta last time and we end up having a fruitful discussion with you in the Apartment Kuningan. I visited your blog almost everyday. My observation, you are very wise person, well read and open minded. Hope we can catch up for teh tarik to exchange views. May Allah bless you and give you good health.

Zul, thanks for your kind comments. I try my best and am still working hard at being a better human being and a Muslim. Tea Tarik? Anytime, pal. Get the other Zul to come along.—-Din Merican
Zulkarnain // April 10, 2008 at 7:41 am

Salam Pak Din
GarbageMan // April 13, 2008 at 6:45 pm

Salam Pak Din,
sy suka melihat komen-komen di blog ini, cara orang melayu berinteraksi sekarang kian canggih. Pendapat Pak Din bernas, ttp tidak sampai ke tahap yang luas. I hope if a Pakatan Rakyat control m’sia nanti, U dapat jadi hos rancangan TV berunsur politik atau ekonomi yang bebas. I will work for a expert.
zaib // April 14, 2008 at 4:44 am

Dear pals,

I am embarrrased with postings made in response to an article written by Leslie of NST Singapore which concludes:

“The Mahathir years were Malaysia’s most tumultuous. They will require careful examination to bring about the reforms Malaysia must undertake to move ahead”

and my opinion is:

Never believe totally to something written by a foreigner who’s trying to fan the fire fiercer! Please mind your country’s business because what Harry Lee did to your own oppositions were even worse - putting behind bars political allies after having made used of them in the 1960s. Its like getting bitten by a dog you once helped!

Shame on Malaysians to use a foreign news as a source of inspiration to pass remarks on Mahathir. What do they know about us than ourselves? Go on express your anger but never be triggered by an article from a foreign source. What a shame! Let us be independent from any foreign opinions as we are smart enough to know between the good and the bad and are equally able to determine our future direction without any outside inteferences.

As we head towards becoming a more civilised and developed nation, please use our emotinal intelligence to reflect ourselves as citizen of such stature!
zaib // April 14, 2008 at 9:25 am

Dear Bro Ariffin,

Sorry Bro Ariffin for not responding to your comment earlier. I have read the Unmaking of Malaysia by Dato’ Ahmad, a cousin of TDM who was also at one time a Director of Berjaya Group. I think this is another case of unreturned favour. Wrongdoings could have been made known to public since those days. I agree with Datuk Kadir’s opinion on ‘Menangguk Di Air Keruh - Dalam Air Jernih Penangkap Ikan Guna Jala Bukan Tangguk’ - Kalau nak mudah cari salah mestilah apabila sesuatu dalam keadaan kucar kacir, kalau tidak siapa nak dengar. Thanks Bro Din for allowing me to use your platform:-)

Wallahualam.
ariffin abdullah // April 15, 2008 at 4:53 am

Bro. Zaib, Muncul juga. Thanks for the comments. Just to correct your write up that Dato Ahmad Mustafa is the nephew of Tun Mahathir. ( his mother is Tun Mahathir’s elder sister). Sometime I wonder why there were so much hatred between those two. After all, he should be thankful with what he has today. Tak banyak sedikit beliau telah meraih keuntungan dari Paman nya.We use to be neighbors during his stay in Taman Sri Ukay dan tahu serba sedikit akan perkembangan beliau.

Untuk Bro. Din, I was at the PKR function in Kampong Baru yesterday. It gave a very clear manifestation of the rakyat
feeling.Oleh itu, wahai the kaki2 bodek dan penjilat2 dalam UMNO ,
sudah sampai masanaya untuk untuk menerima raliti ini. Repent ! Repent ! Repent ! agar tidak sesat selama2 nya.

Bro. Zaib, appreciate if you can allow me to have your e mail address. Saya rasa saya akan dapat menimba banyak pengajaran dari penulisan Tuan.

Salam untuk Bro Din, Selamat Berjuang.
Zaib // April 16, 2008 at 10:23 am

Pals and Bro Ariffin,

Firstly, my comment today is on the main page article about the state of readiness for the arrival of a new government. In the mood to greet the likely event, lest not forget at the same time that, we can’t simply ignore the social contract entered into 51 years ago which gave Independence to our beloved nation. This is also the ultimate reason why I and perhaps majority of other Malays fully support the statement issued by HRH the Crown Prince of Kelantan on ‘demand for equal rights’ but at the same time, not forgetting the ‘rights of other races’. What is actually DSAI’s stand on this issue? Has he taken into account the ‘level playing field’ factor when he chose to propagate ‘equal rights’ and used it as the party’s manifesto? Have the Malays really achieved a level playing field yet? We can’t take anymore risks by letting ourselves undergo another session of political experimentation and adopt a ‘wait and see’ stance to see the effects of those promises, unless somekind of blueprint is formulated to enable us look through and justify the fairness of the plan in store for the Malays.

A contract is a contract. What worries me is that if there is tendency to breach the 51 years old binding contract now, there’d be no guarantee also that another form of contract to be sealed later may not likely be breached. Any qualified lawyer would agree that a breach of any binding contract would liable the breaching party to prosecution, or in a worse scenario where no legal action could be exercised, the party who breached the contract would be labelled lifetime,a liar. Of course we dont condone a liar, do we?

Since ‘rights’ and ‘level playing field’ factors need to be thought deeply and meticulously before any government may get backing from the people, it is therefore better that all parties remain calm before responsible leaders give their explanations and justifications. So for the time being, let’s not get over excited! Go for a Change … Yes! But … Within Agreed Upon Perimeter … and Never Go Beyond and Lead Astray!

Bro Ariffin, I am a nobody, never attached with any established organisations or held any important posts, never got associated with any political parties and never got any chance to rub shoulders with well-known leaders or VIPs. Knowledge wise, I believe you are in a much better position compared to me. Let us for the time being, keep to the present line of communication which is of course subjected to Bro. Din’s permission:-)
Nicholas N chin // April 18, 2008 at 12:25 pm

Nick: Din, you have lofty ideals for a Malaysian Malaysia. DSAI is a good man and a good leader for you to follow and lead so that Malaysia becomes a prosperous country once again. We Malaysians from overseas love our tanah di tumpah darah. We want a true democracy that really works for the people. We are very happy about the changing political landscape and that Ketuanan Melayu is replacing Ketuanan Malaysia. I am all for you and PKR. May it ripens into a fair government for all Malaysians irrespective of race and creed.
Uncle Bob's // April 21, 2008 at 5:40 pm

I now, u dah dapat banyak saham-saham dan nikmat-nikmat elaun masa jadi perkerja di bank pertanian dan glc lain. cermin la diri yg kau tu betui malayu ke? La ni dlm pkr pulak.Umm.. bg la melayu lain plak.
dinobeano // April 22, 2008 at 2:18 am

Uncle Bob,

How wrong you can be about me. That’s all I can say. All I got was due to sheer hard work and grit. I am not wealthy and have never played or owned shares.Please do not get personal and be a bitter person.

I am a Malaysian, and my racial origin and religion are irrelevant as I never had any choice in these matters, including the choice of my own parents.—Din Merican
Ina Tisha // April 22, 2008 at 7:57 am

Salam Bapak,

Just wanted to leave a note here..
Enjoy reading ur blogs,
Unfortunately not a big fan of Anwar Ibrahim….
but no matter, still ur daughter…
patriotic as ever, for a better Malaysia…brick by brick…stone by stone…
dinobeano // April 22, 2008 at 9:35 am

Ina,

It is great to hear from you.

Political differences are tolerated in our family. I have no problem. But there must always be reasons for disagreements. Remember, in large measure, a “better Malaysia” depends on the quality of leadership at various levels including in the civil service where you have chosen to make a career. There must always be a rational basis for decisions or choices.

I choose Anwar because he is an intellectual, an experienced public manager (as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister), a hard working and dedicated man of the people and a universal Muslimin. I share many of his ideas about what we must do to make Malaysia a place for all citizens. He and I are committed to make Malaysia a home where there will be opportunities for all to be the best that they can be, and a country where there is no discrimination. Take care, Bapak.
Ina Tisha // April 23, 2008 at 12:57 am

Salam Bapak,

Tolerance is the sandstone that builds this great nation I call home. I, as u know, am a great fan of our fourth (and some say the greatest) PM, Tun Mahathir. So, for leadership, I look up to him, and of course the greatest leader of all,our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

As a civil servant, and handling government funds, I take pride in my work and the amanah that comes with the responsibility. Rest assured you and mak have given me the necessary foundation of religion and ethics to guide me in my everyday work. Till the next note, love you.
______
Ina, it is not enough to be just a civil servant, but you have to be a truly outstanding one with integrity and intellectual honesty. Please continue to acquire new knowledge and capacities and be a lifelong learner. But you must know that it is tough to be in a civil service culture where mediocrity and corruption are the norms.

In an institution where crooks thrive, a hard working and honest civil servant stands out as a sore thumb and will be eliminated and sent to a civil service pool at INTAN to rot. So you need to be careful. Equip yourself with a good and ethical education and continue to do your Masters and a Phd.—Bapak.
Ina Tisha // April 23, 2008 at 9:22 am

It is a sad state of affairs when we punish the good, yet reward the crooks.I believe that, even with the little experience that I have aquired in my life as a civil servant, there are only a handful of crooks in a sea of unsung heroes I work with. A few rotten apples does not deem the orchard as useless.

My thirst for knowledge has never been properly quenched, I have you and Mak to thank for that. InsyaAllah, when the right time comes, I will pursue my masters and Phd. Pray for me.

I can assure you that I am writing this during my periodical breaks I take after i finish my tasks at the office. So fellow bloggers…do not say that we civil servants waste our office time blogging.
Till my next note, and I really enjoy these little chats we have…
_____
Ina, try a little experiment. Put a few bad apples with the good ones in the same bowl and after a few days, please let me know what happens to the good ones. You see, in any organization if the top (the few) is corrupt, the rest will be corrupted.

It is bad and imcompetent leadership in most ministries and government departments that is the problem today. The top team, especially the head, has a huge influence on the culture of the organization. Of course there are unsung heroes. Without them, the civil service will be in a very sorry state.—Bapak.
ariffin abdullah // April 26, 2008 at 4:13 am

Bro. Din, hope you wouldn’t mind jika saya mencelah sedikit mengenai comment Uncle Bob. Tidak ada kematangan lansung . Tak layak masuk masuk blogg ini . Mungkin blog Sang Kelembai agak sesuai !!!
Salam dan Selamat Berjuang.
________
ariffin, sang Kelembai sudah dibeli dah. Saya kenal dia.Memang dia pandai bertulis and bercakap . Tak guna, kalau tiada princip, umpama lallang saja. —Din Merican
shrek // April 30, 2008 at 5:10 am

Hello Bro Din. It’s been a while sinc we last met at Devi’s. I have been following your move and joining PKR. Good move. I have several friends in PKR who have made it after a long struggle. Wish you all best of luck. Say hi to Bro Jo Abdul. Salams
Bala Pillai // May 1, 2008 at 11:46 am

Hi Din,

Lovely to finally get into and go through your cosy blog. Way to go champ! Especially like the congenial conversations you’re conducting with Malaysians thereby getting even more to be comfortable in expressing themselves openly.

Am lots more in KL now. Would like to get your advice on an outreach cum media cum ‘creative spaces’ strategy for Pakatan. Saw your new number above — will call you soon. Mine in KL is 016 291 1985

Bala Pillai
Co-Founder, Sangkancil/Malaysia.Net (since 1995)
CaRoLiNe // May 5, 2008 at 3:49 am

Dear Din,…Thanks for remembering! Yes…! Ryan received the book! Please accept his long overdue heartfelt thanks! Our 16 month old son has kept him busy and so has not golfed as much as he would like. His attempt to get back to the swing of golf yesterday was met with a muscle pull on the arm during a swing!. So the golf will have to take a back seat a little while longer!

Meanwhile,… love your blog. Love the music too!

btw…
Sad state of affairs to have elected reps not able to express themselves beyond name-calling huh?

Shocked and disgusted.

Embarrassed.

Can only get better I suppose.

Meanwhile,.. keep well. How is your golf?

CaRoLine
____________
Dear CaRoline, you know, my late mom’s maiden name was Caroline Dorall. You share with her a common first name.

Congrats— I apologise for a rather belated one— to you and Ryan on the arrival of your son 16 months ago. The toddler will grow up to be a smart, tall and handsome man. Yes, Ryan must be busy and well, it is worth his effort.

I have not been playing golf in quite a while. My golf isl like “dunia di sana sini” with plenty of out of bounds, hook and duff shots. Golf requires lots of practice to maintain the rhythm and tempo of the golf swing. You need patience too. Before you hit the golf ball, please warm up first.

Of late, I have been busy since I now work for Anwar Ibrahim and he is quite a taskmaster demanding very high standards. But I am all charged up and still going strong at 69 later this month, thank Almighty God.

Yes, CaRoline, I like good music, especially of my generation as I am too hot about the stuff in the cd market these days. I am glad you like my choices. Listen to Earl Grant’s “The End of the Rainbow”. Jane Monheit, Diana Krall, Susie Arioli and Michael Buble are the new generation of jazz singers.

Take care and if Ryan is free, ask him to give me a call (017-366-0897). Cheers. Din
krsnamahesan // May 7, 2008 at 10:18 pm

The news of RPK’s arrest introduced you to me. I am away on holiday in Amsterdam and you are my accidental find! Nevertheless we’ll keep in touch.
nor'aini // May 9, 2008 at 12:51 pm

pak din..

thank you. this new font size for your postings is better
shrek // May 9, 2008 at 10:59 pm

Salams Bro Din the DJ Blogger

Check out this site http://www.akhineche.com He’s a muslim brother that goes to the same meajid as me. Wonderful musician.
By the way we have the Malaysian Astronaut in town this week, givibng talks at various Islamic Centers, Islamic school and the Science Center at USC. It’s quite an experience to meet someone who’s been into space and celebrated Ramadhan in space.
Salams
bobbyphtan // May 11, 2008 at 11:38 am

Din, I remember you were an outstanding Penang Free School boy. A few years my senior as you were with Anis, Say Chong, Donald Tan Peng Lau and others. But I remember you were a MODEL student, an extremely bright Malay student who took everything in his stride and a very very good allrounder. There should have many like you and this country would have been the greatest in SE Asia.Good brains, good brawn, a wonderful combination. I have been following you over the years.. Keep it up. Don’t be “reluctant” !!!
_________

Thanks for your kind remarks, bobby. I am honoured that you still remember me. It was a long time ago. I tried to live according to our school motto—”Fortis Atque Fidelis”— and let me say that it was tough odyssey for me. I have through a lot, but I would not have it any other way.—-Din Merican
barry // May 14, 2008 at 1:50 am

Dear Abang Din,

I just read the post on your interview in Malaysia Today, and I am yet again impressed and grateful to have another truly Towering Malay among us, who is clearly able to see past all the sad and rubbish of our political situation now. I wish you well and that your efforts will yield good fruits for our future generations in this strangely wonderful land of many colours.
______

Barry, we all must work together for a better Malaysia.

I am not a towering Malay, just an ordinary man in the street who happened to be lucky to have had a decent education. I am still learning about life and the world as there is a lot still to learn and unlearn. I am not Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji or our astronaut or someone who supports UMNO and its corruption.—-Din Merican
Fair // May 15, 2008 at 5:56 am

Hi En. Din,

You have a nice blog here.

As the country is rotten to the core after being managed by BN for the last 51 years, I do share your ideas and desires on many issues affecting this beloved nation of ours.
Just wonder how come you did not contest in the 12th General Election ?
Will you be contesting for a state or parliamentary seat in the 13th GE ? I am sure you will be a capable and responsible state assemblyman or Member of parliament.

Please keep up the good work towards the ultimate goal of Pakatan Rakyat forming the next Federal Government .
Wish you (indeed all righteous Malaysians included ) all the best in our struggle for a better Malaysia.

Cheers.
Neoh // May 16, 2008 at 7:01 am

I stumbled onto Malaysia Today a few months ago by accident and via your interview with them, have started to read your blog.

I have lived and worked in the UK for more than 40 years but have proudly retained my Malaysian passport. I’m one of the many overseas Malaysians who share and rejoice in people like you and Raja, whose contribution to Malaysia is making up for our inadequacies.

I thank you.
________________
Dear Neoh,

There is no need for us to deny that we are Malaysians. But it is unfortunate that we have allowed our politicians a free hand in managing our country. The fact that we are now in the dumps has been largely due to our fault. We should have held them to a high standards of public accountability.

We should not be afraid to speak up against the repressive power of government. Fortunately, since March 8, 2008, Malaysians have shown, although not enough yet, that a government which practises “business as usual” at the expense of the people can lose its moral legitimacy to govern.

Credit must go to young Malaysians,not men and women of my generations (50 and 60+ year olds) who are contented and happy with the way things are. I take no credit for anything that has been happening in our country since Badawi came to be the Prime Minister in 2004.—Din Merican
hamzah // May 16, 2008 at 7:02 am

new interface - nice and more in tune with your songs

keep blogging bro!

____________
Thanks, hamzah. Glad you like this blog. Look forward to hearing from you. —Din Merican
nowinnofee // May 17, 2008 at 5:28 pm

Hello Mr Din Merican,

I am very impressed with your passion of the hope of forming a united malaysia with united Malaysians. Having said this, I am sure many Malaysian share the same passion.

However, even being educated, would you believe if I said that many of us are quite lost? Of course, one way is to educate our children and if were are in the academia educate our students. We are trying.

Today, after the recent election, I have to admit, that it is my very wish that my children would stay in this country and and take ownership of this country. That was not so prior to this, as I was ever ready to migrate.

I am realistic enough to give Barisan Rakyat at least another 4 years to make and show enough change to convince us why should we still be Malaysian citizens. Having said this, of course we would make every effort as “reponsible citizen of malaysia” ( in your own words) to assist in achieving this dream to be a reality.
su // May 19, 2008 at 11:04 am

Hi Abang Din

I call you “abang” basically because you’re older than I am, and I call everyone older than me either “kak” or “bang”,basically I grew up that way. But you’re about the same age as my grand-dad and both of you actually look quite alike too! Very kind-looking

If you’d prefer just “Din”, then I’ll do just that, because I’ve come across people who don’t like having the “abang” added to the front of their names.

Anyway, just wanted to thank you for popping by to my “humble blog”. And I’ll keep coming back for inspiration here.

Cheers
michael khoo // May 21, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Hi Che Din,
It is close to 35 years now when I first started work under you when you were the CEO of a subsidiary of Bank Pertanian.We were part of the gang including Sam,Farouk,albert,Tee etc.Even from such a long time ago I can see that you were somehow different from the typical Malay as you were more universal in your approach.Your stint in Ministry of Foreign Affairs couild be a factor I guess.And yes those golf swings you displayed in office were pretty awesome then.If you can give me your contact no perhaps when I am back in KL I could possibly call you up to chit chat over teh tarek on recent political developments in the country.I am now working overseas but keep abreast of home front quite closely.Good luck to your boss inching closer to his dreams of being PM he so rightly deserves!
theerga // May 22, 2008 at 8:57 pm

Happy Birthday!Many Happy Returns and may you continue to enjoy good health. I enjoy reading your blogs and hope to read and listen as often as I can.
Best Wishes
Badardin family // May 23, 2008 at 10:47 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Uncle Din!
Badardin family // May 23, 2008 at 10:48 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Uncle Din!!!
emir imran badardin // May 23, 2008 at 10:53 am

happy birthday
ike // May 23, 2008 at 10:56 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Uncle Din live long
EMIR JIBRAN BADARDIN // May 23, 2008 at 11:00 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE DIN !!!!!!YOU ARE 69
Zaib // May 24, 2008 at 8:18 am

Dear Din,

Happy Birthday. Hopefully you have a good celebration with your children.

How do you feel about Malaysia’s lost of Pulau Batu Puteh?

Zaib
ina tisha // May 27, 2008 at 4:18 am

Yup, my dad has reached the prime (yes sir, u r still in ur prime) of 69.
Bapak, may there be more birthdays to come.
Love u!!
James Loh // May 29, 2008 at 12:47 am

Din,

Thanks for all the nice essays. I’m glad we’ve leaders that have the wisdom on how to tackle the problems with Malaysia. I wish you and the party will succeed in governing Malaysia. As a minority, I’ve been sadden with our racial problems created by UMNO. I’ve listened to Anwar’s “ceramah” on youtube and he have lead me to believe there is still hope for Malaysia Unity.

Lastly, I’ve posted a link about Malaysia unity song. I’m hoping you can post this in your blog. This is created by Malaysian artist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNbAnX9SJrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8Wl3firJQk
http://www.malaysianartistesforunity.info/?page_id=19

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNbAnX9SJrw&hl=en]
Doreen // June 4, 2008 at 5:58 am

Hi Din, I am reading your Blog from the office (lunch time) I find it very stimulating and interesting. Keep up the excellent work and be assurred you will definitely be getting lots of support.
By the way, did you say you are 69?…hmmm you don’t look 69 from the picture posted in the blog…you look great..! And you play golf I understand..make sure your golf balls do not enter my home as my place faces the golf course…haaahaa..
Sien // June 5, 2008 at 5:45 am

Dear Din,

The price of petrol has risen and the prices of essential goods /food are also on the rise. Our PM says it is a Global problem and that petrol is still considered the cheapest compared to other countries. So are we just raising the price of petrol just to be at par with other countries just like we have wasted abundance of RM Millions for unneccessary projects just to be at par with other countries. Malaysia is rich with its natural resources but was not put in good use to benefit the Rakyat..all these while the PM is trying to impress the world with mega projects which do not benefit the Rakyat at all.
Au Yong // June 7, 2008 at 6:06 pm

Hi Din
I reached your blog by accident and was immediately attracted to your thoughts and aspirations. Your aspirations transcend race, creed and status - something decent Malaysians yearn but mostly doing nothing towards the aspirations.

I admire your openess - even allowing your daughter to disagree with you in public, something you need not do but are confident to allow it. I wish our leaders are more like you in allowing respectful dissent - a sign of intellectual and political maturity. Logical and intelligent response earn respect and support - not threat and abuse of power.

I wish you you well and thank you for sharing your noble and patriotic thoughts. As for me I will try to be more active in voicing and suppotive (in deeds rather than just in thoughts)of actions that bring about nation building. I will at least continue to learn from you through this blog.

Thanks. Au Yong
Sien // June 9, 2008 at 4:11 am

Read in the Sunday Star papers yesterday. The Minister in the PM’s Dept. and Jakim is quite disappointed that the Malays are not fighting for their Malay rights and Ketunan Melayu? UMNO is always raising the issues on Malay rights and asking people not to question the Malay rights. Why are the Malays so “KiaSu”?? As a matetr of fact other races are not qustioning the Malays on their rights. The other races are requesting for Rakyat’s right and human rights!!! So why must UMNO always play the racial card. I will never forget what I heard or see during the UMNO live telecast the other time..it was so racial and firery!!! Mind you my family is of mixed marriages…we have Malays…Chinese..Indians…very Muhibbah!!! I am glad that PKR…PAS, DAP and Keadillah are not playing with racial issues and have been doing well..sofar
Nur Sidri // June 10, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Hello Din. Im a Filipino muslim working in Malaysia.

I’ve been searching for Prof. Naguib Alatas for my father and I came upon a comment you had in M. Bakri Musa’s blog.

I was wondering if you could help me get in touch with him. An email addy perhaps? I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Yusuf Martin // June 12, 2008 at 4:27 am

Very interesting blog site, so glad that I visited
J Chong // June 13, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Din
Again I take this opportunityto congratulate you and following your comments to mypost under “Anwar what is he to us?” I appreciate your kind words of wisdom and tracing the Mahathir years in Alor Setar.Yes I too am from Kedah and lived in Penang.Knowing about Mahathr and you are right he was a good doctor,his clinic at 12 Pekan Melayu is next door to us. He always condemn his Malay friends who borrowed money from him. His Besih Cekap …motto disappeared for obvious reason he could not fight corruption so might as well take advantage of it. Kind of reminds me of my business friend whose shop in Butterworth was raided by customs when he bought heavy equipment parts from Songkla and were told they were stolen goods….and then the Inspector turned around and told him,why next time tell them about it and they can help expedite and avoid this investigation!!!!So cannot fight them, join them.
No I am not here to condemn Mahathir. But he was certainly corrupt in my opinion and power crazy and has a huge ego about himself. When he was interviewed on BBC and prointed out the facts about issues he would still deny infront of the cameras…He has no remorse about Anwar and still said he did not know how Anwar had the black eye….he could not admit to anything…..even as the former IGP was indicted….
You are a good and patriotic man and yes I have been in the forefront of promoting investments and joint ventures withMalaysian companies and i never fail to promoite Malaysia. It was difficult as many countries opened up especially China, Vietnam, Cambodia etc as you know have veryattractive incentives for investments and we had the Bumiputra policies to boot. However we organised a MIDA /Matrade Seminar recently in Vancouver and I am impressed by the new regulations of dismantling all the archaic requirements based on race and policies. It might be a little too little too late but late is then never as they say.
Specifically one of the projects I conducted with Sime Darby’s Mecomb was to JV for the production of fuel cells which I was a director of a Vancouver public company here then, and we had successful and proven technology. After many trips in discussions with Sime, the big boss Tengku Mahaleel turned it down completely. Now given the chance of being in the forefront of technology and be a world player he had no guts and no vision and no leadership role.If I were the MD I would have made Sime proud. This is unlike Mahathir who believed in new projects and wasted millions on consultants in the US who advised him on Solar energy. I for one was a pioneer in the first solar air heating system for padi for my rice mill (worked with a local expert)and he should know we had good talents in Malaysia. I stillhold the patent for those
panels.
Fuel cells are the future especially in the light of fuel crisis today. If Sime had JV and developed it we canhave the first fully made motorcycles complete withhydrogen stations etc.
Certainly I shall assisst as much as I can but Government NGOs must also help themselves in being visionary and provide leadership role.
I am an optimist and hope the opposition Governments can be proactive to
promote investment packages for serious foreign companies.Good luck and keep in touch
MIKHAIL RAUL // June 14, 2008 at 1:30 am

Salam to you Brother Din,
I really hope I can see you one of these daysday,and learn from you more about what you write but I guess I am a stranger to you and you must be very busy man.But I guess I have to try my luck. Please email me if you think I can meet up with you, Thanks, sir, Please send my salam to our Dato Seri Anwar i
Ibrahim and please inform him that we don’t have to wait until 16 September. The rakyat needs him ASAP. Thanks.
_______________
Mikail Raul,
No relations with Raul Castro of Cuba? You can call me on my handphone 017-366-0897 and we can meet. Please come prepared for an active exchange. Salams.—Din Merican
zaed // June 15, 2008 at 8:30 am

Salam Uncle Din.
My name is Zaed and I am 18 years old.
I found your blog by accident and it is interesting to read your articles.

Everyday, I have been been jeered by my friends because of my wide knowledge about Malaysian politics qnd my involvement in PKR activities at my plave. But I am not giving up just because of that. Just want to say keep up a good work. Dont disappoint us. A New Dawn for Malaysia.

Thanks..
___________
Dear Zaed, keep reading and writing and before you realise it, you will be writing well. Don’t afraid to make mistakes. Those who laugh last laugh best.

PKR is a good political movement for change. My colleagues and I are inspired by the struggles of Anwar Ibrahim. He will be a great Prime Minister because he did a lot of thinking and reading when he was in solitary confinement at Sungei Buloh. With God’s Help and Malaysians behind him, Anwar Ibrahim with the next leader of our country.—Pak Din Merican.
Pat Lu // June 18, 2008 at 11:06 am

Hi Din!
Lovely! So refreshing and cool!
So much easier to read your blog now.
man // June 20, 2008 at 2:29 pm

HI, Pak Din…i’m still young and young about politic things. Hopefully I’ll learn a lot from your blog and links. You have a very nice introduction. thank you.

Dr MFO
Kamaludin // June 23, 2008 at 4:49 am

Salam buat untuk En. Din saya masih ingat keriangan En Din semasa menginap di Holiday Villa Subang Jaya beberapa tahun yang lalu. Ketika itu En. Din lah tetamu hotel yang paling setaf-setaf sayangi kerana budi-baik dan sikap peramah Che Din. Malah saya yang bertugas sebagai Security Sepervisor pernah di hadiahkan oleh Che Din dengan beberapa helai baju ‘Timberland’ dan beberapa CD Nat King Cole.

Saya sentiasa mendoakan kesejahteraan dan kesihatan Che Din dan saya percaya tuan akan berjaya dalam kerjaya baru ini dan percayalah saya sentiasa menyokong perjuangan tuan.
_______________
Kamaludin, terima kasih. Di mana sekarang? Nat King Cole menang hebat. Mudah dengan doa saudara, Anwar Ibrahim akan meminpin kita tidak lama lagi. Salam, Din Merican
Virost // June 24, 2008 at 4:44 am

Great Blog Pak Din..Nice to know that you found a new hobby and enjoy doing it. Still remember very well your great collections of CD’S and books…Most of the time you ask me to take and read..huuhuu..my usual excuses .. busy laa Cik Din..mana ada masa..But you’re a great man..always enjoy and learn something new from you, whenever we are chit-chat at hotel lobby.

Take care & wish you well..!!! Salam — dari budak siam kedah..(Ex-Subang H.Villa Staff)
____________
Virost, great to hear from you. Are you with Le Meridien? Please let me know as I would like to meet up with you and talk about old times. Tidak kira bangsa, Virost. Kita semua orang Malaysia kan? Kalau kita boleh kerjasama dan rajin, maka maju lah negara kita. Mesti usaha rajin cari ilmu dan kena suka membaca.—Din Merican
Nazarudin // June 25, 2008 at 7:35 am

Salam Din, accidentallly I found this great blog. Really appreciate with all your efforts. Feel ashamed of myself coz I do not contribute at all towards our country. I always make it safe and let others do before me. Hmm… I am bad malaysian!!
____________
Nazarudin, it is never too late to make our country better. Join us at PKR/PR and together we will make a huge difference. Thanks all the voters we are a force to reckon with today.—Din Merican
peter tan // June 25, 2008 at 8:08 am

HI Din,

Just a short note to say hi….it has been along time since you have been in the news since the Sime Darby days…

You will not remember me but we did meet twice back in the 80s when Professor Grub of GWU came to visit and at that time you were a Director at Sime Darby. Wonder if Professor Grub is still alive and are you in touch with him?

Anyway, good you are with DSAI and doing national service.

Good luck.

B rgds
Peter Tan
_____________-
Phil Grub is fine and a great teacher and mentor. He has retired and is now back in his Washington State (Spokane). Yes, we exchange e-mail from time to time.

I am trying to do my best, but after 50 years of cultural degeneration, it is tough trying to change the country. People expect PKR/PR to perform miracles. Thanks, Peter for writing in.—Din Merican
ronnie wee // June 28, 2008 at 11:18 am

Dear Sir
Likewise I came by your blog by accident and wished this accident happened much earlier. You have commanded my deepest respect for your frank, candid, non-racial views and especially your passion for the ‘reformasi’ and deliverance from the ‘evil-doers’ for our beloved country. May the Almighty keep you and your family in good health always.

Thank you Sir for the good work you are doing (I am from the old school taught to address ‘Sir’ to those we hold in high esteem and respect). Anak Malaysia born 1940 in Campbell Road, KL.
___________
Ronnie, you are a year younger than me. Please cut the “Sir” thing and call me Din. I am deeply honoured that you are now reading this blog. Please share your views, ideas and comments with other bloggers and me. Speak your mind and tell it like it is. Regards–Din Merican
Justin Choo // June 30, 2008 at 4:12 am

Uncle Din,

I am a late comer here. Hope still not too late. Found your blog when I was posting about Anwar’s latest news. Used your photo of Saiful in my blog without your permission. Since my blog is virtually “unseen” I think it’s ok.

My respect for you, and will be reading your posts daily.

(By the way I can’t get into your “home” page.)
lady from bdb // June 30, 2008 at 5:16 am

Prof! I reached here thru your call card u handed me a few days ago. Wanted to say hi earlier but i was a tad afraid/shy..haha..What a great blog u have here. My husband (an A.I.C member) loves it. Now u are one of his daily doses, wajib singgah and mine too
keris_mudin // July 1, 2008 at 3:52 am

Hi Din,

For all our sake as Malaysians, Malay, Chinese, Indians, KadazanDusuns, Ibans, Muruts …Muslims, Christian, Budhist, Hindus etc… we hope and want PR to succeed in redefining society as we know it.

It’s great to know people like you still exist in Malaysian Politics.
Kawan lama di S.Alm // July 11, 2008 at 5:05 pm

Good luck..
ariffin abdullah // July 14, 2008 at 8:00 am

Bro. Din, appreciate if you can comment on article by Raja Petra Kamaruddin in Malaysia Today ‘ The Cult call PKR’. To be honest , I am rather disturbed and confused . Acknowledging your unbiased nature, I am hoping very much you can enlightened me on the matter. Salam
Alwin Peng // July 15, 2008 at 2:56 am

Dear Encik Din..

Not sure if you still remember …. that I met you at Anwar Office in 27 May 2008 and then you introduce Senator Zambri Yusuf to me.

Please accept my long overdue heartfelt thanks!

May I have another pleasure to meet up and talk to you again?
kamal // July 16, 2008 at 5:11 am

Dear Mr Din
din, Iam sabahan,last time we meet at klcc waiting a cab, remember u arrange all the people to make a line waiting a cab. I really appreciated what u have been done and i like u comment that time about our community attitude in this era.
Miwai // July 16, 2008 at 5:03 pm

just joined in for comments. will come back again for serious comments.
BlueFairy // July 21, 2008 at 3:53 am

Dear Mr Din,

I am so delighted to meet you last Friday night.

I really do enjoy reading your blog.

Keep up the good works.
Mr Bean // July 21, 2008 at 3:51 pm

“Thank you Sir for the good work you are doing (I am from the old school taught to address ‘Sir’ to those we hold in high esteem and respect). Anak Malaysia born 1940 in Campbell Road, KL.” Ronnie

That is perfectly OK. Nothing wrong if you practice that in Malaysia. Malaysians find it hard to say “Please” or “Sir”.

But in the U.S. when somebody calls you “Sir” you can bet your life they are about to take you to task for whatever you must have done, or are doing , that to them is not right! I hate to hear the sound of the word “Sir”. It means somebody is about to say or do something nasty - be he a policeman (about to issue me a traffic summons), a bank teller ( to whom I gave money short), an administrative assistant (who is saying I need to come back with the right documents) or a secretary (who says the boss is not in and you don’t believe her).

But otherwise they call everybody “Sir”.
Salak // July 22, 2008 at 2:35 am

Sdra Din,

The site’s evolving fast. I’m stuck with Gunung Salak with an unwelcoming patch that might or not reveal anything underneath.

Good template and nice to use with bright space.

Keep up the golf and sink a hot birdie for me, please!

I’ll toast for tomorrow!
Mr Bean // July 23, 2008 at 5:40 pm

At one time I managed to get approval from Megat Junid when he was Home Minister to bring in some 60 Filipino women caddies for a club. I made a cool RM70k for that - tax free!

Wanita UMNO was very upset with me!
romerz // July 25, 2008 at 7:36 pm

Dear Mr Din,

May I have your permission to add your blog to my blog roll?

Such are troubling times for this country that we need moderate and fair-thinking people to come forth and shape our civil society. It is hard and scary at times, but it must be done!

Otherwise our children and their children will will forever pay the price of our indifference!

I am heartened by your desire for change in a ‘democratic, peaceful, and constitutional manner’ and with your many supporters, it will augur well for those who subscribe to the ‘middle ground’.

Thank you and good luck to us all. If only there are more like you in our beloved country.
_____________
romerz, the fight for change is the responsibility of all of us. My grandchildren depends on my being able to do something for their future. So I cannot fail them.

Yes, you can include my blog on your blogroll. I am honoured that you think mine merits a place on your blog. All the best. Kind regards to you and your family. Din
haji muhammad abdullah @ tan wah guan // July 26, 2008 at 1:37 am

Salam brother,

I have been following your blog ever since the Anwar debacle n all those happenings in the country presently n I must admit with perasaan terharu, humility n sincerity ..I m truly impressed with what I read. A spade is still a spade no matter whatever form it may have evolved into

Keep up the good work…your blog…
(this determination of yours certainly reminds me to update mine as well)

After hearing Tony Melendez…make me realize there’s still a LOT of things to b done out there to make this beautiful country of ours a better place to live not just for ourselves but our children, our grandchildren n our future generations 2 come

With guys like u n DSAI.. darn if I m going to keep still after this

Thxxx n regards

haji muhammad bin abdullah @ tan wah guan
leo // July 28, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Dear Din,

I wish people like you had offered yourselves to stand in the recent GE. Your sincerity is there for all to see.Your ideals are what is really lacking amoung those who contested especially among those from the ruling coalition.You have the correct exposure and temperament.And what is really appreciated is that you are sharing even your handphone contact number. Expect an sms from me, dear Din.
___________________
Thanks Leo, for your very kind remarks.

I am glad that you are reading this blog and like to see your comments as well so that we can exchange ideas and views and dream about our country.

I have been a business and public service technocrat all my life. But I am interested in Politics as a means to power, and that power should be used for the benefit of a maximum number of people.I know my limitations, that is, I am not good as a politician; in fact, I will fail miserably at this oldest vocation (dating back to the days of Athenian Greece and Caesar’s Rome). Because of that, I chose to stay out of it directly.

I joined PKR because, first, I was attracted to it by Anwar (his personality, character and intellect), his vision and his programmes that will tranform our country. I am, therefore, a “sucker”, so to speak, for democracy, freedom and justice and PKR is the platform for that transformational change.

Second, I realise that I can serve a political party without being a politician. Therefore, I am happy to be doing what I am doing now. This is because I am helping my party and its leaders and members and together, we will make Malaysia proud again.

Leo, you are most welcome to call, or sms me and I will do my best to answer you. Kind regards.—Din Merican
afred tas // July 29, 2008 at 6:00 pm

As a third party I can see the purpose of stirring up issue like sodomy case against anwar is to divert public attention away from attantunya’s case and the links.

More sodomy case publicities means more diversions away from Attantunya’’s news from public. See the relative link!

Anyway , what the latest update on Attantunya’s case now ? Any news? Public is watching closely and Malaysia had an obligation to answer Mongolia and the rest of the world for human right justice otherwise we become a Pariah among nations for Attantunya’s case if remains unsolved by the government.
James Khong // August 1, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Hi DIN,
Your recent article on MT regarding that Tengku Aziz
was stimulating.My , I missed such writings and marvel at your excellent english.You dont find such writings today and i will definitely look forward to such articles from you.
Keep on fighting for your believes and you have a keen supporter behind you.
J. D. Lovrenciear // August 2, 2008 at 1:44 pm

Dear Mr. Din,

This is August 2, 2008. And it is never too late for anything good. And all the more when the intentions (or ‘niat’ as we would say it around here) are pure. I am pleased to bump into your blog very recently.

Indeed, it takes clear thinking men like you with hearts in the right place to help Malaysia get back on course.

Yes, every bit that every single good soul can do must be done. As Socrates would have said: May the humble deeds we performed and the simple words we spoke in our lifetimes, turn into oracles on our tombstone.

I wish you very well. Indeed reading your blog gives me a great sense of balance and a determination not to hang the towel in.
shobhan // August 2, 2008 at 3:58 pm

Mr dear friend Mr Din,

Nice to see your picture on ‘face to face.’ It is well taken. I am on a short holiday now and have grabbed a few minutes apart from writing on DSAI’s blog to write in here. I have also gone through some of the blogs written by others here and it is nice to know that you have a large no. of bloggers visiting your site and giving their views and responses. It is very consoling to know we have men like you who are willing to sacrifice time and effort to nation building and challenging the force there be to make this part of the world something to be proud of. Wishing you my friend all the best towards the by election in Permatang Pauh. Cheers and take care.
shobhan // August 3, 2008 at 11:39 am

Where in Malaysia do you have a person who will take the trouble to line up a group of people waiting for a taxi at KLCC?
Kassim Ahmad // August 5, 2008 at 8:24 pm

Pak Din Yang Dihormati,
Salam.
Baru sekarang saya melihat blog sdr serta pelbagai komen yang menarik. Saya hanya hendak menegaskan beberpa perkara:-
1. Nyata bahawa UMNO/BN dalam masa 2-3 dekad yang lalu telah melepaskan perjuangan kebangsaan (Melayu/Malaysia) dan menganut faham “kuasa untuk kepentingan diri”. Ini yang telah menyebabkan mereka ditolak oleh ramai orang Melayu sendiri dalam PRU12.
2. Saya sokong penuh pendirian sdr untuk meninggalkan kedudukan “berdiri di atas pagar” kepada aktivis politik di pihak tenaga yang ingin membawa “perubahan yang kita mahu”, yakni yang lebih baik.
3. Keterlibatan sdr dalam PKR dan Pakatan Rakyat saya anggap perkara kedua, yang mempunyai unsur kebetulan. Bagi saya, parti-parti politik itu hanya alat. Yang lebih penting ialah falsafah perjuangannya. Pada hari ini, sesuai dengan perubahanan-perubahan yang telah dan sedang berlaku di seluruh dunia, kita perlu menganut falsafah perjuang yang boleh kita sebutkan sebagai “Nasionalis/Patriotik, Humanis/Internasionalis/Demokratik dan Adil”. Falsafah perjuangan ini PERLU digambarkan dalam manifesto Pakatan Rakyat dan juga menjadi kursus wajib bagi anggota-anggota dan kader-kader parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Ini dan bukan individu (walaupun individu itu penting, Anwar Ibrahim, tidak terkecuali) yang harus diutamakan.
4. Malangnya, saya kurang sihat. Umur saya hampir 75 tahun. Kalau saya 10 tahun lebih muda, saya akan lawan Pak Lah, dulu terkenal dengan julukan “Mr Clean”, dan sekarang sudah jadi pemimpin yang kerap tidur!
5. Saya harap Pakatan Rakyat boleh mengganti UMNO/BN.
Wasslam,
Pak Kassim
flucon // August 7, 2008 at 7:20 am

Very nice work. Good luck to you with love from India.
Commonsense // August 7, 2008 at 7:49 am

Hello Din,

I’m new to your blogsite and you do have very interesting issues on your site, so I’m happy to have found it by accident.

Are you in any way related to the Merican doctors in Malacca? Just curious as I know one of them.

Anyway, as I was travelling out of KL this morning, my mind was preoccupied for the entire journey, on the deterioration of our state of affairs in our country … how injustice has been done to DSAI, how inept our current lot of politicians are, how our country’s funds are blatantly being robbed under our very noses, and everything else. I often have thoughts of migrating as I thought that there was no more hope here, but until the last GE, I began to see a small flicker of light, getting stronger by the day. And now I have abandoned all thoughts of migrating and have decided to stay and fight for justice in any small way I can.

You know the idiom “Still waters run deep”, well I thought that aptly described our present PM. He behaves like the elusive ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’, pretends to be stupid on the outside, but really scheming behind. He’s also become “a man of contradictions”, with plenty of examples as evidence, which I’m sure you’re aware of. So, in reality, whatever our PM says, in truth, it actually means the opposite, don’t you think so? I mean when he says that he pledged to make Malaysia a safer place, he doesn’t really mean it does he? And the many other pledges he ‘promised’ to execute during his tenure as PM. There is truth to believe the opposite of what he says, and just reflecting back to all or most of what he’s said thus far, the opposite has happened. What’s your take on this?
fungus // August 14, 2008 at 10:34 am

Din,

I love visiting your blog but allow me to suggest something…if you don’t mind - I would love to read writings on your thoughts more than postings from other sites.

Hope you don’t mind me saying this.

Thanks and keep up the good work!
Truth Seeker // August 17, 2008 at 3:33 am

ANWAR, ARE YOU A VISIONARY LEADER???

DSAI, Are you someone with a vision burning inside that seeks to manifest? Do you see yourself as a visionary?

Visionary leaders are the builders of a new dawn, working with imagination, insight, and boldness. They present a challenge that calls forth the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose. They work with the power of intentionality and alignment with a higher purpose. Their eyes are on the horizon, not just on the near at hand. They are social innovators and change agents, seeing the big picture and thinking strategically.

What is it that makes a visionary become a visionary leader? A visionary may dream wonderful visions of the future and articulate them with great inspiration. A visionary is good with words. But a visionary leader is good with actions as well as words, and so can bring his vision into being in the world, thus transforming it in some way. More than words are needed for a vision to take form in today’s world. It requires leadership and heartfelt commitment.

There is a profound interconnectedness between the leader and the whole, and true visionary leaders serve the good of the whole. They recognize that there is some truth on both sides of most polarized issues in our society today. They search for solutions that transcend the usual adversarial approaches and address the causal level of problems. They find a higher synthesis of the best of both sides of an issue and address the systemic root causes of problems to create real breakthroughs.

A visionary leader is effective in manifesting his or her vision because he creates specific, achievable goals, initiates action and enlists the participation of others.

What are the qualities and abilities of true visionary leaders? What is the mysterious inner process within leaders that enables them to work their magic and radiate the charisma that mobilizes others for a higher purpose?

Visionary leadership is based on a balanced expression of the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical dimensions. It requires core values, clear vision, empowering relationships, and innovative action. When one or more of these dimensions are missing, leadership cannot manifest a vision.

A COMMITMENT TO CORE SPIRITUAL VALUES

A commitment to values is an outstanding characteristic of all visionary leaders. They embody a sense of personal integrity, and radiate a sense of energy, vitality and will. Will is standing in a spiritual state of being. Will is a spiritual attribute, which allows a leader to stand for something.

More self-aware and reflective than others, visionary leaders follow an inner sense of direction, and lead from the inside out, as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi. He said, “I must first be the change I want to see in my world.” He was a prime example of a commitment to values, as he freed India by appealing to the moral conscience of Britain and using non-violent action to reveal the immorality of the British Empire.

Rather than being corrupted by power, visionary leaders are elevated by power and exercise moral leadership. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, embodies this type of moral leadership, as does Marion Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, who has a deep commitment to children’s welfare.

A CLEAR, INSPIRATIONAL VISION

Visionaries who are successful at manifesting their visions base their leadership on an inspirational, positive picture of the future, as well as a clear sense of direction as to how to get there. Vision is a field that brings energy into form. Effective leaders broadcast a coherent message by themselves embodying their vision, as author Margaret Wheatley notes. They keep communicating the vision to create a strong field which then brings their vision into physical reality. Nelson Mandela clearly held a positive vision of a racially harmonious South Africa during his 28 years in jail and helped bring it into reality peacefully, to the amazement of the world.

The best visionary leaders move energy to a higher level by offering a clear vision of what is possible. They inspire people to be better than they already are and help them identify with what Lincoln called “the angels of their better nature”. This was the power of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. The creative power of lighted, inspired words can sound a certain inner note that people recognize and respond to. This then creates dramatic social change. Like King, visionary leaders have the ability to sense the deeper spiritual needs of followers and link their current demands to these deeper, often unspoken, need for purpose and meaning.

Visionary leaders often have the ability to see higher spiritual forces at work behind the scenes of events, and they align with the vision of these redemptive forces. Both George Washington and Winston Churchill spoke about the help they received from a “guiding hand”. Churchill said, “…we have a guardian because we serve a great cause, and we shall have that guardian as long as we serve that cause faithfully”.

Sojourner Truth, a former slave, was guided by an inner spiritual experience to preach the emancipation of slaves and women’s rights all over the country during the Civil War. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt had a vision of Mohammed who told him to create peace in the Middle East. This vision is the hidden story behind the Camp David Peace Treaty between Arabs and Israelis.

Visionary leaders transmit energy to people, giving them a new sense of hope and confidence in achieving the vision. Television host Oprah Winfrey helps her guests believe in themselves and work to create a better world.

Visionary leaders often enunciate a vision based on principles that become guideposts for humanity. They intuitively draw on the ageless wisdom and present it in a new synthesis to meet the particular need of the times. In the Brundtland Report, Gro Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, helped synthesize the principles of sustainable development that are needed to protect our environment for future generations.

RESPECTFUL, EMPOWERING RELATIONSHIPS

Good relationships are the heart of effective visionary leaders. They embody a deeply caring approach to people, seeing them as their greatest asset. Aaron Feuerstein, CEO of Malden Mills, kept all his employees on the payroll when a fire destroyed 75% of his factories. His employees were so grateful they helped him rebuild and within a year the company was more profitable than ever.

In contrast to the old style of leadership which tells people what to do, and pushes or dominates them, visionary leaders embody a receptive, as well as a dynamic energy. They know how to listen and learn from other points of view and have fine tuned their communications skills. Rita Bailey, Director of Southwest Airline’s University for People, says the secret of the airline’s amazing financial success is living by the golden rule: treating employees as family, with warmth and respect. Employees then treat customers the same way.

Visionary leaders promote a partnership approach and create a shared sense of vision and meaning with others. They exhibit a greater respect for others and carefully develop team spirit and team learning, Building this sense of shared vision and partnership has also been key to the effectiveness of feminist Gloria Steinem.

The most effective visionary leaders are responsive to the real needs of people and they develop participative strategies to include people in designing their own futures. This approach has been very successful for Robert Haas, the CEO of Levi Strauss. Rather than confront or avoid conflict, the new leaders have learned how to transform conflict into usable energy. They work to unite, rather than divide people.

INNOVATIVE, COURAGEOUS ACTION

Visionary leaders are especially noted for transforming old mental maps or paradigms, and creating strategies that are “outside the box” of conventional thought. They embody a balance of right brain (rational) and left brain (intuitive) functions. Their thinking is broad and systemic, seeing the big picture, the whole system, and “the pattern that connects.” They then create innovative strategies for actualizing their vision.

CNN founder Ted Turner transformed television news by boldly creating an around-the-clock international news network.

Visionary leaders anticipate change and are proactive, rather than reactive to events. Their focus is on opportunities, not on problems. They emphasize win/win, rather than adversarial win/lose approaches.

When we see a truly visionary leader accomplishing great things, he is drawing on the resources of their soul and its remarkable capabilities. Each of us can access our inner resources to become a more effective leader in our own field. First we must be willing to take initiative and stand for something we believe in passionately. We must be ready to take the heat. Many of us avoid the responsibility of leadership primarily because we are too sensitive to criticism. But when we know who we truly are and we live from an inner core of values, criticism can be filtered to take in only what is true and helpful to our growth.

Today, as we enter the Third Millennium, thousands of new visionary leaders are emerging in all fields of human endeavor around the world, leading a quiet revolution energized by power of the soul. By appreciating and supporting those who lead from their core spiritual values, we strengthen those leadership qualities in ourselves.

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP
Corinne McLaughlin
awang damai // August 18, 2008 at 11:27 am

Hi Din,
Since you work for Anwar I do not expect you to write anything good about the present leadership. You personal goal is to change the present government by democratic, peaceful & constitutional manner. Does that include trying to grab parlimentary majority through the ‘back door’ frequently heard from your boss’es mouth?
omar qayyum mohan // August 18, 2008 at 2:40 pm

dear buddy,

i am so glad that i still have “melayu”s like u that tells me i wuz never wrong in my judgement of characters.

ur the type that has been slowly but surely anniliated by this UNMO-style regime

i hope and pray more like u stand against this regime and save this beautiful country and nation ….. bring it to the P Ramli era that we all know of n luv

cheers
Zaib // August 24, 2008 at 11:46 am

I see JD here. Hey buddy are u still active with ur IPRM activities? Sorry Din for using ur space to communicate with JD hehehe. Im feeling monotonous talking abt politics. Its getting dirtier
Tean Rean // August 26, 2008 at 2:27 am

Hello Brother Din,

I hope you will have a good time tonight and must celebrate the beginning of the end of BN. I am happy that people like you still carry on the fight to save the country from the dirty hands of those in the power.

I am very angry when the Cabinet Ministers including the sleeping PM is banking on the assholes to win the election instead of managing the economy while the people are being choked by inflation. Can you imagine all cabinet Ministers are focusing on one asshole and they travel the country on our expenses to talk about it.

At the same time they trust the ular 2nd Finance Minister to manage our money. He will burn few millions more soon on Maybank’s BII deal. I still remember that this same snake told us that Bank negara only “paper loss” milions in Forex market years ago.

This mamak snake must go Brother Din, and you take over his post soon.
Shobhan // August 26, 2008 at 4:00 am

There are a thousand butterflies in my stomach waiting ernestly for the results. Hope DSAI wins an overwhelming majority. I heard that many of the Chinese voters are scared to come out to vote. Is it true, Mr Din?
Wong Chee Kong // August 27, 2008 at 9:44 am

Hello Din,
I’ve met you only once, well before the Mar GE at Car & Co. We got engaged in the usual pre-GE conversation and I recalled you were quite amused with my remark that I would rather vote a cockroach than any BN candidate. Yes that was the level of respect (or is it disrespect) I have for BN. Ironically so as I had all along been a BN believer and supporter. On looking back I can’t help but see myself being so stupid and gullible. Or perhaps BN had been doing such a good job covering their tracks. Not anymore with today’s Internet era.

As the old saying goes, “it’s better late than never” and I am truly impressed with the in-roads made by PR. And now with Anwar winning the PP by-election with such a landslide majority I’m with all the rest rejoicing and looking forward to more things to come.

Congratulations to Anwar and welcome back to Parliament where you rightly belong.

To you, Din - thank you so much for your untiring assistance and support to Anwar.

I was at the 19th hole just last Sunday when my golfing kaki asked the whole lot of us this question. “Any good if Anwar becomes the PM?” Without any hesitation I said, “No downside. Only upsides.” After that I got carried away, justifiably under the influence of whisky, and uttered the frustrations of a true red blooded patriotic Malaysian. The rest listened with gaping mouths but not under the influence of whisky.

I’ve read a lot of the articles contributed by Dr Azly Rahman. The most recent one really hit the nail on the head. I like the way he related the things that the government had done to the principles of the Rukunegara. It dawned on me that they have violated everything that the Rukunegara stands for. And I also like the remedy suggested by Dr Azly - leveraging on EDUCATION!! He got it on the spot when he said the entire group of people behind the system should be replaced.

It saddens me to see young children segregated along racial lines. It saddens me when a survey conducted by The Star on school children that there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking bribes if they are in the position of authority and power. This survey was of course swiftly suppressed. What has become of the nation we call Malaysia?

Din, we have gone a lot off tangent and after 50 years we are way off the mark. To get back on track will not be easy. I hope there will be more intellectuals like you to provide guidance and wisdom to the PR leadership to steer our beloved country back on track. It may take more than 50 years but it’s certainly worth the efforts and waiting for our next generation and generations to come. The CAT guiding principles that LGE talks about is a good start. We Malaysians are all with you!
ranjit // August 28, 2008 at 8:49 am

Keep the faith and keep on fighting, I am very proud of you En. Din.
Md Hilmi Md Noor // August 28, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Din,

I have enjoyed reading your articles and admire you for the values that you stand for i.e., honesty, integrity, accountability, hard work and all the positive values of life.These values that you hold are reflective of the qualities of your alma mater PFS.

I also an Old Free and I believe you were a student of my late father. I am proud that you are doing an excellent work for the good of the future generation. People of your standing and character are becoming a rarity in the present time.
dinobeano // August 29, 2008 at 1:29 am

Dear Hilmi,

Yes, your late father, Capt. Mohd Noor, is a PFS legend. He was very disciplined and demanding as the Master in charge the school’s cadet corps. I remember him well for his care for his students and the values he drilled into us. In my book, he will remain one of the most unforgettable characters I met.

Every time my PFS classmates and I meet, we talk about our teachers and what they did selflessly for us and invariably your father’s name is mentioned with great fondest.Teachers of your late father’s calibre, dedication and integrity are rare these days. This is because most teachers today fail to realise the impact they can have on the character and intellectual development of their students.

Fortis Atque Fidelis (1816) is our school’s motto. October 21, our school speech day, is the anniversary of the death of Captain Francis Light, Penang’s Founder (dec. October 21, 1794). I found that out when I visited his grave in the Protestant cemetery in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah (Northam Road) a couple of days ago when I was in Penang for the Permatang Pauh campaign.

Knid regards, Din Merican
T.R.Ponniah // August 29, 2008 at 1:01 pm

Dear Din, This is the first time I happen to get into your blog. It is great. Carry on we are with you.

GOD BLESS

T.R.PONNIAH
Aziz Naim // August 30, 2008 at 3:50 am

Dear Din,

I am one of the silent majority whaich can make difference in the GE results. For time being I am not able to participate actively for some known reasons.

Anyway there are some informations that we have of how the BN govt in Negeri Sembilan (Seremban) use their power for their own group’s interest.

Please contact me if you want that info..

Aziz
sang kancil // September 1, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Dear Abang Din,

I last wrote in your blog on your birthday as it was the same as Michael , my son who turned 18. SInce then, I have been religiously following the envents unfolding in Malaysia till the eventful VICTORY of DSAI in the Permatang pauh by election. So many events have taken place which I felt brought much shame and embarrassment to all Rakyat. With the arrrest of RPK on sedition and the sodomy 11 charge on our DSAi to the blocking of MT by the Government and many many more unspeakable related incidents. Malaysia must be a laughing stock. Instead of the government focusing on the economical and social ills in our country, they channeled all their energy in trying to brow beat our DSAI with the so called DNA bill and to destroy our hope of his progress from PP to PJ. There is so much more I want to say but everytime I try it makes me disllusions about the ways this corrupt UMNO/BN government is destroying our beloved country, just like Mugabe.

Anyway, I do sincerely hope DSAI will journey to Putrajaya with God’s blessing and snatch back our beloved Malaysia from jaw these unspeakable corrupt bunch of you-know-who, before its too late. This is our golden opportunity and I do pray DSAI succeeds.

Wishing you, DIN, and all our muslim brothers and sisters selamat puasa in this holy month of Ramadan.

sang kancil - formerly from melaka

Salam
Shobhan // September 2, 2008 at 10:54 am

Hope you got my sms Mr Din. I was worried that you were not well, since there was no response. It’s understandable since you may have a lot to write here in your blog that you may take time to answer me. Anyway it’s comforting to know that you are ok, this puasa month. Selamat berpuasa and take care my friend. All the best for PR’s future.
Avatar // September 4, 2008 at 2:41 pm

Dear Din,

Great blog. I’ve just added your blog to my links section and wanted to let you know.

Rgds
luckcome // September 5, 2008 at 4:52 am

Dear Din,

I am delighted to have read parts of your blog, hope to see dots of light in the tunnel for our beloved country in the coming future.

Personally,I am looking forward to speak to you one of these day.

Best Regards
chrisho // September 7, 2008 at 10:57 am

Dear Din,

Greetings from Angkor!!

I have been dissecting a lot of blogs lately and through RPK blog and MT, I stumbled upon yours. What you are doing is extremely commendable and brave.

I have been sitting on the fence for too long when it comes to Malaysian Politics and sees no sustainable and alternative to BN/UMNO grip on government. I have never bothered to vote because I know the outcome and have instead champion the changes in Cambodia through the private sector initiative for sustainable development.

Today I see there is hope, today I see there will be a sea of change in Malaysian Politics, a way forward. DSAI is a bankable choice for the people. When he comes to power he will need all the Malaysian overseas old boys network and resources to help him run the country, both politicly and commercially. After almost 30 years abroad, I see Malaysia from the international view point. I still believe this place is home but will surely lose out internationally when it comes to business competitiveness. What angers/envious me most is that our neighbours of Singapore have been doing so well, their companies are world class, their managers are ethical, their government machinery so smooth and friendly and so forth. We are the same people, us and the Singaporean. We even like the same food and culturally indifference. We called them Kiasu, Kiasi and so forth but down deep inside who are we kidding. Why can’t we learn from them, why can’t we have a leader like LKY , pioneering and visionary.

Now we have a chance, DSAI is such a person, while not perfect but I read his reasoning and I see his vision and his pioneering concept in doing away with race politics and partition along religious lines that have haunt us since Merdeka. Why do we have race politics, why can’t we be like Thailand and Indonesia, everybody is a Thai or Indonesian and share common names. When introducing themselves, they don’t say “I am a Malaysian Chinese or Malaysian Indian”, they say I am Thai. If Malaysia is to reinvent itself and have our Malaysian companies becoming world class, our people proud and industrious, our nation prosperous and leader among the league of nations and where our voice and concept will be heard then it is time for that sea of change. This chapter in Malaysia history and opportunity has never been more important than now. There is light still at the end of the tunnel. Let us not be whiners and winches as Malaysian are fond of doing. I know this to be true after 28 years in the hospitality industry. I mean no insult to my fellow Malaysians.

It is time to commit, how… Follow the leader, let him bring about this change, let him be the pioneer in the Real Malaysia Boleh. Let him be the statesman that we deserve on the World political stage. Let him be the greatest Malaysian Salesman overseas ever, let him lead and lead he shall.

Din, I am ready to commit to your cause and DSAI cause, count me in, tell me what to do. Tell me what you need, I have great resources to my disposal. I have international networks and business friends and my friends have even more resources at their disposal. To my fellow Malaysian who knows me well, when I commit there is no turning back.

Regards

Chris Ho
tourman53 // September 7, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Very interesting got it from email,

Ranking of the 12 Most Evil Persons in Malaysia

1. Mahathir Mohamed

The Father of Corruption/Usurper of Democracy

He had practically destroyed all the institutions of democracy in Malaysia. Corruption and cronyism flourished under his rule to an extent never before seen. Like a leader who corrupted all those under him, most of the people holding high office in the country were corrupt and beholden to him. Slowly but surely Mahathir’s rule of corruption, cronyism and public-milking privatization had lowered the standard of living in Malaysia and making life harder for the ordinary citizen who would have to pay the ever increasing corruption tax. He is undoubtedly number one in our countdown as the most despicable man in Malaysia even though he has retired.

2. Daim Zainuddin

A rapacious robber baron whose greed is boundless.

His low profile belied the immense power he wielded in his hands as the former finance minister under Mahathir and he had used his power to amass fabulous wealth. A brazen attempt to force merge the country’s banks to increase his share of banking assets to dangerous levels was aborted only because Umno needed Chinese votes to win the elections. However, billions of ringgit in frozen Clob shares fell prey to his greed when badly treated foreign investors had to pay him a cut to get their shares released. His economic plunder helped to keep the Mahathir regime in power and fueled the money politics that the party machinery was running on.

3. Mohtar Abdullah

A legal thug best describes this totally repulsive man.

For sheer gusto in carrying out Mahathir’s nefarious designs, Mohtar Abdullah had no equal. He turned the office of the A-G into a dictator’s tool of oppression to drag to court perceived political critics and enemies. With the Chief Justice to select the proper judge to hear the case, he just couldn`t lose. Lim Guan Eng felt the brunt of his legal thuggery for merely criticizing his non-action over the statutory rape of a schoolgirl by powerful politician Rahim Thamby Chik. This evil man was not above fabricating evidence to secure convictions when real evidence was hard to come by in cases where innocent people were dragged to court. He has since died. Will his soul rest in peace?

4. Eusoff Chin

He sat on the bench to ensure its subservience to Mahathir

When the country’s Chief Justice is corrupt what can you expect of the judicial system? Eusoff Chin had been photographed holidaying in New Zealand with highly successful lawyer V.K. Lingam who had never lost a case in Eusoff Chin’s court. Eusoff’ was used by Mahathir to select suitable judges to hear important cases and to lean on judges to deliver the ‘correct’ judgement. Any judge whose judgement displeased Eusoff was bound to find himself packing for a posting in a backwater place and his career immediately stunted. Under this shady perverter of justice, the judiciary had won a smelly reputation locally and abroad as being thoroughly compliant to the executive.

5. Kadir Jasin

His newspapers were the propaganda machine of the ruling party

As Group Managing Director of the New Straits Times Press and running dog of Mahathir, his role in corrupting minds was far-reaching indeed. This sycophantic editor who once called for foreign journalists to be arrested under ISA for reporting the truth tried to mould public opinion by hiding the excesses of the ruling party and heaping undeserved praise on corrupt leaders to keep them in power. The strategies used included biased opinion pieces, omission of all negative reporting of the establishment, public airing of unsubstantiated allegations against political opponents without right of reply, sycophantic adulation of the prime minister, reporting only the negative points of the opposition and playing them up, outright lying and filtering foreign viewpoints for the favourable comments only.

6. Augustine Paul

A monster judge rode roughshod over all principles of jurisprudence to convict Anwar.

Augustine Paul was handpicked to do a specific dirty job, that is to find Anwar Ibrahim guilty of some fanciful trumped-up charges. Anxious not to disappoint his political masters on his first important assignment, he proceeded to trample truth and justice in his courtroom in the crudest possible manner. He ran a banal kangaroo court which was so blatantly biased that it will forever shame the nation in the eyes of the world. The way that Paul bulldozed the flimsy prosecution’s case through while suppressing material evidence from being aired speaks of a pure unadulterated evil. He held the future of the nation in his hands but he chose to sell his soul to the devil for a pittance. What a wrethched man!

report abusevote downvote upVotes: +51 …
written by sjs, September 04, 2008 | 09:12:08
7. Omar Mohammad

With a corrupt man at the helm, the last bastion of democracy fell to Mahathir

He was the Chairman of the Election Commission which is tasked with the job of conducting the general election every 5 years. When all checks and balances have been removed in the administration of the nation by a corrupt and abusive government, the general election is the last bastion of democracy and the final check and balance to a power hungry dictator.

This is in theory but the sad reality is that even the Election Commission had been corrupted by Mahathir. The 1999 election was anything but free and fair. A massive 650,000 newly registered voters who were generally perceived as critical of the government were not allowed to vote on the shaky premise that it took the EC a mind boggling nine months to register them. The EC also failed to correct the stirring of racial and religious fears by Barisan Nasional politicians to garner votes. It was simply subservient to Mahathir.

8. Ahmad Zaki Husin

An agency to flush out corruption or to clean the corrupt?

Ahmad Zaki was the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Agency. Under Mahathir this body had become severely degraded and impotent in the eyes of the public as a blindfolded toothless tiger when going after the big fish was concerned. The ACA then and to date has frequently been abused as a weapon to investigate and pull down political opponents apart from not initiating cases of corruption in high places.

The ACA’s most celebrated failure was its inability to conclude investigations into the Perwaja Steel case and bring charges against Tan Sri Eric Chia who lost frightening billions of rinngit for the steel giant under suspicious circumstances. This is despite a devastating auditor’s report which detailed fraudulent financial transactions with dummy companies. It also sank into a listless stupor over Anwar’s four police reports with documented evidence against political bigwigs. On the other hand, the ACA suddenly sprang to life over Datuk Murad’s unsubstantiated allegations of billions in Anwar’s ‘master accounts’ although it had managed to dig up nothing.

9. Ling Liong Sik

He is the epitome of a village headman bought over with money and whisky to keep the natives in line. Simply a disgrace to the Chinese community.

This political hack and lackey was only interested in maintaining the status quo while he went about the serious business of gathering wealth. And what an embarrassment of riches it has been with his son coming from nowhere to be an instant multi-millionaire at the age of 27. On issues affecting the Chinese, you will not find this timorous leader speaking out whether it was the Nipah virus devastating the pig industry, non-acceptance of Chinese High School Certificates or criticism of too many Chinese movies in Astro. In fact, he was ready and willing to accept erosion in Chinese rights to maintain his personal position. A fine example being his declaration that TAR college would not be upgraded to university status. It must be a bitter irony to the Chinese that this bogus leader who claims to represent them was always elected from a Malay dominated electorate. Subsequent leaders too within the MCA have always stood in rural majority Malay heartland constituencies riding on the BN banner and yet unashamedly claim to represent the Chinese. What a farce!
report abusevote downvote upVotes: +36 …
written by sjs, September 04, 2008 | 09:12:57
10. Samy Vellu

Architect of the MAIKA Telecom shares scandal, Samy Vellu proves that corruption pays in Malaysia, so does crime.

After 28 years of Samy Vellu at the helm of the MIC, Indians continued to remain economically backward and left behind in Malaysia’s economic growth. Trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, they have no financial, commercial or industrialized structure, marginalised in every economic field and in danger of becoming an underclass. His shinning achievement was the extension of Kamunting Berhad’s concession to collect toll at Jalan Kuching despite expiry of the concessionery period and the company having recouped many times its original investment. And let’s not forget Samy Vellu’s role in hijacking MAIKA’s Telecom shares to three unknown companies controlled by his proxy in 1990 thus depriving the agency entrusted with uplifting the economic well being of the Indians of an estimated RM70 million in profits.

11. Rahim Noor

The Chief of Police turned out to be a lawless thug but he beat one prisoner too many

Rahim Noor was the Inspector-General of Police serving Mahathir faithfully by misusing the police force until he was forced to resign after beating up former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, in prison. After shaming the police force and the nation he did not resign until his repulsive action was about to be exposed by a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Under him the police were high handed and oppressive, sometimes summarily executing criminals and beating up people in detention to the point of death. The Special Branch was in charge of fabricating evidence from the dungeons of their confession factory with Muslim intellectual Munawar Anees as their most famous guest. Throughout Munawar’s affidavit we were given a horrifying glimpse of torture Malaysian style.

12. Ummi Hafilda Ali

She plays a virgin in the light but needs no urging in the night

Disowned by her family and revealed as a scheming, manipulative, evil woman, she was the ideal person to be used by corrupt politicians in their conspiracy to destroy Anwar. Totally without conscience, she was a cesspool of immorality which made her the darling of like-minded Umno politicians. She is nothing more than a modern day Delilah.
Chang // September 8, 2008 at 11:08 am

Welcome to blogdom and may it bring forth a new dawn for our beloved nation!
Kevin // September 13, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Hi Din

This is my first time reading your blog, and i’m truly impressed even by your autobiography. What truly impressed me most is the fact that you have taken the trouble to reply each blog up to 28.8.2008. Hope you’ll keep it up - from a reluctant blogger to a respected one. Take care
omar qayyum mohan // September 14, 2008 at 8:07 am

dear din,

as i engage more into ur website i discover more of you, thank god here in malaysia we still have people like you at ur age u make many of us ashamed for not doin’ our little bit

kip it up, Malaysia still has a chance having sons of the soil like u

cheers
grkme // September 14, 2008 at 10:48 am

Hi DM I admire you for your straightforwardness.Pl do sth to save Malaysia from corruption,nepotism,cronyism………….
JT // September 16, 2008 at 1:51 pm

HI

Just got introduced to your site. Interesting and very compelling arguments.
Hope it counts.
omar qayyum mohan // September 17, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Din,

at approximately 2100 hours 17th Sept 2008, ur left with another 5051 hits before u break d 1 million his barrier …… now thats some hell of a achievement considering ur age

thank you for all the postings bro

cheers
Su // September 18, 2008 at 7:31 am

Hi Din,

Lately, I have been surfing the net more often and needed to pen my opinions (dissatifaction on the heights of corruption / abusing of powers), I have come upon Malaysia Today and your Blog. I know I get a lot of shit from people around me, even within my family and friends who think that it is nutty of me to support DSAI (especially for his past) but I know there’s a need for someone to stand up for justice and freedom. He is the best we have currently.

I am 100% for PKR - So here I am going all out to support PKR. If you do need manpower to help - plse count me in. I will be there, any time, any day!!
Joseph Tawie aka Jetty // September 18, 2008 at 10:25 am

Hello Din

I am a new blogger from Kuching, Sarawak. I stumbled upon your blog through RPK’s MT. I enjoy reading your blog as I found it to be very inspiring and thought-provoking.

I’ve added your blog to my links section and wanted to let you know.

Please feels free to visit my blog at http://www.thebrokenshield.blogspot

Best regards.
susanna // September 19, 2008 at 5:29 am

Dear Din,

I just discovered your blog and wish to congratulate you on your million hits. You write great and your thoughts are profound and just. I thank God for your existence and pray for his blessing you with many, many more years ahead. The world needs people who have people and nation building interests at heart and making a difference to our current corrupt world in particularly now, Malaysiasince the time of UMNO baru. With more Malaysians like you, how not to be proud to be a Malaysian?! Keep doing what is right and God bless you:)
gandhi // September 21, 2008 at 8:04 am

Din, I just discovered your blog. You are indeed a great writer.Why??? Cos you are one of those who who was schooled before the kerismuddin period!!! The period of the 60ties and 70ties when it was a pleasure to go to school. When we use to pack our shoes and put in our school bag and walk barefoot home! When we study English Literature under the best of the teachers. When our Malay brothers and sisters will go on school picnic with us and our Chinese friends will treat us to a mee soup. Din promise us that if Anwar ever takes over, please scrap all this current system of Isolation. Let the children mix and move all in one direction .Let them know of only one race that is Bangsa Malaysia.Malays can have all the rights. Instill in them the good values of sharing and giving. Bring back the Muhibbah spirit. Thats the Malaysia I want to see and I am sure you are too, Bring back Dr.Azly to our Education Minister. He has all the Brains. May God bless you in all your endeavers.
Bernard // September 21, 2008 at 12:56 pm

Dear Din Merican,

I am 65 years old and a retiree from BNM. I graduated from UKM and had my postgraduate under the World Bank Scholarship to pursue my postgraduate at the Ohio State University. Like you I am indebted to the Malaysians and indeed it is time for me to pay back.

I am prepared to offer for free my assessment tools to the government for human resources solutions and human capital development.

Allow me humbly to introduce KYKO Psychometric Assessment Tool using formula to interpret patterns of behavior. The items in the assessment tool are designed from the multiple theoretical constructs via Psycho- dynamic theories, Social Cognitive Theories, Social Learning Theories and Humanistic Theories.

Synopsis of KYKO Instrumentation:

KYKO is an acronym for Know Yourself, Know Others – KYKO Personality Profile is based on the integration of the existing personality theories incorporating with the needs and deprivation theories to understand the intricate complexities of human behavior with an accuracy of 85% in the results obtained.

KYKO Psychometric Instrument is a powerful tool used to identify personality types. KYKO Personality Profile breaks a human being into Personality Types and converts it into a formula to interpret human behavior. Every KYKO test is customized according to the bench marks set by a company’s vision and mission. The test is taken online and the result is available immediately on completion of the test.

KYKO brings to your doorstep all the advantages of Knowing Yourself and Knowing Others, identifying one’s strengths & shortcomings & gaining an insight into one’s developmental needs, using one’s strength to help develop the organization to greater heights of success, identifying core areas of self-improvement to overcome one’s weaknesses, identifying a career that fits one’s personality, understanding the dynamics of people management, acquiring practical management & business skills, mobilizing resources to assist one to achieve life’s goals & the organization’s vision & mission, identifying the best people in the market, etc.

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KYKO is a powerful tool that will bring out an individual’s strength, characteristic trait and notably the success parameters that will help us progress further.

This need analysis is in-depth, objective and neutral and does not rely on any pre-set views one may carry about us. Hence it has one of the highest accuracy rates and is published in U.S.A patent.