Khamis, 10 November 2011

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The meaning and role of civil society

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 08:06 PM PST

My hope is that the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) can bring awareness to the people that back in the 1800s the Europeans too thought that just by kicking out the crown and/or church and replacing it with a new government all their problems would be solved. This proved to be a fallacy. By the 1900s, they discovered that life could be as bad, or worse, under a democratically elected government. And this is the mistake we must avoid.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Joceline Tan's article in The Star today (READ HERE) gives an impression that most Malaysians -- even educated Malaysians like Joceline Tan -- still do not grasp the meaning of civil society and the third estate (or third force if you wish).

I already wrote about the third estate earlier (READ HERE). Maybe today I should explain the meaning and role of civil society.

Until the end of the American Revolution in 1781, and the signing of the Treaty of Paris between the British and the Americans in 1783, two groups governed the world -- the crown and/or the church. For the first time in thousands of years, the people successfully kicked out the crown and ruled themselves. And, to ensure that the church did not merely fill the vacuum created by the crown, the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution modelled America along the lines of a Secular State cum Republic.

Many Frenchmen fought on the side of the Americans during the five-year American Revolution so invariably, when they went back to France, they sparked the fires of a revolution. This eventually saw the Tsunami of civil society action that resulted in the French Revolution six years later in 1789.

Over 50 years, Europe was swept by a revolution Tsunami. England (there were riots in Manchester and London), Spain, Portugal, France (that saw a second revolution after the Napoleonic Wars), the Papal States (Italy did not exist yet), The Hapsburg Empire (there was no German Republic yet), the Russian Empire, etc., all saw the people (civil society movements) rise up to overthrow the crown and the church and rule themselves through elections and an elected government. Those that still retained the monarchy reduced it to a Constitutional Monarchy.

It must be noted that elections were either not held or only the nobles and clergy could vote in places where elections were held. Women and the common folks (workers, farmers, etc.) were not allowed to vote. Only the rich and the landowners could vote. So elections were basically very controlled affairs and mere thousands of the privileged class decided who got to rule over the millions of subjects.

By the mid-1800s, changes began to emerge and power shifted into the hands of the people. The powers of the church were reduced. Most of the land was owned by the church and the nobles -- while the people became slave labour on the land they worked. The people did not own the land but they had to pay taxes on the land they worked while the rich landowners (the church and the nobles) were exempted from paying tax.

In short, it was slavery without it being called slavery.

The role of civil society (a concept that emerged in the 1800s) was one factor that brought about changes in 19th century Europe. Poverty was another. 

Europe saw a population explosion in the 1800s mainly because for about 100 years there were no real wars as such (they called this the period of 100 years peace). So less people died. The 1800s was also the era when research improved the health system so less people died from diseases as well.

Food production did not improve. Many farmers faced famine so they had to abandon the fields and migrate to the cities to work in the factories that were mushrooming because of the Industrial Revolution. However, machinery replaced manpower so there was not much work for the migrating farmers. That was why in many cities (Manchester included) the people burned down the factories and destroyed the machinery that was denying them work and hence keeping them in poverty.

Basically, the Industrial Revolution brought prosperity to the capitalists but not to the common folks. They may have seen the beginning of political change but this did not mean there was any improvement to their economic wellbeing. They merely exchanged a life of poverty as farmers to poverty as factory workers.

And that was why socialism became popular. The people realised that mere political change (from a monarchy to a democracy where governments are elected into office) is not enough. The oppression and exploitation of the workers also needs to be addressed.

Today, Communism is a dirty word. But then we are looking at it from today's standards where the workers are guaranteed a minimum wage (except in Malaysia), health care, education, housing, can form unions, etc. But in the days of the so-called Industrial Revolution when the workers were treated no better than serfs or slaves, Communism was the only guarantee for the much oppressed and exploited workers (and farmers) who paid taxes but were denied the right to vote.

Maybe you can argue that that was in the 1800s, 200 years ago, and today there is no longer any need for civil society as conditions have much improved since 200 years ago. Maybe that would be true in some aspects. But the oppression and exploitation continues. The only thing is the oppression and exploitation today may be different from that of 200 years ago. Nevertheless, the ruling elite still oppresses and exploits the ruled and the capitalists still call the shots, as they did 200 years ago. 

So there is still a need for civil society. Civil society still has a role to play. And as long as the people still understand that they are the third estate (or third force if you would like to call it that) then the rulers will be conscious of the needs of the ruled.

In the past, the two ruling cliques were the crown and the church. Today, those two cliques are the ruling party and the opposition. And since the 1800s it has been proven that by just removing one ruling clique and replacing it with another does not always work. As the Americans said in the 1700s: it is merely removing one dictator 10,000 miles away with 10,000 dictators one mile away.

My hope is that the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) can bring awareness to the people that back in the 1800s the Europeans too thought that just by kicking out the crown and/or church and replacing it with a new government all their problems would be solved. This proved to be a fallacy. By the 1900s, they discovered that life could be as bad, or worse, under a democratically elected government. And this is the mistake we must avoid.

I know that some readers are now going to comment: why are we talking about something that happened 200 years ago in some distant place called Europe? Well, those who are ignorant about history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. And if Hitler had learned from Napoleon's mistake, then, today, I would be writing this piece in German instead of English.

 
Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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Who is the one short-changing Malaysians - BN or Pakatan?

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 01:08 PM PST

Is it fair to say that the modus operandi of the BN government is that when things are done to enrich their cronies, that has to be defended at all costs, but when it benefits ordinary people it has to be protested against? Is it a coincidence that the majority of Umno branch chiefs are Class F contractors? 

By Douglas Tan

Selangor Opposition leader Satim Diman is barking up the wrong tree. He accuses the Selangor State government of selling off government assets in order to fund the Selangor State minimum wage policy which is to take effect next year.

Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim explains that the money which they would use does not come from Perbandanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) but through savings from prudent fiscal management and the reduction of corruption within the state.

As Mentri Besar of Selangor, Khalid has led Selangor to post the largest state budget surplus in the state's history. By the end of 2010, the reserves stood at RM918 million, and increased state revenue by RM200 million in under six months.

The Pakatan state government has also shown their ability to practice good fiscal management. The state is being run effectively, with additional programmes to give assistance to the elderly, children of farm workers, a RM50 million micro-credit schemes and free water to name a few. Added initiatives but increasing revenue year-on-year? They must be doing something right.

 

Kedai 1Malaysia

The irony of the accusations levelled against the Pakatan-led state government is that Barisan Nasional are the ones who are inherently guilty of engaging in land swap deals to generate income. Further to that, they do not even bother to give the money back, but are quite content in keeping it to themselves.

Tony Pua and Nurul Izzah has shot down the whole Kedai 1Malaysia (KR1M)scheme. In the lobby of parliament on November 9th, they exposed the BN government of lying to the people that they could potentially save "up to 50%" on 250 items as compared to what one could purchase outside.

Although some items were indeed cheaper, the fact remains that you could get Tesco or Carrefour branded items at the same price or even cheaper. The RM40 million subsidy pumped into Mydin who operates the 85 stores cannot besubstantiated. So Satim Diman, who is short changing the public now?

 

Land Deals

Since you talked about land, let's talk about land. The federal government is very clever not to include certain allocations in the budget, so the way to finance a crony project would be to do a land-swap deal.

In 2009, the Auditor General raised questions over the RM256 million Skudai 7th Brigade Army Camp project. This was awarded in 1997 but after 15years, is only 18.3% complete. The Kausar Corporation who was awarded thisproject had already collected the construction fee in full, and was given 153 hectares of land.

Records reveal that a RM465 million bank loan was paid out for the land,which would place the land valuation in excess of RM800 million in 1997. At todaysland valuation, it could potentially be worth more than double the Selangor State government surplus. This means that Kausar took RM721 million in cash, and 153 hectares of land. The government does nothing over all these years, and the people get nothing. Isthis how this all works?

So Tuan Satim Diman, when a company in which the government awards aproject directly through closed tender, who is given land worth 4 times theproject itself, takes all the money but does not complete the project, and walkaway, that is ok?

UBF Urges CM to Intervene in Sukau Tragedy

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 01:03 PM PST

"Several villagers even reported to me that the local assemblyman was in his car during the operation to bulldoze the houses, and even at one point urging the bulldozer's driver, 'Tunggu apa lagi?' (What else are you wating for?)," he said. "If this is true, it proves that the assemblyman is in cahoots with the company."

By Raymond Tombung

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan is urging the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, to take an urgent step to intervene into what it calls the 'Sukau Tragedy' in which houses are being bulldozed by a company which wants natives to vacate an NCR land.

In an urgent appeal made here, the UBF Chairman, reported that he had just returned from a visit to the site of Kampung Km. 6, Jalan Sukau, Sandakan where he personally witnessed the debris of two houses which have already been bulldozed by Syarikat Campo Sdn. Bhd. which claims to have receive the title to the land, and considered the people there as intruders although they have been there since 1989.

"The Tombonuo natives of the village had applied for the land since then but their application was never processed," he said.

"But strangely the said company, owned by Dato' Naser Yeo, Azlan Naser, and Kan Kan Mun, claims to have received the title to the land in 2008. But the record shows that the RSP for the land was issued only last year. Clearly there is a discrepancy somewhere, possibly due to some hanky-panky."

He said the village head, Kattif Kussoi, had informed him that the villagers are really distraught by the whole development, and are asking for the authorities to do something. Unfortunately, no party seems to he interested in helping them.

"Several villagers even reported to me that the local assemblyman was in his car during the operation to bulldoze the houses, and even at one point urging the bulldozer's driver, 'Tunggu apa lagi?' (What else are you wating for?)," he said. "If this is true, it proves that the assemblyman is in cahoots with the company."

Jeffrey lamented the fact that before issuing the land title to the company, the Land and surveys Department didn't even bother to inspect the land to see if there were already occupants on it.

"And it is also unbelievable that the department would have been unaware that there are 29 original applicants to the land," he added. "As of today 11 applicants have withdrawn their applications, leaving 18 remaining applications."

He said that if the State Government is truly concerned for the people, the Chief Minister would immediately order a stoppage of the company's 'inhuman rampage' against the poor natives. "This incident is unconscionable," he said. "And a government who claims to defend the people cannot allow this to happen."

He propose that the State Government must sit down to form a special task force to look into all cases involving this kind of land grabs that violates the people Native Customary Rights.

"This kind of cases have been rampant in Sabah , to the point that the Malaysian Human rights Commission (Suhakam) has been involved very deeply in it," he urged. "But sadly, there seems to have been no solution, and the inhuman act, which seems to suggest we are living in a despotic authoritarian regime, is still happening."

He said the people are feeling that the government leaders and officials are now so corrupt that they no longer have any feeling for the people, but are working with big companies for their personal interests.

"They feel that even the laws are no longer able to protect them," he lamented," he said. "Why is the government continuing to turn blind eye on these cases when the people are repeatedly being reassured that only the Barisan Nasional can guarantee their wellbeing and future? Can the government really pretend to be deaf while the people continue to be victimized and marginalized at the benefit of big companies from outside Sabah?"

MCA says no to overseas voting

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 12:40 PM PST

By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

Malaysians abroad are not qualified to vote because they are "out of touch" with the current state of affairs in the country, MCA told Parliament's polls reform panel today.

The ruling Barisan Nasional's (BN) Chinese party said its research showed most Malaysians outside the country only received information from questionable news sources, which it said may not reflect the "true situation" ongoing in the country.

"The future of Malaysia should be determined by those who have faith and still remained in the country," Datuk Ei Kim Hock, a member of the MCA central committee who headed the party's team told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform today.

MORE TO COME HERE.

Koh Ready To Give Up Penang BN Chairmanship To Other Component Parties

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 12:31 PM PST

(Bernama) - Gerakan President Dr Koh Tsu Koon said he has always been ready to give up the chairmanship of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in Penang to a person who is acceptable by other BN component parties.

"The candidate must acceptable by other component parties and can lead them together," he told the media after his address at the National Unity conference in Subang Jaya near here yesterday.

Koh said the appointment of the state BN chairman was the right of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also BN chairman.

"I am saying that if there is a need to hand over...there is no problem.

"So wait, if there are any announcements, I will give my views and also other component parties will give their views...it is process of consultation.

"When I became Penang Chief Minister and then took over as state BN chairman in 1990, rumours said I would only last for 100 days...so from that day I was already prepared," he said.

Meanwhile, Koh said unity was a never ending process.

"The National Unity Department now actively trainx mediator from different groups and religions so that they will have greater understanding and make less conflicts in terms of views and practices," he said.

Koh said the National Unity conference was a unique show of patriotism with four young politicians setting aside their differences to meet with young Malaysians at a conference aimed at finding ways to foster greater empathy and unity in Malaysia.

Organised by Yayasan 1Malaysia and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) the conference featured prominent MPs including Khairy Jamaluddin (BN), Teo Nie Ching (DAP), Masiung Banah (BN Sabah) and Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR) as speakers while participants comprised young working adults, university students, representatives from NGOs and the media.

Najib better liked than Anwar, PKR survey shows

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:53 AM PST

By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider

Datuk Seri Najib Razak is more popular than Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but is seen as more indecisive and a poorer communicator, a PKR internal poll has found.

The prime minister was seen positively by 53 per cent of voters compared to 38 per cent who gave him the thumbs-down, according to the survey obtained by The Malaysian Insider.

Much of Najib's support came from the Malay community, where he was well-regarded by 71 per cent of those polled (net positive 46 points), compared to 34 per cent of Chinese voters (net negative 18 points).

Voters in the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold of Johor were more likely to back the Umno president (61 per cent), followed by those in Perak (52 per cent), Selangor (49 per cent) and Kuala Lumpur (47 per cent).

In contrast, Anwar scored just a 40 per cent approval rating, with 48 per cent saying they disapproved of the de facto PKR chief.

Only 32 per cent of Malay voters said they favoured the former Umno number two compared to 61 per cent that did not.

Female voters, in particular, did not like Anwar, with 53 per cent saying they disapproved of him (net negative 21 points), compared to an approval rating of 47 per cent among male voters (net positive two points).

Malay women especially saw Anwar in poor light, with 69 per cent saying they viewed him poorly compared to just 24 per cent who did not.

Chinese voters, on the other hand, were slightly more likely to back Anwar, with 43 per cent saying they approved of him, a net positive of two points.

He was better regarded in PKR-led Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (44 per cent) than in Perak (38 per cent) and Johor (35 per cent).

Anwar was most popular among those aged 40 and above (43 per cent) while Najib was best liked in the 30-39 age group (55 per cent).

While the opposition leader was almost equally popular among graduates and non-graduates — 42 and 40 per cent respectively — the prime minister found more favour with non-degree holders (61 per cent versus 49 per cent).

 

READ MORE HERE.

MACC raids Petronas over alleged graft among key employees

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:51 AM PST

By Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider

Anti-graft officials raided national oil giant Petronas in the past weeks after receiving tip-offs of alleged corruption by project consultants working on exploration and production efforts in Malaysian waters, sources said.

The Malaysian Insider understands that files have been carted away and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officials briefed Datuk Seri Najib Razak before he left for the hajj last week. The prime minister returned to Malaysia yesterday.

"The MACC investigators have gone in as there have been many complaints of some seeking gifts in return for making recommendations for contracts," a source told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.

Another source confirmed the investigation into the national oil company, saying the MACC has informed Najib and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The MACC does not confirm investigations for fear of jeopardising their work.

Industry sources said corruption has become rampant over the years as Petronas has been giving out a host of contracts for its various operations, including the new push for marginal oil fields. But they did not identify which section of Petronas was being investigated by the MACC.

"There's a lot of money to be made in long-term contracts. It's a bit less for spot contracts," one source said, adding middle-men and subcontractors frequent the oil giant's headquarters in the iconic Petronas Twin Towers to buy and deliver pricey gifts including brand-name items such as bags for Petronas officials.

"It's not uncommon. Everyone knows the game," he added.

Another source said the Petronas management has had various meetings to discuss allegations of graft among its employees, who are among the best paid in Malaysia with perks including attractive housing loans, medical benefits and other incentives.

"They used to be among the best and honest but there are so many contracts these days and taking a cut is easy and very tempting," he said, adding some Petronas officials have been seen to be living way beyond their means.

"There is a lot of gossip and backbiting. Some contractors have complained they have to pay up to be considered for jobs. So it's not surprising that the MACC is here," said the source.

He pointed out the management has been working on stamping out corruption, which has been identified as National Key Result Area (NKRA) by the Najib administration. The MACC recorded the most arrests related to graft last year, nabbing 944 people, of which more than 400 were bribe givers.

 

READ MORE HERE.

More hot air over 'Sept 16' dreams

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 05:37 AM PST

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim is anticipating a "Malaysia Spring" when the general election comes.

For those who have trouble remembering, Sept 16, 2008, was the date that Anwar had repeatedly and boldly set, just after the last general election, as the time for him and his allies to take over the Federal Government through defections of BN members of parliament.

By Syed Nadzri, New Straits Times

But after his "Sept 16" debacle, this could be just another case of wishful thinking, say some people.

The hot air, others add, even bears the same smugness of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's immortal "You're out of date" remark bellowed just before the 1990 polls. That one also turned hollow, of course.

In an interview with Bloomberg news late last week, Anwar, the former high-riding and all-powerful deputy prime minister and now parliamentary opposition leader, said in the next general election, his loose alliance called Pakatan Rakyat will end five decades of rule by Barisan Nasional.

"We're taking over the government at the rate we're going." He then connected this ambition to the Middle East upheavals known as the Arab Spring.

He said: "When will the Malaysia Spring be?"

He replied: "The next elections."

In a way, Anwar was partly right. The 13th general election could possibly come around in March or April, which is springtime in many countries (hence, the Malaysia "spring" reference). But given the political fluffs of the past, that is where the connection is likely to end and Sept 16 memories would take over.

For those who have trouble remembering, Sept 16, 2008, was the date that Anwar had repeatedly and boldly set, just after the last general election, as the time for him and his allies to take over the Federal Government through defections of BN members of parliament.

The build-up to that date was noisy and mischievous, to say the least, with the  former Umno firebrand upstart going on his nightly ceramah roadshow, declaring  something to this effect: "I will name the people crossing over to our side tomorrow night at 11.30. Make sure all of you come. We will celebrate our victory on Sept 16.

"I also have boxes and boxes of evidence of corruption against  BN leaders and their cronies."

Well, four Sept 16s have passed and Anwar is still not prime minister. The boxes of documented proof never saw the light. He was, as someone said, just taking us down through "strawberry fields, where nothing is real".

In all likelihood, his Malaysia Spring will turn out to be like that as well.

It is a throwback to the time when  Razaleigh, at one time an equally high-riding and powerful finance minister, was leading the new party, Semangat 46, and a seemingly resurgent opposition pact after a falling out with Umno leaders.

In such a situation, they all like to take it out on journalists.

In one of his repartees at a press conference just before the 1990 election, Razaleigh shot back: "Why do you ask a silly question? You will get a silly answer. You are out of date. Why are you talking about two-thirds. We will form the next government."

The poor reporter from this paper had merely asked whether the opposition parties' chance to deny  BN a two-thirds majority had increased with Parti Bersatu Sabah withdrawing  from  BN.

The takeover never happened. The opposition alliance not only failed to form the government, it was also routed. So, there you go.

Actually, Anwar's wishful intent was one of the two striking news items that raised our eyebrows last week.

The other was the landmark decision by the Court of Appeal that ruled that Section 15(5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, which restricts students from expressing support or opposing any political party, was unconstitutional.

The section says: "No student of the University and no organisation, body or group of students of the University which is established by, under or in accordance with the Constitution, shall express or do anything which may reasonably be construed as expressing support for or sympathy with or opposition to any political party, whether in or outside Malaysia."

The significance of the case is far-reaching and goes even beyond the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression.

The ruling has unwittingly resurrected the old question about which of the three is supreme: Parliament, the Federal Constitution or even the court that  interprets laws passed by Parliament.

The Court of Appeal said it straight last week: the Constitution, which provides for freedom of association and expression, is supreme and anything that is in conflict, including a law passed by Parliament, is therefore unconstitutional.

But isn't it Parliament that  has the power and control over the Constitution, that is,   to amend it or review it altogether? This, I think, is one for the legal experts to ponder.

In the meantime, a related news item in Saturday's paper befuddled me.

It said that a student body called Gesa, reacting to the court case, actually wanted Section 15(5)(a) to be retained. It handed over a memorandum  to that effect to the government on Friday.

What has become of our students? Gesa's action is akin to a situation where prisoners, having been released after years of detention, are objecting to their newfound freedom, wanting to continue to be kept under lock and key.

It is a funny world.


Mahal Tali Dari Lembu

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 05:15 AM PST

MASTERWORDSMITH-UNPLUGGED

When we first achieved Merdeka, for every RM5 spent, RM1 was for administration and RM4 for development. Today, it's the other way around. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development standards, Malaysia is known to have one of the most bloated civil service in the world!

Malays call this 'mahal tali dari lembu' (the rope is more expensive than the cow). But at least we can still see a cow. Better than when some allegedly spend a quarter billion ringgit with no cows to show at all!

According to this site, "the Malaysian Public service has staff strength of 1.2 million employees covering 28 schemes of service including the Federal Public Service, the State Public Services, the Joint Public Services, the Education Service, the Judiciary, the Legal Service, the Police and Armed Forces."

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) says that 5.5 million people in the country are eligible to pay taxes but only 1.7 million are active taxpayers. As the Malaysian population stands at 28.3 million, it means only six per cent are paying taxes, which explains why the government debt is increasing while wealth disparity and income gap are worsening.

So we have 1.7 million Malaysians paying the salaries of 1.2 million employees in the civil service which means that approximately 1.5 tax-paying Malaysians is paying the salary of ONE civil servant.

And why is this so? Since the 1990's, the civil service has been expanding rapidly with accelerated growth since 2007. To give you a clearer picture, take a look at the following figures:

1990: 773,997 government employees
2000: 894,788 staff members
2010: @ 1.2 million government employees
2011: 1.3 million government employees (Source: FMT)

What about salaries? In 2005, RM25.6Billion was spent on salaries but by 2008, this figure increased to RM41.0Billion (in other words, each tax payer forked out RM22,800)

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows Malaysia having the highest ratio of civil servants to the population in the Asia-Pacific region at 4.68% with Indonesia having 1.79%, Philippines 1.81%, South Korea 1.85% and Thailand 2.06%. Obviously, such an over-bloated civil service is an unnecessary financial burden in Malaysia!

Some argue that such a bloated civil service exists to provide jobs for local graduates who have difficulty in finding jobs but at what cost?

Is it justified to use and to deplete public funds to pay for poor quality workforce?

Consider the opportunity costs of such a decision. What social and public goods could have been provided for the betterment of the nation?

Will over-staffing increase efficiency and productivity in any way?

Issues such as poor accountability in public expenditure, corruption and inefficiency could actually influence some to avoid tax simply because one may not get value for tax paid!. Ever so often, we come across reports on how BILLIONS (note: no longer millions) of ringgit are being squandered or the high expenditure of scandals when some of the richest states in Malaysia are also the poorest state?

Many would think, where on earth did all our taxes go to? Is it any wonder that taxpayers feel outraged and  question why the necessity of paying tax if and when such payment is going to waste and not to fund social services such as roads, schools, hospitals and security?

Last year, I blogged on A President, A Queen and Two PMs where I summarized the following:

READ MORE HERE

 

Malays will become minority if they are divided, says Mahathir

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 08:31 PM PST

(Bernama) - The Malays will become a minority group who are incapable of championing their rights if they continue to be divided, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the Malays were now divided into three factions and that only through unity could they become an effective majority group to protect their interest.

"Previously, the Malays were united into one party to the extent that they succeeded in opposing (the proposed establishment of) the Malayan Union," he said when responding to a question from a participant at the premier lecture by him, entitled "The Development of the Civilisation and Culture of the Malaysian Community Towards the Formation of a Progressive Nation", here today.

Dr Mahathir, 85, said the voice of the Malays would be drowned if they were divided into several minority groups and needed the support of other groups to achieve the objectives of their struggles to preserve their own race.

Regarding the group who championed the individual's fundamental rights, the fourth Malaysian prime minister said the original democratic principle that emphasised on the rights of the majority had now turned to the aspects of the individual's fundamental rights.

He said if the freedom of the individuals was allowed without any restriction, this would create tension in the community.

Dr Mahathir said demonstrations were allowed in a democracy but if they were carried out on a large scale without restriction, this could bring about negative results such as jeopardising business activities.

He said it was also important to develop positive personal values from the young age so that this would continue to be upheld by the people as they grew older.

 

The meaning and role of civil society

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 08:06 PM PST

My hope is that the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) can bring awareness to the people that back in the 1800s the Europeans too thought that just by kicking out the crown and/or church and replacing it with a new government all their problems would be solved. This proved to be a fallacy. By the 1900s, they discovered that life could be as bad, or worse, under a democratically elected government. And this is the mistake we must avoid.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Joceline Tan's article in The Star today (READ HERE) gives an impression that most Malaysians -- even educated Malaysians like Joceline Tan -- still do not grasp the meaning of civil society and the third estate (or third force if you wish).

I already wrote about the third estate earlier (READ HERE). Maybe today I should explain the meaning and role of civil society.

Until the end of the American Revolution in 1781, and the signing of the Treaty of Paris between the British and the Americans in 1783, two groups governed the world -- the crown and/or the church. For the first time in thousands of years, the people successfully kicked out the crown and ruled themselves. And, to ensure that the church did not merely fill the vacuum created by the crown, the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution modelled America along the lines of a Secular State cum Republic.

Many Frenchmen fought on the side of the Americans during the five-year American Revolution so invariably, when they went back to France, they sparked the fires of a revolution. This eventually saw the Tsunami of civil society action that resulted in the French Revolution six years later in 1789.

Over 50 years, Europe was swept by a revolution Tsunami. England (there were riots in Manchester and London), Spain, Portugal, France (that saw a second revolution after the Napoleonic Wars), the Papal States (Italy did not exist yet), The Hapsburg Empire (there was no German Republic yet), the Russian Empire, etc., all saw the people (civil society movements) rise up to overthrow the crown and the church and rule themselves through elections and an elected government. Those that still retained the monarchy reduced it to a Constitutional Monarchy.

It must be noted that elections were either not held or only the nobles and clergy could vote in places where elections were held. Women and the common folks (workers, farmers, etc.) were not allowed to vote. Only the rich and the landowners could vote. So elections were basically very controlled affairs and mere thousands of the privileged class decided who got to rule over the millions of subjects.

By the mid-1800s, changes began to emerge and power shifted into the hands of the people. The powers of the church were reduced. Most of the land was owned by the church and the nobles -- while the people became slave labour on the land they worked. The people did not own the land but they had to pay taxes on the land they worked while the rich landowners (the church and the nobles) were exempted from paying tax.

In short, it was slavery without it being called slavery.

The role of civil society (a concept that emerged in the 1800s) was one factor that brought about changes in 19th century Europe. Poverty was another. 

Europe saw a population explosion in the 1800s mainly because for about 100 years there were no real wars as such (they called this the period of 100 years peace). So less people died. The 1800s was also the era when research improved the health system so less people died from diseases as well.

Food production did not improve. Many farmers faced famine so they had to abandon the fields and migrate to the cities to work in the factories that were mushrooming because of the Industrial Revolution. However, machinery replaced manpower so there was not much work for the migrating farmers. That was why in many cities (Manchester included) the people burned down the factories and destroyed the machinery that was denying them work and hence keeping them in poverty.

Basically, the Industrial Revolution brought prosperity to the capitalists but not to the common folks. They may have seen the beginning of political change but this did not mean there was any improvement to their economic wellbeing. They merely exchanged a life of poverty as farmers to poverty as factory workers.

And that was why socialism became popular. The people realised that mere political change (from a monarchy to a democracy where governments are elected into office) is not enough. The oppression and exploitation of the workers also needs to be addressed.

Today, Communism is a dirty word. But then we are looking at it from today's standards where the workers are guaranteed a minimum wage (except in Malaysia), health care, education, housing, can form unions, etc. But in the days of the so-called Industrial Revolution when the workers were treated no better than serfs or slaves, Communism was the only guarantee for the much oppressed and exploited workers (and farmers) who paid taxes but were denied the right to vote.

Maybe you can argue that that was in the 1800s, 200 years ago, and today there is no longer any need for civil society as conditions have much improved since 200 years ago. Maybe that would be true in some aspects. But the oppression and exploitation continues. The only thing is the oppression and exploitation today may be different from that of 200 years ago. Nevertheless, the ruling elite still oppresses and exploits the ruled and the capitalists still call the shots, as they did 200 years ago. 

So there is still a need for civil society. Civil society still has a role to play. And as long as the people still understand that they are the third estate (or third force if you would like to call it that) then the rulers will be conscious of the needs of the ruled.

In the past, the two ruling cliques were the crown and the church. Today, those two cliques are the ruling party and the opposition. And since the 1800s it has been proven that by just removing one ruling clique and replacing it with another does not always work. As the Americans said in the 1700s: it is merely removing one dictator 10,000 miles away with 10,000 dictators one mile away.

My hope is that the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) can bring awareness to the people that back in the 1800s the Europeans too thought that just by kicking out the crown and/or church and replacing it with a new government all their problems would be solved. This proved to be a fallacy. By the 1900s, they discovered that life could be as bad, or worse, under a democratically elected government. And this is the mistake we must avoid.

I know that some readers are now going to comment: why are we talking about something that happened 200 years ago in some distant place called Europe? Well, those who are ignorant about history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. And if Hitler had learned from Napoleon's mistake, then, today, I would be writing this piece in German instead of English.

 

No affair between Saiful and DPP, says Nazri

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 06:23 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - The government said today there is no evidence of an affair between Mohd Saiful Bukhari, who has accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him, and deputy public prosecutor Farah Azlina Latif, who was part of the prosecution team in the ongoing trial.

Muhyiddin: Guan Eng's denial of sexual harassment by son 'not enough'

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh that the Attorney-General has investigated claims that Saiful had a relationship with Farah Azlina.

"But the claims were found to be baseless without any concrete proof," the de facto law minister said.

However, the Padang Rengas MP said that Farah Azlina was removed from the prosecution team to avoid any further allegations of impropriety in Anwar's second sodomy trial that began 21 months ago.

Opposition Leader Anwar had tried to strike out the sodomy charge following controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin's allegations in August 2010 that Saiful and Farah Azlina were in a sexual relationship.

But the High Court ruled that there was no abuse of process as the DPP's role was "limited, therefore Farah Azlina had no access to any investigation papers, including any documents."

Judge Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah made the decision despite noting that the prosecution team had not answered the defence's affidavit concerning the alleged affair, "so the court must accept what has been said as the truth."

He had also refused to call Saiful and Farah Azlina to answer allegations about their "affair" during the former deputy prime minister's trial.

READ MORE HERE

 

Uzbek Connection!

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 06:01 PM PST

SARAWAK REPORT

As the saga of Taib and Najib's global image-building continues to unravel, we can reveal that they not only shared their PR advisors with the notorious dictator of Kazakhstan, but also with the even more horrendous regime of Uzbekistan, where dissidents are boiled alive!

World's worst daughter? – Gulnara Karimova

FBC Media's Italian branch concluded a contract with Gulnara Karimova, the notoriously grasping eldest daughter of the country's savage dictator, to boost her public image as she attempted to launch a global fashion and pop star career.

Younger generation – Gulnara likes to be known as an academic and a politician. However, this is how she promotes her singing career!

Gulnara is regarded as 'the most hated person in Uzbekistan', according to diplomatic cables released through WikiLeaks, because of her extraordinary raids on the country's wealth (which includes oil and gas) and her own flamboyant self-promotion.

She is also regarded as her father, President Islam Karimov's likely successor and the second most powerful person in the country.

When Gulnara divorced her husband, he was immediately stripped of his favoured monopoly over soft drinks in the country (which was given to her). He took refuge in the United States, but 24 members of his family were then arrested and sent at gunpoint over the border into Afghanistan!

She poses in multiple roles as a billionaire business-woman, pop singer, diplomat, government minister, her country's permanent representative to the UN as well holding a position as a university academic and acting as patron of various organisations – all thanks to her father's patronage!

Gulnara showing off her models and designs at Milan Fashion Week

Above all Gulnara wants to be a famous fashion designer and has poured her country's resources into fashion shows in top locations so she can show-case her talents!

Indeed, Karimova, who has been dubbed 'The World's Worst Daughter', appears to combine plain greed with a burning desire to be considered sexy and artistic, as well as clever. As the pictures below would suggest, Gulnara's Daddy has provided her with everything, except an ability to see herself as others do!

READ MORE HERE

 

Kalimullah takes the stand against Matthias

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:51 PM PST

(New Straits Times) - The former deputy chairman of New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad, Datuk Seri Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan took the stand today in his defamation suit against lawyer Matthias Chang, the former political secretary to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Kalimullah, 53, testified that he filed the suit case against Chang in 2006 as the defendant had allegedly made damaging and baseless statements against him at a press conference which were published in the media.

Chang also filed a counter-claim suit.

Kalimullah, dressed in a light grey suit, told the court yesterday that the article based on Chang's press conference on June 13 was written and published in the Singapore Straits Times by its then Malaysian correspondent, Leslie Lau.

He also testified that according to the article, Chang had allegedly said that Kalimullah was corrupt, and that he, together with the then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, were the powers behind the throne.

"He also said that I am a coward and that I had used my position then as deputy chairman of NSTP to demonise Tun Mahathir.

"He said that I am a cobra doing work of our enemies and that I am a traitor and that he will spit on the face of those Malays who showed disrespect to Tun Mahathir," he said.

Kalimullah, during questioning by his lawyer Prakash Menon, also said that after the article was published, he kept getting calls and enquiries from friends and business associates wondering if there was any truth to the statements against him.

Asked if the article had adversely affected him, Kalimullah said: "It had caused embarrassment to me and my family and injured my reputation, character and my credibility was questioned."

When asked if he was a Abdullah loyalist, the witness responded: "He has been my friend for more than 20 years and I am loyal to my friends".

Kalimullah was also asked about alleged corrupt practices involving ECM Libra, for which he is the non-executive chairman.

Prakash: The defendant in his defence had alleged that you aided and abetted corrupt practice in the transaction between ECM Libra and abetted corrupt practice in the transaction between ECM Libra and the once Ministry of Finance-controlled Avenue Capital Resources Bhd. What do you have to say
to that?

Kalimullah: It is absolute nonsense and again a baseless allegation. The defendant obviously does not know the facts and the transaction. The transaction was sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance and all the necessary approvals were given before it was finalised. The government shares in the company were sold to Tan Sri Azman Hashim after which he became the single largest shareholder of ECM Libra. I did not buy the Ministry of Finance-owned shares.

Kalimullah added that the respective regulatory bodies such as the Securities Commission and Bursa Malaysia gave the necessary approvals and that if there were corrupt practices, the approvals would not have been given.

Earlier, Lau, the first witness, who is now the executive editor of online news portal Malaysian Insider, told the court that in the Press conference in June 2006, Chang launched a "blustering and often rambling attack against Khairy and Kalimullah".

When asked to describe Chang's manner in the press conference, Lau said: " He was very dramatic, fiery, loud and shouting challenges, at mainly Khairy and Kalimullah.

"He even had five holy books in front of him including the Bible and the Quran, and he swore that he was speaking the truth for Dr Mahathir."

When questioned by Chang's lawyer Datuk R.K. Nathan, Lau, 40, said he could not make a judgement on whether Chang truly believed what he was saying at the press conference.

Nathan: Was Matthias passionate about what he said?
Lau: He was dramatic.
Nathan: Did he believe what he spoke?
Lau: I make no judgement on that.
Nathan: When he spoke loudly and swore on the holy books, it meant he believed his cause?
Lau: I do not know.

 

MP Gobalakrishan gets earful for comments to media

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:41 PM PST

(New Straits Times) - Padang Serai member of parliament N. Gobalakrishan was reprimanded by a judge for commenting in the media on the ongoing Banting murder trial.

High Court judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir summoned the politician to court after he had made comments on the trial in Utusan Malaysia and TV3's Buletin Utama in August this year.

The report, specifically in the Bahasa Malaysia daily, titled Manjeet Selalu Memburukkan Kerajaan ("Manjeet always criticises the government").

The article referred to defence counsel Manjeet Singh Dhillon.

Akhtar may have let Gobalakrishnan off with a stern warning, but he did not spare him from an earful.

"As a politician, you should know not to comment on an ongoing trial. It is sub judice.

"Nobody, not even politicians, should make any remarks.

"Worst of all, the remarks you made were not truthful.

"You have not stepped in this courtroom before."

Akhtar also pointed out that he did not summon Gobalakrishnan to court on behalf of Manjeet.

"What I am concern about is that you have projected the court as being easily manipulated for political mileage," said the judge.

"Judges in Malaysia are more independent than you think. We are not fools just sitting here and allowing the deputy public prosecutors and defence counsel to do as they like. We go according to the law."

Akhtar said he did not intend to take any action against Gobalakrishnan as he believed everybody deserves a second chance.

"This is your first warning and let it be your last. Do you have anything to say?"

Gobalakrishnan said: "I don't remember..."

But before Gobalakrishnan could finish his sentence, Akhtar cut him off and said he did not want an explanation from him.

"I've called the reporters and I have no reason to doubt them.

"You made the remarks and if you are man enough, you would have apologised.

"I do not want to waste my time. You can go if you want to."

Gobalakrishnan, who wore a blue buttoned shirt and black pants, however, did not apologise and walked calmly out of the courtroom.

Gobalakrishnan was not the first person to be summoned to court over the sub judice report.

On Aug 26, Utusan Malaysia's editor-in-chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak and reporter Raja Syahrir Abu Bakar were also let off with a warning.

Proceedings then resumed with testimonies of four witnesses. Among them was:

- DiGi Telecommunications principal engineer, Chong Chee Wah, 50, who said he conducted two site tests in March and July this years pertaining to call detail records of three mobile number users. The site tests were conducted in a farm in Tanjung Sepat and in Subang Jaya.

- Medical officer Dr Amir Saad Abdul Rahim, from Kuala Lumpur Hospital forensic department, testified that he was instructed to take samples from victim Noorhisham Mohamad's wife and three children -- Suzana Radin Pangat, Muhammad Faiz Rizmi, Muhammad Azri Shahzan and Nor Neesah Salbiah -- on Sept 19.

Hearing continues today.

 

RM1,500 minimum wage in Selangor amid record cash reserves

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:20 PM PST

(Harakah Daily) - The Selangor state government said it would implement the minimum wage of RM1,500 applicable to all employees of state companies.

At the tabling of the state's 2012 budget, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the move will cover employees of financially stable state-owned companies first before being implemented to others.

Among the companies mentioned include the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS), Selangor State Capital Berhad (PNSB) and Worldwide Holdings Bhd.

With a total of RM1.6 billion, Khalid said Selangor's 2012 budget would continue the state's declared aim of spreading wealth directly to the people under the theme "Selangorku: State Resources for the People".

"This is the fourth time the state government has tabled a balanced budget since taking over in 2008. This budget is a continuation of efforts to spread state wealth to the people," he said.

Khalid also announced that the state's cash reserve now topped RM1.2 billion, describing it as the highest in 28 years.

RM600 million worth of development

Of the RM1.6 billion, RM1 billion has been allocated for operational cost, 69.4 per cent of which goes to emolument, supply and services. The others include state offerings and fixed payment stood (28.4 percent), asset (0.8 percent) and other expenditure at 1.5 percent.

Some RM600 million from the state budget is allocated for development, out of which 68 percent or RM411,091,860 is for infrastructure, 17 percent (RM100,060,130) for social development, 14 percent (RM84,240,010) for the economic sector and the remaining RM4,608,000 for urban development.

"State revenue for 2012 is expected to continue to rise with tax revenue projected to increase by 8.23 percent or RM43,694,000 to RM574,674,000 from RM530,980,000 in 2011," he said.

 

NFC beef more costly than wagyu beef

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:18 PM PST

(Harakah Daily) - The cost incurred by the embattled National Feedlot Corporation to produce its brand of beef dubbed 'Gemas Gold' is apparently more expensive than the popular wagyu beef, according to a think-tank.

In a statement today, Research for Social Advancement (Refsa) said NFC's Gemas Gold would cost around RM184 per kilogramme, taking into account what has been revealed by the Auditor General's Report 2010.

The company, linked to UMNO Wanita head Shahrizat Jalil, has a vision of attaining 40 percent self sufficiency for local beef production by 2010.

However, it was ticked off by the Auditor General for producing only 3,289 cattle from the targeted 8,000 last year.

According to Refsa, as of 31 July 2011, a total of RM182 million had been channelled into NFC, which also obtained a big kick-off with RM74 million and 5,000 acres of land in Gemas.

"Wagyu cattle carcasses go for between RM30,000 to RM60,000 each. 'Gemas Gold' cattle cost RM55,000 per head as of 31 July," said the group's Sandra Rajoo.

Wagyu beef, sometimes known as 'white beef', is so named as it originates from the 'Wagyu' cattle, first developed in Japan, but now mostly raised outside Japan. Its popularity has been attributed to the fact that its meat is tender, which makes it suitable for cooking steak.

"The NFC beef surely does not exhibit this fine quality but its cost of production exceeds that of wagyu. The bottom line is, we are paying super premium prices for purely run-of-the mill local beef," explained Sandra, who also said the company had failed in its mission, and called on the government to take action for abusing public funds.

"Will it (the government) take the bull by the horns? Only with transparency and accountability can Malaysia develop," she stressed.

 

Hudud: PAS Johor tempelak Anwar

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:13 PM PST

"Hudud ini ada dalam PAS dan PAS berada dalam Pakatan Rakyat," kata Pesuruhjaya PAS Johor, Datuk Mahfodz Mohamad.

(Free Malaysia Today) - PAS Johor menempelak kenyataan Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang menolak kemungkinan agenda hudud dilaksanakan oleh Pakatan Rakyat.

"Hudud ini ada dalam PAS dan PAS berada dalam Pakatan Rakyat. PAS dalam perlembagaan dengan jelas mahu melaksanakan hukum-hakam Allah," kata Pesuruhjaya PAS Johor, Datuk Mahfodz Mohamad sambil merujuk kepada Fasal 5 perlembagaan parti.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas kenyataan Anwar merangkap Ketua Umum PKR yang dilaporkan media sebagai berkata bahawa agenda hudud tidak ada tempat dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Anwar yang juga Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh berkata demikian dalam satu sesi dialog bersama pemimpin masyarakat Cina dan  dewan perniagaan Cina di Subang Jaya kelmarin.

Bagaimanapun, Mahfodz mengakui bahawa parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat belum mencapai kata sepakat dalam pelaksanaan hukuman hudud dan menyatakan bahawa penekanan terhadap pelaksanaan hudud adalah menurut kesesuaian.

Menurut beliau, Anwar sendiri tidak mempunyai sebarang halangan terhadap pelaksanaan hudud di Kelantan. Tambahan pula agama  adalah di bawah bidang kuasa negeri.

Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi langsung tidak tahu menahu mengenai kenyataan Anwar itu.

"Saya tidak pernah dengar Anwar kata begitu," katanya ketika dihubungi.

READ MORE HERE

 

The Curse of Eve - a bedtime story

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:06 PM PST

ART HARUN

By The Special Correspondent

*This awesome piece was written by The Special Correspondent, a very special personal friend of mine, for the magazine Homme, which in turn published it some time back. I would like to share this with all of you. Many thanks to The Special Correspondent for his consent for the republication of this story here. For the record, The Special Correspondent is part man part computer chip who owes his life to the chip more than anything else. He is currently at the tail end of his mid-life crisis but is fast sliding into an old life crisis. According to him, he had had nine near-death experiences. One thing for sure though, he can only count up to one.

Our story begins thus, as do all bedtime stories …

Once upon a time, far, far away, there lived a poor sod called Adam. God made him from dust. He was immortal. Our hero lived in a beautiful garden called Eden. In the garden there was a Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. If Adam ate its fruit, he would know the difference between … yes, good and evil. And that would be bad, or must have been, because God told Adam that if he ate from it, he would surely die (Genesis 2:16). Our hero got lonely. So God created Woman from his rib to be his 'helper'. God loved them. He made them in his image, perfect and sinless. They would never be ill, never be harmed and never die. And God was a real sport when he said, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:27).

And how could they not live happily ever after? …

I must pause here. There is a tiny dispute of fact. This tale in Genesis of the Christian God, his Adam and Eve, suggests that Eve was the first woman. However, a Jewish book called The Alphabet of Ben Sira (circa 8th Century A.D.) tells the story of Lilith; that she and not Eve, was Adam's first wife, created at the same time and from the same dust. Claiming to be thus created equal, Lilith refused to sleep "under him". This was a problem for our hero who, ever the ladies man, insisted,

"I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one."

Lilith freaked. She flew away into the air where she 'knew' many demons, spawning hundreds of baby demons a day. And thus was coined the oath "I wouldn't sleep with you if you were the only man in the whole universe". Adam sobbed to God, "O Sovereign of the Universe, the woman you gave me has run away". Oh boo hoo. But God was good to Adam, so he sent three angels after her. They threatened to drown her if she refused to return to him. "O piss off" she must have said, because they did. So God, perhaps regretting Free Will a little, made Eve, but this time from Adam's rib to prevent her from leaving him.[1]

I readily accept this version as Genesis 1:27 suggests a woman before Eve, but more so because Lilith sounds really hot. Despite Lilith, the consensus is that Eve represents Woman and that She did not come into existence in her own right but only to fulfill man's needs. This is significant, as we shall see.

Where was I?

Ah yes. There was a serpent in the garden who was actually Satan (Revelations 12:9). Before he lost the War in Heaven, he was called Lucifer, God's first and most beautiful angel, the Angel of Light. The Morning Star. He felt that although Adam and Eve would be eternally happy in paradise, they would also be eternally ignorant. So he persuaded Eve to eat the forbidden fruit for then her eyes would be opened, and like God, she would have knowledge. She ate. The now wicked Eve then seduced poor Adam into taking a bite himself. Immediately his eyes were opened. With all this knowledge, he realised he was butt naked and so put on an apron (Genesis 3:7).

But then he heard God walking in Eden in the cool of the day. 'O bummer', he must have thought and he hid. But God called for him and Adam said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:10). (What happened to the apron?).

God figured it out (well, of course He would) and asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Adam blamed Eve, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." (Genesis 3:12). Eve blamed the snake, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate (Genesis 3:13).

God didn't buy it. The serpent got off lightly though, probably because it was Satan and he was only doing his job. But it was off on its belly for the rest of its life. And to be hated by Eve and her children (oh that must have hurt).

Adam was cursed (for listening to evil wifey, of course), (Genesis 3:17-19):

"And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it', cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

But Eve's curse was worse (Genesis 3:16):

"To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."

And God banished them from Heaven, to the East of Eden. And Death did come to Adam and Eve.

The Christians, in another one of their cool euphemisms like 'the Rapture', call it 'the Fall'. I think 'the Almighty Cock-Up' would be more appropriate. But I don't get what's so awful about knowledge. Certain Gnostic sects actually honour the snake for bringing knowledge to Adam and Eve. But it is the treatment of Eve that is truly baffling.

Her curse is two-fold. The first was increased pain[2] during childbirth and in raising children.[3] There is also the post natal extra fat, wider hips, stretch marks and of course, the sag. And children will always find ways to break a mother's heart. Coincidence? Perhaps not. Women have more pain in childbirth than any other creature.

God 1, Woman 0.

And the Puritans took the Curse very seriously. In 16th and 17th century Europe, midwives were tried and burned at the stake as witches for administering any form of pain relief. There was an outcry from the Church when chloroform was discovered and used in childbirth by Sir James Simpson in the early 19th century. It was seen as an unholy attempt to rebel against God's curse on Eve. Even Queen Victoria was heavily criticized for having used anaesthesia with the birth of her 8th child.

But Eve's second curse is the real cracker: "… yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." I confess I am thoroughly enjoying the very suggestion of a man's divine right to rule over his wife. After all, Adam did name her Woman because she was created of man (Genesis 2:18-23). This is no slip of the quill; Genesis earlier recognised the headship of man before the Fall (Genesis 2:18 and 2:22). This means that God's later ruling 'he shall rule over you' cannot be a punishment in itself and is accordingly, simply the way things are. So to obey God's edict the wife must submit to her husband, I surmise with glee. What's worse is 'desire' is interpreted as Woman's need to 'control'[4] her husband. This is a curse because her need can never be fulfilled, as man's headship is an edict of God that cannot be usurped.

God 2, Woman 0.

St. Paul himself did not accept Woman's control over man. He said (I Timothy 2:11-15), "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control."

The Twentieth Century New Testament provides a truly brave translation of this clause, "But women will find their salvation in motherhood". Try telling Liz Taylor that childbearing and submission to her husband (singular) are her salvation.

READ MORE HERE

 

Populist Policies will Undermine Reform

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:53 PM PST

By Kua Kia Soong

Watching recent events and statements by Malaysian politicians, the urgent need for reform in our country risks being undermined by populism on both sides of the political divide as they jostle for votes in the coming general elections.

From the Barisan Nasional, we have seen the free hand-outs of RM100 ringgit to every student in the school system without any form of means testing. We have also recently witnessed the extreme form of populism, namely, "mobocracy", whereby mob rule can dictate that a perfectly legal and peaceful gathering, 'Seksualiti Merdeka' be banned by the police.

Pakatan Rakyat has also indulged in populism since they came into power, which makes us wonder about the substance of 'reformasi'. First, the Selangor state government gave away free water without any form of means testing and without thinking about "demand management" which is crucial to water conservation. Now, to the suggestion that we should look into making the civil service lean and mean, PR says that while this makes economic sense, it is politically foolhardy. One wonders if the promised rescindment of the New Economic Policy will later be similarly jettisoned because of "political consideration".


Progressive Means Testing

During the fifties and sixties, Malaysian schools had some form of means testing to ensure that deserving students (ie. those from lower-income families) could have access to fee-waivers, free textbooks and even free meals. Such a progressive policy was a prudent use of valuable resources and did not create any resentment among the better-off students. In contrast, the hand-out of RM100 recently promised by the BN Government to every student regardless of income is not only an imprudent use of taxpayers' money, it is likely to be ridiculed as meaningless by the students from rich families.

Likewise, the populist granting of free water by the Selangor State government to all and sundry. Why should those who squander water in washing their cars every day be entitled to free water? How do the Orang Asli feel about such wastage when they were displaced from their ancestral land for the Selangor Dam supposedly because they had been told the dam was vital for the needs of the Klang Valley?

Is such a populist measure congruent with the call for demand management which is crucial to water conservancy everywhere in the world? It makes nonsense of the call for rainwater harvesting when we can have access to free treated water.


Full Audit and Action

Every organisational transformation – especially in the loss-making government agencies – needs a full audit and swift remedial action to follow. That is what the BN Government's recent razzmatazz about "transformation this and transformation that" ought to be about. Nowhere is this more obvious than in our heavily bloated civil service.

For example, our power plants have failed to run at full capacity, about which I have repeatedly called for thorough audits. The crisis in our energy industry is certainly not just due to the current gas shortage. The same can be said for the decades-old mismanagement and inefficiencies in KTM.

Flexibility and Reform

In my 2010 title "Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia", I not only called for the drastic reduction of our defence budget but also the conversion of arms production to socially useful production and the promotion of a culture of peace. The billions of ringgit in savings could be used for creating thousands of jobs.

Likewise, any shake up of our civil service need not necessarily lead to unemployment. It could lead to leaner and more efficient organisations, jobs retraining and the creation of more alternative sectors. Many highly profitable industries such as our highways and public utilities could be nationalised and operated by our civil servants. Since the end of the jungle war, the police field force can be redeployed for community policing and not for breaking up peaceful assemblies. To better serve the local community, social services such as the provision of public housing, education and transport need to be professionally and productively managed, decentralised and handled by elected local authorities.

We should apply our minds to retraining and redeploying our human resources. Jobs do not necessarily have to be lost in any conversion. Remember World War II when we were forced to develop our domestic industries and grow our own food as a result of restrictions on foreign imports. Then again, when the war came to an end, every country had to convert their war production machinery to civilian production. This was no easy transition but every country managed to achieve this transformation.

Failure to demonstrate such flexibility and implement the necessary reforms will see us going down the slippery slope that countries such as Greece and Italy find themselves in today. We can say goodbye to Reformasi if the national agenda for change is usurped by populist desperadoes.

Cometh the ‘third force’

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:48 PM PST

The third force in Malaysian politics is getting more crowded as they vie to be the kingmaker in the event of a hung Parliament but some, like Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, may be eyeing the Prime Minister's post.

The third force groups range from small political parties like Parti Cinta Malaysia and KITA, headed by millionaire lawyer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, to civil society groups like the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) headed by Haris Ibrahim. Even Perkasa is a third force group in its own right.

ANALYSIS By JOCELINE TAN, The Star

TENGKU Razaleigh Hamzah was all dressed up for what seemed like a normal press conference. For someone who once admitted that he is colour blind, he was a picture of immaculate grooming.

Actually, he could have been mistaken for a prosperous banker or, dare we say, a Prime Minister-in-waiting?

The Kelantan royal politician had called the press conference to announce that Angkatan Amanah Merdeka, the NGO headed by him, was now open for business as it has been officially registered.

Amanah has joined a crowded field of what has become known as the "third force" in Malaysian politics, except that Tengku Razaleigh has still got one foot in Umno.

The third force groups range from small political parties like Parti Cinta Malaysia and KITA, headed by millionaire lawyer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, to civil society groups like the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) headed by Haris Ibrahim. Even Perkasa is a third force group in its own right.

At one level, these groups are signalling there is a niche out there for those who have rejected the old politics of Barisan Nasional but have not completely bought into the so-called new politics of Pakatan Rakyat.

At another level, they are essentially politicians aspiring to be the "king-maker" in the event of a hung Parliament in the next general election.

"Each group comes to the table with a slightly different political message to sell," said political analyst and UCSI academic Dr Ong Kian Ming.

MCLM, said Dr Ong, comprises pro-Pakatan activists and intellectuals who aim to address the issue of poor quality of candidates in Pakatan, especially from PKR.

KITA, on its part, has emerged as the only Malay-led party that has stood up for equal rights among all Malaysians and is not afraid to say it openly. It has even spoken up for religious conversions.

As Dr Ong noted, some of these groups are looking for a platform and voice, some comprise individuals who are looking for political survival while a few are hoping to cash out at the right time.

"On their own, they cannot knock out the established parties but they can cause a stomachache or headache," said publisher Datuk A. Kadir Jasin.

Some of the third force groups are having headaches of their own.

For instance, KITA, which was launched with a big bang earlier this year is embroiled in an internal feud even before it can really take off.

MCLM caused a stir when it was launched from London with the support of blogger-in-exile Raja Petra Kamarudin.

It has since nominated the well-known human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and the less-known dentist Dr Nedunchelian Vengu to run in the general election.

The next general election is going to be fierce and there will be a wild scramble to be candidates.

Pakatan is going to have as big and as ugly a headache as the Barisan in managing people fighting to be candidates.

Amanah, insisted its vice-president Wan Saiful Wan Jan, is strictly a civil society body.

"It is not like MCLM or KITA nor is it about election candidates or where they should run. It's about a group of people who want to make a difference," he said.

Nevertheless, Tengku Razaleigh's claim that he needs a new platform to speak because Umno restricts him does not really add up.

It is indeed a selective process to be picked to speak at the Umno general assembly but over and above that annual event, no one has been able to stop Tengku Razaleigh from speaking his mind and he has caused ripples with many of his comments.

He has a blog and journalists rush to his Langgak Golf "White House" each time he schedules a press conference.

In fact, he makes news because he is such a famous Umno face, he says things other Umno leaders would not say.

Speaking as the head of yet another NGO would not have the same impact. In the meantime, the perception that he is positioning himself for the Prime Minister post will persist.

Actually, he is more experienced and accomplished than the other aspiring candidates, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Hadi Awang put together.

According to a Pakatan Rakyat insider, he could have been the catalyst had he come on board Anwar's Sept 16 scheme in 2008.

He and Anwar met several times in the days leading up to Sept 16 but nothing happened because they simply did not have the numbers and even if they did, they would have ended up fighting each other for the top post.

Tengku Razaleigh has missed the boat one time too many and he is now banking on his final boat.

 

KD Transformer 1Malaysia

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:45 PM PST

These US-made Hamilton-class cutters that the Royal Malaysian Navy intends to purchase are either equipped with state-of-the-art ion cannons or other energy particle weapons on board. It is either that or the OPVs are stealth-capable and totally undetectable on any radars. Hell, it could even be invisible to the eye!

By Hakim Joe

RM6,000,000,000 for six offshore patrol vessels (OPV) meant for dealing with piracy, smugglers and illegal fishing.

These US-made Hamilton-class cutters that the Royal Malaysian Navy intends to purchase are either equipped with state-of-the-art ion cannons or other energy particle weapons on board. It is either that or the OPVs are stealth-capable and totally undetectable on any
radars. Hell, it could even be invisible to the eye! As with our Malaysian submarines that cannot dive underwater, no information was ever revealed whether these OPVs are capable of ever floating on the water.

It is well known on the maritime scene that any vessels traversing the Straits of Malacca runs a high risk of being hijacked and henceforth the urgent need of such vessels to effectively deal with this sea borne threat. With its array of ion cannons and stealth
capability, the RMN should find no trouble discouraging any would be pirates from ever operating anywhere near Malaysian territorial waters (Singapore is okay). Any fast crafts even with four 250hp outboard motors will be instantly pulverized to smithereens even before one could finish saying the word "Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis".

The purchase of the OPVs also facilitates the RMN to send over twelve Malaysian sailors for training free of charge. These sailors shall be enrolled with the US Navy Language School so that their proficiency in the English language will be enhanced for them to be able to read the operating and maintenance manuals without help of a dictionary. Alternately the USN has also offered to translate these manuals into Bahasa Malaysia at USD100,000 per page.

For any detractors questioning the existence of such firepower please be advised that nobody has ever seen Osama's body. This is because SEAL Team 6 possesses laser energy rifles that effectively disintegrated Osama's body into atom-sized particles after he was
shot. Still an unbeliever? Please ask Princess Leia about her home planet that was vaporized after being blasted by an ion cannon from the Death Star or Kane from the Command and Conqueror Series.

The USN has also indicated that these new Hamilton class vessels will be renamed as the Transformer class to befit its billion Ringgit price tag and quite a few top RMN echelon are secretly hoping to name the first of these vessels Optimus Prime. Secret reports leaked from the Ministry of Defense however indicates that the first of these vessels be named KD Transformer 1Malaysia and to be painted bright fluorescent pink to enable instant visibility by any would-be transgressors in order to deter them from any illegal actions within the
Malaysian territorial waters (Singapore is still okay).

Avondale Shipyard which builds these vessels are planning to construct 12 of such cutters of which the remaining six will be sold off to the Philippines Navy at USD10 million a piece. These will be the plain-Jane Hamilton class boats as compared to the Transformer class
boats sold to the RMN.

Anwar insists foul play in ‘lost RM1.4b’

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:29 PM PST

Even if the money was spent, it should be noted down, says the opposition leader.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim maintained today that there was discrepancy in the use of the RM1.4 billion in contingency funds despite the government's explanation yesterday.

Anwar, the former deputy prime minister, said it was wrong for the government to use the supplementary Supply Bill to approve the RM1.5 billion contingency fund.

He claimed the move breached Parliament's Standing Orders.

"Under Standing Order 68, contingency funds must be authorised and decided upon without debate," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here.

Anwar on Tuesday had questioned where the RM1.4 billion had gone when the 2010 Auditor- General's Report said only RM79 million of the contingency fund was left.

He also asked if that was the reason behind the controversial delay in the report's release.

In an immediate response, Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin said the RM1.4 billion was accounted for and approved when the supplementary Supply Bill was tabled and debated in the March-April sitting last year.

But Anwar remain adamant that there was discrepancy in the process.

READ MORE HERE

 

Khairy: New social contract needed

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:27 PM PST

Non Malays would not mind affirmative action to help Malays provided a clear deadline is worked out under the new agreement, says Umno youth chief.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A new social contract is needed to help forge closer ties among Malaysians, said Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy said among the issues that could be discussed in the new agreement was a clear deadline for all affirmative action policies so as not to create animosity among various races.

Speaking at a forum titled 'National Unity: From Vision to Action' organised by the 1Malaysia Foundation, he said a referendum should be held to get masses to support the new deal.

Also present at the forum which was attended by about 70 people, were Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching and Balik Pulau MP Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff.

Touching on the Malay community, Khairy said he believed that the non Malays would not mind affirmative action to help the Malays, provided a clear deadline is given.

"And after its expiration date, we can start helping people based on merit. All this can be discussed in the new social contract," said Khairy who is also Rembau MP.

Touching on the New Economic Policy (NEP), he said since its inception in the 1970s, about RM52 billion worth of shares were given to the Malays but only about RM2 billion is left in the hands of the community.

"Though effective, we can question its implementation as previously a lot of funds were used to bail out failed privatisation projects.

"This shows that transferring wealth alone will not help the Malays. We need to create capacity and the know-how in order to sustain the wealth," said Khairy.

READ MORE HERE

 

‘Greedy scions’ thriving on govt funds

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:20 PM PST

The scions of powerful and famous politicians are 'a bunch of pirates playing out their rapacious greed'.

With the surrounding controversy now engulfing the NFC, I have come to realize that business people like the children of the 'Welfare Minister' thrived on money allocated by the government on very favorable terms.

Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today

Last year when reading one of those glossy magazines, I chanced upon an article about some fancy and posh fine dining establishment, having steaks as the principal menu item.

The article pointed out to the achievements of some young entrepreneurs in setting up fine dining and upscale steak houses.

Something that you find when reading what food critics normally say about famous steak establishments like Morton's for example.

The article tossed phrases such as 'enervating decor, inspiring ambiance and fine cutlery' and all that.

The article identified the young entrepreneurs as children to the Minister of Welfare, Family and Community Development Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

I thought these were heartwarming achievements indeed as I knew of these young people when they were small children.

Rapacious greed

I remember reading further that their supply of beef came from an integrated farm which the family runs somewhere in Negeri Sembilan.

Fantastic I thought, as I took that as a credit to the father of the children who is a doctorate degree holder and who taught at UPM – when it was known as University Pertanian.

He must have majored in some agricultural sciences and the opening of a cattle farm would be a close fit to his area of specialty.

I have every reason to believe as do many Malaysians, that their business, both the upstream (cattle farm) and the downstream part (upscale restaurants) will be a success story.

I held on to my subjective perceptions, until I come to realize that all the beef comes from the National Feedlot Centre (NFC).

I was simply appalled to learn that daily, some 20 cattle are slaughtered to be supplied to the family-owned fine-dining restaurants – Meatworks, Senor Santos and Brawns.

With the surrounding controversy now engulfing the NFC, I have come to realize that business people like the children of the 'Welfare Minister' thrived on money allocated by the government on very favorable terms.

Eventually this money misused and misapplied negligently and perhaps even wrongly.

These scions of powerful and famous politicians are just a bunch of pirates having a chance play out their rapacious greed.

They become celebrities on top of that, because the Malaysian public endear themselves quickly to fairy tale success stories.

Blatant unfairness

Our children will not have that chance and free rides as the children of the famous and powerful.

We and our children have to slog it out.

Because of this blatant unfairness and possible misappropriation of funds, the public has got every right to feel indignant over the pompous response of those responsible over the NFC.

Here are the reasons why.

  • The National Feedlot Centre (NFC) was envisioned to become a center of production for beef and beef products in Malaysia.
  • As a High Impact Project under Ninth Malaysia Plan, National Feedlot Centre project will be instrumental in attaining the 40% self-sufficiency for beef production by 2010.

So how is the record so far?

NFC has failed to do so and while failing at that, has sucked out a lot of our money.

We must feel pained by this failure and must ensure that those responsible for stealing public funds will not think that they can get away unpunished.

The National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd is owned by Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd with participation from the Government of Malaysia.

Its business is the development of a planned, integrated and sustainable Malaysian beef industry by setting up a fully integrated livestock farming and beef production facility.

How does it intend to accomplish this aim?

It does this by managing the importation of livestock, feedlotting, slaughtering, processing, packing and marketing of beef in Malaysia.

READ MORE HERE

 

MAIS now has free hand over zakat’s millions

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:13 PM PST

The July amendments to a state law has allegedly removed Selangor's Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) accountability to the state government.

Selangor zakat money, he said, came up to about a third of the state government's annual revenue which was roughly RM1.4 billion. With this in tow, MAIS, according to an anonymous Pakatan Rakyat leader, could do whatever it wished with its companies without worrying about the state assembly looking over its shoulder.

Patrick Lee, Free Malaysia Today

It's a bitter pill to swallow for many Selangor assemblymen now that the government may have lost control over the state's Islamic administrative matters and the estimated tens of millions of ringgit in annual zakat collections.

The amendments made in July seemingly allowed the state's Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) to be accountable only to the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafudin Idris Shah, bypassing the state government in the process.

The amendments affected the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.

Previously, Section 16 of the Enactment – which was passed at the July State Legislative Assembly sitting – enabled the director of Selangor's Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to be appointed as MAIS's secretary.

The secretary would also act as the council's chief executive officer and administrator, and was responsible for carrying out MAIS's policies and resolutions.

However, the July amendments took that detail out, and allowed the Ruler "on advice of the Majlis" (MAIS) to appoint the council's secretary.

Speaking under condition of anonymity, a state assemblyman said that the change allowed MAIS to snub summonses from the State Legislative Assembly's committee.

"In one occasion, MAIS was summoned by a House committee overseeing statutory bodies and subsidiaries. They refused to appear on the grounds that they were not subject to the committee," he told FMT.

Zakat money

The assemblyman added that MAIS was a statutory body created by the Enactment, and had financial autonomy in its affairs.

"They still have to table their audited accounts before the House… They can appoint their own auditors… But they are not duty-bound to come before the committee."

"The effect of this, politically, is a government within a government, and Islamic affairs are taken out of the control of the state government," he said.

This was of special concern, the assemblyman added, given that the amendments also gave MAIS the power to collect and distribute zakat as well as fitrah.

Selangor zakat money, he said, came up to about a third of the state government's annual revenue which was roughly RM1.4 billion.

With this in tow, MAIS, according to an anonymous Pakatan Rakyat leader, could do whatever it wished with its companies without worrying about the state assembly looking over its shoulder.

"At the policy and state level, MAIS has six or seven government-linked companies under it… They said that the (state) government has no shared interest in MAIS' corporations.

"So they tried to twist this (to their advantage), by saying that the administration (of MAIS) is under the Sultan… If we raised our voice (against it), they will raise the issue of derhaka (betrayal)," the leader said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ngeh: Rural ministry paid RM404m for higher-priced bids

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 03:55 PM PST

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — The rural and regional development ministry spent RM404 million extra this year after 67 open tender projects were not awarded to the lowest qualified tenders, DAP's Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said today.

Ngeh, the party's deputy secretary-general, told reporters that of 209 projects planned for the year, the ministry has only awarded 129, of which only 68 were by open tender.

"Although open tenders were conducted for the 68 projects, all were not given to the lowest-priced bidder except for one. Many were awarded at many times the lowest price tendered.

"There are reasons to suspect the existence of rampant corrupt practices," the Beruas MP said.

He listed one such project as having a lowest qualifying bid of RM7,775,000 but where the ministry eventually awarded the tender for RM41,736,809.77, a difference of nearly RM34 million or over 500 per cent the lowest price.

The Perak DAP chief added that along with the 61 other projects awarded through direct negotiations and limited tenders, he estimated that "the people have lost at least RM500 million through improper awarding of these projects."

READ MORE HERE

 

Condo instead of cows: MACC report filed

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 03:43 PM PST

By Teoh El Sen, FMT

SHAH ALAM: A report has been filed with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the RM10 million luxury condominium allegedly purchased with money from the National Feedlot Centre (NFC), run by a minister's family.

The report was lodged with MACC's Selangor office here by PKR-linked NGO, Jingga 13.

"Jingga 13 urges MACC to immediately investigate this serious finding and the attorney-general to charge and bring those involved in betraying the trust of the rakyat to justice," said its chief coordinator Fariz Musa.

Fariz alleged that PKR has solid evidence to show that the family of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who allegedly holds the majority of shares in NFC, is linked to the buying of the said condominium (One Menerung) in Bangsar.

"On Dec 2, 2009, NFC made four money transfers from its current account at CIMB Bank, Taman Tun Dr Ismail to Bandar Raya Developments Bhd as a full payment to purchase the One Menerung condominium," he said.

Fariz said the four transfers were: RM699,870, RM694,150, RM4,199,220, RM4164,900; and the total amounted to RM9,758,140.

'We have to protect our source'

Asked if Jingga 13 brought with it supporting documents for MACC, Fariz said that Jingga 13 has to protect its source, who he claimed is reliable.

He also said that Jingga 13 has no details of how many units were purchased but revealed that the units in One Menerung ranged from RM3 million to over RM10.3 million, depending on the unit sizes.

"This payment of almost RM9.8 million was recorded as "hutang" (debt) from National Meat and Livestocks Corporation Sdn Bhd (NMLC), which is also owned by Shahrizat's family, to NFC," he added.

He alleged that this sum of almost RM9.8 million was part of the RM83 million owed by NMLC to NFC as of Dec 31, 2009. He also alleged that the sum was part of the RM250 million soft loan given by the government to NFC.

"This payment for a luxury condominium on behalf of another company that is fully owned by Shahrizat's family is a form of misappropriation of the rakyat's money which was given as a loan to NFC. This is a form of criminal breach of trust," he said.

"You're supposed to buy cows, but you bought a condo. There is no basis, whatsoever, for NFC to purchase a condominium and it is clearly a gross misuse of power," said Fariz, adding that Jingga 13 visited the condominium but could not obtain further information as they were chased out by security.

Fariz said the latest information also disproves the statements by Umno leaders on the NFC issue, and those who manipulated and distorted facts must be brought to book.

READ MORE HERE

 

PKR claims NFC funded RM10m Shahrizat family condo

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 03:27 PM PST

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

The National Feedlot Centre (NFC) paid for a RM10 million condominium belonging to National Meat and Livestocks Corporation (NMLC), a company wholly-owned by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil's family, PKR said today.

Its secretary-general, Saifuddin Nasution, said the luxury apartment at One Menerung, Bangsar, was recorded by NFC, a cattle farming project managed by the minister's family, as part of a RM83 million "loan" to NMLC.

"They said the RM250 million loan for the project was in a tightly-controlled account. Is the condominium for cows to live in?" the Machang MP told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had said yesterday that funds from the soft loan could only be drawn after NFC tables a working paper and is approved by the finance ministry.

Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Noh Omar also said that only RM135 million had been drawn by the NFC as the funds have been placed in an escrow account.

PKR also alleged on Tuesday that over RM84 million was siphoned off from NFC to companies controlled by Shahrizat's husband, Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and her children, Izran Mohamad Salleh and Izmir Mohamad Salleh.

Saifuddin said today that the RM9,758,140 was transferred from NFC's CIMB account in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur to Bandar Raya Developments Berhad on December 2, 2009 as full payment for the property.

"It was not from a special trust account. So the Umno Youth chief and minister's explanations are false.

"If strict monitoring had occurred, surely RM9.8 million cannot be transferred to buy a luxury condo that has nothing to do with cattle farming. This is a clear breach of trust by Shahrizat's family," he said.

He also questioned Khairy's defence of the project, asking if the "Rembau (MP) was involved in approving the project" in 2006 "when he was a powerful Fourth Floor Boy" under his father-in-law Tun Abdullah Badawi's administration.

READ MORE HERE

 

WIKILEAKS: SABAH DEPORTATIONS A POLITICAL BAND-AID

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 12:00 AM PST

A retired senior intelligence official frankly admitted to us earlier this year that the previous government of Mahathir also facilitated illegal immigration from Indonesia and the Philippines in order to better balance the state's ethnic and religious equation as a measure to ward off any future separatist sentiments in Sabah, in addition to attracting UMNO votes needed to control the state. A Royal Commission, operated properly, would likely expose the depth of UMNO and BN's political corruption and vote manipulation, further inciting Sabahans.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark Clark for reasons 1.4 (b and d).

Summary

1.  (C) Residents of Malaysia's Sabah state, in northeast Borneo, are dismissive of the Government's latest "crackdown" against illegal immigrants.  The federal government launched the campaign as a measure to meet demands by Sabah politicians who are being wooed to shift their support to the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim.  The deportation campaign, which has by-passed factories and plantations that depend on migrant workers, is widely perceived as "lip service" and a "political exercise" not meant to solve the problem. 

Most observers believe that any truly effective operation to expel illegals would damage the state's economy, which is highly dependent on cheap migrant labor.  Local politicians are critical of the crackdown and questioned the federal government's motives.  A call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the causes of the massive illegal migration is unlikely to gain traction as such a commission could expose current and Mahathir-era politicians' efforts to manipulate votes and change the state's ethnic balance by illegitimately providing Malaysian papers to illegal immigrants.  End Summary.

Deportations a "Political Band-aid"

2.  (C) The Government of Malaysia (GOM) announced in July it would undertake a campaign of mass deportations of illegal immigrants in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, the latest in a series of such campaigns launched every three or four years.  The embattled government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi took this decision against the backdrop of possible defections by Sabah MPs to the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim.  Many Sabah politicians, and the indigenous population, rate illegal immigration as the state's foremost problem and blame the federal government for both facilitating illegal migrants and failing to take corrective action.  Using their new-found role as possible swing votes in the national Parliament, Sabah politicians have put immigration enforcement high on their list of demands.

3.  (C) Simon Sipaun, Vice-chairman of Malaysia's Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) told Emboff he estimates 1.9 million illegal and/or undocumented people live in Sabah, higher than the GOM's official number of 240,000.  The GOM announced plans to deport 100,000 - 150,000 persons, and allocated 50 million ringgit (an estimated 15,625,000 USD) to fund the operation.  Local observers in Sabah told Poloff that the crackdown's accomplishments were minimal as of mid-August.  Authorities screened 19,686 persons from August 1-17 of which only 2,697 were detained and sent to immigration detention centers.  The government also instituted a three-month grace period to allow local businesses in Sabah to register and by doing so legalize their undocumented employees.

4.  (C) Muhammad Radzi Jamaludin, Principal Assistant Secretary in the MFA Southeast Asia Division, conceded to Poloff recently that many Filipinos were returning only a couple weeks after their deportations.  He said some stay an additional week in the Philippines "on vacation" in their home villages prior to returning.  According to Radzi, another unexpected wrinkle was that some Malaysians (all women) are falsely claiming Filipino citizenship and upon reaching the Philippines announced their Malaysian citizenship and said they desired to stay with their spouses, who were being deported.  He added that the majority of Filipinos in Sabah entered legally, but overstay their visas.

Malaysia's Immigration Department is reportedly recording biometrics of deportees to identify those who attempt to re-enter.  On August 29, Ramlan Ibrahim, Undersecretary for Southeast Asia in the Foreign Affairs Ministry told poloff and Staffdel Luse that all deportations were being conducted humanely and were targeting only the able-bodied.

Public and Observers not Impressed

5. (C) New Straits Times journalist Jaswendar Kaur told Poloff that authorities were selective in rounding up illegal immigrants.  The focus of the sweeps centered on shantytowns and bypassed plantations and factories, whose owners are politically well-connected.  Manufacturing associations dependent upon foreign labor were approaching the government, arguing that mass deportations would adversely affect factory operations.  Kaur saw little difference in current deportation efforts from prior crackdowns.  Emboff was in Sabah from August 18-22 and discussed the deportation operation in casual conversations with local Sabahans.  No one expressed any particular excitement about the operation. Such government efforts occur every four-five years and most Sabahans had a "we've seen it all before" attitude.

Sabah BN Politicians Skeptical

6.  (C) Yong Tek Lee, former Chief Minister and President of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) who has called for the Prime Minister's resignation (ref B), met with Emboff on August 21.  In his view, if the government were serious about tackling the illegal immigrant issue, it would commit more than 50 million ringgit.  He viewed the deportations as little more than lip service to the concerns of Sabahans.  He maintained that the ruling National Front (BN) government spent more on the recent Permatang Pauh by-election (ref A) than in trying to control illegal immigration in Sabah.

Several Sabahans interviewed by Emboff expressed similar opinions.  Bernard Dompok, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, told us he wanted a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate who is supplying illegal immigrants in Sabah with Malaysian documents such as identity cards.  Otherwise, he believes, any crackdown will be ineffective.

COMMENT

7.  (C) Sabahans consider illegal immigration a major concern, even though important segments of the state's economy are highly dependent on cheap migrant labor.  Many view illegal immigrants, especially Filipino Muslims, as upsetting the political balance in Sabah, whose native majority is Catholic. 

The lack of enthusiasm among Sabahans for the current illegal immigrant crackdown illustrates the overall mistrust of the BN government and its peninsula-centric policies.  The crackdown to date is selective and explicitly avoids raids on key areas of migrant employment, such as manufacturing, logging, palm oil plantations, and service industries, which could be forced to curtail operations without their illegal migrant workers.

Sabahans see the immigrants being deported as "low hanging fruit," enabling authorities to demonstrate that they are "doing something" about the problem.  According to Jaswendar, a previous short-lived crackdown that proved too effective in detaining illegal immigrants was stopped after local business leaders complained and the police official who planned the operation was punished and transferred.

8. (C) Dompok's desire for a Royal Commission is likely to remain unfulfilled.  The central government and the leading UMNO party for many years facilitated issuance of Malaysian documents to illegal immigrants in exchange for their political support. 

A retired senior intelligence official frankly admitted to us earlier this year that the previous government of Mahathir also facilitated illegal immigration from Indonesia and the Philippines in order to better balance the state's ethnic and religious equation as a measure to ward off any future separatist sentiments in Sabah, in addition to attracting UMNO votes needed to control the state.  A Royal Commission, operated properly, would likely expose the depth of UMNO and BN's political corruption and vote manipulation, further inciting Sabahans.

KEITH (September 2008)

 

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