Then commentary in Malaysiakini by Neil Koh headlined End of the Road for Bersih? is great food for thought. Unspun agrees with the author that by allowing the Bersih 4.0 rally to go on Najib has let the steam out of the pressure cooker. Part of the allure of the Bersih 4 rally was that... Continue Reading →
The talk about Chinese-Malay participation in Bersih 4
As a Malaysian who has lived overseas for most of his adult life, the last two decades spent in Indonesia, Unspun cannot help but marvel at the racial divide in Malaysia, even during a unifying event such as Bersih 4, that took place over this weekend. For those not familar with Malaysian politics Bersih 4 is... Continue Reading →
The Mt. Kinabalu tragedy: what are schoolchildren doing there?
Last year a group of us decided to climb Mt. Kinabalu. We weren't the fittest 40-50 somethings but we weren't slouches either.We had in tow a 12-year old. a member of the group, Unspun, for instance, is in his mid-50s but hits the gym at an average of three times a week chalking up 40... Continue Reading →
When you try to PR the un-PR-able…
This is what happens. Told'ja so here Nowhere2Hide: Dr M’s man blasts Kok Wing FMT Reporters | June 6, 2015 Najib's PR team in tatters, says blogger, and warns image man Lim that his own legacy in danger KUALA LUMUR: Najib Razak’s new image consultant, Lim Kok Wing, has been urged to beat a “quiet... Continue Reading →
Najib’s March of Folly
In 1985 Pulitzer prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman wrote the book The March of Folly which was a fascinating study of why leaders from Troy to Vietnam acted against their own self-interest. If she were updating the book today, Unspun thinks she would certainly consider not only adding Malaysian Premier Najib Razak but perhaps promote him... Continue Reading →
How to cover your flaws on MH370
The Malaysian Government has roundly been criticised by one and all for its dismal handling of the MH370 incident. It was in denial, it did not have the proper facts at their command, often it didn't know what to do and it was miserable in being open, transparent and accountable throughout the futile search for... Continue Reading →
The shameless lament of Rosmah
There used to be an old joke at the expense of Indonesians and it goes something like this: Q: What's the difference between corruption in Indonesia and elsewhere? A: None, except that in Indonesia there is an absolute lack of sense of shame associated with the corruption This still holds true in Indonesia, where Military... Continue Reading →
Najib’s PR Guru: The Talented Mr Stadlen
The Sarawak Report contains a fascinating story of the staying power and nocturnal pursuits of Najib's propaganda chief Paul Stadlen. Stadlen apparently used to head APCO, a lobbying/PR firm appointed by Malaysian Prime Minister to help with his PR needs, which are legion. Unspun's written about them here and here. Many people then wondered why a firm... Continue Reading →
Dream on Malaysia while Indonesia takes stand against “Islamic” crazies
I'll never forget how wistful my Malaysian cardiologist was when he found out that I was from Indonesia and that we now have Jokowi as the President. "He seems a good guy, isn't he?" he said of Jokowi as I lay prone and half naked on the examination table. "Yes he is," I said. "Ah,... Continue Reading →
Not all what it seems in the Cadbury incident? – Maverick Indonesia
An update of the Cadbury incident in Malaysia, at the Maverick blog. It appears that the Malaysian Ministry of Health may have been mistaken when they said that there was porcine DNA in Cadbury's chocolate products. ____________________ Not all what it seems in the Cadbury incident? - Maverick Indonesia Could it be that our suspicions... Continue Reading →
What, indeed, should Cadbury do about the calls to jihad?
This is what I wrote for our office blog earlier today: PR Week has an interesting take on the ongoing Cadbury porcine DNA Issue that is being played out in Malaysia. Describing the call by more than 20 Malay-Muslim groups in Malaysia for a jihad against Cadbury “surreal in its extremity” PR Week also described... Continue Reading →
Criticism against the Malaysian Government on MH370: Warranted or unfair?
If, like many people and Unspun, you find yourself transfixed by the unfolding drama of the search for MH 370, you are likely to see several threads of opinion surface regarding the performance of the Malaysian Government, helmed by Defence Minister and Acting Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein. On one end of the spectrum is the... Continue Reading →
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