How many Malays are there of above average intelligence? Exactly half. That is 50% . Since there are about 12 million Malays, there are six million who are above average in whatever type of intelligence one chooses to measure [there are many types]. Of the six million, about 1.2 million may be expected to have very high intelligence indeed, with keen reasoning and analytical ability. Over 500,000 Malays have intelligence bordering on genius. Over 100,000 of them would qualify as genius in one category or another.

It has been found that people of higher intelligence are active, creative, and have generally greater sensitivity to social issues. They have been found to be more interested in moral and ethical issues, as a general rule. They are a problem for politicians who operate on the thesis that their public is unable to recognize a lie when they hear one. Intelligent people are difficult to fool.

If an unlikely event is said to occur, it is subjected to analysis by intelligent people. If they find flaws in the events reported, it reflects badly on those attempting to fool them. It tends to irritate the public. If there is loss of life, this is carefully noted. Those responsible for the loss of life incur wrath. If the deaths involve important witnesses to unlikely events, this is noted.

Is there a connection between the deaths and the information the witnesses might give on the unlikely event ... they wonder. Should another death of a witness occur this is also noted. What was the cause of death? Is the new death related to the previous deaths. It raises questions in the minds of intelligent minds that are intrigued by mystery.

Conspirators whose misdeeds are to be tried often pay to have witnesses against them murdered on contract to prevent their testimony. The disappearance or death of a damaging witnesses has saved many a criminal. In some countries a special program is established to protect witnesses from threats and recrimination by those who have reason to fear their testimony. Intelligent people observe these attempts to prevent justice.

In some jurisdictions there is a predilection for "frame-ups," which is the arrangement of evidence to secure the conviction of a business competitor or political opponent. It is not unusual to find that the police and the judiciary are involved in the staged event, and will provide false testimony to convict the innocent. To prevent full knowledge of the entire scenario the event will be carefully screened from the news media and the public.

Those to be victimised are held without bail on one pretext or another, and denied access to normal court procedures. Legal representation is provided by the conspirators against the wishes of the victims. Freedom to select indepent legal counsel is strongly opposed. The public and press is not allowed to interview any of the victims or their families, and there is ample opportunity to intimidate and coerce the victims.

From time to time a member of the police or military is killed in a staged event. This lends credibility to the affair, but it can hardly be expected to be a voluntary sacrifice. It is especially objected to by the family. Attempts to camouflage the murders by making heroes of the deceased by nebulous references to exceptional bravery are sometimes made. All these have the appearance of blunder to an inquiring and perceptive mind. Malays, whether in peninsular Malaysia or Sarawak, have inquisitive minds. They note these events with suspicion and growing anger.

Two battalions of the army have been moved to Sarawak. Is this related to the negative reaction generated by perceptions that the BN government is responsible for the death of the young soldier? There are state elections coming soon in Sarawak. Has the BN government made another blunder?

Those who observe the press and TV in Malaysia soon detect a bias which betrays the supervision of the Mahathir-led BN coalition over the news. Intelligent people feel offended that they are expected to believe the twist that is being put on news reports. Surely they don't expect us to believe that is the common reaction. The credibility of the news is very poorly regarded.

Journalists tend to be among the more intelligent people. They do not like to be told what to write. They do not like to write scenarios for others, when they know their talents are being prostituted by a gang of crooked businessmen/politicians. There is a shortage of experienced journalists in Malayia. Full page recruitment ads are appearing. The list of ex-journalists is growing longer. Those who stay are becoming more uneasy in their conscience.

The quality of the writing in Malaysia's newspapers drops daily. Accuracy suffers. Proton was reported as having agreed to develop a new engine with Yamaha. It was denied the next day. Proton was then reported to have entered into a joint venture with Rover. It was also denied a day later. A story appeared in the Star, posted from Tokyo. The same story, word for word, was printed in the NST, but with another name in the byline. An honest mistake ... or is the shortage of reporters such that only one reporter could be spared for the Tokyo trip, and the story sent home to be copied by another newspaper sharing the expenses? Borrowing news content is common, but usually the story is re-written. The use of two reporters for the same story is novel, in that among professional journalists it is regarded as unethical plagiarism.