14 œ theSun | FRIDAY JULY 31 2009

speak up! RUKUN NEGARA: THE PRINCIPLES

BELIEF LOYALTY TO KING THE SUPREMACY THE RULE COURTESY AND
IN GOD AND COUNTRY OF THE OF LAW MORALITY
CONSTITUTION

THE OBJECTIVES
TO achieve greater unity TO maintain a TO create a just society in TO ensure a liberal approach TO build a progressive society
among Malaysians democratic way of life which the wealth of the nation to her rich and diverse which shall be oriented to modern
shall be equitably shared cultural traditions science and technology

letters
Acting upon
becoming more open too).
But then nothing happened letters@thesundaily.com
with the movement. I didn’t get

Opportunists mar
any more updates, and academic
endeavours and travelling around
Europe took priority. I eventually
did join a protest march – against

internal security
MANY years ago, in
a dingy room in the Abiding
bowels of the London
School of Economics Times
and Political Science, I by Tunku ‘Abidin
one day found myself Muhriz
surrounded by a group
of discontented Malay-
sians. These were the sorts who
couldn’t publicly reveal an iota of
criticism against the Malaysian
government since their scholar-
ships might be withdrawn as a
result, but they were so idealistic
that they would attend these
clandestine gatherings, encour-
aging those who weren’t bound
to government agencies to do the
dirty work of speaking out against
what they saw as corruption and
injustice in Malaysia.
On this occasion they were
trying to persuade me to protest
outside Malaysia House in
Trafalgar Square, a regular oc-
currence back then. I declined
to join, partly because it was late
in the evening after a long day of
classes arguing against the weak-
nesses of Kymlicka’s theory of
group-specific rights, and partly
because these protests seemed
to have very little impact. Also,
Malaysia House, which houses
Tourism Malaysia, is a stupen-
dously gorgeous building in a
fantastic location, and as the staff
had previously been extremely
helpful with the supply of kom-
pang for use in our dikir barat
performance, I felt it would be
mean to subject them to slogans
condemning His Malaysian Maj-
esty’s Government, which might
furthermore deter or confuse
prospective tourists investigating
our claim to be truly Asia. So not
a good choice of protest location
co-operatives’ image
the Iraq War – but the whole
thing was hijacked by socialists,
who aren’t the best company
on spring afternoons (or any WE refer to “Co-operative movement The annual general meeting is still the
other afternoon for that matter), has lost its moorings” (Letters, July 17) highest authority. Members elect the
and although it was the biggest by R. Rama Chandran. leaders among themselves, decide on
coordinated protest in the history It is wrong to say that the co-op- the aims of the activities and have to
either. of mankind, it didn’t stop Bush eratives have lost their principles and deal with internal conflicts. The com-
But then, as if ready and Blair. I was later involved identity. Indeed, the principles are mission does not interfere with the
with a Plan B for the – as a researcher in the House the operational practices that set the affairs of co-operatives.
morally destitute, they of Commons – in the campaign co-operatives apart from the investor- There are rules for co-operatives
offered something much to stop the extension of detention owned firms. However, the presence intending to set up subsidiaries and for
more palatable. No without trial in the UK, as well as of opportunistic individuals, who used those that already have subsidiaries and
marching necessary, no investigating British complicity in co-operatives for their own benefits it has become the co-op’s responsibility
risk of your photograph extraordinary rendition (basically by taking advantage of the generous to table the accounts of the subsidiaries
taken by the Malaysian Students’ the contracting out of torture to support that the government gave to in the AGM for members to exercise
Department, and no shivering in your less democratic allies since co-operatives, is undeniable. control on the subsidiaries.
the cold and windy drizzle. All your own laws prevent you from Chandran said that co-ops were in Even so, it is obvious that Chandran
this required was a signature on doing so). poor state of affairs because its leaders did not read up on the representatives
a piece of paper declaring your So while I won’t be marching know very little about its philosophy. in the Co-operative Commission Board.
disagreement with a piece of for either side tomorrow, my In Malaysia, the co-operative education He claims that non-bumiputras are not
Malaysian legislation. Your con- position has changed somewhat and training needs of the members are represented in the board. He should
science would be clear with no since that day at the LSE. I am met by the Co-operative College. All have checked the commission’s web-
risk of Special Branch being set pro-internal security. And ac- leaders, upon their appointment onto site on the composition of the board.
upon you when you return home tion must be taken to preserve it a co-operative board are required by Ooi Siew Kim, a lawyer, is on the
for the summer holidays. where necessary: it sometimes law to attend courses, which include board. So there is 8% non-bumiputra
That piece of paper was might not seem like it here in philosophy and principles, administra- representation (one out of 12 board
sponsored by the Anti-ISA Kuala Lumpur, but terrorism tive and financial management, roles members). Nowadays, 95% of the
Movement’s UK chapter, and if is a real threat in this part of and responsibilities as co-operative co-operatives registered are bumiputra
I recall correctly, that may well the world, and the most ardent leaders, entrepreneurial skills and co-operatives.
have been one of its founding libertarian would see the need for courses in co-operative laws. How- On top of that, it is the role of
meetings. It was the combination tools to deal with these plots. ever, it is true that there were cases of internal auditors of co-operatives to
of curiosity and the fact that I had But our ISA has been too leaders who violated the principles and help their boards to better manage by
just read Syed Husin Ali’s Two abused in the past that even if it philosophies of co-operatives for their providing the boards with information
Faces: Detention Without Trial were amended to a stage were own interests. on management strategy and practices,
that led me to sign the document, it would resemble a perfectly Chandran should be able to un- control frameworks and governance
and as my signature dried on the reasonable anti-terror law, with derstand that poor state of affairs of processes.
paper, I felt bathed in an aura of judges being more involved in co-operatives is not due to lack of The internal auditors do not express
righteousness. It was something determining who constitutes a knowledge in philosophy of co-opera- an opinion on the co-operative’s finan-
over and above my onerous du- threat and the time frames drasti- tives. Other factors such as problems of cial statements, which will be done
ties as a committee member of cally shortened, the label “ISA” capital adequacy, members’ participa- by independent external auditors. As
the LSE Malaysia Club. You see, simply has too much baggage. If tion and weak leadership will result in such, the boards of co-operative have
Malaysian student societies, even the government is serious about co-operatives facing difficulties to tap been given the role to appoint internal
the more “intellectual” ones, reviewing our anti-terror legisla- market potential. auditors and for this purpose the com-
spent most of their budgets on tion, it might be able to satisfy The Co-operative Commission is mission has issued guidelines on the
parties or makan events. The real many on both sides by getting rid entrusted with the role to develop appointment of internal auditors.
activism happened in specialist of it and then immediately enact- and strengthen co-operatives. The
societies or out-and-out political ing a superior piece of legislation establishment of the commission did Corporate Affairs Department
party clubs, although my younger with a much more huggable not lessen the democratic control of Malaysia Co-operative Societies
friends inform me that this has name. the members as claimed by Chandran. Commission
now changed (the opening up of
democratic space that has taken
place in recent years in Malaysia
has resulted in mainstream Ma-
laysian student societies abroad
Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz is director
of the Malaysia Think Tank. Com-
ments: letters@thesundaily.com.
Sin tax not the answer
FINANCE Minister II Datuk Seri rettes will also encourage smuggling
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said that the of these goods. It is an open secret that
government is mulling over a possible smuggled goods are flooding the market
Bus firms must deliver reduction of corporate and individual
taxes to reduce the burden on business-
beyond the capacity of our enforcement
authorities to curb.
THE government has acted fairly to bus and taxi operators men and the people in view of the global When I was in the armed forces
by agreeing to their protracted demand for a fare increase. downturn. during the Indonesian Confrontation,
Now that the fares are increased, it should be the unfail- It is with a certain amount of trepi- we were more or less “encouraged”
ing responsibility of RapidKL, the leading bus operator in the dation that we see the increase of tax to smoke and drink by our peers
Klang Valley to make sure that its buses run on schedule. For every year on booze and cigarettes to “soothe our nerves” in between
this to happen and to fulfil the commuters’ need, it must – the so called “sin” tax. fighting the enemy. (I personally did
display the schedule at bus stops and strictly follow it. But do such increases in tax reduce not subscribe to this view.) Many got
And more importantly, bus routes that are being serviced the consumption of alcohol and ciga- addicted and continued the habit on
by only one bus, giving shortage of buses as an excuse, must rettes? Not so. Many people smoke and leaving the army.
be increased to two or three as may be necessary. drink to “unwind”. The government has made booze
The enforcement agency responsible for ensuring the There are psychologically stressed and cigarettes cheaper in the army. But
efficient running of bus services must not neglect its duty out folk out there who are addicted to if the government now wants to put
to monitor and carry out regular checks at bus terminals to these practices. They smoke and drink the brakes on those in “civvy street” by
ensure buses run on schedule and take prompt action when not because it is relatively cheap but increasing prices, it just will not
necessary. This is very important and should not be left to because they are hooked. produce the desired results.
the bus operators to handle. If the taxes are increased, they will If fast foods are the cause of obesity,
Without these measures in place, there is every likeli- not stop or cut down. The crucial point is it fair on us to call upon the govern-
hood for the system to go back to square one much to the is that increased prices will impact ment to consider increasing the tax on
detriment of our commuters. negatively on their standard of living. fast foods to curb obesity?
They will be less able to feed, clothe
S. Ragunathan and house themselves. Dr A. Soorian
Petaling Jaya Increasing taxes on booze and ciga- Seremban

A truly corruption free mentri besar

READING the letter from Halimah
Mohd Said, “Long road to religious
understanding” (July 28), which
described briefly a part of the
life and times of Dr Mohd Said
Mohamed, past mentri besar of
Negri Sembilan, reminded me of a
conversation a few of us had with
Dr Tan Chee Khoon sometime in
the early seventies.
At that time Chee Khoon was
a respected and distinguished
member of our parliamentary
opposition. When our discussion
moved to the subject of corruption
in government, I asked Chee Khoon
whether there were any BN men-
tris besar or chief ministers who,
in his opinion, are corruption free.
Without hesitation he replied that
to his knowledge and opinion there
was none.
However, also without hesita-
tion and any second thoughts, he
told us that to his knowledge and
in his opinion, the previous mentri
besar of Negri Sembilan, Dr Mohd
Said Mohamed, was the only BN
mentri besar, past and present at
that time, who was 100% corrup-
tion free. I believe Dr Mohd Said
was mentri besar until 1969.
CH Ong
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