BERSIH and Overseas Malaysians

In 2011, two out of every ten Malaysians with tertiary education opted to live abroad. That is a significant number.

I have been documenting various reports on the Malaysian brain-drain, but to date, no measures have been taken by the BN government, simply because they do want the Chinese (who make up the majority of the migrants) to leave.

So a bunch of them do leave for greener pastures. But not for good.

If the BN government thought they were rid of this bunch, they were wrong. Desperately wrong.

These motley crew of disillusioned and disgruntled walk-outs may be far in physical distance, but emotionally close to the nation that gave birth to them.

They're back, stronger than ever, thanks to the issues highlighted by BERSIH.

They're interested in the progress of the nation, and are not afraid of the BN government.

Thanks to the exchange rate, this group is probably also responsible for funding projects carried out within Malaysia by social and political activists.

So much for the BN government's hopes and plans of unrestricted domination.

1Failure .....

... with endless possibilities.

What happened to 'People First, Performance Now'?

Was that proven to be unachievable, or perhaps even a contradiction to reality?

The administration of Najib Razak shows that when one fails, one must try again.

If the first slogan doesn't quite catch fire, try again. Datuk Seri Najib Razak is set to launch a new branding approach for Malaysia, aimed at galvanising Malaysians after the fractious Election 2013.

The new campaign, called "Endless Possibilities", is slated for launch on September 17, a day after Malaysia celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding, sources told The Malaysian Insider.

Read the rest here: After 1Malaysia falters, Putrajaya goes for “Endless Possibilities”

More On Radio Free Sarawak's Founder

HONG KONG — CLARE REWCASTLE BROWN is persona non grata in her native Malaysia, barred from entering the former British colony.

But that does not silence Ms. Rewcastle Brown, who is one of the most effective voices calling attention to deforestation in Malaysia.

The booming economy there, she contends, has been fueled in part by the country’s willingness to tap its natural resources in ways that have enriched the leadership of her native Sarawak, a vast state on Borneo Island long known for its stunning natural beauty and biodiversity.

Through Internet postings and shortwave radio transmissions from London, Ms. Newcastle Brown has given voice to growing concerns among Malaysians about environmental degradation. She spreads her message on social media, her Sarawak Report Web site and broadcasts on Radio Free Sarawak.

Read the rest: Barred From Malaysia, but Still Connecting With Critical Jabs

The Dingle Peninsula

I don't believe the Dingle Peninsula remotely gets the attention that it deserves.

If you're wondering where it is, it's in the Southwest corner of the Republic of Ireland. County Kerry, to be specific.

It was a two-week road trip anyway, and we stopped by at every little quaintness we saw.

Most of it just rolling hills and meadows as we burned up the miles.

We were actually headed for Brandon Point. The other half had a painting of it, and wanted to see the real thing.

We hiked up a bit and the view was gorgeous.

The waves of the Atlantic slammed against the cliffs, which I found really impressive, but I thought of all those people who left Ireland for a better life in the United States a few centuries ago.

Did they regret leaving the beauty and serenity of their homeland?

"Too Outspoken"

He was passionate about fighting crime.

He was really keen to expose the alleged link between police and the underworld.

But his enthusiasm for exposing crime came with hazards.

He claimed harassment by several individuals and was followed by a group of men while having a drink with his friend at a popular coffee joint at the LCCT airport.

So he lodged a report at the Sepang police station.

No action was taken.

A few days later, he posted on his Twitter account that a hired gun was out to get him, saying: "A @PDRMsia cop told some syndicate fellow that he'll get them firearm & told them to fire few shots at my house to scare me/family!"

And then just eight hours later, he got shot in the abdomen while he was driving his car in a sleepy little town.

So this beggars the question: Why did he get shot?

This is the first time I have heard the concept of being "too outspoken". Things do not get resolved if you're not outspoken.

There is no point in being enthusiastic about anything if one is not outspoken. One is the consequence of the other -- and it is a good thing.

But evidently, not everyone seems to think so. Certainly not the former Inspector General of Police, who is obviously implicated in this matter:

Former police chief Tan Sri Musa Hassan considers Crime watchdog My Watch president R Sri Sanjeevan as too outspoken until a party decided to shoot him.

He said that he had advised Sanjeevan not to be outspoken and to solve several issues through the right channel.

“Sanjeevan is too outspoken, and I’ve advised him that if has any information, he needs to go to MACC. If he wants to cooperate with the police, do it properly. Cooperate with the police that he trust, give them (the information) for them to take action. But he decided to do his own monitoring. He was in Jempol to monitor and he received threats,” he told Astro AWANI.

Apparently, according to the former IGP, the "right" channel is the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption).

Obviously, that wasn't a safe channel for Teoh Beng Hock or that Customs Officer who suffered a similar fate.

If there is a connection between the police and the underworld, the last place to go, last people to trust, last course of action are the police. (The second last would be the underworld, of course -- in case you were wondering).

So it's natural that one would be suspicious of the incidents surrounding this shooting. Who is implicated?

All fingers point in the same direction.

Guess who's touchy.