Of Siti Kasim’s middle finger and degree mills

Of Siti Kasim’s middle finger and degree mills

By Stephen Ng

If lawyer and activist, Siti Kasim’s middle-finger could get her in trouble, I am wondering why the case of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd a couple of years ago was simply dismissed as an “old story”.

And what is more puzzling is that a police officer of his rank could have a saving of A$320,000, when most of us are struggling just to make ends meet.

At RM2.89 to an Aussie Dollar, this is close to a million Ringgit and we have learnt that the Australian authority has rightfully frozen the account. For this, I do not understand why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency has not carried out its own investigation into the source of wealth.

In the first place, how to explain why a police officer should have an Australian bank account? What is the source of the wealth accumulated by Wan Ahmad is a question I would like to ask the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

He personally oversees the police force and this includes both Wan Ahmad and the Officer-in-Charge of Criminal Investigation (OCCI) Selangor, Fadzil Ahmat who is allegedly behind the charges that Siti will face soon.

As a civilian, when I put the two things together, it just does not make sense at all. If one could be prosecuted for the middle-finger, thousands of other Malaysians, especially the road bullies, would have to face the same charges. Don’t our police have anything better to do, Sir? Wouldn’t that also take up precious court hours?

Now, between the middle-finger and the degree mills, I wonder which is more serious. MCA president, Wee Ka Siong has been harping on two cases, but I am equally curious where Wee received his doctorate from.

From his titles, Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong is apparently an engineer. But how would he like it if people were to question the authenticity of his PhD?

Given that Wee has opened the Pandora box, the issues with fake degrees and titles are more widespread than what you can imagine. For example, there are many who claim to have titles like Datuk Seri or Dato’, but no one has ever checked the authenticity of these titles.

In recent years, it has become fashionable for our local politicians to obtain a doctorate degree from a particular university. How on earth were they conferred a doctorate degree? What is the significance of their research work towards the academia? Beyond the paper qualification, what is their level of academic achievement which is apparently missing the mark for some?

We do have a big problem here in Malaysia where there is a lack of personal and public integrity. It is mindboggling when people can say, “The Porsche is registered in my name but it is not mine”; for this, I think the Pakatan Harapan government under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has a lot of cleaning up to do.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008. After May 9, 2018, he is now involved in contributing ideas towards rebuilding of the nation.

No Smoking Ban is Good for all

I don’t want to lose you, too!

By Stephen Ng 

I lost my father when he had just turned 66 years old.

A couple of years later, I also lost another close relative when he, too, died of lung cancer, while my children lost their nanny’s husband and their wonderful godfather due to this deadly disease that knows no mercy.

Fans of the once-popular Radio Four would also remember the late Kenny Lim, who used to phone in the talkshows, he too died of lung cancer in his early fifties. 

You can understand why I am saddened each time I hear someone is suffering from lung cancer. It is a matter of what stage he is in. There is hardly any cure for any of this cancer patient. 

This is why I appeal to the public to understand what the Ministry of Health is trying to achieve when they banned smoking in restaurants. This is an important milestone in Malaysia. It has taken 61 years to implement this new and very bold ruling.

It used to be that smokers could even smoke in the coaches. On my way to Penang back in the 80s, I remember sitting just beside a chain smoker. While I was trying to catch up with some sleep, he was puffing the whole night. 

We have come a long way. I urge the Opposition not to politicise every single move made by the new government. 

I also urge the Sarawak State Government to be sensible and implement without reservation the ‘No Smoking’ ban, instead of fighting it. Sarawak Housing and Local Government state exco, Dr Sim Kui Hian is also a doctor; he should know the deadly malady. 

After May 09, there appears to be too much opposition to everything good and bad done by Pakatan Harapan – reject the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), reject the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), and now, reject even the ‘No Smoking’ ban on restaurants. 

There are indeed some good initiatives that the Opposition should support such as the ‘No Smoking’ ban. Majority of the non-smokers support it; therefore, it would do more harm to the Opposition’s narrative if they fought it. 

And being one of those who gave the thumbs-up to both Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Lee Boon Chye for their stake-it-all initiative, I certainly do not want to lose any of my loved ones to cancer of the lungs.

And, you, too!

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008. After May 9, 2018, he is now involved in contributing ideas towards rebuilding of the nation.

END.