WanSaiful.com

Personal thoughts of Wan Saiful Wan Jan

July 6, 2010 • 5:54 pm 1

Of libertarian Georgia

An email from Tom G Palmer took me to the following two stories. Good examples of the power of ideas.

Georgia and Freedom: from liberalism to libertarianism?

Recent developments in Georgia reveal the power of ideas on policy making; and the influence of charismatic individuals, who take ideas seriously, on the development of nations. In the case of Georgia the most influential ideas were those of American and Russian libertarianism.

Back from Georgia, Land of the Libertarians

Formerly part of the Soviet Union (and the birthplace of Joseph Stalin), Georgia declared its independence from the Soviets in 1991. After a decade of out-of-control crime and corruption, the government was turned out in 2003 when protestors stormed the parliament in response to a suspect election. In early 2004, this Rose Revolution (for the flowers the protestors carried) ushered a 30-something, U.S.-educated lawyer named Mikheil Saakashvili into the presidency. A libertarian and unabashed reformer, Saakashvili has tried to transform this nation of nearly five million.

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Misc

July 6, 2010 • 1:08 pm 0

Gaji Minima: Adakah ia cara terbaik membantu golongan miskin?

Anda semua  dijemput untuk turut serta / You are cordially invited.

Tempat: Auditorium, Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (Depan stesen monorel Maharajalela)

Tarikh: Ahad, 11 Julai 2010

Masa: 10.00 pagi – 12.00 tengahari

Saban tahun, kenaikan kos hidup tanpa henti menambah berat beban yang dipikul oleh keluarga miskin. Gaji pula masih di takat lama, makin bertambah berat beban hidup sedia ada. Maka kedengaran suara memperkenalkan undang-undang gaji minima bagi membantu golongan miskin.

Undang-undang ini mewajibkan para majikan membayar gaji pekerja pada kadar lebih tinggi dari biasa. Alasan yang biasa diberikan ialah untuk membantu golongan miskin. Tetapi persoalanya adakah gaji minima cara yang berkesan untuk mengurangkan kemiskinan?

Ratusan kajian mengenai gaji minima sudah dijalankan di pelbagai negara menunjukkan gaji minima adalah pendekatan yang lemah. Jika benar gaji minima adalah pendekatan yang lemah, apakah alternatif-alternatif yang ada untuk membantu keluarga miskin?

Silalah hadir ke forum terbuka ini untuk mendengari pelbagai pendapat mengenai gaji minima. Dan jika anda ingin menyuarakan pendapat anda sendiri mengenai gaji minima, forum terbuka ini adalah platform untuk anda bersuara. Kehadiran adalah percuma.

Para Penceramah:

  • Khalid Jaafar, Pengarah Institut Kajian Dasar (IKD)
  • Tuan Haji Shamsuddin Bardan, Setiausaha Agung, Malaysian Employers Federation
  • Dr Lee Chee Sung, Pengarah Eksekutif (Ekonomi) Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (NEAC). Kehadiran Dr Lee adalah atas kapasiti peribadi.
  • Wan Saiful Wan Jan (Ketua Eksekutif IDEAS)

Acara ini dianjurkan oleh Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), sebuah badan pemikir rentas parti yang dilancarkan oleh YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pada 8 Februari 2010, sempena tarikh lahir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Berpegang dengan visi Tunku Abdul Rahman untuk melihat Malaysia kekal sebagai sebuah negara berdaulat ynag berpaksikan kebebasan dan keadilan, IDEAS mempromosikan prinsip-prinsip kedaulatan undang-undang, kerajaan terhad, pasaran bebas dan individu merdeka. Maklumat lanjut mengenai IDEAS boleh diperolehi daripada laman web IDEAS

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Malaysia, Politics

April 16, 2010 • 1:05 pm 1

Tea Party Rally

There was a Tea Party rally in DC today.

A few people I know was there. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to join them.

Shame. It would have been a very good experience.

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty,

April 14, 2010 • 11:00 pm 0

Cheaper iPads and Nike Shoes!!!

The campaign below was part of my think tank MBA project. I am no longer doing this.

—

I was in Washington DC last week and was shocked to see that prices of items there are more expensive than in Virginia, which is just a short drive away (I am in Virginia now). Washington DC imposes a higher sales tax than in Virginia, resulting in higher prices for us, consumers.

A friend was on vacation in Delaware not long ago and he told me prices there are even cheaper than both Washington DC and Virginia because there is NO SALES TAX there!

Please have a look at the attached file.

An iPad in DC costs US$529, but only US$519 in Virgina and US$499 in Delaware. Sales Tax in DC makes an iPad more expensive for consumers.

A pair of Nike Air shoes in DC costs US$196, but only US$192 in Virginia and US$182 in Delaware. Again, Sales Tax in DC makes them more expensive.

But Washington DC is where many people live and they want to buy things without having to drive 3 hours to Delaware. Why should they be penalized for living, working or just visiting the nation’s capital?

So a group of friends and I have started a campaign to call for a lower sales tax in DC.

If you believe you deserve a lower sales tax and cheaper items, please sign our petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?lowtaxDC

Join our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lower-Tax-in-DC/117344998282973

Visit our website: http://lowtaxdc.wordpress.com/petition/

Join us in this campaign to lower sales tax in DC. A lower sales tax benefits everyone. We need your help to make prices in DC cheaper. Lower tax is good for us because it means we can save our money for other items. Lower tax is good for DC too because it will enable DC to attract more consumers therefore boosting its economy.

To support the campaign for wider tax reform, visit: http://www.atr.org/

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, , ,

April 12, 2010 • 2:55 am 2

Capitalist vs Socialist, and Maslow’s Hierarchy

How come left-leaning (read: socialist) organisations are usually more successful than free-market ones? In our discussion today, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs was suggested as one way to answer the question.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Left-leaning organisations focus more on issues at the bottom of the hiearchy. For example, they talk about eradicating poverty which falls into the very base of Maslow’s triangle (physiological needs).

On the other hand, many free-market organisations folow the Hayek-Fisher tradition and deal with mainly intellectual issues, which is right at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy.

As a result, socialists get a much wider audience whereas we capitalists attract relatively much smaller number.

Solution: try to talk more about how market ideas can fulfill the basic needs.

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty

February 8, 2010 • 12:33 pm 6

Launch of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)

(I have been so pressed for time, I did not get the chance to update this blig as regularly as I would like. Many apologies)

IDEAS was officially launched today at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial. Some initial press coverage can be found below, but obviously the online media is quicker to publish than printed ones.

Report 1:
In new think tank, the Tunku’s vision is channelled”
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Muhriz remembers the story of how the country’s first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, had stopped “Umno ultras” from burning the Royal Lake Club here “for being too white.” The Tunku had prevented its destruction by appointing himself as the club’s president, he said at the launch of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), a new think-tank set up by him to promote democratic ideals and rooted in the Tunku’s vision for the country. Today was chosen to launch Ideas to coincide with the Tunku’s birthday

Read more

Report 2:
Razaleigh to Umno: Don’t compromise on democracy
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8, 2010): Veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has warned Umno that the party risks losing its grip on power if it fails to live up to democratic ideals as laid out by the founding fathers. “My concern is that Umno will be booted out of power … and I don’t want to see that,” said Razaleigh after launching a new think-tank called IDEAS (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial in Jalan Dato Onn this morning.

Read more

Report 3:
Tunku would have been a blogger

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — If Tunku Abdul Rahman were still alive he would not only be 107-year-old but a blogger too, said his grand daughter Sharyn Lisa Shufiyan today. “He had a vision of a different Malaysia and if he were alive he would take up blogging.” said the 25-year-old programme coordinator with Wild Asia, referring to the online journal popular among the younger set. She pointed out Tunku had always been vocal and even after he resigned as prime minister, he didn’t stop. “He had a column in the Star and is famous for criticising Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed”. Sharyn who was among three generations of Tunku’s family at the launch of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, at his memorial in Jalan Dato Onn, pointed out he was a proponent of “unity and racial acceptance.”

Read more

Report 4:
Ku Li says Malaysia is a sham democracy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (picture) called Malaysia a democracy which only existed in name only, and said that reforms could not be expected from the incumbents in power, in an apparent attack against Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). “To modify Tunku’s words, we now have a democracy existing in name, but grievously compromised in substance, reality and fact,” Tengku Razaleigh said today when launching Ideas, a new think-tank set up to promote democratic ideals, at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial today.

Read more

Report 5:
New Think Tank IDEAS Launched on Auspicious Day
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 FEB, 2010: A new think tank called the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) was launched today rightfully on Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Memorial Day. IDEAS is to replace Malaysia Think Tank and is Malaysia’s first think tank dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy challenges. The main purpose is to advance market-based principles without being bound by race or religion.

Read more

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Malaysia

January 12, 2010 • 12:11 pm 0

Perlembagaan dan Semangat Perlembagaan

Anda dijemput untuk memohon menghadiri Akademi Merdeka yang akan diadakan pada 5 – 7 Februari 2010 (Jumaat – Ahad) bertemakan “Perlembagaan dan Semangat Perlembagaan: Memahami konsep kedaulatan undang-undang” (The Constitution and Constitutionalism: understanding rule of law)

Akademi Merdeka kali ini akan dipimpin oleh Professor Abdul Aziz Bari, Felo Kanan Institute for Democracy & Economic Affairs (IDEAS) yang merupakan pakar undang-undang daripada Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, berdasarkan modul yang beliau hasilkan khas untuk Akademi ini. Para peserta juga akan berpeluang berinteraksi dengan wakil-wakil pelbagai parti politik kerajaan dan pembangkang.

Lokasi Akademi Merdeka kali ini ialah di Institut Latihan Kehakiman dan Perundangan (ILKAP), Bangi, Selangor.

Topik-topik yang akan dibincangkan secara kritikal termasuklah:
- Demokrasi, keperlembagaan, dan perlembagaan
- Pengasingan kuasa berdasarkan Perlembagaan Malaysia
- Hak asasi manusia dan perlembagaan
- Kedudukan istimewa Islam dan Melayu
- Federalisme dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia
- Mendepani cabaran keperlembagaan

AkademiMerdeka.org menawarkan biasiswa untuk membolehkan seramai mungkin peserta menyertai Akademi Merdeka. Semua yang berminat digalakkan memohon biasiswa yang kami tawarkan untuk membiayai sebahagian atau keseluruhan yuran penyertaan dan kos penginapan. Tetapi kos pengangkutan mungkin akan dibiayai dalam kes-kes tertentu sahaja.

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila lawati www.AkademiMerdeka.org

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Malaysia

December 4, 2009 • 4:14 pm 1

Copenhagen Summit

Sign the petition against green protectionism. Protectionism prevents a true solution to climate change.

“We call upon the World’s leaders to resist calls for green protectionism. Trade enables specialisation, which results in the development of new technologies and leads to the creation of wealth. In the past two decades, trade has enabled over a billion people to escape poverty. Trade is the most powerful weapon in humanity’s armoury to fight poverty and environmental ills, including climate change. Trade restrictions are not desirable, nor are they an effective means of addressing climate change.”

Click here to sign it

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Politics, ,

June 5, 2008 • 12:13 am 0

WHO NEEDS AN ISLAMIC STATE? Book launch

Speaker: Dr. Abdelwahab El-Affendi

Venue: Abrar House, 45 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LP (nearest tube: Edgware Rd or Marble Arch)

Date: 6.45 – 8.45pm, Friday 6th June 2008

Join us for the launch of the second edition of Dr. Affendi’s book, published by Malaysia Think Tank London (2008), and a discussion around this important theme. Dr. Affendi will present a critique of modern Islamic political thought on the “state,” in the form of a three-part dialogue with the West, with Islamic tradition and with 20th-century Muslim thinkers.

The author discusses the divide between Islamic values and the basic principles that guide Western political thought. He traces the development of Muslim constitutional practice and considers the current debate on the nature and desirability of an “Islamic state.” He separates the problems that are internally-derived from the by-products of Western culture.

Dr. Affendi argues that if Islamic values were brought to bear internationally, the entrenched dogmas of Western political thought as much as both the tradition-bound and modernist trends of Muslim thinking would have to be revised.

FREE ENTRANCE – ALL WELCOME.

We look forward to seeing you there. This presentation is in association with the UK branch of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), the Malaysia Think Tank London and The City Circle

Copies of “Who Needs an Islamic State?” will be available for sale at the special discounted price of ?9. A selection of titles published by the IIIT will also be available.

Also, to see our updated list of all forthcoming City Circle events over the next two months please click on future events.

For more information, please contact
usama@thecitycircle.com, 07980 834340

www.my-islamic-state.com

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty

May 11, 2008 • 1:45 pm 0

Who Needs an Islamic State? London launch

Malaysia Think Tank London and the City Circle invite you to the London launch of Who Needs an Islamic State?

Speaker: Dr Abdelwahab El-Affendi
Date: Friday, 6 June 2008.
Time: 6.45pm – 8.45pm.
Venue: Abrar House, 45 Crawford Place, off Edgware Road (nearest tube station is Edgware Road)

Visit www.my-islamic-state.com for further information.

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty

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