Speakers' Corner

Occasional contributions from readers, which do not necessarily reflect the views of Sarawak Report but may be published at the discretion of the site

High Income State?

Sarawak’s Chief Minister is reported as saying that his State will become “a high income State” by 2030! He ought to know since Sarawak politicians and business people linked to State Governor Taib have long since achieved that status! However since the immensly valuable tropical forests have all been cut down to benefit Chinese cronies […]

Respect His Privacy?

A report indicates that an “aide” to Minister Azmin (unstated if paid from public funds) has called for “respect for privacy” in connection with claims that Azmin is Covid positive. Why? Is Azmin some super sort of person whose health status is a secret? He is a public servant, like it or not and the

Pot Calling Kettle Black

POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK Mega criminal Najib is reported as calling for PAS Minister Khairuddin to be prosecuted for “flouting quarantine orders”  Whether or not that is a criminal offence is something for those better qualified in the law than Malaysia’s mega criminal to opine on. But is is really ludicrous to see Najib, already

Is Democracy Alive And Well In Sabah?

Many Malaysians will probably be surprised, if not astonished, by reaction in Sabah to the absurd PAS statement that they should have a seat in the Sabah State Assembly despite not having contested any at the recent election. It is hard to grasp how this extraordinary, impertinent and undemocratic suggestion should have even seen the

“Don’t Get Carried Away By Idealism”

That was the “sage” advice offered by Land Dayak “leader Manyin in the course of a public address. Idealism was last seen around the Sarawak political scene before the Taib corruption regime took over the State. Since then it has all been about money, money and money. That is, for the privileged minority who control

New Democracy PAS Style

A PAS personality from Selangor has made political history by claiming that a party that fielded no candidates, and has never had representation in Sabah, is entitled to a seat in the Sabah Assembly! He based the extraordinary claim on his party being a component of PN who, questionably, insist that they secured a majority

Some Democrat!

Mega thief Najib Razak, still out of prison as the appeal process crawls its way into 2021, has given anyone who will listen to him the benefit of his view on the recent Sabah elections. These, he claims, should not have been held as they “caused a spike in the Covid infections”.  Whatever next? Malaysia’s

Who Is He Going To Sue?

Former Attorney General Apandi Ali is reported as announcing that he is going to sue over dismissal from the post. Without going too closely into his professional competence it has to be wondered how he thinks himself able to proceed. Attorneys General are appointed and removed in accordance with the Constitution which provides that they

Mockeries Of Justice

The “wheels of Justice” are proverbially said to grind “exceeding small” but that, of course, depends if they grind at all. In Malaysia that is increasingly doubtful as long delays in the administration of justice leave Malaysians wondering if their judicial institutions are effective at all. The latest query arises from a report that the

Constitution. S.33.

One thing the drafters of the Constitution did not neglect to provide for is what happens if, as recently, the Agong is prevented by illness from exercising the duties of his office. Off sick for more than fifteen days and the Timbalan Agong must step into the breach and act as Agong. That is the

One Rule For Everyone Else?

It is difficult to understand why convicted criminal Najib Razak is treated differently from all other Malaysian criminals. The latest indulgence relates to the filing of his “appeal” against conviction. The normal rules fix a period during which any appeal must be filed with the Court of Appeal. But in the case these rules are

Why is He Still There?

Convicted criminal Najib Razak, elected to the Legislatve Assembly for Pekan in the 2018 general election continues to be a member of that Assembly and acts as such despite the provisions of Article 48 of the Constitution which specifically bars convicted criminals in specific categories (of which he is covered by one) from membership of

Moo To Woo?

In a typically coy hint “PM” Muyhiddin apparently stated that he could call a general election depending on the results of the current Sabah polls. If, as seems most probable, PN get the beating they deserve in that election does that mean that he will never “call”? Most probably. Those who seize power illegally rarely

Contempt For Democracy

Malaysia’s leading political frog Azmin Ali, currently apparently at home in Muyhddin’s groupuscule, has announced publicly that his party’s Sabah chief must be the next Sabah Chief Minister. He was slapped down by UMNO boss Zahid who ruled that the party with the most seats should select the Chief Minister. A surprisingly welcome show of

Losing Nothing?

Press comment around the current election campaign in Sabah has included some to the effect that PAS are “losing nothing” and “showing maturity” by staying clear of it. As well they might seeing that Islamist fanatics are in very short supply there and PAS have nothing else to offer voters. In fact if they were

A Good Question

And one for the IGP to answer personally. Why, it is being asked, did the PDRM provide outrider escorts for convicted criminal Najib when he was “campaigning” in the recent by election? Why indeed? Does the IGP have so many surplus officers that he can provide motorcycle escorts for mega criminals? Or is it that

Each Time He Opens His Mouth

He puts his foot in it!. In a more than ordinarily flattering series of remarks  the PAS Secretary General lauded PH defector and royal (so far inexplicable ) choice for Prime Minster Muyhiddin calling him “the darling of the people” That ridiculous description might be better expressed as the “darling of the Agong” since none

Less Than 20% Believe “Bossku” Is Innocent

On July 30, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found the disgraced Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of all seven criminal charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and abuse of power – and sentenced him to a total of 72 years in prison to run concurrently (effectively, 12 years)

Smoke And Mirrors

A proverb to which “PM” Muyhiddin should be paying attention has it that “when in a hole stop digging”. His latest attempt to divert public opinion from himself and his backdoor government consists of a claim that they will “look again” at the “Malaysia Agreement”. What that means, if it means anything, is that if

No Gift Policy

A senior MACC officer is reported in the Press as saying that such a policy is difficult to implement in Malaysia. It seems that the difference between routine gift giving to encourage clients and bribery is not well understood; despite being clear enough to most people Furthermore the giving or reception of gifts is something

IGP – If This Does Not Worry You It Ought To

Official statistics show that nearly 10,000 police officers have been caught breaking the law over the past six years. Even allowing for the fact that the major part of that period saw the criminal Najib in overall control of the PDRM and setting a very bad example, these statistics should worry you. In particular you

A Dangerous Precedent

Press reports speak of a poll apparently carried out in the Malay community which shows that nearly 60 per cent of Malaysian Malays agree with the High Court in finding Najib guilty. It is not clear what percentage of that community had access to trial reports though the Press coverage  must have reached most if

No Shorts

In tropical Malaysia voters are not allowed into polling centres if dressed in shorts! This is, at least, the “official decision” in relation to some voting centres in the current bye election. Can such a “decision” have any legal foundation? If so let the Eectiin Commission give it immediate and wide publicity. OR just sack

Second Class Members

Former PH coalition  member Bersatu now displays its true colours by announcing that it will not “become” a multiracial party but will open a “new wing” for “non Malay members” who will not be granted “full membership”. Just another way of saying that such “foreigners” will have no say in managing the party or deciding

Nit Picking

The reaction of PN’s Takiyuddin to critics over the withdrawal of a PN proposed bill to amend the Constitution speaks volumes about the nondemocratic nature of the coup coalition’s administration. Everyone knows that the Constitution can only be amended by a two-thirds vote in favour. “Governments” with a manufactured majority of one need not apply!

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