Posted in Economics, Politics & government on May 1st, 2013 No Comments »
I am curious at some of the projected fiscal deficit figures which have come out from the internet. A number of them are fanciful. One that I have read has the deficit under Pakatan Rakyat manifesto rising to close to 12% of nominal GDP while BN would be as low as 4%. The 4% figure [...]
Posted in Economics, Politics & government on April 8th, 2013 1 Comment »
I do consider the payment of income tax as a responsibility I must fulfill. As a member of society, I have some responsibilities toward its maintenance. The fact that I am a citizen makes that responsibility of paying taxes doubly important. That responsibility arises from my enjoyment of multiple public goods that exist through public [...]
Posted in Entertainment, Politics & government, Society on March 1st, 2013 No Comments »
For better or worse, quantity is important in a democratic contest. It is about gaining the majority. It is about popularity. With that as the context, we have to remember we live in a young society. The Department of Statistics estimates that the median Malaysia age in 2010 was slightly above 26 years. In simpler [...]
Posted in Politics & government, WDYT on June 1st, 2011 1 Comment »
This is a relevant question, given that some expect the election will be held in the next few months. I of course do not pretend that these polls are scientific. It is all for good fun.
Posted in Politics & government on May 3rd, 2011 1 Comment »
It is easy to dismiss any grand statement made by PKR nowadays. This is not at all unreasonble, unfortunately. PKR has a reputation of boasting to either boost its members’ morale or to attain higher ground while negotiating with other parties, allies or foes alike. Its claim that there would be a change of federal [...]
Posted in Politics & government on February 28th, 2011 2 Comments »
The formation of a shadow cabinet in Malaysia is ideal. That demand has been made multiple times to Pakatan Rakyat, especially by those unfriendly to Barisan Nasional. While shadow cabinet formation does indicate the seriousness and the preparedness of Pakatan Rakyat in governing Malaysia when the time comes if it comes, and that itself has [...]
Posted in Politics & government on February 2nd, 2011 4 Comments »
There is speculation that there will be a general election in the near future. Political parties across the board are shifting gears, as if they needed to after all the by-elections. I had a conversation with a friend several months back about the general election. Being away from Malaysia, I caught up with him, among [...]
Posted in Politics & government on December 17th, 2010 7 Comments »
The tussle for control of water distribution in Selangor attracts strong opinions and allegations. The Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government and its supporters claim that Syabas, the sole water distributor in Selangor, is being mismanaged. Some of the more vocal supporters of Pakatan Rakyat and the state government claim that Syabas is a case of incompetence [...]
Posted in Economics, Politics & government on November 25th, 2010 No Comments »
There is talk of a third force in Malaysia. Lawyer and activist Haris Ibrahim has stated that the third force is a bunch of independents ready to co-operate with Pakatan Rakyat. Zaid Ibrahim wants to form a third political party. If in the end, it comes to a third competitive and national political grouping capable [...]
Posted in Politics & government on June 20th, 2010 No Comments »
There is mutual frustration between those in government and those who identify themselves as ordinary citizens in Malaysia. The frustration originates from the incapability of both to understand the other side’s challenges. This makes the gears of a huge machine — the government — stuck. It needs to work again. The period immediately after the [...]
The name is Hafiz Noor Shams.
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