The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a world class structure with world class touts. The passenger is harrassed the moment he arrives, and the authorities turn a blind eye. A letter in the New Straits Times today (10 Dec 2001, NST, Letters) says this gives the country a bad name. He is wrong. It is the breakdown of moral authority that does. This is but an example. The CLP scandal is another. The missing answer scripts for the SPM examination another. The scandal in the courts in the reign of the former chief justice continues under the new, with matters addressed only when they hit the public eye, and everything else swept under the proverbial carpet. Rules are changed at random, not after careful study but because the chief justice needs something to say to journalists. Every privatisation of government utilities has failed, in tens of billions of ringgit in debt, and the government takes much pains to exculpate those responsible. Senior government servants themselves are not beyond moral sanction to take money meant for the hardcore poor.

Selangor wants condoms sold -- even to married couples -- only on doctor's prescription and in clinics, hospitals and pharmacies and where they cannot be easily available to the public. The mentri besar, Dato' Seri Mohd Khir Toyo, looks how to regulate its sale, and wants local councils to prevent its widespread use among the public. The Selangor (Islamic) Fatwa Council, which should know beter, believes The idiocy of the proposal, to which the state, believes the ban on condoms is the best solution to control the spread of AIDS and extramarital affairs. The National Front did not object, notwithstanding, it is reported, as in the New Straits Times today (05 Dec 2001, p8), with seriousness and as a page lead.

The MPs therefore ignore their elected task, using it to collect their pensions and allowances. Attendances are rare, except when the Prime Minister makes his rare scheduled appearances. Cabinet ministers do not usually answer questions directed at them. They are busy doing what could be delegated and delegate what they should not in the House. The MPs sign in to collect their allowances and sign out, their day's work done. The New Straits Times, a few years ago, began to count the MPs in the House at three specified times a day when it sits. It shows that MPs generally look upon their role as sinecures.

The New Straits Times, in a comment yesterday (12 Oct 2001, p2) by Ashraf Abdullah, insists that "the content of anything that sells itself as journalism should be free of any motive other than informing its readers". To drive the point home, he adds: "It should not be influenced by anything else." The Associated Press did not get the nuance right on what the Prime Minister said in Malay in Parliament about the Osama affair, and an emphasis other than he intended went through. As usual, the Prime Minister's press handlers did not release a translation, as they should have, for anything as newsy as his comment on the current war to pulverise Afghanistan is. Even Bernama takes its time to release the "proper" version of what he said. Why is it so difficult to have an English translation of what was said in Parliament available for important statements like these?

He removes his vicepresident and bitter critic, Chua Jui Meng, firmly in the Ah Lek camp, as Kedah MCA chief. for an effect opposite to what he intends. He tells different versionsn to different people for the sacking: the New Straits Times today (04 October) says the Kedah MCA wanted it; but MCA Kedah is unhappy about it. The Sun quotes him that Chua tried to "kill" him; the Star, which he controls, says it shows Ling cannot be pushed around and now implicitly controls the MCA.

A letter in the New Straits Times today (4 October 2001, Letters, p11) suggests what would have been a brilliant advance in penal reform in the 13th century: put the fellow and his ilk in leg irons and chains in future. Mr P. Selvam of Petaling Jaya admits security was lax but gives the police credit for that since "it was not easy for the police to apprehend this criminal who with his gang members terrorised the public". But having caught him, allowed him to escape. The man was handcuffed.

Last week, the Straits Times in Singapore quoted shipping sources to say that ships from a score of Muslim countries may land in US ports but not their citizens, Malaysia one of them. It was unchallenged. The minister of transport, Dato' Seri Ling Liong Sik let it pass. The MISC, the company whose ships land in US ports, said nary a word. Wisma Putra retreated into its accustomed rigor mortis. The New Straits Times and the Star have correspondents in New York and the former as well in Los Angeles. Neither checked its veracity amidst the biggest story in town. In other words, one must assume truth in the Straits Times report.

An interesting letter in the New Straits Times today [3 Sept 01, p12] which would never be answered: "With reference to K. Chong's letter (NST, Aug 14) on management of sewerage services, the charge for such services have been included in the assessment bills. Taman TAR, Seremban has had a central sewage collection plant since 1963 and desludging services by the local authorities have always been satisfactory. Then out of the blue, Indah Water Konsortium came into the picture, Ratepayers would appreciate a clarification by the local authority as IWK's letter threatening legal proceedings for non-payment of sewerage services is disturbing - Q.W. Goh, Seremban."

The Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsudin Osman, has made a stupendous discovery (New Straits Times, 27 August 01, p1), so dramatic that he had to say it in the usual roundabout fashion of bureaucrats: that corruption is a problem in the civil service or, as he coyly puts it, greed is the root of graft. Thirty years after the Anti-Corruption Agency is set up, and with laws regularly tightened to control corruption, he says the law enforcement agencies "should have an internal control system that can act against people who commit corrupt practice". In other words, these agencies slept while greed encouraged graft. No one in charge bothered to address it; no one still does. Meanwhile, corruption became a cancer. It has spread to all levels of society; it is so bad now that any transaction requires the grease of money.

The Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia, like the equally fatuous Harvard Society of Malaysia, stands on its dignity and invites none but heads of state or government to address it. The Prime Minister, who runs out of audience to make "important speeches" would address the Oxbridge alumni on Thursday, 30 August 01. Where would the talk be? The New Straits Times (August 25) does not say. What would he talk about? The New Straits Times does not say, but teases you along coyly to say it would "touch on matters of national importance."

The New Straits Times foreign editor is livid at the misreporting he alleges from Jakarta in the runup to President Megawati Sukarnoputri taking office. The Western foreign correspondents and reporters did their reporting from bars in five-star hostleries, and dramatised the confusion in Jakarta. He writes in his "Diplomatic Crossroads" column in the New Straits Times (30 July 01, p10) that his contacts in Jakarta told him of the exaggerated reporting. His best source is the NST reporter on the spot who curiously did not write of this in his reports. This is a serious accusation which he cannot back up. Yet, he, as foreign editor, encouraged his paper to carry the "untrue" reports of these whisky-swilling reporters who presumably manufacture the stories from the bars in Jakarta and elsehwere. If they were inaccurate, why did he insist of giving them the prominence the paper gave it?

Zam's frustration compounds his inability, or refusal, to understand the foreign media does not have the luxury the New Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia, the Star has of publishing the full text of the Prime Minister's speeches after giving him full coverage. Nor that this only ensures the newspapers are not read. But he also demands that Mahathir Mohamed is seen no less than the saviour.

So, it is with surprise I learn today -- from the New Straits Times (26 June 01, p5) -- that IWK under new (government) management engages debt collectors to recover RM260 million "owed". From July 1, you are going to be dunned for not paying what you do not owe but IWK insists you do. I have been sent bills in three names, none of which mine, but the sum due are added on to the next. I asked them to show me a contract with IWK for the service it provides. They have yet to.

The Prime Minister today confirmed, if the past is any guide, Tun Daim Zainuddin would resign as finance minister. He told reporters, when he arrived from Jakarta from the G-15 Summit, he did not know. But how he said it suggests he was not telling the truth. If he had intended to spring a surprise, he lost. If he thought he was clever in what he said, it backfired. When he was asked if Tun Daim's resignation, he replied, according to the New Straits Times, "I don't know. Did he say it?" The Utusan Malaysia had reported on rumours of it yesterday (01 June 01). It is a fair bet that Tun Daim would resign soon. Not just his two cabinet posts, but as UMNO treasurer as well.

The purchase would put Nanyang on a firmer financial footing, but only if it regains lost ground from Sin Chew. As the New Straits Times found to its cost, it needs readers to make this work. It is money and arrogance, not culture and profitability, that dictate the MCA's purchase. Ling insists that "if it is a good deal, they (Huaren) will go ahead". But it faces a political brick wall.

The New Straits Times (New Straits Times, 13 April 01) had a prominent story on its front page detailing the riches of Thai cabinet ministers. What interested me is the Bangkok Post report, from which this report was culled, said how wealthy they were. Like in Malaysia, Thai cabinet ministers and senior civil servants must declare their wealth; but unlike here, they are made public. And newspapers discuss it.

The New Straits Times, in its editorial today (24 March 01, p10), reaffirms the official orthodoxy why MAS is a good buy at RM8 a share. It forgets to mention that in buying Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli's stake, it paid double what it could have bought the stake from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. Or it could have bought out Tan Sri Tajuddin's Naluri Bhd, which held his MAS stake, for far cheaper. Or that no one grumbles that the government bought a controlling interest in the national carrier, only that it was done in a manner which ignored the other shareholders, including the Sultan of Brunei, in MAS.

One had wondered how long this attempt to make the Sun a better newspaper in the land would last. Mr Tong brought in Mr Tan Boon Kean as managing director and Mr Ho Kay Tat as chief editor. Both are from Mr Tong's successful business tabloid weekly, Edge, and with a revitalised team caused shivers to both the New Straits Times and the Star, especially as its circulation rose high enough to challenge the New Straits Times for second place. But the Prime Minister's threat to the Malays is similar to what budding newspaper entrepreneurs face: if he tries to be good and compete with existing newspapers, he would be a marked man. Why Mr Tong gave up the ghost we do not know, but there are hints of some departments in the administration suddenly interested in his personal affairs, and what he did at some forgotten date in the past. The home ministry would not transfer the newspaper licence to his group, and without it, he could not continue.

The Sultan of Kelantan arrived from a week's private visit in the Gulf States last night to an UMNO-sponsored Kelantan People's Action Front welcome. About two thousand were on hand on to greet him. Why he was in the Gulf states is not mentioned, but so also was the finance minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin, who saw him just before he left. What was discussed is left to the imagination but it certainly had to do with the current conflict between the Kelantan palace and the PAS government. The palace and the PAS government heads for a confrontation, which began when the palace withdrew awards from two state executive councillors allegedly -- as the New Straits Times reported -- for not alienating land the Sultan wanted. That is not so. Petronas wants land for a gas pipeline but individuals wanted the land they could sell it at market rates to the oil company. When the government refused, it led to the chain of events that led to the two men ordered to return the awards.

Dato' Seri Abdullah's visit is a subtle political manouevre to push him as the natural successor to the Prime Minister, the endgame of whose rule has begun. He is seen playing golf, the reporting suggesting, as the New Straits Times did, "Abdullah's visit has helped to provide that starting point for better understanding and re-establishing close co-operation that is mutually beneficial." Starting point? Really? Do we start to get to mend ties with Singapore with each change of leader? He is not a stranger to Singapore. He can pick up the phone to sort out routine problems. So, why did he take a big delegation last week, which showed Malaysia in a bad light. Singapore does not restart mending ties with each new prime minister. Malaysia, with its instant ill-thought-out fixes, will always be the loser.

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