Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- WIKILEAKS: Islam as a tool of Umno's political game
- WIKILEAKS: Shazryl Eskay Abdullah tells the US that Malaysia is a terrorist safe haven
- WIKILEAKS: The people with the big cables in Malaysia (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
- Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Khoo Kay Peng
- Behind the curtains
- The day Big Dog demanded RM400 million from Ku Li (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
- Why Pakatan Rakyat is NOT going to form the next federal government (UPDATED with Chinese ...
- The honeymoon is over
- Good versus bad
- The arguments by narrow-minded Muslims
| WIKILEAKS: Islam as a tool of Umno's political game Posted: 24 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT
In the current case, the three women, previously unknown to the public, were caned and the public was not informed for over a week. The canings were administered by federal prison officials in a federal women's prison. This gives rise to a possible violation of federal law that the GOM has yet to explain or address. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000108 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020 TAGS: KTIP, KCRM, KWMN, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, SMIG, MY SUBJECT: CANING OF THREE WOMEN REFLECTS UMNO'S POLITICAL TACTICS
REF: A. KL 20 WHAT IS GOING ON IN MALAYSIA? B. KL 14 UPDATE ON THE ALLAH ISSUE C. KL 11 OVERNIGHT ATTACKS ON 3 CHURCHES D. KL 03 GOM APPEALS KL HIGH COURT RULING ON USE OF THE WORD ALLAH E. 09 KL 716 CANING PUNISHMENT POSTPONED
Classified By: Political Counselor Brian McFeeters for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--- SUMMARY AND COMMENT --- 1. (SBU) Summary: On February 17, Home Minister Hishammuddin announced that three women and four men who had been found guilty of illicit sex under Syariah law had been caned on February 9. The three became the first women to be caned in Malaysia. Caning of women in Malaysia had recently become the subject of international scrutiny, and Malaysian legal scholars are wondering what the decision means for the legal system, since caning of women is against federal law. On July 20, 2009, Malaysian Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a Muslim woman, was sentenced by a state-level Syariah court to six lashes with a cane and a fine for consuming alcohol in public. To date, Kartika has not yet been caned. Viewing the caning as a political maneuver, the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) was critical of the GOM's actions contending they were not consistent with Islam. NGOs too were critical of the caning contending that it does not comport with federal law. End Summary. 2. (C) Comment: Kartika's case put Prime Minister Najib's new administration in the difficult position of balancing the competing forces fighting for Malaysia's Muslim identity. While concerned about preserving Malaysia's image as a moderate Muslim State, Najib has been unwilling to date to criticize Syariah law or otherwise downplay the seriousness of Kartika's offense for fear that it could damage United Malays National Organization's (UMNO) Islamic bona fides. That the GOM chose to cane three anonymous women, rather than the internationally renowned Kartika, seems to be a tactical maneuver by UMNO to retain or lure back conservative Malay voters as well as perhaps a testing of the waters presaging Kartika's caning. That Najib feels the need to placate the most conservative Malays suggests that his stated intent to change to a more inclusive, less Malay-centric economic and political model is facing considerable, resistance within his own coalition. End Comment. --- FIRST WOMEN CANED IN MALAYSIA --- 3. (SBU) Home Minister Hishammuddin announced on February 17 that GOM officials caned four Muslim men and three Muslim women found guilty of illicit sex under Syariah law. Sex out of wedlock is unlawful under Syariah law. The canings took place on February 9, and the three women are believed to be the first women to be caned under the law in Malaysia. Two of the women received six strokes of the cane and the other received four. The women were caned in a female prison. According to the Home Minister, one was released on February 14, one will be released in the coming days, and the third will be released in June. --- MALAYSIA'S DUAL LEGAL SYSTEM --- 4. (SBU) Article 3 of the Malaysian Constitution states that "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation." Article 3 further provides that issues of Islamic law are state, rather than federal, matters. Thus, states, and the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, have individual Syariah law codes and have established Syariah courts, with jurisdiction over Muslims, to deal with family law and certain infractions under Islamic law. The constitution makes clear that federal law has precedence over state law (articles 4 and 75, "if any State law is inconsistent with a federal law, the federal law shall prevail and the State law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void"). Hence, because Syariah law is a state matter, any inconsistencies between these two legal systems should, according to the language of the Federal Constitution, be resolved in favor of the federal system. However, Article 121(1A) of the Constitution, added under former Prime Minister Mahathir in 1988 says, "the courts referred to in Clause (1) (the High Courts) shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts." This amendment introduced ambiguity about Syariah versus civil law that has yet to be resolved clearly. --- CANING IN MALAYSIA --- 5. (SBU) Under federal law, Malaysian judges routinely include caning in sentences of individuals convicted of kidnapping, rape, and robbery. The law also prescribes caning for illegal immigrants and their employers and as an additional punishment for those convicted of some nonviolent crimes such as narcotics possession, criminal breach of trust, and alien smuggling. The caning is carried out with a half-inch wooden cane that can cause welts and scarring. Federal law exempts men over 50 and all women from caning. Conversely, some states prescribe caning under Syariah law, for which there are no exceptions for women. In Syariah caning, a smaller cane is used and the caning official cannot raise the cane above his shoulder. Additionally, the subject is fully clothed so that the cane will not touch the flesh. Local Islamic officials claim that the intent is not to injure but to make the offenders ashamed of their sins and repent. --- THE CURIOUS ROLE OF THE GOM IN CANING THREE WOMEN --- 6. (C) In the February 9 case, the three women were sentenced to caning for committing adultery in violation of Section 23(2) of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Offenses Act of 1997. The sentencing of women to such corporal punishment under Syariah law contradicts the federal law outlined in Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code that states that women are not to be subject to caning. In the current case, the three women, previously unknown to the public, were caned and the public was not informed for over a week. The canings were administered by federal prison officials in a federal women's prison. This gives rise to a possible violation of federal law that the GOM has yet to explain or address. 7. (SBU) The federal government has highlighted its role in meting out these sentences, indicating that the decision had Najib's support. Home Minister Hishamuddin (Prime Minister Najib Razak's cousin) placed himself at the forefront of this issue, announcing on February 17 that the women had been caned, commenting that "the punishment is to teach and give a chance to those who have fallen off the path to return and build a better life for the future," sounding much like an Islamic cleric. In a February 19 interview, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin did not address the legal issue, focusing instead on the need to explain that Syariah caning is ritualistic rather than severe. The government-influenced daily, Bernama, on February 19, quoted Minister for Religious Affairs in the Prime Minister's Department Seri Jamil Khir Baharom as saying that the women were remorseful and "welcomed their sentence." In a separate article, Bernama reported that Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Shahrizat, said that her Ministry will monitor future caning of women noting that "as the minister in charge of women affairs in this country, I really hope that the whipping sentence on Muslim women will be carried out fairly and judiciously." --- REACTION FROM PAS --- 8. (SBU) When the canings were announced, some observers wondered whether the punishments could be seen as an effort to divide the opposition coalition People's Assembly, expecting PAS to support the punishments, while the secular Democratic Action Party (DAP) would likely oppose the canings. However, PAS Central Working Committee Member and Member of Parliament Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad of Selangor urged his party not to fall into the trap of allowing UMNO to portray itself as the defender of the Islamic agenda. He asserted that there is a political motive behind the caning of the three women. If UMNO were sincere about upholding the principles of Islam, it would address the source of problem rather than just implementing the sentence and would be combating corruption, abuse of power, cruelty, and embezzlement of the wealth of the country by political cronies. 9. (SBU) PAS Women's Movement Chief Nuridah Salleh asserted that the GOM's caning of the seven individuals did not conform to Islamic principles because it was done in private and not in the open as required by Islam. She explained that canings are to be public in order to educate and instill awareness among the people and to ensure the violators do not commit the crime again. She called on the Home Minister to remember this intent prior to carrying out future caning sentences. --- REACTION FROM CIVIL SOCIETY --- 10. (SBU) Civil society groups have condemned the GOM caning of the women. The Malaysian Bar Council, on February 18, issued a press release expressing its "shock and disappointment" and elaborating, "given that the Kartika issue remains unresolved and the public outcry on issues of constitutionality in regards to the fact that corporal punishment is forbidden for women under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is indeed shocking that the Government has made the announcement only after the punishment has been carried out." Similarly, Sisters in Islam questioned the GOM's motive behind caning the Muslim women while the issue of Kartika's case remains unresolved. All Women's Action Society president Sophia Lim asserted that "the Home Minister needs to explain why the government allowed the punishment to be carried out in secret on an issue that is of high public interest with very far ranging and damaging consequences." KEITH
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| WIKILEAKS: Shazryl Eskay Abdullah tells the US that Malaysia is a terrorist safe haven Posted: 22 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT
Even on Malaysian soil, Thai Malay militants did not feel safe from possible assassination or kidnapping. On at least one occasion, a Thai bounty hunter had bribed local Malaysian police to abduct a separatist who was in Malaysia. Eskay had intervened to release the target, whom the Malaysian police officer had locked in the trunk of his police car. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000263
SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2027 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, PINR, MOPS, ASEC, TH, MY SUBJECT: HONORARY CONSUL NOTES MALAYSIA AS SAFE HAVEN FOR THAI INSURGENCY, RELEVANCE OF OLD GUARD
REF: A. 06 KUALA LUMPUR 1764 - NO TEARS FOR THAKSIN B. 06 KUALA LUMPUR 1976 - SURAYUD'S VISIT
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b and d). Summary 1. (S) The Honorary Thai Consul in Langkawi, Malaysian businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah (protect throughout), described Thai Malay separatist use of Malaysian territory as a safe haven and insurgents' views of the conflict during a February 5 meeting with polchief. Eskay, who was a leading Malaysian facilitator of the dialogue with Thai insurgents hosted by former Prime Minister Mahathir, argued that the older generation insurgency leaders, mostly resident in Malaysia, remained relevant as they provided needed support services and safe haven to younger leaders. He identified only one old guard leader as actively ordering attacks, and estimated that criminal gangs and Thai security services were responsible for 70 percent of the recent violence. He said he did not see links yet between the Thai insurgents and regional or international terrorists, but recognized the potential and encouraged the U.S. to keep a close watch. He also noted, however, that the insurgents received financial assistance via Singapore from unknown sources. The now-ended peace initiative by Mahathir produced a ten-page "peace proposal" signed by old guard leaders, but which failed to gain much response from Bangkok. Eskay believed that the February 11-12 visit to Thailand by Prime Minister Abdullah would result in the Malaysian external intelligence organization (MEIO) taking up a "facilitation" role in discussions between Thai intelligence and southern insurgents, though Eskay was pessimistic as to the prospects. Eskay shared a 12-page paper on the insurgency and Thai Malay views, resulting from his interviews with numerous separatist leaders, which he had submitted to MEIO February. End Summary. Honorary Consul as Mediator with Separatists 2. (S) Polchief called on the Honorary Thai Consul in Langkawi, Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, on February 5 as part of a February 5-9 visit to Malaysian states along the border with Thailand (septel). Eskay, a Malaysian businessman of mixed Malaysian-Thai parentage, described his significant "mediator" role in the 2005-2006 dialogue with Thai Malay insurgents, which featured former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and his frequent interaction with separatists on both sides of the border. Eskay said he carried out his work on the Thai insurgency largely independent of the Thai and Malaysian governments, and maintained direct links with most known Malay separatist leaders resident in Malaysia. To bolster his credentials, he showed polchief video footage he had recorded of various meetings with men he described as elder separatist leaders and younger operators. Old Guard Not Calling the Shots, but Still Relevant 3. (S) Eskay noted that most of the older generation of Malay separatist leaders lived in Malaysia with the Malaysian Government's knowledge and acquiescence. The older generation included those affiliated with the United Pattani Freedom Front (BERSATU), and the constituent groups the National Revolutionary Front (BRN-Congress), the Pattani Mujahiddin Movement (GMP), and the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO). In addition, Eskay confirmed that younger generation separatists, including those involved in recent attacks in southern Thailand, frequently entered Malaysia, particularly when the situation became "too hot" and they required safe haven. The GOM was not always aware of the identity and travel of younger separatists. With some exceptions, the older generation did not direct the actions of the younger insurgents. However, Eskay argued that the relevance of the "old guard" should not be underestimated. The older leaders, with well-established networks in Malaysia, constituted the support service for the insurgents, providing shelter and transportation, and arranging jobs, including in Thai restaurants and on rubber estates. Because the older generation provided needed safe haven services, they remained influential and relevant to a potential peace dialogue with Thailand's Malay south. (Comment: Many of our other interlocutors dismissed the Mahathir-led dialogue because it focused on the older Malaysia-based separatists who no longer represent the insurgency on the ground. End Comment.) The Murky Business of Violence 4. (S) Like many other Malaysians we interviewed during our trip to northern Malaysia, Eskay described the Malay insurgency as splintered, with operations currently carried out by very small cells, comprised of two or three persons. "Brokers" would task the cells with orders and money. Often times the affiliation of the brokers would not be clear to the cells, opening the possibility that they represented other parties, but cells would carry out "orders" nonetheless both for monetary gain and for fear that they otherwise would run afoul of other insurgents. The cell members generally were technically unsophisticated and the brokers often provided the improvised explosive devices to be planted and detonated by the cells. Eskay crudely estimated that Malay separatists accounted for only 30 percent of attacks in the south with Thai army, policy and intelligence agency factions, along with criminal gangs, responsible for the balance. Eskay relayed that many insurgent leaders believed deposed Prime Minister Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai party advisor General Chavalit were funding much of the recent violence. Insurgent members had denied association with New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok. They also disassociated themselves from many of the attacks on schools. The fracturing of the separatist movement and use of small cells added to the complexity and the difficulty in identifying any leaders for dialogue. Eskay named only one old guard leader, BRN-Congress Vice President Abdullah bin Idris, as responsible for ordering some of the ongoing attacks in southern Thailand. Safe Passage 5. (S) In addition to the Mahathir-led dialogue and frequent informal meetings with Thai separatists, Eskay said he had arranged meetings between Malaysian intelligence and various insurgents operating in Thailand, meetings which included an understanding of safe passage within Malaysia. Even on Malaysian soil, Thai Malay militants did not feel safe from possible assassination or kidnapping. On at least one occasion, a Thai bounty hunter had bribed local Malaysian police to abduct a separatist who was in Malaysia. Eskay had intervened to release the target, whom the Malaysian police officer had locked in the trunk of his police car. No International Terror Links...Yet 6. (S) Eskay stated that he had seen no evidence the Malay separatists had linked up with external terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda or Jemaah Islamiyah. He noted, however, that some insurgents received funds from a bank in Singapore (NFI), which passed through money changers in the Malaysian border town of Padang Besar, Perlis state. Eskay did not know the origin of the funds. Though there was in his view a clear potential for a link-up with terrorist groups, Eskay commented that Malaysian intelligence did not pay adequate attention to this risk and he encouraged the U.S. to keep a close watch on developments. February 2006 "Peace Proposal" 7. (S) The Mahathir-led dialogue had resulted in a "peace proposal" in February 2006, signed by old guard leaders of BERSATU, BRN-Congress, GMP, and PULO, Eskay noted. This had met with no substantive response from the Thai Government, but might constitute a good starting point for future dialogue. Eskay provided us with a copy of the ten-page document, which demanded Thai Government actions in eight areas, namely: -- Improvements in "leadership," through appointment of a Muslim Affairs Minister and a Muslim affairs coordinating body. -- Improved government communication and networking with Malay Muslim communities. -- Confidence-building measures, including establishing ethnic Malay quotas for government service and security forces in the south. -- Steps to promote investment and economic development. -- Improvements in the education infrastructure. -- Amnesty, with individual cases approved by a Board of Review. -- Establishment of a tribunal to investigate and try cases of human rights violations. -- Establishment of a monitoring committee to ensure implementation of the above steps. Malaysian External Intelligence May Take the Lead 8. (S) Eskay said the Mahathir initiative was now over, and the Malaysian Government had made clear that the phase of "NGO involvement" in dialogue with Thai Malay separatists had come to an end. The February 11-12 visit to Thailand by Prime Minister Abdullah likely would confirm a role for the Malaysian External Intelligence Organization (MEIO) as a "facilitator" for future informal talks between Malay separatists and Thai Government intelligence. Eskay supported a Malaysian Government mediation role, but he was pessimistic MEIO and its Thai counterparts would make progress. Instead, Eskay anticipated continued violence. The Honorary Thai Consul shared a 12-page "confidential" paper on the insurgency and Thai Malay views, resulting from his interviews with numerous separatist leaders, which he had submitted to MEIO February 1. Eskay requested that we not share the paper and February 2006 "peace proposal" with others (we have forwarded the documents via classified email to EAP/MTS and Embassy Bangkok). Comment 9. (S) Eskay credibly appeared to have contacts with a large pool of old guard leaders, insurgents, and sympathizers from Thailand's Malay south. His views on the insurgency were the most detailed we heard during five days of travel in northern Malaysia and tracked well in many respects with information and opinions from others. His belief in the usefulness of engaging the old guard, however, contradicted the opinion of Malaysian politicians, officials and police who generally dismissed the old timers as irrelevant. Several Malaysians volunteered they were suspicious of Eskay's contacts with Malay separatists and alleged Eskay had been involved in controversial business deals in the past (unrelated to Thailand). Eskay informed us that he had lived some ten years in the United States circa the 1980s. LAFLEUR
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| WIKILEAKS: The people with the big cables in Malaysia (UPDATED with Chinese Translation) Posted: 18 May 2011 04:38 PM PDT
Today, we are revealing this first of almost 4,000 cables specifically on Malaysia that were leaked to Wikileaks. Today's seven-page cable is about the political and business cronies of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Some of these names may be familiar to you but many of you were probably not aware who the personalities behind Najib are. These are the people with 'big cables' who decide what happens in Malaysia. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 KUALA LUMPUR 000268 SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2029 TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PINS, ECON, MY SUBJECT: NAJIB'S NETWORK - A PRELIMINARY LOOK
REF: A. KL 266 - NAJIB UNVEILS CABINET B. KL 253 - NAJIB SWORN IN AS PM C. KL 78 - NAJIB LEADS TAKEOVER OF PERAK D. 08 KL 193 - NEW MINISTER PORTFOLIOS E. 08 KL 192 - MALAYSIA'S NEW CABINET Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b and d). Summary 1. (C) This cable provides a preliminary review of Prime Minister Najib Razak's close aides and political associates, known associated companies, and business contacts, as well as summary information on Najib's four brothers. The review is based on information available prior to Najib's confirmation as Prime Minister on April 3 and his formation of his Cabinet on April 9. Najib's aides could find themselves in positions of influence with the PM's office, while four political associates from his inner circle have taken positions in Najib's cabinet. Post identified 16 companies with strong links to Najib and his family, with many of the companies having substantial business interaction with the government. Among the 19 key business leaders listed, Rohana Mahmood stands out as deeply embedded in the Najib family's commercial interests. Najib's family has personal links to the Sultan of Perak, of note given Najib's involvement in wresting control of the state from opposition hands in February (ref B). Syed Mokhtar Albukharry, a major Malaysian investor in Iran, has significant business operations in Najib's constituency and in the defense sector. The Embassy provides this information, not as a definitive study, but to help guide Department offices as they examine Najib's emerging administration and policy decisions, and identify actors of influence. End Summary. Political Aides 2. (C) According to Embassy's information, including one well-placed source, Najib's three closest advisors are Shahlan Ismail, Alias Anor, and Shafie Mohd Abdullah. Previously, Alias was Najib's political secretary, but has since assumed the role of a key advisor. Shahlan and Shafie are Najib's current political secretaries, with Shahlan filling the position since April 2008. Political Associates 3. (C) Post developed the following list of close political associates by speaking with informed observers, including those on Najib's current political team, and by identifying individuals who have worked closely with Najib, some since he was the UMNO Youth Chief from 1988-1993. -- Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, named Home Minister in Najib's new cabinet. He was the former UMNO Youth Chief and Minister of Education under PM Abdullah Badawi. Najib and Hishamuddin are cousins (their mothers are sisters). Hishamuddin was elected to one of three UMNO Vice President posts during the March party elections. -- Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Najib's choice as Defense Minister. He was a Minister in the PM's Department for religious affairs under PM Abdullah Badawi. He was also a former political secretary to Najib and former UMNO Youth Chief. Ahmad was elected to one of three UMNO Vice President posts during the March UMNO party elections. -- Nazri Abdul Razak, retained by Najib as Minister in the PM's Department in charge of parliamentary affairs, a position he also held under former PM Abdullah Badawi. Former UMNO Perak Youth Chief and was the UMNO International Bureau Chief when Najib was the Youth Chief. Nazri had lobbied for the position of Foreign Minister in Najib's new cabinet. -- Shafie Apdal, named by Najib as Rural Development Minister. He was Minister of National Unity, Culture, Arts, and Heritage under former PM Abdullah. He is Najib's point man in Sabah, former UMNO Youth Sabah chief and was Najib's deputy at the Ministry of Defense (1999-2004). Shafie was elected to one of three UMNO Vice President posts during the recently concluded party elections in March. -- Jamaluddin Jarjis, former UMNO Youth Chief for the state of Pahang. He was Najib's chief campaign strategist during the party's elections in March. Jamaluddin is a member of UMNO's Supreme Council. Some observers expected Jamaluddin to be included in Najib's Cabinet, but he was not. -- Johan Jaafar, former editor in chief of Utusan Malaysia newspaper owned by the ruling party, is Najib's media point man. According to sources, Johan will be appointed as executive director of The New Straits Times Press Berhad (NSTP) (the publisher of the government-dominated mainstream newspapers New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro) as well as chair of Media Prima Berhad, which operates all of Malaysia's private television stations and two private radio stations. -- Mohd Zin Mohamed, Minister of Works under PM Abdullah and former UMNO Youth leader. He is a member of UMNO's Supreme Council. Political Ally 4. (C) Newly-named Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin emerged as a key Najib ally over the past year. Muhyiddin was the most prominent UMNO leader responsible for forcing former Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to agree to step down in favor of Najib after the March 2008 elections. Najib personally but quietly supported Muhyiddin as the choice for Deputy UMNO President after Ali Rustam, Melaka Chief Minister and former UMNO Senior Vice President, was barred from contesting for the post for corruption. During the March 24 - 28 UMNO General Assembly, Muhyiddin pledged to be "ultra loyal" to Najib. Muhyiddin won the UMNO deputy president post, which by tradition carries with it the Deputy Prime Minister position. In addition, Najib made Muhyiddin Education Minister, an important patronage position but without access to the central levers of power. Observers debate how close Muhyiddin really is to Najib as some consider him as ambitious and a possible rival to Najib under certain circumstances. Some observers have indicated Muhyiddin has yet to completely satisfy Najib of the new DPM's loyalty. Their relationship bears watching before we can draw firm conclusions. Associated Companies 5. (C) Post used both open as well as informed sources to build an initial picture of the companies associated with Najib and or his family members. The companies listed below all have Najib or one of his immediate family members on their executive boards. Most of the companies listed also hold government contracts or are believed to have substantial business interaction with the government. -- Commercial International Merchant Bankers (CIMB) Group: Malaysia's second largest financial services provider and the fifth largest in Southeast Asia. It is owned by Bumiputra-Commerce Holding Berhad (BCHB), which is listed on Malaysia's stock exchange, the Bursa Malaysia, with a market capitalization of 26.6 Billion ringgit (about USD7.4 billion). -- Symphony House Berhad: A publicly listed company mainly involved in business process outsourcing. -- Johan Holdings: A publicly listed company involved in manufacturing ceramic tiles, distribution and sale of health foods and supplements, property development, and resorts and hotels. -- Sapura Group: Has businesses interests in the secured communications and oil & gas industries with investments in Australia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pakistan and China. -- Hong Leong Group: A Malaysian-based conglomerate with investments in financial services, manufacturing, and property and infrastructure development. The group's shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Europe. -- Paramount Corporation Berhad: A publicly listed company with diverse interests in property development and investment, construction, and educational services. -- TH Group Berhad: A publicly listed company involved in plantations, contracting, biohealth care and information technology. -- Dijaya Berhad: A publicly listed company involved in property development, investment, and management as well as investment holding and manufacturing. -- MMC Group: A utilities and infrastructure group with interests in transportation and logistics, energy and utilities, engineering, and construction. Its international business dealings focus on the Middle East, with investments in utilities and logistics in that region. -- DRB Hicom: The largest totally integrated automotive company in Malaysia, with operations in the manufacturing, assembly, and distribution of passenger and commercial vehicles. It also is involved in property and infrastructure development, and provides the Malaysian military land-based vehicles. -- Hiap Teck Venture Berhad: A publicly listed company, it is the leading manufacturer of steel products in the country. -- Mamee Double Decker Berhad: A publicly listed company involved in the manufacturing and marketing of a wide range of soft drinks, food and dairy products; other activities include property development. -- Delloyd Ventures Berhad: An investment holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobile parts and accessories, palm oil plantations, repair and maintenance of motor vehicles, manufacture and export of agrichemicals, and magazine publishing. -- Yeo Hiap Seng Berhad: Principally involved in the production, marketing, and sale of food, beverages, and sweetened condensed milk. -- Nylex Berhad: Manufactures and markets vinyl-coated fabrics, calendered film and sheeting, and other plastic products, including geotextiles and prefabricated sub-soil drainage systems. -- Daiman Development Berhad: Principally involved in property development and trading. -- Ethos Capital: A boutique investment company chaired by Rohana Mahmood. Business Leaders 6. (C) Post compared the executive boards, used open sources, and spoke with informed contacts to identify key individuals within businesses that are linked to Najib and his family. -- Rohana Mahmood, Chairman and partner of Ethos Capital, a RM200 million (about USD56 million) private equity firm. Rohana also sits on the boards of Paramount Corp Bhd, TH Group Bhd and Dijaya Corp Bhd. She and another close aide of Najib, Abdul Razak Baginda, co-founded an independent think-tank, the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre (currently dormant). (Note: Razak was acquitted in October 2008 of abetting the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya. End note.) Rohana appears connected in some manner to most of the companies associated with Najib. -- Azman Mokhtar, the managing director of Khanazah Nasional Bhd. He has been playing a prominent role in the reforms of government-linked companies (GLCs). -- Mohamed Azman Yahya, director of Khazanah, and founder and group chief executive officer of Symphony House Bhd, an outsourcing firm. He is also the ex-CEO of Pengurusan Danaharta Bhd and sits on several advisory panels for the development of the capital market, venture capital, and public service delivery system. -- Tan Kay Hock, chair and chief executive of Johan Holdings Berhad. Najib and Tan Kay Hock have known each other for a long time and are golfing buddies. Tan is also a member of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA). -- Shahril Shamsuddin of Sapura Group, which has interests in communications, information technology, and oil and gas. -- Syed Mokhtar Albukharry, whose privately owned company, SKS Ventures Sbd Bhd, has announced involvement in major oil and gas deals with Iran's National Iranian Oil Company, including to develop Iran's southern Golshan and Ferdos gas fields. He also controls DRB-HICOM, and is one of the largest employers in Pekan, Pahang, Najib's parliamentary constituency, and political base. Syed operates a huge vehicle assembly plant there. He also owns Defense Technologies Sdn Bhd or Deftech a DRB subsidiary and Malaysia,s leading supplier of land-based defense vehicles. Syed Mokhtar also is believed to have a good (and some say stronger) relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin. -- Danny Tan Chee Sing, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dijaya Berhad and Vincent Tan's brother. -- Nor Yusof, an ex-banker, who was the former managing director of Malaysia Airlines and past chair of the Securities Commission. He is currently director and chair of Khazanah's executive committee. He has a wealth of experience in banking and a keen insight on capital markets. -- Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, chair and MD of express bus operator Konsortium Transnational Bhd. The former Proton boss was called upon by the Government in 1996 to revive the ailing public transport company. He was former PM Mahathir's prodigy and has expertise in transportation. -- Dr. Gan Wee Beng, the executive director of CIMB Group (the CEO is Najib's brother Nazir Abdul Razak). Gan was a consultant to Bank Negara (the central bank), the Economic Planning Unit, Finance Ministry, and the World Bank. -- Omar Mustapha Ong, a former special assistant to Najib, is the co-founder of Ethos Capital with Rohana Mahmood. His father, Mustapha Ong, was the diplomat in Washington who allegedly tried to bribe a limousine driver in Washington to fabricate evidence against deposed Deputy Prime Minister (and current opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. -- Quek Leng Chan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hong Leong group of Companies. -- Teo Chiang Quan, Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Paramount Corporation Berhad. -- Lei Lin Thai, Group Managing Director, TH Group Berhad. -- Pang Tee Chew, Chief Executive Officer, Mamee Double Decker Berhad. -- Kenneth Eswaran, CEO Multi Vest Resources Bhd (MVest), whose primary business interest is the palm oil sector. Informed sources say he is close to Rosmah Mansor, Najib's wife. -- Vincent Tan, Berjaya Group, a former Mahathir crony who is now close to Najib. Tan managed to obtain a lucrative license to conduct additional lottery draws after Najib became Finance Minister in October 2008. He is also rumored to be close to Rosmah Mansor. -- Bakke Salleh, CEO of Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) Holdings Berhad. Najib is the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on FELDA, the land authority established by his father. -- Lodin Wok Kamarudin, Chief of Armed Forces Fund Board. Najib and his Brothers 7. (C) Najib, who is the eldest son of former Prime Minister Abdul Razak, is said to consult closely with his four brothers, who all have extensive commercial ties. -- Johari Razak, the second eldest brother and a close friend of Perak Crown Prince Raja Nazrin Shah. He is a lawyer and senior partner at Shearn Delamore & Co, a large law firm in Kuala Lumpur. His areas of practice include corporate and commercial joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions; corporate restructuring; and the listing of public companies. He is also the Chairman of Courts Mammoth Pte Ltd and Daiman Development Berhad, a director of Hong Leong Industries Berhad, Nylex Berhad, Daiman Golf Berhad, and Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) and a non-executive director in several publicly listed companies. -- Mohamed Nizam Razak studied politics, philosophy, and economics at Oxford University. He was a stockbroker and CEO of PB Securities Sdn Bhd in the 1990s. He is currently a non-executive director in several publicly listed companies including Hiap Teck Venture Bhd, Mamee Double-Decker (M) Bhd, Delloyd Ventures Bhd, and Yeo Hiap Seng (M) Bhd. Like Johari, Nizam is also a director of Deutsche Bank. -- Mohamed Nazim Razak, the fourth brother, studied architecture in the UK. He is Chairman of Meru Utama an outdoor advertising company that received a seven-year advertising concession in 2007 to advertise the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Low-cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). He is also Chairman of the Governing Council of Masterskill, a private University/College (the Pro Chancellor is Raja Azureen Raja Azlan Shah, the daughter of the Sultan of Perak) and Director of OYL Industries (a subsidiary of Hong Leong Group of Companies). -- Nazir Razak, the youngest brother, is the most well known. He obtained a Master of Philosophy at Cambridge University. He is a career banker, joining CIMB Investment Bank almost 20 years ago and rising through its executive ranks to become its CEO in 1999. Following the merger of CIMB and Bumiputra-Commerce Bank, to become Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd (BCHB), Nazir became CEO of the merged group. Under his watch, the BCHB group, which is branded as CIMB group, was transformed into a GLC bank that could compete with its peers in the private sector regionally. Informed observers widely believe Nazir advises Najib on finance and economic policy issues. KEITH
Translated into Chinese at: http://ccliew.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_20.html
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| Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Khoo Kay Peng Posted: 16 May 2011 06:23 PM PDT
Ah, but then we must not forget the 'hedging of bets' and 'putting your money on all the horses' that only the Chinese tycoons know best how to do. And the likes of Vincent Tan, Francis Yeoh, Khoo Kay Peng and Tan Kay Hock will not hesitate to donate generously to Ibrahim Ali's 'cause' just to keep him off their backs. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Back in the 1980s, Khoo Kay Peng became the target of the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The joke then was that 'Ku' Kay (Khoo Kay Peng) and Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) were 'brothers'. They were of course referring to the close association between the two. When Ku Li was the Minister of Finance, Khoo Kay Peng was reported to have received a lot of favours from the government. And this riled up the Malay Chamber of Commerce who saw the newly launched New Economic Policy (NEP) as mere lip service while Chinese tycoons like Khoo Kay Peng received more favours than the entire Bumiputera business community combined. And this was one of the reasons for Ku Li's failure to win the Umno Deputy Presidency -- which would have resulted in him becoming the Deputy Prime Minister and possibly, later, the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The Umno and Malay Chamber of Commerce members perceived Ku Li as a tool of the Chinese tycoons, in particular Khoo Kay Peng. It was believed that if Ku Li were to become the Deputy Prime Minister, and later the Prime Minister, then Chinese tycoons like Khoo Kay Peng would become the Lord of the Malaysian corporate scene. So the Malays rejected Ku Li in favour of Musa Hitam, a Malay nationalist who was considered loyal to the Malay cause. Khoo Kay Peng and his flagship company, Malayan United Industries Berhad (MUI), were untouchable. The fact that Khoo Kay Peng financed Ku Li's political activities, in particular his bid for the Deputy Presidency of Umno, made 'Ku' Kay very powerful. One wonders why Khoo Kay Peng survived the political fallout when his 'horse', Ku Li, did not. This is because, as is customary for all Malaysian Chinese tycoons, Khoo Kay Peng financed all sides. He not only financed Ku Li but all the other top Umno leaders as well. Umno leaders come and go. Khoo Kay Peng, however, remained powerful. And his policy on placing his money on all the horses in the race ensured this. Chinese tycoons are notorious for hedging their bets in case their horse does not win the race. So never mind who eventually wins the race in the bid for the Umno leadership. In the end, whoever wins or loses, they who financed all sides end up the winner. But Khoo Kay Peng is smarter than the other Chinese tycoons. While those such as Vincent Tan, Francis Yeoh, Robert Kuok, etc., are always in the news, not much is written about Khoo Kay Peng. The only thing that most people know about him is that he is a staunch Born Again Christian like that slime-ball from PKR, Chua Jui Meng. And, just like Chua Jui Meng, Khoo Kay Peng is not exempted from un-Christian activities as well. Talk amongst the Chinese tycoon community is that Khoo Kay Peng's MUI Bank lost RM500 million in a bad deal and in 1994 was sold to Hong Leong Credit Berhad and renamed Hong Leong Bank. Nevertheless, Khoo Kay Peng is still unknown so the many moves he is making is hidden from the public eye. But a storm is about to hit. The shareholders of MUI are questioning why RM400 million of the shareholders' money has been illegally transferred to the Hope Foundation, an arm of the Born Again Christian movement. Many are asking why what is clearly a crime of criminal breach of trust is going unpunished. When Teoh Beng Hock has to die for an alleged RM2,000 or so, how can this crime of RM400 million get amnesty and immunity and go unpunished? Another shady deal is the acquisition of Eon Bank, which is a fait accompli. Khoo Kay Peng and Tan Kay Hock are trying to sabotage the deal and take it for themselves. Khoo Kay Peng owns The Bank of East Asia Limited in Hong Kong, which in turn owns 20% of Affin Bank, while Tan Kay Hock owns Johan Holdings Berhad. It is no secret that Tan Kay Hock is linked to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and on Thursday we shall publish the Wikileaks cables to show you the link between the two. What is Ibrahim Ali doing about this? He is screaming about how the Chinese control Malaysia's economy and how the Malays are second-class citizens in their own country. But when these shady deals involving two Chinese tycoons, Khoo Kay Peng and Tan Hock Hock, are perpetuated, Ibrahim Ali is as silent as a church mouse. Ah, but then we must not forget the 'hedging of bets' and 'putting your money on all the horses' that only the Chinese tycoons know best how to do. And the likes of Vincent Tan, Francis Yeoh, Khoo Kay Peng and Tan Kay Hock will not hesitate to donate generously to Ibrahim Ali's 'cause' just to keep him off their backs. And that is how the 'smart partnership' between the Malays and Chinese are perpetuated in Malaysia. The Malays do all the screaming and the Chinese do all the feeding. So the Malays will focus on screaming about the Chinese opposition while leaving the Chinese tycoons alone no matter how crooked they may be. And that is why Chinese tycoons like Khoo Kay Peng can buy off the Malays, conduct their shady deals, and escape punishment. Anyway, we shall continue on Thursday with the Wikileaks cables from the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur that were sent to Washington to show the links between the Malays in the corridors of power and the Chinese tycoons who finance these Malays and get away with murder because of this political patronage. So stay tuned for more. ***************************************** Laura Ashley Holdings PLC Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Khoo Kay Peng serves as Non-Executive Chairman of Laura Ashley Holdings PLC. He joined the Board in February 1999. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive of The MUI Group, which is a diversified group with business interests in the Asia Pacific region, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. He is also the Chairman of Corus Hotels Limited, UK and Morning Star Resources Limited, Hong Kong. Tan Sri Dr Khoo is a Director of Pan Malaysian Industries Berhad, Malaysia, SCMP Group Limited (South China Morning Post) and The Bank of East Asia Limited in Hong Kong. Previously, Tan Sri Dr Khoo had served as the Chairman of the Malaysian Tourist Development Corporation (a Government Agency), the Vice Chairman of Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) and a Trustee of the National Welfare Foundation, Malaysia. Tan Sri Dr Khoo is a trustee of the Regent University, Virginia, USA, and a board member of Northwest University, Seattle, USA. He also serves as a Council Member of the Malaysian-British Business Council, the Malaysia-China Business Council and the Asia Business Council. Tan Sri Dr Khoo is Chairman of the Nomination Committee as well as the Remuneration Committee. The Bank of East Asia Incorporated in Hong Kong in 1918, The Bank of East Asia ("BEA") is dedicated to providing comprehensive commercial and retail banking services to its customers in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and other major markets around the world. BEA is the largest independent local bank in Hong Kong, with total consolidated assets of HK$534.2 billion (US$68.7 billion) as of 31st December, 2010. The Bank is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and is one of the constituent stocks of the Hang Seng Index. BEA also operates one of the largest networks of any bank in Hong Kong, with 87 branches, 57 SupremeGold Centres and 3 i-Financial Centres throughout the city. In Mainland China, BEA's operational presence dates back to the opening of the Bank's Shanghai Branch in 1920. Today, BEA Group operates one of the largest networks of any foreign bank, with nearly 100 outlets in major urban centres nationwide. (Read more here: http://www.hkbea.com/hk/ci/company_profile/index.htm) Malayan United Industries Berhad Malayan United Industries Berhad (MUI) is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. It was incorporated in Malaysia on 28 May 1960 and listed on 30 June 1971. MUI is an investment holding company. Through its subsidiaries and associated companies, the MUI Group is primarily engaged in retailing, hotels, food & confectionery, financial services, properties and travel & tourism. With its corporate headquarters based in Malaysia, the Group's international operations span the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, the United States, China and the Asia Pacific region. The MUI Group today has total assets of RM2.8 billion and shareholders' funds of RM698.6 million. The corporate philosophy of the Group has remained constant for over 45 years, conceptualized by three key attributes defined as strong, efficient and trustworthy, which together form the guiding principles for its business practices and corporate governance. (Read more here: http://muiglobal.com/) |
| Posted: 14 May 2011 03:23 PM PDT
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
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| The day Big Dog demanded RM400 million from Ku Li (UPDATED with Chinese Translation) Posted: 11 May 2011 04:02 PM PDT
In that sense Ku Li maintained his principles although after the meeting Big Dog grumbled that Ku Li is so rich but so kedekut (stingy). He could afford RM400 million easily, lamented Big Dog. If he hopes to win the Umno Presidency without paying any money then good luck to him, said Big Dog. Wow, everyone is using a.k.a.s nowadays. (For the less English proficient readers of Malaysia Today, a.k.a. means 'also known as').
Translated into Chinese at: http://ccliew.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_14.html
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| Why Pakatan Rakyat is NOT going to form the next federal government (UPDATED with Chinese ... Posted: 10 May 2011 06:48 PM PDT
This is not a new subject matter. I have written about this so many times in the past. Some of you may remember my article entitled "Votes do not translate into seats"? Well, today, I have no choice but to repeat what I have already told you before. My friend Nat Tan has hit the nail on the head in his article entitled 60pc of vote, 93pc of seats? published in The Malaysian Insider today (which you can read here: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/60pc-of-vote-93pc-of-seats/) Translated into Chinese at: http://ccliew.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_5707.html
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| Posted: 05 May 2011 04:32 PM PDT
Never underestimate the people. You make false promises to the voters and they will punish you the next time around. And, today, we are seeing this happen in the UK. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Just a year in office and the honeymoon is over. Even my wife and son voted against my party, LibDem. While I voted LibDem, my wife voted Conservative and my son voted Labour. And no, I did not divorce my wife or disown my son like what would happen in many parts of Malaysia (I have seen this with my own eyes happen in Terengganu). So there you have it. People's Power! It shows what your vote can do. It also shows that the darling of the voters barely a year ago can be the pariah today. So where does that place Pakatan Rakyat? Pakatan Rakyat was the darling of the voters three years ago. Is it a pariah today? If the 13th General Election were to be called later this year can it retain its 80 plus seats in Parliament, retain the four states it presently commands, and win back Perak, or will it drop to 50 Parliament seats and two states (Penang and Kelantan)? Never underestimate the people. You make false promises to the voters and they will punish you the next time around. And, today, we are seeing this happen in the UK. That's why I just love the UK. In the UK the government works for us. The politicians are our servants. And if they screw up we can screw them back good and proper. Okaylah, I know. I have heard all your arguments before. Malaysia different, Britain different. In the UK the people are civilised, matured and educated. In Malaysia we are mostly barbarians. In England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland you use your brains. In Malaysia we use our emotions and racial and religious sentiments. The British can't be bribed, they have principles. Malaysians can be bought with just RM100 and they will let you screw their daughter or wife for a mere few thousand. As I said, I have heard all these arguments before so no need to post them again in the comments section below. And I accept without dispute your argument that most Malaysians are prostitutes and will prostitute themselves to Barisan Nasional for any small amount of money. I am convinced so no need to convince me any further. Hey, the fact that the PKR leaders are telling everyone that I have been bought just proves what is always in the minds of Malaysians. It is always about being bought. Nothing but about being bought. That is the only thing in their minds. Well, let me show you how WE British do things. Read the news reports below. ****************************************** Vote 2011 Live: Lib Dems routed at polls in Greater Manchester council elections Furious Liberal Democrats rounded on Nick Clegg as the party suffered a hammering in Greater Manchester. A string of shock results saw the Lib Dems lose control of their long-term stronghold of Stockport. They also suffered a complete wipeout in Manchester – failing to win a single seat and losing their group leader Simon Ashley. Voters across the region appeared to be expressing anger at swingeing government cuts to town hall budgets that have seen the urban north hit harder than the rural south.
Vote 2011: Labour wins all 33 seats in Manchester as Lib Dems are wiped out Manchester's Liberal Democrats suffered a wipeout in a sensational night for the city's ruling Labour group. The Lib Dems lost all the seats they were defending on a shocking night for the party at Manchester Central. It proved a momentous count for Labour – which won all 33 seats up for grabs, boosting its majority to the highest level in more than a quarter of a century. Read more here: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/politics/s/1419998_vote-2011-labour-wins-all-33-seats-in-manchester-as-lib-dems-are-wiped-out
Election results show collapse in support for Lib Dems Nick Clegg suffered a humiliating reverse in his Sheffield backyard when the Liberal Democrats were ejected from power in the city, amid heavy losses for the party across northern England. As voters punished the Lib Dems for their performance after a year in government, the party blamed a "decapitation strategy" by Labour and the unions which saw it lose power in Hull and suffer big losses in Manchester and Liverpool. Read more here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/06/election-results-collapse-lib-dems
Poll bloodbath for Lib Dems Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg suffered a massive blow to his authority today as his Liberal Democrat party fell victim to a bloodbath in elections in England, Scotland and Wales - and probable defeat on the totemic issue of electoral reform. The Lib Dems lost swathes of seats in former council strongholds in the north of England to Labour, while haemorrhaging support to the Scottish National Party north of the border. Read more here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/av/poll-bloodbath-for-lib-dems-2279970.html
Clegg suffers double blow and faces party backlash Nick Clegg was heading for a humiliating double defeat early today in the English council elections and the referendum on the voting system. There were signs of a backlash against Mr Clegg from some of his MPs and councillors as the first local authority results emerged in the early hours of this morning. Lib Dem officials conceded they would suffer a bloody nose in the North of England, where Labour mounted a fightback in its traditional strongholds. Read more here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/av/clegg-suffers-double-blow-and-faces-party-backlash-2279854.html
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| Posted: 04 May 2011 03:03 PM PDT
If you want to form the federal government there are five states you need to conquer – Selangor (22), Perak (24), Johor (26), Sabah (25) and Sarawak (31). These five states control 128 seats in Parliament while the balance eight states control less than 100 seats (94 to be exact). NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Chua Soi Lek is a bad Chinese. That is not because he was caught on video having sex with a woman who is not his wife. It is because he is a leader of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. And anyone from Barisan Nasional is automatically bad. If they were good they would never be in Barisan Nasional. Chua Jui Meng is a good Chinese. Although he was once a very corrupt health minister in the Barisan Nasional government, he has since left the ruling coalition and is now with the opposition PKR. Anyone from Barisan Nasional who leaves the ruling coalition to join the opposition is a good person even if he or she happens to be a corrupt Chinese. Chua Jui Meng is said to be a Born Again Christian. This means he 'died' and got reborn. Muslims become 'Born Again Muslims' by going to Mekah to perform the Haj. When a Muslim completes the Haj it is as if he or she died and was reborn. Chua Jui Meng may have become a Born Again Christian. But he is not returning the 'under-the table' money he took while he was yet to be 'Born Again' and was still with Barisan Nasiional. That means, only from now on he will be good. The bad he did before he became 'Born Again' and all the illegal money he took before that is not part of the arrangement. The money stays with him. He does not have to make up for that sin by returning the money. No wonder many MCA Chinese I know (including certain people in The Star) become Born Again Christians. It is a form of money laundering. All their old sins are erased and at the same time all the corrupted money they make is theirs to keep. Funny people these Born Again Christians. They are almost like carbon copies of the 'Born Again' Muslims. Anyway, that is not my main concern. What is my concern is the fact that Chua Jui Meng may not really be as 'Born Again' as he pretends to be. Did he really see the light? Did he really reform? Did he join the opposition because he has now seen the truth? Or is there more to this whole thing? When he first joined PKR there were parties and celebrations all over. A big fish from MCA has finally come to his realisation. Chua Jui Meng will be pitted against Chua Soi Lek in Johor. Now, take note, if you want to form the federal government there are five states you need to conquer – Selangor (22), Perak (24), Johor (26), Sabah (25) and Sarawak (31). These five states control 128 seats in Parliament while the balance eight states control less than 100 seats (94 to be exact). This is the same with the Umno elections. You need to conquer the 'big' states to win the Umno party elections. So, Perak, Selangor and Johor are crucial, as is Sabah (there is no Umno in Sarawak yet but should be very soon). Chua Jui Meng will therefore have to make sure he defeats Chua Soi Lek in Johore. But the problem is: Chua Soi Lek is more popular than Chua Jui Meng. Even the people in the ministry of health and the doctors/nurses in the government hospitals condemn Chua Jui Meng and sing Chua Soi Lek's praises. So how is Chua Jui Meng going to deliver Johor? That is one problem. The other more pressing problem is: is Chua Jui Meng a Trojan horse? I sometimes wonder. Chua Jui Meng was part of the team that hammered out and agreed on the PKR Sabah 'peace treaty'. The PKR Sabah crisis had been settled and those who were going to leave PKR to form a new party together with Dr Jeffery Kitingan agreed to abort that plan and stay with the party. Then someone in the party HQ did a U-turn (a favourite phrase nowadays). They denied the existence of the peace treaty and instead took disciplinary action against the dissidents. That smashed all hopes of PKR being able to take over Sabah. But Chua Jui Meng was there. He was privy to what happened. Why did he remain mum and not speak up and instead allowed the matter to deteriorate beyond repair? Did Chua Jui Meng do a U-turn? Did he suddenly lose his balls? Was he told to shut up? Or did he intentionally remain silent so that the matter could explode? Chui Jui Meng could have said something to prevent this matter from going beyond the point of no return. But now it is too late. PKR Sabah is now in deep shit. And looking at the results of the recent Sarawak state election, it appears like PKR Sarawak is also in deep shit. Johor, also, does not appear any better. So that leaves only Selangor and Perak. Can the opposition do well in Selangor and Perak? I really hope so. But even if they do that is not good enough. That is only two of the states. They also need the other three states. Let us look at the opposition track record. It did well in 1990. It went down in 1994. It did better in 1999. It got massacred in 2004. It excelled in 2008. What can we expect the opposition to perform in the next election? That is certainly something to ponder on. The opposition has never done well two elections in a row. It is always one up election and down the next. And this is what I fear we might see if we are not careful.
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| The arguments by narrow-minded Muslims Posted: 03 May 2011 07:58 PM PDT
Yusri Mohamad, a product of the International Islamic University, ABIM and Pembela, and onetime personal aid to PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, claims that Islam is under attack. And should we be surprised when Muslims make a mockery of Islam? Anyway, this "Islam under attack" is all in the narrow minds of Muslims. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Islam's position under siege in M'sia, warns Pembela (Malaysiakini) - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) has claimed that the position of Islam in Malaysia is under siege. Speaking to reporters today, spokesperson Yusri Mohamad said this is particularly in relation to recent developments in Islam-Christian affairs. Specifically, he cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the 'pseudo-appointment' of Christian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala to handle issues pertaining the Malay-language Bible as threatening Islam's position as the official religion. He claimed there is no provision in the federal constitution for any official non-Muslim affairs body, and that making Idris the go-to minister for Christian affairs is thus unconstitutional. "There is a (threat). These sorts of threats come in seasons but now have become more serious and are putting a lot of pressure on the way we deal with issues pertaining to Islam," he said. "Islam is the official religion and is a pillar of our nation, but attempts are being made to make its position equal to other religions. "Followers of other religions are portrayed as marginalised and oppressed... Islam and Muslims are dressed in an ugly mask and is made to seem guilty so that they give in (to demands)." The fact that Idris was appointed to handle the Al Kitab issue was also wrong, he said, since Idris cannot be said to be non-partisan because he is Christian. "He says he is non-partisan politically but this is a religious issue, and he is partisan. As we understand it, the (10-point proposal) was produced without consultation with the Fatwa Council, religious scholars and Muslim NGOs," he said. Instead, he said the matter should have been handled by two ministers in the Prime Minister's Department - Jamil Khir Baharom who is in charge of Islamic affairs, and Koh Tsu Koon who is in charge of national harmony. "We feel that the government can act within their powers...but Christian groups are now using terms like 'deface' and 'desecration' which is pushing the issue ... out of hand," he said. As such, Pembela, a coalition of about 80 NGOs, will be hosting a conference on Saturday to discuss the issue of the sovereignty of Islam in Malaysia. Themed 'Islam under siege: What will we do?', the event will be open to all Muslim NGOs and will feature a forum on the topic. Among the topics to be discussed are the Al Kitab, conversions to Islam, religious freedom and the way such matters are handled by the government. "We hope to then take the outcome of our discussion to the cabinet, prime minister, Rulers Council, political parties and mufti," he said. Pembela not 'extremist' Commenting on a police report recently lodged by a Christian against Pembela, Yusri said said the coalition is not an extremist group as perceived. "We feel that the police report was a way to blow up the issue. Pembela has been around for a while and anyone who does a background check will find that we are not an extremist group," he said. Pembela has never officially said it is willing to 'shed blood against Christians', as stated in the police report, he said. "But perhaps during the peaceful demonstrations there were harsh words said, which is normal in a demonstration. You can't expect us to berbalas pantun. "It is wrong to say that our movement is a threat to our non-Muslim friends," he said. He added that police had contacted Pembela a week after the report to ask for recordings and materials distributed during the demonstration in March to assist in their investigation. "No member (has been) called for questioning," he added. zDac5GXjLMo |
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