REFSA Rojak is our weekly take on the goings-on in Malaysia. We trawl the newsflow, cut to the core and focus on the really pertinent. Full of flavour, lots of crunch, this is the concise snapshot to help Malaysians keep abreast of the issues of the day.

GST: Squeezing more from those with little

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak has barely warmed his seat in the office but is already firing up the grill for goods and services tax (GST). Minister in the PM’s department Datuk Seri Idris Jala is eager to implement GST, and seemed to suggest 7 percent as a start. Idris says this would pump in an additional RM27 billion into government coffers and help the federal government deliver its promises as per the BN manifesto.

Business people, financial experts and lawmakers have expressed dismay. Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) said that starting off at 7 percent is too risky. Too high a percentage will cause inflation, say experts, citing the example of Singapore where the inflation rate shot up when it implemented a 3 percent GST and took 3 years to come down to pre-GST levels. Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen pointed out that the existing tax base is small not because of tax evasion, but because most Malaysians are too poor to pay taxes. Currently, only 1 in 6 Malaysians earn incomes high enough to be  taxable.

Wong reasoned that Najib’s previous hints that corporate and income taxes would be cut to offset GST “will only help the rich”. Perhaps the government should go after the big players instead of squeezing dry the tiny wallets of the rakyat. In fact, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan claims the Finance Ministry confirmed that “the government has failed to collect corporate debt of RM53 billion from YTL group, RM34 billion from tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary’s group” to name a few.

REFSA maintains its stand that Malaysia is not ready for GST. About 80 percent of Malaysian households qualify for the BR1M cash handout – this means that by the government’s own standard, the overwhelming majority of Malaysians need financial aid. Moreover, we believe BN can fulfill its manifesto of over 150 promises by tackling the wanton wastages and corruption that are bleeding our coffers dry. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng estimates that 7 percent GST will burden each Malaysian by RM1,000 per year. If that is the case, BN’s election promise of a RM1,000 BR1M handout sounds like a bad joke on everyone.

Three-times the moolah for Taib

At the other end of the wealth spectrum, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, reportedly richer than the Queen of England, is getting a three-fold pay hike. So are his Cabinet members and lawmakers. The state’s Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh claims that the increased salary is due to the rising expectations of the people, as well as the large territory that Sarawak covers. The pay rise, backdated to 1 January 2012, would involve some RM17 million.

So while poor Malaysians tighten their belts for GST, the federal government rewards a minister who is linked to illegal land deal scandals that have gained international attention, and who has thumbed his nose at the “naughty” Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

It’s a “Malaysian tsunami”

Recently-released analysis shows that Pakatan Rakyat won in 59 mixed-race federal seats, almost double its 30 wins in Chinese-majority seats in GE-13. In other words, the “Chinese tsunami” that Najib blamed for BN’s dismal election results does not hold water. It was a Malaysian tsunami.

PR losing the  elections despite getting the majority vote has ignited the call for the Election Commission to redraw constituency boundaries, which currently allows BN to form the federal government with just 17 percent of the popular vote. However, the redelineation process itself is in dire need to be overhauled, or unfairness will continue to permeate the elections. BN gains 60 percent of the popular vote right after each redelineation exercise, revealed Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (Umcedel) deputy director, Amer Saifude Ghazali. He further pointed out that there are no clear guidelines or mapping to guide the redelineation process.

If only police would be deployed against real criminals …

18 people at a candlelit vigil to show solidarity with arrested student activist Adam Adli have been detained for allegedly “participating in an unlawful assembly”. This comes after the stern warning from newly appointed Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that the ministry will “act tough” against individuals who disrupt public order. Shortly after Adam is charged with sedition in court, Batu MP Tian Chua,  activist Haris Ibrahim and PAS member Thamrin Ghaffar (son of former deputy prime minister Tun Ghafar Baba) have also been hauled up under the Sedition Act.

Zahid declared that action taken by the ministry must not be regarded as politically motivated as it was based on the existing laws of the country. Unfortunately, BN’s track record of implementing our laws is not convincing – the previous Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin had twice been regarded by the judiciary as ‘irrational’, once for declaring the Bersih movement illegal and the other time for rejecting the publishing permit application of independent news portal Malaysiakini.

It is indeed difficult to imagine how a candlelight vigil can be so ‘disruptive’ as to warrant a crackdown. Four sedition-related arrests less than three weeks after ‘winning’ the election is certainly unbecoming of a new, unpopular government, which should be working to gain majority support. Police resources should be used to fight real criminals instead, rather than enforcing a law that Najib last year announced  would be repealed. REFSA Rojak reader Joachim Leong has this to say:

“While you may not agree with Adam Adli’s   views or methods, charging citizens under the archaic and open to abuse law of sedition is not the way forward. A measured approach of rational discourse and improving itself would not be too much to ask, would it?”

Wrapping up REFSA Rojak

On that note, we shall wrap up Rojak and take our mixing bowl and mélange of zest to different pastures. Thank you for reading, and keep on reading between and thru the lines of the spin and propaganda that permeate our daily news feed. Most importantly, do your part, big or small, to help keep our ‘rojak’ nation on the path of progress.

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in closed room with a mosquito.

Selamat jalan!

[pic credit: Harlequin_colors/ Creative Commons]

Why ‘Rojak’? Disparate flavours and textures come together in a harmonious mix to make this delicious but underrated concoction. Our Rojak weekly is much like this mix, making sense of the noise of daily newsflow and politicking.

It is also our ultimate dream that our multi-ethnic melange of communities can be made richer within the unique ‘sauce’ that is Malaysia. Let’s take pride in the ‘rojakness’ of our nation!

Download the PDF version

Sources:

[1] Based on calculations by our reader James Chong, available at: http://bit.ly/GE13State

[2] Disturbing questions surrounding GE13 polling. Available at: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/229367

[3] Based on figures under “RAWDATA” in James Chong’s calculations, available at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvJO-ZnwDjXmdFFzM2ZTam1ONWlROU1zejhFQnZCUFE#gid=2

[4] Based on the election results available at www.spr.gov.my

REFSA Rojak is our weekly take on the goings-on in Malaysia. We trawl the newsflow, cut to the core and focus on the really pertinent. Full of flavour, lots of crunch, this is the concise snapshot to help Malaysians keep abreast of the issues of the day.

Dressing up the Cabinet

24 ministries, 30 ministers and 27 deputies – that’s the make-up of our new cabinet. Sabah and Sarawak are better represented this time with 13 ministers in the line-up, and a token handful of MIC members adds some zest,  but the changes are cosmetic and there’s nothing really nothing transformative in Dato’ Sri Najib’s new Cabinet.

Unfortunately for the nation, the PM saw fit not to include some of the more sensible people in UMNO – Saifuddin Abdullah being one of them; another is Ghani Othman who drew the short straw of having to face off with DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang.

Two new non-political faces are former Maybank CEO Datuk Seri Wahid Omar and Transparency International’s Datuk Paul Low. It will be interesting to see how Low is going to tackle the prevalent graft culture in the federal government. We trust he won’t be a one-man army.

The cynical will not be surprised by the appointment of former Hindraf leader Waythamoorthy as a deputy minister in the prime minister’s department. MIC Youth is none too happy over his inclusion, feeling somewhat betrayed for not being consulted.  Waythamoorthy’s brother and Hindraf leader Uthayakumar called him a “political opportunist” and heralded him as the “new Samy Velu”.

MCA and Gerakan have disappeared into the horizon, which wasn’t unexpected. MCA had earlier resolved to keep out of government positions if it did not win sufficient support. For the ‘respect’ shown for MCA’s position, Najib received a big ‘thank you’ from president Chua Soi Lek. Will MCA party elections to be held soon to reverse that stance?

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong says the cabinet line-up is a sign that “there is no attention to reform” while PAS’ Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad astutely commented that the new cabinet is “Mahathir’s Cabinet”. Could Najib be playing it safe rather than transformative, and making his position as UMNO chief more secure? Perhaps now he need not worry that he will be as unceremoniously unseated as his predecessor, Abdullah Badawi.

Wahid Omar: BN’s gain is also NUBE’s gain

The National Union for Bank Employees (NUBE) must be smiling to see the last of Maybank CEO Wahid Omar. Maybank under Wahid had decided to form an “in-house union” for its employees in 2011, hence jeopardising NUBE’s good relations with the bank. To add insult to injury, former Human Resource (HR) minister Dr. S Subramaniam whom NUBE accused of working in cahoots with Maybank, had “refused to cancel the registration despite appeals from the Malayan Trades Union Congress (MTUC)”. NUBE alleged that Subramaniam had “blatantly lied to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)” and “misled” Parliament on this issue last year. To say that the union is glad Subramaniam’s not reappointed is an understatement.

With Wahid gone and a new HR minister in Richard Riot, NUBE General Secretary J. Solomon sees the dark clouds being lifted. He hopes Riot will “rectify the wrongdoings of Subramaniam and the ministry officials”. He also wants the Industrial Relations Department to be more proactive and hands-on in handling disputes.

New Home Minister shows ignorance of home truths

No sooner had Ahmad Zahid Hamidi been appointed Home Minister, than he said that those not happy with the electoral system can “migrate elsewhere”. Impressive, no? His comments appeared in an Utusan Malaysia – where else? – editorial.

This salvo is aimed at the hundreds of thousands of people who participated in the “Black 505” gatherings held in Selangor, Perak, Penang, Johor and other states. Hamidi’s words only serve to remind us that BN is still stuck in reverse gear, new cabinet or no. If Hamidi does get his way more than half of all Malaysians will leave – because only 47% of us voted for the BN!

Pakatan’s next course of action is to seek legal redress over the election fraud that had robbed it of its right to govern the country – as the coalition that had won the majority of the popular vote. Malaysians are waiting to see what will be unearthed and exposed in court by PR and other concerned parties. We wait for the day when “Truth will rise above falsehood as oil above water” (Miguel de Cervantes).

[pic credit: Samsul Said@Wikipedia Commons]

Why ‘Rojak’? Disparate flavours and textures come together in a harmonious mix to make this delicious but underrated concoction. Our Rojak weekly is much like this mix, making sense of the noise of daily newsflow and politicking.

It is also our ultimate dream that our multi-ethnic melange of communities can be made richer within the unique ‘sauce’ that is Malaysia. Let’s take pride in the ‘rojakness’ of our nation!

Download the PDF version

Sources:

[1] Gross distortions in Malaysia’s voting system. Available at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/229578

[2] One rural vote worth six urban ballots, favours BN, analysts say. Available at http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/one-rural-vote-worth-six-urban-ballots-favours-bn-analysts

[3] Special thanks to our reader James Chong for the calculations. His full analysis of the GE-13 result:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvJO-ZnwDjXmdFFzM2ZTam1ONWlROU1zejhFQnZCUFE#gid=6

[4] Poll observers: GE13 unfair, partially free. Available at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/08/ideas-ge13-only-partially-free-not-fair/

[5] Manipulating the news: A public disservice. Available at http://www.thenutgraph.com/manipulating-the-news-a-public-disservice/

[6] 60,000 dubious voters gave Sabah BN victory. Available at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/08/60000-dubious-voters-gave-sabah-bn-victory/

[7] Rapprochement tough after BN’s ‘divisive’ campaign, says The Economist. Available at http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rapprochement-tough-after-bns-divisive-campaign-says-the-economist/

[8] Disturbing questions surrounding GE13 polling. Available at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/229367

REFSA Rojak is our weekly take on the goings-on in Malaysia. We trawl the newsflow, cut to the core and focus on the really pertinent. Full of flavour, lots of crunch, this is the concise snapshot to help Malaysians keep abreast of the issues of the day.

Malaysians, and Najib, singing the blues over BN ‘win’

Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak may still have the top job after the election, but he did not win the hearts of the majority of Malaysians. Attracting  just 46.8% of the popular vote, a historic low for the BN, the coalition appeared more blue than boisterous when it was proclaimed ‘winner’ of the 13^th General Elections.

Rural votes dictated election outcome

One rural vote equals six urban votes, and this works out heavily in BN’s favour. The Election Commission’s (EC) malapportionment of electoral boundaries ensures that BN can win Parliament with a miniscule 18.9 percent of the popular vote, which was what happened in the 12^th General Election.

Despite this unfair edge, BN was not feeling absolutely confident going into GE13: its win is marred by  reports alleging  electoral fraud. Sabah was indeed Najib’s  “fixed deposit” as the BN has allegedly poured in tons of money in its campaign of money politics, threats and disinformation in this under-developed state. 60,000 dubious voters in Sabah reportedly gave BN its victory, and video and photo evidence of phantom voters and vote-buying have been splashed across social media platforms.

In the peninsular, the suspicious spike of new voters in semi-urban and rural constituencies (as high as 62% in Tapah which was re-captured by BN) has also been highlighted. The EC predictably refutes any alleged fraud, and claimed that the ‘indelible’ ink was so easily removed because it had to comply with halal regulations. We wonder though, why there seems to be no issue with the adhesive strength of such ink in other countries with great numbers of Muslim voters, including Indonesia and Afghanistan.

Rural and urban concerns are poles apart

The poll results are a sobering call – not just for BN, but for Pakatan Rakyat as well. Congratulations are no doubt in order for the Pakatan coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS that won 50.3% of the popular vote and whose support encompassed all races in urban areas. However, this number also reveals that nearly half of Malaysian voters, mostly in the rural areas, remained to be convinced. On this note, Negeri Sembilan DAP chief Anthony Loke recognises the need for PR to work harder to convince the non-urban voters.

PR-friendly urban voters too now realise that no change can be achieved without reaching out to their rural fellow Malaysians, and there is a surge of consciousness among the iPad-totting, Starbucks-sipping crowd about “the other Malaysia” that has little access to independent online news and analyses. Some of the rural districts don’t even have electricity coverage, as 33% of Sarawakians living in the dark can testify.

Are the rural communities’ swing towards BN merely the result of cash and rice handouts and mainstream media propaganda, or is there a deeper reason that we in more privileged positions do not fully understand?

For the rural folk, you need to be on foot and in their faces. Not just before the elections but all year around […] The rural folk have no time for promises with nothing to back them up. It is a different mindset — they have so much more to lose than the monied upper-middle class person who could easily just find better pastures overseas.

– Erna Mahyuni, The Malaysian Insider columnist.

If we are really sincere in helping the poor get out of the poverty trap and reach greater political awareness, we must first walk in their shoes and help them gain the strength to withstand propaganda and vote buying.

Ruled by a minority-picked government

Polling day may be over but election fever is still strong.  120,000 Malaysians gathered in and around Kelana Jaya stadium on Wednesday to protest the election results. Despite the short-notice and rainy weather, the stadium was packed to the rafters and the surrounding roads clogged in perhaps the most jubilant traffic jam ever in the Klang Valley, with stuck motorists of all races winding down windows and engaging in good-spirited banter.

Urban Malaysians, at least, appear determined to repudiate the churlish comments of sore winner PM Najib. Najib called for “national reconciliation” but in the same breath contradicted himself by putting the blame for his poor election showing on a “Chinese tsunami”. Later, he supported Utusan Malaysia’s racist comments, which the police are investigating under the Sedition Act.

Poll observers declared the elections were only “partially free but not fair”, tarnished by issues including media bias, abuse of government facilities and lack of integrity in the electoral roll.  Whether the authorities will initiate an investigation remains to be seen, and there are calls for all to move forward with the current reality. The situation is opaque. But one thing is clear: our journey to a better Malaysia is just beginning. If the EC and election process is not overhauled, and if we don’t reach out to our rural fellow Malaysians, we might never break away from being ruled by a minority-picked government.

Pic credit: Boh Jun Kit/ The B-Side Facebook 

(Download The B-Side magazine - http://bit.ly/Bside4Apple or http://bit.ly/Bside4Android)

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Why ‘Rojak’? Disparate flavours and textures come together in a harmonious mix to make this delicious but underrated concoction. Our Rojak weekly is much like this mix, making sense of the noise of daily newsflow and politicking.

It is also our ultimate dream that our multi-ethnic melange of communities can be made richer within the unique ‘sauce’ that is Malaysia. Let’s take pride in the ‘rojakness’ of our nation!

Sources:

[1] Formula to Failure: Our plunging Maths and Science standards. Available at http://refsa.org/focus-papers/infographics/formula-to-failure-our-plunging-maths-and-science-standards/

[2] ETP Investments Collapsed in 2012: An infographic. Available at  http://refsa.org/focus-papers/infographics/etp-investments-collapsed-in-2012-an-infographic/

[3] Putting the Malaysian diaspora into perspective. Available at http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~eroberts/cs181/projects/2010-11/BrainDrain/Malaysia.html

[4] M’sia records worst-ever ranking on press freedom. Available at https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/220237

[5] TI Survey: 50% of Malaysian firms lost business due to bribery. Available at http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=226510&Itemid=77

Following the recent controversial ad blitz by Barisan Nasional in mainstream newspapers, REFSA has this to say:
Download the PDF version

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Sources:

[1] Home minister: Rising crime rate a matter of perception. Available at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/200472

[2] ‘For first time since Merdeka, crime-busting a priority’. Available at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/206496

[3] ‘PM’s statement admission of abuses under ISA’. Available at http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=37230

[4] Malaysiakini wins court battle over print licence. Available at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/210454

[5] Malaysia deports Senator Nick Xenophon, deeming him enemy of the state. Available at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-senator-nick-xenophon-in-custody-in-malaysia-over-meetings-with-pro-democracy-mps-i/story-e6frea83-1226579351300

[6] Don decries gov’t pressure on UM forum. Available at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/221738

[7] DAP demands criminal charges against MACC trio. Available at http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=35426

[8] Hisham blames opposition provocation for rising political violence. Available at http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hisham-blames-opposition-provocation-for-rising-political-violence

REFSA Rojak is our weekly take on the goings-on in Malaysia. We trawl the newsflow, cut to the core and focus on the really pertinent. Full of flavour, lots of crunch, this is the concise snapshot to help Malaysians keep abreast of the issues of the day.

13^th General Election

With just two days to the election, most of us by now know who we want to vote for. Those undecided still have 48 hours to make up their minds. This is one election that is going to be closely watched and vigilantly monitored. The significance it holds cannot be overstated. At this time on Monday, we could either be welcoming a new government and starting a new chapter, or remain stuck with the old one. Whatever the outcome, let us outline some of the things we demand of the government and the leaders we elect into office.

Credible leaders, good governance

First, we want competent and credible leaders who are serious about good governance. They must have the integrity and courage to put an end to corruption, mismanagement and lack of transparency. We don’t want contracts for development projects to fall into the hands of incompetent cronies. Corruption, fraud and mismanagement have led to losses of RM12.5 billion in Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), RM250 million in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC),  RM500 million in the Scorpene submarines purchase, to name just a few.

To have money stolen or mismanaged by the very people appointed to handle it points to a blatant abuse of power. We must remove leaders who unashamedly treat the nation’s coffers as personal property. No dipping of hand in the public till as you please. We want a government that acts within its legal ambit to take action against all wrongdoing without having to be pressured to do so. No more cover-ups, downplaying negativity, sweeping the dirt under the carpet, being defensive, feigning ignorance…

Law enforcers who fight, not perpetrate, wrongdoing

We also wish that our law enforcers will uphold and enforce the law without fear or favour, and not indiscriminately. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) have been guilty of a lot of wrongdoing. We have seen people who have died or are violated whilst in the custody of these agencies.

In the case of Teoh Beng Hock and Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed who were found dead under suspicious circumstances on MACC’s premises, the perpetrators were never brought to book. In the case of the police – “156 persons died in police custody between 2000 and Feb 2011” – the number of deaths stuns us all. Yet, investigations into these unexplained deaths have dragged on for years, with no resolution in sight.

The police were also implicated in violence against peaceful demonstrators and journalists in the 28 April Bersih 3.0 demonstration last year. The inquiry by Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) confirms that PDRM used excessive and “disproportionate force”, fired tear gas and “chemically-laced water” directly at demonstrators and assaulted people, including “four media practitioners” already in their custody. To date, authorities concerned have kept mum about the report and Suhakam’s 25 recommendations.

Inclusive policies

We don’t want an elite government that is divorced from the needs of the common man. We are suspicious of leaders who are paid a government servant salary but live in big, ostentatious mansions, travel in private jets and splash out on luxury items without batting an eyelid. It is the duty of government to serve the people and not the other way round. The maxim ‘service before self’ should be every government official’s mantra.

We want government policies to be inclusive and equitable. Reject leaders who, in word and deed, practise racism and bigotry. Destructive elements like ethnocentrism and racial discrimination have no place in our society. Political parties that field candidates known for their racist behaviour are those who intend to perpetuate their racist agenda.

Leaders who care about security

We want our leaders to care about our security. Don’t give us statistics that contradict the reality on the ground. The Home Ministry which is responsible for the Crime Reduction National Key Result Area (NKRA), proudly proclaims its 50 initiatives and smugly declares that the crime index of 7.6 % has exceeded its 5 % target. But the only people feeling safe are probably the Home Minister and his team.

The ordinary Malaysian is living in ‘fear’ because of the crimes occurring every day. We read about people being gunned down in broad daylight, including a senior civil servant in Putrajaya, falling victim to the ubiquitous snatch thief and being conned online. Car thefts, house break-ins, human trafficking and so many more crimes continue to haunt us. We all look forward to the day when we are able to walk out of our house confident in the security of our environment. We don’t want to live fenced up and ‘gated’ in.

Leaders who value people and the environment

We should be concerned that there are self-serving leaders who have no qualms over causing environmental devastation. They ignore the perils of excessive logging, raze forests to the ground and displace the indigenous people. This is especially evident in East Malaysia. A National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia conducted by Suhakam unveiled the damage and destruction that has befallen Sarawak. We should be angry and demand that the state be held accountable.

Reports of the violation of native customary rights and systemic destruction of natural resources however have fallen on deaf ears. The state administration has put the fear of “arrests of those who stand up for their rights to land” and made “threats against NGOs” and those assisting the natives. The caretaker federal government has been closing both eyes to the fact that “numerous police reports lodged by the natives were not acted upon”.

Politics-free education

Politics must be kept at arm’s length from education. Let us not gamble with our children’s future by allowing incompetent politicians to meddle in our education system. Our school system has deteriorated appallingly the last few decades and need to be brought up to scratch urgently. The people in charge must have a global mindset, and understand and implement best education practices.

We want education authorities to engage with credible academicians and NGOs who are able to give succinct feedback, suggestions and advice.

Objective mainstream media

We want mainstream media to cater to the general public and not be mouthpieces of political parties. There should be no blacking out of crucial news or deliberately making truth and logic fuzzy, just to make political masters look good. The fact is many people have sued mainstream papers like Utusan Malaysia, NST and The Star for libel and publishing untruths and won.

Historic 5 May

5 May 2013 is going to be a historic day in more ways than one. Do check your voter status here before you cast your vote this Sunday. Polling centres are open from 8am to 5pm. Don’t forget your IC  and do not wear anything that shows you’re aligned to any political party. If there are extra markings, smudges or tears on your ballot paper, you have the right to ask for a new one.

Remember, you hold the trump card in this election, so make your vote count and your voice heard.

Why ‘Rojak’? Disparate flavours and textures come together in a harmonious mix to make this delicious but underrated concoction. Our Rojak weekly is much like this mix, making sense of the noise of daily newsflow and politicking.

It is also our ultimate dream that our multi-ethnic melange of communities can be made richer within the unique ‘sauce’ that is Malaysia. Let’s take pride in the ‘rojakness’ of our nation!

Sections 4.1 and 4.3 of UMNO-Nomics: the Dark Side of the Budget. Written by Teh Chi-Chang, illustrated by Johnny Ong and published by REFSA in July 2012.

Notes: 

1. Lies, damned lies and crime statistics, 7 Feb 2013, the Rocket, Available at www.therocket.com.my
2. MyWatch’s Allegation: Police Deny Tweaking Crime Statistics, 7 Feb 2013, www.malaysiandigest.com. MyWatch is an anti-crime NGO whose patron is former Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan.