CALON BELUM MUKTAMAD: PM ; SEBARANG KENYATAAN DARIPADA MENTERI BESAR, KETUA MENTERI BUKAN SENARAI AKHIR

Oleh Azman Zakaria-Berita Harian

JADI TUMPUAN: Abdullah melambai ke arah pelajar selepas merasmikan kampus induk Kolej SEGi Malaysia di Kota Damansara, semalam

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, beliau belum membuat keputusan muktamad mengenai senarai calon Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, bulan depan.

Sehubungan itu, Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi BN berkata, sebarang kenyataan mengenai pencalonan yang dibuat mana-mana pemimpin termasuk Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri, tidak boleh dianggap muktamad.

Katanya, beliau juga belum memutuskan kedudukan semua Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri sama ada kekal bertanding kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) atau bertukar ke Parlimen.

"Belum dimuktamadkan. Saya belum lagi memuktamadkan senarai calon. Tiada senarai muktamad lagi.

"Biarlah dia nak buat (kenyataan)... mai kat saya nanti, saya tukar pula... baru dia kelam-kabut," katanya pada sidang media selepas merasmikan kampus induk Kolej SEGi Malaysia di Kota Damansara di sini, semalam.

Beliau ditanya mengenai kenyataan terbuka beberapa pemimpin parti komponen BN berhubung kedudukan mereka dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac ini.

Minggu lalu, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, yang sudah 18 tahun menjadi Ketua Menteri, mengumumkan akan bertanding di kerusi Parlimen, manakala Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin serta Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid menyerahkan kepada pucuk pimpinan sama ada akan bertanding kerusi Parlimen atau DUN.

Abdullah berkata, menjelang pilihan raya memang ada orang yang sentiasa cuba melobi untuk menjadi calon.

"Bagaimanapun, senarai calon belum lagi ditetapkan, siapakah calon dan di mana mereka akan bertanding," katanya.

Perdana Menteri berkata, calon BN akan hanya diumumkan apabila beliau selesai mengkaji senarai nama yang dicadangkan untuk bertanding dan manifesto BN juga diumumkan kemudian.

Beliau turut menafikan bahawa Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo menemuinya semalam untuk menyerahkan senarai nama calon BN bagi negeri itu.

Mengenai kereta Dr Mohamad Khir yang dilihat berada di Putrajaya semalam, Perdana Menteri berkata: "Kalau dia di Putrajaya, tidak bermakna dia jumpa saya."

DESPERATE FOR VICTORY, PAS LEADERS RESORT TO NAME-CALLING: MUHYIDDIN

By : Hamidah Atan-The Star

PUTRAJAYA, Mon:

Knowing the party's chances of winning Kelantan and other states were slim, Pas leaders, including spiritual head and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, had resorted to name-calling of Umno leaders and members.

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin said today Nik Aziz’s latest outburst, where he dismissed Umno members as orang utans who do not know Islam or anything about the law, was "very unIslamic, derogatory and totally irresponsible."

"They are the so-called Islamic preachers and scholars but they are the ones who have no hesitation at all to go against Islamic teaching," Muhyiddin said today.

Muhyiddin said Pas leaders, including Nik Aziz, knew that the party would lose badly to the Barisan Nasional in Kelantan and other states.

"They are so desperate and have no issues to brag on. So, it is not surprising that they will stop at nothing to call Umno or BN members by names or get indulge in character assassination."
Muhyiddin said Pas would always deny Barisan Nasional contributions in uplifting the living standard of people in Kelantan and in other areas. He challenged Pas to list down what it had done for the Kelantanese.

"BN contributions are made not based on lust but welfare and social obligations. And our approaches are more, more Islamic than Pas."

On the pulling out of DAP's firebrand female leader, Fong Po Kuan, of the general election, Muhyiddin said this was a manifestation of disunity and rift in the party.

"It also shows there is no consensus and respect for each other in DAP. They could not agree on candidates although they know of the big challenge awaiting them from the BN."

Fong is a two-term incumbent Batu Gajah MP. Her claim to fame was the defeat of Perak MCA chairman Datuk Ong Ka Chuan, who is also the brother of MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, in the 2004 general election. She cited internal politicking in the Perak DAP as the reason for her withdrawal.

BATU GAJAH'S 'CHILLI PADI' SHOCKER. PERAK DAP PUZZLED OVER FONG'S RESIGNATION

The Sun
Pauline Puah, B. Suresh Ram and Kimberley Lau

BATU GAJAH (Feb 17, 2008): DAP's Incumbent Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan today announced that she was not offering herself as a candidate in the March 8 general election.

She conveyed her decision to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who heads the DAP national committee on the selection of candidates.

In a copy of her e-mail to Guan Eng circulated to the media, Fong cited the development of internal party events in the Perak DAP over the last few years as the reason for her decision.

"It has become impossible for me to continue serving effectively, efficiently and wholeheartedly as a party leader as well as an elected representative of the people. Under such circumstances and in the best interest of all concerned, I have arrived at this unavoidable and difficult decision," she said in the e-mail.

The report said that it is not immediately known whether her decision is related to rumours that she will be fielded as a DAP candidate in Johor in the general election. Fong had married Johor DAP organising secretary Tan Chen Choon on Jan 12.

In her e-mail to Guan Eng, Fong recommended that incumbent DAP's Pasir Pinji assemblyman Thomas Su Keong Siong be fielded as the DAP candidate in Batu Gajah.

In the 2004 general election, in a high-profile battle, Fong defeated MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan with a 7,927-vote majority to successfully defend Batu Gajah for a second term. She garnered 28,662 votes while Ong polled 20,735.

In the 1999 election, Fong, who was then 26, defeated MCA's Yeong Chee Wah with a majority of 2,071 votes.

theSun learnt that the withdrawal of Fong from the polls this time was due to her disagreement with Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming.

Nga, who was reported as forcing Fong to give up her seat in Batu Gajah, has denied the report.

Fong, when contacted, said she her decision was final but declined to confirm about her disagreement with Ngeh and Ngah who are brothers.

In an immediate response, Ngeh when met at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya expressed shock over Fong's announcement.

He denied speculations that the Perak DAP has forced her to contest somewhere else.

"Perak DAP supports her candidacy in Batu Gajah for the third term. Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng has informed her the decision of her standing in Batu Gajah last night," he said.

Ngeh said the party would try to persuade Fong to stay on and defend the seat for a third-term.

Perak DAP puzzled over Fong's resignation
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 17, 2008): Perak DAP today said they were shocked incumbent Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan's announcement that she will defend her parliamentary seat for a third consecutive term.

The opposition party’s state chief Ngeh Koo Ham said the party had in fact supported her candidacy for the seat in the coming general election.

He added that party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also the party’s candidate selection committee head, had informed her yesterday that she will be picked to defend the Perak constituency.

Ngeh said Fong had not given any reason as to her decision and the party is also in the dark about the move.

"It is better to ask her rather then I comment,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting national DAP leaders this evening, Ngeh said Fong’s move had caught the party "by surprise".

He added that Fong, who is a two term MP, had performed well and is quite popular in her constituency.

Ngeh also denied that Fong is not seeking re-election as she was being moved elsewhere.

“The party’s candidate selection committee had informed that she had been selected as the candidate for Batu Gajah,” he said.

He added that the party leadership would try to persuade her to change her mind over here move.

“We have not prepared any candidate for Batu Gajah except her," he said, adding that he does not think her withdrawal would affect the party’s chances in the constituency as well as in the state.

“I hope the people will continue to support us despite her resignation,” he said.

Ngeh said the party leadership is likely decide in the next one day or so over the candidate for Batu Gajah, in the event Fong could not be persuaded to change her mind.

“I leave it to the selection committee … they have the power to select the candidate,” he said.

Fong won the Batu Gajah seat in her first outing in 1999, when she was only 26 years old and retained it in 2004 by defating MCA heavyweight and secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan.

AHLI PARLIMEN BATU GAJAH UMUM TIDAK BERTANDING DALAM PILIHAN RAYA

17/02/2008 5:17pm-Utusan Malaysia

BATU GAJAH 17 Feb. – Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan yang mewakili DAP hari ini membuat keputusan mengejut untuk tidak bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12.

Po Kuan, 35, yang telah dua penggal menjadi Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah tidak menyatakan secara jelas sebab-sebab beliau berbuat demikian.

Bagaimanapun, beliau dikatakan kecil hati dengan desas desus yang mengatakan namanya akan dicalonkan untuk bertanding mewakili DAP di Johor.

Po Kuan mula bertanding di Batu Gajah pada pilihan raya umum 1999. Beliau menjadi Ahli Parlimen termuda pada usia 26 tahun.

Cuma persoalannya samada ia permainanan wayang kulit atau sememangnya betul? Kalau betul ia menunjukkan masalah berat dalam DAP Perak kerana Fong Po Kuan adalah seorang pemimpin pelapis parti itu. Kita tunggulah nanti pada hari penamaan calun pada 28.2.08 untuk tahu keadaan sebenar.

TINDAKAN UNDANG-UNDANG KEATAS HINDRAF DAN LIMA PEMIMPIN UTAMANYA

Saya menyokong penuh jika badan NGO-NGO Melayu mengambil tindakan undang terhadap Hindraf dan lima pemimpinnya kerana memberi gambaran buruk kepada negara. Antara lain kononnya berlaku pembunuhan beramai-ramai orang keturunan India di Malaysia. Juga dasar kerajaan meminggirkan masyarakat ini. Walhal kerajaan telah berbelanja berjuta-juta ringgit untuk pendidikan dan sekolah aliran India dan juga perojek lain untuk kemajuan kaum tersebut.

Tidak di tonjolkan oleh Hindraf bahawa jumlah dan peratus golongan profesional kaum India seperti doktor, jurutera, peguam jauh lebih besar dari peratusan mereka dalam kependudukan Malaysia. Juga tidak dinyatakan bahawa antara orang terkaya di Malaysia ialah Ananda Krishnan seorang India. Ini terang sekali satu cubaan untuk memutarbelitkan fakta sebenar keadaan di Malaysia.

Isu politik kita serahkan kepada parti politik. Isu samada Samy Vellu harus berundur bukan isu kita. Itu isu dalaman kaum India.

Tapi yang memberi kesan kepada maruah orang Melayu ialah fitnah-fitnah diatas yang telah disebarkan dengan meluas oleh Hindraf diserata dunia tidak harus dibiarkan begitu sahaja. Ia hendaklah ditangani oleh NGO-NGO Melayu dengan tegas. Kita akan kelihatan bacul kalau tiada apa tindakan diambil. Ia melibatkan maruah kita sebagai bangsa majoriti di negara ini yang tidak boleh sesekali dikotak-katikkan oleh mana-mana pihak tanpa menerima padahnya.

Jangan kita biarkan gejala 'diberi betis hendak peha pula' ini berterusan hingga menjadi berleluasa dan tidak terkawal pula nanti.

GRADUATE BANKING ON SWEET SMELL FOR SUCCESS

	KOTA KINABALU: Fitri Kuntihing is literally banking on the sweet smell of success. For the 28-year-old human resources graduate, the sweet smell is that of the bean of the vanilla plant, one of the latest crops being introduced in Sabah by the state Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry. "I'm convinced that cultivating vanilla will be a profitable venture," said the daughter of padi farmers from Kampung Subilingon in the northern Kota Marudu district. Having been selected as one of the 200 pioneer vanilla farmers by the state-owned Rural Devolepment Corporation(KPD) Fitri said she intends to cultivate the plants on a4.4ha piece of land in her village. State Agriculture Minister Datuk Rahim Ismail said the pioneer vanilla farmers stand to earn between RM3,000 and RM5,000 per every 0.4ha of the crop after three years of cultivation. He said that the ministry, through the corporation, had decided on trial cultivations of vanilla as part of efforts in diversifying food crops while tackling poverty in rural areas. "Rural folk can cultivate vanilla on contract farming basis KPD will supply the young plants and expertise and later buy the beans from them,"Rahim said after visiting the corporation's Borneo Vanilla nursery in Lumadan, 60km from here,on Saturday. He said the rural folk could cultivate vanilla on a small scale such as in their backyards of orchards. Vanilla is widely used in confectionary, food and beverages and even in the manufacture.

JANGAN LUPA KUASA POLITIK MELAYU

PERSOALAN utama peminat politik tanah air telah pun terjawab. Soal siapa calon yang bertanding kini menghangatkan suasana, baik di warung kopi sehinggalah ke lobi hotel mewah.

Analisis prapilihan raya pada tahun ini amat menarik sekali. Apakah akan ada vote swing di saat-saat akhir? Apakah akan ada undi protes akibat tidak puas hati dengan calon parti?

Apakah akan ada sentimen perkauman melampau yang boleh menyebabkan sebuah parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) yang sering bergantung kepada undi kaum lain akan hilang langsung wakil di Parlimen atau Dewan Undangan Negeri?

Hakikatnya sudah ada sindrom yang terlupa bahawa kuasa politik negara masih dan tetap kekal di tangan orang Melayu.

Cuma bezanya kali ini ialah sudah ada ‘suara-suara’ halus yang cuba memperlekeh dan melupakan kuasa undi orang Melayu.

Baik pembangkang mahupun parti kerajaan, mereka tahu undi orang Melayu amat penting dalam penerusan karier dan matlamat politik mereka.

Undi orang Melayu tidak boleh dipinggirkan begitu sahaja. Lim Kit Siang tetap mahukan undi orang Melayu bagi menjamin kemenangan kukuh sejajar dengan jawatan Pengerusi DAP yang disandangnya.

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu pasti menagih undi orang Melayu di Sungai Siput untuk menang. Begitu juga Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, pasti mahukan sokongan kuat orang Melayu sebagai bukti beliau pemimpin kanan BN.

Apakah corak pengundian pada tahun ini dalam merencanakan keputusan pilihan raya umum kali ke-12 ini? Mungkinkah keputusan tahun ini lebih mirip kepada pilihan raya umum 1999?

Ramai pengundi Melayu berpindah kepada Pas dan Keadilan. BN diselamatkan oleh pengundi Cina dan India yang mengakibatkan sokongan kepada DAP amat merosot.

Atau keputusan kali ini lebih cenderung kepada pilihan raya 2004 yang menyaksikan BN menang besar dengan memenangi 199 kerusi berbanding 20 kerusi oleh pembangkang.

Peribadi Perdana Menteri dengan lebih terarah kepada kerajaan bersih dan kerajaan terbuka telah dapat menakluk pengundi Melayu yang menyebabkan Pas dan PKR kalah teruk.

Tetapi perlu diingat bahawa undi Cina dan India ketika itu telah balik semula kepada DAP.

Akhirnya tibalah tahun 2008 yang sekali lagi menyaksikan arus dan corak pengundian yang bakal dilaksanakan oleh pengundi.

Realitinya semua kaum ada masalah menjelang pilihan raya umum kali ini.

Orang Melayu dengan masalah ekonomi cukup makan mereka, kaum Cina dengan arus perniagaan yang tidak menentu dan India pula dengan dakwaan mereka dipinggirkan.

Tidak seperti pada tahun 1999, yang ketika itu hanya orang Melayu yang tersentuh emosinya, pada kali ini boleh dikatakan semua kaum mempunyai isu dan ketidakpuasan yang tersendiri.

Majoriti pengundi, sama ada ahli parti komponen BN atau rakyat yang taat setia kepada negara tetap akan mengundi BN.

Walaupun ada pendapat pemimpin BN yang menyatakan kebimbangan akan ada kemerosotan undi daripada bukan Melayu ekoran beberapa isu tertentu termasuk Hindraf, hakikat di barisan akar umbi adalah sebaliknya.

Seharusnya BN perlu bimbang terhadap pengundi Melayu yang seakan-akan merajuk ekoran daripada suasana politik terkini.

Apakah mereka lupa bahawa kuasa politik masih terletak di tangan orang Melayu?

Para pemimpin BN terutamanya daripada UMNO harus turun menambat hati golongan akar umbi yang semakin resah terhadap beberapa tuntutan yang dianggap sangat melampau dari parti komponen bukan Melayu.

Inilah yang patut disasarkan oleh BN dalam tempoh berkempen pilihan raya umum. Kita mahukan semua komponen BN turun padang mengubat luka dan kecewa orang Melayu.

Mereka wajib mengakui hakikat undi orang Melayu tersangat penting sebagai penerus karier politik mereka.

Tanpa undi Melayu, akan hancur berderai karier politik seseorang pemimpin, malah sebuah parti.

Dalam berusaha untuk mendapatkan undi bukan Melayu, jangan sesekali lupa bahawa undi Melayu amat besar kuasa dan pengaruhnya.

Jangan pula menyukarkan pilihan raya kali ini yang akhirnya boleh menyebabkan kepastian dan keyakinan yang diinginkan - berubah dalam sekelip mata. Realitinya orang Melayu masih memegang tampuk kuasa politik.

– SHAIFUL BAHRI SAIDIN,

Sekinchan, Selangor.

BETUL KAH ORANG MELAYU MEMPUNYAI PERASAAN RENDAH DIRI?

Bekas Timbalan Perdana Tun Musa Hitam semasa berucap di Hari Alumni Universiti Malaya menyatakan bahawa Malaysia dibawah kepimpinan sekarang telah memberikan kebebesan bersuara dan berbicara yang meluas jika dibandingkan dengan pentadbiran sebelum ini. Kebebesan ini banyak di rasai oleh kelas menengah melalui antara lainnya menulis blog secara bebas di alam siber. Sekarang juga terdapat demonstrasi-demonstrasi berlaku tanpa permit. Berita ini keluar dalam akhbar-akhbar New Straits Times dan Utusan Malaysia hari ini (3hb Februari 2008) memetik Agensi Berita Nasional (Bernama).

Tapi apa yang menarik perhatian saya ialah pendapat Tun Musa selanjutnya iaitu mengenai perasaan rendah diri dikalangan orang Melayu yang menjadi tajuk komentar saya kali ini. Dan juga pandangan Tun supaya orang Bukan Melayu tidak mengalakkan orang Melayu untuk merasa rendah diri.

Perasaan rendah diri ini selalunya dikaitkan dengan sifat kurang keyakinan diri atau tidak boleh bertindak atas keupayaan sendiri. Saya tidak tahu apa yang tersurat dan tersirat dalam kenyataan Tun ini kerana mungkin saya lebih muda dan mungkin juga kurang pengalaman berbanding dengan beliau. Jadi secara umum mungkin kita kurang nampak dimana kebenaran pendapat beliau itu. Walaubagaimana pun elok juga kita kaji beberapa golongan dalam masyarakat Melayu untuk mencari samada betul atau tidak kenyataan Tun Musa.

Dikalangan golongan profesion tidak terdapat rasa rendah diri langsung. Banyak rakan-rakan saya dari kalangan doktor, jurutera, arkitek dan lain-lainnya tidak menunjukkan apa-apa perasaan kurang keyakinan diri. Terutama mereka yang ada syarikat sendiri seperti klinik, konsultansi samada arkitek, kejuruteraan, jurukur, surveyor tanah dan sebagainya perasaan mereka begitu penuh keyakinan.

Golongan pegawai Melayu dalam perkhidamatan kerajaan rasanya tidak merasa rendah diri. Mereka mempunyai kuasa yang ada pada jawatan dan pangkat mereka. Tapi kuasa mereka ada peraturan dan 'check and balance'nya. Kalau mereka menerima rasuah atau salah guna kuasa mereka akan dikenakan tindakan tatatertib dan juga penyiasatan oleh Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR). Tapi ini masaalah yang lain pula yang adalah diluar tajuk kita.

Di kalangan pegawai Melayu yang bertugas di sektor swasta seperti syarikat-syarikat korporat, perbankan dan multinasional pada penglihatan saya tidak ada rasa rendah diri. Saya sendiri pernah bertugas di sebuah bank tempatan yang antara yang terbesar pada masa itu dari segi asetnya.

Mungkinkah yang dimaksudkan oleh Tun Musa ialah golongan usahawan Melayu. Terutamanya mereka dari golongan yang bukan profesional. Mereka ini lebih bersifat pelobi yang tidak ada apa-apa kemahiran. Kekuatan mereka hanyalah kaitan dengan setengah pemimpin politik. Selalunya mereka ini akan menjual perojek yang mereka dapat.

Maka timbullah masalah keteresan yang selalu diperkatakan oleh masyarakat Melayu. Pada hemat saya masa depan keusahawan Melayu bergantung kepada golongan profesional sebagai asas kumpulan usahawan bangsa kita. Kerajaan telah menyedari hal ini. Ia sudah, misalnya, sudah pun memperkenalkan usahawan siswa tani dimana siswazah dilatih menjadi usahawan dalam lapangan pertanian. Begitu juga dengan sektor-sektor lain. Banyak program usahawan yang dianjur mengalakkan siswazah-siswazah untuk berkecimpong sebagai usahawan. Seseorang usahawan itu mesti terdiri dari mereka yang memiliki ilmu pengetahuan.

Kepada mereka yang tidak ada pengetahuan apakah yang akan mereka buat bila dapat sesuatu perojek? Tentu sahaja mereka tidak boleh 'create something out of nothing'. Jadi jalan yang paling senang kepada mereka ialah menjadi 'rent seekers' dan 'commision agents'. Mungkin puak inilah yang Tun Musa maksudkan mengenai orang Melayu yang merasa rendah diri.

Satu cara mengatasi masalah ini ialah supaya semua aktiviti golongan ini didedahkan kepada semua masyarakat walaupun mereka ini terdiri dari orang yang kaya raya. Mereka ini bukan wira yang harus jadi ikon kepada orang Melayu. Mereka adalah petualang yang telah lama merosakkan dan memalukan nama baik dan maruah bangsa Melayu dimata masyarakat lain.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

There was news recently that Employees Provident Fund (EPF) paid a favourable rate of dividend. One of the reason given by the Chairman of EPF for this good news was that the management did a very good job. So the key factor here is accountability and good governance.

Accountability and good governance are not only imperative in the corporate sector but are also relevant for the public sector.

The people now are generally more educated and their expectations are also on the rise. As tax payers they expect better quality of services from the government apparatus at the various levels. Whether federal ministries, state departments and at the level of the local authorities.

Just like in the private sectors when mistakes were committed whether by the top, middle or lower management will mean some heads will have to roll to pay for the mistakes. The example of Emron in America a few years ago was a good example.

Thus accountability is what influenced the efficient running and good management of any organization be it the private or public sectors. If there is no accountability nobody is responsible for any wrong doings in the company or organizarion. Any body can do anything and gets away with murder so to say.

This accountability must also be applicable to politicians. When they go for elections they promised to give their best effort to their constituents. They have avoid any immoral actions, corruption practices and maintain clean records of themselves to avoid any compromise of their good name. If they are caught in immoral acts as exemplified by the case of Dr Chua Sou Lek, they have to resign all their posts to safeguard and save the good name of their political party.

This Chua Sou Lek incident is a precedent for the future. Any political leaders who are caught in immoral activities will face the chopping block. This warning had been given by none other that Pak Lah, the Prime Minister and President of the ruling Barisan Nasional party.

If we have to move forward towards achieving a development country status we have no choice but to make accountability and good governance the corner stone principles for our public and private sectors.

THE END OF AN ERA AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HOPE FOR MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA

The death last Sunday (27th January 2008) of former President Suharto of Indonesia meant an end of an era for Indonesia. Suharto was known for bringing developments to Indonesia which was denied to her people during President Sukarno's rule. Sukarno was more well known for his nationalism and womanizing. He was not interested in money and wealth.

Under Suharto, Indonesia became very prosperous. There were a lot of developmental projects undertaken. A large number of schools and universities were built. There were improvements to the infrastructures. New road works were built and railway networks improved. Indonesia became self sufficient in food production.

During his rule Suharto was a very powerful president. Everything had to go through him or his trusted right hand men. All these led to corruption and abuses of power. Even each of his children competed to be billionaires in their own rights. Greediness became the culture of the ruling elites. It was the country that ultimately suffered. Hence after the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997 there was no way that the regime can survive it. Thus not surprising when he was toppled in 1998 through widespread demonstrations against his rule.

In the post-Suharto era there are more transparency in the country. The media is given a very wide space and at times very critical of the government. The formerly centralized structure of government was changed. More powers are given to the provinces. They are also given a fair portion of their incomes unlike before when all were remitted centrally to Jakarta.

Indonesia does not have any subsidies for its fuel prices. The prices follow the current world market.

With powers now more vested at provincial and local authority levels, corruption now are beginning to be widespread at these levels. The authorities in Indonesia must take drastic actions to eradicate them otherwise the nation's wealth will be siphoned off by these corrupt officials.

Malaysia also under its new Prime Minister, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who took over in 2003 gave more political and social space to its citizens. Pak Lah also promised to fight against corruption and making it an important agenda of his administration. The government is more transparent in its decision making. The new administration brought a fresh air of hope with it.

But unlike Indonesia with its predominantly Muslim population, Malaysia is a more multi religious and multicultural country. Thus Malaysia needs a delicate balancing mechanism that must always be put into place in order to maintain social and political stability.

A totally free-for-all situation can easily turn into a serious racial crisis detrimental to the country. The recent demonstration by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) is a good example. It leaves a bitter taste among the Malays with the lies spread by some Hindraf leaders. Lies, like for example, that there were ethnic cleansing of Indians by 'an extremist Malay government'. And statements by Hindraf that their enemy is UMNO not realizing that UMNO represents the Malays. By treating UMNO as their enemy they are telling the world that Malays are their enemies. This sort of situation is not good for social stability.

Hence when five main leaders of Hindraf were arrested under ISA in mid December 2007 there was an overall relief. The balancing mechanism is put into place again.

Imagine what will happen if the Malays want to have demonstrations of their own to show their feelings? Where will this lead Maklaysia to? Definitely towards anarchy and chaos. Not good for the stability and well being of the nation.

The issue on the problems of the Indian communities will be settled through the power sharing mechanism of Barisan Nasional where there are Indian-based parties who could voiced whatever problems facing the community. Taking action the Hindraf way will not benefit the Indians in the long run.

The new era in both countries should auger well for development of the various political institutions. The political and social institutions should be allowed to strengthen and take roots. Unlike Suharto's Indonesia and Malaysia under Dr Mahathir the executive were all powerful and always interfered into the jurisdiction of the other arms of government. These institutions just became tools of the executive branch.

Another important aspect of the new era, hopefully, will see more accountability on those given the powers to rule the country. These leaders are given the trust by the people through elections and they must be accountable for their actions. Those who were found not trustworthy should be asked to resign. They are answerable not only to the peoples but also to God, the Creator of the Universe to Whom we are all ultimately accountable to for all our actions here on earth.