JULY 22 — Rules of the game have changed, Putin!
The Eastern Bloc is no more. The Berlin Wall has collapsed and the Soviet Union disintegrated nearly a quarter century ago. Communist China is indisputably capitalism embodied. The Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev style is passé. The Cold War has evaporated. Get real President Vladimir Putin!
“I would like to note that this tragedy would not have occurred if there were peace in that country, or in any case, if hostilities had not resumed in South-east Ukraine. And certainly, the government over whose territory it occurred is responsible for this terrible tragedy”, Putin told his assembled top economic advisers last week.
Then yesterday he promised the Dutch prime minister full cooperation in seeking access of the crash site. Yes, Putin has sway over the area where the surface-to-air missile was launched. Yes, those type of weaponry had to be supplied.
US Republican congressman Peter King said Putin’s decision to lie low a few days after the bombardment is likened to “… what a mafia guy does, this is what a goon does. Not a world leader, not someone in a civilised world”.
MH17 flew at 35,000 feet throughout the Ukrainian air space, very close to “optimum altitude”, even though the Ukrainian air traffic control’s instructions was for 33,000 feet. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) did not list it as restricted air space. It was safe airspace until the Buk-2M missile system took aim.
Who supplied the pro-Russian separatist group militia with this kind of weaponry? And who trained, bloody inadequately? Who instigated this war?
The world must act decisively
Some have already argued that the wake-up call should have been when Russia annexed Crimea.
Putin’s background and training suggests he is not the easily backed down type, more so with the euphoria over the Crimea “success”. The Kremlin/KGB annals and his predecessors’ diaries would have undoubtedly played up on the “bleeding heart” attitudes of western leaders. That was until President Reagan in 1982 came to the scene with his “Evil Empire” speech “...like other dictators before them they are always making their final territorial demand, some would have us accept them at their word, and accommodate ourselves with their aggressive impulses but if history teaches anything it teaches that simple minded appeasement or wishful thinking about our adversaries is folly, it means...the squandering of our freedom...”
MH17 is a cross continent catastrophe. It is all of human kind’s business.
Economic sanctions must commence henceforth. Go for the jugular, state-owned banks, energy and defence companies, and Aeroflot landing rights. Russian oligarchs should have the courage to stand up. Losing half of US$10b (RM31.77 billion) or US$15b (RM47.65 billion) wouldn’t send one to the poorhouse. We need to save the world and our Russian comrades from Putin.
We can’t depend on Commander Bond this time. He is still awaiting instructions after Skyfall.
Do we ban Penang Assam Laksa?
William Cheah’s A rallying cry to defend the Malaysian flag, published yesterday refers. It can still be read in Malaymail Online. His “Ode” to MAS was so darn well articulated that those who advocated shutting down MAS could feel being admonished firmly but gently, for missing the wood for the trees.
For example, if the best-selling Penang Assam Laksa restaurant for 77 years suddenly failed us with this dish, do we ban (shut-down) Penang Assam Laksa?
Perhaps the Malaysian Airline System needs a genuine overhaul by the right players. Maybe political over interference must cease. It is an international product in worldwide competition so it follows that the managers must be the best talent the world can offer.
When Nissan was in deep trouble in 2001 with US$20 billion (RM63.4 billion) in debt, they hired Brazilian Carlos Ghosn, and three years later, Nissan is back on track. Ghosn is now concurrently Chairman and CEO of Paris-based Renault and Tokyo-based Nissan. One out of ten cars sold world-wide bears their marque.
In the recent Fifa World Cup, nations not known to be world beaters hired non nationals as team coaches. Japan had Italian Alberto Zaccheroni . USA had Jurgen Klinsmann, who needs no introduction and Algeria had Bosnian Vahid Hallihodzic.
Our flag bearer MAS deserves much more.
Postscript
I hope the police charges Siti Fairrah Asyikin Kamaruddin under Sections 427 & 506 of the Penal Code (currently being investigated) for mischief and criminal intimidation. Her apologies can be used for mitigation during sentencing. She went absolutely ballistic with her verbal and physical abuse culminating in a racist remark, over a fender bender. She was already fuming even before inspecting the damage.
I wouldn’t want to imagine what would have happened had Sim Siak Hong, 68, retaliated in a similar degree.
I truly think this incident is symptomatic of a strong undercurrent on racial discord. And the very sad thing is that this divisiveness is not all a natural phenomenon. It is being stimulated deliberately, almost daily.
There is a luncheon celebration for Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek’s 72nd today (not actual day) attended by his RED gang Datuk SL Low, Tan Sri SL Chan, R Cheong, SL Tang, Datuk R Teo and I. His explicit instruction is for no birthday cake and so the bikini clad pop-out is out.
*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.
