Isnin, 16 Disember 2013

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


The assault on academic freedom

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 08:01 PM PST

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2719507925/539f9ad763954f76806231734d0bc638.jpeg 

Public universities should not be a place just to obtain good grades. They should be a place where diverse ideas are celebrated, and intellectual independence and autonomy admired. 

Khoo Ying Hooi 

There is little for academic freedom in Malaysia. Has our academic freedom become such an alien idea that it no longer has a place in our universities?

An academic discussion recently featuring Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), held at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), was forced to have its session in the dark as its authorities sealed off the proposed venue at Latar Siswa situated in the Faculty of Modern Languages.

Responding to this, UPM's management said it was part of the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) because there was a need to apply for permission prior to the event, which the organisers had failed to do. As reported, the event also saw heavy security presence, disallowing the taking of photographs or video.

It is ridiculous to disallow a research think-tank like Ideas to have an academic session in the compound of public universities. I also personally do not see any "threat" from its topic, "Liberalisation of economy: the best system for the poor". In fact, such activities should have been organised in a more frequent basis in the universities.

And the way UPM addressed Ideas's session has, again, attracted attention to the state of academic freedom in Malaysia.

Calling it "Kelas Pencerahan", or Enlightenment Class, I am glad to know that this informal session was organised by a group of students who are part of the Facebook community page.

Public universities should not be a place just to obtain good grades. They should be a place where diverse ideas are celebrated, and intellectual independence and autonomy admired.

One of the key problems is the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and its regulations that have stifled the intellectual development of local universities. Although university students are now allowed to engage in political activities under an amendment of the UUCA, students who hold positions in political parties are barred from campus elections.

Last year, University of Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMCEDEL) was forced to scrap its second session of a political forum, which featured members of parliaments from both coalitions.

This was because of the "instruction" and pressure from the Prime Minister's Office and the Higher Education Ministry as highlighted by its Director, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohamad Redzuan Othman. 


READ MORE HERE 

 

BN leaders: Retain consensus system

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:58 PM PST

http://i.imgur.com/qjXgZ1r.jpg 

Leaders from MCA and MIC want the existing system to be maintained while one from PPP stresses that the coalition needs to change its system to a workable one. 

Alyaa Azhar, FMT 

Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders gave mixed views over the proposal to change the current system in making decisions from a consensus agreement to a simple majority vote.

MIC central working committee (CWC) member S Murugesan disagreed with the proposal, saying that even to pass the proposal, it would require a consensus beforehand.

"The basis of BN is that all parties must agree with a particular decision. Therefore, the current system must be maintained," he said.

He elaborated, saying that each component party is there for a reason.

"If we take away the consensus system, the party that represents a certain community would not be able to be represented in certain decisions.

"If we pass something that's not agreeable to Sabah and Sarawak then won't it be as if others are making the decision for them? This is not the spirit of which BN was formed," he said.

BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the BN constitution should be amended so that all decisions can be made using a majority vote against the consensus system practiced now.

He said this in response to a request by Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president M Sambanthan in his speech at the party gathering that BN receive IPF as a component party.

BN chairman Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been informed of the matter and the proposal will be submitted at the BN Supreme Council meeting, next year.

READ MORE HERE 

 

Syiah: Tindakan KDN dipersoal pemimpin Pas

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:56 PM PST

http://i.imgur.com/2OfvPE1.jpg 

(Sinar Harian) - Jika kerajaan serius mengambil tindakan terhadap pengikut Syiah, sewajarnya individu yang mengaku menganut ajaran itu yang perlu ditahan bukannya orang yang tidak mengaku ahli Syiah.

Demikian menurut Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas, Idris Ahmad yang menyifatkan tindakan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) yang memaksa Timbalan Presiden Pas, Mohamad Sabu supaya mengemukakan bukti bukan pengikut Syiah merupakan perkara yang tidak munasabah.

"Sebelum ini kerajaan sendiri pernah umumkan jumlah pengikut Syiah, dan ada individu yang mengaku sebagai pengikut ajaran Syiah, jadi kenapa mereka pula tidak ditahan?

"Tapi yang disibukkan sekarang adalah orang yang tidak mengaku Syiah, ini yang jadi bahan ketawa orang ramai," katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

Menurutnya, tindakan KDN yang 'memburu' Mohamad atau lebih dikenali Mat Sabu hanya untuk memberikan imej buruk kepada Pas.

"Ini semua 'nasi tambah' kepada isu lain untuk jatuhkan Pas. Sebelum ini isu agama, Melayu, raja dan sebagainya.

"Kalau betul KDN ada bukti, tolong dedahkan kerana kita juga mahu tahu bukti yang bagaimana untuk kaitkan Mat Sabu dengan Syiah, tidak perlu untuk beritahu bukti gred A, B atau pun C," ujarnya yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang.

Sehubungan itu katanya, KDN perlu bertindak bukan hanya  bercakap memandangkan maklumat sudah pun ada untuk menahan pengikut Syiah.

"Kalau bukti sudah ada, buat apa suruh orang yang dituduh bertindak untuk menunjukkan bukti beliau tidak terlibat.

"Sekarang ini siapa yang mendakwa dan siapa pula yang didakwa. Jadi rasanya tidak perlu orang yang dituduh menampilkan bukti. Dakwa sahaja pihak yang mengikut  ajaran Syiah," kata beliau.

Kelmarin, Penolong Setiausaha Bahagian Keselamatan dan Ketenteraman Awam  KDN, Dr Zamihan Mat Zain Al Ghari berkata, Mat Sabu perlu kemukakan bukti jika dirinya tidak terlibat fahaman Syiah.

Kata Zamihan, Mat Sabu perlu berhujah secara ilmiah bagi menafikan 10 bukti KDN yang mengaitkannya dengan fahaman Syiah.

Pada 12 Disember lalu, Ketua Setiausaha KDN, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi mendedahkan 10 bukti yang mengaitkan Mat Sabu dengan ajaran Syiah antaranya pernah 'berselawat' sebagaimana penganut Syiah pada satu sesi ceramah Pas, di Arau, Perlis.

 

The myth of the Constitutional Crisis

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:42 PM PST

No, Tun Dr Mahathir did not remove the powers of the Rulers because the Rulers are Constitutional Monarchs and, therefore, have no power. But he did remove one of the powers they did have -- and that power was the power to reject unjust and undemocratic laws, especially if they violate the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER  

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Many people have heard of Malaysia's Constitutional Crisis of 30 years ago, which took about ten years to resolve. Not many, however, can give me the details of this Crisis.

Many people hate ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and at the same time praise him for doing at least one good thing for Malaysia -- he removed the powers of the Rulers.

However, when I ask these people which of these so-called powers of the Rulers did Tun Dr Mahathir remove, not many can tell me.

The more 'learned' of the lot will say that, because of Tun Dr Mahathir, Parliament no longer needs the signature of His Majesty the Agong to approve the laws passed by Parliament. If His Majesty refuses to sign these laws, they will get automatically approved after 60 days with or without the signature of His Majesty.

And you say this is a good thing and you praise Tun Dr Mahathir for this although you hate the man?

Malaysia used to be one of the more unique countries in the world in terms of power sharing. Most countries have three branches of government -- the Chief Executive (the President or Prime Minister), the Legislature (that makes laws), and the Judiciary (that enforces these laws). Malaysia, however, has a fourth branch of government -- the Monarchy (that signs these laws and which would not become law unless His Majesty signs them).

Tun Dr Mahathir, however, removed the powers of Parliament (we all know that and, in fact, bitterly complain about it). He also removed the powers of the Judiciary (we all know that as well and this was one of the main reasons why many Malaysians began to hate Tun Dr Mahathir). But there was still one remaining check-and-balance -- and that was the Monarchy.

So, with the Monarchy in place, Malaysia was still spared the fate of being turned into a dictatorship. The Prime Minister can control Parliament. He can even control the Judiciary. But he still had to deal with the Monarchy and as long as His Majesty the Agong refuses to sign certain laws then the hands of the Prime Minister would be tied.

Hence, allowing the Monarchy or His Majesty the Agong certain powers over what does and does not become law was a good thing for Malaysia. It prevented Malaysia from being turned into a dictatorship because the Prime Minister still had to share power with His Majesty the Agong. Only if you remove the powers of His Majesty the Agong can the Prime Minister run Malaysia like a dictatorship.

And that was the one and only power of His Majesty the Agong that Tun Dr Mahathir removed (there were no other powers that were removed). And Malaysians say they hate Tun Dr Mahathir but they still praise him for the good thing that he did in removing the powers of the Monarchy. 

Tun Dr Mahathir did not remove the powers of the Monarchy, as many of you believe. He removed only one power of His Majesty the Agong. And that was His Majesty the Agong's power to sign laws before they become laws. Now, the Prime Minister can pass laws whether His Majesty the Agong approves or signs them or not.

And this was the beef that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) had when he opposed Tun Dr Mahathir. Ku Li, in fact, explained this matter about 30 years ago when he went all over Malaysia to campaign against Tun Dr Mahathir. But I take it many of you were not listening to Ku Li at that time. Instead, you praise Tun Dr Mahathir for 'controlling' the Monarchy.

When Tun Dr Mahathir realised that not all Umno members and leaders agreed with the move to remove the power of the Monarchy because this would turn Malaysia into a dictatorship, he arranged for Umno to be deregistered so that he could register a new Umno and exclude all those who were opposed to him from the new party (who were then forced to form their own party in the end -- Semangat 46).

There were actually two Constitutional Crises. During the first Constitutional Crisis of the early 1980s, Tun Dr Mahathir failed to get the support of the people. So he was forced to back down. The people did not hate the Rulers enough to support Tun Dr Mahathir in his fight with the Rulers. So Tun Dr Mahathir first had to get Malaysians to hate the Rulers before he launches his second attack against the Monarchy.

And that was when they launched their hate campaign against the Rulers.

The two people who were put in charge of this hate campaign were the late Tun Ghafar Baba and Anwar Ibrahim. Ghafar was from Melaka and Anwar from Penang, both states that had no Rulers. Hence these two people had no love for the Monarchy.

All sorts of stories were spun and carried by the mainstream media. Some of these stories were true, of course. But many were not. The story regarding the Sultan of Johor (the murder issues), the Yamtuan Besar or Negeri Sembilan (selling of awards and titles), and so on, were true. But many of the other stories were downright lies aimed at making Malaysians hate the Monarchy.

Anwar accused His Highness the Sultan of Kelantan of smuggling. Anwar even impounded the Sultan's Lamborghini on the allegation that the tax on the car had not been paid. Anwar said that the Conference of Rulers approves only a certain number of tax-free cars for the Rulers and that the Kelantan Sultan had exceeded his quota.

That was not true. First of all, it is not the Conference of Rulers but the Umno state government of Kelantan that approves the number of tax-free cars for His Highness the Sultan. Secondly, the Sultan had not exceeded his quota of tax-free cars.

The mainstream media then showed footages of a Chinese towkay's mansion in Penang and said that this was a house built by the Raja Muda of Selangor (now the Sultan) using the taxpayers' money. They showed footages of Kedah House along Northam Road in Penang and said that this was a mansion owned by His Highness the Sultan of Kedah, also built with the taxpayers' money.

Actually, the so-called 'mansion' is an old colonial and rundown house owned by the Umno Kedah State Government for the use of Kedah civil servants who visit Penang on business and is not owned by the Sultan at all.

They then revealed that a person called 'Tengku Wong' in Pahang, who was alleged to be the business partner of His Highness the Sultan of Pahang, was ripping off the state of millions in timberland. The truth is 'Tengku Wong' was the Menteri Besar's business partner (Tun Mohd Khalil bin Yaakob) who was, in fact, a strong supporter of Anwar.

And the list went on and on. 'Misconduct' of the Rulers was revealed one after another until the people could no longer take it and there was much hatred against the Rulers all over the country.

And that was when Tun Dr Mahathir launched the second Constitutional Crisis and soon after that amended the law whereby Parliament could get laws passed without the need of any approval or signature of His Majesty the Agong. 

But that was the only thing that changed. Other than that what else changed? What other powers of the Rulers did Tun Dr Mahathir remove? 

Okay, some may argue that Tun Dr Mahathir set up a 'Royal Court' whereby Rulers can be prosecuted for their crimes. When we talk about 'crimes' here we, of course, mean criminal cases. However, when it comes to civil cases (like a certain Ruler may owe you money and did not pay) there has never been any law that forbids you from suing the Ruler.

Even before the creation of this 'Royal Court' you could still sue a Ruler in the event of a civil dispute. And you can still do so until today but in the normal or common law court. You do not need to do this in the 'Royal Court'. The 'Royal Court' is only for criminal cases. 

However, over the last 30 years or so, how many Rulers were brought before the 'Royal Court' to be tried for criminal cases? Not a single one! And if they were, and if the court found a certain Ruler guilty of a crime, would he be sent to jail or merely forced to abdicate? Can all of you who hail this 'Royal Court' tell me or do you not know the answer?

Do you need a 'Royal Court' to force a certain Ruler to abdicate? Who is it that has the power to force the Ruler to abdicate? Is it the 'Royal Court' or the Royal Council? Do you know?

The appointment and removal of a Ruler is done by the Royal Council (not by the Conference of Rulers or the 'Royal Court') -- which is a state matter and not a federal matter. And in the past Rulers have been removed (such as Sultan Ali of Terengganu in 1945 or Sultan Musa of Selangor also in 1945). There was no 'Royal Court' at that time and, in fact, Malaysia was not even independent yet then and the country was run by the BMA (British Military Administration).

There are a lot of myths regarding the Constitutional Crisis of the 1980s. Many talk about 'the good thing' that Tun Dr Mahathir did in removing the powers of the Rulers whereas none of these so-called powers were removed other than the one and only power of preventing the Prime Minister from becoming a dictator. 

The British gave Malaya independence in 1957 and left the country a good system of balance of power and power sharing whereby the country had four branches of government.

The Prime Minister cannot run the country like a dictatorship because he would have Parliament, the Judiciary and the Monarchy to keep him in check. But that changed in the 1980s. And you all say it is a good thing because Tun Dr Mahathir removed the powers of the Rulers.

No, Tun Dr Mahathir did not remove the powers of the Rulers because the Rulers are Constitutional Monarchs and, therefore, have no power. But he did remove one of the powers they did have -- and that power was the power to reject unjust and undemocratic laws, especially if they violate the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. 

And that became possible because by the time Tun Dr Mahathir removed this one and only power of the Rulers the people were already very angry and hated the Rulers. And the men who headed the hate campaign against the Rulers were two of the one-time Deputy Prime Ministers of Malaysia -- Tun Ghafar Baba and Anwar Ibrahim.

And today you want Anwar Ibrahim to lead the country when it was he (and the late Tun Ghafar) who made it possible for Tun Dr Mahathir to turn Malaysia into a dictatorship?

Malaysians are so stupid they are beyond help.

 

Is it necessary to demonize the Shiites?

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:54 PM PST

I have to admit that I might not have enough knowledge to scholarly conclude whether Shiites are Muslims, pseudo-Muslims or outright kafirs. However, is it necessary to go all out, guns blazing, on Shiites? 

Imran Hakim 

What do Shiites and final exams have in common?

They are the two most popular topics as I scrolled down my Twitter timeline for the past week. 

Although I am supposed to be studying for my Environmental and Resources Economics final tomorrow, I can't help but to be bothered by the constant attacks and demonization of the Shiites by some Malaysians. 

"Syiah Musuh Islam"

"Syiah Itu Yahudi"

"Syiah Bunuh Sunni"

And many other similar rhetorics that somehow managed to appear on my timeline (I guess I need to recheck who I am following on Twitter).

I have to admit that I might not have enough knowledge to scholarly conclude whether Shiites are Muslims, pseudo-Muslims or outright kafirs. However, is it necessary to go all out, guns blazing, on Shiites?

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived by the Shiites, into praising Saidina Ali over Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into cursing the Sahabahs of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the zen-like Shiite prayers.

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into hurting themselves during Asyura'.

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into the control of the Jews, through the Shiites.

and so on.

Aren't the "rightful" Sunnis worried about the extremism that they are portraying and its effect on the Muslim society? How would that translate to non-Muslims? "Don't mind us, we're just cleaning up Islam, the religion of peace - by a massive witch-hunting, filled with hatred, on the Shiites."

Even if the Shiites are indeed kafir, why do some people see hatred as the only way out? Shouldn't we, as the real Muslims, be more compassionate? We should at least try to bring the Shiites back to the real path, if they are not on one, through education. If indeed Shiites are wrong, at least guide their followers to the right path. We shouldn't be too quick to judge and punish. If we really want to emulate the Islam that our Prophet Muhammad led, we should follow his lead, and not be too hasty with the sword.

I mean, sure, some might disagree and say there is no tolerance in religion and all deviant teachings must be eliminated for the sake of the Muslim unity. But maybe they should sit back and take a look at the bigger picture. If they go on an all-out, state-sponsored war (be it figuratively or literally) on the Shiites, wouldn't it cause more conflict between Sunnis and Shiites? Do you think that some Shiites would just keep quiet and let themselves be trampled upon and demonized? I am sure that some would fight back when pushed too much. Such a conflict would definitely weaken the whole Muslim community, making them vulnerable to the Americans, the Jews, the Israelis, the Zionists, the communists, the liberals, the homosexuals, the Chinese, the Illuminatis, the Freemasons, etc. Maybe they should spread the real Islam, instead of pushing each other towards a societal collapse, or even worse, a civil war.

I'm afraid all the witch-hunting will make the "rightful" Sunnis worse than the so-called pseudo-Muslims of Shiites. 

That is just ironic, don't you think?

Educate, instead of hate.

 

Commonwealth Journal Devote Special Issue to Malaysia

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:32 PM PST

http://www.tandfonline.com/na101/home/literatum/publisher/tandf/journals/content/ctrt20/2013/ctrt20.v102.i06/ctrt20.v102.i06/20131122-01/ctrt20.v102.i06.cover.jpg 

The Round Table, founded in 1910, is Britain's oldest international affairs journal, providing analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs. The publisher, Taylors and Francis, has made some articles free on its website.

 

SINGAPORE:  Far from advancing democratic change, then, GE13 has served to roll democracy back. This was the view of Professor William Case, a Malaysian expert from City University of Hong Kong, writing in the latest issue of The Round Table, the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.

 

Case argued that after the GE, though a few UMNO politicians called for reconciliation, they were eclipsed by many others demanding exclusion and punishment of the Chinese community over the Chinese 'tsunami' and 'betrayal'. Further, after their victory top politicians in UMNO found the polarisation they had instigated to be helpful in their attacks on the opposition DAP and the Chinese.

 

UMNO knows that as ethnic Chinese are only a quarter of Malaysia's population today, and thus DAP can be contained. In remarks made at the launch of the journal at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Case said he is not optimistic about reforms in UMNO.

 

ISEAS's Professor James Chin, the guest editor of the journal, argued that while the opposition used the right strategy for the 2013 campaign, it lost because it could not overcome the three biggest hurdles for opposition politics in Malaysia: East Malaysia, the rural Malay votes and a biased electoral system. His article examines in detail strategies employed by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (or National Front), and the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance).

 

Kai Ostwald, from the University of California, writes that it was impossible for the opposition to win any elections in Malaysia given the current electoral structure. Kai provides data to show that by international standards, the distortions in the Malaysian electoral system is extremely high.

 

Other contributors to the journal are Professor Farish Noor and Ms Choong Pui Yee from Nanyang Technological University. The Round Table, founded in 1910, is Britain's oldest international affairs journal, providing analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs. The publisher, Taylors and Francis, has made some articles free on its website.

 

Editorial: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857170#.Uq7LasQW18E

Farish Noor: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857144#.Uq7MOcQW18E 

James Chin: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857170#.Uq7MZcQW18E 

Kai Ostwald: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857146 

Choong Pui Yee: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857143

William Case: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857147 

 

Requesting support for feature documentary on Stateless Filipinos in Sabah

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:28 PM PST

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/url25.jpg 

This is a film that focuses on two stateless families of Philippines descent and tackles the issue of stateless migrants in Sabah. Production was especially hard for us when we were interrogated by the special branch on more than one occasion and faced resistance from members of the public because, lets face it, no one wants trouble.

Vila Somiah 

Dear En. Raja Petra and the Malaysia Today family, 


Greetings and salutations. I hope this email finds you in the best of health. My name is Vila Somiah, I am an independent filmmaker currently based in Ohio and I am writing to you for in hopes of some assistance.

You see, I am a Sabahan and as a child, I watched undocumented Filipinos/nas through the window of my fathers car flooding the streets of Kota Kinabalu. I may not have been then but much later on in adulthood, I grew very interested in the the lives of this people, especially since it became increasingly sensitive as a subject. For almost two years now, my production partners and I have been working on the film, entitled Di Ambang: Stateless in Sabah. 

This is a film that focuses on two stateless families of Philippines descent and tackles the issue of stateless migrants in Sabah. Production was especially hard for us when we were interrogated by the special branch on more than one occasion and faced resistance from members of the public because, lets face it, no one wants trouble. But persistence got us through it all I suppose.

Throughout production, we followed our subjects through their daily lives, studying the socio-political implications on the life of migrants in Sabah. Production was on going even when the latest Sulu attacks in May occurred. Although many thought it was planned, the team and I had no idea how the skirmish in Lahad datu could impact our film so greatly. In fact, Di Ambang incorporates the skirmish into the plot. 

But now, the film needs exposure and donations for the final push and this is how I hope you can help me sir. To me (including many, many people out there), you are an Icon. People listen to you and they value your opinions, and through you, the film can most definitely reach a larger audience. All I request of you is that you check out our kickstarter page and website (the links are bellow), and if you can believe in the value of this project then please, help us promote it in one of your many channels. In fact, just a few days ago, Ms. Marina Mahathir (and soon Dato' Ambiga) have expressed support and made pledges which you can view online. As of now we have hit 22% of our target.  

I am striving for a much needed change in Malaysia En. Raja Petra, and the help I am asking of you only requires a few minutes of your time. My partners and I (who are all legit I assure you) have worked so very hard on this film and we want to bring Di Ambang to the Malaysian and international audience but we can only do it with your help. So please help us in any way you can and share our sites with as many people you know. We would appreciate it so much.


Berbanyak-banyak terima kasih,


Vila Somiah



IGP: Cops to question Mat Zain on Shafee report soon

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:02 PM PST

(MM) - The police are expected to haul up former senior police officer Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim for questioning today over his report accusing Umno lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah of lying in an affidavit.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told a press conference in Cheras this afternoon that the former KL CID chief could be called in as early as today, according to a report by news portal Malaysiakini.

"We... will see what the (alleged) offences (are) that are revealed in his statement," Khalid was quoted as saying.

The news portal said this was over Mat Zain's police report yesterday against Shafee, who the former said had filed a false affidavit-in-reply to the government's appeal against the sodomy acquittal of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimm

In response, Mat Zain reportedly told Malaysiakini in a text message that he would offer his fullest cooperation to the police.

"Okay, good. This is the kind of quick action that should be taken. My thanks to the police.

"I am ready to give my fullest cooperation. I have nothing to hide. I am very pleased with their speedy response..." he was quoted as saying.

In his December 11 affidavit, Shafee had sought to distance himself from Mat Zain's allegations of misconduct against the Attorney-General in Malaysia's loss of Pulau Batu Puteh and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 1998 "black eye" incident.

In the document, the prominent Umno lawyer rejected remarks attributed to him in Mat Zain's statutory declaration (SD).

"I vehemently deny that I have been involved in any particular 'meeting' whatsoever and have commented on any alleged misconduct concerning the current Attorney-General TSGP, in particular, over the Batu Puteh controversy," said Shafee, using Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail's initials.

"I have never insinuated nor mentioned about funds in Hong Kong and such like."

Shafee also said that Anwar's second attempt to disqualify him from leading the prosecution appeal against the verdict in the opposition leader's second sodomy trial was based on frivolous and vexatious grounds.

Anwar had said in recent a statement that the grounds for his application was based on the revelations made by Mat Zain in the latter's statutory declaration (SD) signed on October 7 and publicly revealed on December 2.

Citing Mat Zain's latest SD, Anwar had noted that the former senior police officer alleged that Shafee knew of Abdul Gani allegedly suppressing important evidence in the Pulau Batu Puteh hearing at the International Court of Justive (ICJ) in 2007 that caused Malaysia to lose the island to Singapore.

"Shafee told Mat Zain that 'you will not believe your eyes if you were to see the amount of cash that was transferred into Gani's account in Hong Kong'," Anwar had written in the statement, citing the SD.

Mat Zain was also the investigating officer in the case on Anwar's "black eye" assault in 1998, in which the PKR de facto leader was assaulted by then Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor while in custody.

Mat Zain has been lobbying for the case to be re-opened in a series of open letters penned to Bukit Aman and the government, insisting that Gani was complicit in the alleged fabrication of evidence in the case.

"Shafee agreed with Mat Zain that Gani had fabricated evidence against myself during the "black eye" investigation.

"Shafee agreed it was indeed true that Dr Abdul Rahman bin Yusof, a forensic consultant at Kuala Lumpur Hospital had fabricated evidence in my 'black eye' investigation," Anwar said in his statement.

Shafee later expanded on his denial and said only Mat Zain could speak to the contents of his declaration.

"Mat Zain was the dominant person who was doing the talking on the 'black eye' matter. I suspect this was due to the fact that Mat Zain was introduced to Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) as the investigator of the 'black eye' incident," said Shafee, referring to a recent gathering at the former prime minister's house.

"I was never a witness to the 'black eye' incident, nor to any fabrication about it and I therefore cannot give any firsthand information or opinion on that issues; only Mat Zain can," he added.

 

Rafizi to take AG’s misconduct to HK

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 03:59 PM PST

PKR strategic director to seek Hong Kong government's help to investigate alleged misconduct of Attorney-General

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Rafizi Ramli will seek help from the Hong Kong government over former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain's allegations that money changed hands, which led to Malaysia losing its claim on Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore in 2007.

The revelation was made in Mat Zain's 31-page statutory declaration (SD) sent to the Prime Minister's Office on Oct 9 which revealed the wrongdoings of Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, who handled the Pulau Batu Puteh case.

"Also included was information that a large amount of money changed hands and was credited into (Gani's) bank account in Hong Kong," the SD said.

Speaking to reporters today, Rafizi, who is PKR strategic director, announced that he will approach the Hong Kong government in hopes they will commence investigations into Mat Zain's allegations.

"What is more pertinent about this SD is that for the first time, there is a serious allegation made involving the territorial integrity of the country. This is bringing corruption to a new level altogether.

"The police say they won't take any action against him (Gani), and there is no news from SPRM (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission)," he said.

"Therefore, we have no choice but to bring this issue to Hong Kong, as the reputation of their financial institution is of utmost importance to them," added Rafizi.

We have leads

The National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW) executive director said all details and entities of the transaction must be submitted to the Hong Kong authorities in order them to start investigation, but acknowledged that it was "not easy" to trace.

"We are trying to trace it and it is not easy. Although some of our friends in Hong Kong say that basic information which involves the AG is enough for them to start looking, we hope to give them pointers," he said.

Rafizi assured that he had "leads to follow" and has given himself until Wednesday to finalise the information to be submitted to Hong Kong.

"If we don't get anything, we will proceed with submitting a formal request to the authorities and continue from there," he said.

Asked if he would be disclosing a copy of the information to SPRM, Rafizi said the local anti-corruption authority would simply "bury the lead altogether".

"Based on the SPRM Act, once I have submitted information to the commission, I am legally prohibited from ever talking about it," he said.

"That is how they (SPRM) sweeps issues under the carpet and bury leads," he said. "Hong Kong is extremely attentive to complaints. I would rather pursue it in Hong Kong and see whether anything can come out of there," he added.

READ MORE HERE

 

Get Guan Eng to submit all documents, Karpal told

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 03:41 PM PST

(NST) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh should order party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to submit all documents required by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) relating to the party election on Sept 29, said former Kedah Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) chairman Zamil Ibrahim.

He said a mere three-page report submitted by the party was evidently too brief for the RoS to conduct investigations into allegations of fraud, distortion and manipulation of the delegates' list during the party election.

"Karpal should adhere to the RoS' order instead of engaging in a long-running battle and challenging the decision."

RoS is requesting a full list of DAP's 2,576 members, along with their branch affiliation and addresses, a full list of the 1,740 voting members, along with their particulars, and a list of 985 branches with an "A" certification.

The DAP central executive committee election last year was marred by a tabulation "glitch", with party members claiming irregularities.

The glitch caused party activist Vincent Wu to be moved to the 26th spot from his original sixth position.

This gave way to Lim's political secretary, Zairil Khir Johari, who was in the 39th position, to move up to the 20th spot in the CEC elections on Dec 15 last year.

The RoS sent a letter to DAP saying that it did not recognise the leadership, which led to the party to hold another election to avoid de-registration.


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Syiah: Tindakan KDN dipersoal pemimpin Pas

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:56 PM PST

Demikian menurut Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas, Idris Ahmad yang menyifatkan tindakan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) yang memaksa Timbalan Presiden Pas, Mohamad Sabu supaya mengemukakan bukti bukan pengikut Syiah merupakan perkara yang tidak munasabah.

"Sebelum ini kerajaan sendiri pernah umumkan jumlah pengikut Syiah, dan ada individu yang mengaku sebagai pengikut ajaran Syiah, jadi kenapa mereka pula tidak ditahan?

"Tapi yang disibukkan sekarang adalah orang yang tidak mengaku Syiah, ini yang jadi bahan ketawa orang ramai," katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

Menurutnya, tindakan KDN yang 'memburu' Mohamad atau lebih dikenali Mat Sabu hanya untuk memberikan imej buruk kepada Pas.

"Ini semua 'nasi tambah' kepada isu lain untuk jatuhkan Pas. Sebelum ini isu agama, Melayu, raja dan sebagainya.

"Kalau betul KDN ada bukti, tolong dedahkan kerana kita juga mahu tahu bukti yang bagaimana untuk kaitkan Mat Sabu dengan Syiah, tidak perlu untuk beritahu bukti gred A, B atau pun C," ujarnya yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang.

Sehubungan itu katanya, KDN perlu bertindak bukan hanya  bercakap memandangkan maklumat sudah pun ada untuk menahan pengikut Syiah.

"Kalau bukti sudah ada, buat apa suruh orang yang dituduh bertindak untuk menunjukkan bukti beliau tidak terlibat.

"Sekarang ini siapa yang mendakwa dan siapa pula yang didakwa. Jadi rasanya tidak perlu orang yang dituduh menampilkan bukti. Dakwa sahaja pihak yang mengikut  ajaran Syiah," kata beliau.

Kelmarin, Penolong Setiausaha Bahagian Keselamatan dan Ketenteraman Awam  KDN, Dr Zamihan Mat Zain Al Ghari berkata, Mat Sabu perlu kemukakan bukti jika dirinya tidak terlibat fahaman Syiah.

Kata Zamihan, Mat Sabu perlu berhujah secara ilmiah bagi menafikan 10 bukti KDN yang mengaitkannya dengan fahaman Syiah.

Pada 12 Disember lalu, Ketua Setiausaha KDN, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi mendedahkan 10 bukti yang mengaitkan Mat Sabu dengan ajaran Syiah antaranya pernah 'berselawat' sebagaimana penganut Syiah pada satu sesi ceramah Pas, di Arau, Perlis.

 

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Is it necessary to demonize the Shiites?

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:54 PM PST

I have to admit that I might not have enough knowledge to scholarly conclude whether Shiites are Muslims, pseudo-Muslims or outright kafirs. However, is it necessary to go all out, guns blazing, on Shiites? 

Imran Hakim 

What do Shiites and final exams have in common?

They are the two most popular topics as I scrolled down my Twitter timeline for the past week. 

Although I am supposed to be studying for my Environmental and Resources Economics final tomorrow, I can't help but to be bothered by the constant attacks and demonization of the Shiites by some Malaysians. 

"Syiah Musuh Islam"

"Syiah Itu Yahudi"

"Syiah Bunuh Sunni"

And many other similar rhetorics that somehow managed to appear on my timeline (I guess I need to recheck who I am following on Twitter).

I have to admit that I might not have enough knowledge to scholarly conclude whether Shiites are Muslims, pseudo-Muslims or outright kafirs. However, is it necessary to go all out, guns blazing, on Shiites?

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived by the Shiites, into praising Saidina Ali over Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into cursing the Sahabahs of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the zen-like Shiite prayers.

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into hurting themselves during Asyura'.

The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into the control of the Jews, through the Shiites.

and so on.

Aren't the "rightful" Sunnis worried about the extremism that they are portraying and its effect on the Muslim society? How would that translate to non-Muslims? "Don't mind us, we're just cleaning up Islam, the religion of peace - by a massive witch-hunting, filled with hatred, on the Shiites."

Even if the Shiites are indeed kafir, why do some people see hatred as the only way out? Shouldn't we, as the real Muslims, be more compassionate? We should at least try to bring the Shiites back to the real path, if they are not on one, through education. If indeed Shiites are wrong, at least guide their followers to the right path. We shouldn't be too quick to judge and punish. If we really want to emulate the Islam that our Prophet Muhammad led, we should follow his lead, and not be too hasty with the sword.

I mean, sure, some might disagree and say there is no tolerance in religion and all deviant teachings must be eliminated for the sake of the Muslim unity. But maybe they should sit back and take a look at the bigger picture. If they go on an all-out, state-sponsored war (be it figuratively or literally) on the Shiites, wouldn't it cause more conflict between Sunnis and Shiites? Do you think that some Shiites would just keep quiet and let themselves be trampled upon and demonized? I am sure that some would fight back when pushed too much. Such a conflict would definitely weaken the whole Muslim community, making them vulnerable to the Americans, the Jews, the Israelis, the Zionists, the communists, the liberals, the homosexuals, the Chinese, the Illuminatis, the Freemasons, etc. Maybe they should spread the real Islam, instead of pushing each other towards a societal collapse, or even worse, a civil war.

I'm afraid all the witch-hunting will make the "rightful" Sunnis worse than the so-called pseudo-Muslims of Shiites. 

That is just ironic, don't you think?

Educate, instead of hate.

 

Commonwealth Journal Devote Special Issue to Malaysia

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:32 PM PST

http://www.tandfonline.com/na101/home/literatum/publisher/tandf/journals/content/ctrt20/2013/ctrt20.v102.i06/ctrt20.v102.i06/20131122-01/ctrt20.v102.i06.cover.jpg 

The Round Table, founded in 1910, is Britain's oldest international affairs journal, providing analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs. The publisher, Taylors and Francis, has made some articles free on its website.

 

SINGAPORE:  Far from advancing democratic change, then, GE13 has served to roll democracy back. This was the view of Professor William Case, a Malaysian expert from City University of Hong Kong, writing in the latest issue of The Round Table, the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.

 

Case argued that after the GE, though a few UMNO politicians called for reconciliation, they were eclipsed by many others demanding exclusion and punishment of the Chinese community over the Chinese 'tsunami' and 'betrayal'. Further, after their victory top politicians in UMNO found the polarisation they had instigated to be helpful in their attacks on the opposition DAP and the Chinese.

 

UMNO knows that as ethnic Chinese are only a quarter of Malaysia's population today, and thus DAP can be contained. In remarks made at the launch of the journal at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Case said he is not optimistic about reforms in UMNO.

 

ISEAS's Professor James Chin, the guest editor of the journal, argued that while the opposition used the right strategy for the 2013 campaign, it lost because it could not overcome the three biggest hurdles for opposition politics in Malaysia: East Malaysia, the rural Malay votes and a biased electoral system. His article examines in detail strategies employed by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (or National Front), and the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance).

 

Kai Ostwald, from the University of California, writes that it was impossible for the opposition to win any elections in Malaysia given the current electoral structure. Kai provides data to show that by international standards, the distortions in the Malaysian electoral system is extremely high.

 

Other contributors to the journal are Professor Farish Noor and Ms Choong Pui Yee from Nanyang Technological University. The Round Table, founded in 1910, is Britain's oldest international affairs journal, providing analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs. The publisher, Taylors and Francis, has made some articles free on its website.

 

Editorial: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857170#.Uq7LasQW18E

Farish Noor: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857144#.Uq7MOcQW18E 

James Chin: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857170#.Uq7MZcQW18E 

Kai Ostwald: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857146 

Choong Pui Yee: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857143

William Case: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857147 

 

Requesting support for feature documentary on Stateless Filipinos in Sabah

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:28 PM PST

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/url25.jpg 

This is a film that focuses on two stateless families of Philippines descent and tackles the issue of stateless migrants in Sabah. Production was especially hard for us when we were interrogated by the special branch on more than one occasion and faced resistance from members of the public because, lets face it, no one wants trouble.

Vila Somiah 

Dear En. Raja Petra and the Malaysia Today family, 


Greetings and salutations. I hope this email finds you in the best of health. My name is Vila Somiah, I am an independent filmmaker currently based in Ohio and I am writing to you for in hopes of some assistance.

You see, I am a Sabahan and as a child, I watched undocumented Filipinos/nas through the window of my fathers car flooding the streets of Kota Kinabalu. I may not have been then but much later on in adulthood, I grew very interested in the the lives of this people, especially since it became increasingly sensitive as a subject. For almost two years now, my production partners and I have been working on the film, entitled Di Ambang: Stateless in Sabah. 

This is a film that focuses on two stateless families of Philippines descent and tackles the issue of stateless migrants in Sabah. Production was especially hard for us when we were interrogated by the special branch on more than one occasion and faced resistance from members of the public because, lets face it, no one wants trouble. But persistence got us through it all I suppose.

Throughout production, we followed our subjects through their daily lives, studying the socio-political implications on the life of migrants in Sabah. Production was on going even when the latest Sulu attacks in May occurred. Although many thought it was planned, the team and I had no idea how the skirmish in Lahad datu could impact our film so greatly. In fact, Di Ambang incorporates the skirmish into the plot. 

But now, the film needs exposure and donations for the final push and this is how I hope you can help me sir. To me (including many, many people out there), you are an Icon. People listen to you and they value your opinions, and through you, the film can most definitely reach a larger audience. All I request of you is that you check out our kickstarter page and website (the links are bellow), and if you can believe in the value of this project then please, help us promote it in one of your many channels. In fact, just a few days ago, Ms. Marina Mahathir (and soon Dato' Ambiga) have expressed support and made pledges which you can view online. As of now we have hit 22% of our target.  

I am striving for a much needed change in Malaysia En. Raja Petra, and the help I am asking of you only requires a few minutes of your time. My partners and I (who are all legit I assure you) have worked so very hard on this film and we want to bring Di Ambang to the Malaysian and international audience but we can only do it with your help. So please help us in any way you can and share our sites with as many people you know. We would appreciate it so much.


Berbanyak-banyak terima kasih,


Vila Somiah



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Ahad, 15 Disember 2013

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Where my loyalties lie

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:25 AM PST

If I were asked to choose between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional I have no problems making that choice. If I were asked to choose between a Secular State and an Islamic State I have no problems making that choice as well. But if I were asked to choose between a Constitutional Monarchy and a Republic then you are placing me in a very difficult situation. I will have to choose the Constitutional Monarchy.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER  

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I am certainly a Libran -- I was born on 27th September. I would like to believe that I am also a libertarian. And what would one mean when one says he or she is a libertarian?

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that advocates free will and individual rights. The core doctrine of libertarianism begins with the recognition that people have certain natural rights and that deprivation of these rights is immoral.

Libertarianism can be traced back to ancient China of 2,600 years ago where philosopher Lao-tzu (Laozi) advocated the recognition of individual liberties. The modern libertarian theory emerged in the sixteenth century through the writings of Etienne de La Boetie, an eminent French theorist.

In the seventeenth century, John Locke and a group of British reformers known as the Levellers fashioned the classical basis for libertarianism with well-received philosophies on human nature and economics. Since the days of Locke, libertarianism has attracted pacifists, utopianists, utilitarianists, anarchists, and fascists. This wide array of support demonstrates the accessibility and elasticity of the libertarian promotion of natural rights.

Many Malays, especially those in PAS, consider me a deviant Muslim (they have told me so). They cringe when they read my article regarding Islam, which are certainly non-mainstream and stray from what many would describe as 'fundamental' Islam. Some Malays, in fact, even consider me a heretic, or worse, an apostate because of my unorthodox views on Islam.

I admit it is not easy to 'marry' orthodox Islam and libertarianism. Libertarianism is about free will and individual rights while Islam is about complying with the Sharia. And this is where one faces a clash of ideologies when one tries to be both a Muslim and a libertarian.

I have never hidden the fact that I am a libertarian at heart. My views on Islam, which I have espoused often enough, lies testimony to this. I confess that I am walking the very narrow path between being a Muslim and an infidel (kafir), as my stronger critics would say. But that is the path I have chosen for myself.

I was born a Muslim but for the first 27 years or so of my life I was a Muslim in name only. Even when I went to an all-Malay school, the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), I was never a practicing Muslim. I fasted because we were forced to do so but I did not pray because we were not forced to do so.

No doubt I had to go to the mosque every Friday but I went only because it was compulsory. That did not mean I prayed though (you can force the horse to water but you cannot make it drink). I merely chilled out (lepak) at the back of the mosque until it was time to go home.

As I said, for the first 27 years of my life I was a Muslim in name only (I have, in fact, written about this many times before). Then I 'rediscovered' my old friend from MCKK, Anwar Ibrahim, when he came to Kuala Terengganu to talk at a PAS ceramah (rally). Anwar was then heading ABIM, the Islamic Youth Movement, and had just been released from ISA detention.

And I fell in love with Anwar (who I initially disliked when I was in MCKK) and at the same time fell in love with Islam. It was then when I decided to become a Muslim or, as I have written many times before, a 'Born Again Muslim'.

Within a few months I mastered the Quran (much to the amazement of my Tok Guru who said it takes years rather than just months to master the Quran). I started praying and fasting and even did the optional fast and prayers (to make up for the 27 years that I had missed as a fasik Muslim). Within a couple of years I did my first pilgrimage to Mekah, the first of about ten trips I made in all.

It was in Mekah soon after the Islamic Revolution of Iran when I met up with members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. I talked to them and joined their demonstrations while carrying pictures of Imam Khomeini. I was smitten by the Islamic Revolution and imagined the same thing happening in Malaysia.

I was now what many would probably label a Muslim militant or fundamentalist. But I was not a Shia, mind you. I was still a Sunni and held to my Sunni doctrine. But I began to question much of the beliefs and practices of Sunni Islam and considered Khomeini my hero and the Iranian Islamic Revolution my guiding light.

I suppose my exposure to other forms of Islam (where initially I was exposed to only one form of Islam) opened my eyes somewhat. 

But my love affair with the Iranian Islamic Revolution soon ended when I saw the brutality and intolerance in Iran. The revolution just replaced one draconian regime for another. Basically, it was the same old wine in a new bottle. The situation in Iran did not improve from the time of the Shah. In fact, it became worse.

My love for Anwar Ibrahim also ended at around the same time when he joined Umno. I fell in love with him and 'converted' to Islam because of what he said and did as the ABIM leader. Then I saw that he was never sincere in his struggle and was merely using Islam as a political platform in his ambition to get ahead.

It was not until 1998 that I 'returned' to Anwar, mainly because of the 'Black Eye' incident and the 'explosion' of the Reformasi movement. After 20 years I, again, became committed to Anwar's struggle for a reformed Malaysia and a libertarian or civil society. Nevertheless, I was still quite suspicious of Anwar because he has had a history of deviating from the struggle in the interest of his own political agenda.

For ten years until the 2008 general election I worked for Anwar's party at a pittance of RM2,500 a month when I could have earned five or six times that in the corporate world. In fact, at that time I was a Chairman and Director of a foreign-owned company, which I had shares in, and I was paid RM10,000 each time just to attend and chair the meetings. But I gave all that up to serve the party because it was not money but the cause that drove me.

The year 2008 was a new milestone for Malaysian politics. The gains made by the opposition in that election convinced me that my sacrifice had not been in vain. The ten years from 1998 to 2008 were the most difficult years for me. I practically lived in poverty and survived from hand to mouth. My 'mentor', Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas, can testify to this because it was he who helped pay my monthly allowance, which just covered my living expenses with nothing more to spare.

After the 2008 general election, and when Pakatan Rakyat formed the new Selangor government, my good friend, Ronnie Liu from DAP, offered me various positions in the state but I declined all offers. First of all, the ten years I spent working for the opposition was not about being rewarded with positions of power. Secondly, my cousin was the Sultan of Selangor and I did not want to get on his wrong side by working for the Selangor government in the event that there is a crisis between the state government and the palace.

My anxiety was the result of a meeting I had with His Highness the Sultan in 2001 soon after I was released from my first ISA detention. His Highness made it very clear that he was not too happy regarding my involvement with the opposition. It was a two-hour meeting in the palace and His Highness did not hide the fact that he did not like Anwar or trusted him one bit.

Anwar is anti-Monarchy, said His Highness, and Anwar was very much with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad in attacking the Monarchy during the 1980s Constitutional Crisis. I knew that because it was widely reported in the mass media at that time. In fact, I have personally heard both Dr Mahathir and Anwar attack the Rulers so I had no doubts in my mind that both Dr Mahathir and Anwar are anti-Monarchy.

But that was when Anwar was in Umno and when Anwar was Dr Mahathir's blue-eye boy and anointed successor. This is the new Anwar, the voice of reform. I believed, as many others did too, that Anwar had changed since his Umno days.

Then, in 2010, I met up with one of Anwar's closest Chinese advisors and financiers and we had a long discussion. This meeting in London was about a year after I had left the country.

We discussed what Anwar had planned for the future in the event Pakatan Rakyat forms the new federal government. And what was revealed is most alarming. It appears that Anwar has not changed his anti-Monarchy stance at all. A future Malaysia with Pakatan Rakyat as the federal government had no place for the Monarchy.

Yes, I am a libertarian. I believe in a civil society. But I do not believe in a Republic of Malaysia and the abolishing of the Constitutional Monarchy.

This was when I decided to part company with Anwar and wash my hands of his cause.

If I were asked to choose between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional I have no problems making that choice. If I were asked to choose between a Secular State and an Islamic State I have no problems making that choice as well. But if I were asked to choose between a Constitutional Monarchy and a Republic then you are placing me in a very difficult situation. I will have to choose the Constitutional Monarchy.

I was born in the UK, not in Selangor. However, in 1956, just a year or so before Merdeka, our family returned to Malaysia and on 2nd May 1956 my late father was declared a Subject of the Ruler of Selangor. Hence we are not just Malaysians or Selangorians. We are Subjects of the Ruler of Selangor. 

Therefore, my loyalty is, first, to His Highness the Sultan of Selangor, second to the State of Selangor, third to Malaysia, fourth to Islam, fifth to the Malays, and finally to Pakatan Rakyat, in that order of priority.

Hence, also, I can no longer stand with Anwar and his cause when that cause runs contra to the cause of the Monarchy. That is a choice I made in 2010 and is a decision I will not change. And it is a choice I have a right to make under a democracy. After all, libertarianism is about free will and individual rights. So what I have chosen is what libertarianism guarantees.

 

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Ex-DAP member Jenice Lee stopped from attending party convention

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 05:18 PM PST

(The Star) - Former Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee, who was sacked as a DAP member, slammed the party for barring her from attending the state convention as an observer.

Lee claimed that she had applied to attend the convention as an observer five weeks ago but failed to receive a reply.

"Thinking that it would not matter, I walked in and I was surprised when the officers stopped me.

"It is ridiculous to stop me when reporters are allowed to go in," said Lee, who arrived at the convention hall at 9am.

"I can understand if there is not enough space but the hall looked empty and there were so many empty seats," she added.

Lee criticised the party for removing her name in the convention attendance lists.

"There is clearly some hanky-panky going on or else they would not have removed my name from the attendance list of the previous party conventions," she said.

State DAP national legal bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo said officers manning the entrance had exercised their right in not allowing Lee to enter as she had been expelled from the party.

"Only DAP members, delegates and invited guests can come in as observers," he said.

"Our simple response is Lee's membership has been dealt with by the disciplinary committee. The CEC has upheld the decision that she is no longer a member of the party," Gobind said.

He added that Lee had sought an interim injunction to maintain her membership in the party but was denied the order last Wednesday.

 

 

Expelled DAP members in limbo

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:50 PM PST

(The Star) - DAP members who have been recently sacked are wondering if they can vote at the party's Selangor-level election, as the Registrar Of Societies (ROS) has yet to recognise DAP's top office bearers.

L.P. Selvam, who received his expulsion letter signed by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng two weeks ago, asked if his sacking still stands as ROS did not recognise Lim and other DAP top leaders.

"I was told that the state party election is scheduled for Sunday (today) and I feel this should be an issue that must be explained by the leaders in the convention.

"Does this mean I am no more a DAP member and free to join another party?" asked Selvam, who stood as an independent candidate in the 13th general election.

The former aide to ex-Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan said his fellow DAP members who stood as independent candidates faced a similar predicament.

Another grassroots member, who chose to remain anonymous, said it was immature for DAP leaders to expel members without clear instructions.

"I just received a letter from the party and nothing else. Nobody called me up to say why the expulsion was made.

"It becomes further complicated when the ROS says it does not recognise DAP's office bearers," he said.

The man, who has been in the party for more than 15 years and contested as an independent candidate in the last general election, said he received his expulsion letter several weeks ago.

Selangor DAP vice-chairman Charles Santiago said the convention was expected to be a "lame one", as many delegates have adopted a carefree attitude towards it.

"Unlike in the past, not many are looking forward to the convention and party polls as the general election has ended," he said.

The state party polls, which is held once every two years, will see 35 delegates contesting for 15 positions today in Shah Alam. About 1,200 delegates were expected to be present.

Former Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee (pic), who also received an expulsion letter from the party, had reportedly announced her intentions to secure a seat at the Selangor executive committee.

Lee, who had also stood as an Independent in the last general election, withdrew her lawsuit against the party after receiving a show-cause letter asking why her membership should not be withdrawn.

By sending her the letter, she claimed that it was an endorsement that the party still considered her a member.

 

Evaporating euphoria

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:36 PM PST

PAS has been stirred and shaken over the Home Ministry's allegations that its deputy president Mohamad Sabu has Syiah links.

On Thursday, the Home Ministry released a 10-point statement outlining their case against Mat Sabu. The allegations ranged from him attending religious classes by two Syiah ustaz in Bukit Merah, Perak, in 2011 to his open admiration of the late Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran which propagates Syiah.

Joceline Tan, The Star

THE year 2013 has been both wonderful and lousy for PAS leader Mohamad Sabu.

First, the wonderful part. Mat Sabu, as he is known, won a second term as PAS deputy president last month. It was no mean feat because he was essentially up against the pro-ulama group in his party. But he beat the odds and defeated his ulama opponent Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah by 98 votes.

The narrow margin was an indication of how divided the party was about him, but a win is a win and Mat Sabu was a happy man.

He needed that booster after failing to hold on to the Pendang seat in the general election. It was a huge psychological blow to PAS because Pendang had been synonymous with its beloved late president Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor.

Now, for the less wonderful part. The euphoria from his victory has evaporated following the daring accusation against him by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Umno general assembly last week.

Mat Sabu is struggling to fend off allegations about him being a Syiah follower.

On Thursday, the Home Ministry released a 10-point statement outlining their case against Mat Sabu. The allegations ranged from him attending religious classes by two Syiah ustaz in Bukit Merah, Perak, in 2011 to his open admiration of the late Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran which propagates Syiah.

Mat Sabu has dismissed the allegations as "fitnah" or lies. He said he is not a Syiah follower and is consulting his lawyer about initiating legal action against his accusers.

The issue has grabbed the attention of Muslims nationwide because the National Fatwa Council had, as early as 1996, decreed the Syiah sect as "sesat" or deviant.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said the party has not met to discuss the matter or received requests for an investigation.

"The allegations made against Mat Sabu were personal, no need for the party to meet about it. Mat Sabu knows what to do," said Mustafa.

He said that when similar allegations surfaced during the recent party election, Mat Sabu informed the party he is not a Syiah.

The Home Ministry's 10-point allegations have been somewhat of an anti-climax. It was not exactly the "evidence" that everyone was expecting.

But some of the allegations are disturbing enough to have left PAS members confused and looking for answers. The implications are enormous because PAS prides itself as an Islamist party and this concerns no less than its deputy president.

PAS, as its president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang pointed out, is the only party with a constitution acknowledging the paramount position of the Quran and Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet).

The party is scrambling to contain the issue. Hadi and Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib have come out to defend the party's espousal of the Sunni creed and reiterate their opposition to Syiah beliefs.

Mursyidul Am Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat returned fire at Umno, saying that the nationalism and secularism endorsed by the Umno-led government was as bad as Syiah practices.

He also implied that Umno harboured deviant preachers or, as he put it: "How can the tiger remind the sheep about the dangers of the wolf? The tiger must first cleanse its fangs and claws of human meat."

Not many in PAS appreciated Nik Aziz equating secularism and nationalism with Syiah belief and, besides, two wrongs do not make a right.

"Syiah is a threat to our beliefs as Sunni Muslims whereas nationalism and secularism are political ideologies. How can he put it at the same level?" a Kelantan-based Muslim intellectual asked.

Other PAS leaders have defended Mat Sabu's visits to Iran and his admiration of the late Ayatollah Khomeini as "nothing wrong" because many Muslim leaders have visited Iran.

Harakahdaily returned fire, publishing pictures of Umno politicians meeting Iranian leaders, including the famous photograph of a very young Datuk Ibrahim Ali with Khomeini in Paris shortly before the Iranian Revolution erupted.

But they were less forthcoming on allegations that Mat Sabu visited a Syiah mosque in South Thailand in 2011 or attended Syiah religious classes in Perak. Most of them stopped short of directly clearing Mat Sabu of being Syiah.

"The rumours have been around for ages. Almost everyone I know has heard about it. Such things are not easy to prosecute but it's not impossible," said Dr Yusri Mohamad, chairman of the Coalition of Islamic NGOs or Pembela.

For instance, the Sky Kingdom cult in Terengganu was in full bloom and giant teapots and fountains had been erected before the authorities moved in. But the leader, Ayah Pin, was never charged despite reports that he had returned to Terengganu last year to recover from a crippling stroke.

The widow of the late Ashaari Muhammad, founder of the outlawed Al-Arqam movement, only recently pleaded guilty to deviationist activities in the Syariah court after years of endless reports of her group's activities that emphasised sex and religion.

Muslims in Malaysia belong to the Sunni sect or Sunnah wal Jamaah which means a righteous Muslim majority who follow the Prophet's teachings. The Sunni and Syiah are divided by fundamental differences on matters of "akidah" or faith.

The Sunni concern about Syiah is so acute that, as recent as September, an Islamic forum in Kuala Lumpur had condemned Syiah as "a poison" and "a virus". The forum even urged the government to sever ties with Iran, which has the world's biggest Syiah population.

Another concern is that Syiah is regarded as a potentially divisive force because Sunni-Syiah disputes in some countries have resulted in conflict and bloodshed.

Action against Syiah groups had been ongoing but took on an urgency after the shooting of the Pahang Islamic Religious Department enforcement chief who had been investigating deviant religious activity. The government wants to step up the momentum and is studying the setting up of a Syariah Police Squad.

Mat Sabu's reputation as a Muslim and PAS leader is at stake. Some of his supporters see the attacks as a political witch hunt and an attempt to undermine the image of PAS. Earlier last week, Mat Sabu wrote in Harakahdaily that Syiah had replaced communism as the new bogeyman and that he was the victim of this trend.

But there is also a segment within PAS who have doubts about him and who had, as a result, campaigned against his re-election.

Some of them are high-level party officials and they are of the view that the party must not compromise on deviant beliefs. They say this is crucial for the integrity of the party and the unity of the ummah.

Some of the young Turks in the pro-ulama group think there should be an internal investigation to set the record straight. They have suggested that the matter should go before the Syariah Audit Committee, a new body recently approved to handle internal issues connected to the syariah and which fall outside the purview of the Disciplinary Committee.

Others think PAS should appoint senior and respected leaders to help clear the air because they are concerned that the party will be dragged down.

The more down-to-earth say that Mat Sabu ought to take an oath to denounce Syiah and clear his name once and for all. Otherwise, there will be no closure and the matter will return to haunt the party. Their priority is the party. Leaders come and go but the party must survive.

Iran, the Iranian Revolution and the Ayatollahs have always been a prickly issue for Muslims here. That revolution led to the birth of the world's first modern Islamic state and was one of those defining moments of the 20th century.

It inspired Muslims everywhere and Malaysia was no exception, sparking off an irreversible wave of Islamic fervour – the building of mosques, women took to covering their aurat and Islamic banking arrived on our shores.

PAS' modern form was very much inspired by what happened in Iran. Some examples include its policy of "leadership by the ulama" and its powerful Syura Council of Ulama headed by the Mursyidul Am, the PAS equivalent of the Ayatollah.

The party's maroon-shirted Unit Amal, a highly respected unit in PAS, is often perceived as a moderate version of the revolutionary guards.

"Many of us were inspired by the Iranian Revolution but that does not mean we are Syiah. However, Syiah beliefs can destroy our party and we should sieve it out when recruiting members," said a young PAS official.

Mat Sabu, some thought, has been too easygoing about such accusations for too long. During the general election, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir in Kedah had openly accused him of being Syiah.

Pamphlets about him were flying all over. One flyer had the slogan, "Jangan suburkan Syiah di Pendang", urging voters not to sow the seeds of Syiah in the parliamentary seat where Mat Sabu was contesting.

Similar allegations surfaced in the months running up to the PAS election. This time, the attacks were more dangerous because they were coming from within his own party and, many believed, from the pro-ulama group.

Again, Mat Sabu turned a blind eye. It was only when he realised that the allegations could derail his re-election that he finally issued a clear-cut denial.

But he did not help himself when he persisted in quoting examples from Iran or praising Hezbullah, the militant Syiah group, in his speeches. His excuse was that he admires Iran for standing up to American imperialism.

The Home Ministry's allegations were stunning as much for the content as for the way they were made. On hindsight, Zahid almost stole the show at the closing of the Umno assembly when he launched the attack against Mat Sabu.

But that is Zahid for you – he rarely does things by halves. He knew very well that a strong action would draw an equally strong reaction and everyone is now bracing for what's next.

Mat Sabu is contemplating clearing his name in a court of law. But, more important, he may also have to clear his name in the court of public opinion. 

 

Ku Li to open Perkasa meeting in the hope of turning right-wing Malay group around

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:27 PM PST

V. Anbalagan, TMI

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's credentials as a statesman and a politician with enlightened views on race are now on the line as he has reportedly accepted Perkasa's invitation to open its fourth annual general meeting next week.

While the Gua Musang MP has regularly met Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali as both are from Kelantan, they cannot be more different as chalk and cheese.

Tengku Razaleigh is urbane, sophisticated and cosmopolitan while Ibrahim has been known to be crude with a narrow racial view that has seen him jump from one party to another, earning the sobriquet of a "political frog".

The Malaysian Insider understands that the former finance minister and Umno veteran, popularly known as Ku Li, has confirmed he would attend the meeting at Pusat Islam in Kuala Lumpur on December 22.

Those close to the Kelantan prince said he had weighed the pros and cons of associating with the right-wing Malay group before confirming his attendance at the assembly themed "Upholding the Constitution for the wellbeing of all".

"He wants to engage the Perkasa leadership and persuade them to be more inclusive. He wants them to look at the bigger picture," a Ku Li confidante told The Malaysian Insider.

Tengku Razaleigh, who was tasked with setting up national oil firm Petronas, has been an advocate of market and economic liberalisation in the past decade unlike Ibrahim who believes that the Malays should have a greater control and share of the economy.

Ibrahim has articulated his views through Perkasa, which boasts a 500,000 membership mainly from Umno, which he found after 2008 elections when he stood on a PAS ticket.

He turned independent to support the ruling Barisan Nasional after Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stepped down as prime minister.

His relationship with Ku Li goes back to the time when both were in the old Umno and the now defunct Semangat 46, which was once in power with PAS in the Kelantan government.

Both only returned to the Umno fold in 1996, where Ibrahim eventually became a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government.

READ MORE HERE

 

Where my loyalties lie

Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:25 AM PST

If I were asked to choose between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional I have no problems making that choice. If I were asked to choose between a Secular State and an Islamic State I have no problems making that choice as well. But if I were asked to choose between a Constitutional Monarchy and a Republic then you are placing me in a very difficult situation. I will have to choose the Constitutional Monarchy.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER  

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I am certainly a Libran -- I was born on 27th September. I would like to believe that I am also a libertarian. And what would one mean when one says he or she is a libertarian?

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that advocates free will and individual rights. The core doctrine of libertarianism begins with the recognition that people have certain natural rights and that deprivation of these rights is immoral.

Libertarianism can be traced back to ancient China of 2,600 years ago where philosopher Lao-tzu (Laozi) advocated the recognition of individual liberties. The modern libertarian theory emerged in the sixteenth century through the writings of Etienne de La Boetie, an eminent French theorist.

In the seventeenth century, John Locke and a group of British reformers known as the Levellers fashioned the classical basis for libertarianism with well-received philosophies on human nature and economics. Since the days of Locke, libertarianism has attracted pacifists, utopianists, utilitarianists, anarchists, and fascists. This wide array of support demonstrates the accessibility and elasticity of the libertarian promotion of natural rights.

Many Malays, especially those in PAS, consider me a deviant Muslim (they have told me so). They cringe when they read my article regarding Islam, which are certainly non-mainstream and stray from what many would describe as 'fundamental' Islam. Some Malays, in fact, even consider me a heretic, or worse, an apostate because of my unorthodox views on Islam.

I admit it is not easy to 'marry' orthodox Islam and libertarianism. Libertarianism is about free will and individual rights while Islam is about complying with the Sharia. And this is where one faces a clash of ideologies when one tries to be both a Muslim and a libertarian.

I have never hidden the fact that I am a libertarian at heart. My views on Islam, which I have espoused often enough, lies testimony to this. I confess that I am walking the very narrow path between being a Muslim and an infidel (kafir), as my stronger critics would say. But that is the path I have chosen for myself.

I was born a Muslim but for the first 27 years or so of my life I was a Muslim in name only. Even when I went to an all-Malay school, the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), I was never a practicing Muslim. I fasted because we were forced to do so but I did not pray because we were not forced to do so.

No doubt I had to go to the mosque every Friday but I went only because it was compulsory. That did not mean I prayed though (you can force the horse to water but you cannot make it drink). I merely chilled out (lepak) at the back of the mosque until it was time to go home.

As I said, for the first 27 years of my life I was a Muslim in name only (I have, in fact, written about this many times before). Then I 'rediscovered' my old friend from MCKK, Anwar Ibrahim, when he came to Kuala Terengganu to talk at a PAS ceramah (rally). Anwar was then heading ABIM, the Islamic Youth Movement, and had just been released from ISA detention.

And I fell in love with Anwar (who I initially disliked when I was in MCKK) and at the same time fell in love with Islam. It was then when I decided to become a Muslim or, as I have written many times before, a 'Born Again Muslim'.

Within a few months I mastered the Quran (much to the amazement of my Tok Guru who said it takes years rather than just months to master the Quran). I started praying and fasting and even did the optional fast and prayers (to make up for the 27 years that I had missed as a fasik Muslim). Within a couple of years I did my first pilgrimage to Mekah, the first of about ten trips I made in all.

It was in Mekah soon after the Islamic Revolution of Iran when I met up with members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. I talked to them and joined their demonstrations while carrying pictures of Imam Khomeini. I was smitten by the Islamic Revolution and imagined the same thing happening in Malaysia.

I was now what many would probably label a Muslim militant or fundamentalist. But I was not a Shia, mind you. I was still a Sunni and held to my Sunni doctrine. But I began to question much of the beliefs and practices of Sunni Islam and considered Khomeini my hero and the Iranian Islamic Revolution my guiding light.

I suppose my exposure to other forms of Islam (where initially I was exposed to only one form of Islam) opened my eyes somewhat. 

But my love affair with the Iranian Islamic Revolution soon ended when I saw the brutality and intolerance in Iran. The revolution just replaced one draconian regime for another. Basically, it was the same old wine in a new bottle. The situation in Iran did not improve from the time of the Shah. In fact, it became worse.

My love for Anwar Ibrahim also ended at around the same time when he joined Umno. I fell in love with him and 'converted' to Islam because of what he said and did as the ABIM leader. Then I saw that he was never sincere in his struggle and was merely using Islam as a political platform in his ambition to get ahead.

It was not until 1998 that I 'returned' to Anwar, mainly because of the 'Black Eye' incident and the 'explosion' of the Reformasi movement. After 20 years I, again, became committed to Anwar's struggle for a reformed Malaysia and a libertarian or civil society. Nevertheless, I was still quite suspicious of Anwar because he has had a history of deviating from the struggle in the interest of his own political agenda.

For ten years until the 2008 general election I worked for Anwar's party at a pittance of RM2,500 a month when I could have earned five or six times that in the corporate world. In fact, at that time I was a Chairman and Director of a foreign-owned company, which I had shares in, and I was paid RM10,000 each time just to attend and chair the meetings. But I gave all that up to serve the party because it was not money but the cause that drove me.

The year 2008 was a new milestone for Malaysian politics. The gains made by the opposition in that election convinced me that my sacrifice had not been in vain. The ten years from 1998 to 2008 were the most difficult years for me. I practically lived in poverty and survived from hand to mouth. My 'mentor', Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas, can testify to this because it was he who helped pay my monthly allowance, which just covered my living expenses with nothing more to spare.

After the 2008 general election, and when Pakatan Rakyat formed the new Selangor government, my good friend, Ronnie Liu from DAP, offered me various positions in the state but I declined all offers. First of all, the ten years I spent working for the opposition was not about being rewarded with positions of power. Secondly, my cousin was the Sultan of Selangor and I did not want to get on his wrong side by working for the Selangor government in the event that there is a crisis between the state government and the palace.

My anxiety was the result of a meeting I had with His Highness the Sultan in 2001 soon after I was released from my first ISA detention. His Highness made it very clear that he was not too happy regarding my involvement with the opposition. It was a two-hour meeting in the palace and His Highness did not hide the fact that he did not like Anwar or trusted him one bit.

Anwar is anti-Monarchy, said His Highness, and Anwar was very much with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad in attacking the Monarchy during the 1980s Constitutional Crisis. I knew that because it was widely reported in the mass media at that time. In fact, I have personally heard both Dr Mahathir and Anwar attack the Rulers so I had no doubts in my mind that both Dr Mahathir and Anwar are anti-Monarchy.

But that was when Anwar was in Umno and when Anwar was Dr Mahathir's blue-eye boy and anointed successor. This is the new Anwar, the voice of reform. I believed, as many others did too, that Anwar had changed since his Umno days.

Then, in 2010, I met up with one of Anwar's closest Chinese advisors and financiers and we had a long discussion. This meeting in London was about a year after I had left the country.

We discussed what Anwar had planned for the future in the event Pakatan Rakyat forms the new federal government. And what was revealed is most alarming. It appears that Anwar has not changed his anti-Monarchy stance at all. A future Malaysia with Pakatan Rakyat as the federal government had no place for the Monarchy.

Yes, I am a libertarian. I believe in a civil society. But I do not believe in a Republic of Malaysia and the abolishing of the Constitutional Monarchy.

This was when I decided to part company with Anwar and wash my hands of his cause.

If I were asked to choose between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional I have no problems making that choice. If I were asked to choose between a Secular State and an Islamic State I have no problems making that choice as well. But if I were asked to choose between a Constitutional Monarchy and a Republic then you are placing me in a very difficult situation. I will have to choose the Constitutional Monarchy.

I was born in the UK, not in Selangor. However, in 1956, just a year or so before Merdeka, our family returned to Malaysia and on 2nd May 1956 my late father was declared a Subject of the Ruler of Selangor. Hence we are not just Malaysians or Selangorians. We are Subjects of the Ruler of Selangor. 

Therefore, my loyalty is, first, to His Highness the Sultan of Selangor, second to the State of Selangor, third to Malaysia, fourth to Islam, fifth to the Malays, and finally to Pakatan Rakyat, in that order of priority.

Hence, also, I can no longer stand with Anwar and his cause when that cause runs contra to the cause of the Monarchy. That is a choice I made in 2010 and is a decision I will not change. And it is a choice I have a right to make under a democracy. After all, libertarianism is about free will and individual rights. So what I have chosen is what libertarianism guarantees.

 

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