OF 1MALAYSIA RACISM & RE-EMPLOYMENT OF OLDER WORKERS

Source: Straits Times 10 Feb 2011

If there is any mainstream newspaper that I read on a daily basis, it's the Singapore Straits Times. I read it for two reasons: for news about Malaysia that no Malaysian mainstream media (MSM) would print, and for news about Singapore's active ageing programmes.

For instance, the article above by John Mallot, former US ambassador to Malaysia, has been circulating online for several days now since it first appeared under the title "The Price of Malaysia's Racism" in the Wall Street Journal Asia on 8 Feb. To date, there has been no direct mention of the article in any of the Malaysian MSM. If you haven't read it yet, click on the link to read the full article. Worth reading.

And below is Mahathir's response to some of the comments raised by Lee Kuan Yew in his book "Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going". Click here to read the article.

Source: Straits Times (11 Feb 2011)

As for news on active ageing and retirement, below are some snippets. Malaysians probably won't see news articles like these below as there are hardly any policies in place to assist older workers seeking re-employment. Except for raising the retirement age for civil servants to 58, the Malaysian government has done little to re-train older workers or offer some form of aid for those seeking a second career in their later years. For the private sector, the retirement age remains at 55 - an age many see as the new 40!


Source: Straits Times 11 Feb 2011

Come January 2012 the new Retirement and Re-employment Act will take effect in Singapore. Under this law, it is mandatory for companies to offer eligible employees an option to continue working beyond 62 - first to 65 and later to 67.

The operative word here is 'eligible', meaning the workers must be medically fit and have shown satisfactory work performance. Employers can offer them either 3-year contract or one-year renewable contracts until they reach 65.

For those who cannot or will not be re-hired, employers must give them a one-time payment of between S$4500 and S$10,000. Not all employers are happy with this.

Click here to read more about the Retirement and Re-employment Act and the tripartite guidelines.

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GETTING HEARTBURN FROM READING THE NEWS

I am aware many Malaysians are boycotting the local papers because of the alleged biased reporting. I don't read the local papers on a regular basis. Reason: I get heartburn from news indigestion. Know what I mean?

Here's a sample dose:

But the PM had earlier warned Malaysians: "Don't think that what is happening there must also happen in Malaysia. We will not allow it to happen here." Obviously the lesson has not been learned. It's ultimately the people who decide if they want to change the government, and how they want to do so.

RM1bil for each ship? Highly-marked up figures? This is 26%-870% above the cost of international-class vessels, claims DAP publicity chief Tony Pua.

Costs are justified. These are state-of-the-art littoral combat ships, says Naval Chief. Click here to read more of his 'justifications'.

Who is Malaysia combating on the high seas to warrant the purchase of these ships? Somali pirates in their weather-beaten boats?

RM268m will get us 7 offshore support vessels, 3 tugboats and 2 oil barges. Nothing state-of-the-art here, but perhaps more suited to our modest needs? 

Muslim couples be forewarned. Better play safe and eat at home on Valentine's Day even though you may be married with children. But Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad of PAS has since clarified that there will be no crackdown on Muslims celebrating Valentine’s Day. So, what about the 2005 fatwa???? No wonder Muslims are constantly 'confused'! (Source: The Sun)

A rare piece of good news. But it didn't last long. Already it has received mixed reactions. Click here to read more.

Ok, enough. Time to down some indigestion pills.

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SHE AIN'T HEAVY, SHE'S MY MOTHER

My 85-year old mother is in relatively good health and able to move around with the aid of a walking stick. But her memory is fading. There will come a time when she will need more care.

With my siblings all busy with their own lives, I know I will end up as my mom's sole caregiver by default. It is a role I have taken on for the past 15 years. So I won't be in unfamiliar territory. The only difference is my stress level will probably shoot up, and I will have to make changes in my lifestyle. Will I be up to the task?

Dr Lee Wei Ling's article "Who cares for the caregivers?" published recently in The Straits Times must have resonated with many women who have to look after an ailing elderly parent.


Source: Straits Times 30 Jan, 2011


I quote an excerpt from a letter a reader wrote in response to Dr Lee's article. Dr Lee heads the National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore, and is the daughter of Lee Kuan Yew, former Singapore PM.

"The emotional and psychological stress of the caregiver takes its toll and very quickly the caregiver becomes very tired and drained. There are no support groups, as far as I know, where caregivers can share common experiences and frustrations so the caregiver in Singapore has to rely on the listening ear of good friends and relatives who have the time to spare.



I live this frustration every day despite having a dedicated maid to take care of all my 91-year-old mother's needs. I worry when my mother doesn't eat right. I worry when she complains of aches and pains. I worry when she becomes sullen and depressed, which is most of the time.


I tell myself I shouldn't care if she eats her meals or not, but I do. I don't get any smiles or thank yous from her and most times I feel she is unappreciative of whatever I do. All I get are scowls and frowns and complaints that the food I cook (I do all the cooking) is not done right.


So how do you stay motivated to do this every day? How does the caregiver block all negative thoughts?"


File photo

If caregiving can extract a high physical, mental and emotional toll on a filial daughter, it must be 10 times more so for a son. Click here to read Matthew N's scathing article about how looking after his 64-year old mother is driving him nuts. He calls her a 'drama queen', a 'sympathy junkie' and much worse - too profane to quote here.

I am glad none of these labels fit my mom. She may be difficult at times, but she's the only mother I have.

For my personal tips on caregiving, do click here to read my article "Caring For An Elderly Parent" which was published in the Singapore Women's Weekly, Nov 2009 edition.

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BLACK MONEY - NAME AND SHAME THE PERPETRATORS

Source: Star 31 Jan, 2011

Going through some back copies of  The Star, I came across the above headlines. My initial reaction was one of delighted amazement. Finally the local mainstream media (MSM) is drawing attention to what only the online alternative media has dared to print - illegal movement of funds out of the country. On reading further, my initial elation was replaced by utter disappointment.  The report was about India, not Malaysia.

Considering the figures were taken from the same Global Financial Integrity Report 2000-2009 published on January 18, 2011, it is pertinent to question why India, which occupies 15th spot in the Top 20 list of countries with illicit outflow of funds, should be mentioned in the MSM, whilst Malaysia in 5th spot with USD291 billion of black money stashed overseas during the same period escapes mention. We are talking about almost RM888 BILLION being taken out of the country illegally.

Top 20 Countries’ Cumulative Illicit Outflows from 2000 to 2008 (in billion U.S. dollars). Source: Global Financial Integrity Report

A Malaysiakini article quoted figures from the GFI Report of RM67.7 billion illicit outflow of funds in 2000. Eight years later, this has tripled to a massive RM208 billion. What are the sources of these funds? Who are these people or companies illegally transferring funds out of the country? Where have they stashed the money?

Similar reports have appeared in The Malaysian Insider, Malaysia Today and Free Malaysia Today and other alternative news media websites. But the MSM has yet to highlight this staggering financial loss to the people of Malaysia.

The Top 10 - Malaysia is ranked #5. Nothing to be proud of, everything to be ashamed of.  (Source: GFI report)

DAP and PKR have called on Barisan National for a full explanation. In response, International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukriz Mahathir said at a recent press conference that the government did not see the need to look into claims that the RM888 billion channeled to secret banks abroad was due to corruption and mismanagement under his father's premiership.



It's just a matter of time before the truth will out. Already a former Swiss bank employee has handed over to Julian Assange of Wikileaks details of 2000 high net-worth accounts. I am sure Malaysians would be curious to know if any of their fellow countrymen are on the list.

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WELCOMING THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

If you haven't seen this year's Petronas CNY video clip, here it is - just right for posting on Seniorsaloud!

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FIELDING THE BEST CANDIDATES

The Tenang candidates. Let's hope eventual winner Mohd Azahar Ibrahim (right) has been certified medically fit to carry out his duties for the full term. (Pic: NST)

So BN has won the Tenang by-elections. Not unexpected. Johor is traditionally a BN state. Voters there probably went with the familiar BN symbol rather than vote for the better candidate. Understandable. After all, who has heard of Mohd Azahar Ibrahim or Normala Sudirman? But everyone recognizes the BN and PAS logos.

Voters in Malaysia are clueless when it comes to choosing the best representative for their constituency. That's why people end up electing frogs who are in the habit of leaping from one party to another for their personal gain. This year being the year of the bunny rabbit, will Malaysians be seeing more party-hopping from their representatives?

There have been 14 by-elections since March 8, 2008. The 15th one is coming up in Merlimau, Malacca. The Election Commision has declared Feb 26 for nomination day, and March 6 for polling day. That gives voters a grand total of 8 days to get to know the candidates. It's that enough time? NO!

(Left): MCLM Chairman Raja Petra Kamarudin, (Right): MCLM President Haris Ibrahim

That's where the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) comes in. MCLM plans to offer 30 candidates by March this year to opposition parties looking for suitable candidates to field in the coming elections. So far, it has named four candidates: Malik Imtiaz Sarwar (National Human Rights Society president), Sreekant Pillai (human rights lawyer), Haslinah Yacob (former president of AWAM), and Dr Nedunchelian Vengu (private dental surgeon).

These people have solid credentials. Regardless of when the PM calls for general elections, these candidates will have months to prepare themselves. More importantly, voters will have more time to get to know the candidates and vote for the one they can trust to best represent them at state or federal level.

If you see yourself as a potential candidate, approach MCLM. Just be sure you have the right qualities: the passion to serve the people, a seeker of truth, a man of principles and integrity. Their loyalty must be to the people who elected them. And of course, they must have an aversion to party-hopping.

For more on why MCLM's objectives resonate with many Malaysians, read the Sunday Star interview with Haris Ibrahim, MCLM president, or visit the website.

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THE DOMINOES HAVE STARTED TO FALL.....WHO'S NEXT?

From the French Revolution to People Power in the Philippines, from Tiananmen Square in Beijing to al-Fardous Square in Baghdad, and now Tahrir Square in Cairo. History is repeating itself, this time in the Middle East. Leaders who have lost touch with the people, who have grown accustomed to life in their ivory towers and who choose to ignore the signs of widespread discontent, take heed and learn from current developments in Tunisia and Egypt. It may be their turn next.

Mohamed Bouazizi's public suicide on 17 December ignited widespread demonstrations across the Arab world, beginning with the fall of the Tunisian government and the call for Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to resign. There is now unrest in Jordan, Algeria, Oman, Sudan, Yemen and Morocco.

Self-immolation, bloodshed, chaos and destruction could have been avoided if only these leaders had seen the signs, had listened to the voice of the people.

When the poor in the country see no future, when corrupt leaders and politicians grow rich on ill-gotten gains, when thousands of young people can't find jobs, when runaway inflation takes a toll on the people, the masses will rise and take to the streets to vent their anger and frustration.



Dictators can bring in the soldiers, they can lock up protesters, they can clamp down on the media and shut down the internet, but they can never drown out the voice of the people. There will always be people who are prepared to fight or die for a cause they believe in.

After 23 years of authoritarian rule, Tunisia's president Zine-el-Abidine Ben Ali, 74, and his family have fled to Saudi Arabia. What's of interest is that his second wife, Laila, 54, a former hairdresser, is far more reviled by the people than the president. Tunisia's First Lady has been dubbed "The Regent of Carthage" for her power behind the throne, and for the wealth she has amassed for her family, the Trabelsis, the most powerful business clique in the country. Read the report about their opulent lifestyle in The Telegraph.

Malaysians should find the story somewhat familiar.

Power will always belong to the people. In a democracy, the people have the power to choose their leaders, and also the power to get rid of them. Let no President or Prime Minister (and their First Lady) be so arrogant as to assume they can hold on to their position for as long as they want. They should not forget they are PUBLIC SERVANTS, and are there to serve the people.

If leaders are corrupt or ineffective, or have long overstayed their term of office, they should resign or reform. Or they might be the next to flee to Saudi Arabia.

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