CHRISTCHURCH: An Australian gunman (pic) involved in attacks on New Zealand mosques
that left at least 49 people dead published a racist manifesto on
Twitter beforehand then livestreamed his rampage, according to an online
analysis.
Police called for people not to share the video, which showed the gunmanshooting repeatedly at worshippers from close range.
“Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the
incident in Christchurch circulating online,” New Zealand police said
in a Twitter post.
“We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed.”
The media analysed a copy of the Facebook Live video, which shows a clean-shaven, Caucasian man with short hair driving to the Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch, then shooting as he enters the building.
It was determined the video was genuine through a digital investigation that included matching screenshots of the mosque taken from the gunman’s footage with multiple images available online showing the same areas.
The manifesto detailing motivations for the attack was posted yesterday
morning onto a Twitter account with the same name and profile image as
the Facebook page that streamed the attack.
Entitled The Great Replacement, the 73-page document said the gunman had wanted to attack Muslims.
The title of the document has the same name as a conspiracy theory
originating in France that believes European populations are being
displaced in their homelands by immigrant groups with higher birth
rates.
The manifesto said the gunman identified himself an Australia-born, 28-year-old white male from a low-income, working-class family.
He said that key points in his radicalisation were the defeat of
the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in 2017 elections, and the
death of 11-year-old Ebba Åkerlund in the 2017 Stockholm truck attack.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the attacker at the Masjid al Noor mosque was an Australian.
“We stand here and condemn, absolutely the attack that occurred
today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist,” said Morrison.
New Zealand authorities said that three people had been arrested, but their identities were not made public.
The media confirmed the authenticity of the live-streamed video partly by matching the distinctive features at the mosque seen in the footage with images available online.
These included a fence, postbox and doorway at the entrance to the mosque. — AFP
In the past eight years, across continents, white supremacists have
repeatedly chosen the same targets for shootings, stabbings, bombings
and car attacks.
The mass shootings on Friday
targeting two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 49 people,
appear to be the latest in a drumbeat of attacks motivated by the belief
that the white race is endangered. The perceived threats include Jews,
Muslims, immigrants, refugees, feminists and leftist politicians.
The attackers have not been part of a single white supremacist group.
But they are steeped in the same global racist propaganda, fluent in
the same memes and conspiracies, and the perpetrator of one attack often
references the names of the killers who came before.
In less than a decade, these attacks have included:
The internet has promoted economic and social
development. Such a function must be ensured, its openness maintained.
Meanwhile, chances should be reduced for the internet to stir up
troubles for society or severely mislead social ideologies. Which
country does a better job will be tested by its internet economy's
achievements and comprehensive fulfillment of the nation's economic and
social development.
Source: Global Times | 2019/3/18 21:38:42
The Western established advantages are indeed tremendous,
but its self-adjustment ability is weakening, and some so-called
adjustments often surrender to populism. The West is entering a
problematic period that strikes at its very foundation.
Source: Global Times | 2019/3/17 20:43:40
Weighing in: (Clockwise from top left) Ramon, Marina, Hassan, Anas and Marimuthu
‘There should be no compromise on integrity’
Honesty and integrity should take centre stage in the debate that is swirling over the legitimacy of certain university degrees of politicians.
Asli’s Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said good political leaders need not be graduates but some academic credentials would be an asset to them.
“What we need are politicians with keen critical thinking, dedication and sincerity to serve the rakyat,” he said yesterday.
Ramon said that politicians who had “cheated” should confess and let the people decide if they still want them to carry on serving or quit their posts.
Several politicians have come under fire after their academic qualifications were questioned by the public.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya found himself in hot water following the controversy over his “Cambridge University” degree.
Others included Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian and Perak state executive councillor Paul Yong Choo Kiong.
Several Barisan Nasional leaders too had their qualifications scrutinised in the past. Among them were former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot.
Former UiTM vice-chancellor Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Said said in other countries, leaders would have been asked to resign or they would voluntarily quit if they were found using dubious credentials.
“Honesty and integrity values are more important to those who are dealing with public trust and responsibility.
“The nation will collapse if its leaders are not honest or have integrity,” he said.
Educationist Prof Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu said politicians must come clean about their academic credentials as they are serving the public.
“Otherwise, how else can you serve the people?
“If you ask someone to write your thesis for you or use dubious ways to earn your credentials, you are just being dishonest to yourself and the public,” he said.
Moderation advocate Anas Zubedy concurred, saying that there should be no compromise when it comes to leadership and integrity.
“No matter how brilliant, knowledgeable or successful you are, a lack of integrity disqualifies any and all talent for any leadership position. We must check their track record for any propensity to lie, practise double standards, or to say one thing and do the other.
“New Malaysia must not compromise on integrity,” he said.
Writer and social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir said it was better to own up in not possessing a degree than to pretend to have one.
“No, it’s not a crime nor is it essential to serve in the government but it’s a matter of trust. If you can misrepresent this, what else can you misrepresent?” she asked.
G25 group of eminent Malays said it is best to be honest about one’s academic credentials so that doubts are not raised on their integrity.
“A politician who lies about his personal details to win an election or get a ministerial position will raise doubts about his integrity. He will also create a bad image for the government and the country,” it said in a statement.
Najib asked whether it was the national news agency Bernama or officers of the ministers that had misrepresented the academic credentials of Pakatan Harapan ministers.
“But what is more strange is that the false news that the ministers were graduates came from the biodata published from Bernama in its infographics and was spread when they were appointed as ministers about nine months ago.
“As far as I know, normally Bernama would request the biodata from the special aides or the press secretaries of ministers when they are appointed to be published in its reports,” he said on Facebook.
Reports by Star team: TARRANCE TAN, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, RAHIMY RAHIM, NURBAITI HAMDAN, RASHVINJEET S.BEDI and SARBAN SINGH
Malu apa, bro!
WE seem to be heading towards a dangerous edge. There is now an emerging culture of shamelessness.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak may have been slapped with countless charges of corruption and money laundering, but his campaign, Malu apa, bossku (“Why the shame, boss?” in Bahasa Malaysia), has surprisingly attracted millions of likes on social media.
The scandal-smeared former prime minister has traded in his tailored suits, impeccable English and political elite-aristocratic crowd for the Mat Rempit and Malay working class.
As part of his makeover, he is now decked in black parka, black jeans and black sneakers.
He is even hanging out with the young Mat Rempit and posting wefies with them. He is also happily showing off a black-and-red Yamaha Y15ZR 150cc moped that is all the rage with the youths of today.
And the registration plate on his bike is 8055KU, which insinuates “BOSSKU”, and to these newfound supporters, Najib is called Boss kita! (Our Boss.)
The key phrase here is Malu apa bossku, and while many learned Malaysians are cringing over this new culture, it barely seems wrong for our embattled former PM, who is basking in it and promoting the malaise.
But a similar show is also surfacing on the other side of the political divide.
One Pakatan Harapan leader after another is having his or her dubious education credentials exposed after Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya was questioned over his.
Johor Mentri Besar Osman Sapian’s education history has come under the spotlight with the allegation that he didn’t obtain a degree from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), as claimed.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s social science degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS), as reported when she became a minister, has also come into question. Now, she’s washed her hands of ever having had one.
DAP Assemblyman from Tronoh Paul Yong Choo Kiong claimed to have a masters in business administration from Akamai University – an alleged degree mill in Hawaii – among his academic qualifications.
None of these politicians have apologised for not correcting these errors when they were revealed, but now, they have conveniently shrugged off the news reports, claiming no knowledge of such revelations.
Worse, Marzuki passed the buck to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying it is now up to his boss to decide. The Johor MB chose to remain silent, hoping that the storm would blow over.
The central issue here isn’t whether an elected representative should have a tertiary education – the point here is, should we put our trust in anyone who lies to themselves?
If some of these individuals buy dubious online diplomas, they are only cheating themselves. Worse, the electorate has also fallen for this charade hook, line and sinker.
Instead of working hard, like most university students, these individuals apparently chose the easy way out. Are we expected to believe them when they talk about accountability and integrity from now on?
What’s worse is, most Pakatan leaders have chosen to look the other way or have lamely justified these dishonest transgressions.
If they were in the private sector, the sack would be a foregone conclusion, but then they are “Yang Berhormat”, despite these dishonourable acts.
Apa nak malu, YB! Aku ada SPM aje, bro!
And of course, that’s not the end. PAS leaders have found themselves in unfamiliar waters.
With their turbans and goatees, they like to appear pious and holier than thou. However, they are now seeing their names flying on social media, associated with a taste for sports cars and bikes, and not just under their names, but those of their children and spouses.
A report filed with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over allegations of PAS leaders getting RM90mil from Umno under the previous administration involved “a list of expensive cars”, properties, high-powered motorcycles and “the purchase of number plates at exorbitant prices”, it has been widely reported.
According to the report, several PAS leaders were accused of using these funds to acquire the cars and properties.
The cars include BMW, Mini Cooper, Toyota Vellfire, Range Rover, Porsche Cayman, Audi Q7, Audi A6, Toyota Camry, Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Passat, Mercedes Benz, and a BMW motorcycle, according to a report.
“As for the properties, this includes a bungalow in Bangi worth RM3mil,” says a report. The only item missing is camel ownership.
PAS Mursyidul Am (spiritual leader) Datuk Hashim Jasin has admitted to owning a Porsche Cayman, but said his son was the real owner, who was entitled to an Approved Permit (AP) when he served as the Arau MP between 1998 and 1999.
Every one of them has branded these accusations as part of some grand political conspiracy, pleading innocence and insisting they are virginal and pure instead.
But we are sure they will be okay, and they will continue to preach accountability and transparency, and possibly continue to look – invoking race, religion and God – to their faithful followers, who will readily give away their savings and, brave the rain and scorching sun to support them.
Malu Apa Bossku? Tatap Sokong Boss (as the Sabahans will say).
It was reported by Bernama that Marzuki pursued a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in logistics via a long-distance learning programme at the University of Cambridge.
Response: “When I was asked by the media, I clearly said that I was from Cambridge International University (CIU) in US and not the University of Cambridge in UK.”
FINANCE MINISTER LIM GUAN ENG
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong questioned Lim's credential as a qualified professional accountant
Response: Lim's political secretary Tony Pua rebutted the allegations by producing Lim’s degree certificate from Monash University, Australia on April 11, 1984, together with a copy of his “Certificate of Membership” in the Australian Society of Accountants dated Feb 21, 1984.
DEFENCE MINISTER MOHAMAD SABU
Accused of faking a degree in culinary arts.
Response: “Some people say I have a degree in culinary arts. I never said that. Truth is, I never completed my studies at UiTM. They kicked me out.”
But Mohamad was quick to add that despite this, he was still a “good cook”.
HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER ZURAIDA KAMARUDDIN
A Twitter user claimed he could not find her name on the National University of Singapore’s online degree verification portal.
Response: “I have never claimed or held myself to be a graduate of NUS and I have never authorised anyone else to do so,” she said.
JOHOR MENTRI BESAR DATUK OSMAN SAPIAN
A Facebook page questioned the validity of his UPM Bachelor in Accounting obtained in 1985.
Response: He has yet to comment on the matter.
TRONOH ASSEMBLYMAN PAUL YONG CHOO KIONG
Yong was questioned over his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Akamai University, United States by MCA’s Dr Wee.
Response: Yong said he felt calm and had nothing much to comment as his certificate is real and he had a convocation 16 years ago.
“My main interest now is to do the best for my voters,” said Yong.
FORMER PRIME MINISTER DATUK SERI NAJIB TUN RAZAK
DAP highlighted a video circulating online alleging that Najib never completed his studies at UK’s Nottingham University in the 70s.
Response: “Of course my degree is legitimate.”
FORMER HUMAN RESOURCES MINISTER DATUK SERI RICHARD RIOT
Riot was questioned in 2013 over his Bachelor of Business Administration from the Chartered Insitute of Business Administration (Ireland) and a Masters in Business Administration from Preston University in the United States.
Response: “As (former) prime minister, he (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) has used his wisdom to find out whether I am fit to be a minister, and that includes my academic qualification, by tasking me to be in charge of the human resources portfolio, which is a very a challenging ministry with 13 agencies.
“There is a difference between fake degree and qualifications from unrecognised universities. I worked very hard for it because I believe in life-long learning”, he said.
Wee presses on quizzing Lim
Wee: No evidence showing that Lim ever worked in any accounting firms.
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite threats of being sued, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong continues to raise questions on Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s credentials as an accountant.
Dr Wee said that “Lim is far from even being a certified or a chartered accountant”.
The Ayer Hitam MP, while referring to documents released by Lim’s political secretary Tony Pua yesterday, pointed out that Lim’s membership into the Australian Society of Accountants on Feb 21, 1984, merely stated that he was admitted as a provisional member.
A provisional membership, Dr Wee said, was one of the steps required to enrol into programme modules and examination in order to qualify as an accountant, and to qualify for a full membership into the Australian Society of Accountants.
Therefore, a provisional membership is far from being a fully certified chartered accountant or even an accountant.
“You cannot call yourself using either designation,” said Dr Wee in a Facebook posting yesterday.
The Australian Society of Accountants is now known as CPA Australia (Certified Practicing Accountant).
Checks online showed that a full membership is only awarded to individuals if they have successfully passed the CPA examination – which also requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a year of supervised working experience under a CPA licence holder.
At the same time, Dr Wee, in the same Facebook posting, pointed out that Lim was quoted by news portal MalaysiaKini in a report on March 2012 as saying that he was a failed accountant and had spent less than a week in an accounting firm in Malaysia before he was sacked.
Dr Wee said there was no evidence showing that Lim ever worked in any accounting firms, or having enrolled for any necessary education requirements to qualify as a certified accountant or a chartered accountant.
“In fact, online checks with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) does not show Lim as being a member.
“In Malaysia, you cannot misrepresent yourself as an accountant unless you are a member of MIA.
“It is a criminal offence under Section 25(e) of the Accountants Act 1967 for any individual or organisation to call himself or herself an accountant unless he or she is registered with the MIA,” said Dr Wee.
At the same time, Dr Wee said that a report by New Straits Times in June 2018 also pointed out that Lim had claimed to be a former accountant.
Meanwhile, Dr Wee also said that DAP’s website had misrepresented Lim as a certified accountant.
“Neither MCA nor myself have any interest in pursuing this matter any further as the declining economy right now is a more important issue to address.
“We leave it to DAP and the rakyat to judge if a legal offence has been committed,” said Dr Wee.
Lim’s qualification in accounting is the latest to come under scrutiny after a series of alleged false education credentials involving Pakatan Harapan leaders, including Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian and Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong. - The Star.
On
Malaysia Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's website, it is stated in his
biodata that he graduated from Monash University, Australia, with a
Bachelor of Economics degree and was a qualified professional accountant
by 1983.PHOTO: ST FILE
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's qualification in accounting is the latest to come under scrutiny following a series of alleged false education credentials involving Pakatan Harapan leaders.
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Wee Ka Siong, in questioning Mr Lim's credentials as an accountant, said according to Monash University's website, Mr Lim obtained his Bachelor of Economics in 1984.
(MCA) president Wee Ka Siong
"I have no doubt over his degree qualification. However, I wonder how he became a qualified professional accountant in 1983 before he even graduated (in economics)?" he asked in a Facebook posting on Sunday (Feb 10).
On Mr Lim's website: https://limguaneng.com/ , https://limguaneng.com/index.php/biodata/ , it is stated in his biodata that he graduated from Monash University, Australia, with a Bachelor of Economics degree and was a qualified professional accountant by 1983.
Datuk Seri Wee, who is the Ayer Hitam MP, also wanted to know how Mr Lim's qualification as a "qualified professional accountant" was accredited.
"Was it by a local or foreign institution? Which country accepts an economics graduate to pass as a 'qualified professional accountant'?
For a minister who always stresses on the concept of Competency, Accountability and Transparency, please explain and don't keep quiet," he added.
Dr Wee also described as "suspicious" Johor Mentri Besar Osman Sapian avoiding questions from the media on his supposed UPM Bachelor in Accounting obtained in 1985.
"UPM's official website stated that the course was introduced in 1985. How is it possible that there could be such a super-fast graduate produced in the same year!
"If Osman fails to prove the genuineness of his academic credentials, will he still have the dignity to lead the state? This is a question of integrity among leaders," he said.
Citing examples of several world leaders who resigned or were sacked for having fake academic credentials, Dr Wee questioned if the Pakatan Harapan leadership would remain quiet and behave as if nothing happened.
"Or will they respond with the standard Pakatan answer, that a person's academic qualifications have nothing to do with political position," he added.
In Teluk Intan, Bernama reports Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming as backing Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong who comes under public scrutiny for his dubious Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Akamai University, United States, claiming that he had obtained it "legitimately".
This is despite the fact that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had labelled the university as a degree mill in 2005.
Mr Yong, 48, was also questioned by Dr Wee as to how he could do his MBA without having a first degree.
The Perak executive councillor has in his biodata listed his primary and secondary school education followed by his MBA.
Responding to the controversy, Mr Yong claimed that his way to enhance his self worth has been blown out of proportion.
He, however, did not reveal how he obtained his MBA.
"What is the relationship between this and politics?" asked Mr Yong.
Sources: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-finance-minister-lim-guan-engs-credentials-as-an-accountant-questioned and
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/11/lims-credentials-as-an-accountant-questioned/ Related:
Under scrutiny: A photo of the Cambridge International University and logo taken from its website.
https://youtu.be/x90SmWqP2V4
Politicians having degrees and certificates from questionable higher learning institutions make for bad optics and show poor character, say political analysts.
However, many do it to raise social standing or to win over the masses.
Universiti Malaya law lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Azmi Sharom said that knowingly getting degrees from dubious institutions displayed a lack of confidence in oneself and a lack of good character.
Dr Azmi: ‘Maybe the politicians feel the need to justify their intelligence to the public by having some sort of degree.'
“To actually purchase your degree from these places, then to show off about it, for me it’s not a crime but a sign of poor character.
“Maybe the politicians feel the need to justify their intelligence to the public by having some sort of degree,” said Dr Azmi.
He was commenting on remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya who said his degree was from the Cambridge International University in the United States, after previously saying he had a degree from the University of Cambridge.
Dr Azmi said he did not believe that Marzuki should lose his job over this matter but that it was done in poor form, adding that people cared more about politicians holding public office doing their job well rather than what certificates they possessed.
“It’s not necessary to have a degree to be a politician, but it would inspire confidence in the public if ministers were academically qualified in the field that they were working on.
“For example, the current minister in charge of environment (Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin) is very qualified in her field and it is very reassuring to know that,” he said.
However, Dr Azmi added that having a degree for a minister was not a “be all and end all” as they could still learn on the job.
Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said politicians buy dubious degrees because they felt that this was important to boost confidence and trust among the masses.
Prof Sivamurugan: ‘Some who are interested to become politicians feel it’s a disadvantage without a higher education.’
“Some quarters of the public think they will be served better by having lawmakers with education credentials.
“In fact, some who are interested to become politicians feel it’s a disadvantage without a higher education.
“For those who don’t have one, they are willing to go to the extent of finding a dubious degree without realising the consequences in this new information world,” he said.
Prof Sivamurugan believed that politicians with dubious degrees should come clean or voluntarily resign to avoid further damaging the party’s image as the new Malaysia was about integrity.
“However, Marzuki’s case must not be politicised and his party must give him a chance to defend himself,” he added.
In 2017, there were suggestions to the Higher Education Ministry to vet lawmakers with fake credentials, said Prof Sivamurugan, adding that it showed that this was nothing new in Malaysian politics.
UiTM Sabah political science lecturer Mohd Rahezzal Shah said the people will question future decisions made by Marzuki as well as his character and integrity if it was proven that he knowingly bought a certificate from a degree mill.
“If knowing full well that these institutions are degree mills, yet they still get degrees from these places, then it really shows their characters.
“People will judge him (Marzuki) based on that and they will judge his judgment as a leader in the future,” said Rahezzal.
Marzuki, who is also a senator and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s secretary-general, also stood to lose credibility if he claimed that he did not know that the Cambridge International University was a degree mill as a simple Google search would have raised a lot of questions, said Rahezzal.
“As a deputy minister, he is involved in decision-making processes everyday. If he can’t even get the facts right for his degree then he will lose credibility,” said Rahezzal.
He added that many of those who have in the past been caught with dubious degrees were from among prominent businessmen and politicians who wanted to raise their social standing.
“They need to have degrees from foreign countries and the easiest way is to buy them,” he said. The Star
Profile photos of faculty members in question
Under scrutiny: A photo of the Cambridge International University and logo taken from its website.
Checks on the US-based Cambridge International University from which Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya obtained his degree in business administration have raised more questions on its legitimacy.
The faculty members on the website listed one “associate professor”, Dr Patricia Powell, whose profile picture bears the watermark of international online dating site AnastasiaDate that predominantly features East European women.
The profile pictures used for five other women in the adjunct faculty members’ list also looked suspiciously like that of fashion models.
One “Mrs Josephine Fernandens” posed with a pout against a green backdrop while a “Dr Teressa Jane Bright” had bare shoulders and eye makeup fit for the runway.
Other faculty and adjunct faculty members also bore suspiciously low resolution profile pictures.
Attempts by The Star to email multiple faculty and adjunct faculty members for clarification failed when the mail delivery subsystem noted that these email addresses could not be found or the server was unable to receive mail.
The response from the remote server read: “550 No Such User Here”.
With 150 programmes offered, the institution, which claimed to have existed since 1990, only had 12 faculty members and only 13 adjunct faculty members listed on the website.
A Google search on the names of each faculty and adjunct faculty member turned up nothing, neither a LinkedIn profile nor research papers published under them.
Marzuki, who previously said he had a degree from the University of Cambridge pursued through a distance learning programme, admitted on Wednesday that his degree was actually from the Cambridge International University in the United States.
Since that admission, the institution has come under intense scrutiny and increasing suspicion that it is a “diploma mill” that awards degrees with little or no study.
According to higher learning websites, indicators that an institution may be a diploma mill: it is not accredited; doesn’t have a physical address or location listed on the website; admissions entirely depend on a valid Visa or MasterCard; and the website not having an (.edu) web domain.
On its website, Cambridge International University admits it has not been accredited by an accrediting agency recognised by the US Secretary of Education, adding that “accreditation is a strictly voluntary option in the US”.
“There is no mandate by federal law for a school, college or university to be accredited. Many good schools are not accredited,” it said.
There was also no physical address or location of the institution’s office listed on the website, which also does not have the (.edu) domain.
Cambridge International University has no affiliation with the prestigious University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
The US-based institution only offers “distance learning” programmes with degree courses costing as low as US$5,000 (about RM20,000) with fees payable via PayPal.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/08/profile-photos-of-faculty-members-in-question/#0QSzO6Txyv7Bz2zo.99
Will the Government deliver or are rosy pledges meant to be broken anyway?
PEOPLE are still harping on election manifesto promises which the new coalition has yet to fulfil.
In the wake of the 14th general election, the 100-day manifesto of Pakatan Harapan is being scrutinised.
Does anyone remember the promises made before GE13 or GE12 or any other election before that?
Remember the Penang Bridge toll promises?
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came to town and promised free passage across the bridge for motorcycles.
Hours later, the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng cleverly upped the ante and promised that the bridge would be completely toll- free.
In Malaysian lingo, we call this ‘wayang’ or political theatrics.
I found it all very entertaining. I looked forward to each retort from the opposite side.
We should not be like children and cry: “But mummy, you promised!”
Now, Pakatan Harapan did fulfil some of their promises.
The Government abolished the goods and services tax and an earnest hunt has begun for those responsible for the 1MDB controversy.
As for the other promises, maybe not yet? Or at a later date?
You cannot fault Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for being honest. He told the world Pakatan could not fulfil all the promises in its manifesto because it did not expect to win!
So the politicians were just putting on a show and we, the audience, bought front-row tickets to the ‘wayang’.
Dr Mahathir would know. Can anyone remember any of the manifesto promises that were never fulfilled during his previous 22-year tenure or during the last 10 years under Najib?
I don’t and I have been around for more than three decades, starting my working life the year Mahathir came to power in 1981.
If elections were won just on fulfilling manifestos, Barisan would not have been able to rule for 60 years because there has been volumes of unfulfilled promises.
Elections are usually won on negative rather than positive elements.
We have a saying in the newsroom: people wanna read about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.
At The Star Online, stories along those lines get astronomical level hits.
In politics, seats tend to be won by candidates who can portray how bad the other guy is!
People want to be shocked by scandals, not lulled by promises.
So we do not have to lament the unfulfilled promises.
It is a universal issue which is not confined to Third World countries as even presidential elections in developed countries are won the same way.
One which comes to recent memory is the United States’ presidential elections in 2016.
Everyone thought Hilary Clinton would triumph but Donald Trump ran a smear campaign on her.
People heard all about her leaked emails and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s case on her.
Both candidates spent millions of dollars taking out advertisements in newspapers and on television.
The focus was more on showing how bad the other candidate would be for the country rather than what they would do if elected.
So for all those who are still hung up on Pakatan promises, forget it.
You can shout until the cows come home and nothing is going to happen.
But they still have four years to make good on their promises, before power comes back to us.
They could be saving the best promises for last. Maybe?
Use technology to learn more about them before casting your vote
Cheah taking a wefie with Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu
(behind Cheah) and (from left) Berapit assemblyman Lydia Ong, Speaker
Datuk Law Choo Kiang and state officials during a break at the Penang state
assembly in November.
KEBUN Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng of PKR is the man of the moment in the political scene in Penang.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng barred him from helping with the registration of flood victims for the RM700 aid in his constituency.
Lim, in his Facebook page, said in Chinese that he wouldn’t sit idly when elected representatives do not perform.
He stopped short of naming Cheah, except to say that he heard grouses from Hong Seng Estate residents about not seeing “their assemblyman” during the floods on Sept 15 as well as on Nov 4 and 5. We do not know if this is true.
In any case, Cheah got a letter from the State Secretariat relieving him of the registration duty. Lim and Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey took over the task.
Cheah, showing his usual gentleman’s demeanour, declined to comment. But this is not the first time he has come under attack from the state administration.
It was learned that he was reprimanded for being unhappy with the passing of the Penang State Park (Botanic) Corporation Enactment 2017.
Penang Botanic Gardens is in his constituency and he feared the Enactment would affect people’s rights after the park was corporatised. It is said he was informed only a few days before the Bill was tabled.
In 2015, Cheah, Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Dr T. Jayabalan (Batu Uban) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) were dubbed the ‘PKR Five’ for abstaining in a vote against a Barisan Nasional motion on land reclamation in the state assembly.
Their relationship with Lim soured after that.
How do we define good elected representatives? Keep count of how many times they visit their constituencies?
And then there is the old question: Should we vote for the person or the party? There are many views on this, but as a journalist, I have an occupational advantage.
I have seen a few assemblymen turning up at gotong-royong, spend less than 30 minutes there for photo opportunities and leave. Yes, I know who you are and I am a voter too.
And then I had the chance to cover many state assembly meetings through the years.
This is where we expect constructive debates among the ‘Yang Berhormat’ on issues that affect us. But on a few occasions, there were no fruitful debates or exchange of ideas.
National issues, which cannot be resolved in the state assembly, dominate the proceedings at times. Why? What were our assemblymen hoping to achieve by prattling about things that the hall cannot act on?
They frequently call each other names and bicker in the august House.
In the last meeting, two assemblymen dragged out the name of a newspaper editor and attacked his character in the hall where the editor had no chance to defend himself due to the absolute privilege that lets assemblymen say anything they want there without fear of being sued.
But I was relieved because at least five other assemblymen stood up to defend the editor and talked those two assemblymen down.
Unlike them, I do not have absolute privilege so regretfully, I can mention no names.
With today’s technology, it is easy to get to know political candidates before giving them our votes.
Check out their Facebook pages or Google their names to learn about them.
If they are not up to mark, something might show in their social media exchanges.
Remember, the election season is just around the corner. Use your vote wisely.
A
DAP assemblyman has come to the defence of the Penang Forum, saying
that there was no need for the state government to criticise the
coalition of 20 environmental and civil rights organisations.
GEORGE
TOWN: A DAP assemblyman has proposed for a royal commission of inquiry
to be set up to look into the sinkhole in Persiaran Tanjung Bungah and
the landslides in Penang Hill.
