| Shut down MT? All Men Are Brothers Posted: 15 Jun 2011 01:22 PM PDT I fear he puts too little importance to MT and perhaps too much on Bersih 2.0. By batsman I found RPK's threat to shut down MT highly disturbing. Apparently this is because he believes MT commenters and readers have smelly fart. I am not sure how he comes to this conclusion, but apparently those who have smelly fart are not apt to join Bersih 2.0 in July. I fear he puts too little importance to MT and perhaps too much on Bersih 2.0. At this point in time and under current conditions, MT is the perfect vehicle for a long term fight to bring clean politics and good honest government to Malaysia. Bersih 2.0 on the other hand may be seen as a hopeful sign but merely a coming flash in the pan in spite of the panic UMNO has been thrown into. This may sound like a digression but let me talk about the TV series "All Men are Brothers" to stress my point. I am not saying my understanding of the TV drama is accurate given my full dependence on the "sari kata" and the highly enthusiastic but speckled translation of primary school nephews as well as less than regular viewing of the series, but the importance of the legend centers around the motives of the rebels and their wish to surrender. Unfortunately, conditions and circumstances were not kind to them. The Sung Dynasty was still strong, but the new Emperor was unduly influenced by corrupt ministers. Those of the rebels who refused to surrender were leftists because they refused to recognize that the Dynasty was still strong and there was no way a change of dynasty could be effected. The long term result of refusal to surrender would be to turn into pure bandits and live off the ordinary people. On the other hand those to wanted to surrender were rightists who could not understand that corrupt ministers will still reign supreme even if they surrendered and their sacrifices and contribution to the Sung Empire would come to naught and they would have to live under the thumb of evil high officials. Thus they became heroes in legend continuing fighting to the last man against "fate". Or at least this is how I expect the series to end. There does not seem to be any "good" ending for the rebels. In the case of Malaysia, an understanding of the conditions and situation is critical for any fight. If it is to be a long term fight, MT's importance and contribution cannot be under-estimated. Impatience and shutting down MT will be a tragic mistake. However, if the situation has reached a critical turning point, Bersih 2.0 must be successful and its success will become legendary in Malaysian history. The leaders of the reform movement have to judge accurately whether such a critical turning point has been reached and whether it is worthwhile to commit everything to it. Those of us at the bottom have not much choice – "ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die" thingy. However, before the fight in July, let me just voice the hope that Bersih 2.0 is not the end and that it will not be a do or die situation. Hopefully the reform movement will have resources and the strength (whether win or lose in July) to launch Bersih 3.0, Bersih 4.0, etc. ad infinitum. In the meantime, please keep MT alive and strong, even if it is just to raise greater public indignation at good people falling off tall government buildings or to stop policemen defending themselves by shooting people at 45 degree angles at close range, as well as expose seniors bonking juniors in government service, top government servants viewing child pornography as no more serious than traffic offences and low ranking government servants viewing internet pornography as a regular pastime in government premises, etc. |
| Website hacking: Lessons for socio-political transformation Posted: 15 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT In this world order of cybernation, international policing by local governments does not work. Likewise, local threats by law enforcers and official watchdog entities against these 'eagles beyond the skies' are virtually paralyzed given the hackers' global movement for the championing of a free-world order. By J. D. Lovrenciear Yes, no one on the receiving end can endorse the recent brutal hacking of Malaysia's official websites by the 'Anonymous' international group. But the fact remains: they do as they say when you cross the line. Our government ministers need to go back to college. They need to fully understand all about existence and operating their political businesses in this 'New Age' which Manuel Castells rightly describes as 'The Networked Society'. They would also be better off learning and mastering all about Appadurai's Flow of Space and Time Flows. In this world order of cybernation, international policing by local governments does not work. Likewise, local threats by law enforcers and official watchdog entities against these 'eagles beyond the skies' are virtually paralyzed given the hackers' global movement for the championing of a free-world order. That free-world order is all about the freedom and flow of information that was already mapped-out the day the Internet spilled into the public domain. It is about information being borderless and timeless. When the Penny Press dawned into society a long, long time ago, the credo then was: We have a duty to inform as society has an innate right to know – a fundamental that no politician can deny. And so the newspaper began its legacy for the modern world. But today, with the advent and proliferation of the worldwide web, governments and their representatives must be humble and willing to accept the realities of contemporary times. We have matured and metamorphosed into a new beingness. The truth is there is no place on planet earth where you can hide truths and lies. The duty to inform and the right to know have all taken a far more profound meaning and dimension. The truth is governments – especially those that thrive on the principle of divide and rule, will permanently remain on the defensive in the face of this cyber-world. Hence, it pays to respect, collaborate, cooperate and conform to the Networked Society of this 21st century. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the call for democracy and civil liberties was responded with physical wars across the globe – west to east, north to south. But in today's era, we will only witness more of cyber wars that will come descending like bolts of lightning against those that are suspect of denying humanity of their right to know as well as denying those entrusted with the fundamental human duty to inform their right to perform ethically. Yes some recalcitrant governments (or regimes) have been known to go after their own citizens in the face of such cyber attacks. But that will never stop the global attackers from repeating their planet wars. Hence, as time keeps ticking away, we will witness more nations learning the hard way that it does not pay to restrain in any form whatsoever the very basic commandments upon which the world has been advancing in this Networked Society, namely the duty to inform and the right to know. Russia, China and others feel like tarot cards in the wake of the advancing democratization of politics and liberation of civil society. In more recent times we are seeing the same pattern in the mid-eastern belt. Likewise, all nations irrespective of size and location on planet earth will not be spared by the tidal tsunami of man's fight for true democracy and civil liberties and his quest for justice. The cyber world will remain as humanity's companion of war while it remains as the 21st century weapon of destruction descending upon stubborn politicians. Unfortunately, our ministers used the same logic that they use for citizens on the land. Just like how they warn and intimidate citizens with the threat that the long arm of the law will arrest them if they do not follow their directives, the government issued a statement that they are doing all that is necessary to avert the announced attack by 'Anonymous'. Did the raiders descend? Yes they did. Could we withstand them? No, we certainly couldn't. Can we ever withstand them? No, that is why even the USA – including Pentagon remains respectful of the cyber world. Hence, it pays for governments, their leaders and followers, and even businesses to go, take the trouble to read, understand and appreciate the advancing world of the Networked Society, i.e. to put in place meaningful actions that champion and facilitate true democracy and civil liberties. Therein is the meaning and content of 'transformation', 'transparency', 'accountability' and 'corporate social responsibility' and the more recent 'welfare state' – the buzz words of the 21st century that permeates politics, social order, economic advances and environmental care. Is all these hard to comprehend?
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| Honorary Consul Of Malaysia - Bali Posted: 15 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT What is the role of the Honorary Consul of Malaysia if it is not for helping fellow Malaysians? By Malaysian in Indonesia [This letter was also sent to Dato' Sri Anifah Aman and the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta - MTadmin] It has come to my knowledge that a certain Malaysian citizen has been in police captivity here in Bali for the last two months due to minor drug possession. His release papers were given today and he was granted leave by the Bali police as he has shown proof that the drugs he brought in was for medical purposes. The Indonesian lawyers as well as the Bali Police and us, Malaysians here in Indonesia, were appalled by the inaction of our Honorary Consul of Malaysia, Mr. Feisol Hashim. When we found out about the arrest of the young Malaysian man, we concerned Malaysians sought help from the Consul but no one picked up the phone (no one ever picks up the phone and that leaves us wondering whether anyone is working). We finally called the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta and were told that no help whatsoever will be given to this young man. We did not like what we heard but if this was the orders from the higher ups, there was nothing we could do. However, as fellow Malaysians, all we could do was to visit him and give him some words of comfort. While we were at POLDA (the police holding cell in Bali), we saw many arrested citizens from different countries and we also saw many consuls coming in to lend help and support in whatever way they could to their fellow citizens. But I guess the Honorary Malaysian consul is too busy cooped up in his beautiful office at Alam Kul Kul Resort, Kuta, to make a trip to POLDA to say a kind word or two to his fellow citizen. However, what was more appalling was the fact that on the day of this young man's release, Mr Feisol Hashim did not carry out his duty as an Honorary Consul of Malaysia or as a fellow human being. To be released from prison, this young man needed another Malaysian to sign his release papers. To sign the release paper is a mere formality and it is not a guarantee and does not even have any legal implications. Hence, his lawyers approached Mr. Feisol Hashim to sign for this young man but he vehemently refused. The lawyers spent three hours with Mr. Feisol Hashim trying to convince him just to put his signature on the paper. It would not take even a minute of his time. Why did he refuse? What is the role of the Honorary Consul of Malaysia if it is not for helping fellow Malaysians? Well, it is not all gloom and doom for the young Malaysian. He found other Malaysians who were willing to sign his release papers for him so that he could return to his family. We will be highlighting this to Wisma Putra and hope that Wisma Putra could give us an answer as to why Mr. Feisol Hashim as Honorary Consul Malaysia in Bali says that this is not his jurisdiction and if so, what is his jurisdiction. Honorary consul or ambassadors aside, it is very shameful when we would not even extend a helping hand to a fellow human being, regardless of nationality, race or belief.
Regards
Malaysian in Indonesia |
| Websites defaced before deadline set by hacker group Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:37 AM PDT (The Star) - Local websites have been hacked ahead of the deadline set by a foreign-based hacker group, Anonymous, that said it would attack the Malaysian Government portal at 3.30am today. On the micro-blogging site Twitter yesterday evening, there were reports that 27 sites in total had been hacked. But these were not named and there was no confirmation from the authorities as to the accuracy of the tweets. Among the sites known to have been hacked was the Sabah Tourism website, www.sabahtourism.com. The defaced site was spotted early yesterday by the chief executive of a company that organises security conferences. "A portion of the website was deleted when I saw it," said Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran, who heads Hack In The Box (M) Sdn Bhd. "I had just returned from an overseas trip." The Sabah Tourism website has since gone offline. F-Secure Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, a computer security software company, corroborated Dhillon's account. Goh Su Gim, its security adviser for Asia, said the Sabah Tourism site was compromised. "Worse still, the data from 392 user accounts were stolen from the site and released to the public," he said. The data that was posted online were e-mail addresses and passwords. On the webpage where the hackers posted the data, they claimed they had the details of more than 3,400 users from the Sabah Tourism site, but they were only exposing the 392. The hackers also claimed to be Anonymous members and that they meant no harm, and only wanted to show the vulnerability of this site. According to Dhillon, the www.tourmalaysia.com.my site was also hacked and defaced yesterday. He had checked the site after viewing the hacked Sabah Tourism website. It was defaced with words that included "Deface by Kambeng Merah: Credit to DarkJawa." Another website hacked was www.cidb.gov.my, which belongs to the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). It was defaced with a long message that scolded the Government for censoring the Internet. However, a while later, the site was back to normal. Dhillion said he believed these sites may not have been hacked by Anonymous. "The hacker group is into co-ordinated attacks and keeps to its word when it comes to launching its attacks," he said. "These are likely independent hackers taking advantage of the publicity." CyberSecurity Malaysia, responsible for the nation's borders in cyberspace, confirmed that several websites were hacked. But it declined to say how many and which were the sites. "At present, we are not able to elaborate further," said Lt Col (Rtd) Datuk Husin Jazri, chief executive officer of CyberSecurity. He said rectification works were being conducted by the relevant authorities to address the situation. Anonymous had threatened to hack the www.malaysia.gov.my portal to protest against the Government's censorship of the Internet and because Malaysia had blocked 10 filesharing sites. These sites were among the most visited by Malaysians to illegally download movies. |
| Peserta BERSIH akan ditahan Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:31 AM PDT Polis beri amaran keras, batal semua permohonan adakan perhimpunan (Berita Harian) - Polis memberi amaran keras akan menahan penganjur dan peserta perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 yang dirancang serentak di ibu negara, Kuching dan Kota Kinabalu, pada 9 Julai ini kerana dikhuatiri tindakan mereka menggugat keselamatan negara dan ketenteraman awam. Amaran itu dikeluarkan selepas polis memutuskan tidak meluluskan permit untuk Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH) dan Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (PERKASA) yang merancang mengadakan satu lagi perhimpunan bagi menghalang perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0. Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara, Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar, berkata siasatan awal mendapati perhimpunan itu adalah agenda beberapa individu berkepentingan untuk mengadakan bantahan politik, yang dikhuatiri boleh menimbulkan kekacauan jika dibenarkan diteruskan.
"Atas sebab keselamatan, kita sudah membatalkan semua permohonan dan tidak akan berunding dengan mana-mana pihak walaupun atas alasan untuk berhimpun secara aman tanpa menggunakan senjata. Justeru, jika perhimpunan ini diteruskan juga, maka ia satu perhimpunan haram dan tindakan keras akan diambil.
"Malah, bila ada dua pihak yang berbeza ideologi mengadakan perhimpunan di lokasi dan tarikh sama, maka akan berlaku pertembungan hingga membawa kepada risiko berlaku keganasan. Ini yang amat kita bimbangkan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Seminar Ketua Polis Daerah Seluruh Negara 2011 di Maktab PDRM Cheras di sini, semalam.
Berikutan itu, Khalid menyeru penganjur dan mereka yang mempunyai niat untuk menyertai kedua-dua perhimpunan berkenaan agar membatalkan hasrat mereka.
Sehingga semalam, 418 laporan polis dibuat oleh peniaga, pengusaha, badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan orang ramai membantah perhimpunan berkenaan.
Khalid menegaskan, polis juga sedia menahan penganjur perhimpunan itu lebih awal sebagai langkah pencegahan, selain mengambil tindakan tangkapan ketika perhimpunan diadakan.
"Kita sudah bersedia dari semua aspek bagi memastikan niat untuk menganjurkan perhimpunan yang akan menyebabkan kerugian kepada banyak pihak ini dipatahkan," katanya.
Dalam reaksi serta merta, Ketua Penerangan PERKASA, Ruslan Kasim, berkata pihaknya akur dengan arahan polis.
"PERKASA membantah 100 peratus perhimpunan BERSIH dan kami akan mencari alternatif untuk menghalang mereka. Mereka hanya mahu mencetuskan kekecohan dan ingin membawa budaya reformasi seperti yang berlaku di Timur Tengah ke Malaysia," katanya.
Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, berkata polis akan memantau dan mengambil tindakan secara profesional kerana sebarang perhimpunan haram boleh menjejaskan keselamatan negara dan mengganggu ketenteraman awam.
Sementara itu, Dewan Rakyat semalam menolak usul bagi mengecam tindakan BERSIH bercadang mengadakan perhimpunan haram berkenaan.
Timbalan Speaker, Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar membuat keputusan menolak usul dikemukakan Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (BEBAS-Bayan Baru) mengikut Peraturan Mesyuarat 18(1) atas alasan ia tidak perlu disegerakan.
Katanya, Kementerian Dalam Negeri melalui Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) sudah mengambil langkah perlu sebagai persediaan untuk menangani perhimpunan itu.
Terdahulu, Zahrain yang mengemukakan usul meminta Dewan Rakyat mengambil ketetapan untuk mengecam sekeras-kerasnya tindakan BERSIH, terutama menghasut rakyat untuk merusuh di jalanan seperti yang berlaku di beberapa negara Asia Barat, termasuk Tunisia dan Mesir.
Pada 2007, BERSIH menggunakan slogan 'Gelombang Kuning' menganjurkan perhimpunan haram, bagi menyerahkan memorandum kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong bagi menuntut pilihan raya yang telus dan adil. Demonstrasi itu menimbulkan kekacauan dan menggugat ketenteraman awam selain menyebabkan kesesakan teruk di ibu negara. |
| Bersih 2.0: Pemuda PAS tidak gentar Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT 1. Biarpun berhadapan dengan ugutan dan halangan, langkah derap Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia memobilisasi kebangkitan rakyat guna mendesak satu sistem demokrasi yang adil dan pilihanraya yang telus, sekali - kali tidak terjejas semata - mata kerana tindakan nakal pihak tertentu termasuk UMNO dan Perkasa. Biar 1000 laporan polis yang mereka lakukan, mereka tidak mungkin mampu memadam semangat anak muda yang menuntut keadilan dan ketelusan dalam sistem demokrasi negara ini justeru keadilan dan ketelusan tersebut juga menjadi sebahagian daripada tuntutan Islam. 2. BERSIH 02 adalah manifestasi dari kebangkitan anak muda yang mula bosan dan kecewa dengan sikap kerajaan UMNO dan BN mempermainkan rakyat dan mempersenda sistem demokrasi. Kepincangan demokrasi ala malaysia ini masih ketara, apabila pihak Pakatan Rakyat terus dikekang daripada mendapat hak yang sama untuk akses dengan media sedang Barisan Nasional sepenuhnya memanipulasi media arus perdana [seperti RTM] untuk memberi maklumat satu hala atau sebelah pihak kepada rakyat. Laporan kajian Kebebasan Media 2011 oleh Freedom House, kedudukan Malaysia jatuh ke tangga 143 daripada 196 negara. Manakan tidak .... - Kementerian dalam negeri [ KDN ] gagal meluluskan permohonan permit Presiden Kesatuan Wartawan Kebangsaan Hata Wahari menerbitkan akhbar harian "Utusan Rakyat"
- Sehingga kini hasrat DPP Malaysia mahu melihat lahirnya sebuah akhbar harian "Purnama" yang dimohon permitnya lebih sedekad yang lalu masih tidak kesampaian.
- Begitulah nasib yang menimpa Harakah, Suara Keadilan dan Rocket. Bukan sahaja tidak dibenarkan terbit secara harian, ianya terhad untuk ahli sahaja dan terus menerima tekanan dari pelbagai sudut.
3. Undi pos pula akan terus menjadi tali hayat Barisan Nasional agar mereka terus berkuasa dan mampu melangsungkan tradisi "membelasah" rakyat dengan penyalahgunaan kuasa dan rasuah. Lihat sahaja laporan Global Financial Integrity yang mendakwa sebanyak RM 889 bilion tiris dan mengalir keluar dalam tempoh lapan tahun antara 2000 - 2008. Begitu juga laporan Ketua Audit Negara yang terbaru, sebanyak RM 28 bilion telah tiris dalam perbelanjaan dana awam. 4. Undi pos juga akan terus menjadi sandaran Barisan Nasional untuk terus kekal berkuasa lalu membuli rakyat dengan kenaikan harga minyak, kenaikan harga barang, kenaikan tarif bil elektrik, saman ekor serta "membelenggu" anak muda dengan lingkaran hutang PTPTN. Undi pos adalah satu makenisme yang paling strategik untuk mengekalkan survival kuasa politik Barisan Nasinoal sedang ia tidak lagi relevan dalam sistem demokrasi moden hari ini. 5. Sebahagian mereka menempelak hasrat BERSIH 02 kononnya tidak lagi relevan kerana Pakatan Rakyat telah memenangi 4 buah negeri dan hampir menguasai keseluruhan kerusi di Wilayah Persekutuan. Menang di 4 buah negeri bukan bermakna kami telah berpuas hati dengan tahap ke"bersihan" sistem pengendalian pilihanraya dalam negara ini. Saya percaya, jika pilihanraya benar - benar dikendalikan sebersih - bersihnya dari sebarang manipulasi dan sistem demokrasi dilangsungkan dengan telus dan adil, Pakatan Rakyat mampu menang sekurang - kurangnya di 8 buah negeri pada pilihanraya umum 2008 yang lalu malah berkemungkinan besar mampu memperolehi simple majoriti bagi menguasai parlimen. 6. Antara kepincangan demokrasi yang diamalkan dalam negara kita Malaysia ialah tindakan mereka yang mahu menghalang hak rakyat berhimpun secara aman seperti Himpunan BERSIH 02. Setelah mendengar janji daripada penganjur BERSIH 02 bahawa ia akan dilangsungkan secara aman, mereka masih mengugut rakyat agar tidak menyertai himpunan tersebut. Selayaknya pihak berkuasa mengambil langkah mengawal himpunan BERSIH 02 sebagaimana mereka boleh mengawal himpunan dan perarakan puluhan ribu manusia pada hari sambutan kemerdekaan, malam citrawarna dan sebagainya. 7. Pihak berkuasa juga sayugianya menghalang hasrat pihak - pihak lain selain BERSIH 02 yang terlebih dahulu telah mengisytiharkan hasrat menganjurkan himpunan pada hari yang sama dan di tempat yang sama, kerana ia adalah satu bentuk provokasi yang boleh mencetus ketidaktenteraman suasana himpunan tersebut. Saya hairan kenapa Perkasa atau lainnya mahu mengadakan himpunan pada hari yang sama dan tempat yang sama ? Ertinya merekalah yang mahu mencetus provokasi dan suasana tidak aman bukan pihak BERSIH 02. 8. Andai mereka mahu menduga pengaruh, mereka boleh menganjurkan himpunan serupa pada 10 hb Julai iaitu sehari selepas BERSIH 02 atau pada 8 hb Julai iaitu sehari sebelumnya. Kenapa mereka begitu terdesak mahu mengadakan himpunan mereka pada hari yang sama ? mereka marah rakyat mahu sertai BERSIH 02 kerana himpunan itu kononnya demontrasi jalanan yang sia - sia, tetapi mereka juga mahu menganjurkan himpunan untuk menunjukkan bantahan mereka terhadap BERSIH 02 ! Alangkah dangkalnya mereka berfikir ! 9. Benarkan dahulu rakyat menyertai BERSIH 02 pada 9 hb Julai untuk membantah sistem pengendalian demokrasi dan pilihanraya yang pincang dalam negara ini. Maka keesokkan harinya, bolehlah mereka pula berhimpun untuk membantah himpunan BERSIH 02 jika mereka tidak berpuas hati atau kiranya mereka kurang sabar, boleh sahaja mereka berhimpun pada 8 hb Julai untuk melahirkan bantahan mereka dan benarkan BERSIH 02 berlangsung dengan aman tanpa sebarang provokasi pada 9 hb Julai 2011. Apakah kerajaan UMNO dan BN perlu diajar sedemikian rupa erti demokrasi ? 10. Saya mengharapkan anak - anak muda tidak terpengaruh dengan taktik kerajaan Barisan Nasional dan proksi - proksi mereka yang cuba mengugut untuk membatalkan BERSIH 02 justeru itulah yang akan meletakkan Barisan Nasional terus selesa menghadapi pilihanraya umum ke 13 secara berat sebelah dan tidak telus. Insyaallah, Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia dan seluruh warganya akan terus berada di saf hadapan memimpin kebangkitan anak muda bersama rakan - rakan dari Angkatan Muda Keadilan dan DAPsy. Memimpin Kebangkitan Anak Muda Nasrudin bin Hassan Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia |
| Mat Sabu: ‘Perkasa perkara kecil, kami tak sekat Perkasa’ Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Pakatan Rakyat menyifatkan langkah Perkasa yang mahu mengadakan perarakan balas serentak dengan Himpunan Bersih 2.0 pada 9 Julai ini tidak akan memberi sebarang ancaman terhadap gerakan menuntut pilihan raya adil dan bebas itu. Timbalan Presiden PAS Mohamad Sabu (gambar) berkata, Himpunan Bersih 2.0 anjuran Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) tetap diteruskan sambil menyifatkan Perkasa sebagai "perkara kecil." 
"Perkasa ini perkara kecil sahaja, tiada apa-apa akan berlaku... kita bukan timbulkan apa-apa pun. "Bagi pihak Bersih kita hanya mengadakan perhimpunan aman, tiada apa-apa provokasi, tapi kita minta agar polis mengawal keselamatan," katanya selepas pelancaran Bersih 2.0 peringkat negeri Selangor di Dewan Hamzah di sini malam tadi. Himpunan Bersih 2.0 mendapat tentangan pihak pro- Barisan Nasional (BN). Perkasa yang diketuai Datuk Ibrahim Ali memutuskan untuk mengadakan perarakan balas serentak pada hari yang sama. Ibrahim berkata pihaknya akan menganjurkan protes balas bagi menghalang Himpunan Bersih 2.0 selain mendakwa ia akan menimbulkan huru-hara. Justeru tegas Mohamad, pihaknya tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menghalang Perkasa, namun mempersoalkan mengapa perlu diadakan pada hari yang sama dengan Himpunan Bersih 2.0. "Mengapa mesti hari yang sama? Perkasa boleh pilih tarikh lain... inikan negara demokrasi. "Jadi, saya minta agar polis dapat mengawal keselamatan dan mengambil tindakan ke atas mereka yang mengundang perkara-perkara tidak diingini," katanya. Mohamad yang lebih mesra dengan panggilan "Mat Sabu" berkata, Himpunan Bersih 2.0 yang bertemakan "Walk For Democracy" akan diadakan secara santai tanpa menimbulkan sebarang ketegangan. Pengerusi Badan Penggerak Demokrasi dan Mobilisasi PAS pusat ini menambah Himpunan Bersih 2.0 bukan gerakan parti politik tapi pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang menuntut pilihan raya adil dan bebas. "Jadi saya minta peserta yang hadir hanya membawa bendera Malaysia dan bendera negeri bukan bendera parti politik . . . slogan juga mesti slogan Bersih 2.0, jangan bawa senjata, kalau ada provokasi jangan dilayan sebab kita berhimpun secara santai. "Tujuan kita bukan nak kecam sesiapa tapi hanya mahukan pilihan raya yang adil dan bebas, kalau tiada perubahan negara akan menjadi lebih teruk," katanya. READ MORE HERE |
| UKM lecturer lodges police report against Suara Keadilan Posted: 14 Jun 2011 11:09 PM PDT 
(Bernama) - A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer has lodged a report at the district police headquarters today, claiming Suara Keadilan newspaper had twisted his statement in its June 7 publication. Assoc Prof Dr Samsul Adabi Mamat said he wanted to clear his name as he did not make the statement as reported by the official organ of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). He was referring to a report on page two of the newspaper, headlined "Kerajaan Perpaduan Berkubur" (Unity government is dead) – Prof Samsul Adabi" and its front-page report titled "Umno Putih Mata" (Umno is disappointed). Samsul Adabi said, commenting on the recent PAS election, he concluded that the party had been dominated by PKR in terms of its new line-up and this spelt the end of the Umno-proposed unity government. Asked what he actually said on Barisan Nasional (BN), he said he believed BN could still win big and comfortably in the coming general election even without PAS' support for the unity government. "But what was reported, was the other way round. Statements like Umno 'putih mata' and would be facing difficulty in the 13th general election...I did not say that. "My statement was manipulated to support their thinking. I am disappointed and sad. It is not proper for the newspaper to do this to anyone, especially academicians like me," he said. Asked whether he would like the newspaper to apologise or make a retraction or correction, he said as of now he was still thinking of the next course of action. |
| Understanding the Malay mind Posted: 14 Jun 2011 10:49 PM PDT 
In the minds of these people, if you whack the government then you are taking money from Anwar and if you whack the opposition then you are taking money from Najib and if you whack both sides: WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TAKING MONEY FROM? I'M CONFUSED!
NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin Back in the 1960s life was simpler and less complicated. That was of course in the days before May 13, the infamous Umno-engineered race riot of 1969. I was then in the Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, a mixed-race school.
Honestly, I can't remember whether there were more Malays or non-Malays in that school. It is not because my memory is bad but because we did not stop to think about it. We did not care a damn. That is why I can't remember whether we had more Malays or non-Malays in that school.
Our jokes back then were very racial. But that did not bother anyone. Never mind whether we were Malay, Chinese or Indian. We would roar with laughter at the jokes even though the brunt of that joke was our own race.
I remember one joke about someone needing a brain transplant and he was asked what brain he wants -- Malay, Chinese or Indian. He was told that the Chinese brain is the cheapest because it was overused -- banyak guna otak memikir macam mana nak tipu orang. The Indian brain was a bit twisted so they would not recommend it. The Malay brain is the most expensive because Malays seldom use their brains.
Back then, in the 1960s, we thought that was very funny. Today, they would make a police report against you if you told that joke in public.
But don't they say that many a true word is said in jest? Is it really a joke or for real? If you read and hear what Malays say you would imagine that it is not really a joke after all but very true.
I get pro-government Malays asking me how much Anwar Ibrahim is paying me to whack the government. Then I get anti-government Malays asking me how much Najib Razak is paying me to whack the opposition. Then a third group of Malays tell me that they are confused because I whack BOTH the government and the opposition. So which side am I taking money from?
You see, to most Malays, it is all about money. Whatever you are doing in life must be about money and cannot be for any other reason. So they want to know how much you are being paid and who is actually paying you.
Most Malays scream "Allah Akbar!" But that is only what is on their lips. In their hearts it is something else. Their hearts are not synchronised with their lips. In their hearts they scream "Ringgit Akhbar!" They sujud (prostrate) to money.
That is why they always look at things from the aspect of money. And that is why they ask you how much you are being paid. The Umno Malays will ask you how much Anwar is paying you. The opposition Malays will ask how much Najib is paying you.
Most Malays are not capable of looking beyond money. To look beyond money is too complicating and sakit otak nak memikir (it hurts the brain to think). So they simplify it. They conclude that it must be about money and that solves the problem. No need to sakit otak to think beyond that.
That is why the otak Melayu is more expensive than the otak Cina or otak India. The otak Melayu is very seldom used. So goes the joke from the 1960s.
What went wrong with the Malays? In the 1960s and earlier, if you study history and research the Malays of that era, many sacrificed and contributed to society without being motivated by money. They fought for the good of society and died poor. Many could not even afford a tombstone (batu nisan) when they died. That was how poor they were. And these were people who did so much for their race and country.
No one asked them how much they were being paid. The British never asked those Malays who fought for Merdeka how much Umno was paying them.
People like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bapa Merdeka (the Father of Independence), could not even afford to pay his income tax when he retired. Being a member of the Kedah Royal Family, he was reasonably wealthy in the beginning. But he sold most of his property to finance Umno. So he died a poor man.
No one asked the Tunku how much he was being paid. No one asked him how much money Umno was giving him. In fact, not only was Umno not giving him any money, he was the one who gave Umno money. And he spent all his money in the struggle for independence for his country.
But that has since changed. Today, no Malay would do what Tunku Rahman did. They will only do something if they get paid. They would only act if they were rewarded with money.
And that is why most Malays just can't believe that you are not motivated by money. If you do something it must be for money. If you whack the government then Anwar must be paying you. If you whack the opposition then Najib must be paying you. And if you whack both the government and the opposition then these Malays would get very confused because they are not sure who is paying you.
To be fair, however, it is not just the Malays who think this way. Even the Chinese and Indians (and 'lain-lain') have caught this very contagious Malay disease. I have friends (or those who used to be my friends) in England who also think like Malays. One-time friends of mine (Chinese, Indians and 'lain-lain' included) in Malaysia, Australia and many other places have also caught this Malay disease.
In the minds of these people, if you whack the government then you are taking money from Anwar and if you whack the opposition then you are taking money from Najib and if you whack both sides: WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TAKING MONEY FROM? I'M CONFUSED! |
| Bersih: PAS repeats call for police to act on UMNO-Perkasa Posted: 14 Jun 2011 08:38 PM PDT 
(Harakah Daily) - PAS has urged police to act against the provocative statements by UMNO's sister organisation Perkasa, whose chief Ibrahim Ali threaten to physically stop the July 9 rally by electoral reform group Bersih.  "The inaction by the police makes it seem that the country is lawless because there exists an organisation which is above the law," said PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (right).
Ibrahim, the staunchly pro-UMNO independent member of parliament for Pasir Mas, has vowed to stop the rally, saying he would mobilise his own supporters, hoping both gatherings would clash.
"(If they proceed) there will be a clash. If that happens, it is for the better," said Ibrahim, who again invoked the term "jihad" to describe his right-wing activities.
"Jihad is to prevent bad things from happening... I have every right to stop (the rally)," he added.
Tuan Ibrahim reiterated that Bersih 2.0, whose predecessor Bersih organised a massive rally attended by tens of thousands in Kuala Lumpur in 2007, has the noble aim to push for a cleaner and fairer general election.
"Any sort of abuse in the next general election will cause dissatisfaction to the people," he said, adding that the Islamic party chose to team up with Pakatan Rakyat and other NGOs in their demand for electoral reforms.
He said the Election Commission and National Registration Department "were committing abuses, together with the rampant media abuses", adding that the police were dutybound to prevent any attempt by Perkasa to gather its group of supporters to stop the July 9 rally.
 Tuan Ibrahim said PAS would continue to hold dialogues with EC before the rally.
"The meeting is important to ensure all of Bersih 2.0's demands are fulfilled, and to let the government know why people are against the EC.
"The dialogues and continuous meetings prove that PAS is not out to create tensions by participating in a peaceful rally, but it is the only way to tell the government how serious the people feel about the current unfair election system," he explained.
He pointed out that recent allegations of "citizenship for votes" in Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan, as well unexplained "sudden increase" in the number of new voters should not be taken lightly.
"All these efforts show that EC and NRD have conspired with UMNO-Barisan Nasional to ensure a victory for BN," he said, adding that the institution of the police would directly benefit should elections be held in a fair and transparent manner.
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| Banyak cakap hot air just like fart Posted: 14 Jun 2011 07:44 PM PDT
Sad to say, however, Malaysians banyak cakap (talk a lot). Like fart, Malaysians are just a load of hot air. And, like fart, the hot air is noisy and smelly. If talking were an Olympic event, Malaysians would sweep all three medals -- gold, silver and bronze. Because that's all Malaysians do -- talk a lot or banyak cakap.
NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin Hishammuddin Hussein wants to stay neutral. He is not going to get involved in the tussle between BERSIH and PERKASA. One is organising the march on 9th July 2011 while the other opposes the march and has indicated it may organise a 'counter-march'.
The Police, however, have threatened to take action. The Police, which comes under Hishammuddin, are not going to stay neutral. They are going to embark on 'preventive detention'. This means they may detain some people, probably those involved in organising the march, before the march to thwart the attempt.
The government realises how dangerous it is to allow the march to go on. To a certain extent the November 2007 march, BERSIH 1.0, had an affect on the March 2008 general election. They are worried that the BERSIH 2.0 march may also affect the next general election, whenever that may be held -- probably on 11 November 2011 or 11-11-11 according to some estimates.
Whatever it is, developments in the Middle East have shown that when people take to the streets this can be bad news for the ruling elite. Those who walk in the corridors of power fear people's power. They know that when the people unite that spells doom for the powers-that-be.
And BERSIH 1.0 united the people as will BERSIH 2.0 if it is allowed to go on.
All through history it is proven that 1% of the people rule over 99% of the people. This is true anywhere in the world and whichever era you may look at. That is what power is all about. It is about 1% of the people dominating the other 99%. And when the 99% rise up and unite then that is the end for the rule of the 1%.
Analyse any country and any era, the most recent to the farthest in history. Whether it is the French Revolution, The American Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the Chinese Revolution, the Cuban Revolution, the Iranian Revolution, or whatever, when the 99% revolt the 1% is in deep shit.
So the people must never be allowed to take to the streets. Taking to the streets unites the people like what we saw in Egypt recently. Jews, Christians and Muslims, who may be sworn enemies for more than 1,000 years, suddenly become comrades-in-arms when they are on the streets. So they must be kept off the streets. And this is why BERSIH 2.0 is dangerous and must be thwarted. BERSIH 1.0 has shown us that.
So the government is in a panic. Malaysians must never unite. A united Malaysian will end the rule of the 1% over the 99%. History has taught us that. 
Our Lords (Tuan) and one-time Colonialist masters taught us well. Were we not a British colony and the recipients of a British education? And did the British not prove that 1% could rule over 99% all over the world as long as the 99% remain divided?
When the 99% in India united, the British had to beat a hasty retreat back to England. When the Malays, Chinese and Indians of Malaya united under the Alliance Party, the British had to concede to independence or Merdeka for Malaya.
That is a fact of history. And we have learned well from the British. We know that the British divide-and-rule strategy perpetuates the rule of the 1% over the 99%. Only when the 99% unite and cease being divided will the 99% become a danger to the 1%.
191 Malaysians rule over the 28 million Malaysians. That is even less than 1%. The 191 Malaysians are all Umno division leaders, the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his Deputy Muhyiddin Yassin being two of those 191.
These 191 Umno division leaders choose their party President and Deputy President. And the President and Deputy President are elected into office uncontested (menang tanpa tanding) in an annual general assembly attended by less than 3,000 people.
So, 191 people choose the top two leaders of this country and just over 2,500 confirm them into office. Which means, these 191 division leaders and 2,500 delegates decide the future of the entire nation of 28 million Malaysians.
But this can only continue as long as the 28 million Malaysians do not unite and do not take to the streets. Only then can the 191 Umno division leaders and 2,500 Umno delegates continue to rule this country of 28 million. The British Colonial masters have taught us this. And the Indians in India have taught us this.
So Malaysians must never be allowed to unite and must never be allowed to take to the streets in a show of unity. Or else this will end the rule of the 1% over the 99%.
In November 2007, during BERSIH 1.0, the government failed to prevent the march and that resulted in the March 2008 'disaster' for the ruling elite. If the BERSIH 2.0 is not stopped, and if the people take to the streets and unite, then assume that the next general election will be a repeat of the March 2008 'disaster' for Barisan Nasional.
Sad to say, however, Malaysians banyak cakap (talk a lot). Like fart, Malaysians are just a load of hot air. And, like fart, the hot air is noisy and smelly. If talking were an Olympic event, Malaysians would sweep all three medals -- gold, silver and bronze. Because that's all Malaysians do -- talk a lot or banyak cakap.
Let's see how many Malaysians take to the streets on 9th July 2011. Let's see how many of those banyak cakap Malaysia Today readers take to the streets on 9th July 2011.
The BERSIH 2.0 organisers are aiming for a crowd of 300,000. I dare bet that less than 100,000 will be there. In fact, even 100,000 can be considered too high. If they can get 50,000 on the streets that in itself can be regarded as a success.
And because of this nothing will change. The next elections will be called and Barisan Nasional will still win and will still be the federal government.
Can Pakatan Rakyat retain the four states now under its control? Can it get back Perak? Can it add Negeri Sembilan to its list? Can it win back the 82 seats it won in the last general election? Can it increase its one seat in Sabah and one seat in Sarawak to 20 out of a total of 57 for the two states? Can we see Pakatan Rakyat win at least 100 Parliament seats leaving Barisan Nasional with just 120 or so?
In short, will the next general election see the emergence of a two-party system and a strong opposition?
Or will Pakatan Rakyat see only Kelantan and Penang still under its rule? And will the 82 seats it won in March 2008 be reduced to 50? And will Barisan Nasional sweep East Malaysia like it did in March 2008?
In short, will the next general election see the opposition fortunes turn and our dream of a two-party system and a strong opposition dashed?
Yes, that is what BERSIH 2.0 is all about. So, jangan banyak cakap. As Nike says: JUST DO IT! Not what Umno says: JUST DUIT! I am tired of reading all your comments in Malaysia Today, which are merely lepas geram and maki hamun. That is mere verbal diarrhoea. It is mainly masturbating or 'syiok sendiri'.
Get off your arse and do something. Stop shouting and start acting. And if we do not see 300,000 on the streets on 9th July 2011 then we might as well call it a day. I might as well stop wasting my time and close down Malaysia Today. Clearly Malaysia Today's readers are just a bunch of hot air and no action.
That is what fart is: bising dan busuk tapi tak berguna satu sen.
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| Yen Yen, explain ‘Curi-curi’ M’sia Posted: 14 Jun 2011 06:13 PM PDT 
If the minister fails to provide a proper explanation for the RM1.8 million 'splurge', an opposition MP warns that netizens may bay for her blood. (Free Malaysia Today) - Due to the growing discontent, an opposition leader urged Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen to explain why RM1.8 million was spent on six Facebook pages to promote Malaysia. Speaking in Parliament, DAP's Rasah MP Anthony Loke said there was palpable discontent against the amount spent when it could have been attained at almost no cost. Loke highlighted two Facebook pages regarding the matter, the "1 million Malaysians say no to RM1.8 million" and "Curi-curi wang Malaysia", the latter being a twist of the ministry's famous tagline "Cuti-cuti Malaysia". "These are very creative. Within 18 hours the 'Curi-Curi wang Malaysia' page already has 11,380 'likes' – already half of the Tourism Malaysia's Facebook site. And it is free!" he told reporters. The Citrawarna 1Malaysia Facebook page attracted a total of 20,292 Facebook "likes" since its launch on May 21 this year. A quick check by FMT revealed that "Curi-Curi wang Malaysia" currently had 14, 232 "likes" whereas "1 million Malaysians say no to RM1.8 million" had 749 "likes". Loke said the online community was upset that taxpayers' money was being splurged on things that could have been done for free. Yesterday, Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit told Parliament that his ministry spent close to RM1.8 million to create six Tourism Malaysia Facebook applications. He had justified the cost, saying: "This covers the creative works, concepts and ideas, design, flash programming, coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching of applications, system server development and maintenance, development of database from the contest, campaign management and monitoring as well as online advertisements and fan recruitment on Facebook and Google." However, Loke had rubbished this, arguing that DAP created similar Facebook fan pages and flash applications at no cost. 'Another splurge campaign' During this afternoon's press conference, the Rasah MP said: "No one can explain the situation except Yen Yen herself." He also warned that if the minister did not provide an adequate response, then there could be online campaigns calling for her resignation. Loke also criticised Ng for not coming to Parliament to "face him or the media" to explain the matter. "Rather, she has given a statement to MCA's mouthpiece, the Star. She said that the costs were important as the tourism sector was one of the main revenue earners for the country," he said. "We agree that the tourism industry is important but why spend so much on something that can be gotten for free," asked Loke. According to the Star report, Ng said the RM1,758,432 allocation by the ministry to develop its Facebook page professionally was part of its social media campaign. She added that it was a small amount compared to that spent by other countries in the region. READ MORE HERE |
| Sarbaini kin reject inquest, demand RCI Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:51 PM PDT 
(The Malaysian Insider) - The family of Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed has rejected Putrajaya's decision to hold an inquest into his death and are insisting instead on a royal commission of inquiry (RCI). The inquest, to be presided over by Coroner Aizatul Akmal Maharani, was set for July 4 to 15 at the magistrate's court here. Sarbaini's son, Shahril Ahmad, told The Malaysian Insider that his family preferred the RCI as it would be harder to determine the cause of his father's death through an inquest and that this would delay the pursuance of justice. "That is really the purpose of holding the inquest... we want an answer on the incident and we feel an RCI would be more accurate. "If you hold an inquest, it looks like it will just be a waste of time... and it may just become like Teoh Beng Hock's case — after the inquest, an RCI is called... so it is better to just hold an RCI straightaway," he said. In the inquest of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, who also died while under the supervision of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the coroner ruled out both suicide and homicide, and returned an open verdict. Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the badminton court of the MACC building at Jalan Cochrane around 10.20am on April 6, barely two hours after walking in. His death occurred when Teoh's RCI was still ongoing and delivered a huge blow to the anti-graft body's already-battered credibility. "An RCI is our best option. Who suggested holding the inquest? It was so sudden and the family did not even know about it. An RCI can bring those responsible to face justice... those who will sit on the panel will be credible individuals," said Shahril. READ MORE HERE |
| Was it worth RM1.8 million? Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:44 PM PDT 
By: Gabey Goh, Malaysia Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has slammed Opposition politician Anthony Loke, over comments made about the contentious Facebook tourism spending. DAP Member of Parliament Loke claimed "six-year-olds could develop the ministry's Facebook properties", which the Tourism Minister has responded angrily to. "For DAP to say this, I laugh and feel so sad for them, they use their DAP platform to compare our professional and globally run well-monitored social network," she said, speaking to reporters after announcing local singer Fish Leong had been appointed as the country's Tourism Ambassador for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on Tuesday. With public backlash over Tourism Malaysia spending RM1.8 million on six Facebook properties rising, A+M asked digital practitioners in the industry for their take on the issue. David Lian, APAC Social Media Practice Lead, Text 100 said that increasing digital spending for the tourism sector is the right way to go, as the audience profile has shown that when people want to travel, they get most of their information online. "So if Tourism Malaysia got one thing right, it's that they need to focus on digital," Lian said. Roberto Cumaraswamy, country head (Malaysia) of digital agency Vocanic agreed, adding that spending on digital and social media is still very much inversely proportionate with the media consumption habits of Malaysians, who are amongst the most digitally active users worldwide. "It always worries me when clients resort to social media marketing because they see it as a cheap alternative, because that is the wrong reason to use it. The reality is that building the page is just the first baby step in the journey of successful user engagement," he added. Kelvin Lim, digital strategist at Burson-Marsteller noted that with no clear visibility into the exact scope of work and length of engagement, no one is in any position at this point to say whether the figures are reasonable or otherwise. However, the amount stated is certainly possible, depending on project complexity, consultant management requirements and marketing spread. "Let's be clear, creating a Facebook page is not the same thing as managing a Facebook campaign," he said. "When you consider that designers, coders, marketers and engagement crews (all of which contribute to a good Facebook campaign success formula) need to be hired, the appropriate budget has to be allocated," he added. Lian agreed, adding people assume that social media is "free" because the tools appear to be "free", but this discounts the time creatives need to put in to design assets, the technical work needed to ensure proper tracking is done (though Facebook Insights is free), monitoring and community management, advertising, and other costs such as contest prizes which can sometimes go up to RM 1 million. Cumaraswamy added that only if engagement occurs that any true value can be obtained from social media efforts: "Sure a simple FB Page using the standard tools can be built by anyone for free, including a 6 year old as the DAP MP has commented. But will anyone visit the page? Will anyone 'like' it? And most importantly will anyone engage with the page?" On the view held by some commentators the bulk of the money was channelled towards Facebook advertising, Cumaraswamy noted given the cost effectiveness of the Facebook Ad model, it seems a very large amount of money to spend on advertising on Facebook in such a short amount of time. READ MORE HERE |
| Apa Sudah Jadi Dengan Yugi? Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:38 PM PDT 
DARI JELEBU Hishamuddin Rais Paling lawak ialah apabila Lebai Mahathir ini menerangkan kepada jemaah suraunya bahawa pimpinan baru dalam Pas ini adalah kemenangan untuk Bengali Karpal Singh. Macam mana si Bengali ini masuk dalam kes ini aku pun tak faham. Para pembaca yang budiman : Aku rasa agak ramai para pembaca yang agak kabur tentang konsep dan falsafah Negara Kebajikan. Apabila parti Pas mengajukan Negara Kebajikan sebagai raison d'être /matlamat dan garis perjuangan parti ini kelihatan musuh utama rakyat Malaysia - United Malays National Organisation – menjadi sasau dan gaban.
Secara mengejut – tetiba – bengolan-bengolan dari United Malays National Organisation menjadi sasau dan mamai. Entah pelesit mana yang datang merasok. Dengan mengejut secara tetiba Mahathir Muhamad, Najib Razak , Nazri Aziz, Utusan Malaysia dan Perkasa meluahkan cinta berahi mereka terhadap para ulama Pas.
Aku perhatikan, tanpa segan silu mereka 'frus menonggeng' dan 'tergolek dog' menangis, merayu dan meraung apabila Negara Islam tidak lagi dijadikan ajenda politik oleh Pas. Dengan penuh sasau mereka ingin memelok dan mencium para ulama Pas terutama yang telah kalah dalam pemilihan baru-baru ini.
Cerita sedih ini menjadi lucu apabila Ibrahim Ali merasa kesucian agamanya tercemar apabila Pas mengajukan Negara Kebajikan. Zul Nordin tersedak hingga tercabut kopiah basinya apabila diberitahu bahawa Mohamad Sabu telah berjaya menduduki kerusi pucuk pimpinan Pas. Utusan Malaysia tidak putus putus air liur bergebang tentang bagaimana Pas telah menjadi kuda Dap.
Zum kali zoom. Gaban ya maikul gaban. Nampaknya kemunculan pimpinan baru dalam Pas ini telah menjadikan United Malays National Organisation kelam kabut dan sampar larau tak tentu arah tujuan. Ada bengolan yang meminta Pas meninggalkan Islam. Ada bengolan yang berkata Pas telah belot kerana meninggalkan Islam.
Lawak-lawak seram ini semakin menjadi-jadi. Aku terguling guling ketawa terbahak-bahak hingga tercabut tiga helai bulu hidung apabila terbaca berita tentang Mahathir Muhamad berfatwa dengan surah dan ayat-ayat Quran.
Bayangkan Mahathir Muhamad, kaki kelentong ini telah bersalin kulit menjadi seorang lebai. Lebai Mahathir ini telah mula berlabon dengan ayat-ayat Quran. Paling lawak ialah apabila Lebai Mahathir ini menerangkan kepada jemaah suraunya bahawa pimpinan baru dalam Pas ini adalah kemenangan untuk Bengali Karpal Singh. Macam mana si Bengali ini masuk dalam kes ini aku pun tak faham.
Aku perhatikan kempen anti Pas ini akan diteruskan. Kempen ini bertujuan untuk mengharu birukan Pas dan para penyokong Pas. Kempen yang berjangkan panjang ini bertujuan agar akan muncul tim serpihan 'ulamak' dalam Pas. Bengolan-bengolan dalam United Malay National Organisation akan pasang colok bernazar jika parti Pas retak dan pecah.
Kenapa ini berlaku?
Biar aku terangkan disini pensejarahan latar belakang agar kita semua dapat memahami realpolitik yang sedang berlaku dihadapan mata kita. Semuanya bermula pada malam kemenangan pilihanraya yang lalu. Ingat tak malam itu? Jangan lupa malam itu juga dikenali sebagai Malam Khir Toyo Membakar Fail di pejabat kerajaan Shah Alam.
Pada malam itu United Malays National Organisation melihat kekalahan di Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Perak dan Kelantan. Kekalahan di Selangor adalah satu pukulan hebat. Negeri terkaya di Malaysia telah terlucut. Sesudah membakar fail-fail, Khir Toyo dengan cepat dan tangkas mula melakukan kerja-kerja jahat.
Khir Toyo memukul talipon. Beberapa orang pucuk pimpinan Pas telah dihubungi. Tujuan: untuk melahirkan apa yang dipanggil 'kerajaan perpaduan'. Pekara ini bukan lagi rahsia. Apa yang aku tulis ini bukan fitnah. Semua telah terbarai. Semuanya telah diketahui umum. Apa yang aku lakukan ini hanya merakamkan sejarah ini secara hitam puteh untuk ingatan cucu cicit kita nanti.
Semenjak malam itu mimpi berahi United Malay National Organisation untuk kembali berkuasa di Selangor tidak putus–putus. Dalam masa yang sama beberapa bengolan Pas terus dirangsang oleh mimpi berahi untuk menjadi Menteri Besar dan meniduri jawatan menteri pusat jika kerajaan perpaduan dapat di wujudkan.
Benda yang dipanggil 'kerajaan perpaduan' ini di kenali juga dengan nama manjanya - YUGI. Ini bukan ' yugi - underground' lingo musik anak-anak muda. Yu Gi ini bermakna Unity Government. Anasir-anasir yang menyokong Yu Gi dalam Pas ini terus bergerak. Di Selangor ianya amat aktif sekali hingga anasir Yu Gi ini berjaya menyingkirkan Saari Sungip dan Khalid Samad dari pucuk pimpinan Pas Negeri.
Selama tiga tahun bahtera Pas terumbang ambing akibat dari kerja-kerja jahat anasir-anasir Yu Gi. Dalam masa yang sama bengolan United Malay National Organisation terus 'memukul talipon' berhubung dengan anasir-anasir Yi Gi dalam Pas. Hubungan sulit terus dilakukan - cinta kaseh sayang mereka terus dibakar. Akhirnya gerak kerja anasir Yu Gi dalam Pas ini telah berjaya menggangu gugat kerja-kerja politik Pakatan Rakyat.
Nafsu dan berahi anasir Yu Gi ini terus dibelai dan diraba-raba untuk memastikan ianya terus keras dan tegang. Justeru pelbagai bentuk kenyaataan telah dibuat. Pucuk pimpinan United Malays National Organisation telah membuat kenyataan tentang betapa indahnya jika Melayu bersegama dengan Melayu. Betapa gah dan luasnya pancutan politik ketuanan Melayu jika Melayu dapat berpadu-padu dengan Melayu.
Aku tersenyum melihat bagaimana pada awalnya kenyataan dan jemputan dari bengolan United Malays National Organisation ini agak berlapik. Tetapi semua ni berakhir pada petang cuti Hari Krismas yang lalu. Pada petang itu satu pertemuan sulit dimana Najib, Muhyiddin, Nik Aziz dan Hadi Awang telah diadakan. Perjumpaan ini menjadi pacit apabila Nik Aziz minta diri berundur kerana alasan sakit pinggang.
Kesah Nik Aziz mengkantoikan projek Yu Gi ini menjadi bahak gelak ketawa dalam internet. Bayangkan kata-kata Nik Aziz dengan lorat Kelantan nya : Ambo tok seeh padu padu ni…Ambo minta diri dulu… Ambo nok gi hospital…'
Cuba bayangkan bagaimana rupa muka Najib dan muka Muhyiddin ketika Nik Aziz bangun dan beredar. Betapa sedih dan pilu rasa hati Abang Nasa apabila semua rancangan untuk menubuhkan 'kerajaan perpaduan' gagal. Mimpi Abang Nasa untuk menjadi menteri kabinet jatuh berderai derai tergolek-golek.
Sesudah petang Krismas itu jemputan untuk menubuhkan kerajaan perpaduan ini mula diajukan tanpa berlapik-lapik. Jemputan ini datang bertalu-talu. Semua bersuara menjemput Pas untuk mendirikan kerajaan perpaduan. Hinggakan Lokman Adam seorang jurufikir ulung United Malay National Organisation sendiri sanggup membuat jemputan secara terbuka di satu forum di Kota Bahru.
Nampaknya hanya Ummi Ufilda sahaja yang tidak menjemput Pas untuk berpadu-padu dengan United Malays National Organisation. Ini mungkin kerana Ummi tidak memahami makna Unity Government kerana ianya disebut dalam Bahasa Inggeris.
Cita-cita dan niat United Malays National Organisation untuk menubuhkan sebuah kerajaan perpaduan dengan Pas ini bertujuan untuk memastikan kerajaan yang ada sekarang akan terus berkuasa. United Malay National Organisation yang semakin terpencil dan terpinggir memerlukan tabung oxygen dari Pas.
Lalu gendang Ketuanan Melayu dimainkan untuk memanggil Melayu bertandak. Tetapi sayangnya, memukul gendang Melayu ini aku rasa telah membosankan. Selama 50 tahun gendang Melayu ini telah di pukul. Dari hari ke hari sambutan semakin hambar.Tak ramai anak muda dan berjongeng dan bertandak. Bukan sahaja gendang ini memekakkan telinga malah untuk anak anak muda gendang Ketuanan Melayu ini tidak dilihat cool. Read more at: http://tukartiub.blogspot.com/2011/06/apa-sudah-jadi.html |
| Nazri: Rosmah's involvement elevates country's image Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:11 PM PDT 
(Bernama) - The involvement of the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in international conventions and seminars is seen as something positive as it elevates the country's image, the Dewan Rakyat was told Wednesday. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the invitations were a recognition and tribute to Malaysia's policies and strategies in the advancement of education, early education and child care, women's development and welfare. He said through the involvement, Malaysia could share its experiences and achievements in these fields. "Indirectly, she will also be able to shape international perception on the country's achievements in these fields," he said when responding to a question from Datuk Juslie Ajirol (BN-Libaran). On the role of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti), he said it was similar to what it was before when it was led by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, especially in charitable works. "We have seen that Bakti is well received and there is no bone of contention on its role now. Bakti is doing the same thing like before and there is no difference between then and now," he added. |
| Christian leader wants Putrajaya tested over Alkitab vows Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:07 PM PDT 
Hornbill Unleashed The home ministry previously seized over 35,000 copies of the Alkitab. The leader of the country's evangelical churches has asked Christians to hold the government accountable to its promises during the recent Sarawakelections by importing more Malay bibles. "Go and import more Bibles and see if the [Home Ministry] stops us. Print the Bibles and see if the [Home Ministry] harasses us again. Being polite and positive does not mean we are naive," National Evangelical Christian Fellowship chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng wrote in the umbrella body's quarterly newsletter published this week. The import of the Alkitab — as the Malay-language bible is called — is among a laundry list of Christian woes that have piled up over the years "The government has said they want to work towards the religious aspirations of all. Find out what that means. Can our Bibles be declassified as they are now considered 'prejudicial to the security of the country'? Be proactive. Saying 'thank you' does not mean we have accepted the 10-point resolution in totality," wrote Rev Eu. He pointed out that ultimately "we all want the same thing — religious freedom we all enjoyed when Tunku shouted the first Merdeka." "Let's do another common sense thing. Hold our government accountable. If the offer was indeed an election ploy, the government can expect to face an angrier and more unforgiving electorate. So, the sensible thing to do is to prepare for the next GE today!" Faced with an unyielding Christian community ahead of the April 16Sarawakelection, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, on behalf of the government, offered a 10-point solution to the Alkitab impasse, which allowed the bible to be freely distributed across the country in all languages. Jala, who is from Sarawak, offered a new list of suggestions to put an end to the month-long stand-off in a bid to head-off a possible backlash against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition by Christians who make up half the population in the state. However, the government insisted that the front cover of Malay-language bibles in the peninsula be marked with a cross and the words "Christian Publication." READ MORE HERE |
| Belajar dari AKP untuk menang PRU-13 Posted: 14 Jun 2011 04:01 PM PDT 
Dalam kempen ini, AKP banyak memaparkan kejayaan yang dibuat oleh mereka sepanjang lapan tahun pentadbiran AKP bermula 2002 lalu. Mereka bandingkan setiap perkara dari pendidikan, kesihatan, pengangkutan, ekonomi dan sebagainya. Perbandingan dibuat antara 'Nereden' (dahulu) dan 'Nereye' (kini) dalam bentuk gambar, grafik dan angka yang besar, jelas dan terang. Zulkifli Sulong, Istanbul, Harakah Daily Selepas tiga hari berada di Turki untuk melihat dari dekat perjalanan dan strategi kempen parti AK di Turki, rombongan hari ini berkemas-kemas untuk pulang.
Lima delegasi telah berlepas pulang 13 Jun, sehari selepas pilihan raya, manakala hari ini lima lagi anggota akan berlepas pulang ke Malaysia.
Banyak yang dapat dipelajari dari AK parti untuk membolehkan PAS, PKR dan DAP juga menempah kemenangan yang sama di Malaysia.
"Bagi saya, terlalu banyak perkara yang kita boleh pelajari dalam pilihan raya ini dan perlu kita laksanakan. Sebaik saja pulang ke Malaysia, saya akan pastikan perkara ini sampai kepada pimpinan PKR untuk dilaksanakan," kata Saifudin Nasution Ismail, Setiuasaha Agung PKR sebelum berlepas pulang 13 Jun.
Turut pulang bersama beliau adalah Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Nasir Mustafa, Datuk Johari Abdul dan juga Nurul Izzah Anwar.
"Saya akan membuat beberapa cadangan kepada PAS untuk dilaksanakan menjelang pilihan raya akan datang," kata Dr Mariah Mahmud. Sessi lepas, Dr Mariah adalah timbalan pengarah Jabatan Pilihan Raya PAS Pusat.
Selepas melihat dari dekat strategi dan pendekatan kempen AKP, ada beberapa perkara pokok yang perlu dipertimbangkan dan wajar dilaksanakan oleh PAS khasnya untuk memenangi hati rakyat Malaysia menjelang pilihan raya ke 13 nanti.
 Pertama, kempen ini mesti inklusif atau memasukkan semua orang dalam sasaran. Benar PAS parti Islam tetapi Islam hendaklah dijelmakan untuk memimpin semua pihak, Islam dan bukan Islam. Di Turki, AK disenangi semua pihak. Yang mahukan Islam menyokong AKP, yang sudah jauh dari Islam juga menyokong AKP.
Kami berjumpa dengan seorang pemain bola sepak semi pro Turki ketika membeli CD lagu Turki untuk dibawa pulang ke Malaysia. Kebetulan dikedai itu, dia yang boleh berbahasa Inggeris. Apabila diberitahu kami mencari lagu tema kempen AK yang dicipta khas untuk pilihan raya ini, beliau sibuk sekali cuba mendapatkannya. Perkenalan itu menjadi sangat mesra kerana mengetahui kami menyokong AKP.
Seorang penyokong Saadet, Hassan, juga menjangkakan AKP akan menang besar dalam pilihan raya ini. Ini kerana, beliau akui orang ramai suka dengan cara AK. Yang kuat Islamnya suka kerana AK sangat tegas mempertahankan nilai-nilai Islam manakala yang sudah terungkai Islamnya dek lamanya Turki dibawah sekular, senang dengan pendekatan terbuka AKP.
Yang kuat Islam sangat terpaku dengan ketegasan Raccip Toyyib Erdogan memperjuangkan hak untuk wanita Islam memakai pakaian yang menutup aurat sebagaimana isteri beliau hatta di universiti dan majlis rasmi kerajaan yang selama ini dihalang oleh undang-undang Turki.
Mereka juga terkesima dengan cara Erdogan melayan perdana menteri Israel, Simon Peres, dalam Forum Ekonomi Dunia di Davos beberapa tahun lalu. Gambar Erdogan menunding jari kepada Peres dan video peristiwa itu menjadi bahan kempen utama AKP dalam pilihan raya ini.
 Yang sudah jauh dari Islam juga menerima AKP. Ketika AKP memperjuangkan hak untuk wanita Islam memakai tudung, parti itu juga memberikan peluang kepada wanita yang tidak bertudung untuk menjadi calon mereka. Mungkin PAS tidak perlu melakukan hal ini di Malaysia namun keterbukaan mereka memberikan makna besar kepada rakyat Turki.
Cara kempen Turki juga berjaya membawa golongan muda dan seluruh keluarga untuk bersama mereka. Lebih 80 peratus pihak yang meraikan kemenangan AKP 12 Jun lalu adalah golongan muda yang datang bersama keluarga mereka.
Ketika berkempen begitu juga. Ramai sekali golongan ini bersama berarak di jalan raya (walk about) bersama calon-calon AKP. Ketika berkumpul di sebuah taman untuk mendengar ucapan, ia juga dipenuhi anak-anak muda.
Pemimpin AKP sendiri mendekati mereka bukannya diserahkan kepada pemimpin muda sahaja. Lagipun, suasana yang dihasilkan dalam kempen juga menggamit anak muda dan keluarga untuk turut bersama dalam kempen itu.
Pendekatan kempen mereka bukan pentas ceramah semata tetapi berkumpul di taman, berjalan di kawasan perumahan dengan diiringi muzik yang sesuai dan sebagainya.
 Pendekatan kempen AKP juga bercorak 'lihat dan percaya'. Melalui pendekatan ini, bahan-bahan kempen AKP juga lebih bercorak gambar yang besar-besar. Gambar-gambar besar tanpa perkataan ini di pasang di merata-rata tempat khasnya di pejabat-pejabat AKP.
Jentera kempen utama AKP adalah van yang dibaluti dengan gambar bahan kempen parti mereka. Van-van ini disewa untuk tempoh kempen ini sahaja. Pendekatan ini menyebabkan AKP boleh dilihat di merata tempat. Untuk Istanbul sahaja, AKP mempunyai lebih 300 buah van. Setiap calon anggota Parlimen mereka akan mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya dua buah van semacam ini.
Van ini pula dipantau pergerakan mereka dengan GPRS. Hasilnya, pergerakan jentera mereka ini dapat dilihat dengan jelas di ibu pejabat mereka.
Selain gambar kempen membaluti van ini, ia juga dilengkapkan dengan pembesar suara yang memasangkan lagu-lagu AKP sepanjang kempen mereka.
Dalam kempen ini, AKP banyak memaparkan kejayaan yang dibuat oleh mereka sepanjang lapan tahun pentadbiran AKP bermula 2002 lalu. Mereka bandingkan setiap perkara dari pendidikan, kesihatan, pengangkutan, ekonomi dan sebagainya. Perbandingan dibuat antara 'Nereden' (dahulu) dan 'Nereye' (kini) dalam bentuk gambar, grafik dan angka yang besar, jelas dan terang.
Kami yakin, ini perkara utama yang perlu di buat oleh negeri-negeri Pakatan Rakyat iaitu Kelantan, Selangor, Pulau Pinang dan Kedah.
 Untuk peringkat nasional juga boleh dibuat iaitu dengan membanding Malaysia dahulu dan kini selepas 50 tahun di perintah oleh Umno dan Barisan Nasional.
Oleh kerana media di Turki adalah bebas tanpa kongkongan parti politik yang memerintah, semua parti boleh berkempen melalui media samada tv, akhbar atau dalam bentuk banner-banner besar.
Hasilnya, tidak banyak dirasai kehangatan kempen di jalan-jalan raya Turki tetapi ia sangat hangat di media. Memandangkan Malaysia tidak menikmati kebebasan sebegini, ia agak sukar dilakukan. Namun begitu, Pakatan perlu juga mengambil pendekatan ini dengan membeli ruang-ruang iklan di media yang agak bebas untuk menyampaikan mesejnya.
Pendekatan tulisan yang banyak sudah ketinggalan. Manifesto perlu dipaparkan dalam bentuk gambaran bukan tulisan yang banyak lagi. lihat dan percaya (Seing is beliving) perlu dipraktikkan sepenuhnya dalam kempen era moden dan tanpa sempadan ini. |
| The silliness of claiming ownership on wrongs Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:35 PM PDT By Sakmongkol AK47 The problem with the UMNO goons is, they want to claim ownership on some indefensible issue. This is silly, because people will start viewing UMNO as an organization that stands on the side of abuse, of corruption, of mis-governance and as a party that practices discretionary and arbitrary laws. UMNO is fast becoming a dirty 4 letter word. When someone criticizes the scandalous payments to IPPs, their criticisms were taken as attacks on UMNO? So what does UMNO support? UMNO supports some dubious arrangements to pay the IPPS horrendous prices when the same can be produced cheaper by TNB? UMNO stands for cavorting with the robber barons of today? The Anandas, the YTLS, The Berjayas, the Genting Lims- all friends of Mahathir. Mahathir isn't infallible. Why should UMNO claim ownership on malpractices or claim ownership on possible corrupt practices? They should disown not own up. This kind of stupidity will cost UMNO dearly in later years. UMNO should NOT take attacks on policies and on some issues of public concerns as attacks against the Malays or a Malay government. Perkasa doesn't speak for the Malays. It's not the only voice. Ibrahim Ali is no more Malay than I am or I am no less Malay than Ibrahim Ali. Here is the problem with the IPP issue. People are questioning why the government finds it easy to withdraw subsidies from ordinary people but not that are paid to IPPs. This double standard raises the concern that the government protects the IPPs, coincidentally most created during Dr Mahathir's watch. People can argue, IPPS get subsidies so that they can charge the public lower. Otherwise they will charge the public higher rates. The next real question is if IPPs have contracts agreed by the Mahathir administration that protect them from price fluctuations, is why were they given preferential treatment. Why protect them from price fluctuations? Essentially, IPP's are protected from fuel price fluctuations. If the Government cuts fuel subsidy, then, the cost will be passed to the IPP's who in turn will pass it on to Tenaga and who in turn will need to raise electricity tariffs. So, in a sense, IPP's do not really benefit from the fuel subsidies. The real issue is not why not take away subsidies from IPPs, but rather why did Tenaga and the government then agree to the price Tenaga pays to these IPP's and the "take or pay" conditions. The robber barons are holding the government at ransom and Mahathir who was the PM then, agreed to be squeezed by the balls. Isn't Tenaga capable of generating electricity at a much lower cost than the IPP's (economy of scale, lower cost of capital, etc) I read somewhere that some think tankers say that subsidies cause IPPS to be inefficient. Nope, I think subsidy causes not the IPPs but Tenaga to be inefficient or cause Tenaga to operate at sub-optimal level. Tenaga is forced to cater for daily peak and off peak demands and the broader economic cycles which means that Tenaga will have to shut off its own lower cost power stations when demand goes down because those IPP's are on a "take or pay" contract. Why should we be forced to pay the rates in the first place? Because we are forced to do so, would suggest that really, those responsible at that time, the bankers and the IPPS are screwing us big time. How so? |
| The Failure of Our Institutions Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT It was either a sign that MACC did not fully understand its functions as an agency or was reflective of an institution which exists just as a Christmas decoration on a very colourful street in GagaLand. By Art Harun When MACC opened a Twitter account some months ago, I was actually pleasantly surprised that it chose to follow my twitter account. I promptly decided to return the compliment by following MACC on Twitter. From then on, I could read MACC's instant reports of the Teoh Beng Hock RCI proceedings on Twitter. I must say it was a good initiative by MACC. Kudos to whoever that was in MACC who decided to utilise the social-networking facility by engaging the cyber-society through Twitter. During the height of the Sarawak election campaign, I decided that it was about time that I had a two-way communication with MACC over Twitter. Conscious of the fact that the biggest election issue for that election was the alleged wealth – which were not rebutted and categorically denied – of Taib Mahmud and his family members, I decided to tickle MACC's feet with a question. My question to MACC over Twitter was "why doesn't MACC investigate the wealth of Taib Mahmud?" I did that because from what I gathered over various reports – which I must say were unconfirmed but were not met by firm denials – Taib Mahmud and his family members own vast properties in Sarawak, Canada and other countries. The wealth imputed to him and his family would, if proven to be true, far exceed the amount of his salaries, allowances, bonuses and perks as a Chief Minister, even if it is assumed that he spent all those income on acquiring properties and nothing else throughout his tenure as the Chief Minister of Sarawak. To my simple mind, surely Taib Mahmud has a lot to explain on how he managed to acquire such vast properties during his tenure as the Chief Minister. If he said that he was a good businessman who manage to accumulate such wealth, then the next question would be where did he find the time to undertake such businesses when he should really be managing Sarawak on full time basis. So I asked MACC the above question on Twitter. The reply which I got from MACC was disappointing, to say the least. It was either a sign that MACC did not fully understand its functions as an agency or was reflective of an institution which exists just as a Christmas decoration on a very colourful street in GagaLand. The reply was "we need proof, we will investigate only when there is proof." Or something to that effect. And so I shot back, "isn't the function of investigation to find proof?" I did not get any reply to that one till today. My public engagement with MACC thus met with an early termination. MACC perhaps does not really understand what its functions as an investigative agency are. May I put it in simple term. When there are any report of alleged corruption or abuse of power, MACC is supposed to investigate. If the reports are clear enough, MACC does not even have to wait for the public to lodge a report. Any of its officers can lodge a report to start the ball rolling. MACC does not wait for proof. MACC is supposed to find the proof by investigating into the matter. The purpose of investigation is to get proof. If there are proof, there is no real necessity for and investigation. Get it, MACC? In any event, the real purpose of an investigation is not to get proof. It is to get information and evidence. It is not for MACC to proof anything at all. When MACC completes the investigation, it has to compile all the information and evidence and send it to the Attorney General Chambers. The AGC is then supposed to decide whether all the information and evidence gathered by MACC constitute sufficient proof to prosecute the person being investigated. It is not then for MACC top proof anything. The burden of proving guilt is on the AGC if and when it decides go prosecute. Get it, MACC? Or do you want me to spell that out in Bahasa Melayu? Read more at: http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2011/06/failure-of-our-institutions.html |
| Let’s see who’s bigger, Perkasa dares Bersih Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:16 PM PDT 
Ibrahim says Perkasa is not out to cause mischief. — file pic (TMI) KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Claiming the support of 36 NGOs, Perkasa threw down the gauntlet last night to organisers of the Bersih gathering to see who could rally more support when the two groups face off in the federal capital on July 9. The Malay rights group said that it had no choice but to take to the streets to counter election watchdogs Bersih because "if we don't, then the world will think that they have the support of all Malaysians." "Wait for July 9, then we will see who has more," Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali told reporters after chairing a roundtable meeting with representatives from various NGOs. The Pasir Mas MP insisted the 37 NGOs including Perkasa was not trying to "create chaos" as alleged by critics but simply wanting to show that "we are rakyat as well." "The Bersih gathering has a hidden political agenda to cause chaos. There is no justification to gather hundreds of thousands simply to ask for free and fair elections when the Election Commission has already answered." "Please don't assume we are trying to create chaos. That makes no sense at all. Our stand is simple. They march, we march. They cancel, we cancel. We don't want them to say they are doing this in the name of the rakyat. We are also the rakyat," he said. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march next month in the second such rally by Bersih, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police. PAS has promised to bring 300,000 protestors this year in hopes that it will galvanise support for the opposition in the general election expected within the year. The 2007 rally was said to play a big role in bringing record gains for the opposition electoral pact in Election 2008, where it swept five state governments and won 82 parliamentary seats. READ MORE HERE |
| As mainstream media fails, BN takes on Pakatan in ceramahs Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:02 PM PDT 
(TMI) KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — With the young ignoring mainstream media, Barisan Nasional (BN) is now penetrating the ceramah circuit to vie for support among the urban youth — a key demographic in the next general election. Bypassing the print and broadcast media it controls and admitting that "online media cannot be controlled," Umno Youth leaders told The Malaysian Insider it has been trying to break Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) stranglehold on public speaking events. "These new voters don't get mainstream media. They don't watch Warta Perdana or Buletin Utama," said Lokman Noor Adam, BN Youth's Unit Pidato (public speaking unit) chief, referring to the primetime news programmes on RTM1 and TV3. He said that the unit, established by Khairy Jamaluddin after he became Umno Youth chief in March 2009, was an effort to address BN's poor performance and response when holding ceramahs, forums and debates. "We didn't have anyone who can convince the public and break down the claims of opposition speakers. We also failed when it came to organising these programmes and mobilising large crowds to attend," the Umno Youth executive council member said. He told The Malaysian Insider that those under 40 make up 80 per cent of newly registered voters. Between Election 2008 to the next GE, they will grow from 41 to 49 per cent of the electorate. Alternative media channels have chipped away at the advantage BN holds from its control of both print and broadcast media. The latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) figures for the year ended June 30, 2010 showed that the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia lost 5.9 per cent of its circulation from the previous year, dropping from 181,346 to just 170,558 copies. The ABC report also showed The Star's circulation dropping from 295,479 to 286,409 (-3.1 per cent), the New Straits Times from 120,770 to 109,341 (-9.5 per cent), and Berita Harian from 183,187 to 160,597 (-12.3 per cent). Meanwhile, social media networks usage among Malaysians has grown exponentially, with 9.5 million Facebook accounts registered as of January 2011. Both PKR and DAP have also set up websites to cater for the Facebook generation that will vote for the first time in the next general election. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/as-mainstream-media-fails-bn-takes-on-pakatan-in-ceramahs/ |
| Bersih rally: Hindraf opts out Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:57 PM PDT 
The movement's leader says since Pakatan failed to endorse its 18-point demand, Hindraf will not participate in the rally. However, Uthayakumar said Hindraf will back Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan on the condition that HRP is allowed to contest 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats in the next polls. (TMI) -- Hindraf Makkal Sakti will not be participating in the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally, said its leader P Uthayakumar. "We are not participating because Pakatan Rakyat failed to endorse our 18-point demand made in 2007," he added in a press statement. Uthayakumar was responding to a news report that linked the Hindraf rally to the first Bersih rally in 2007 that swung public sentiment against the government during the 2008 general election. The former Internal Security Act detainee said back then, the movement supported Pakatan because it did not have a choice. "Hindraf did not have a political choice but to give the unconditional political directions to support Pakatan. But after the 2008 general election, it became more plain and obvious that PKR, DAP and PAS like the Umno-BN regime only wanted Indian votes," he said. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/06/15/bersih-rally-hindraf-opts-out/ |
| Police brace for hackers’ attack Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:55 PM PDT (NST) Police are working with several government agencies in preparing for the "worst" in the event a group of international hackers carry out their threat against the country. Calling themselves "Anonymous", the international hacker group has threatened to sabotage and disrupt the Malaysian government's official online portal tomorrow. Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said police were working with the National Security Council and CyberSecurity Malaysia in tracking and monitoring the group. "We are looking at various measures to identify the hackers and take steps to prevent the attack." He said several IT experts had been roped in for this effort. The group, believed to be made up of hackers worldwide, claimed they were targeting the Malaysian government after noticing unreasonable censorship in the country. The group specified that the recent blocking of file-sharing and sites, such as The Pirate Bay and WikiLeaks, as the reason for their outrage and threat. In a message at pastebin.com, the group claimed that the Malaysian gover nment's censorship was similar to taking away basic human rights. "Malaysia is one of the world's strictest governments, even blocking out movies, and television shows. "These acts of censorship are inexcusable," the group said. The group threatened to carry out the hacking, dubbed "Op eration Malaysia" at 7.30pm GMT (3.30am tomorrow local time) which can be accessed on a graphic poster at http://i.imgur.com/PTFWh.png. The discovery of the threat was made by a computer security software firm officer in Finland, with an online notification at 4.42am yester - d ay. Last week, Anonymous launched DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks on Turkish government websites, in protest against the government's plans to introduce Internet filter ing. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said it was working with other government agencies to coordinate security measures to mitigate the attack. It said in a statement that it was aware of the planned cyber attack on the malaysia.gov.my website through news reports on the matter.
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| Penan hunter-gatherers to be dumped in vast oil palm plantation Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT By Survival International More than 1,000 Penan hunter-gatherers will be taken from their rainforest home and dumped in a vast oil palm plantation – to make way for the controversial Murum dam.  The Penan depend on their forest for survival.
The Penan have said they do not want to move, but have been given no choice. They told the government that if they had to leave they wanted to move to another part of their ancestral land.  | Bulldozers clear land for oil palms, Metalon, Sarawak.
© SCANE/ Survival | The government accepted this – but has sold the same area to the Malaysian company Shin Yang, which is clearing the forest and planting thousands of oil palms. The Penan, who live in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, rely on their forest for hunting and collecting wild fruits and plants; without it they cannot survive. In an emotional appeal the Penan said, 'Shin Yang has entered the area illegally without our consent. If it is allowed to extensively clear and fell the forest, there will be no more forest left for our community to sustain our livelihood'.  | Murum Dam construction, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
© Survival International | Survival's Director, Stephen Corry, said today, 'Even by the appalling standards of the Sarawak government, which has treated the Penan with contempt for decades, this is breathtakingly cynical. Not only is it forcing more than 1,000 people from the forests they have lived in for generations, it has sold off the area it promised them as a new home, and is allowing it to be cleared for plantations. It looks like the government won't be satisfied until the Penan are reduced to utter poverty and destitution.'
Note:
The Murum dam, due to come onstream next year, is the first in a series of twelve new hydroelectric dams that will flood Penan and other indigenous villages. The twelve new dams will facilitate the development of the 'Sarawak corridor of renewable energy' (SCORE), which will involve oil, timber, aluminium and palm oil enterprises and will further threaten the land of Sarawak's tribal people |
| WIKILEAKS: Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary's foray into Iran Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT 
SKS is small operation controlled by Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary, one of Malaysia's wealthiest industrialists with a Forbes Magazine estimated net worth of $2 billion. Much of Syed Mokhtar's personal wealth has been acquired in dealings with the GOM and GOM-linked corporations. He controls Malaysia Mining Corporation, DRB Hicom, Malakoff, and Gas Malaysia among other significant Malaysian operations. 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 000059 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/ESC THAMMANG STATE FOR EEB/TFS CBACKEMEYER STATE FOR NEA/IR RWADHWANI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2020 TAGS: ECON, EFIN, ENIV, ENRG, EPET, ETTC, IR, KNNP, MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: SKS VENTURES EXPLAINS ITS IRAN INVESTMENTS REF: A. 09 STATE 121808 B. KUALA LUMPUR 0037 Classified By: Econ Counselor Matt Matthews for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1. (C) Summary: SKS Ventures (SKS) CEO Abang Iskandar Muas (Iskandar) met with Econoff January 19 to discuss SKS plans to develop the Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields (G&F) in Iran. Iskandar said that the GOM had initially negotiated the deal with the GOI and handed the project to SKS just prior to signing. Iskandar told us that development of the G&F fields is going slowly because sanctions impeded National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) ability to perform basic due diligence functions. He also stated that NIOC has been extremely difficult to work with and that the initial buyback service contract signed in Dec. 2007 is the only commercial agreement between SKS and NIOC. SKS's only investment over the past two years since the announcement was limited to staff time from their 15 employees and air tickets for meetings with a total value under $1 million, according to Iskandar. He was pessimistic on prospects for the deal and said that SKS is considering pulling out altogether. However, he emphasized SKS would need GOM approval prior to exiting the transaction because Malaysian Trade Ministry and Foreign Ministry officials had encouraged SKS to enter into the deal in the first place and had reconfirmed GOM support for trade cooperation with Iran at a recent meeting. Iskandar also denied reports of SKS participation with NIOC in a refinery projects in Syria and Indonesia and downplayed its deal with NIOC which is under review in Malaysia. End Summary. 2. (C) Comment: SKS is small operation controlled by Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary, one of Malaysia's wealthiest industrialists with a Forbes Magazine estimated net worth of $2 billion. Much of Syed Mokhtar's personal wealth has been acquired in dealings with the GOM and GOM-linked corporations. He controls Malaysia Mining Corporation, DRB Hicom, Malakoff, and Gas Malaysia among other significant Malaysian operations. Post believes Iskandar is a credible interlocutor that provided an important window on the GOM's role in the deal and SKS current thinking on the transaction. Iskandar seemed genuinely frustrated that the G&F deal turned out to be an empty business proposition due to NIOC incompetence and Iran sanctions. Other oil and gas industry contacts have confirmed the small size and scope of the SKS operation. End Comment. SKS Ventures 3. (C) Econoff met January 19 with SKS Ventures (SKS) CEO Abang Iskandar Muas (Iskandar) to discuss the SKS intentions to develop the Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields (G&F) in Iran and implications under the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA). Iskandar mentioned early in our conversation that Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Senior Director Wong had called him January 15 informing him that the embassy had been trying to contact him and he needed to meet with us. Econoff delivered ref A points and offered additional background on our information request. According to Iskandar, SKS has 15 full time employees and works on projects outside of Malaysia for Syed Mokhtar. Iskandar is an experienced O&G industry professional, having worked for Shell Oil USA (based in Houston) for fifteen years in Sarawak, Saudi Arabia (where he was VP for Finance and Human Resources), and Kuala Lumpur prior to assuming his current position with SKS two and one half years ago. Iskandar fondly reminisced of his frequent travel to the U.S. for business and family vacations prior to assuming his position at SKS. Golshan and Ferdowsi: G2G Agreement 4. (C) Iskandar said the G&F deal grew out of government-to-government negotiations between Malaysia and Iran during 2007. The GOM brought SKS to the table late in the negotiations, according to Iskandar, finalizing a buyback service contract between SKS and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in December 2007. He added that SKS entered into the agreement based on the GOM's policy of expanding trade cooperation with Iran and the belief that the business climate for oil and gas (O&G) in Iran was improving during 2005-6. Iskandar said that the initial business strategy was for SKS to plan the project, NIOC to perform physical due diligence (appraisals, seismic analysis, feasibility studies, etc.), and, once the project was ready to start, sell controlling interest, at a profit, to an international oil company that could bring resources to develop the fields. Iskandar commented, "We have no wells, no drilling rigs, no facilities, no experts, and no technology" to implement a project the size of G&F. His explanation as to why the Iranians would enter in to a transaction the size of G&F with such a small entity was, "in order to be friendly to the government (of Malaysia)." NIOC Difficulties 5. (C) Working with NIOC, according to Iskandar had been "extremely difficult." He added, "we should have taken a lesson from Petronas" claiming that Petronas will not deal with NIOC any longer because NIOC still owed a substantial amount of money to Petronas from its buyback service contract for South Pars Phases 2 and 3. Iskandar said that NIOC has made no progress on its due diligence obligations at G&F due to international contractors refusing to work in Iran because of sanctions. He complained that SKS and NIOC also have not reached any commercial agreements on the project in the last two years. Iskandar stated, "We have no idea how we would be paid. NIOC has not agreed to LNG and we have no interest in selling gas domestically. Iran uses most of their gas to inject into their oil fields to get more oil or to produce heavily subsidized electricity." He listed numerous other problems plaguing the project related to Iran sanctions such as the inability to import LNG technology or hire expat expertise, a low likelihood that Iranian LNG could be consistently sold on the open market, and NIOC's lack of access to financing. SKS Ready to Walk Away 6. (C) Iskandar described the SKS agreement with NIOC on G&F as "barely hanging on" and that SKS is currently deciding whether to stay in or pull out, and added, "The decision will come sooner rather than later." He viewed the buyback service contract as having "no commercial value" at this time. He noted though that Syed Mokhtar's close connections to the Malaysian government mean SKS will not move on a G&F decision without policy direction from the GOM. "We do not want to be on the wrong side of the government and we have not heard from PM Najib", according to Iskandar. However, he added that SKS has "no money in the ground" in Iran, because the firm did not pay an initial "signing bonus" as the buyback service contract did not carry any vested rights to the gas. He also stated that SKS management is aware of the change in the international political environment with regard to Iran and is "not entrenched," implying SKS would quickly drop the transaction if permitted by the GOM. Another View of the MITI Meeting 7. (C) Iskandar offered a different account of the recent meeting between MITI and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials and officers from the three Malaysian companies listed in ref A. Iskandar said that after the companies answered MITI queries on their Iran investments, the companies, especially Petronas, pushed back at MITI and MFA asking "What is the government's stance on trade cooperation with Iran?" and "Should we adjust our investment strategies?" MITI responded that the GOM still supports trade cooperation with Iran, according to Iskandar. (Comment: The MFA account of the meeting (ref B) was similar to Iskandar's but omitted the companies' questions and MITI's response. End Comment.) Other Announcements Inaccurate 8. (C) Toward the close of the meeting, Iskandar addressed recent Iranian and Malaysian press announcements of SKS participation in other transactions with NIOC. He stated that the GOM asked SKS to commission a feasibility study on a project with NIOC. It involved a refinery project in Kedah with a pipeline across the Malaysian Peninsula to Terengganu. Iskandar commented that the pipeline is economically unwarranted and an Iranian partner likely makes the refinery unfeasible. He added that recent announcements of SKS participation in a refinery project in Syria with Iranian and Venezuelan partners and SKS participation in an Indonesian refinery project with Pertamina and NIOC are blatantly false. He said that the first SKS had heard of either project was in press reports. He explained that SKS never issued denials of participation in the deals in order to avoid embarrassment in case the government was involved. KEITH |
| Himpunan BERSIH - Ahmad Maslan Ajak Rakyat Boikot Posted: 13 Jun 2011 04:35 PM PDT 
(KL Pos) - Ketua Penerangan UMNO Malaysia, Datuk Ahmad Maslan menggesa kesemua warganegara Malaysia membantah Perhimpunan anjuran Pembangkang iaitu BERSIH 2.0 yang dakwa beliau bakal menggugat keselamatan dan periuk nasi warga kota. Beliau juga menggesa kesemua Pertubuhan dan Persatuan Kerajaan mahupun bukan Kerajaan membuat laporan polis sebagai bukti kukuh seterusnya mendesak agar pihak berkenaan menghentikan serta merta perancangan pembangkang. Ahmad Maslan turut mendakwa Pembangkang kelihatan buta dengan kerusi DUN dan Parlimen yang diperolehi mereka setelah berjaya merampas 4 buah Negeri dan menguasai Parlimen di Wilayah Persekutuan pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 yang lalu. Ini membuktikan bahawa amalan demokrasi melalui Pilihanraya Umum di Malaysia telus dan bersih dari anasir-anasir kotor. Beliau turut menggesa Pembangkang menganjurkan Perhimpunan ini di dalam Stadium Tertutup yang lebih efisyen dan tidak mengganggu ketenteraman awam di samping tidak menghalang sebarang aktiviti perniagaan dilakukan oleh peniaga-peniaga di ibu kota. Ahmad Maslan berkata demikian di dalam Sidang Akhbar di PWTC, disini sebentar tadi. Turut serta dalam Sidang tersebut Pengerusi PEKIDA Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Roslan Dahaman. |
| Anak muda Melaka sertai Bersih 2.0 Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:16 PM PDT 
(Harakah Daily) - Pemuda Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Melaka melancarkan Bersih 2.0 semalam. Pelancaran tersebut disempurnakan bersama oleh Ketua DAPSY Melaka, Tey Kok Kiew, Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Melaka, Yuhaizad Abdullah dan Ketua AMK Melaka, Law Bing Hau di Pejabat PAS Negeri Melaka di Semabok. Dalam ucapan ringkasnya pada program tersebut, Yuhaizad yakin anak-anak muda negeri Melaka akan turun beramai-ramai menyatakan sokongan kepada pimpinan Bersih 2.0 yang menuntut suatu pilihan raya bersih, telus dan adil. "Kita yakin anak-anak muda Melaka akan bersama-sama dengan anak-anak muda seluruh Malaysia turun untuk menyatakan bantahan dan menuntut pilihan raya yang bersih, adil dan telus. "Selain itu kita juga yakin seluruh penyokong PR tidak mengira bangsa, agama, umur dan taraf kehidupan akan turun beramai-ramai bagi menjayakan perhimpunan bersejarah tersebut," ujar Yuhaizad yang merupakan bekas calon PAS Pilihan raya kecil Merlimau. Teh Kok Kiew dan Law Bing Haw juga melahirkan keyakinan yang sama di mana DAP dan PKR kata mereka akan menggerakkan seluruh ahli untuk sama-sama menghadiri perhimpunan aman tersebut. Sementara itu, Pemuda Pakatan Rakyat akan menganjurkan ceramah untuk mobilisasi Bersih 2.0 pada 16 Jun ini bertempat di Dataran Hamas, Kompleks PAS Kawasan Jasin. Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu akan menyampaikan ceramah tersebut bersama-sama dengan Pesuruhjaya PAS Melaka, Adly Zahari, Pengerusi DAP dan PKR negeri, Goh Leong San dan Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin. |
| Bersih 2.0 diteruskan walau Perkasa halang Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:08 PM PDT 
(Harakah Daily) - Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Mobilisasi PAS, Mohamad Sabu (gambar) berkata, PAS tidak akan berganjak bersama Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0) untuk mengadakan himpunan besar-besaran di Kuala Lumpur, 9 Julai ini. Katanya, biarpun kumpulan pendesak Melayu, Perkasa memberi amaran untuk menghalang, namun himpunan tersebut tetap akan diteruskan. "Kita akan buat terus, dia (Perkasa) nak buat himpunan itu hak dia," katanya kepada Harakahdaily hari ini. Presiden Perkasa, Ibrahim Ali dalam sidang media di parlimen hari ini memberitahu pertubuhan itu akan melawan habis-habisan himpunan Bersih 2.0 itu. Sambil menyifatkan himpunan itu sebagai "mengacau", Ibrahim turut memberi amaran akan membuat himpunan serupa bagi menghalang himpunan Bersih 2.0 tersebut walaupun terpaksa berlaku pertembungan. Ibrahim, yang juga ahli parlimen Pasir Mas, juga mendakwa himpunan Bersih itu akan menimbulkan huru hara apabila ada pesertanya membaling batu dan membakar kereta. Membidas kenyataan Ibrahim itu, Mohamad yang juga Timbalan Presiden PAS berkata, bukan Perkasa yang menentukan himpunan tersebut huru-hara atau tidak. "Itu kerja polis la nak tentukan aman atau tidak. Datuk Ambiga (Pengurusi Bersih), sudah beri jaminan kita akan buat himpunan secara aman," katanya. Beliau turut memberi contoh himpunan Bersih pertama pada 2007 lalu, menyaksikan himpunan berlangsung secara aman. "Perkasa kalau nak buat juga himpunan, buat hari lain la, kita dah cadang tarikh ni lebih awal lagi," katanya. Declare perang fizikal Seorang lagi AJK Bersih, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli menyifatkan tindakan Perkasa memberi amaran mahu bertembung dengan peserta himpunan Bersih sebagai tidak wajar. "Kita tak pernah halang Perkasa nak berhimpun. Tapi berhimpun lah untuk memperjuang hak sendiri, bukan sebab nak halang kita semata-mata. "Ini sudah declare perang secara fizikal. Bukan begini caranya, ini cara pengganas," katanya. |
| Himpunan Melayu Pulau Pinang selepas Bersih 2.0 Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:05 PM PDT 
(Harakah Daily) - Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu berkata, satu perhimpunan umat Melayu Pulau Pinang akan diadakan untuk menempis anggapan kononnya mereka tidak sokong Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri. Katanya, ia akan diadakan selepas berjaya mengadakan perhimpunan aman Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) 2.0 pada 9 Julai nanti. Semua agenda tambahnya, telah dibincangkan secara tidak formal dengan Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan akan dipanjangkan kepada Pengerusi PKR Pulau Pinang, Datuk Mansor Othman serta Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri, Ustaz Saleh Man. "Perhimpunan orang Melayu di Pulau Pinang juga harus diadakan sebagai tanda mereka tidak terjerat dengan mainan politik jahat Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang tidak sudah-sudah melemparkan padangan negatif terhadap Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat," jelasnya ketika ditemui selepas berpidato di hadapan ribuan orang di padang awam, Pekan Penaga malam tadi. Katanya, sebelum membuat persiapan perhimpunan tersebut, satu pertemuan dengan DAP akan diadakan bagi menerangkan hasrat murni berkenaan supaya kepimpinan DAP tidak salah sangka. Mohamad yakin, DAP tidak semacam Umno yang berfikiran tidak matang dan jauh ketinggalan dari arus perkembangan politik yang sihat. Kata beliau, perhimpunan aman itu juga bermatlamat memberikan penerangan sejelas-jelasnya mengenai beberapa perkara yang sengaja dicaturkan oleh Umno setelah gagal mempertahankan Pulau Pinang pada Pilihan raya Umum ke-12 lalu. Mereka, ujarnya nampak agresif memburuk-burukkan Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang dengan kerjasama beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang bersembunyi atas nama perjuangan menegakkan kebenaran tetapi pada masa yang sama bersekongkol dengan segelitir kepimpinan Umno dan BN. "Bila kalah dan rakyat Pulau Pinang menolak kepimpinan yang korup, maka ramailah yang keluar tunjuk perasaan tidak puas hati kononnya habislah negeri ini bila dapat pada DAP atau bangsa Cina," ujarnya. Tambahnya, tanpa orang Melayu sedar bahawa sebelum ini pun Pulau Pinang diketuai oleh Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, lainlah jika sebelum negeri ini jatuh ke tangan Pakatan Rakyat ia diperintah oleh Umno. Jelasnya, bagi PAS siapa pun yang memerintah patut bersikap adil dan tidak mencuri harta rakyat dengan sewenang-wenangnya. Menruutnya, apabila Pakatan Rakyat diisytiharkan menang, maka DAP yang mempunyai lebihan kerusi akan memegang tampuk pemerintahan. Ini, katanya berbeza dengan Umno yang menang banyak kerusi pada pilihan raya 1990 tetapi memberikan hak ketua menteri kepada Gerakan. "Umno dayus dan hanya sanggup melemparkan kenyataan pedas terhadap Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat yang berjaya menghalang mereka meneruskan usaha mempergunakan hak kerajaan untuk kepentingan parti dan kroni," ujarnya. |
| Bersih 2.0: All heads must rise to the challenge Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT The very government that preaches that it is a fair and just government warns of dire consequences if the rakyat proceed with Bersih 2.0 to express their anchored support for justice and fairness in governance. The Bersih Rally 2.0 is not a political rally. It is about democracy and civil liberties – the very fundamentals that this nation earned its independence from. By J. D. Lovrenciear The announced Bersih Rally 2.0 is already gaining much momentum as well as generating some heat. The President of the Malaysian Bar Council must indeed be commended. A lady of resolute will, her passion for justice is exemplary. Likewise, the newly minted Mat Sabu is a lion at heart. His immediate announcement of pledging 300,000 citizens to the planned peaceful march for justice encapsulates this man's commitment to society and its ethical existence. On the other extreme we have voices crying out against holding this rally that is a signature event of Malaysians' demand for fair and clean elections. Some betray their very voices by making irresponsible statements. Others are giving extremely self-centered reasons why they do not want the rally to proceed. Meanwhile, the very government that preaches that it is a fair and just government warns of dire consequences if the rakyat proceed with Bersih 2.0 to express their anchored support for justice and fairness in governance. The Bersih Rally 2.0 is not a political rally. Far from it, it is also not the 'opposition' camps' revolution. It is about democracy and civil liberties – the very fundamentals that this nation earned its independence from. Hence, heads of every faction of society must also rise to the challenge proactively. Religious heads – be they be Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs – all of them must express their stand through public and press statements. Heads of religions cannot disassociate themselves from the Bersih Rally 2.0 by maintaining that this has nothing to do with religion. Yes and no. Yes because it is not about the teachings and practices of one's faith. No because it involves basic human justice on earth. It is about ensuring that God's creation is not the victim of mortal man's deceit and sin. Hence the Heads of religion must make their stand announced. Likewise, Presidents and Heads of professional bodies must make an official statement of what and where they stand. They cannot stray away and claim that Bersih 2.0 has nothing to do with their professional institutions. On the contrary, it has everything to do with professionalism and professional conduct. It is about justice. It hinges on ethics. When justice and ethics are compromised, there is zero professionalism. The same too goes for NGOs. You cannot absolve yourself from Bersih 2.0 because you cannot live up to your NGO principles in an environment that is devoid of justice and fairness. So you too need to make a stand on behalf of your members. The bottom-line is this is not about politics or politicking. This is not about opposition or ruling political parties. This Bersih 2.0 is about the fundamental right of live on this planet. It is about humanity. It is about the very conduct of our journey here on earth for a live hereafter. If we do not correct what is wrong before our eyes; if we do not partake in and through peaceful means an agenda for the good of citizens and visitors; if we divorce ourselves from the realities of life surrounding us; if we cannot work together for the betterment of the nation's governance – then all else is lost. And the price we must pay will be high while still journey in life, failing which we will be held accountable in the hereafter. Whether we are on the BN side or the opposition camp; whether we are political or a-political; whether we are professionals or otherwise; young or old; rich or poor – as long as we are Malaysians we owe each other that duty to come together in the best interest of government, opposition and all those who promise and hope for better day tomorrow. That better day and hope is anchored in justice. For the world of tomorrow is going to built not on rising towers and spanking highways alone. Instead the future currency of progress and peace is one that is fashioned after true democracy, civil liberties and ethical principles. The just world has dawned and we must all be a part of that endeavor. And drawing a leaf from Barack Obama: For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we've been told we're not ready or that we shouldn't try or that we can't, this generation of Malaysians has responded with a simple creed that best sums up the spirit of a people – Yes, we can. Yes, we can. And together, we – all Malaysians, will begin the next great chapter in the Malaysian story, with three words that will ring from coast to coast: Yes, we have. And with that we will eventually march into our 13th General Election without suspicion and disputes to witness the emergency of a champion who will be accepted without arguments as our elected government by the people, for the people and with the people. It can be BN again. It can be PR as well. Or it could even be a BN-PR coalition. But it is an honorable battle fought with exemplary justice and fairness. Hence, in a nutshell, every citizen of Malaysia must share in this role for a just and fair election. Not just leaving it to the government of the day. Not just pinning their hope on the opposition alone. Not abstaining with a mindset 'it is none of my business'. |
| Honorable Prime Minister, perception is not reality for you? Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:10 PM PDT By J. D. Lovrenciear If you say perception is not reality, are you then suggesting that it is an illusion? What the Prime Minister certainly misses very grossly is that perception is not plucked from the thin air. Neither is it a blinded vision inflicted by others. Perception is not all about what people just think about an issue. It is a precipitate of experiences stretching over periods of time. It is all about one's experiences about what you say, do, do not say and do not do. In short, the rakyat's perceptions about you and/or BN are a result of your thoughts, words and deeds over time. Further, his and his BN coalition's numerous attempts to re-orientate the public perception that is not favorable to the BN parties, as owed up by the PM himself, appears to hinge on propaganda instead of educating the rakyat. As Everett Martin (1929) points out, education aims at independence of judgment whereas propaganda offers ready-made opinions for the unthinking masses. Of course it is clearly understandable why the PM is taking this option. Educating the masses takes time as it is a slow process involving human development and thinking. The government cannot afford this given the imminent General Elections. So rather than teach or tell people how to think, the only option is to tell people what to think. In short, it is all about 'mass effects'. Now that is not perception management. It is pure propaganda. The symptoms that are cascading like a deluge from the BN quarters clearly affirm that propaganda is the preferred modus operandi. As pointed out by Jay Black (2001): One, we are witnessing an undue reliance on authority figures and spokespersons to affect people's thinking rather than using empirical validation to establish truths and conclusions. Two, is the fixed view of people, institutions and situations into broad, all inclusive categories of friends of BN and enemies of BN that is often held by BN and its leaders. And three, a greater emphasis on conflict rather than on cooperation among people, institutions and situations. The ongoing anti-Bersih 2.0 stances are fine examples here. Rather than take the propaganda highway, the Prime Minster should have been better advised by his hired public relations bandwagon that persuasion would have been a more justifiable route. Why persuasion and not propaganda? As Thomas H. Bivens (2004) explains, "persuasion is not unethical by nature. Instead, it is time-honored, democratic tradition based on guidelines formulated by the Greeks over 2,000 years." But that persuasive communication must be anchored on solid evidence that is transparent and can withstand the test of time. In other words truth, nothing but the truth matters if persuasive communication is to succeed within the perimeters of ethics. The TARES Test, i.e. the five principles of ethical persuasion (Sherry Baker and David L. Martinson; 2001) must be fully subscribed by the PM and his BN. For the benefit of the Honorable PM and his team-mates, here are the five principles: to be truthful at all times; the spokesperson or mouthpiece must be authentic; the persuader must respect the rakyat whom he or she intends to influence; there must be equity in the persuasive appeal; and social responsibility must be exercised for the common good. Hence, perhaps the Honorable instead of lambasting that perception is not reality, he should have humbly borrowed a leaf from Barack Obama who wrote in his "A more perfect Union": I believe that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together – unless we perfect our (political) union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for (you and me), our children and our grandchildren. And with that, join the rakyat in its Bersih 2.0 rally. Or at the least, give the rakyat your full assurance that you will guarantee their safety.
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| Why Najib must hold the 13th GE this year instead of 2012 Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:50 AM PDT One does not hold an election in a recession year. And we know that it takes some time to recover from a recession. Some economists believe that 2012 is going to be a recession year. The UK is already seeing a decline in property sales and house prices have come down. This means Najib must hold the 13th General Election this year, maybe sometime in October or November after the Budget, or else Barisan Nasional is going to be kicked out. Is Najib prepared to place a bet that my assumption is wrong?
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Rosenberg Says 99% Chance of Another Recession by 2012
In a Bloomberg video David Rosenberg, chief economist at Gluskin Sheff & Associates, says there is a 99% Chance of Another Recession by 2012. Rosenberg also talks about the outlook for the U.S. economy.
Selected Quotes
Bloomberg: How Certain are you that we may be headed for a recession
Rosenberg: I think that by 2012, I would give it a 99% chance. I say that because as an economist, you have to be part historian. When you have a manufacturing inventory cycle recession, they are usually separated 5 years apart. But when you have a balance sheet recession, credit contraction, asset deflation (for example residential real estate), the downturn tends to be separated every 2 to 2.5 years. ... Economists call this a soft patch. It's not like this is a soft patch. Basically, when all the stimulus is gone, you get to see what the emperor looks like disrobed. It's not a pretty picture.
No Double Dip
Rosenberg goes on to say it's a second recession, not a "double dip" and more stimulus is coming once the "Fed sees the white eyes of the economy".
Given that there is no incentive in Congress for more stimulus (nor should there be), Bernanke will have a tougher time, this time, unless there is a significant drop in oil and food prices. David Rosenberg Interview on U.S. Economic Outlook David Rosenberg, chief economist at Gluskin Sheff & Associates, talks about the outlook for the U.S. economy. Rosenberg, speaking with Betty Liu, Jon Erlichman and Michael McKee on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop," also discusses fiscal policy and banking regulation. Bloomberg's Ian Katz also speaks. (Source: Bloomberg) SEE THE VIDEO HERE: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/70808782/
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/06/rosenberg-says-99-chance-of-another.html |
| Malaysia: Arrest Sudanese President wanted for war crimes Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:27 AM PDT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE The Malaysian government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Malaysia, Amnesty International said today. The Malaysian government announced yesterday that President al-Bashir will participate in the Langkawi International Dialogue, an economic forum being held in Malaysia from 19 to 21 June 2011. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
"Malaysia should not turn itself into a port of call for fugitives from international justice" said Donna Guest, Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International. "The Malaysian government should bar Bashir from its territory, and arrest him if he turns up."
Amnesty International welcomed Malaysia's announcement on 21 March of its intention to become a state party to the Rome Statute and to recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. In his announcement, Malaysian Law Minister Nazri Aziz said, "This is a declaration that Malaysia rejects war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide."
When the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC in 2005, it urged all states to cooperate fully with the Court. Although Malaysia is not yet party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, it should arrest Omar al-Bashir should he arrive in Malaysia, Amnesty International said.
"Malaysia's invitation to Omar al-Bashir flies in the face of its decision to join the ICC," said Guest. "Instead of hosting people wanted by the ICC, Malaysia should reaffirm its commitment to justice." |
| Ruslan Kassim: another Munafiq identified Posted: 12 Jun 2011 10:59 PM PDT
So you see, Islam has already established the system of consensus and elections of leaders and committees and so on. So what the Penang government is doing is extremely Islamic. The people decide on their leaders and committees. And this is done through consensus and elections. NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin 
Perkasa tells Penang Malays to say no to mosque polls
Perkasa wants the Malays in Penang to oppose the state government's plan of electing mosque committees, as the right-wing group believes that it will only divide the Muslim community here.
Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim said elections would adversely affect the sanctity of the mosques and unity among the Muslims due to power struggles, the creation of factions, and animosity.
"The action of the state government to have mosque committee elections is unwise and is only politically motivated," Bernama quoted him as saying in a statement Monday.
The Penang government announced last week that the selection of mosque committees in the state would be made through elections this year to replace the previous method.
Ruslan said elections were implemented in Kelantan in the 1960s and 1970s, but were subsequently stopped as they had caused friction and divided the Muslim community there.
This report is dated 13th June 2011
******************************************
Now read this report on Ruslan Kassim dated September 1998
The days before the Umno general assembly of June 1998, a book-length poison pen letter entitled '50 reasons why Anwar cannot become the next prime minister' (50 Dalil mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM), made its debut in the Malaysian political scene.
But unlike most previous poison-pen letters, the 50 Dalil had an author as well as a publisher. It carried a by-line Khalid Jafri, ex-sports editor of Utusan Malaysia, editor-in-chief of the now defunct Harian National tabloid newspaper, an undischarged bankrupt.
Delegates arriving at the Umno general assembly had a copy of the poison book included in the party documentation handed over to them in the complimentary bag. This happened despite the passing of an interlocutory injunction by a high court judge only a day earlier, against the distribution and dissemination of the defamatory book. It was something quite odd and many at the assembly were trying to put two and two together.
The Umno Youth leader from Negri Sembilan, Ruslan Kassim, had done a little checking with the Registrar of Companies, which linked the book's publishers with the disgraced former Chief Minister of Malacca, Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik and his wife, Zabedah Abdullah.
Ruslan Kassim had also heard from the Federal Territory Umno that the party secretariat had been used to distribute the book. This pointed at the party secretary general, Sabaruddin Chik.
Who is actually behind this drama, asked Negri Sembilan Umno Youth leader (Ruslan Kassim). But none of the two Chiks were willing to admit to anything.
Impact International, Vol. 28 No. 9 (September 1998)
***********************************
Ruslan Kassim was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for this expose. Yes, he was punished by detention without trial for his allegation against the two Chiks -- the big Thambi whose small thambi got him into trouble, and Sabaruddin 'tukang kasut' (Malays would know why 'tukang kasut' so go ask a Malay what it means).
Ruslan Kassim swore that Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of fitnah. And when Parti Keadilan Nasional (now PKR) was launched he joined the party and became its Information Chief (Ketua Penerangan).
Yes, before he became the Information Chief of Perkasa, Ruslan Kassim was the Information Chief of what is now called PKR. But when he was the PKR Information Chief he sang a different tune and now, as the Information Chief of Perkasa, he sings a different tune.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, my dear readers, is what Islam calls a Munafiq.
Is Ruslan Kassim now telling us that he lied back in 1998 and that Anwar Ibrahim was not a victim of fitnah and that the '50 Dahlil' book was true? Or is he telling us that he did not lie back in 1998 but he can now accept that Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of fitnah and it no longer troubles him like it did back in 1998?
Either way, whichever the case may be, that makes Ruslan Kassim a Munafiq. He is opposed to the election of mosque committees because he just has the interest of Islam at heart, or so he tells us.
But then, if he is motivated purely by Islam and for no other reason, especially not for political reasons, how come what he is doing and saying does not demonstrate this?
From the Islam perspective, a Muslim who runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds is clearly a Munafiq. And this is what Ruslan Kassim is doing. He accuses Umno of defaming or fitnah Anwar. And he was detained for this allegation. But yet he is prepared to work with Umno in spite of what he thinks of Umno.
Anyway, Ruslan Kassim is either ignorant about Islam or is trying to misrepresent Islam. He is trying to suggest that electing mosque officials is counterproductive to Islam.
Actually the reverse is true. It was reported that it took three days for the people of Medina to bury Prophet Muhammad's body after he died. And the reason is because the Medina people were locked in three days of debate (some like the Shiah say dispute) to decide on the successor or Khalif to the Prophet.
Finally it as agreed that Abu Bakar would be the successor and only then could they bury the Prophet's body.
No, they did not have Umno or Jabatan Agama (religious department) then in Medina. And it was not Umno or the religious department who decided on the successor. It was the people. And the people voted on the matter to decide who should be the successor to the Prophet.
So you see, Islam has already established the system of consensus and elections of leaders and committees and so on. So what the Penang government is doing is extremely Islamic. The people decide on their leaders and committees. And this is done through consensus and elections.
To suggest that the Islamic system of consensus and elections is un-Islamic makes those who say so un-Islamic themselves. And if they propose something un-Islamic and pretend that it is Islamic this makes them into Munafiqs.
That is the bottom line.
|
| WIKILEAKS: Anwar's second sodomy trial begins Posted: 12 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT Anwar's second sodomy trial is extremely controversial in Malaysia, seen by many as a political ploy to derail him and the opposition, and as a repeat of the 1998 sodomy trial. In launching the trial -- and there were doubts there would be a trial -- the GOM appears to determined to pursue the charge notwithstanding the potential costs domestically and internationally. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000064 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, MY SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER ANWAR'S "SODOMY II" TRIAL BEGINS 1. (SBU) Summary: After months of delay while his defense team submitted motion after motion ranging from a request to see all the evidence to outright dismissal, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's trial for alleged consensual sodomy with a former aide began in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on February 3. The prosecution immediately called to the stand the alleged victim, 25-year-old former Anwar aide Saiful Bahari, who described his relationship with Anwar and began a detailed account of the events of June 26, 2008 when the alleged sodomy occurred. At the defense's request, the judge stopped the testimony when Saiful was on the verge of describing sexual contact. The testimony will resume in camera (without the public present) on February 4. Among the 70 members of the public observing the trial from the small gallery were opposition politicians, local and international Journalists, and diplomats from several embassies. Polcouns and Pol staff attended the February 2 and 3 sessions. 2. (SBU) Comment: Anwar's second sodomy trial is extremely controversial in Malaysia, seen by many as a political ploy to derail him and the opposition, and as a repeat of the 1998 sodomy trial. In launching the trial -- and there were doubts there would be a trial -- the GOM appears to determined to pursue the charge notwithstanding the potential costs domestically and internationally. While there may be many days and weeks to go before this case concludes, and there is potential for further delays, the GOM has so far allowed Malaysians and foreigners access to the proceedings. Observers from the International Bar Association and International Council of Justice were seated alongside the attorneys in the front of the courtroom. The proceedings are being prominently covered in both the mainstream government-influenced media and the blogosphere, as well as in the international press. End Summary and Comment. 3. (SBU) Anwar Ibrahim's trial began at 3:30 pm on February 3 after High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah rejected lead Anwar attorney (and fellow opposition Parliamentarian) Karpal Singh's request for a stay to allow the Appeals Court to rule on a request to obtain the government's evidence before the trial. A clerk read the charges concerning the alleged incident aloud in front of Anwar, standing toward the rear of the courtroom, who said that the charges were "frivolous" and ordered by the prosecution's "political masters" before pleading not guilty. 4. (SBU) The prosecution immediately called 25-year-old former Anwar aide Saiful Bahari to testify, walking methodically through questions about his educational background, first association with Anwar (March 2008), and his job description. Saiful, testifying in Malaysian, said he was paid RM 1,000 per month (about USD 270) to help with Anwar's schedule, carry his private cellphone, and manage his finances. At that point, Anwar leaned over to his wife, PKR politician Wan Azizah, and said "liar" in Malaysian. The prosecution had Saiful describe in detail how he arrived at Anwar's condominium on June 26, 2008, and what happened next, presenting as evidence a one-page statement that Saiful had signed in front of police when he reported the alleged sodomy. The defense succeeded in having a reference to previous sexual contact between Anwar and Saiful expunged from the statement. When Saiful had described how Anwar had allegedly asked him to have sex and then ordered him to undress in the bathroom, the defense requested that the remainder of Saiful's testimony be heard in camera. The judge agreed to do so starting at 9:30 a.m. on February 4. 5. (SBU) In parallel with trial, Anwar's legal team continues to pursue motions to have the charges dismissed or to gain reviews of earlier decisions denying the defense access to the government's evidence. If accepted, those motions could lead to renewed delays in the trial. 6. (SBU) In the months before the trial, Anwar was careful to keep in touch both with prominent foreigners and Malaysian supporters. On January 25, his People's Justice Party (PKR) International Bureau held a closed door briefing for diplomats about the trial, arguing that the GOM was determined to convict "the Prime Minister in waiting" to remove him from the political scene. They also argued that there was clear medical evidence refuting the charges, and that the judiciary was being manipulated to ensure a conviction. KEITH |
| Saya sokong Najib Posted: 12 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT
So you see, Najib, what you said is true. Politics is about perception, not reality. And you need to be good at perception management. But your people are not. They are too arrogant and they think they are smart. I alone can makan all your people. Yes, Raja Petra Kamarudin alone can take on your entire team. NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin Dear Najib, I sokong you. Well, to be exact, I sokong your statement below as reported by Bernama.
Yes, politics is about perception, not reality, as you said. I am glad you now understand this. In fact, your people have been using this tactic themselves.
You see, recently I gave an interview on TV3 and they very cleverly presented it as if I am now endorsing you and supporting you and that you have bought me off and I am now an Umno Trojan horse.
That may be just the perception created by Umno or TV3. But many believed this because, as you said, politics is about perception, not reality.
Let me give you another example. Many believe you are somehow, directly or indirectly, involved in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder. Whether this is true or not does not matter. That is the perception and, as you said, politics is about perception, not reality.
Many also believe that Anwar is innocent of both the Sodomy 1 and Sodomy 2 allegations plus he is not the man in the porn video. Again, whether this is true or not does not matter. That is the perception and, as you said, politics is about perception, not reality.
So you see, just on these two issues alone you and Umno lose. And I am yet to go into other issues like your wife's handbags that run into millions of Ringgit. And I have not even gone into her shoes, clothes and overseas shopping expenses yet. Your wife makes Imelda Marcos look tame by comparison. That, again, is the perception and can never be erased as much as it may be denied.
If I really wanted to get you, Najib, there are hundreds of issues I can raise. However, to be fair to me, I have picked and chosen only a few issues here and there. I have not really launched a crusade against you. If I did, you would suffer what Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suffered and you would go the way of the last Prime Minister -- into forced retirement.
The fact I have not attacked you enough is the reason why many say you have bought me off. But then these people are political novices who think they know politics but actually know nuts. That is why we need not bother with these dim-witted people. I call them bodoh sombong. Dah lah bodoh, sombong pulak.
Let me tell you why I do not wish for you to be forced out of office like Pak Lah before you. No, it's not because I love you. It is because I know that you are surrounded by stupid people. And I personally know many of these people. We used to hang out together in the days of the pre-March 2008 GE.
If you were to be forced out, then Muhyddin Yassin would take over as Prime Minister. And this would be more dangerous for the opposition.
I would rather you remain as Prime Minister until the next general election. Then the opposition has a better chance. If Muyhiddin takes over as Prime Minister before the next election then the opposition may suffer.
So you see, Najib, what you said is true. Politics is about perception, not reality. And you need to be good at perception management. But your people are not. They are too arrogant and they think they are smart. I alone can makan all your people. Yes, Raja Petra Kamarudin alone can take on your entire team.
So please don't flatter yourself when your people tell you that I am now your supporter because I no longer attack you too much. I don't attack you too much because I don't want you to fall and for Muhyiddin to take over as Prime Minister.
I personally know Muyhiddin's people. They are clever. I also personally know your people. They are not. So better we deal with you than with Muyhiddin.
Tell me, Najib, what is the best your people can do? So far they only know how to shout BABI. That's all, BABI -- Brother Anwar Bin Ibrahim. You think just by shouting BABI the opposition is going to fall?
Dear Najib, if you want to survive then you had better sack all your so-called advisers. Semua ego besar. Kepala bapak dia orang. Find better people or else you are finished. Remember, you said it: it's all about perception.
By the way, the answer is no! I do not wish to work for you if you sack all the idiots around you, not even if I come directly under Rosmah….if you know what I mean (pun intended). *******************************************
Umno and BN need to work hard to raise public perception: Najib
(Bernama) - The Umno machinery needs to work hard and draw up new strategies to raise the perception and aspiration of the people concerning the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in line with the current development in the mass communication technology such as the short messaging service (SMS), the social websites Twitter and Facebook, what was more important in politics was the perception and not reality.
"Politics is all about perception. Not the question of reality...the opposition knows how to play up perception and deny what is the truth. Even to get the DNA is turned down, the question on the Omega wristwatch has yet to be answered."
"That is why Umno and the BN must know how to influence the mind and aspiration of the people so that they will perceive Umno and BN as effective parties, the best and can champion the cause of the people compared to others who only know how to make promises but don't fulfill them," he said when opening the Ampang Umno delegates meeting, here.
Also present were the Selangor Umno Liaison deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar and Ampang Umno division head Datuk Ismail Kijo.
Najib said that as such, UMNO and the BN must strive for something that was more effective to show that it understood the aspiration of the people better so that the reality, perception and the people's sentiment favoured the party.
"The government had drawn up the Government Transformation Plan (GTP), we have a more detailed plan, a clearer road map unlike the opposition who only know how to make promises, the play up the promises but we cannot do so because we are the ruling party."
"We must be better than they (are), let the public perception be better than the others, if the people like the BN, then they will vote for it, but if they hate (the BN), then they will vote the other people to represent their constituency," he said.
Najib, who is also the Selangor Umno Liaison chairman, said Umno must always be prepared to face the coming general election, which could be held at any time this year, or next year or even 2013.
"We must be ready not only for the (election) dry run but must be ready for a better public perception and sentiment, this must be given priority," he said.
He said the party machinery should also pay attention to the party supporters as well as those who had yet to become supporters because Umno and the BN championed the welfare of all races. |
| The Munafiq named Zul Noordin Posted: 11 Jun 2011 08:46 PM PDT
Zulkifli Noordin, the Kulim Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament, said, "Some Malays are willing to be used by this illegal gathering that is led by former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreevanasan. This is despite knowing the organisation has fought strongly against Islam." NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin Islam has a word for Muslims who talk about defending Islam and yet go against Islamic teachings. Datuk Ambiga is in fact upholding Islamic teachings. She is opposed to election fraud. Zul, on the other hand, wants to uphold election fraud. In this sense Ambiga is more Islamic than Zul. Zul, according to Islamic teachings, is a hypocrite or Munafiq. For those Muslims and non-Muslims who may not understand the concept of Munafiq in Islam, allow me to deliver my Sunday sermon. Munāfiq (n., in Arabic: منافق, plural munāfiqūn) is an Islamic Arabic term used to describe a religious hypocrite, who outwardly practices Islam, while inwardly concealing his disbelief (kafir), perhaps even unknowingly. The term munāfiq in Arabic, Bengali and Urdu is primarily a non-religious term that refers to a person whose actions are different from and opposite to his thoughts, which he conceals. In the Qur'anic sense the term refers to a person who does not have faith, but pretends to. The Qur'an has hundreds of ayāt (verses) discussing munāfiqūn, referring to them as more dangerous to Muslims than the worst non-Muslim enemies of Islam. The Qur'an states: The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them;- —Sura 4 (An-Nisa), ayah 145, Qur'an[2] According to the Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: The Prophet said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up. 1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. 2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous. 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner." According to the Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari Book 1 : Volume 2 : Hadith 32, narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three: 1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ). 3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)" And this is the Quran's word on hypocrites: 
Surat Al-Munāfiqūn (Arabic: سورة المنافقون) (The Hypocrites) is the 63rd sura of the Qur'an with 11 ayat. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 001 When the Hypocrites come to thee, they say, "We bear witness that thou art indeed the Apostle of God." Yea, God knoweth that thou art indeed His Apostle, and God beareth witness that the Hypocrites are indeed liars. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 002 They have made their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of God: truly evil are their deeds. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 003 That is because they believed, then they rejected Faith: So a seal was set on their hearts: therefore they understand not. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 004 When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up, (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of God be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)! Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 005 And when it is said to them, "Come, the Apostle of God will pray for your forgiveness", they turn aside their heads, and thou wouldst see them turning away their faces in arrogance. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 006 It is equal to them whether thou pray for their forgiveness or not. God will not forgive them. Truly God guides not rebellious transgressors. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 007 They are the ones who say, "Spend nothing on those who are with God's Apostle, to the end that they may disperse (and quit Medina)." But to God belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the Hypocrites understand not. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 008 They say, "If we return to Medina, surely the more honourable (element) will expel therefrom the meaner." But honour belongs to God and His Apostle, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 009 O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of God. If any act thus, the loss is their own. Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 010 and spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, "O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good". Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 011 But to no soul will God grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come; and God is well acquainted with (all) that ye do. XPGU-AxwfHk |
| When the government turns on its people (part 2) Posted: 11 Jun 2011 05:46 PM PDT Hey, is it not Malay-Muslims who are trying to frame a dead Malay-Muslim Customs Department officer on charges of corruption and suicide? Is it not Malay-Muslims who arrested and charged the Malay-Muslim ex-Director of the CCID for "allegedly using a police aircraft and for allegedly not declaring his assets" (which he did) instead of the real criminal in this case -- a certain politically well-connected Malay-Muslim who ripped off Malaysia's national airline, MAS? THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin 
Zulkifli Noordin, the Kulim Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament, wrote in the weekend edition of Utusan Malaysia: "Some Malays are willing to be used by this illegal gathering that is led by former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreevanasan. This is despite knowing the organisation has fought strongly against Islam, organised the interfaith council and supported Lina Joy's apostasy." "But to fulfil their lust for power, these Malays are willing to become insects blinded by the false light of power. Malay-Muslims will become weak and damaged due to their own dirty hands." "Do Malays not have political power? The reality is that Malays have absolute power. We have absolute majority in Dewan Rakyat." "With this absolute power, not only can we defend and empower Malays, we can uphold Islam." "Instead, there were Malay-Muslims across history who have been ready to betray their own (race)." "The biggest mistake made by Malays when they were too enthusiastic for independence and sacrificed Tanah Melayu citizenship to foreign races (Chinese and Indians)." "This right was given along with the right to own land, determine the government and other rights. In the end, even though Malays became politically independent, they are still slaves in their own land." ********************************** One thing you will notice about Malaysia is that Malay-Muslims just love to scream about Islam and they just love to label this and that as un-Islamic or Kafir or whatever. When they need to win an argument that they can't win, they will do a magic trick and pull the Islamic 'rabbit' out of their hat. That is the modus operandi of these Malay-Muslims who do this mainly because they are bankrupt of ideas. Actually this is all a load of bullshit. Hey, is it not Malay-Muslims who are trying to frame a dead Malay-Muslim Customs Department officer on charges of corruption and suicide? Is it not Malay-Muslims who arrested and charged the Malay-Muslim ex-Director of the CCID for "allegedly using a police aircraft and for allegedly not declaring his assets" (which he did) instead of the real criminal in this case -- a certain politically well-connected Malay-Muslim who ripped off Malaysia's national airline, MAS? Please lah! Don't give me all this crap about enemies of Islam and about defending Islam and all that other bullshit. The real enemies of Islam are the Muslims while it is 'Kafir Laknat' like Robert Phang and Justice Gunalan Muniandy who uphold justice and come to the defence of Muslims being fixed up by other Muslims. Yes, let me repeat that. Muslims are fixing up Muslims and it is the so-called 'enemies of Islam' who are coming to the defence of persecuted Muslims. Can you see the irony of this whole thing and can you see now that Zul Nordin is talking through his arsehole? Let us continue where we left off yesterday on the series: "When the government turns on its people" (see part 1 here). This is where we stopped: His family and the Customs Union have objected to the MACC's smear campaign. That was why Malaysia Today ran the 4-part series on Ahmad Sarbaini's death to reveal that the MACC would not hesitate to smear the good names of the dead if necessary to support their suicide theory. They could do all that because that is how the system works in Malaysia, the MACC and PDRM will help AG Gani Patail to fix the people who pose dangers to AG Gani Patail, and he will clear the MACC and Police of any wrongdoing. That was why on 31 May 2011, the MACC Operations Evaluation Panel (OEP) Chairman, Tan Sri Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil, seized the opportunity to clear AG Gani Patail unconditionally at the same time that the MACC conditionally cleared Tan Sri Robert Phang. Now, the language in clearing the two was very strange indeed: "Kes siasatan terhadap Tan Sri Robert Phang, bekas Ahli Panel Perundingan dan Pencegahan Rasuah yang ditohmah telah cuba memberi sogokan kepada seorang Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian dan berpuas hati bahawa siasatan yang telah dijalankan tidak mencukupi keterangan untuk sebarang pertuduhan terhadap mana-mana pihak. Kes siasatan terhadap Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Peguam Negara yang ditohmah mendapat pembiayaan bagi menunaikan ibadah haji dan berpuas hati bahawa siasatan juga tidak menunjukkan keterangan bagi sebarang kesalahan jenayah." Two days ago, the former Kuala Lumpur CID Chief, Dato' Mat Zain Ibrahim, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak accusing Attorney-General Gani Patail of burying evidence of corruption by senior government leaders between 1994 and 1996 involving losses of at least RM12 billion in public funds. Mat Zain also blasted Tan Sri Hadenan for clearing AG Gani Patail and cited a policy ruling by the MACC Corruption Prevention Advisory Panel (CPAP) that the MACC Act did not allow the OEP to review decisions made by the anti-graft body. It is amazing that with so much documentary and photographic evidence of Gani Patail consorting with Shahidan and Vincent Lye, the MACC can still say that the AG "tidak menunjukkan keterangan bagi sebarang kesalahan jenayah" (no proof of any criminal offence). This contrasted sharply with the statement that Robert Phang "tidak mencukupi keterangan untuk sebarang pertuduhan" (not enough evidence to frame a charge against any party). Phang's conditional clearance is a warning that he has to behave himself because now the AG has the upper hand. The AG can always direct an investigation against Phang to be reopened. That was what happened to Dato' Ramli Yusuff, the former Director of the CCID. Despite having been acquitted by the Sessions Courts and the High Courts, AG Gani Patial was not letting him off that easily. Gani Patail has since appealed against Ramli's acquittals all the way up to the Court of Appeal. These appeals are coming up on 20th June and 1st July respectively. When Razak Baginda was acquitted for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, Gani Patail declared that there would be no appeal because the Sessions Court had made a finding of fact. Thus, Gani Patail will respect that finding of fact. Malaysia Today will now prove that Gani Patail's respect for the court is as selective as his selective prosecution. Malaysia Today has studied the full Grounds of Judgment by Justice Gunalan Muniandy in "PP v Dato Ramli Bin Yusuff" in Criminal Case No.: 61-31 -2007 -- pages 355 to 376, which forms part of a larger appeal record that runs into volumes and volumes of documents, and is too long to reproduce. (Nevertheless, you can view five of the relevant scanned pages below). Page 355 reads as follows: "The material facts are mainly undisputed. This case has its beginning on 17.07.2007 upon the service of a "Notice To Disclose lnformation". [see Exhibit P. 1]. Exhibit P 1 was issued by the Deputy Public Prosecutor [DPP] named therein PW 34 (Anthony Kevin Morais). A (Dato' Ramli) complied duly filing a Declaration of Assets dated [Exhibit P 4] and serving it on PW 34 on 17.09.2007 which was well within the stipulated deadline. Exhibit P 1 was issued by PW 34 acting under the powers vested in the Public Prosecutor (PP) pursuant to s.32(1) of ACA '97 purportedly on the belief that there existed reasonable grounds that A had committed an offence under s. 11(a) of the Act, based specifically on No. Aduan: 098/2007 [Exhibit P 8]. On 01 -11.2007, A. was arrested and voluntarily gave a statement of Accused under 5.45(3), ACA, 1997, [Exhibit D. .111. Whether a prima facie case has been made out against A. Then at pages 361 and 362, Judge Gunalen made a damning judgment against Kevin Morais: "…. the documentary evidence exhibited considered in their totality indicate manifestly that at the material time no sufficient and reasonable grounds existed to justify the belief that A. had committed an offence under S.11(a) of ACA, 1997. Investigations appeared to be ongoing at that point in time. Hence, I found that Exhibit P. 1 and P. 2 were invalid and bad in law for non-compliance with the express requirements of S.32(1)(a). ACA 1997 and thus, cannot found the present charges which ought to be held groundless. The reasons given by PW.34 for his satisfaction and belief that A. had committed the predicated offence were, in my finding, insufficient and unconvincing. This is regardless of whether PW.34 had acted mala-fide in issuing the notices which need not be addressed at this stage even though he appeared to have exercised his discretion in a rather casual manner by relying on the report of an officer who had hardly carried out any investigation. This officer had not even produced an iota of evidence that A. had actually received any bribe from MSC." Despite, Judge Gunalan's crystal clear words that the MACC had fixed Dato' Ramli from the beginning and that DPP Kevin Morais was one of the co-conspirators to bring Ramli down, AG Gani Patail has insisted to appeal against Ramli's acquittals. All this shows that if you have friends in the corridors of power, you will get preferential treatment. Otherwise, you will suffer selective prosecution. The pages below show that even the judge considers Ramli a victim of fabricated charges and that the charges against him were mala fide. Yes, this is a clear case of Muslims not upholding Islam and of Muslims trying to fabricate charges against fellow Muslims. And it takes non-Muslims, the 'enemies of Islam', to come to the defence of Muslims and to see justice done. Islam, every Muslim will tell you, is about justice. Islam is a religion that propagates justice, these Muslims will scream. But it is Muslims who constantly and consistently perpetuate travesties of justice while the 'Kafir Laknat' plays the role of upholders of justice. As they would say in the legal profession, I rest my case. And Zul Noordin, stop bullshitting! I trust the non-Muslims more than the Muslims to see justice done. And these court documents prove it beyond any shadow of doubt. ADDENDUM 
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| When the government turns on its people (part 1) Posted: 10 Jun 2011 07:42 PM PDT The Police standard response has always been that those who were shot dead were criminals. That seemed plausible when Indians were killed because even MIC has been lamenting that Indians need to turn to crime to earn a living. So you can blame Sami Vellu for this. He was the one who gave the Police the justification to shoot dead his fellow Indians. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin It is a historical fact that the people rise up in revolt to remove despotic governments and monarchies and then the very revolution they supported turns on them. Whether we go back hundreds of years or look at the most recent of revolutions the stories are all the same. The vehicle to remove the monster ends up becoming an even bigger monster. And that is why I am not prepared to compromise on certain principles. Some tell me that these principles must be put aside for the meantime so that we can focus on removing Barisan Nasional from power. I have said this before. I am not prepared to do that. I first want to know what type of government we are going to get in replacement to the government we are going to remove. Is it going to be a better government or just the same of the old thing? Is it just going to be old wine in a new bottle? I think this is a reasonable question and justified anxiety. I have not forgotten that many now in the opposition were once part of the system that has reduced Malaysia to what it is today. They were once the problem rather than the solution to the problem. I have been monitoring what has been happening in Kelantan the last 21 years since 1990. We may have had Nik Aziz Nik Mat as the Menteri Besar since 1990. But many of those under him are the same old corrupt people. The problem with this is the body does not move in the same direction as the head. In fact, those in government try to sabotage the very government that they work for. Was this not also true in Perak? Is this not also true in Selangor, Penang and Kedah? Are not the new political masters having a hard time trying to keep their officers in check and getting them to toe the line? This is what I fear. Let's look at the MACC. It used to be called the ACA. It used to be under Hussein Onn, then Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and now Najib Tun Razak. A change of name and four Prime Ministers later and it is still the same old shit. There is no change. And what about the Royal Malaysian Police or PDRM? How many IGPs have we had since Tun Haniff Omar? Have we seen things get better of have they in fact become worse? Honestly, will we see a better MACC or PDRM even if Anwar Ibrahim becomes the new Pakatan Rakyat Prime Minister? Was not Anwar in Umno and the government for 17 years and a good portion of that time as Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister? I am worried that Anwar will never be able to control or change the MACC or PDRM. It may be the other way around. MACC or PDRM may instead control Anwar like what happened for 17 years when he was in government and was the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Let us look at the MACC and PDRM today, 53 years after we kicked out the 'tyrant' British Colonialists and gained independence on 31 August 1957. Was the British government so much worse than the Umno government of today? The MACC and PDRM are in competition to kill innocent Malaysians without fear of retribution. Human Rights group, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), expressed outrage that not a single Police officer has been held accountable for the deaths of 88 people killed in police shootings last year alone. Suaram also accused the Police of targeting a specific ethnic group, the Indians (so some of what HINDRAF says is actually very true). The Police standard response has always been that those who were shot dead were criminals. That seemed plausible when Indians were killed because even MIC has been lamenting that Indians need to turn to crime to earn a living. So you can blame Sami Vellu for this. He was the one who gave the Police the justification to shoot dead his fellow Indians. Then the picture changed. This 'standard answer' no longer sounds credible when 14-year-old Form III student Aminulrasyid Amzah was shot dead some 100 metres from his Shah Alam house at 2.00am on 26 April 2010 after coming back from watching the football match between Chelsea and Stokes at the neighbourhood Mamak stall with his friends. The Police then subjected his 15-year-old friend, Azamuddin, to three grilling interrogation sessions to force him to change his story. 
Aminulrasyid's mother too shocked by grief could only show his picture The same thing happened in the recent Glenmarie killings of three Malay youths. Muhammad Hanafi Omar, 22, Muhammad Shamil Hafiz Shapiei, 15, and Hairul Nizam Tuah, 20, were gunned down by the police. The Police said that the shooting happened in a high-speed car chase in the wee hours of November 13. Pathologist reports, however, suggest they were shot at close range while they were in a kneeling position. Lawyers for Liberty headed by N. Surendran are demanding an open and transparent investigation and they have alleged that it is cold-blooded murder a la execution. "My brother's death did not make sense. He is not a criminal. My family is in a state of shock how this could happen. When we saw his body, there were bruises on his face. Was he beaten up before they killed him? The Police must answer," said Khairul Nizam's sister, Norhaliza Tuah. 
LFL lawyers, Fadiah Nadwa and N. Surendran The MACC's record is just as 'impressive'. Since Teoh Beng Hock is Chinese, thus the MACC wanted Malaysians to believe that it was plausible for a Chinese to commit suicide and that Beng Hock jumped out of the 13th floor of the MACC Selangor Office. 
But that theory became difficult to sell when Ahmad Sarbaini was also killed in similar fashion seeing that he is Malay-Muslim and not kafir-Chinese. 
Ahmad Sarbaini 's dead's body two hours after he arrived at the KL MACC Office Even as Ahmad Sarbaini's family was burying his dead body, the MACC already started a smear campaign that he was the mastermind of the 3B case (RM3 billion) and that he was a very corrupt Customs officer with billions in his bank account. His family and the Customs Union have objected to the MACC's smear campaign. That was why Malaysia Today ran the 4-part series on Ahmad Sarbaini's death to reveal that the MACC would not hesitate to smear the good names of the dead if necessary to support their suicide theory. 
Ahmad Sarbaini's grieving family at his burial They could do all this because that is how the system works in Malaysia. The MACC and PDRM will help AG Gani Patail to fix the people who pose dangers to the 'system' and he will clear the MACC and PDRM of any wrongdoing. That was why on 31 May 2011, the MACC Operations Evaluation Panel (OEP) Chairman, Tan Sri Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil, seized the opportunity to clear AG Gani Patail unconditionally at the same time that the MACC conditionally cleared Tan Sri Robert Phang. Part 2 to be continued tomorrow. |
| Matlamat menghalalkan cara Posted: 10 Jun 2011 05:33 PM PDT
Today you no longer know who are the people behind these fitnah campaigns. Don't always assume that the 'other side' is the culprit behind these campaigns. You might be shocked to know that it is the 'same side' doing it. It could be the opposition people slandering their own opposition comrades. Then again it could be Umno people doing it, knowing very well that it will backfire on Umno and become a political liability to Najib. NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin Matlamat menghalalkan cara means the end justifies the means. Basically, halal becomes haram and haram becomes halal -- the permitted becomes forbidden and the forbidden becomes permitted. Considering that most Malaysians believe in God -- whether they are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists or Hindus -- this makes it extremely surprising, if not shocking. Take Islam as an example. The Quran specifically mentions that we may not forbid what God has permitted and vice versa. Yet this is the very thing that those who profess the religion of Islam do, in total violation of the Quran. The Quran also tells Muslims that they should not alter the word of God. Yet the do exactly that -- they alter the word of God by forbidding what is permitted and permitting what is forbidden. For example, Islam makes it mandatory for all Muslims to practice amar makruf, nahi munkar. This means you must uphold good (or the truth) and oppose evil. But try doing this in Malaysia and see what happens. If you were to uphold the truth (by criticising the government) you would get arrested and charged in court or you would be detained without trial under the Internal Security Act. And Islam is supposed to be the official religion of the Federation of Malaysia, mind you. Podah! Malaysia is no better than Russia, China or Israel. Well, that is because we have a bad government, you might say. But then this 'Islamic culture' not only applies to criticising the government. If you criticise the opposition or opposition leaders, they can't arrest and charge you or detain you under the ISA, but they would certainly spread stories that you have been bought off by Umno. So the opposition is no better when it comes to not honouring amar makruf, nahi munkar. It is just that they have no power to arrest or detain you so they slander you instead. Would the opposition allow amar makruf, nahi munkar if it becomes the federal government? Maybe if Lim Guan Eng or Nik Aziz Nik Mat becomes the Prime Minister they would but I am not sure about the rest of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders. They are saying that I started criticising the opposition since the fallout between Zaid Ibrahim and Anwar Ibrahim soon after the Hulu Selangor by-election. They attribute this to me being pro-Zaid. Therefore, since Zaid is now anti-Anwar, I too have become anti-Anwar. This is not about being pro-anyone or anti-anyone. It is about being anti-dirty tactics. I am not pro-Zaid even though he is my friend (I have refused to join his party although I still socialise with him). I am also in that same spirit not anti-Anwar (I still support him as opposition leader although he no longer talks to me or contacts me). It is just that I am anti-internal sabotage and I don't like what some PKR leaders or party insiders did during the Hulu Selangor by-election. If you can remember, at that time I wrote an article whacking Umno for the doctored photograph of Zaid and the beer bottle. I accused Umno of fitnah (slander) for distributing that fake photograph of Zaid with the beer bottle in his hand. Then, to my shock, I discovered that it was not Umno who did this foul deed but someone high up in PKR. When I found out about this I just kept quiet (which is not quite the Islamic thing to do and opposed to amar makruf, nahi munkar). I decided to not shake the tree lest something falls out of the tree. I did not want to name the person even though I know who he is. Now some unknown people are distributing the Mat Sabu sex scandal VCDs. I heard the next campaign is to spread the story that Mat Sabu is a closet Shiah follower and anti-Hadith as well. That will of course hurt Mat Sabu pretty bad and may affect Muslim support for PAS. I hope Umno is behind this next Mat Sabu slander campaign because if they are then they are very stupid indeed. It is going to backfire terribly. The Datuk T drama backfired terribly. It was a move that hurt Umno more than it hurt Anwar. And this Mat Sabu slander exercise is going to hurt Umno again. But is it really Umno that is behind the Mat Sabu sex scandal VCD and the Shiah-anti-Hadith campaign that they are about to launch? My Deep Throats in Umno say it is not their people who are doing this and the Umno people too are puzzled as to who is behind it. According to the Umno people they suspect that someone in the opposition is doing this. If this is true then these people are very clever. The Mat Sabu sex scandal VCD and the Shiah-anti-Hadith exercise are going to backfire badly on Umno. And the 'beautiful' thing is even Ummo is puzzled about what is going on and is being caught with their pants down. Or is it really someone from Umno who is doing this and they are doing it knowing that it will backfire on Umno and will therefore be a huge problem for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak? Yes, that is another possibility. The 3M team of Mahathir-Muhyiddin-Mukhriz knows that by sabotaging Mat Sabu with the sex scandal VCD and the Shiah-anti-Hadith story it is going to hurt Najib. So you see, all is not what it appears to be. This is just like Hitler burning the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27th February 1933. And wasn't Hitler one of the greatest propaganda strategists of his time? What is halal and what is haram? It no longer matters. What matters is that the end justifies the means -- and never mind if the means is halal or haram. If you were to bring a bottle of wine to the home of a Muslim he or she would get very upset. Wine is haram and they do not want it in their home. But if you were to bring a 'red packet' containing thousands of ringgit to the home of a Muslim that is not a problem. A bottle of wine cannot. Haram! Bribes can. Not haram. How does the mind of these Muslims work? The majority of those accepting bribes are government officers and Umno politicians who are supposed to be Muslims. They get very upset if you bring a bottle of wine to their homes but they would welcome, in fact, insist, on bribes. And they would gleefully fitnah another Muslim and distribute sex VCDs of other Muslims for the purpose of political power. Haram becomes halal for the sake of gaining political power. Today you no longer know who are the people behind these fitnah campaigns. Don't always assume that the 'other side' is the culprit behind these campaigns. You might be shocked to know that it is the 'same side' doing it. It could be the opposition people slandering their own opposition comrades. Then again it could be Umno people doing it, knowing very well that it will backfire on Umno and become a political liability to Najib. In fact, there are some in Malaysia's intelligence agencies who don't trust Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, one of the three members of the Datuk T gang. The 'official' story going around is that Eskay was once a close friend of Anwar who has since sold him out. Some in Malaysia's intelligence agencies do not think so. They think that Eskay is still close to Anwar and that he is involved in the porn video exercise to hurt Umno. And it has, in fact, hurt Umno badly, in particular Najib. Najib may now have to delay the next general election. Initially it was supposed to be in July. And then they said it would most likely be in November (11-11-11) after the budget. The latest I heard is it may be delayed further, to next year, because Umno is worried that all these 'scandals' may have backfired on Umno. Yes, it is getting very confusing indeed. We are hearing all sort of things and we are hearing that so and so is behind all these. But all is not what it appears and those alleged to be behind all these things are equally confused. Nevertheless, it just proves that Malaysian politics is getting more complicated by the day. You think you can read what is happening but that is no longer true. They aim at a certain target but the real target is another one altogether. Rahim Thambi Chik is Dr Mahathir's man. Could it be that Datuk T's real target is not Anwar but Najib, as what some suspect? Considering the Anwar porn video has backfired on Najib this could be true. Or was Rahim tricked by Eskay, who is still Anwar's comrade? I really no longer know. But one thing I do know is that Malaysia's politics is not as simple as you may think. It is very complicating. The targets are not that identifiable any more. They hit Anwar and Mat Sabu but their real target could actually be Najib. |
| WIKILEAKS: Malaysia-based firm involved in guidance systems of ballistic missiles, cruise ... Posted: 09 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT In December 2009, the United States shared with China information regarding attempts by the Malaysia-based firm Electronics Component Limited (ECL) to buy TRS-500 gyroscopes from the Chinese firm VibTel Industrial Co. Inc. (Ref A). These gyroscopes, which are controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and China's missile-related export controls, would be suitable for use in the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
S E C R E T STATE 010900 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2035 TAGS: MTCRE, PARM, PREL, MNUC, ETTC, KSCA, IR, CH, MY SUBJECT: (S) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CHINA ON THE MALAYSIA-BASED COMPANY ELECTRONICS COMPONENT LIMITED REF: A. 09 STATE 130917 B. 09 BEIJING 003476 Classified By: ISN/MTR DIRECTOR PAM DURHAM, REASON: 1.4 (C). 1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Beijing, please see paragraph 4. 2. (S) Background/Objective: In December 2009, the United States shared with China information regarding attempts by the Malaysia-based firm Electronics Component Limited (ECL) to buy TRS-500 gyroscopes from the Chinese firm VibTel Industrial Co. Inc. (Ref A). These gyroscopes, which are controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and China's missile-related export controls, would be suitable for use in the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. We requested China investigate this information because ECL is associated with a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that procure sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern. 3. (S) Chinese officials agreed to investigate this information, but asked for additional details on ECL's relationships with firms in Iran (Ref B). To support their efforts in this case, we would like to inform them that ECL is part of a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that includes the Iranian firm Shahin Sefid Esta and the Malaysia-based front company Skylife Worldwide Sdn Bhd. This network procures sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737-designated entities Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG) and Ya Mahdi Industries. We want to provide this information to Chinese officials and emphasize that we believe the transfer of this controlled equipment to a company linked to UNSCR-designated entities would be prohibited pursuant to UNSCR 1737. 4. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Beijing approach appropriate host government officials to deliver talking points/non-paper in paragraph 5 below and report response. Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper. 5. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper: (SECRET//REL CHINA) --In December 2009, we shared with you information regarding attempts by the Malaysia-based firm Electronics Component Limited (ECL) to buy TRS-500 gyroscopes from the Chinese firm VibTel Industrial Co. Inc. --TRS-500 gyroscopes are controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and China's missile-related export controls, and can be used in the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. --We also noted that ECL is associated with a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that procure sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern. --In response to this information, you agreed to look into this matter, but asked if the United States could provide additional details on ECL's relationships with firms in Iran. --We now want to provide you with additional information indicating that ECL is part of a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that includes the Iranian firm Shahin Sefid Esta and the Malaysia-based front company Skylife Worldwide Sdn Bhd. --This network procures sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern, including the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), which is Iran's primary developer of liquid propellant ballistic missiles, and Heavy Metal Industries, a front company for the tactical missile developer Ya Mahdi Industries. --Both SHIG and Ya Mahdi Industries are sanctioned under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737. --Additionally, the TRS-500 gyroscopes are controlled items that would be prohibited from being exported to Iran under UNSCR 1737. --We hope this information is useful in supporting your efforts in this case and assists your ability to prevent the transfer of these gyroscopes by VibTel Industrial Co. to ECL. --We look forward to future cooperation on nonproliferation issues and to hearing the results of your investigation into this activity at the earliest possible time. End talking points/non-paper 6. (U) Washington POC is ISN/MTR John Paul Herrmann (Phone: 202-647-1430). Please slug any reporting on this issue for ISN/MTR and EAP/CM. 7. (U) A word version of this document will be posted at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche. CLINTON |
| Still say that 60% of what Malaysia Today writes are lies? Posted: 08 Jun 2011 08:55 PM PDT In a filings with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Ho Hup said the High Court had found that the company's previous board of directors had acted in breach of their duties to Ho Hup by committing Bukit Jalil Development to the JDA, and that Pioneer Haven had knowingly assisted in those breaches. Ho Hup entered into the JDA (via Bukit Jalil Development) with Pioneer Haven on March 16 last year, when Ho Hup was still under the management of former deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lye. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Only 40% of what Malaysia Today writes is true, said Mukhriz Mahathir, the future Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia when Muhyiddin Yassin goes up to become Prime Minister -- if they can successfully oust Najib Tun Razak. Yes, that's right, there is a move to oust Najib. And there are hidden hands in Umno who are trying to force Najib's hand to call for the next general election on 11 November 2011. That's 11-11-11, a very auspicious date indeed. But the intelligence agencies do not agree. They are trying to convince Najib that if he calls for the general election this year rather than 2012 or 2013, then Barisan Nasional will suffer what it did in March 2008 and Najib would suffer what Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suffered soon after that -- he would be ousted from office. But then it is not up to Najib. It is not even up to Malaysia's intelligence agencies. It is up to Rosmah Mansor. And she would like to stretch her term -- yes, that's right, her term -- a little longer in case they fall flat on their face and have to leave office. An ex-Prime Minister's wife would not be able to receive loads of Birkin bags as presents from Vincent Tan at USD120,000 a piece. And she does not have all the colours yet. Ask Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He can tell you how shabbily he is being treated as an ex-Prime Minister by people who control Berjaya, YTL, Ho Hup, etc. At one time these people were grovelling at Mahathir's feet. Now they won't give him the time of day. Such is the fate of ex-Prime Ministers and Rosmah is not about to suffer that same fate. The 3M team of Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Mukhriz can only kick out Najib -- like what happened to Abdullah Badawi -- if Barisan Nasional performs badly in the general election. But if there is no general election then there is no excuse to kick Najib out. That is the bottom line. Anyway, back to the 40% true and 60% lies that Mukhriz said about Malaysia Today. Let us recap on some of the 'lies' we have spun thus far involving the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail. 
When you are a friend of Gani Patail, you can buy yourself immunity from prosecution. That is why Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli, former Chairman of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), is a free man despite having caused MAS to suffer losses to the tune of billions of ringgit. The national carrier almost went bankrupt if not for a government bailout. However, instead of charging Tajudin, Gani Patail charged the Police CCID Director, Dato' Ramli Yusuff, who had recommended that Tajuddin and his associates be prosecuted. When Malaysia Today revealed that Tajudin's proxy, Shahidan Shafie -- the ex-police inspector who was charged for bribery when he was OC Secret Societies in Johor Bharu -- is a close friend of Gani Patail, and that they went to Mecca together, the MACC quickly cleared the AG. And do you want to know why? This is because the usual 'you scratch my back, I scratch your back' deal has been struck between the MACC and the AG who will now make the Police tailor its investigations to show that Ahmad Sarbani had committed suicide. That will be the evidence presented to the Coroner at the Inquest to ensure a finding that the cause of death was suicide. 
Tabung Haji's documents show that Shahidan went to perform the Haj as Gani Patail's family When Malaysia Today exposed that Gani Patail dabbled not only in national politics but also in corporate politics -- to tilt the balance of power in a corporate tussle involving Ho Hup Bhd -- Gani Patail went to Ho Hup's office as a show of support for his friend, Datuk Vincent Lye, who was having a shareholders' fight with Datuk Low Tuck Choy, better known as Dato' TC Low. 
AG Gani Patail with Vincent Lye at Ho Hup's office Dato' TC had alleged that Gani Patail's friend, Vincent Lye, tried to fleece Ho Hup Bhd by defrauding the company to enter into a lopsided and disadvantageous contract with Malton Bhd. Vincent Lye had signed a deal to surrender Ho Hup's 60-acre freehold land in Bukit Jalil worth RM4.2 billion to Malton. After signing that contract, Vincent Lye was sacked by the company's shareholders in an EGM. However, instead of charging Vincent Lye for fraud, and to tilt thing things in Vincent Lye's favour, Gani Patail charged Dato' TC Low -- for a very minor technical offence -- in order to disqualify him from being a director in the company. Yesterday, the High Court confirmed that what Vincent Lye did was wrong and declared that the contract entered into by Vincent Lye was null and void. So there you are. Which 60% of this story is a lie? Anyway, read The Star news report below: ***************************************** Ho Hup wins suit, court declares deal null and void, firm can revamp The Star, Wednesday, June 8, 2011 PETALING JAYA: After more than a year of litigation, the Kuala Lumpur High Court has finally ruled in favour of Ho Hup Construction Co Bhd by declaring null and void a joint development agreement (JDA) between the latter's 70%-owned subsidiary, Bukit Jalil Development Sdn Bhd, and Pioneer Haven Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned unit of Malton Bhd. The finalisation of the court decision would enable Ho Hup to proceed with its financial regularisation plan, which had been delayed pending the outcome of the suit. Ho Hup had been working to regularise its financial condition since being listed as a Practice Note 17 (PN17) company in July 2008. "With the JDA reversed, the full development rights of the valuable, prime piece of land would revert back to our subsidiary Bukit Jalil Development," Ho Hup executive director Derek Wong said in a statement yesterday. "This means we can fully leverage on this prized asset to restructure the company's debts and regularise our operations and financial condition," he said, adding that the company would now focus on finalising details of its PN17 regularisation plan and submission to the authorities. Ho Hup made a requisite announcement of its PN17 regularisation plan in early March 2011 involving the restructuring scheme for creditors for the company as well as that for Bukit Jalil Development. Ho Hup and Bukit Jalil Development reportedly had outstanding debts worth RM329.2mil in the form of secured and unsecured loans as to date. In a filings with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Ho Hup said the High Court had found that the company's previous board of directors had acted in breach of their duties to Ho Hup by committing Bukit Jalil Development to the JDA, and that Pioneer Haven had knowingly assisted in those breaches. "Significantly, the High Court found that the JDA, was in substance, a disposal of Bukit Jalil Development's 60-acre land bank, and as such, required the approval of shareholders under section 132C of the Companies Act." "As no such approval was obtained, the joint development agreement and other associated instruments were null and void for contravening the law," it said, adding that the High Court had ordered the private caveat lodged by Pioneer Haven be expunged." Ho Hup entered into the JDA (via Bukit Jalil Development) with Pioneer Haven on March 16 last year, when Ho Hup was still under the management of former deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lye. The deal was supposed to see the partners jointly develop the freehold land in Bukit Jalil into a mixed commercial and residential project. Substantial shareholder Datuk Low Tuck Choy, who was also a former managing director of Ho Hup, as well as several other shareholders, had objected to the deal, claiming that their approval was not sought. Shareholders who objected the deal also believed that it would be more profitable to Ho Hup if the company had opted to sell or develop the land on its own. Now that the JDA has been declared null and void, Ho Hup indeed would have the option to develop Bukit Jalil on its own. According to Wong, the masterplan to develop the Bukit Jalil site into a mixed commercial and residential project had been conditionally approved by City Hall. "The land is within a prime location and will be developed in six phases over 10 years with an estimated gross development value of RM4.2bil," he said in the statement. "We are looking at a sales launch, possibly in the fourth quarter." |
| Women of class and taste: name the women contest Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:37 PM PDT
The Birkin bag is a handmade purse by Hermès and named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price and elusiveness to the public. Its prices range from US$9,000 to US$150,000. Costs escalate according to the type of materials. The bags are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, creating scarcity and, intended or unintended, exclusivity. It is highly coveted and, for several years, was reputed for having a waiting list of up to 6 years; the longest wait for any bag in history. (read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkin_bag) NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin 
AND THE PRESENTS FROM ROBIN TAN, VINCENT TAN'S SON, TO MALAYSIA'S FIRST LADY, AT USD120,000 PER BAG AND PAID FOR BY SPORTS TOTO
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| Ahmad Sarbani’s death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 4) Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT
The MACC I.O.s have since been directed to get the 'cooperation' of the Customs officers who have not been able to explain the money in their bank accounts. They were told that if they point their fingers at the late Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, the MACC will ease up on them and will not prosecute them and may even turn them into 'prosecution witnesses'. NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin 
Police officers removing Ahmad Sarbani's body from MACC KL Office This is the final episode of the late Customs Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed 'suicide' story. Note that what we have written in the four episodes of this story is based on the testimony of our Deep Throats in the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Malaysian Customs Department (Jabatan Kastam). The Police and Customs officers no longer trust their own government. They would rather trust Malaysia Today in seeing justice done. And that is why they have requested Malaysia Today to reveal what really happened to Ahmad Sarbani. To my friends in the Police Force who have taken great pains to keep me safe from harm, I thank you. Without you I would not have escaped…well, you know what. And to my friends in the Customs Department who are always in touch with me to ask about my health, I also thank you. I trust Malaysia Today has been of service to you by revealing the true story behind Ahmad Sarbani's death. 
A grief stricken Marziah, Ahmad Sarbani's wife
Okay, let the story continue. So far what our Deep Throats in the Police Force and the Customs Department have revealed is that Ahmad Sarbani did not kill himself. He did not ride his bike all the way to MACC's office in Jalan Cockrane in Kuala Lumpur just to commit suicide by jumping out of the window like what they allege Teoh Beng Hock also did. It appears like the Police investigating officer (I.O.) has also come to the conclusion that Ahmad Sarbani is not a corrupt Customs officer who became scared and committed suicide. And the Attorney-General is not happy with this conclusion. That is why this slime-ball and scumbag of an AG sent the Police investigation report back to the Police THREE TIMES. The AG insists that by hook or by crook they must come out with a verdict of suicide. So, while the AG continues to bonk his Director, the Police have been instructed to 'bonk' the 'witnesses' and force them to implicate the deceased in corruption and conclude that he committed suicide because of it. What puzzled PDRM I.O. ASP Zuhairi Mohamed was that the CCTV conveniently did not show any of these incidents -- suggesting that the attempt at a cover-up involved the MACC's top leadership and that Dato' Mustafar Ali had lied in his press statement. What was more disturbing was that immediately after Wan Zainal gave his third and last statement to the police, Yusof Akope and Mohd Fauzi immediately directed S.I.O. Abdul Ghani to pick up Wan Zainal to be brought to the MACC's office for interrogation. The focus of the MACC interrogation was to find out what Wan Zainal had told ASP Zuhairi and what documents were given to the police. This showed an intention to circumvent the police investigation. Wan Zainal was interrogated from 3.00pm to 11.00pm. The MACC tried to intimidate Wan Zainal and two of his other colleagues, Maggie and Eddie, in marathon interrogation sessions in the weeks that followed. They were threatened that if they refuse to 'cooperate', the MACC will now target them and their companies in follow-up investigations on the corruption allegations. In other words, help the MACC fix up Ahmad Sarbani or else the MACC will fix them up instead. Having failed to get the cooperation of these freight forwarders, Yusof Akope and Mohd Fauzi changed tactics. The MACC I.O.s have since been directed to get the 'cooperation' of the Customs officers who have not been able to explain the money in their bank accounts. These Customs officers were told that if they point their fingers at the late Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, the MACC will ease up on them and will not prosecute them and may even turn them into 'prosecution witnesses'. All they needed to do was to say that all the unexplained money in their bank accounts actually belongs to Ahmad Sarbani. Therefore, if they agree to fix up Ahmad Sarbani then the MACC will let them go free and may even allow them to keep the money in their bank accounts that they can't explain where it came from. Killing an innocent man is one thing, but putting the blame on a dead man who cannot defend himself is just a bit too much and even corrupted government officers draw the line on this one. So they refused to accept the 'deal'. That is how far the MACC top leadership is prepared to go to cover up their evil deeds. They need to explain how Ahmad Sarbani died and they want to convince us that he killed himself because he was corrupted and he was scared to face the music. The Malays call this kambing jaga sireh or, as the English say, the fox in charge of the hen house. The agency tasked with fighting corruption is rapidly turning into a most corrupt agency, prepared to commit murder even. Since the suicide story would be plausible only if Ahmad Sarbani owned unusual and extraordinary wealth, they wanted the other Customs officers to say that all their unexplained wealth actually belongs to the deceased. And the MACC is prepared to give immunity to corrupt Customs officers if they agree to do this. They need to nail Ahmad Sarbani real bad and they will go to great lengths in achieving this. And note that these are Muslims who pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadhan and go to Mekah, mind you! Yet they would not hesitate to do a deed most foul -- framing a dead man. But the Police and Customs officers are fighting back. They are not going to allow the MACC to frame Ahmad Sarbani. They want the world to know he is clean and that he did not commit suicide. And they want us to know how the MACC is tying to suggest otherwise. And to do that they have enlisted the help of Malaysia Today. In the next part, part 5, we will disclose who killed Ahmad Sarbani -- but only if we need to. We will hold back part 5 pending the official statement by the government as to how Ahmad Sarbani died. Since the AG has announced that there will be an Inquest, let us give the Police an opportunity to reveal the real evidence at this Inquest and let us hope that they get it right this time. If the MACC, AG Gani Patail and the Police repeat what they did in trying to cover up Teoh Beng Hock's death, then Malaysia Today will reveal the full investigation report on who killed Ahmad Sarbani. And if they want to call our bluff and play poker, thinking that we will not do it, then they do not know Malaysia Today well enough yet. We just love challenges and will rise to any challenge. So don't force us to do this. But we will if we have to just to clear the name of an innocent dead man who did not commit suicide but was murdered. So, till next time, part 5, if circumstances force us to come out with a part 5, take care and keep the fight for change going. Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 1) Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 2) Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 3) |
| A political party is just like our car, a mere vehicle Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT If it works, keep it. If it breaks down, change it. Make it work for us. Don't become a slave of our vehicle. And make sure that politicians understand that this is how we are going to play the game from hereon. We need to be ruthless and mercenaries. Then we will get a good deal. If not we will get a raw deal. And that will make us worse than prostitutes. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Many people do not understand what slavery and bondage mean. There are many forms of slavery and bondage. We have sex slaves. Economic slavery. Then we have mental bondage. Mental bondage in itself comes in many forms. Denying the people an education or a proper education is one form of mental bondage. Uneducated people can't think for themselves and their minds can be manipulated. Then we have another form of mental bondage perpetuated by religion. Much in religion is about reducing us to slaves. We are told what we are allowed to think and most times we are not allowed to think. And we are told we must not rationalise but accept the unproven based on 'faith'. Faith is the word used to explain the absence of evidence. Economic slavery is another very popular and effective form of slavery. If people are too economically independent then they become a political problem to the ruling elite. Better the people are poor and dependent on the government. Then they become compliant. (Does the NEP ring a bell?) Developed countries see changes in government every election or every few elections. Poor countries see the same government for decades, sometimes for 50 years without change. Then there is another form of bondage and slavery, which I want to talk about today. And this is political slavery. We are told that only Umno can look after Malay interests, or only PAS can safeguard Islam, or only PKR and DAP can guarantee us multiculturalism, or only MIC can protect the Indians, or only MCA can defend the Chinese, or whatever. Actually, the truth is, Umno, MCA, MIC, PKR, DAP, PAS, Gerakan, PPP, PBB, SNAP, SUPP, LDP, PRS, SPDP, UPKO, PBS, PBRS, KITA, PRM, PSM, MDP, SAPP, BERJASA, HAMIM, (all the two dozen or so political parties in Malaysia) have only one purpose in mind. And that purpose is to seek power. They are all political parties, nothing more and nothing less. And the job of political parties is to get into power. Let's not believe the bullshit that they are here to serve us. Political parties serve themselves. And they use us to get into power. Many working-class Malaysians suffer and struggle to pay for their motorcar. Sometimes half their salaries or more go towards paying and maintaining their car or cars. Why is this so? A car is merely a convenience. It is a vehicle to get us from point A to point B. It is a tool to enable us to go to work. So why are we working for our car instead of making our car work for us? It appears like we are tools of our cars instead of our car being a tool for us. We should not be emotional and sentimental about our car, a mere vehicle for our convenience. But that is not how most Malaysians view it. And that is why we work for our cars instead of making our car work for us. A political party is also a tool. It is a convenience. It is merely a vehicle to enable us to get from point A to point B. So we should not also be emotional and sentimental about political parties. Being a tool or vehicle, we should make the political parties work for us. We should not work for the political parties. A political party must serve us. It is there merely to fulfil a purpose. And this purpose is to run the country the way we want it to be run. It does not matter which political party we give that job to, just like it does not matter what car we drive. A political party, just like our car, is a convenience, a mere vehicle to help us achieve our objective. A political party, like our car, is not the objective. It is a means to an end. Let us not be emotional or sentimental about political parties, just like we should not be about our car. If our car can do the job we keep it. If it breaks down we repair it. From time to time we service it to prevent it from deteriorating or breaking down. If it becomes a problem we get rid of it and buy a new one. If a better model or make comes along we get rid of our old and problematic car and opt for the latest. That is how we should treat our cars. And you should not suffer by working long hours just to pay for your car. A car enables us to get to work. We should not work so that we can pay for the car. And we should not burn all our salary just to pay for the car. That is also how we should treat political parties. If it works, we keep it. If it breaks down, we get rid of it. If it can do the job, fine. If not, then why bother with it? We must use political parties. We should not allow political parties to use us. Political parties want only one thing, to get into power. And they will use us to get into power. So we must be smart enough to use them instead. We know what political parties want. That is fine with us. But we should make them work for it. We should turn them into our slaves. Make them crawl on the ground and beg and kiss our feet. We should not instead become their slaves. At least prostitutes know what to do. They know you want their pussy. So they open their legs and let you have what you want. But you have to pay for it because what they want is your money. And they make sure you pay dearly for it. Prostitutes do not open their legs and then pay you money as well. You pay. So why are we allowing political parties to screw us and then we pay them on top of that instead of making them pay? That makes us worse than prostitutes. And we have the cheek to look down on prostitutes when they are smarter than us? I am not emotional or sentimental about any political party. If they do the job I expect them to do then they get my support and vote. If not then I trade in this old and problematic 'car' for a new one. (Incidentally, since 1974 to 1994 I voted for PAS is Kampong Kolam in Terengganu and since 1999 till 2008 I voted for PKR in Subang USJ9). Anwar Ibrahim has changed 'cars' before when the old one broke down. So has Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. The first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman did the same thing, as did the third Prime Minister Hussein Onn, and his father before him, Onn Jaafar. Dr Mahathir Mohammad changed 'cars' many times. Rais Yatim, Shahrir Samad, and many cabinet ministers -- as did many PAS leaders, party presidents included -- went that same route. So you see, if it works, keep it. If it breaks down, change it. Make it work for us. Don't become a slave of our vehicle. And make sure that politicians understand that this is how we are going to play the game from hereon. We need to be ruthless and mercenaries. Then we will get a good deal. If not we will get a raw deal. And that will make us worse than prostitutes. |
| WIKILEAKS: Perak episode sets a dangerous precedent Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT A well-financed political coalition could persuade members of Parliament to support the other side, shifting power through undemocratic means, as many allege occurred in Perak. Before this Federal Court decision, the assembly would have instead been dissolved for fresh elections, but now the sultan can legitimize the takeover without voter input. 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 000092 SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS AND INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KJUS, MY SUBJECT: COURT DECISION ON STATE POWER PLAY ENDS LEGAL BATTLE, BUT SETS WORRISOME PRECEDENT REF: A. 09 KL 342 -- PANDEMONIUM IN PERAK STATE ASSEMBLY B. 09 KL 78 -- NAJIB LEADS TAKEOVER IN PERAK C. KL 20 -- WHAT IS GOING ON IN MALAYSIA? Classified By: Political Counselor Brian D. McFeeters for reasons 1.4 b and d. Summary and Comment 1. (SBU) Malaysia's Federal Court, the highest level in Malaysia's judicial system, announced on February 9 that the Sultan of Perak had the legal authority to appoint a new Chief Minister in his state, as he did in February 2009, after concluding that the ruling National Front (BN) coalition commanded the majority of seats in the Perak state assembly. The case effectively ends the Perak constitutional crisis, which has been simmering since three opposition politicians declared themselves independents friendly toward BN, tipping the balance of seats in the state assembly toward BN (refs A and B). The Sultan came under unprecedented scrutiny because replacing a Chief Minister is not specifically mentioned in the state constitution. The opposition coalition People's Alliance (PR) announced that they would no longer contest the issue as they had vigorously done for the past year, and instead work alongside the BN for the benefit of the people of Perak, if certain conditions were met. A recent independent poll confirmed that most Perakians believe that the only way to fairly resolve this crisis would be to hold snap elections in the state, which the BN has announced they will not do prematurely. 2. (C) Comment: This Federal Court decision in the BN's favor raises renewed questions about the independence of the Malaysian judiciary, already in question in connection with the Anwar Ibrahim trial and other cases (ref C). While the GOM argues that the decision is based on a sound interpretation of the Perak constitution, opposition figures disagree and argue the decision legitimizes political maneuvering to change the results of democratic elections, setting a dangerous precedent by implying that the King could remove the Prime Minister, without a no-confidence motion in Parliament. A well-financed political coalition could persuade members of Parliament to support the other side, shifting power through undemocratic means, as many allege occurred in Perak. Before this Federal Court decision, the assembly would have instead been dissolved for fresh elections, but now the sultan can legitimize the takeover without voter input. End Summary and Comment. The February 9 Decision 3. (U) The Federal Court ruled on February 9 in a unanimous 5-0 vote that the Sultan of Perak, Azlan Shah, had the authority to appoint a new Chief Minister if he believed that a different political coalition commanded the allegiance of a majority of seats in the state assembly. In announcing its decision, the Federal Court confirmed that the Sultan was correct in his February 6, 2009 decision to verify that veteran politician Zambry Abdul Kadir, a member of UMNO (the United Malays National Organization -- the dominant political party in the BN) had the support of a majority of the members of the state assembly, replacing Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin. The switch in support came after three members of the People's Alliance simultaneously declared themselves to be independents friendly to the BN in early February 2009, a maneuver that is widely believed to have been driven by the BN. Zambry's attorney Cecil Abraham went to great lengths to stress that "this decision is binding on the state government and the federal government." Predictions and Reactions 4. (C) Poloff and Pol Specialist visited Perak from February 1-3 (to be reported septel) and discussed the (then upcoming) February 9 Federal Court decision with politicians and attorneys familiar with the case. Nizar's lead lawyer Chan Kok Keong told Poloff ahead of the February 9 decision that he was certain the judges would rule in favor of Zambry. He opined that it would not be a "constitutional decision" but rather "a political decision." Chan pointed out that when he and his legal team were making their submission at the Federal Court, all five judges "were extremely hostile" to them. Chan added that by ruling in Zambry's favor, the Federal Court "will be rewriting its own decisions and the constitution." Former Chief Minister Nizar told Poloff that a ruling in favor of Zambry would result in "the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister holding office at the pleasure of the King or the Sultan." Nizar added that this would set a "dangerous precedent." DAP Vice President and Member of Parliament from Perak Kulasegaran also told Poloff ahead of the decision that the courts would favor Zambry because "the political stakes are too high for Prime Minister Najib." Poloff also spoke with Zambry's political secretary Abdul Rahman and the assembly speaker S. Ganeson; both expressed confidence that the court "will make the right decision" by ruling in favor of Zambry. 5. (U) After the February 9 decision, BN Chief Minister Zambry was quoted in the media on saying he was thankful for the court's decision, adding that "hopefully all parties can accept this decision and this political crisis in Perak can finally be put to rest." Prime Minister Najib appealed for everyone to respect the court's decision, commenting "We have to accept the decision of the country's highest court. The issue and saga of who is the right Chief Minister of Perak has been decided, and I hope they (the opposition People's Alliance) accept this decision." National opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim slammed the decision, claiming UMNO "does not have the courage to face the people" in elections. Democratic Action Party leader Lim Kit Siang called the verdict "legalization of BN's coup d'etat." Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim called the decision "warped legal reasoning" done for "political expediency." Nizar: Will Work with UMNO in Perak, but with Conditions 6. (SBU) Former Chief Minister Nizar convened a special meeting of state PR leaders on the day of the Federal Court's ruling, announcing that the opposition would give its full cooperation to the BN government in Perak. He said, "for the good of Perakians, we have decided to become a strong opposition in the state assembly and lend our services to the Barisan National government in implementing policies that are good for the people." Nizar, however, caveated that the opposition would only give its full cooperation if Zambry's government agreed to four conditions. First, they must allow opposition parties to use public premises for the purpose of hosting functions; second, they must give memberships to opposition assemblymen to special committees; third, they must provide all opposition assemblymen with allocations of RM 150,000-RM 200,000 (approximately $40,000 to $55,000 USD) per year; and fourth, the BN must base its administration "on the principles of honesty, integrity, transparency, justice, and welfare." Chief Minister Zambry responded on February 10 by stating "we have never discriminated against them on the allocations, so no need for conditions. We must help the public. That's the yardstick." (Note: The BN traditionally only grants "development funds" to constituencies held by BN representatives. Just prior to the takeover last year, former Minister in the PM's department Ahmad Zahid Hamidi -- who is now the Minister of Defense -- announced that each BN assemblyman would receive RM 300,000, while the other constituencies would receive nothing. End Note.) Poll: Decide Through an Election, not a Court Decision 7. (U) The independent Merdeka Center announced results of a poll taken of Perak voters on February 5, in conjunction with the one year anniversary of the BN's takeover of the state. Among the key findings of the poll: 74% of the respondents feel that fresh state elections are the best way to resolve the political crisis in Perak; 65% of respondents believe the Perak political crisis remains a relevant issue after one year; and 60% place a higher priority on having a democratically elected government than on improving the economy. Looking Ahead 8. (SBU) Although it appears that both sides want to move ahead, there are still two pending legal cases that could, theoretically, result in a shift in power. The first case involves a lawsuit by former state assembly Speaker Sivakumar, who was not initially removed from his position until after the first state assembly session under Zambry was conducted. As speaker, Sivakumar held the power to suspend people for contempt; during the first meeting in April 2009, he suspended Zambry and six others for assuming their new positions before the initial court decision (Nizar v. Zambry) was complete. Although it is unlikely the courts will find in favor of Sivakumar, if they do it is possible that his authority to suspend Zambry and six others will stand, thereby giving Nizar the majority of seats again. The second case concerns the alleged resignations of the three state assemblymen who defected from the PR. Just prior to the defections, Nizar claimed that the three had resigned from the state assembly, and held undated letters of resignation from each as proof. The Election Commission, however, did not accept these letters as legitimate and refused to call for elections to replace the three. The PR filed a lawsuit for the letters to be recognized as legitimate, currently under judicial review at the Federal Court. All legal decisions on this lawsuit thus far have rejected the PR's assertions. KEITH |
| Ahmad Sarbani’s death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 3) Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT
The mention of the AG's name did not intimidate Wan Zainal who insisted to ASP Zuhairi that "saya takkan fitnahkan orang yang dah meninggal" (he would not defame a dead man) just for convenience. ASP Zuhairi also discovered that the background of Wan Zainal is not consistent with someone who would give bribes. NO HOLDS BARREDRaja Petra Kamarudin 
Ahmad Sarbani – maligned in his death We continue the story behind the mysterious death of Customs Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed. Ahmad Sarbani was the second person to 'commit suicide' while under the custody and while being interrogated by the MACC, the first being Teoh Beng Hock. Although the government is trying to suggest that Beng Hock committed suicide, most Malaysians believe that this is not true and that Beng Hock was either murdered or was accidentally killed by the MACC officers who were forcibly trying to extract a confession from him. Ahmad Sarbani's death appears to meet this pattern and because of this Malaysians are even more convinced that he did not commit suicide. In fact, Ahmad Sarbani's death reinforces the belief even more that Beng Hock did not also commit suicide. Whatever the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry may be with regards to these two deaths, Malaysians have already decided that the two deaths are not suicides and that the government is trying to cover up this evil deed by fabricating reports and evidences. However you look at it, these two incidences are going to have a negative impact on the government come the next general election. Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Investigating Officer (I.O.) ASP Zuhairi Mohamed did a thorough check on the late Customs Department Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed's assets and found that there was no unusual or extraordinary wealth. He had only three modest cars -- a Perodua Kancil, a second-hand Honda CRV and a Proton Persona -- and a Modenas Kriss bike, which he rode to the MACC office on that unfortunate morning of 6th April, the day of his death. He owned an apartment in Bukit Tinggi, Klang (RM65,872), an apartment in Puncak Alam (RM68,988), a Semi-D cluster house in Saujana Impian in Sungai Buloh (RM230,000) and RM35,000 in savings in Amanah Saham Bumiputra. All these were duly accounted for. The only significant asset, which was the Semi-D house, was bought via a government loan drawn from his wife's savings with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which she had withdrawn when she turned 50. ASP Zuhairi then interviewed Wan Zainal Abidin and found out something more perplexing. MACC Senior Investigating Officer (S.I.O.) Abdul Ghani had said that Ahmad Sarbani had implicated Wan Zainal and that he was the last person whom Ahmad Sarbani and Abdul Ghani had called just before his death. This meant that Ahmad Sarbani was already in MACC's custody when he died. And this shows that Dato' Mustafar Ali had lied in his press statement. In all, Wan Zainal gave three statements to ASP Zuhairi because AG Gani Patail was not satisfied when this man had steadfastly denied being involved in any bribery each and every time. The reason for these three statements is because AG Gani Patail and Abu Kassim wanted the police to 'wrap up' this 'suicide' case by pointing to Wan Zainal as the cause of the fear and the resulting death of Ahmad Sarbani. They were bent of coming out with a verdict of 'suicide' so they needed the 'cause' but failed. The mention of the AG's name did not intimidate Wan Zainal who insisted to ASP Zuhairi that "saya takkan fitnahkan orang yang dah meninggal" (I will not defame a dead man) just for convenience. ASP Zuhairi also discovered that the background of Wan Zainal is not consistent with someone who would give bribes. Wan Zainal is a God-fearing man and the Imam Jenazah of his surau. His salary and allowances are very modest. He voluntarily gave his last three years bank statements to DSP Shafie, which showed there was hardly any money for him to survive monthly, what more to bribe Ahmad Sarbani or any other Customs officer for that matter to the tune of billions of ringgit. Wan Zainal also told ASP Zuhairi that on the eve of 4th April, he had met Ahmad Sarbani who apologised to him because he was forced by S.I.O. Abdul Ghani to implicate Wan Zainal. Since Wan Zainal worked for one of the largest forwarding companies in the country as well as globally it would be believable that this company would pay the biggest bribes to clear goods. Upon realising that he had been tricked to implicate his innocent friends, Ahmad Sarbani told Wan Zainal that he would put things right. On the morning of 6th April at about 9.50 am, S.I.O. Abdul Ghani had asked Ahmad Sarbani to summon Wan Zainal to the MACC office. By the time Wan Zainal arrived at around noon, Ahmad Sarbani had been killed. At 2.00pm, S.I.O. Abdul Ghani met Wan Zainal and asked him to assist in giving a story to the police that would support the MACC's spin that Ahmad Sarbani committed suicide because he was under pressure. Wan Zainal was also asked to coordinate the timing of certain calls and events to corroborate the MACC's diary. To absolve himself, S.I.O. Abdul Ghani also told a close friend that on the morning of 6th April, another MACC I.O. by the name of Shaikh had tried to upstage his leadership of the investigation by reporting to Mohd Fauzi that Ahmad Sarbani would not agree to be 'cooperative'. This caused Mohd Fauzi to go ballistic who directed Shaikh and another officer, Kamal, to apply pressure on Ahmad Sarbani. S.I.O. Abdul Ghani felt slighted that Shaikh was trying to gain prominence over him in this 'big case'. Abdul Ghani also confided that he saw Ahmad Sarbani with Shaikh and Kamal who were applying 'pressure techniques' and was making Ahmad Sarbani sign the acknowledgement form for the seizure of his telephone when Ahmad Sarbani was killed. To pacify the Malaysian public, I.O. Shaikh and I.O. Kamal have been suspended indefinitely and this created a lot of enmity within the Selangor MACC, especially because S.I.O. Abdul Ghani was being protected by Yusof Akope and Mohd Fauzi. Part 4 will follow tomorrow where we will reveal a massive cover-up and lying exercise aimed at hiding the fact that Ahmad Sarbani did not commit suicide but was murdered. Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 1) Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 2) |
| Something that never happened and never can happen Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:55 PM PDT
This article is an imaginary situation. This incident never happened and never can happen in a country like Malaysia. Nevertheless, let us break away from the reality of our miserable lives and allow our imagination to run wild just for once and fantasize just like in a Hollywood movie. NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin Your Honour, Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says: Where a person is arrested he shall be informed as soon as may be of the grounds of his arrest and shall be allowed to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. My client may be regarded as a Muslim, Your Honour, and I stress the word 'regarded', as we shall come to that again later, and I am a self-professed atheist, but as Your Honour can clearly see, the Constitution stipulates that my client is allowed to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. Your Honour can't forbid me from representing my client on the basis of my religion, or in this case my rejection of religion. To do so would be a violation of the Constitution and therefore a breach of my client's fundamental liberties and civil rights. This court cannot impose any other laws and rules on my client, religious or otherwise, as Article 4(1) of the Constitution says: This Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. This means, Your Honour, the Constitution reigns supreme and overrides all other laws, especially if those laws were passed after 31st August 1957 and are opposed to and inconsistent with the Constitution. In this case, Your Honour, this court cannot forbid me from acting for my client based on my religion or non-religion as the Constitution says that my client can be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice and there is no stipulation in the Constitution as to the religion of that practitioner. Your Honour, Article 5(1) of the Constitution says: No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with law. This means, Your Honour, the proper laws must be applied and these laws must be consistent with and in compliance to the Constitution and any laws passed after 31st August 1957 that are in violation of the Constitution are void. In other words, Your Honour, this court cannot move the goalposts, so to speak. Your Honour, Article 6(1) of the Constitution says: No person shall be held in slavery. Your Honour, we shall be calling expert witnesses who will testify that religion is a form of slavery and therefore to impose religion on my client is to subject my client to slavery. Our expert witnesses are renowned psychologists with no less than 40 years experience and who have lectured and written numerous books on the matter. They have also conducted intensive studies to determine that since time immemorial the ruling elite has been using religion to control and imprison the minds of the populace and subject them to mental slavery, which is more effective and dangerous than physical slavery. Your Honour, Article 8(1) of the Constitution says: All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law. Now, my client is being denied this right, Your Honour. He is being brought before this court because he is regarded as a Muslim and has openly professed that he is an atheist who does not believe in the existence of God. However, if he were not regarded as a Muslim he would not have been subjected to this trial. This means, Your Honour, my client is being prosecuted because of his faith, or in this case his rejection of faith, which also means he is not being treated equal before the law or being given equal protection of the law. Would someone who is not regarded as a Muslim be subjected to what my client is being subjected to? Would a non-Muslim who rejects his faith be here today? The answer, Your Honour, is no! So this is a violation of Article 8(1) of the Constitution. If Your Honour were to look at Article 8(2) of the Constitution, it says: Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment. Your Honour, my client is being discriminated against because of his religion, or rejection of it, and this, again, is a violation of the Constitution. Your Honour, Article 11(1) of the Constitution says: Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and, subject to Clause (4), to propagate it. This means, Your Honour, this court cannot take away the right of my client to believe in whatever he wants to believe in or not believe in whatever he chooses to not believe. This court may argue that Article 11(4) of the Constitution overrides Article 11(1). Article 11(4) says: State law and in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, federal law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam. This Article merely talks about propagation, not belief. My client is not propagating anything, especially to persons professing the religion of Islam. Now, Your Honour, let us go to the laws of Islam, in this case the Quran, the only true guidance for those who profess the religion of Islam. Chapter 2, verse 256 of the Quran says: Let there be no compulsion in religion. Your Honour, the Quranic passage, la ikraha fi d-dini, or there is no compulsion in religion, is generally understood to mean that no one should use compulsion against another in matters of faith. As it is understood here, Your Honour, this statement represents a principle of religious tolerance. Historically, the People of the Book, that is, the members of the older religions, particularly the Jews and the Christians, were in principle never compelled to accept Islam. They were obliged, while residing in any territory under Islamic domination, only to recognise the supremacy of Muslims and, at the same time, as an external indication of this recognition, to pay a separate tax. In all other matters they could maintain their inherited beliefs and perform their practices as usual. They were even allowed to establish their own internal administration. The situation, however, was different for members of the pre-Islamic pagan Arab society. After Islam became established and had extended its power over the whole of Arabia, the pagan Arabs were forcefully compelled to accept Islam. To state it more accurately, they had to choose either to accept Islam or face death in battle against the Muslims. This regulation was later sanctioned in Islamic law that came long after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. However, Your Honour, all this stands in open contradiction to the meaning of the Quranic statement: la ikraha fi d-dini. The non-Muslims at that time were clearly compelled to accept Islam unless they preferred to die. In view of these circumstances we must return to the real meaning of la ikraha fi d-dini. And this, Your Honour, becomes clearer in chapter 10, verse 100 of the Quran, which says: And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would believe together. Wouldst thou compel men until they are believers? In other words, Your Honour, the Quran says that God could have made all people of the same faith had He wanted to but He purposely did not. And the Quran questions us: Wouldst thou compel men until they are believers? That means the Quran is asking us whether we are trying to do what God Himself does not do. Your Honour, in the contemporary world of Islam, the acknowledgement of religious tolerance is well established. And it is made clearer in the Quranic statement: la ikraha fi d-dini. Your Honour, we must always keep in mind that in many ways the circumstances governing early Islam differed from those of today and that the presuppositions for a general and complete religious tolerance were not given at that time. And that brings us to my client's case, Your Honour. Is this court empowered to try my client and impose upon him not only what the Constitution forbids but what the Quran also clearly does not propagate or allow? Is this court playing God and doing the job of God when the Quran clearly states that God could have made everyone of the same faith if He had wanted to but intentionally did not? This, Your Honour, will be what the Defence will be raising if this court persists in continuing with this trial and refuses to withdraw the charge of apostasy against my client. |
| WIKILEAKS: Malaysia's New Economic Model Posted: 05 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT He noted barriers to non-bumiputras in the job market, starting and growing businesses, purchasing housing, and educational opportunities began a move of many well educated non-bumiputra Malaysians to emigrate. The fact that 800,000 young Malaysians are now working abroad, 300,000 having emigrated in the past 18 months, including increasing numbers of ethnic Malays was recently noted in Parliament. Malaysia's "brain drain" has begun to get the attention of policy makers, according to Husni. 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 000103 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS FOR DBISCHOF STATE FOR EEB/IFD/OMA FOR BSAUNDERS AND AWHITTINGTON STATE PASS USTR - WEISEL AND BELL STATE PASS FEDERAL RESERVE AND EXIMBANK STATE PASS FEDERAL RESERVE SAN FRANCISCO TCURRAN SINGAPORE PASS SBLEIWEIS USDOC FOR 4430/MAC/EAP/MHOGGE TREASURY FOR OASIA AND IRS GENEVA FOR USTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020 TAGS: ECON, EFIN, ENIV, EXIM, MY, PGOV SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S NEW ECONOMIC MODEL: ECONOMIC REFORM EFFORTS MAY MEET OPPOSITION REF: A. 09 KUALA LUMPUR 303 B. 09 KUALA LUMPUR 318 C. 09 KUALA LUMPUR 887 1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Najib Razak (Najib) introduced a first wave of limited economic reforms (refs A and B) shortly after taking office in April 2009 and has promised more substantial economic reforms designed to improve Malaysia's competitiveness (ref C). To accomplish this, Najib formed the National Economic Advisory Committee (NEAC) to develop a New Economic Model (NEM), an economic policy roadmap which he hopes will lead Malaysia from middle income to high income country status. Little has been revealed about the contents of the NEM, but government officials say it is intended to address Malaysia's "stagnating" economy, by improving education, reducing corruption, strengthening weak public institutions, reconfiguring emigration, cutting back on government over-involvement in the private sector, and increasing low domestic investment rates. Leading Malaysian economists believe that Najib is sincere in his desire to address these problems. However, they question his ability to make major changes in the government's long-standing discriminatory Bumiputera preference policies which have discouraged domestic investment and new business formation and are driving the "brain drain" of young professional Malaysians frustrated with limited opportunities under this system. Economists here expect Najib's effort to establish a policy framework that will foster a more gradual move away from ethnic preferences to a merit-based economy, but believe that may be insufficient. If PM Najib is unable to deliver on NEM reforms, they expect the opposition will seize the reform agenda as an issue for possible 2012 elections. Executing a robust NEM, however, will be even more difficult as the PM will undoubtedly face steady opposition from within his own political party (UMNO), particularly from members who fear their parliamentary seats may be lost if the current patronage system is dismantled. End Summary. The New Economic Model: Reigniting High Growth 2. (C) Since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (Najib) took office in April 2009, he has called for Malaysia to move from a low value-added, manufacturing-for-export oriented middle income economy to a knowledge-based service oriented high income economy. He has used the rubric of former Prime Minister Mahathir's Vision 2020 goal of reaching "high-income country" status by the year 2020 as his call to action to justify developing a "New Economic Model" (NEM) to promote economic transformation. PM Najib quickly announced an investment liberalization agenda and by April 2009 implemented a first tranche of reforms aimed at reducing bumiputra (ethnic Malays and other non-Chinese or Indian ethnicities) ownership requirements in 27 different non-influential service sectors (e.g. veterinary services and ship salvage and refloatation services) and allow foreign controlling ownership interests in some types of financial institutions (Ref A). PM Najib announced a second tranche of reforms late in April including reducing bumiputra ownership requirements on all listed companies from 30% to 12.5% and repealing Foreign Investment Commission guidelines on new mergers and acquisitions by foreign firms (Ref B). In July, PM Najib formed the National Economic Advisory Committee (NEAC) and charged the new body - made up of high profile Malaysian and non-Malaysian economic figures - with developing the NEM. In his October 23 budget speech (Ref C), PM Najib promised additional economic reforms. Financial Crisis and Capital Flight Push GOM to Reform 3. (C) Najib has been forced to consider a broader reform program because the Global financial crisis (GFC) has put tremendous pressure on the underpinnings of Malaysia's economic growth. FDI has slowed to a trickle, $15 billion of portfolio investment departed in 2009 and has just begun to return, and there remain large domestic reverse investment outflows as Malaysian conglomerates focus on overseas rather than domestic investment. According to a January 8 UBS Securities report, Malaysia experienced net capital out flows in excess of $27 billion from mid-2008 to mid-2009. More telling, the UBS report states Malaysia has not experienced net capital inflows in any one calendar year since 1997. UBS cites domestic investors investing outside Malaysia as the primary source of the outflows. PriceWaterhouse Coopers Consulting Malaysia (PWC) General Manager Pearlene Cheong described Western multi-national corporate interest in investing in Malaysia as "dormant" and that ethnic Chinese Malaysians had been taking their money out of Malaysia ever since the Asian financial crisis. She said that PWC's investor advisory business has seen primarily North Asian investors working in the extractive industries focused in East Malaysia and added, "This is not the knowledge-based type of employment that the government is looking for to stimulate wage growth." Bold Statements Calling for Change 4. (C) The Najib administration has identified several areas of the economy needing reform and has announced its intentions to carry out reforms through the NEM. In a December 1 speech to the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, Finance Minister II Husni said Malaysia's economy was "stagnating" and highlighted Malaysia's most pressing economic issues needing to be addressed by the NEM as education, corruption, GOM economic over-management, weak public institutions, emigration, and low domestic investment rates. Education: Husni said, "Our universities are a disappointment." He cited Malaysia as having its highest unemployment rate for recent college graduates while adding that there is a severe shortage of skilled workers, implying that large numbers of Malaysian recent college graduates are unskilled. Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah reported that skilled labor shortages and the poor quality of Malaysian graduates costs Malaysian competitiveness 15% of GDP annually. Corruption and Cronyism: He cited the recently released Transparency International 2009 Corruption Perception Index, in which Malaysia fell to number 56 of 180 countries, its lowest rating in over 20 years, and continuing a fall from number 26 in 2004. Husni promised wholesale reform in government procurement practices, controlled by the Ministry of Finance, and an end to sole source contracts, except for the military. GOM Over-involvement in the Economy: Husni called for the transparent divestiture of GOM interests in government-linked corporations (GLCs) and the restoration of the private sector's role as the primary engine for growth. He also cited that the GOM needs to discontinue open-ended protection of domestic industries, allow market driven resource allocation including greater precision in subsidy allocation, and foster better competition policies to spur innovation. Weak Public Institutions: Husni criticized the lack of diversity in the civil service and proposed strengthening public institutions through greater ethnic participation. Brain Drain: He noted barriers to non-bumiputras in the job market, starting and growing businesses, purchasing housing, and educational opportunities began a move of many well educated non-bumiputra Malaysians to emigrate. The fact that 800,000 young Malaysians are now working abroad, 300,000 having emigrated in the past 18 months, including increasing numbers of ethnic Malays was recently noted in Parliament. Malaysia's "brain drain" has begun to get the attention of policy makers, according to Husni. Low Domestic Investment: Since 1997, domestic investment rates halved from 20-25% of GDP annually to roughly 10% and have remained at reduced levels for the past decade. Husni said that the 1Malaysia concept is intended to introduce competition and move Malaysia to a more performance-based culture like Japan, Korean, and Singapore, promoting an attractive investment and working environment for all Malaysians. NEM to be Broad and Wide-Ranging 5. (C) The government and our contacts have released few details of the upcoming NEM. However, PM Najib announced December 22 at the Finance Ministry's "Media Night" that he had approved the NEM direction, and that the final model will be presented to the Cabinet and made public by the end of February 2010. The NEM will "set the direction of the economy and make the economy more resilient", according to Najib. NEAC Acting Director of Research Tong Yee Siong, said the NEAC met the week of February 1-5 to finalize its recommendations to the Cabinet for approval and public release by the end of February. Tong told Econoffs that the NEAC will produce goal papers and an economic model framework. Tong expected the recommendations to be very broad, and would propose a policy framework to address the most significant economic issues facing Malaysia and improve its economic competitiveness. Nicholas Zefferies, the president of AmCham, and the only "foreign" member of the NEAC, told Econ Counselor January 13 that NEAC reform recommendations to PM Najib would be wide-ranging. Zefferies said that Najib was planning to give NEAC powers similar to the Prime Minister's Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah), to enforce the planned economic reform program on government Ministries. Economic Reform Versus Ethnic Preferences 6. (C) Tong told us that the NEAC is focused on removing disincentives to domestic investment established in the New Economic Policy (NEP) as a key to reinvigorating domestic and foreign investment. He added that any basis for serious economic and investment reform efforts in Malaysia involves dismantling old entrenched Bumiputra ethnic preferences established since the Mahathir regime in the NEP. Finance Minister II Husni's speech was important for connecting Najib's 1Malaysia slogan to real economic reform, according to Malaysian Institute for Economic Research Managing Director and long-time UMNO economic advisor Mohamed Ariff. However, as Husni criticized Malaysia's longstanding ethnic preference policies, he qualified his statements by asserting that "the government is not abandoning bumiputras" and that the government will pursue reform in "a prudent and cautious method" in an effort to allay bumiputra fears of economic displacement. Ariff told us that the Husni speech angered some senior UMNO members who complained that Najib was opening the economy too much and moving too fast toward reform. Opposition parliament members praised the speech, according to Ariff. PM Najib Seeks Incremental Reform 7. (C) Our economic contacts close to PM Najib said they were convinced he is sincere about wanting economic reform. Economic Planning Unit Deputy Director General K. Govindan, who briefs PM Najib and the cabinet weekly on Malaysian economic performance and economic policy, told us he believes PM Najib understands in general terms the reforms needed to improve human capital and productivity, increase trade and investment, and reduce corruption. Nevertheless, Govindan said he does not make specific economic policy recommendations at those meetings for fear of offending other Ministers in the meeting who oppose the reform agenda. Ariff also believes PM Najib legitimately seeks economic reform. Ariff told us PM Najib's words to him were "change or be changed" when referring to economic reform. But Ariff also said he expected PM Najib to slowly pick away at the NEP without causing too much economic and political disruption. This will require regularly announcing small reforms rather than the sweeping reforms required to transform the economy. Ariff offered the February NEM release and the June 2010 release of the 10th 5-year Malaysia Plan as two upcoming opportunities for Najib to roll out more economic reforms. Safe Won't Work 8. (C) In the view of our economist contacts, PM Najib's "politically friendly" incremental strategy to economic reform may end up being too little too late. Tong projected that for reform to work, the PM will need to make a bold announcement on major reforms and then rally public support for change. Tong said that NEAC members are advocating that PM Najib announce significant structural changes to Malaysia's economy as a part of the NEM. Govindan agreed that major structural changes are needed for sustained economic growth. He added that a series of small reform programs will eventually limit Malaysia to an unacceptably low 3-4% annual growth rate that will keep the country trapped in middle income status until "politics are removed from education and the economy." The critical point, Ariff said, was that while Malaysia continued taking baby steps on economic reform, its competitors for investment such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam would be overtaking Malaysia as the first choice for foreign direct investment. Ruling Party May Block Aggressive Reform 9. (C) Each of our contacts agreed that political will is the key to reform, but none are convinced all of the coming announcements of plans to reform Malaysia's economy will be backed by substantially broad concrete measures. Ariff told us that after early enthusiasm for economic reform, some UMNO insiders do not want reform that would take away the economic rents and patronage system they have relied on to maintain the party's power base for over a generation. Ariff predicted that UMNO would not survive in power by moving to an open and transparent system and that UMNO insiders would challenge Najib if he moved too strongly on government reform. Govindan sees Malaysia's huge and largely ethnic Malay civil service, completely loyal to UMNO, but increasingly incompetent, as PM Najib's largest obstacle. He commented that the civil service has a very narrow worldview and will oppose, even refuse to implement, reforms perceived as damaging ethnic Malay interests, even if convinced of the long-run gains for Malaysia. Tong told us that achieving any of the goals developed by the NEAC will require significant political buy-in to operationalize the policy changes necessary to reinvigorate investment and spur additional growth. However, Tong commented that NEAC members are frustrated with a lack of high-level political commitment outside of PM Najib as well as the slow responses from Ministries which impeded progress on the NEM. He added that some NEAC members are concerned that the NEM maybe merely a public relations exercise that will have no real long-term policy impact. Zeffries told us that he was not confident that PM Najib has a sufficiently strong political position to pursue the NEAC's upcoming proposals. Liew described the opposition closely watching economic reform, offering that an inability of the ruling coalition to implement promised economic reforms will provide powerful political ammunition for use in upcoming federal elections in 2012. Ethnic Minorities Support Reform 10. (C) Cheong sees her Malaysian private sector business clients as highly supportive of the type of economic opening she believes PM Najib will announce in the NEM and commented that ethnic Chinese, Indian, and urban Malays not directly benefitting from UMNO patronage will strongly support economic reform efforts, but that rural Malays, a strong UMNO constituent base, will fear changes labeled as detrimental to Bumiputra interests. However, Cheong observed that Non-Bumiputras have successfully competed in the open economy at a disadvantage to Bumiputra and government linked businesses for over 30 years and that Malaysians would patiently wait for change. She added that the lack of investment is so obvious that the government is practically being forced to take action. KEITH |
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