Carolyn Khor's blog

  Datuk Chan Foong Hin (left) handing over a wood carving souvenir representing the six major agri-commodities under the ministry to Mr Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment of China. Picture Credit: Ministry of Plantation and Commodities.   Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Chan Foong Hin reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to supplying China with Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified palm oil and related products.  This strengthening of the bilateral relationship comes on the heels of a Malaysian delegation to China, led by Chan, for a five-day working visit to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. During the delegation’s visit from 8 to 12 July, he met with several Chinese leaders, among which, the Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of China Mr Zhao Yingmin in Beijing. At the G2G meeting last Friday, 12 July, Chan expressed Malaysia’s intention to cooperate with China, particularly...

C arolyn Khor, Murray Hunter and Lim Teck Ghee   Amongst the advantages of an East Malaysian-led or influenced government is its potential to reject pressure from racial and religious extremism. Unlike the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak have historically been more tolerant and diverse in their religious and secular practices. By promoting inclusivity and pluralism, an East Malaysian bloc can mitigate the influence of extremist ideologies in politics and the civil service.   Another is the much more multiracial and polyglot communities in the two states and the absence of the traumatic May 13 racial chapter of history which not only transformed Peninsula politics and society.  Its  dark shadow is repeatedly raised by Peninsula politicians to stifle the nation’s progress to a psychologically and mentally liberated society.   To address the challenge of political transformation effectively, we have compiled a list of  issues and assesse...

Murray Hunter, Lim Teck Ghee and Carolyn Khor Two recent news items reveal the enormity of the policy challenges that the country faces in dealing with not only domestic issues but also in keeping up with a rapidly transforming region and world.  The first is the disclosure by PMX of our education. According to Anwar, “If we look at the bare facts, some of these are concerning. Let us refer to the latest Pisa report, which is a compelling case (of the country's) level of success. "Out of 81 countries selected in the analysis, we are number 51 particularly in Science, Mathematics and English language. Even among seven Asean countries,we are the worst of all." The second is by the World Bank which, in its most recent report, stated what has been evident but which the politically correct institution for the longest time ever has refrained from emphasising in its reports during the previous decades. "Malaysia is another country which has underachieved. It has tre...

  Lim Teck Ghee, Murray Hunter and Carolyn Khor For years there has been talk of a ‘third force’ to radically change the nature of politics and government in Malaysia. The noble objectives included unity, opportunity and socio - economic growth, while avoiding race, religious, and geographical divisions. Although these principles have some general support, attempts of launching new parties have come and gone, leaving the race-based Semenanjung dominant party status quo intact and unchallenged. Malaysia is losing its competitive position in the region. The economy is not evolving in a way to structurally prepare for the future, and the wellbeing of the Rakyat is deteriorating. These are undeniable truths which the great majority of Malaysians from all races and sides of the political divide are in agreement. The government needs to be run by people, with a clear intent of being for the people, and driven by a vision of a Malaysia that can evolve and cement an i...

A time to understand human rights: Human Rights Day on 10 Dec Malaysia is still rated fairly free despite fall in Human Development Index ranking. Reuters The existence of a Human Rights Day ironically translates into an apparent lack of human rights in the world, even with laws which are supposedly meant to protect the innocent. In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly declared 10 December as Human Rights Day. It has been twenty years since 1993, when a mandate of High Commissioner was created for the promotion and protection of all human rights during the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna the same year. Furthermore, Women’s Rights are now acknowledged as a fundamental human right. Discrimination and acts of violence against women are at the forefront of the human rights discourse. Human rights cover a wide range of issues including access to basic necessities, equality, life and the right to tell the truth. In the Universal Declaration of H...

Press statement by YB Zuraida on NFCorp’s failed takeover by Japanese company Prime Minister Najib Razak should just liquidate the National Feedlot Corporation and recover the RM250 million soft loan that was given to the agricultural company run by Sharizat’s family. That is the only way to hold Sharizat’s family accountable for the mismanagement of funds. The board of directors which includes Sharizat’s husband and children inappropriately spent the people’s money on luxury items unrelated to the agricultural business like purchasing high-end condominiums and prestigious cars. It is simply illogical that any company would want to inject RM20 million into a debt-ridden company that operates at a loss with no foreseeable opportunity for a turnaround. For Kirimitomas Agro to even consider a deal like that, we can only imagine what negotiations went on behind closed doors. Regardless, it is still not a worthwhile deal. Kirimitomas Agro would be better off just starting with ...

Link to MSN A simple act of kindness goes a long way. What is an act of kindness? Do we really need to ponder what kindness is? Don’t human beings have an innate sense of kindness and compassion that outweighs logical reasoning? Has the world forgotten about all the heroic deeds of ordinary folks? Strangers who save one another out of burning buildings; or people who do not know how to swim diving in to save a drowning child; or people who donate their organs to others just so they can live another day? The above simple act of kindness by Raven Murugesan was shared on Facebook over 9,000 times as of 11PM last night. Raven had suggested to a Muslim cashier to drink and eat a little before continuing work at the checkout counter of a supermarket in Kepong. This occurred during breaking fast time and so only one counter was open at that time. Many people are overwhelmed by the bombardment of racist and racial remarks made by certain quarters intended to aggravate...

The episodes of haze has returned yet again, and this is among two of the bad haze conditions faced since 1997 and 2005. There is no exception to human error when the health of the whole region comes under siege annually due to the clearing of land by palm oil and timber companies in Indonesia. So far, eight concessionaires have been identified by the Indonesian Environment Minister and National Disaster Mitigation Board, Balthasar Kambuaya. An environmental group known as Greenpeace claim that these plantations belong to Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean conglomerates. The forest fire are said to originate from Riau and Jambi, the eastern side of Central Sumatra. Based on reports by the NOAA satellite, there are currently 227 hotspots and it is expected to continue burning well into the following month due to the high temperature and dry weather. Efforts for cloud-seeding in the region have borne little results as clouds do not form over the hotspots. It is also imposs...

BERSIH 2.0 Rally in Los Angeles CA, USA Los Angeles, July 9 - Amid intimidating arrests and brutal assaults by the police during the BERSIH 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians from all ages, races and backgrounds, together with some foreigners supporting our cause, stood united and marched peacefully in the heart of Los Angeles downtown in support of free and fair elections in Malaysia. A total of 85 attendees, dressed in yellow, gathered at Pershing Square in Los Angeles downtown. They carried self-made banners, posters and placards to express their dissents and frustrations. Organiser, James Cheng gave a brief introduction about the rally, why it was organised, and briefed about the police brutality against protesters in the BERSIH rally in Malaysia on the same day. The crowd then started the peaceful march toward the Consulate General of Malaysia. As the office was closed, the crowd, led by organisers Caterine Chang and Phebie Thum, read aloud the memorandum and the 8 electora...

Rahmad Isahak, president of Kongress Melayu Pulau Pinang (KMPP) calls for the PM to dissolve parliament.

MEMORANDUM Save Malaysia Committee B-6 Taman Tunas Manja, Jalan Air Putih, 25300 Kuantan. Pahang Darul Makmur. Date: 20/05/2011 HIS EXCELLENCY AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO MALAYSIA KUALA LUMPUR Your Excellency RE: LYNAS ADVANCED MATERIAL PLANT (LAMP) NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN GEBENG, KUANTAN , MALAYSIA. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We the residents of Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia are extremely concerned over the proposed construction and operation of the above plant. It is common knowledge that : 1) LAMP will be processing rare earths oxide which contains Thorium 2) Thorium is a known radioactive material. 3) The mineral monazite which contains the Thorium is mined at Mount Weld in Western Australia and will be shipped to Kuantan, through Freemantle Port for processing at LAMP. As your country is the originator of this dangerous material it is only right that your country must take responsibility for ...