PM hard-pressed to meet Nades’ 20 conditions

A solemn declaration by citizen Nades

Kingfisher: Good on you, Malaysiakini columnist R Nadeswaran, to have initiated this appeal and a forthright pledge of support to PM Najib Razak with what obviously seems an appropriate “Malaysian Peoples’ Manifesto.”

The good regards towards you for having rendered praiseworthy service as a journalist are well-placed judging by this open and sincere appeal and pledge to the PM.

And the PM has, many still continue to think, the goodwill in his heart and compassion to serve this multiracial nation’s overall national development interests.

There is still hope and promise to praise our beloved nation, not to bemoan leadership ineffectiveness and failed strategies.

Dont Just Talk: The 20 conditions set by Nades might be too much for the Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) to meet, but for simple voters like us, fulfilling point nos 4 and 5 will suffice.

Najib must undertake to totally eradicate corruption at all levels, beginning with Umno and BN.

David Dass: Nades, this is an interesting approach at communicating the demands or expectations of the nation to the ruling party. Turning it around, it is simply a list of things that are being done which most consider wrong.

It is a long list of demands. Are these conditions to be fulfilled before you cast your vote in support of the ruling party? You seriously expect all politicians to speak sensibly and truthfully all the time? Does that happen in any country that you know of?

Putting that aside, most of the conditions you set are requirements of the Constitution and the law. They just require any government in power to uphold the Constitution and adhere to the laws of the land.

And of course, we require an independent and professional civil service, an independent, professional and disciplined police force, an independent and professional Attorney-General’s Chambers, as well as an independent and fearless judiciary to ensure that the Constitution and all of its promises are upheld, and all the laws of the country enforced.

Certain amendments have to be made to reverse some of the retrograde legislation Dr Mahathir Mohamad passed when he was in power. Restore the power of the judiciary. Their powers devolve from the Constitution. Those powers are not gifted to them by the legislature. Our Federal Court recently reaffirmed that power. Make the changes anyway.

Clarify the power of the civil courts to address grievances of non-Muslims who are affected by conversions of their spouses to Islam, especially with regard to custody, property rights and maintenance. Reinforce the doctrine of separation of powers.

Make senators in the upper house also subject to the election process. For a start, appoint senators from all parties – those who have served the nation in a demonstrable way. Appoint them from all races and religions so that we have a representative parliament.

And most importantly, treat all Malaysians equally as the Constitution requires. Treat them fairly and justly as all our religions require. Look after the poor whatever their race or religion.

And yes, most definitely, reject creeds and influences that would divide us – that would send us to separate schools and separate laundries. Creeds that would divide us into believers and unbelievers, because that would provide the extremists with the justification they need to turn us against one another.

Make every Malaysian feel proud to be Malaysian – not look for greener pastures abroad. Nades, we are still waiting for the opposition to give us their manifesto. But still, this is a good way to communicate an old message.

Anonymous 2436471476414726: Well said, Nades. However, whilst meritocracy is a good thing, this has to be practised in a holistic way.

In an environment where the social status of the populace is equal or about equal, meritocracy would be ideal. But where there exists wide disparity in social status and demographic pattern, meritocracy would only widen the gap between the privileged and non-privileged groups, urban and rural dwellers, rich and poor, etc.

Such a policy would allow one group to climb higher up on the social ladder, whilst condemning the other not only further down the ladder, but also remain in abject poverty and deprivation. In other words, having a balanced policy to address an already imbalanced situation may not be a good thing.

A child born to parents who are socially better off has brighter chance to do well in education and possibly be accepted into privileged colleges, such as King’s College London. Also, not many parents can raise RM4,000 or even RM400, what more RM400,000.

Vijay47: Some of the comments here seem to suggest that Citizen Nades is attempting to write a new Magna Carta or Malaysian Constitution. For crying out loud, this is just a piece of satire, written with tongue buried deep in cheek.

I would imagine that the only sentiment he expects from us is that we are either amused, or like Queen Victoria, not amused.

Anyway, Nades, I personally think that this article is a good foundation for a new Magna Carta or Malaysian Constitution. And while you are at it, another condition you can include is that Najib must ensure that from Nov 18, 2017, the sun rises from the northwest.

TMJ: Shut down Kosmo, Utusan group

Hank Marvin: The Utusan group (read: Umno) has been attacking the Johor palace for some years. When the controversy about the Johor ruler erupted, Utusan Malaysia even, funnily enough, asked law expert Abdul Aziz Bari – its own enemy – to say something critical about the issue.

Now it is an open war between Najib’s chief propagandist and Johor palace. But can the Johor palace afford to confront Najib? It already attacked Mahathir some months ago, but somehow the palace withdrew after the old fox fired back.

JD Lovrenciear: “This is one of the reasons why I don’t read newspapers in this country anymore,” said Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

True, many tens of thousands of right-minded Malaysians have stopped too. Which explains the dwindling circulation. And without the saviour, Umno, the papers are dead anyway.

Clever Voter: The young prince is fully aware of the malicious intent of the papers, and people are just too polite to say anything.