‘I have always stated that public interest and lives should not be compromised at the altars of greed and political aspirations for profits!’

RESPECT STATE DECISIONS ON OPENING UP URGES MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE

So at the time of writing I am briefed by Melaka officials that they have declined to open borders for tourists on Oct 1.

The move certainly goes against the so called Putrajaya’s travel bubble initiative and welcome visitors starting Oct 1.

But, I fully agree and respect dear friend and Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali statement that the state will only allow interstate activities once the state achieves a 90 percent vaccination rate among its adult population based on data and analysis issued by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council (NSC).

As of Sept 22, Malacca recorded an 80.6 percent vaccination rate.

We need to respect our state leaders and their administrative positions.

I had also sent a message to Melaka Governor, Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam, as well that I fully support the states protocols on the matter!

I had for many years worked alongside him when he was the state’s Chief Minister!

But, I was surprised certainly from Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali’s statement which alluded that he does not want a situation like what happened in Langkawi, where 36 Covid-19 cases were recorded on the second day after it was opened to tourists.

If this statement is true, I am curious why this was not made public?

Why the secrecy?

I have always stated that public interest and lives should not be compromised at the altars of greed and political aspirations for profits!

So I do agree with Chief Minister Sulaiman that we have to be careful, we have to look at our capabilities with stricter standard operating procedures and not get carried away by lobbyist on various frolics!

Most important I am encouraged that our premier and dear friend, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has indeed announced that interstate travel and tourism activities will be allowed once 90 percent of the country’s adult population is fully vaccinated.

However he too had alluded to that there must be strict compliance to standard operating procedures!

The last thing we need is another upswing in the cases of Covid 19 and surmounting deaths all around us!

‘We are not worried about individuals, their status, ambitions, and personal projections!

We are addressing the impact of NFAs on those coming forward to register violence on them.’

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NFAS – MPs URGED TO RAISE QUESTIONS AND CLARITY INCLUDING STATISTICS AND REASONS WHY AT PARLIAMENT THIS SESSION?

Malaysians from all walks of life and in particular domestic violence victims must be surprised that there has been a total of 9,015 cases reported of domestic violence since the movement control order (MCO) was first enforced in March 2020!

This fact was expressed by women, family and community development minister Rina Harun who I believe was citing data from the police, that 5,260 cases were reported throughout 2020,

Strangely to the minister who gives the impression that the silver bullet is the Talian Kasih hotline at 15999 or by WhatsApp at 019-2615999 as that facility is reported to be available 24 hours a day as a single point of contact for all communications to channel complaints and acquire advice.

And that it facilitates callers to access any form of aid provided by the ministry, including psycho-social services.

Strange!

But what is absent in the response is the state of those complains to date, CASSA MALAYSIA asks!

If Police reports, medical evidence procured and investigations continuing or finished what is the state of those been prosecuted or chargers filed to date?

And how many among those cases are reported as NFA (No Further Action) for reasons best known to those whose shoulders lays the responsibility.

And how many from that same statistics was still born of dead on arrival despite a big show of procedural drama because certain conduits were more obsessed with success and KPIs?

Can we have that information please?

If the minister had really the vision the professionalism and the empathy I am certain the questions I had raised would have been facilitated at Parliament so that not just the August house but the nation and most importantly domestic violence victims would know whether there is really a sense of dedication, commitment, accountability and daring by those investigating and those responsible for prosecution!

So just to make certain that this is addressed I reached out to several Members of Parliament from both political divides to raise these pertinent issues.

I am certain that more than statistics, we need to know what is the actual status of the investigations, how many prosecuted, how many pending prosecution, what’s holding up the investigations, and most importantly the number of NFAs and why?

DPPs cannot and should not play god!

This is not a KPI matter where one decides on the merits based on whether success is an outcome?

And the impact of failure on any individual therein in the process.

We are not worried about individuals, their status, ambitions, and personal projections!

We are addressing the impact of NFAs on those coming forward to register violence on them.

This is not the throw of a dice to decide what is prosecuted and what is NFA.

We must be accountable and state out in the open and public interest cannot be sidestepped or sidelined!

I sincerely hope our MPs those I reached out to would not shy away from their duty of care at Parliament as our representatives?

‘No one disputes that there was no violence involved but just that the victim did not have either a CCTV recording of the assaults, or of witnesses to the fact to collaborate the allegations.

Injurious, blood stains, photographs of trauma on the body of the victim I am told not enough as we have some obsessed with their personal KPIs and who in my assessment are a abomination to the profession!’

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: ARE WE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE OR JUST PROVIDING LIP SERVICE ASK MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE

Are Malaysians surprised that there has been a total of 9,015 cases reported of domestic violence since the movement control order (MCO) was first enforced in March 2020!

This was expressed by women, family and community development minister Rina Harun who I believe was citing data from the police, that 5,260 cases were reported throughout 2020,

Strangely to the minister the ongoing initiatives to address the matter include the Talian Kasih hotline at 15999 or by WhatsApp at 019-2615999 as that facility is reported to be available 24 hours a day as a single point of contact for all communications to channel complaints and acquire advice.

And it facilitates callers to access any form of aid provided by the ministry, including psycho-social services.

But what is absent in the response is the state of those complains to date, CASSA MALAYSIA asks!.

If Police reports, medical evidence procured and investigations continuing or finished what is the state of those been prosecuted or chargers filed to date?

And how many among those cases are reported as NFA (No Further Action) for reasons best known to those whose shoulders lays the responsibility.

And how many from that same statistics was still born of dead on arrival despite a big show of procedural drama because certain conduits were more obsessed with success and KPIs?

If the minister had really the vision the professionalism and the empathy I am certain the questions I had raised would have been facilitated at Parliament so that not just the August house but the nation and most importantly domestic violence victims would know whether there is really a sense of dedication, commitment, accountability and daring by those investigating and those responsible for prosecution!

For now, several cases that I have been involved in shows an embarrassing outcome!

In one case alone, the victim had lodged over 8 reports!

No one disputes that there was no violence involved but just that the victims did not have either a CCTV recording of the assaults, or of witnesses to the fact to collaborate the allegations.

Injurious, blood stains, photographs of trauma on the body of the victim I am told not enough as we have some obsessed with their personal KPIs and who in my assessment are a abomination to the profession!

As for Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun, my humble advice is perhaps, you may need to appoint me as your point man and advisor to address and analyze and drive a holistic response that sees a fast-track of all cases that comes under this umbrella.

At the end of the day the question raised is are the perpetrators of domestic violence untouchables because of our incompetence or because of a false report.

I think we know the answer to that!

WHAT WRONG IN RE-LOOKING AT MALAYSIA MY SECOND HOME?

WHY TARGET HOME MINISTER AND POLICY REVIEW ASKS MALAYSIA, ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE?

‘Thanks to the pandemic and the flak received from these ‘new colonists’ in ASEAN countries, it is time to immediately freeze if not terminate all together the MM2H project for good!’

I am surprised at the kind of political threats and outburst from certain parties on the call to address weaknesses and abuse in the policy called Malaysia My Second Home!

What is structurally or legally wrong in addressing audits on this 2002 program call – Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)!

When the policy was first introduced it was patented as a policy that would be a be a boom for foreign property sales then claimed ingeniously by those brokers that it can rake in billions in foreign exchange into the country.

Let us be honest and serious – did it?

I was among those who were glad that MM2H, was suspended in March last year following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For years I had voiced out in diplomatic and government circles at the highest levels for a review and reevaluation by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac), the Home Ministry to ascertain if it was a false front or one that was much needed in Malaysia.

I had stated our closed jurisdictions in the eye of the pandemic were then giving an excellent opportunity to carry out this in-depth review whether this project was seriously benefiting the country and its people?

Not with those in power having super cables to foreign conduits with their own agenda.

After all former premier had also made certain interesting observations on the matter along the lines I shouted out!

So why target home minister and other civil servants who are conducting the audit?

Why make it personal?

Are these opportunists ready for a referendum on this matter so that all Malaysians can have a say in this policy that opens the gateways for outsiders under various disguises?

A review is an opportunity to look at the applicants and their backgrounds, the countries they emerge from their in-depth history, earnings, bank records, security biometrics and their real motivations in subscribing to this project.

Locals with vested interest should stop falsely claiming that MM2H has indeed been a boom for Malaysia.

Interestingly, the abuse we suffered when the borders were closed from those who were making ASEAN destinations their playground with their superior currency has strengthen the call to freeze MM2H and pave a way for strict review!

It would be also foolish to claim that MM2H had brought RM40.6bil into Malaysia, with more than RM600mil coming in just from MM2H property purchases in 2018.

Now those behind this statement please show us the hard evidence if not shut up!

If there is any truth in that what is the current projections post Covid 19?

It is also plain stupidity to claim that just because our economy so desperately financial infusion we should blindly open the barn gates!

Let us also stop that baloney that foreigners who often have a choice of where to spend their retirement years but purposefully choose Malaysia, reflects serious endorsement of what Malaysia has to offer – certain future, peace and stability.

I am sure the Home Office has enough statistics and data and the real reasons why this is happening.

The last thing we need is a new form of foreign colonization or “settler colonization!”

Already there are massive adverts where promoters are encouraging Westerners to escape the high costs of living in their home countries by seeking refuge in developing nations instead.

The result – these acts can drive up the cost of living in countries where locals earn a much lower wage compared to their expat counterparts.

It exploits locals who earn a comparatively low wage to their foreign counterparts, and drives up the cost of living for people who actually live in Malaysia!

Made worst post Covid 19!

There are advertisements which describes that expats can live comfortably for example in Penang island for as low as US$1,500 (RM6,156) per month is a classic give-a-way!

Thanks to the pandemic and the flak received from these ‘new colonists’ in ASEAN countries, it is time to immediately freeze if not terminate all together the MM2H project for good!

I fully and without reservation support the Home Ministry in addressing all matters in MM2H in the Malaysian public interest not the super wealthy billionaires whose greed knows not limits and attempt to speak as if they know the common folks fears and anxiety?

I am reminded of this valuable Malaysian saying –

Anak Kera di-hutan disusui, anak sendiri di rumah kebuluran!

‘I am told that tears filled many eyes when HRH stated that it was time to embrace, welcome and nurture them as Malaysians, not to reject and turn them away and any such policy is fundamentally flawed!’

CITIZENSHIP: WITHDRAW APPEAL, SOUND ADVICE FROM HRH THE SULTAN OF JOHOR SAYS MALAYSIA ASEAN APEC LEAD CONSUMERIST PROF DR JACOB GEORGE

So many wanted to meet HRH during his visit to Kerala India, a few years ago, the same time I was at the same venue, but miscommunication from certain individuals resulted in us not meeting.

They had heard of HRH, his love, kindness and generosity towards all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion or political persuasions.

So I was not surprised to receive so many calls from those in the country and abroad on HRH timely advice where Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar statement hit the international wires where HRH urged the government to abort its plans to appeal the recent High Court decision allowing citizenship rights to children born overseas, regardless of whether the Malaysian parent is the father or mother.

HRH had clearly pointed out that the sanctity of the courts must be upheld.

And any other decision at this juncture is discrimination against Malaysian mothers with overseas-born children!

HRH addressed also that pertinent issue of human rights that basic right of every child, irrespective of whether the Malaysian parent is the father or mother to be accorded citizenship and not be prejudiced against!

His view touched so many hearts across the nation and abroad when he stated that it does not feel right that Malaysian fathers and mothers are viewed differently in the eyes of the law concerning their child’s citizenship.

So the pertinent question he posed are Malaysian mothers less Malaysian than Malaysian fathers?

I am told that tears filled many eyes when HRH stated that it was time to embrace, welcome and nurture them as Malaysians, not to reject and turn them away and any such policy is fundamentally flawed!

My appeal is that it is time as HRH states the government withdraws any appeal to set aside the High Court decision that children born overseas to Malaysian mothers are entitled to citizenship by operation of law.