Puck Shots

1. Malaysia: Continue helping to obtain peace in Mindanao
Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines, Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi said 'Malaysia will continue helping the Philippines obtain peace in Mindanao'.

Malaysia, which serves as the principal monitor of the ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has always remained supportive in resolving the issue of southern Philippines and towards the successful attainment of peace and stability in the region.

It is important that Malaysia continue efforts to obtain peace in Mindanao due to anything that happens there will effect our state of Sabah. Fighting will cause exodus of people which is the case of Sabah being overflowed with illegal imigrants.

2. Malaysia deploys navy to Somalia
Malaysia is sending three navy ships to the coast of Somalia to protect merchant vessels from piracy. The ships, carrying troops and helicopters, are expected to begin patrolling in the Gulf of Aden in the next few days in a mission designed to protect Malaysia's owned merchant ships and citizens.

This is a good move by the government. Protecting the country's interest and it's citizens is the governments priority. But do we have the ships to undertake this sort of mission? Can we sustain the mission? TLDM only have 2 operational 'blue water' frigates, the Lekiu class frigate. The other 2 are light frigates or OPVs that is not designed for 'blue water' missions and 4 Laksamana class corvettes. If we despatch our 2 Lekiu frigates there, our own shores defence could be comprimised.

3. Initiative to set up food security Bureau
The European Union (EU) has welcomed the move by the Malaysian government to set up a food security bureau to ensure fisheries products from Malaysia conformed to standards set by the union.

Only now the government wants to start a Bureau? After the EU has banned malaysian fisheries products? The damage is done but still it is not to late to take measures to ractify the problem.

4. Lessons for Malaysia?
Thailand, in response to anti-Government protests that have resulted in scores of casualties, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and has given the security forces unprecedented powers to end the chaos.

Could Malaysia heading to the same path?

Many are seeing similar scenarios here in Malaysia. A section of the populace desires radical, immediate political change, while another section are desperately seeking to maintain the status quo. The question is, which are actually the majority?. Whose interest?

Distrust for politicians is growing and to make matters worst, along with voices for the suspension of democracy and the direct intervention of the royal houses. Actually, these solutions can never provide permanent settlements to our political uncertainties. It is only the political classes that can end the impasse. The way they are going, it's the people thats going to lose.