Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Malaysian Youth Right Movement Urge Malaysian Youth To Reject Pakatan Rakyat Extemenism
- Selangor under siege?
- Son's wedding was 'cheap to organise'
- Land grab, Malaysian-style
- Seeking the Right to Be Female in Malaysia
- LGE accused of ignoring gangsterism in DAP
- Probe JMM allegations, urges Cuepacs
- Johor to overtake Selangor as richest state
- PKR berubah nada, mahu teruskan projek RAPID
- MB S’gor layak tadbir di Pusat, kata Shuhaimi
- Only losers scream
- Politicians and gangsters
- RAPID project: Here are the shocking details
- A Rapid white elephant in the making?
- PKR cadang kecilkan skala RAPID, pindah ke Kertih
- Azmin Ali set to snatch the crown when Pakatan sinks
- Khalid dismisses speculation on federal move if Pakatan wins
- Suaram denies bribing government officials
- Pakatan's Nov 3 rally is 'tip of iceberg', say analysts
- 'We did not misinterpret Azmin's statement on Selangor MB' - Sinar Harian
- Pendedahan syarikat 'pengantara' yang mengambil komisyen dalam minit mesyuarat Persatuan Bekas ...
- Do you want the devil you know?
- The tackiest wedding of the year
- The Enemies Of The State
- UPM Holdings says NFC project is viable and profitable
- Protests reflect vibrant democracy: PM
- Top defence firms rank low in anti-graft measures
- Sinar Harian tidak putar belit fakta
- Lebih 10 pegawai kerajaan jadi tali barut Suaram
- Suaram terima RM100 juta dana asing?
- Shadow cabinet: Utusan Malaysia's frontpage boo boo
- Ling’s defence witness to be impeached
- SMEs against Pakatan's budget promise
- Bersih 2.0 not involved in Pakatan rally
- Losers galore
- PKR claims S’gor rejected petrochemical plant
- Is Malaysiakini in mischief mode?
- Dong Zong gets a lashing
- PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's call for new Selangor MB rocks Pakatan’s boat
- Minister defends ex-Chief Secretary’s son-in-law over solar deal
- Power of student activism
- Second break-in at Aliran office
- Where are the Malaysian universities in Times Higher Education 2012-2013 rankings?
- MACC must investigate the wedding
- RM6.7m for a KR1M store?
- Dismantle our apartheid education system
- MB S’gor: Pendirian Azmin, bukan Pakatan
- Anwar jemput peguam Scorpene beri taklimat di Parlimen
- PKR's grand strategy?
- 97 cows for me and 3 cows for you
| Malaysian Youth Right Movement Urge Malaysian Youth To Reject Pakatan Rakyat Extemenism Posted: 05 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT
Dearest Malaysian Youth, beware of voting for Pakatan Rakyat into power. I am pretty sure you do not want to live another 4 or 5 years with all our freedom, rights and choices to be restricted by them. All Freedom and personal lifestyle liberty existed all this while because of Barisan Nasional Government and I am sure none of you would like to end up living the lifestyle like Pakatan Rakyat Islamic Kelantan and Kedah. PAS Youth has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a permit given to an international modelling agency to hold a bikini fashion show in Malaysia. Selangor PAS Youth chief Hasbullah Mohd Ridzuan said holding a bikini show in an Islamic country was a major insult, referring to the planned Bello Model Management bikini fashion event at the Grand Millennium Hotel on Saturday. | ||||||
| Posted: 05 Oct 2012 12:14 PM PDT
The Talam issue is still being spun this way and that while the issue concerning the PJ mayor is orchestrated to jam up the works and smooth-running of the state government's daily administrative process. What all these shenanigans mean is that the rakyat's choice at the ballot box in March 2008 is not respected but treated as rubbish! Selena Tay, Free Malaysia TodayEnemy forces are not letting up their assault on the Pakatan-led state in their determination to see it fall in the coming general election. "Defend till the end! Fight to the last!" was the angry response of this columnist's uncle who is a Selangorian when he heard that Petaling Jaya mayor, Mohamad Roslan Sakiman, is to be transferred to another department. This is despite the fact that PJ City councillor Derek Fernandez, who is also a lawyer by profession, remarked that the transfer decision by the PSD (Public Services Department) is illegal and ultra vires (as reported in a local English daily). This columnist's relatives who stay in Selangor are of the view that Barisan Nasional's shenanigans have started again in Selangor. Under heavy bombardment and continuous shelling, Selangor is bound to fall. This is called a "political siege". So far since the beginning of this year, the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government had to contend with these four main issues: garbage collection, water, Talam and now the latest is the Petaling Jaya mayor issue. There has been no let-up from the enemy forces since the previous general election in March 2008. The first issue – garbage collection – had seen garbage trucks being blocked by hostile forces and broken furniture and tree branches being made into rubbish and dumped here and there in order to portray Selangor as a dirty state. When the garbage collection trucks are hindered, inevitably rubbish will start to pile up. All this just because the Selangor government wants to save RM20 million from garbage collection services by awarding the contract to new contractors! As for the water issue, a 40-second infomercial was last month filmed to show residents from a flat lining up to collect buckets of water while, at the same time, complaining about the so-called water shortage. It is a no-brainer as to who is behind this "entertaining movie". Diabolical forces The Talam issue is still being spun this way and that while the issue concerning the PJ mayor is orchestrated to jam up the works and smooth-running of the state government's daily administrative process. What all these shenanigans mean is that the rakyat's choice at the ballot box in March 2008 is not respected but treated as rubbish! The diabolical forces are hellbent on regaining Selangor by hook or by crook because in the view of these evil forces, might is definitely right. There is only one thing that can be done by Pakatan in this matter and that is to hold the Selangor state election in May as the State Legislative Assembly will be automatically dissolved by then. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/10/06/selangor-under-siege/
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| Son's wedding was 'cheap to organise' Posted: 05 Oct 2012 12:12 PM PDT
(Asia One) - A leaked document from the Malacca State Development Corporation (PKNM) allegedly shows that state agencies had sponsored the wedding ceremony. Did the catering for the wedding cost RM1.3 million (S$524,000), RM13 million or a mere RM600,000? Whatever the cost, the grandiose scale of the wedding of the eldest son of Malacca's chief minister has grabbed headlines in Malaysia. About 130,000 people are believed to have attended the wedding banquet of Mr Mohd Ridhwan and his wife Nur Azieha Mohd Ali, both 26. And the wedding entered the Malaysia Book of Records for the huge turnout, The Star reported. Opposition lawmakers have demanded that the chief minister, Mr Mohd Ali Rustam, reveal how much he spent on Sunday's wedding and where the funding came from. But Mr Mohd Ali, who is on a working trip to Indonesia, dismissed the talk about extravagance. "It was cheap to organise. The wedding just looked grand because of the number of people who attended," he said. The chief minister, who is also a Umno vice-president, told Malay Mail that he had hired 30 chefs who could whip up the wedding reception's nasi briyani campur dishes for 60,000 people, at RM10 per head. Each serving could feed three people, he said. It comes to RM600,000 for a wedding feast that could be served to about 180,000 guests, he said. He dismissed allegations that the reception, which lasted eight hours, cost millions of ringgit. Meanwhile, a leaked document from the Malacca State Development Corporation (PKNM) allegedly shows that state agencies had sponsored the wedding ceremony. Debating the federal budget in Parliament yesterday, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia lawmaker Mahfuz Omar said the document showed that a meeting hosted by PKNM was especially called to discuss the "logistics of the ceremony" on Sunday. "The CM's special officer admitted that the event was sponsored to the tune of RM10 per guest and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission must look into this (as) this is a personal event. "The meeting minutes mention the government departments involved and state that no bills should be claimed from the chief minister, everything is free." The minutes also allegedly stated that 100 tents were sponsored by four local councils and the armed forces could be approached for more tents. Read more at: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20121005-375724/2.html | ||||||
| Posted: 05 Oct 2012 12:08 PM PDT
Before Act A804, land could only be acquired for public purposes or for public utilities like building of roads, schools, hospitals, pipelines, water or power plants, etc. With the addition of "…for any purpose which in the opinion of the State Authority is beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia", no land is safe. Thomas Fann This is not a new issue, in fact it is 21 years old. It all began when the Barisan Nasional government, with its overwhelming majority in Parliament, passed by 99 to 25 votes the 1991 Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, or Act A804. The rephrasing of sections of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 basically gave incontestable power to state governments to seize private land for development by private companies and individuals. Lands originally acquired for public purposes can also be used for private development. Before Act A804, land could only be acquired for public purposes or for public utilities like building of roads, schools, hospitals, pipelines, water or power plants, etc. With the addition of "…for any purpose which in the opinion of the State Authority is beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia", no land is safe. The term "beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia" is as subjective as you can get. A piece of land can be acquired to build a posh five-star hotel, an amusement park or a golf resort because in the opinion of the government it would bring in the tourist dollar and create jobs for locals, not to mention enriching the private companies which would, of course, be paying taxes. To really make the Land Acquisition Act water-tight for the acquirer, Section 68A says that acquisitions cannot be invalidated by reason of any kind of subsequent disposal or use (etc) of the acquired land. This new provision aims at preventing the acquirer or the purported purpose from being challenged in court. You can only challenge the quantum of the compensation offered, the measurement of the land area, the person whom compensation is payable to, and the apportionment of the compensation. The leader of the opposition then, Lim Kit Siang, in opposing Act A804, gave this dire warning: "When it becomes law, it will destroy the constitutional right to property enjoyed by Malaysians for 34 years since Merdeka, and become the mother of all corruption, abuses of power, conflicts-of-interest and unethical malpractices in Malaysia…" Was Kit Siang just over-reacting or scare-mongering when he said that or is it a prophecy that was and is being fulfilled till today? A new ball game The impetus for the passing of Act A804 was for the acquisition of 33,000 acres of land in the Gelang Patah area for the construction of the second link with Singapore and the construction of a new township by UEM, wiping out 19 villages and displacing 10,000 people. The Johor state government offered the affected smallholders compensation averaging RM26,000 per acre or 64 sen per sqe ft, far below the then market value of RM100,000 per acre for agricultural land. In a subsequent civil suit by one of the affected landowners against the government of Johor in 1995, it was revealed that a subsidiary of Renong was offering the intended development for sale at RM17 per sq ft, a whopping 28 times more than what the original landowners got! For a glimpse into some of the backroom wheeling and dealing that went on with these deals, one should read the court papers of cases like "Honan Plantations vs Govt of Johor'; and "Stamford Holdings vs Govt of Johor". Names of notable personalities like Muhyiddin Yassin, Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and Yahya Talib in secret meetings were mentioned. For the Second Link and the highway that linked it to the North-South Expressway to be built, the Land Acquisition Act was necessary. To be fair, compensation had to not only take into account the then prevailing market value but also the loss of livelihood for the people who used to live off the land. With Act A804, the government seized a lot more land than was required for the custom and immigration complex and the highway. We can safely say it seized almost 24,000 acres more for a private corporation, UEM, albeit it is a GLC (government-linked corporation). Today, UEM Land, as the master developer of the 23,875-acre Nusajaya (as the acquired land is now called) boasts of its enormous landbank and potential billions in profit from its development. We want to ask this simple poignant question: whose lands were these originally, and what about the 10,000 over affected villagers? Shouldn't these people be beneficiaries of development and not its victims? Perhaps some of the villagers are now working in Legoland, who knows? While some of the people behind the scenes went on to achieve high office and some made it to the top 10 billionaires list, thousands of other nameless Malaysians are without land and opportunities. Land grab is non-discriminatory: Malaysians from all racial, religious and social strata are affected. Gelang Patah was just the precursor to a new ball game called Land Grab and the same modus operandi was used for Seremban 2, Bandar Aman Jaya in Sungai Petani, Pantai Kundor/Pantai Tanah Merah and Paya Mengkuang in Melaka, Kerpan in Kedah, Sepang in Selangor, lands acquired for the MRT project, Jalan Sultan, native customary lands in the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, and many, many more. Of course, not all compulsory acquisitions are unjust or not justifiable; but there should be a fair and unskewed avenue for aggrieved landowners through the justice system to question certain acquisitions. The courts now are somewhat constrained by Act A804, and in almost all cases such acquisitions are not reversed. The Pengerang grab Twenty years on, the same script is being acted out in Johor again (a BN stronghold), this time to the east in Pengerang. A total of 22,500 acres of land are being acquired for the development of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC). The anchor project in this proposal is Petronas' RAPID project which requires a sizeable 6,424 acres. Smallholders and plantations are being offered between RM1.80 psf and RM8 psf for their land. Can Pengerang be called Gelang Patah 2.0 where again, on the pretext of development, a huge tract of land is being taken from their original landowners and placed in the hands of one or a few wealthy individuals and corporations? Is the PIPC the main play or is property speculation the main play? Would the same prime minister who mooted the Third Link to Singapore in 2009 make the announcement again after all the land has been acquired? Who are the direct beneficiaries of such development? All these are so "legal" that one government official after another is spewing out that it is done properly under the terms of the Land Acquisition Act 1960. It may be legal, but is it moral? Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak made a statement during the launch of the sixth International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities Conference in Kuala Lumpur on the Oct 4, 2012: "Is the unbridled and ruthless pursuit of extraordinary profits a form of corruption? I believe that if we see corruption as fundamentally a moral problem, therefore anything that promotes selfish interest at the expense of the well-being of others is morally wrong. It was vapid [tasteless] self-interest and greed that was truly at the heart of corruption. " Mr Prime Minister, I could not agree with you more. How much is enough for the greedy? How many more poor and defenseless villagers must be forcibly displaced and robbed of the fruits of development to satisfy the insatiable appetites of the greedy who uses the Land Acquisition Act to enrich themselves? Who will speak up for the thousands who will be landless and many without a means of livelihood? It is evil when a law is crafted to take away land from the poor without their consent, fair compensation or share in its benefits so that a few might make it to Forbes' list of billionaires. We should all be foaming at our mouth with anger at this injustice but instead we just thank God daily that it is not our land they have come to take, at least not yet. Thomas Fann blogs at www.newmalaysia.org | ||||||
| Seeking the Right to Be Female in Malaysia Posted: 05 Oct 2012 12:04 PM PDT
(The New York Times) - Nisha Ayub was jailed for three months after her first arrest for dressing as a woman 14 years ago. Ms. Nisha, who was 20 at the time, said prison wardens forced her to walk naked in front of the male inmates. "It's something I can't forget until today," she said. The feminine figure dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, makeup carefully applied, drew little attention from other customers at the fast-food restaurant in Seremban, a city about an hour's drive south of Kuala Lumpur. The 26-year-old began wearing women's clothing at age 13. Thanks to plastic surgery in neighboring Thailand, a daily dose of hormones and a feminine nickname, she is able to present herself as female to the outside world. But her official identification card — which Malaysians must produce in dealings like job interviews — declares that her name is Adam Shazrul Bin Mohammad Yusoff and that she is male. The discrepancy between her appearance and her officially recognized gender presents much more than just awkward moments in Malaysia, where Shariah, or Islamic law, bans Muslim men from dressing or posing as women. Penalties differ in individual states, but in Negri Sembilan, where the 26-year-old lives, convicted offenders may be sentenced to up to six months in prison, fined as much as 1,000 ringgit, about $325, or both. Tired of living in fear of prosecution, the 26-year-old — who has been arrested twice and was once fined 900 ringgit — and three other transgender people are challenging the law in the secular courts, arguing that it violates the Malaysian Constitution, which bans discrimination based on gender and protects freedom of expression. A verdict in their case — the first time anyone has sought to overturn the law — is expected next Thursday. "It's for freedom — to be like everybody else, to wear what we like," said the 26-year-old, explaining why she is taking part in the case. "This shouldn't happen. It's an unjust law. We are just human beings. We are not doing anything wrong." Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/world/asia/seeking-the-right-to-be-female-in-malaysia.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0 | ||||||
| LGE accused of ignoring gangsterism in DAP Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:26 PM PDT
Alleged victims say they were beaten up in the party chief's presence. K Pragalath, FMT Two men who claim they were physically assaulted in the presence of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng have accused him of being indifferent to the issue of gangsterism in the party. A Thirumalvalavan (photo, left) and R Selvan (in white shirt), who are both branch-level officials in DAP, have lodged a police report about the attack, but they told reporters today that they were disappointed by Lim's silence over it. The incident allegedly happened last Monday during a meeting organised by Selangor DAP in Pekan Salak, Sepang. The two, together with Pantai Putra Sepang branch secretary Rashid Md Gani (photo, middle), were about to submit a memorandum to Lim when they were attacked, they said. Ironically, one of the points of the memorandum was gangsterism in the party. "Lim and (Selangor DAP chief) Teresa Kok were present when Thirumalvalavan and Selvan were dragged and bashed up by gangsters," Rashid told this morning's press conference. "Why didn't he stop the violence? "We are also very disappointed with Kok's leadership. She has also kept silent." The Monday meeting was a regular Selangor DAP parliamentary liaison session, but a discussion of election strategies was also on the agenda. "After delivering his speech, Lim had to leave the hall to attend a funeral," Rashid said. "We wanted to have dialogue session and hand over a memorandum to him." The memorandum complained that:
Thirumalvalavan, who leads DAP's Taman Murni branch, was in tears when he recalled Monday's incident. "I was dragged by gangsters who are not DAP members," he said. "They slapped and kicked me." Selvan, a member of the party's Pantai Sepang Putra committee, said he suffered the same treatment. The attackers snatched his DAP membership card and destroyed it, he added. Both displayed to reporters bruises on their shoulders and arms. Contacted after the press conference, Sivakumar denied that he used gangsters. He told FMT that everyone at the Monday meeting, including the alleged attackers, were DAP members. "The state committee ensured that only members would attend the meeting," he said, adding that Thirumalvalavan, Selvan and Rashid were there only to cause trouble. "Some party members had to stop them to protect Lim," he said.
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| Probe JMM allegations, urges Cuepacs Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:20 PM PDT
(Bernama) -- The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has asked the authorities to investigate allegations that Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) had bribed civil servants to cover up information on its foreign funding and to gather information related to national security and government secrets. Its president, Datuk Omar Osman, said any civil servant found to have been involved should be given the appropriate punishment. "It is up to the authorities (to take action). Civil servants should not be accepting bribes. We have ethics which we must adhere to," he told Bernama. Omar was commenting on a statement by Azwanddin Hamzah, president of the non-governmental organisation Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), yesterday that Suaram had received more than US$100 million (about RM305.35 million) to organise street protests and that it had also bribed government officers. Suaram has categorically denied the allegations that it had bribed government officers to cover up information on its foreign funding and to gather information related to national security and government secrets. It also challenged JMM to substantiate its allegations and demanded an immediate apology and retraction of the allegations should JMM fail to do so. Omar said he was not sure why JMM had hurled the allegations at civil servants. "Nevertheless, we advise civil servants to distance themselves from bribery to maintain the integrity of the civil service and secure their own future," he said.
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| Johor to overtake Selangor as richest state Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:15 PM PDT
(Bernama) -- Johor is to emerge as the richest state in Malaysia by 2025, overtaking Selangor, if the current trend of development pace and investment inflows continues, an analyst with an investment bank said today. Dr Nazri Khan, Affin Investment Bank Vice-President and Retail Research Head, said the projection was not something impossible to achieve with Iskandar Malaysia, one of the five economic corridors in Malaysia, having attracted more than one-fourth of the RM383 billion total investment target by 2025. He said the economic growth brought to Johor by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the government's investment arm, is seen as among concerted initiatives by the government to establish an economic hub in Johor outside the Klang Valley. "We will see Johor transform into an Orlando in Florida and become Asia's Theme Park Hub with the presence of at least four theme parks in the state. "They include Legoland Malaysia which opened recently, Puteri Harbour Family Entertainment Centre and Austin Heights Water Theme Park is due to open its doors soon. All these parks will provide ample jobs to our youths," he said. The 2012/2013 Economic Report issued by the Finance Ministry on Sept 28 said job opportunities in Johor are expected to double when some projects come on stream in the next five years such as Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, MSC Cyberport City and Urban and Resort Wellness. At the same time, Nazri said efforts to attract cash-rich Middle Eastern investors, who have the capital to invest, must be pursued to maintain the development momentum in Johor. He said the massive oil and gas project in Pengerang is being initiated at a timely juncture when the world demand for oil and gas was spiralling. "Moreover, Pengerang's demographic location in the middle of the international shipping route to Indonesia and Singapore provided an added advantage to us than to our neighbours," he added. Meanwhile, a restaurateur in Skudai, Mohd Kassim Ali, 52, readily acknowledged that he could feel the spinoffs emanating from Iskandar Malaysia development. "When I first started this restaurant business 10 years ago, there were not many customers then, but now I can sense the change over the last one year as a result of the development impact brought about by the government. "My income has also increased by about 30 per cent now, more so after Legoland Malaysia was opened. I think the development pace in this city will accelerate further when more development projects planned by the government get off the ground such as the Puteri Harbour," he said. He said the number of Singaporean customers has also increased since Legoland Malaysia, the country's first theme park of its kind, was opened to the people on Sept 1. The feverish pace of development in this state will provide more job opportunities for Johoreans, he added. A Johorean, Mohd Salleh Ali, 46, said at one time, the youths, including from Johor, have to move to Kuala Lumpur to find jobs but now that trend is slowly and surely changing. With the oil and gas project in Pengerang and with various other development projects in the drawing board under the Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor, Johor has become the latest trade focus in Malaysia, he said. "Johor has become the focal point now as people from throughout the country are flocking to the state in search of high-paying jobs," he said. Development projects implemented by the state government with the support of the federal government have given an "assurance" to Johor-born school leavers of ample job prospects and a decent income, he added.
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| PKR berubah nada, mahu teruskan projek RAPID Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:46 PM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) hari ini berubah nada berhubung isu Projek Pembangunan Bersepadu Penapisan Minyak dan Petrokimia (RAPID) di Pengerang, Johor dan mahu melanjutkan tempoh masa penilaian serta mengkaji semula pertimbangan asas ekonomi projek ini. Ketua Biro Pelaburan dan Perdagangan PKR, Wong Chen berkata PKR akan menjalankan program melibatkan masyarakat tempatan secara trasparen dan telus, serta akan melambatkan tarikh Keputusan Akhir (FID). "Kami akan memberikan rakyat Pengerang masa yang mencukupi untuk menyuarakan pandangan mereka. Dengan pengetahuan yang penuh dan jelas, mereka boleh membuat pilihan yang bebas.
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| MB S’gor layak tadbir di Pusat, kata Shuhaimi Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:42 PM PDT
Beliau menyifatkan Abdul Khalid sebagai seorang yang berpengalaman luas dan sememangnya layak mentadbir di peringkat persekutuan. Fazy Sahir, FMT Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Sri Muda, Shuhaimi Shafiei bersetuju Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim dipindahkan ke pentadbiran kerajaan pusat sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat memenangi pilihan raya umum ke 13 (PRU13). Ketika dihubungi FMT, beliau menyifatkan Abdul Khalid sebagai seorang yang berpengalaman luas dan sememangnya layak mentadbir di peringkat persekutuan. Pandangan Shuhaimi ini dilihat selari dengan pendapat Timbalan Presiden PKR, Azmin Ali sebelum ini, yang menyatakan bahawa Abdul Khalid berkemungkinan akan ditukar ke peringkat pusat selepas PRU13. Beliau berkata, ia sebagai pengiktirafan kepada Abdul Khalid yang berkebolehan dan berpengalaman dalam memimpin kerajaan Selangor sejak Pakatan mengambil alih negeri itu pada Mac 2008. "Sama ada saya setuju atau tidak kenyataan Azmin itu adalah perkara lain. Tetapi apa yang cuba disampaikan Azmin adalah beliau menghargai peranan dan tugas Abdul Khalid sebagai Menteri Besar. "Malah pengalaman beliau (Abdul Khalid) mentadbir Selangor tidak dinafikan adalah jauh lebih baik daripada menteri-menteri Barisan Nasional (BN)," tegas beliau. Beliau menegaskan, "pengalaman beliau mentadbir Selangor boleh digunakan dengan baik dalam pentadbiran kerajaan pusat memandangkan di bawah pentadbirannya rizab tunai Selangor mencecah sehingga RM2 bilion. "Jika Abdul Khalid dipilih menerajui di peringkat kementerian maka saya yakin beliau boleh menyelamatkan lebih banyak wang negara," ujar beliau. Dalam perkembangan lain, Shuhaimi menegur sikap pemimpin Pakatan yang lain agar meneliti terlebih dahulu laporan sesetengah akhbar sebelum mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan. Tegas beliau, "para pemimpin tidak sewajarnya melenting dan memberi kenyataan secara melulu tanpa menyemak asas laporan akhbar tersebut terlebih dahulu. "Mungkin ada dua tiga kenyataan daripada kepimpinan parti, presiden, timbalan presiden, setiausaha agung dan lain-lain yang dikeluarkan sebelum ini. "Mereka perlu meneliti laporan itu dari akhbar serta tajuk laporan sebelum memberi kenyataan. Jika tidak betul….tidak boleh terus melenting dengan penuh emosi, biar komen secara matang," nasihat beliau.
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| Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:12 PM PDT
What happened to you all those years? When we told you we need change and when we explained why we need change you still went ahead and voted for Barisan Nasional. You not only voted for Barisan Nasional but you gave 101 excuses as to why you had no choice but to vote for Barisan Nasional. And now you talk full of self-righteousness and scream: Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. 55 years is long enough. It is time for change. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin
There is one comment that is oft repeated. It is repeated by readers who post comments here in Malaysia Today. It is repeated by Bloggers, writers and 'political analysts'. Many of you keep saying this over and over again. And that comment is: Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. 55 years is long enough. It is time for change. Why do you keep repeating this? Is it because you thought that this is something we do not already know? Or did you think that maybe we have forgotten this and that is why you have to keep reminding us? Or is it you wanted to impress us with your analytical skills in being able to come to that conclusion using your intelligence and superior education? This is like telling us that water is wet. Do you think we do not already know that? Do you feel smart because you have told us something you thought we did not know until you told us? Even if we did not realise this, does it make you feel smart because you are telling us something that 500 or 1,000 people before you have already told us? Anyway, Barisan Nasional has not ruled Malaysia for 55 years. Barisan Nasional was formed in January 1973. Hence Barisan Nasional is only 39 years old, going on 40 in another three months time. For the first 16 years after Merdeka, it was the Alliance Party that ruled Malaysia. Even then it can be argued whether the Alliance Party was in power for 14, 16 or 18 years. The first municipal elections were held in 1955, two years before Merdeka, and the first general elections were held in 1959, two years after Merdeka. Hence did the Alliance Party come into power in 1955, 1957 or 1959? Whatever it may be, for purposes of this discussion, let us just say that Umno has been in power for 55 years. They took over when the British granted independence to Malaya and it ruled though one coalition called the Alliance Party for 16 years and thereafter through a second coalition called Barisan Nasional for another 39 years. So the total for both coalitions would come to 55 years. Now, what do we achieve by discussing this matter? So it may have been 57 years or 55 years or 53 years or just 39 years. Does it make any difference if we argue about how long Barisan Nasional has been in power? And what do you achieve by screaming over and over again: Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. 55 years is long enough. It is time for change. If you keep repeating this, you are merely admitting your own stupidity. I do not care how long Barisan Nasional has been in power. I do not care whether the correct answer is 57 years or 55 years or 53 years or just 39 years. I would rather ask: how was Barisan Nasional able to stay in power for so long (whether the correct answer is 57 years or 55 years or 53 years or just 39 years)? If Barisan Nasional is bad for the country and if Barisan Nasional has been in power just too damn long, that can only mean that there are many stupid people who voted for them to allow them to retain power for 12 general elections since 1959. So who are these stupid people? And aren't these stupid people the same people who voted for Barisan Nasional, election after election, and now scream: Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. 55 years is long enough. It is time for change. When I voted in the general elections I voted for the opposition. And to prove that I voted for the opposition I held up the ballot paper for all and sundry to see before I put it into the ballot box. You should have seen the shocked faces of the election workers who panicked when I held up my ballot paper so that they can see whom I voted for. I did not even bother to go into the booth to mark my ballot paper. When they handed me the ballot paper I asked for them for a pencil and marked it right there, in front of them. When they tried to usher me into the booth I told them no need to do that because I was going to vote for the opposition. I then showed them my ballot paper as proof that I had voted for the opposition. And while I did this each and every general election do you want to know what you did? You expressed anxiety that your vote may not be a secret because the ballot papers have serial numbers on them so the government can actually find out whom you voted for. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you were worried that if you voted for the opposition you might get into trouble. You did not want to vote for Barisan Nasional but you were scared of voting for the opposition so you did not come out to vote. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you did not have confidence that the opposition can run the country. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you were worried that the economy would suffer if the opposition takes over. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you were scared that if the opposition wins the election there might be race riots. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you were not aware that Barisan Nasional is bad, you thought they were good. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you did not have access to the Internet so you were not informed about the truth. You voted for Barisan Nasional because no one told you about the bad things that Barisan Nasional had done. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you were scared of PAS's Islamic State so you would rather Umno run the country. You voted for Barisan Nasional because you were scared that DAP would abolish Ketuanan Melayu so you would rather Umno run the country. You voted for Barisan Nasional because it had proven it can run the country while the opposition had not proven itself yet. In short, you voted for Barisan Nasional and today you give all sorts of lame and stupid excuses as to why you did that. So it is not your fault that you voted for Barisan Nasional. It is someone else's fault that you voted for Barisan Nasional. And because you voted for Barisan Nasional they were able to retain power for 55 years (or 57 years or 53 years or 39 years) or 12 general elections (or nine general elections since 1974 after Barisan Nasional was formed). So, now you want to kick out Barisan Nasional, is it? Why do you want to kick out Barisan Nasional? You want to kick out Barisan Nasional because: Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. 55 years is long enough. It is time for change. But why do we need change? We need change because there is so much corruption in Malaysia. We need change because there is no democracy in Malaysia. We need change because the government does not respect human rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to lead the lifestyle of your choice, etc. We need change because we need transparency, good governance, separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, etc. In short, the system is not working, the government is not working, society is not working, in fact, everything is not working. So we need change. But when did all this begin to break down? Only since 2008? Only since 1998? Or since 1958? Tell me what has changed since Merdeka of 1957? Things are basically still the same. Okay, you argue that things have gotten worse over the last 55 years. Have they? Who told you that? Do you mean there was no corruption in Malaysia until Barisan Nasional took over? There was already corruption in Malaysia even before there was a Malaysia. 200 years ago Yap Ah Loy was already bribing the government officials so that he could open his brothels and opium dens along Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur. The Chinese tin miners were bribing members of the Selangor and Perak royal families 200-300 years ago so that they could mine tin in those two states. Barisan Nasional did not invent bribery. Bribery had been 'invented' hundreds of years before that. The Chinese, the Malays, and the government, were already involved in bribery long before Merdeka. Many towns and cities in Malaysia emerged and flourished against the backdrop of bribery and corruption. So, Malaysia got independence in 1957. And bribery and corruption was already well entrenched in Malaysian society back in 1957. The government and the businessmen were corrupt to the core. And we told you this back in the 1970s. We told you this back in the 1980s. We told you this back in the 1990s. Now, suddenly, you are screaming about corruption. What happened to you all those years? When we told you we need change and when we explained why we need change you still went ahead and voted for Barisan Nasional. You not only voted for Barisan Nasional but you gave 101 excuses as to why you had no choice but to vote for Barisan Nasional. And now you talk full of self-righteousness and scream: Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia for 55 years. 55 years is long enough. It is time for change.
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| Posted: 04 Oct 2012 04:31 PM PDT
An anonymous letter implicates a minister, Umno and MIC Youth chiefs of having links with gangsters. Anisah Shukry, FMT A PKR-linked NGO has lodged a police report today over an anonymous letter claiming that three prominent Barisan Nasional politicians have links to an Indian gang. The People Welfare and Rights Organisation (Power) wanted the police to verify whether the unsigned letter, purportedly from a member of Selayang Baru Umno, was genuine, and for the police to probe into the politicians' alleged links with the Indian gang "36". "The letter, which was left in my office yesterday in Sentul, mentions the name Human Resource Minister S Subramaniam, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and MIC Youth chief T Mohan," Power president S Gobi Krishnan told reporters after lodging the report at the Travers police station here. "It is addressed to the prime minister and says that on Dec 3, 2011, MIC held an event which was attended by [the three politicians] as well as 7,000 youths who represent an Indian gang," he said. According to the letter, which is dated April 20, 2012, Subramaniam, Khairy and Mohan were also given gifts bearing the gang's logo at the event last year. The anonymous writer wrote: "That event gave a bad impression, especially the Indian community towards BN party. The event also clearly shows an attempt by Gang 36 to fortify its positions through politics." Matter of national security Gobi stressed today that even though the letter was unsigned, the accusation was serious and its contents must be verified as it involved two members of parliament as well as a minister.
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| RAPID project: Here are the shocking details Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:41 PM PDT
The Australian government does not want Lynas, and no thanks to BN, it is now in Pahang, the homestate of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. The Taiwan government has refused to extend the tenure of its state-owned China Petroleum Company (CPC)'s refinery and petrochemical facilities. Again, no thanks to the BN, we welcome CPC with open arms in the form of RAPID. Victor Lim, Harakah Malaysians are so informed and familiar with the land grabs in Sarawak and its Taib Mahmud. However, land grabs have also been taking place in Johor for decades and it is ongoing. Only, now it has become more blatant.
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| A Rapid white elephant in the making? Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:35 PM PDT
The RM60-billion oil refinery is meant to cater for China and India's market, but PKR warns that such a stratergy can prove to be a costly gamble. Leven Woon, FMT PKR warns that the RM60 billion Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) in Pengerang, Johor, may be a white elephant once it becomes operational in 2016. Party trade and investment bureau head Wong Chen said this was because the refinery was export-driven and largely dependent on China and India's demands. Quoting Petronas downstream business vice-president Wan Zulkiflee's statement in December 2011, Wong said the state-owned oil corporation had acknowledged difficulty in downstream-related businesses but was optimistic towards Rapid due to the robust growth in China and India. However, he said poor economic sentiments had since emerged in the two countries, and an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report had cited a possible global economic crisis that might last for 10 years. In addition, he said China and India had also embarked on their massive oil refineries and downstream projects. "In tougher times, they will always favour domestic producers and boost utilisation of their own downstream facilities. "In the meantime, Petronas' Rapid will just be one of several regional players vying to supply these markets," he told a press conference here today. "If Petronas proceeds with its plans for Rapid, come 2016 when it becomes operational, the project may prove to be a gigantic white elephant," he added. The corporate lawyer (photo below) noted that the downstream oil business, which included oil refinery and value-added industry, had become a tight-margined one due to soaring oil prices since 2002. He questioned why Petronas was betting RM60 billion to invest in such a sector while major international oil companies such as Shell and Exxon adopted a wait-and-see approach.
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| PKR cadang kecilkan skala RAPID, pindah ke Kertih Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:27 PM PDT
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider PKR bercadang untuk mengecilkan projek penapisan dan intergrasi petrokimia (RAPID) di Pengerang, Johor ke Kertih, Terengganu jika menang dalam pilihan raya akan datang. Ketua Biro Pelaburan dan Perdagangan PKR, Wong Chen, berkata, Kertih sudah mempunyai infrastruktur yang baik seperti pusat perindustrian Gebeng dan pelabuhan Kuantan. "Jika dibina di Pengerang, apakah nasib perindustrian petrokimia di Kertih, adakah ia mampu berjalan seperti biasa?" kata Wong dalam sidang media di ibu pejabat parti hari ini. Menurut Wong, PKR juga mencadangkan agar projek RAPID dikecilkan skalanya memandangkan pasaran utama Malaysia iaitu China dan India sedang membina loji penapisan mereka sendiri yang lebih besar. "Seharusnya kita membina loji penapisan yang berkapasiti 150,000 tong sehari (bpd) daripada kapasiti RAPID yang dicadangkan iaitu 300,000 bpd sehari. "Kita harus memikirkan bahawa China dan India sedang membina loji mereka sendiri, di samping menghadapi persaingan dari Korea Selatan, Arab Saudi dan Mesir yang juga membina loji penapisan bagi tujuan eksport," kata Wong lagi.
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| Azmin Ali set to snatch the crown when Pakatan sinks Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:20 PM PDT  THE CHOICE PKR deputy president Azmin Ali learned the hard way that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's word is not his bond. More than a year ago, when Azmin was still Anwar's favourite and the commotions in Selangor were mostly kept out of the spotlight, Anwar laid out his plan for the state. Incumbent Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim would be, as the political term goes, kicked upstairs if Pakatan won the general election by getting a plum Cabinet position. In return, he would give up his state seat and the MB job. Azmin would give up his federal Gombak seat and stay on in Selangor as Menteri Besar. Simple. Anwar's clever scheme would keep the two apart, which was essential, as they hate each other. But this deal soon unravelled as the mutual loathing within Selangor PKR exploded into view. In the process, Anwar reminded the world of just one of his unappealing traits – he turns invisible in the face of controversy – especially if it involves confronting senior party members or banging heads together. Further proof of this is his reticence over PAS' federal plans for hudud. Did we also mention that another reason for Anwar welching on the deal could be that the person next on the list to take over from Khalid was none other than his wife? By this time, Azmin well and truly knew the meaning of the phrase 'blood is thicker than water'. This year's civil war revealed the utter folly of Anwar's original plan for all to see. Azmin is a divisive figure and his appointment would further divide the state branch rather than unite it. His personality would be petrol to the smouldering tensions there. So now it looks like Azmin is taking matters into his own hands. He says that when Pakatan wins GE13, Khalid will (still) get a federal ministry job, and he will be relieved of the MB role not because of the workload but because of "performance issues". His comments have sparked fresh panic in Selangor PKR which thought it had least put the genie back in the bottle until the election has passed. But more tellingly, it has sparked a furious reaction from both DAP and PAS, whose fortunes in the state are inextricably linked to PKR. "I believe it is Azmin's personal view. He needs to justify how and where the decision were made about the matter," said Selangor DAP vice chairman Charles Santiago, whose party has 13 state seats, just one less than PKR. PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali, whose party has eight state seats, said such statements "should be avoided in order not to confuse the public." Indeed. In order to fully understand what is going on here we need to understand that when Azmin talks of Pakatan winning the election, he is actually preparing for Pakatan losing federally but hopefully holding onto the state.
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| Khalid dismisses speculation on federal move if Pakatan wins Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:07 PM PDT
(The Star) - Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has dismissed speculation that he will vacate his post and move to a federal ministerial position if Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya in the coming general election. He stressed that the speculation arose following a personal view expressed by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali a few days ago. He said there was no misunderstanding between him and Azmin, who had implied that Pakatan would appoint a new Mentri Besar if it retained Selangor in the elections. Azmin was reported by a Malay daily to have said that Khalid would be given a ministerial post should Pakatan take over Putrajaya. "He (Azmin) does not have to apologise over his statement, which I believe is his personal view," Khalid said at the Parliament lobby yesterday. He also defended Azmin, saying that the comments showed that the party leadership trusted his ability to perform well at both state and federal levels. "It shows that he trusts my leadership in whatever position the party decides to put me in," he said.
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| Suaram denies bribing government officials Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:52 PM PDT
HE SAYS, SHE SAYS: Nalini (left) wants JMM to substantiate its allegations while Azwanddin claimed that he received a tip-off. (NST) - Suuara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has categorically denied allegations that it had bribed government officials to cover up information on its foreign funding and to gather information related to national security and government secrets from the Prime Minister's Department, Finance Ministry and the Company Commission of Malaysia (CCM). In a statement signed by executive director Nalini Elumalai, Suaram wants non-governmental organisation Jaringan Melayu Malaysia, who made the claims, to substantiate its allegations. Suaram also is demanding an immediate apology and retraction of the allegations.
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| Pakatan's Nov 3 rally is 'tip of iceberg', say analysts Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:48 PM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - The planned mass gathering to be staged by Pakatan Rakyat on Nov 3 in is just one of many public assemblies in store in the run up to the 13th General Election, analysts believe. Pakatan on Wednesday announced that it will be holding the gathering to push for electoral reforms and are expecting a 500,000 turnout at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu had told reporters that the government has yet to meet the eight core demands made by coalition for clean and fair elections Bersih, "especially on the need to clean up the electoral roll and media fairness".
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| 'We did not misinterpret Azmin's statement on Selangor MB' - Sinar Harian Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:43 PM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - Malay daily Sinar Harian has refuted PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's claim that the newspaper had misinterpreted his statement on the leadership of Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Azmin, also Gombak MP, was responding to his comrades who had wanted him to clarify the statement he made.
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| Pendedahan syarikat 'pengantara' yang mengambil komisyen dalam minit mesyuarat Persatuan Bekas ... Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:34 PM PDT  Syarikat yang dibayar komisyen 40% dari sumbangan kebajikan tersebut dikenali sebagai KT Solution Enterprise. Berdasarkan pendaftaran syarikat bertaraf Enterprise ini sepatutnya melakukan perniagaan membekal, membaiki Komputer, membekal alat ganti serta pengurusan pekerja, maka muncul persoalan dari pendaftaran tersebut di manakah hak syarikat tersebut mengutip komisyen? Pada 16 September 2012, che'GuBard bagi pihak Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) telah membuat laporan SPRM di Pulau Pinang berikutan kewujudan satu set dokumen milik Persatuan Bekas Polis Malaysia yang memperakui bahawa menerima Geran Bantuan Kebajikan Perdana Menteri Malaysia bernilai RM500,000. Malangnya sebanyak 40% dari bantuan tersebut terpaksa dibayar kepada sebuah syarikat membawa nilai RM200,000 kerana menjadi orang tengah. Dalam dokumen yang sama juga disebut dengan jelas wujud pertemuan pemimpin persatuan tersebut dengan Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek meminta bantuan mendapatkan geran bantuan dari Perdana Menteri dan bersetuju menjadi orang perantaraan. (klik sini untuk baca lanjut) Namun sehingga ke hari ini masih tidak ada sebarang maklum balas dari laporan tersebut. Walaubagaimanapun SAMM tidak berdiam diri, satu pasukan carian maklumat lanjut dibentuk kerana yakin kes ini bukan kes terpencil dan ia membawa erti besar dalam kehilangan banyak wang (ketirisan) rakyat. Tekaan kami tidak meleset kami menemui beberapa lagi kes berkaitan kehilangan wang rakyat menerusi persatuan ini. Wujud juga laporan polis berkaitan kehilangan peruntukan sekitar RM600,000 ribu ringgit, tanah, pasir dan seumpamanya. Malah laporan polis oleh individu yang dikenali sebagai bapa mertua Yang Di Pertua Dewan Rakyat juga wujud mengadukan hal kehilangan dan penyelewengan. 
 Syarikat yang dibayar komisyen 40% dari sumbangan kebajikan tersebut dikenali sebagai KT Solution Enterprise. Berdasarkan pendaftaran syarikat bertaraf Enterprise ini sepatutnya melakukan perniagaan membekal, membaiki Komputer, membekal alat ganti serta pengurusan pekerja, maka muncul persoalan dari pendaftaran tersebut di manakah hak syarikat tersebut mengutip komisyen? Apakah SSM tidak tahu perkara ini atau SSM cuma mengambil tahu pendaftaran SUARAM kerana tekanan pihak tertinggi negara kerana ketakukan isu pendedahan skandal kapal selam yang dilakukan. | ||||||
| Do you want the devil you know? Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT
BN happens to have been in federal government for so long that people tend to automatically assume they have the required leadership. Kee Thuan Chye I'm finding this frequent comment by people rather irksome: "But does Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have leadership? Can it take over the federal government?" I'm prompted to ask: What do they mean by "leadership"? Is the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership the kind we want? I'd take it further: Does BN have leaders? I mean, real leaders? People tend to forget to look at the states currently being governed by PR. I don't know much about Kedah and Kelantan, but Selangor and Penang have been doing fine. I live in Selangor, and as a Penang-born-and-bred, I visit Penang from time to time. The Auditor-General has commended the PR government of Penang for its financial management and monitoring system for three consecutive years – 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Auditor-General has also commended the PR government of Selangor for its "very good" performance in 2010 of reducing public debt and loan repayment arrears. And from 2009 to 2010, its consolidated revenue also increased by 20.2%. Leadership must have something to do with it, must it not? As for BN, people think it has leadership because it is a perception that has been ingrained in them for more than five decades. BN happens to have been in federal government for so long that people tend to automatically assume they have the required leadership. But look at BN's leaders today. Which of them are really good? Quite a few have been making stupid statements, that's for sure. And the statements have been getting worse and worse. Look at Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's response to a question on why during the Bersih 3.0 rally, the police were confiscating memory cards from the cameras of press photographers and members of the public. "I don't know," he said. "This is the standard operating procedure of the police." And how about MCA President Chua Soi Lek blaming Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for Ng Yen Yen's recourse to Australian permanent residence? He said it was because of Anwar's "restrictive" policies while he was Education Minister that compelled non-Malays like Tourism Minister Ng to seek PR status abroad in the 1990s for the sake of their children's education. Never mind that Anwar was not the Education Minister then, that it was actually Sulaiman Daud. Another comment I find irksome is "Better the devil you know than the angel you don't" – courtesy of ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad recently. He was not saying something new; this had been bandied about for the last couple of years – by people trying to advocate that even though BN is a "devil", it is safer to keep BN in power than to opt for a new government and potential uncertainty. What's new is that Mahathir has now admitted that BN is indeed a "devil". Unwittingly, I suppose. Well, should we keep faith with the devil we know? The devil we know has not brought us a single institutional reform yet despite Prime Minister Najib Razak's numerous pledges. Just to quote one example, why hasn't Article 121 of the Federal Constitution been restored so as to return real independence to the judiciary? Without that, the judiciary is still answerable to Parliament, which was not the original intent of our founding fathers, who recognised the need for the separation of powers between the Executive (Government), the Legislative (Parliament) and the Judiciary. Neither has the devil we know done away with repressive laws like the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Sedition Act. It has merely replaced the ISA with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, and is proposing to replace the Sedition Act with the musical-sounding National Harmony Act. In fact, the devil we know has restricted our democratic space by first enacting the Peaceful Assembly Act and then giving us the new amendment to the Evidence Act called 114a. This amendment presumes the accused guilty and places the onus on him/her to prove his/her innocence. It goes against the principle of natural justice. Under this amendment, someone could borrow your computer to post a seditious comment on some blog or website and you could be held responsible for that comment. You may not even be aware of that posting but you'd have to produce witnesses to testify that you were not at your computer when the posting was done. See how ridiculous it is? Furthermore, the devil we know has demonstrated that it has different sets of laws for different sets of people. A 19-year-old was arrested for baring his buttocks over photographs of Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, while the incidents of BN supporters burning photographs of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and urinating on the posters of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang have been ignored by the authorities. And a 19-year-old girl who surrendered herself to the police for having stepped on the photographs of Najib and Rosmah got handcuffed like a criminal. But if you were to look at photographs of ex-menteri besar Khir Toyo and ex-minister Ling Liong Sik when they were arrested – one for land fraud, and the other for cheating the Government – you'd see that neither of them was handcuffed It looks like on the one hand, we are told we are 1Malaysia, but on the other, there are these double standards. The devil we know has also been spending public funds to the tune of RM5.77 billion for the political purpose of buying our hearts – and votes. And in other ways as well. Only recently, Najib, while attending the launch of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Environmental Trust, surprised everyone there by announcing that the Government would donate to it one million ringgit. Just like that – one million ringgit of the people's money, given away at a glitzy launch party. Who gave him the permission to give away our money? Meanwhile, our national debt keeps increasing at an alarming rate. According to finance expert Teh Chi-Chang, in his book Umno-nomics: The Dark Side of the Budget, "Our national debt now stands at nearly 54% of total national income or GDP …" This, he adds, is just one per cent below the 55% debt ceiling set by "our more prudent forefathers" in the Loan (Local) Act 1959 and the Government Funding Act 1983. The way Najib keeps spending, we might soon go through the ceiling. The devil we know hijacked Merdeka Day this year and turned it into BN's own day of celebrations and election campaigning, culminating in the setting of a "world record" in the number of tweets in an hour! How that would benefit the country only a twit would know. The devil we know is currently drawing up a new curriculum for the teaching of History in schools that will supposedly instil "patriotism" in our students. What that probably means is that history being told by the victors about the achievements of the victors will be indoctrinated in the minds of our young. And our young will be captive because History has been made a must-pass subject at SPM starting next year. So, what do you think? Better the devil we know, or the idea of a two-coalition system turning into reality that might convince sceptics that it is workable – and that it is the better option? Even someone from the MCA, which is part of the ruling coalition, has come out to suggest that the devil we know has dark secrets to hide. Lee Hwa Beng, writing in his book PKFZ: A Nation's Trust Betrayed, points out that if it had not been for the outcome of the 2008 general election, at which BN lost its two-thirds majority and four states plus Kelantan, "we would never have known what happened in [the] PKFZ [scandal]". He adds, encouragingly, "If a repeat of March 2008 occurs at the 13th general elections, which are due very soon, who knows what other truths could be revealed." For the sake of a better Malaysia , would you not want more truths to be revealed? * Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians, available in major bookstores. | ||||||
| The tackiest wedding of the year Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:27 PM PDT
With rumours circulating that Ali Rustam is seeking an important role in the Umno hierarchy, he was prepared to politicise his son's wedding. Mariam Mokhtar, FMT The award for the tackiest wedding of the year should go to Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam, who treated his son and daughter-in-law as goods and touted their wedding in a sponsorship deal. The newlyweds have been propelled into the glare of publicity, for the wrong reasons. Cynics will make fun of them and say that instead of the usual marriage vows, the groom, Mohd Ridhwan, will have said, "I accept Nur Azieha's hand in marriage, with the mas kahwin of an undisclosed amount, provided for by the taxpayer." As a true blue-blood Umnoputra, Ali Rustam is more concerned about image, much like his mentor Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The CM lacks humility, and has no respect for the sanctity of the marriage union. Many aspects of the wedding smack of corrupt dealings. The CM has, in the past, faced allegations of "money politics". To accept sponsorship for his son's wedding is degrading, but Ali is neither the first, nor last. Over the years, many other social climbers and celebrities have paraded a variety of products from cup noodles to chocolates. With rumours circulating that Ali is seeking an important role in the Umno hierarchy, he was prepared to politicise his son's wedding, and gain brownie points. The wedding chariot, the beca, was decked with tinselled "1Malaysia" cut-outs – tasteless shows of allegiance which doubtless, will have gone down well with Najib. Behind the scenes, it is possible that one or more companies have offered to "sponsor" the newlyweds on an all-expenses-paid-honeymoon in an exotic idyll. The truth is that Ali is a cheapskate. He knows that in this day and age of keeping up with the Joneses, he could not be content with a quiet family affair. Grand weddings do not come cheap. As he was unable to sell the rights to his son's wedding to the celebrity gossip magazine "OK!" then perhaps, in his opinion, local companies would suffice. Anything to get free goods and services. Umno politician = Freeloader. Most sensible parents treat the wedding of their children as a joyous and memorable occasion, but Ali treats his son's wedding like a conveniently prepared "3-in-1" coffee drink: the sweetener equals the companies and government departments providing free goods or services; the creamer equals the gifts from the businesses desperate to kowtow to Ali. These are pre-mixed with the coffee powder (the wedding couple). The guests, all 130,000 of them, equal the hot water. All the CM has to do is to add hot water to the 3-in-1 mix, except this time, Ali has found himself in hot water. Austerity measures are a necessary part of our lives and many Malaysians struggle to feed their families. Ali is unaffected by increased costs of basic goods, petrol and services. He is reported to have said that the wedding was "cheap to organise", and has hit back at his critics calling them "spiteful and jealous". Ali is far removed from reality. He wants to impress with his wealth and described the RM600,000 bill as "cheap". Perhaps, it is cheap and "not extravagant" by Umno standards. One fears to think what Umno politicians consider "expensive". Is Ali aware that some Malaysians earn less than RM600,000 a year? The hefty bill raises two questions: First. How does a CM on the government payroll, have access to such sums of money? Second. He is a public official and in any civilized part of the world, free lunches must be declared to the body which monitors gratuities given to public servants. Malaysians are weary of their public officials stealing the taxpayers' money. The amount of government agencies and businesses "sponsoring" the wedding reception is a conflict of interest. What did they get in exchange for providing goods and services? People who see nothing wrong with Ali's misappropriation of public funds must know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Neither Ali nor his colleagues in Umno understand the meaning of "conflict of interest". Ali brushed aside claims of corruption. He takes his cue from Najib who misused taxpayers' money when he allegedly flew close friends and family to Kazakhstan for an "official meeting". It was alleged that Najib and his entourage had attended the engagement party of his daughter to the nephew of the Kazakhstan president.
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| Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:24 PM PDT
In Malaysia, the sad truth is that the bigger institutions get and the more progress they enjoy, they often become targets of some disgruntled individuals who have nothing to lose by shooting off unsubstantiated allegations. These characters are no more than enemies of the state. A concerned Son of Johore In modern Johor, where development moves at a rapid and promising pace, there is little support left, if any, for detractors attempting to vilify the state and its institutions. The only possible motive driving those characters is likely to be jealousy or some other self-interest pursuit. In Malaysia, the sad truth is that the bigger institutions get and the more progress they enjoy, they often become targets of some disgruntled individuals who have nothing to lose by shooting off unsubstantiated allegations. These characters are no more than enemies of the state. Examples of such characters are none other than lawyer Kamal Hisham Jaafar and has-been corporate chieftan, Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim. One is a so-called lawyer who has teamed up with a two-bit blogger to spew out hard-to-believe allegations against the State and its Palace. And the other is the high profile former head of state's investment company, Johor Corporation, who is also spewing out some rather ludicrous arguments against the current establishment. What both these "entertainers" have in common is simply this: they are clearly unable to fit into the new dynamic and clean leadership that has taken shape at Johor. Johor's progress today is the most phenomenal that it has ever been. Here are just some examples: - the Pengerang oil and gas project will see Petronas pouring in over RM60 bil plus another RM60bil from other investors to hit a total of RM120bil in the next five to six years. The project will create at least 20,000 jobs during the construction phase and 4,000 jobs for highly skilled workers. - Recently opened Legoland will see 5 mil visitors in the first year alone and has already created 1000 jobs for Johoreans. - Never have there been more Singapore companies wanting to relocate some of their operations in Johor as now. - In Desaru, the Government is planning a revamp of previously stalled projects, to have internationally classed hotels and a theme park, to make this place similar to "NusaDua" of Bali's fame. Johor Corporation has undergone a revamp that is finally seeing it coming it out of financial dire straits by unlocking all the hidden values in the group, divesting non-cores and by bringing in the right professionals to run its many companies. For all this to happen, there has clearly been the right push for direction from the top of the state, including its Menteri Besar and the Sultan of Johor. Indeed, it is noteworthy that in a recent show of support for Sultan Ibrahim, a throng of Johorians turned up to offer their well wishes to the head of state. The journalists covering that event wrote a most noteworthy quote: Johorean Albert Pang, 60, representing the Johor Baru Thoong Nyien Hakka Association, said Johor has progressed and developed rapidly over the years and the Johor Monarch had played a big part in the state development. So Kamal Hashim and his types should be seen for what they are – nothing more than loud trouble-makers still trying to be heard. The state and country has moved on. And as if to add insult to injury, Kamal Hisham has actually fled the country for a very interesting reason – he is facing allegations that he has embezzled a sum of RM660,000 from a company called Southern Ads Sdn Bhd. Not only that. The blogs have said this about Kamal Hisham: "This guy is a crook. Everywhere he goes, he would mention Tuanku's (Johor Sultan) name. We all know that he had cheated Tuanku on a couple of business deals." Here's where it gets interesting – one of the deals Kamal Hisham is linked to involves sixty million ringgit at the centre of it. So how come this small time guy can be doing such big deals if he only operates from a small shoplot in Johor? Clearly, he has amassed some of these monies unlawfully and is now hiding in Dubai, where no doubt he is living it up. In one of the blogs, Kamal Hisham is seen posing in front of a brand new Mercedes G-Class SUV. So much for claiming he's a victim. So this is the character who is trying to vilify a state and its leaders of wrong doing? As for Ali Hashim, the good news is that he has been quiet for some time. But those who know this character are well aware that he is always planning and scheming something, either to fight against the changes that are taking place or to make some unfounded and dubious allegations that his so called JCorp empire is being broken. But here's a reminder to Ali Hashim: in the first place, you left JCorp in that broken state, with crumbling debts. And secondly, you should be thankful that the might of the State isn't coming after you for all the shenanigans that you and your team have pulled off during your tenure as the superman of JCorp, such as the sweetener used to buy-out that fried chicken retailer or whatever inducements received to give such a sweet deal to the Malton group to ink the one-sided deal that favoured that Chinese tycoon over the Pusat Bandar Damansara land. Interesting that this matter has hit the courts now, and we wonder what's going to surface in all the court documents! And what about the multi-salaries paid to yourself and your directors in JCorp under your rein.
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| UPM Holdings says NFC project is viable and profitable Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:20 PM PDT
NFC the project and NFCorp the company resurfaced recently when the Auditor General and Parliamentary PAC were quoted in the news. There were some misperceptions on NFCorp when commentaries from the past that were false or incorrect made the pages. To avoid a riled and misunderstood public, and to provide a correct understanding of the matter, it issued a statement to clarify. Fabiani Azmi probed a bit deeper for the details. Over a cup of latte and beef sandwich, he was told more ... The statement explained that the properties in 1 Menerung were purchased on the account that the construction of a government Export Quality Abattoir (EQA) was deferred. According to the Auditor General's 2010 report, the EQA would be capable of slaughtering 350 heads of cattle a day. Simple math of 350 heads X 365 days meant 127,750 heads of cattle could be slaughtered in a year. However, working full swing at an optimum of two shifts, 255,500 heads of cattle could be slaughtered in a year. This exceeds the targeted production plan of 2014. But the audit on the project (not the company) showed it had yet to be built. This deferment of the EQA had a major impact on NFCorp's ability to generate the planned beef production numbers. Up to 2010, NFCorp had more than met the target of cattle imported – 8,897 heads of cattle to be exact. The challenge confronting NFCorp was that this number of cattle could not all be slaughtered due to the limited capacity of the interim mini abattoir. The deferment also affected NFCorp's plans to build a bio gas plant (for electricity generation from abattoir waste), a second and third feedlot, and a palm kernel crushing plant. A resounding success it could and would be With an EQA completed, it would have the capacity to slaughter the planned 246,000 heads of cattle. Meeting that target, the NFC project would be a resounding success. The country would be nearer to its beef self sufficiency by several notches. Hundreds of contract farmers would benefit from the industry. Overall, Malaysians would also enjoy better quality beef as opposed to Indian buffalo imports. An independent Business Model and Viability Study on NFC by UPM Holdings commissioned by the government underscored, "On the whole, the NFC Project represents a viable project both from an implementation and profitability standpoint, and is in line with the aspiration to develop entrepreneurs in the feedlot sector provided the project is carried out as outlined in the Implementation Agreement." Indeed with all infrastructures including the EQA in place, the NFC project would certainly prove successful and beneficial to the country. Unwarranted attack on national food security The NFC project was only in its second year – hardly a decent gestation for an agricultural project. UPM Holdings in their study pointed, "The NFC project managed by NFCorp is currently at a development and coordination stage. Like any other agricultural project, the NFC project requires time to prove its performance and viability." Come to think, even expressways take years to meet optimum traffic levels. Expressway concessionaires are given 30 years, likewise NFCorp. Each needs a decent developmental period to succeed. But Rafizi and the oppositions' incessant vile attacks on a national food security project, one tantamount to sabotage of a country, had been aimed at aborting the foetus, so to speak. Why the cruel ruckus? All the rumpus and ruckus by the opposition were nothing but political motivations to rile the public to hate the government and to undermine a key national food security project. Talk also had it that the beef cartels were behind the opposition to bring the project down. All this while the beef supply business had been in the comfortable hands of non Bumiputeras. If NFCorp was allowed to succeed in meeting the 20% self sufficiency in beef, the cartels would stand to lose RM400 million in a RM2 billion beef supply industry. In the longer term, these cartels could face colossal business losses when self-sufficiency is further stepped up and more contract farmers come to play. Now we understand. About the Writer Fabiani Azmi is an avid reader of Internet news portals like Malaysia Today as well as other blog sites. He believes the world's mysteries can be solved. And it does not warrant a paleontologist to investigate.
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| Protests reflect vibrant democracy: PM Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:31 AM PDT
(The Sun) - The protests in recent months, namely the anti-Lynas protest and Bersih 3.0, reflect a vibrant democracy in the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak. He said demonstrations are not unusual and happen in other countries as well but the government has promised political transformation and is moving towards a more mature and vibrant democracy by abolishing the Internal Security Act and introducing the Peaceful Assembly Act. "It is your fundamental right to protest, we will not prevent that, but do it in a peaceful manner. I think this is healthy … When people protest, listen to them and what is it they're protesting about. Is it reasonable? If it is reasonable, address it," he said. Najib was speaking during The CNBC Conversation, a half-hour interview hosted by CNBC anchor Martin Soong as part of The CNBC Summit: Malaysia, a dialogue series that highlights the nation's current economic climate, yesterday. He said an example of a "reasonable" protest is the Lynas issue which had huge concerns about safety and the government had gone the extra mile to ensure that Gebeng, Kuantan, where the plant is being set up, is safe although "quite a bit" of the protest "was not based on facts". "We've never done as much as we've done for this Lynas issue. As the government, we are satisfied, the experts are satisfied and the markets are satisfied. We made sure Lynas is safe but unfortunately there is the other side of the democracy, we have an opposition which likes to spin it in a different way but that's democracy. I don't blame them for it because that's the name of the game," he said. He said while there are parties who may be unhappy, the government has a solid plan for transformation. "Believe in us, we have an excellent track record in terms of being able to deliver real progress and change in Malaysia. You can see it for yourself … in Malaysia, things are happening. The facts are there but we have to convince the people," he said.
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| Top defence firms rank low in anti-graft measures Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Two top Malaysian defence companies, Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd and the Sapura Group, received low scores in the 2012 Defence Companies Anti-Corruption Index by Transparency International UK. They scored 2.94 and 13.24 respectively, out of 100. The index measured worldwide a total of 129 defence companies' vulnerability to corruption in 34 categories. For each category, two scores were given, one based on publicly available information and the other on self-reported details.  A new generation patrol vessel built by Boustead Naval Shipyard. — Picture courtesy of Boustead Naval Shipyard The purchase was criticised by the opposition, especially the DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who asked how the price tag had jumped up from RM6 billion. DCNS S.A., the French naval defence company linked with the RM9 billion TLDM contract, scored 30.88 on the index. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) awarded a unit of the Sapura Group a RM2 billion contract last year for Network Centric Operations (NCO). PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Chua Tian Chang have both questioned the project's lack of a roadmap. The Sapura Group has been embroiled in a family feud early this year after a legal challenge were filed in the High Court. Patriarch Tan Sri Shamsuddin Kadir is demanding that his two sons return shares and properties valued up to RM450 million. Scores were awarded in the Transparency International UK index across five sections, with marks awarded for evidence of anti-corruption in leadership, personnel, policies, training and risk management. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/top-defence-firms-rank-low-in-anti-graft-measures/ | ||||||
| Sinar Harian tidak putar belit fakta Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:26 AM PDT
Penasihat Eksekutif Editorial Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali (Sinar Harian) - Akhbar Sinar Harian tidak akan memutar belitkan fakta, sebaliknya menyiarkan setiap laporan berdasarkan kebenaran, tanpa memihak kepada mana-mana kumpulan seiring dengan motonya, Telus dan Tulus. Penasihat Eksekutif Editorial, Datuk Abd Jalil Ali berkata, setiap berita, rencana dan gambar yang disiarkan berdasarkan sumber sahih yang diperoleh menerusi temubual secara langsung, panggilan telefon atau peristiwa di tempat kejadian. "Sejak awal penerbitan akhbar ini kira-kira lima tahun lalu, adalah menjadi prinsip kami untuk melaporkan apa sahaja berdasarkan kebenaran, bukan putar belit fakta untuk melariskan jualan," tegas beliau, semalam. Beliau mengulas dakwaan sesetengah pihak kononnya akhbar harian komuniti yang diedarkan seluruh Semenanjung itu memesongkan fakta dalam pemberitaan dengan tujuan melariskan jualan. Sementara itu dalam kes melibatkan Timbalan Presiden PKR, Azmin Ali yang dipetik sebuah portal berita bahawa Sinar Harian salah lapor, Abdul Jalil menjelaskan, temu bual itu dibuat di Parlimen dan disaksikan beberapa wartawan lain. "Apa yang kami siarkan adalah temu ramah berekod oleh wartawan dan jurugambar, tidak ada sebarang putar belit atau salah lapor. Wartawan kami boleh menunjukkan bukti apa yang dikatakan oleh YB berkenaan," katanya. Rabu lalu, Sinar Harian melaporkan pada muka depannya berita bertajuk, 'MB Baru Selepas PRU13' dengan Azmin membayangkan kemungkinan Selangor akan kehilangan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim sebagai Menteri Besar sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat (PR) berjaya menawan Putrajaya. Dalam laporan itu, Azmin dilaporkan sebagai berkata, kemungkinan itu berdasarkan kepada faktor keupayaan Abdul Khalid memimpin Selangor sehingga menyumbang 23 peratus Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK). Namun, keesokan harinya dalam sebuah laman portal Pengerusi PKR Selangor itu menafikan mengeluarkan kenyataan tersebut dan mendakwa kenyataannya itu disalah laporkan oleh Sinar Harian. Abdul Jalil turut menegur sikap sesetengah pihak yang sering menuduh media memutarbelitkan fakta sekiranya kenyataan asal yang dibuat menimbulkan kesan negatif setelah disiarkan dalam media. "Ini biasa terjadi, tetapi kami tidak berputus asa sebaliknya akan terus menegakkan profesionalisme kewartawanan dengan melaporkan kebenaran tanpa mengira laporan itu daripada pihak mana," katanya.
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| Lebih 10 pegawai kerajaan jadi tali barut Suaram Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:24 AM PDT
Azwanddin Hamzah (Sinar Harian) - PETALING JAYA – Pertubuhan Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) mendakwa terdapat lebih 10 pegawai kerajaan terlibat dalam komplot menjadi tali barut Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) untuk mendedahkan maklumat melibatkan keselamatan negara. Presidennya, Azwanddin Hamzah mendakwa, pegawai kerajaan itu juga terlibat menutup maklumat Suaram menerima dana asing yang dikatakan bernilai kira-kira RM100 juta sejak 1998. Azwanddin mendakwa pegawai kerajaan itu disogok Suaram melalui dua syarikat iaitu Suara Komunikasi Enterprise dan Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd. "Saya dapat beberapa bukti dan ini merisaukan kerana bagaimana pegawai kerajaan ini berani menerima sogokan Suaram untuk dedah rahsia kerajaan. "Ia melibatkan beberapa kepentingan dalam kementerian dan jabatan antaranya Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN), Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) dan Bank Negara," katanya pada sidang media di pejabatnya di sini, semalam.
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| Suaram terima RM100 juta dana asing? Posted: 04 Oct 2012 04:40 AM PDT  Azwanddin Hamzah menunjukkan sebuah dokumen mengenai Suaram pada sidang akhbar di Kota Damansara dekat Kuala Lumpur, semalam. (Utusan Malaysia) - Presiden Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), Azwanddin Hamzah hari ini mendakwa, sejumlah RM100 juta dana asing dipercayai telah dibawa masuk sepanjang operasi Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) di negara ini. Dakwanya, transaksi dana asing termasuk dalam bentuk tunai itu dikatakan dibawa secara berperingkat daripada berjumlah AS$1,000 (RM3,056.19) sehingga AS$5,000 (RM15,280.94) sejak 1998. Beliau mendakwa, berdasarkan maklumat bekas anggota pertubuhan tidak berdaftar itu, dana tersebut dipercayai digunakan bagi membiayai kegiatan ceramah politik dan menggerakkan demonstrasi jalanan dengan motif memfitnah kerajaan serta beberapa pemimpin negara ini. | ||||||
| Shadow cabinet: Utusan Malaysia's frontpage boo boo Posted: 03 Oct 2012 11:33 PM PDT
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL When we received an e-mail of the PKR proposed shadow cabinet, we were having tea with a friend from Utusan Malaysia. We were laughing off at the idea of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim becoming the Prime Minister. Immediatey, we called a PAS friend to tell him that Anwar is the shadow Prime Minister and Dato Seri Hadi is Deputy Prime Minister I.  That explains why Mustafa Ali was upset with Azmin's men Shuhaimi for announcing this list. It is obvious to fortify the public support for Anwar to be the Prime Minister if they win. [Read Outsyed the Box here.] Hadi may not give support to Anwar if he does not give any leeway for PAS's Islamic agenda. Nik Aziz may have given support for Anwar Ibrahim but God knows where is the caveat in his statement. He could change his mind or forgot what he said or dozed off in midst of being reminded of his past support. He cannot refuse an Islamic agenda if Hadi start to assert. PAS practises tarkiyah. What is it? Go find out.  Karpal Singh maybe his counsel but there could be more to it. Giving support to Anwar is in contradiction to his principle on morality of a leader. He is usually uncompromisable on principle issues. Why did he change his mind? It only means DAP is merely using Anwar for gaining political mileage. Another fact is that they have mentioned of the rights of non Malays to be Prime Minister for many times. It would mean their support for Anwar is temporary. They would want to have one of their own as Prime Minister. We predict the Lims plan to make Lim Guan Eng as first Chinese Prime Minister. They will insist on being sole Deputy Prime Minister. Why then did Karpal Singh psyche Lim Guan Eng in public as Pakatan's Deputy Prime Minister in their spat? No DPM I or II or III? Only DPM! We have heard a DAP friend who said, "No way Anwar will be Prime Minister!" Meaningless Shadow Cabinet
Just as we described Pakatan's Shadow Budget as meaningless, the same applies here. Why do they need three Deputy Prime Ministers? Does it mean the order of heir apparent to the Prime Minister is in that sequence of Haji Hadi, followed by Lim Kit Siang and the uncertain third from Sabah or Sarawak? All the three Deputy Prime Minister, in which two are already confirmed component party President, are powerless and without a portfolio. What is the purpose then? For a shadow cabinet, why do you need Minister for PM Department? Just put have one to correspond the specific portfolio. Imagine having one of the minister in the PM Department is a party President Some laughs
If PKR have 20 Minister, Syed Akbar said: ... if DAP and PAS are also to have equal numbers of Ministers, the Pakatan will have a 60 member Cabinet (20 PKR, 20 DAP and 20 PAS). Assuming PAS and DAP win more seats than PKR then it could be be 20 PKR Ministers, 30 DAP Ministers and 40 PAS Ministers - a 90 member Cabinet. They can have their Cabinet meetings at the Shah Alam Stadium.  If it is filled by someone from Sabah, then there is no Minister from Sarawak. Vici versa when it is filled by Sarawakian. Actually there is one Full Minister as in Sarawak's DAP State Sec Gen, Chong Chien Jen for Higher Education. Why none from Sabah?
Is it time for vengence? Don't tell us that Deputy President of PAS, Ahmad Sabu is left to still only do in ceramah day and day out when Pakatan rules. He would want to be a Minister too. With DAPSY Youth, Anthony Loke as full Minister for Housing and Local Authority, wouldn't it make Cocky and Arrogant Dear Leader and Secretary General, Lim Guan Eng less relevent as Penang Minister?
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| Ling’s defence witness to be impeached Posted: 03 Oct 2012 11:20 PM PDT
(The Sun Daily) - The prosecution in the cheating trial of former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik has notified the High Court that it intends to impeach a witness, who is a former minister. Lead prosecutor Datuk Tun Majid Tun Hamzah yesterday told Justice Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi that the prosecution would impeach former tourism, culture and arts minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Syeikh Fadzir (pic) when hearing resumes tomorrow. However, he did not offer a reason. Abdul Kadir, 74, who was the third defence witness in Ling's trial, had served as a minister from 1999 to 2006. During cross-examination, Abdul Kadir was repeatedly questioned on several documents regarding the price of the 1,000-acre Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land in Pulau Indah, including the valuation report by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH). Asked if he thought the land price of RM25 psf was inclusive of 6% interest, Abdul Kadir said it did not, based on his understanding of the report. However, during examination-in-chief by defence counsel Wong Kian Kheong, Abdul Kadir admitted that he remembered nothing of the case (the PKFZ project). "I told the police very honestly that I do not remember this case at all," he said. He also said he could not remember a cabinet note dated Oct 23, 2002, or when it was presented to the cabinet. "When this was presented, I don't remember. It was so technical and it had nothing to do with my ministry, so I didn't pay attention," he said. Abdul Kadir said he had known Ling for almost 30 years and found him to be a humble man who performed his duties with integrity. "He was a leader for the Chinese community but I was close to him because he was a true Malaysian," he added. Abdul Kadir also said he never knew of any wrongdoing by Ling throughout the time he (Ling) was minister. Ling, 69, is charged under Section 417 and 418 of the Penal Code for deceiving the cabinet by withholding details of the terms and conditions agreed between KDSB and the Port Klang Authority. Ling is charged with deliberately concealing the actual price of the land, which was valued at RM21 psf by JPPH, and for failing to reveal an interest of 7.5% per year over and above the price of the land at RM25 psf. The hearing continues.
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| SMEs against Pakatan's budget promise Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:46 PM PDT
Teh: Says PR's minimum wage promise will create new problem for Malaysia (The Malay Mail) - A group of businessmen from small and medium enterprises have objected to the Pakatan Rakyat minimum wage promise, made in its 2013 shadow budget unveiled last week. SMI Association of Malaysia president Teh Kee Sin said the opposition coalition's promise to increase the minimum wage to RM1,100 a month compared to the government's RM900 a month would adversely affect small and medium business along with the country's economy.
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| Bersih 2.0 not involved in Pakatan rally Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:41 PM PDT
It will, however, support any party in favour of electoral reforms. K Pragalath, FMT Electoral reform watchdog, Bersih 2.0 today announced that it has no role in the upcoming rally organised by Pakatan Rakyat on Nov 3 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. "We have nothing to do with that. It is entirely organised by a political party," said Bersih 2.0 co-chairman S Ambiga at a press conference held in Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH). Yesterday, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu announced that Pakatan Rakyat is organising a rally on Nov 3 in Bukit Jalil stadium as a result of government's failure to implement electoral reforms. However Ambiga said that Bersih would support the calls for electoral reforms. "All political parties should also do (rallies) because all that we want are free and fair elections," she said. Ambiga also revealed that Bersih steering committee received an invitation to attend the rally. "Individually, we can go. We (the committee) haven't met (to discuss) on the role that Bersih should play in this rally," she said. In a related development, Ambiga, who is a former Bar Council president, also questioned whether the Election Commission (EC) has began implementing the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms (PSC). "We'd like to know whether the EC has began implementing the recommendations," she said. The PSC had released its report on recommendations on electoral reforms in April.
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| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:04 PM PDT
When we talk about change or reforms that has to mean something different and something better. If we act and talk just like the Barisan Nasional or Umno people do, then what change or reforms are we talking about? We lie, we distort facts, and we practice double standards and hypocrisy. We are just the reverse side of the same coin. So what changes or reforms are we talking about? NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Actually, it is not only comments that whack Islam that do not get published here, comments that whack you also do not get published here. Are you saying you are on the same level as this great religion Islam? And are you saying whacking you is seditious, inflammatory, malicious and racist? I have read comments in other blogs where they say that comments here that do not agree with you or whack you do not get published. (Kim) ********************************************* That was a comment by Kim. According to Kim, "I have read comments in other blogs where they say that comments here that do not agree with you or whack you do not get published." First of all, Kim did not reveal what 'other Blogs' he was referring to. This is like saying that 'I heard something' or 'some people say'. You need to be specific. Which 'other Blogs' are you talking about? If it was a pro-Umno or pro-Pakatan Blog, then I can understand why they say this. They are biased. They have a political master and their job is to serve a political master. Would you believe it when TV3 or Utusan Malaysia says that Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali are immoral people and hypocrites to boot? You would allege that TV3 and Utusan Malaysia are owned by Umno and serve Umno's agenda. Therefore you cannot believe what they say. When the Umno Blogs came out with a story saying that the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, Dr Mansor Othman, called Lim Guan Eng cocky, arrogant and tokong, you did not believe it. You said that that was a lie. And you did not believe it mainly because it was the Umno Blogs that were saying this. Whatever the Umno Blogs say cannot be believed. Then Dr Mansor and Guan Eng held a joint-press conference so that this incident can be denied. Then you said, "There you are. That is the proof that the Umno Blogs lied." Then TV3 played a recording of Dr Mansor saying what he initially denied saying. Then you said, "So what? Dr Mansor has a right to express his opinion. What is so wrong with that?" Then you say that the person who leaked this recording should be hunted down and action must be taken against him/her. This is the same kind of kepala otak as Kim. They cannot see things beyond their own nose. They will simply talk without knowing the facts. And then, when they are caught with their pants down, they will twist and turn and say things that suit them. Secondly, what was this specific comment that was posted that I am alleged to have blocked or deleted? Can you quote that comment? Kim said, "Comments here that do not agree with you or whack you." What was that comment? I want to know what that comment said. It is so easy to make a sweeping allegation without any supporting details. When I said that the PKR lawyers are getting legal work from the Selangor government, everyone demanded proof and details. You cannot accept a sweeping allegation. You want details. So give me details. Quote me that comment that you are talking about. Be specific. I too can make such allegations. The Chinese plan to take over Malaysia. The Christians are trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. My allegation is as 'strong' as Kim's allegation if we can make sweeping allegations without proof or details. Then I gave you the details and evidence to prove that the PKR lawyers got legal work from Selangor (now, even some DAP leaders have come to to confirm this). I even published a letter to show that certain PKR people had issued instructions that legal work must be given to PKR lawyers. You demanded details and evidence. You will not believe it unless I give details and evidence. So I gave you the details and evidence. Then what do you do? You said that the amount of legal work that the PKR lawyers got was small compared to what the Umno lawyers got when BN was running Selangor. If the Umno people can do it so what if the PKR people also do it? The Umno people are worse. The PKR people are not that bad, only small time corruption -- so can be forgiven. When we say something, you say it cannot be believed unless the details and evidence can be shown. When we show you the evidence, you make a U-turn and explain why it is okay and you say that it is not considered a crime or something wrong because it is small corruption and not big corruption. What kind of people are you? You are so immoral and hypocritical. When Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat leaders fly in a private jet sponsored by businessmen it is very okay. When Ali Rustam's son's wedding is sponsored by businessmen it is not okay. When Karpal Singh disagrees with Hudud it is okay. When Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim disagrees with demonstrations it is not okay. Karpal Singh is just following the law so it is okay to disagree with Hudud. Tunku Aziz is also following the law but it is a bad law so it is not okay to disagree with demonstrations. So, according to Kim, "I have read comments in other blogs where they say that comments here that do not agree with you or whack you do not get published." Well, tell me which Blogs said that and what were the comments that I blocked or deleted. Until then I can only say that Kim is lying through his/her teeth. I can also say that 'Kim' is actually Tian Chua who is posting under a false name. Can I prove that? Do I need to prove that? Kim does not need to prove what he/she says either. When we talk about change or reforms that has to mean something different and something better. If we act and talk just like the Barisan Nasional or Umno people do, then what change or reforms are we talking about? We lie, we distort facts, and we practice double standards and hypocrisy. We are just the reverse side of the same coin. So what changes or reforms are we talking about? We say that Pakatan Rakyat may not be clean but they are not as bad as Barisan Nasional or Umno. We say we want freedom of expression as long as that does not include criticising the opposition. What is all this? Look at yourself in the mirror and tell me what you see. Can you see a clone of Barisan Nasional staring back at you? Do you remember this article? Cina sudah kurang ajar! Dah lupa 13 Mei ke? Well, that is unbridled freedom of expression. But from the almost 300 comments in that article you do not seem to regard that as freedom of expression. And why not? Isn't that the type of freedom of expression that you are talking about? So why get upset? Even Haris Ibrahim was very upset. And I thought he was one of the greatest defenders of freedom of expression. Are you telling me that freedom of expression has its limits? Or are you telling me that freedom of expression means the right to criticise the government but not to criticise the opposition? By the way, the total donations received by Ahli Parlimen Lambah Pantai for August was RM22,231.80 and for September was RM31,393.35.The total received for Aug-Sept was RM53,625.15. That was all. Less than RM54,000. And that reflects the level of commitment from Pakataan Rakyat people. Yes, Pakatan Rayat people talk a lot. They sure can scream. But that is all they do -- they talk and scream. But they never put their money where their mouth is. And because of that Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin is going to win the Lembah Pantai Parliament seat and Nurul Izzah Anwar is going to be a one-term MP. Do you know who is Raja Nong Chik's strategist? The man who is heading Raja Nong Chik's election campaign is the ex-Secretary General of PKR. Yes, that's right, that is Raja Nong Chik's head of election strategy and campaign, Datuk Salehuddin Hashim. Raja Nong Chik has plenty of money, a ministerial position, and a good campaign team headed by the ex-PKR Sec-Gen. And Nurul Izzah has a bunch of young chicos running around in circles, with RM54,000 in the bank, and many 'supporters' amongst the readers of Malaysia Today who talk a lot and are not even registered to vote in Lembah Pantai. Yes, I know, I have read the comments that said people refuse to donate to Nurul Izzah because they don't trust me. What have I got to do with this? That is not my bank account. It is Nurul Izaah's bank account. I am not contesting the election. Nurul Izzah is. I am just the messenger boy. So you don't trust me. So what? Where is the logic in not donating to Nurul Izzah because you do not trust me? I do not get the logic in that. The bottom line is many of you are just hot air, a load of bullshit, and you are trying to 'explain' the poor figure that Nurul Izzah collected by trying to shift the blame to me. That is the level of intelligence of Pakatan Rakyat supporters. And because of that Barisan Nasional is going to win the coming general election. And on the morning after Polling Day I am going to write an article that is going to say, "Ha…ha...ha…I told you so." What a bunch of bloody losers! | ||||||
| PKR claims S’gor rejected petrochemical plant Posted: 03 Oct 2012 04:06 PM PDT
Chua Jui Meng clams that the same Taiwanese petrochemical firms approached the Selangor government last year before to build the plant in Pulau Indah. Laven Woon, FMT The Selangor government had once rejected proposals by Taiwanese investors to set up a petrochemical plant in the state before the latter turned to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to build the plant in Pengerang, Johor. At a press conference here today, PKR Johor chairman Chua Jui Meng claimed that Taiwan state-owned oil refiner China Petroleum Corporation and Chemical Corp (CPC) and its subsidiary Kuokuang Petrochemical Co (Kuokuang) had approached the Selangor government through its representative company Everwish Sdn Bhd last year. He said the multi-billion investors had proposed to build the petrochemical complex in Pulau Indah, an island off the west coast of Selangor, with total investments worth billions of ringgit. "But after a detailed study done on the project, all agencies in Selangor opted against the project, and the Selangor menteri besar rejected their proposal in February 2011," he said. Despite the absence of documentary evidence, Chua claimed that Selangor's rejection was due to severe ecological and environmental impact the project would pose to the area. He said the menteri besar's decision was consistent with the one of Taiwan president Ma Ying-Jeou, who had turned down CPC and Kuokuang's proposal due to public protests in that country. He said the two companies then turned to Petronas and Johor Menter Besar Abdul Ghani Othman for the project to be sited in Pengerang, which the latter welcomed with open arms. "On May 13, 2011, within such a short span, their proposal was accepted by Najib and Ghani without considering the Environmental Impact Assessment reports done in Taiwan and Selangor. "And Najib shows how grateful he is by giving a 10-year tax holiday to the companies," he said. Chua also criticised Najib and Ghani for "grabbing what Taiwan and Selangor rejected" and added that "Johor was chosen as a dumping ground". However, a check by FMT found that Najib only announced on May 13 this year that an undisclosed Taiwan-based petrochemicals firm has agreed to invest RM35 billion to build a new integrated complex in Pengerang. Meanwhile, Selangor exco for investment, industry and trade Teresa Kok confirmed that the Taiwanese companies did approach the state government. However, she said it was the two companies which did not pursue the proposals. "We did have some concerns internally on the environmental impacts it might pose, because our Selangor Halal Food Hub is situated there. But it was more like the two companies who did not follow up," she added.
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| Is Malaysiakini in mischief mode? Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:34 PM PDT
SPIN AND DEFLECTION: The core issues of Soros' involvement in regime change and puppet governments ignored Shamsul Akmar, NST IT is quite telling that Malaysiakini, whose credibility is being questioned following accusations of being foreign-funded and a foreign tool to cause mischief to the nation, is turning to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to "absolve" itself. Having vilified Dr Mahathir throughout almost its entire existence, Malaysiakini is using a letter written by Dr Mahathir to billionaire financier George Soros, to indirectly justify its acceptance of the latter's funding. Malaysiakini used the letter written by Dr Mahathir to Soros in early 2006 as the basis of the article, which can be basically summed up into five main thrusts: IT was Dr Mahathir who offered Soros the olive branch after the former had, during the 1997/98 financial crises, accused the latter of wreaking havoc on Asian nations as a rogue currency speculator; DR Mahathir asked Soros to join him in a Global Peace Forum "criminalising war" campaign; DR Mahathir assured Soros that his participation in the Forum would not affect his other concerns; DR Mahathir met Soros in Kuala Lumpur 11 months later and they buried the hatchet when the former said he accepted that Soros was not involved in the devaluation of Malaysia's currency; and, DR Mahathir dug up the hatchet when he recently said Soros was seeking regime change in Malaysia. Peace offering From the very start, it was clear that Malaysiakini was working on a spin -- this is obvious in its contention "the 2006 letter which Malaysiakini has a copy, indicates that it was Dr Mahathir who first approached Soros with an olive branch in hand". How can it be construed that Dr Mahathir was the first to offer the olive branch when Soros, in a Jan 7, 2006 interview with a mainstream Malaysian publication, the New Straits Times, reportedly said he agreed with the measures Dr Mahathir had taken to deal with the regional financial crisis of 1997/98? In retrospect, in 1997/98, Dr Mahathir had blamed Soros and other rogue currency speculators for causing the regional crisis, and having ascertained how they had committed their malfeasance, Dr Mahathir came up with a remedy that defied conventional monetary policies, especially those propagated by the International Monetary Fund. In other words, Dr Mahathir would only have been able to come up with the remedy after determining the cause and the remedy could only work if the cause or illness had been diagnosed correctly. If Soros said that he agreed with the measures Dr Mahathir had taken, then it meant Dr Mahathir's diagnosis that the crisis was caused by currency speculators had to be correct. As such, none other than Soros, a well-known speculator himself, vindicated Dr Mahathir, who was described as a heretic when he blamed the speculators for the currency crisis. And such a concession, by any standard, is a giant olive branch offered by Soros to Dr Mahathir and this prompted Dr Mahathir to write the Jan 11, 2006 letter. The next point is about Dr Mahathir asking Soros to join him in the Global Peace Forum which is a platform that seeks to criminalise war. Again, it is obvious that the invitation was made on the premise that Dr Mahathir believed Soros shared his views about war and his campaign against George W. Bush, one of the leading perpetrators of the Iraq invasion and war crimes. As Dr Mahathir pointed out in his letter that "whatever may be the differences between us, we seem to have identical views on war i.e. on killing people in the pursuit of a national agenda", he obviously believed that Soros was against war as an option in settling international conflicts. In other words, Dr Mahathir was very aware of other things that Soros does which he may disagree with but they held a common view about war and believed they should work together on it. The invitation to Soros via the letter did not come with a request for funding or any financial assistance. Malaysiakini also picked on the part of Dr Mahathir's letter where he said: "I am aware of your other concerns -- about democracy etc. But this anti-war campaign for the ultimate human right will not be in conflict with any other rights that you may espouse. So I hope you will join". Malaysiakini's description of the remarks as Dr Mahathir taking great pains to reassure Soros is an exaggeration, as what Dr Mahathir had done was merely to say that if Soros were to join the Forum, the objectives would be consistent with whatever other human rights activities Soros was involved. Beyond the letter, Malaysiakini highlighted the meeting between the two in Kuala Lumpur 11 months after the letter was written, describing it as an event "where the two foes buried the hatchet" following which Dr Mahathir said he accepted that Soros was not involved in the devaluation of Malaysia's currency. It should have ended at that, regardless of whether Dr Mahathir truly believed that Soros was involved in the currency speculation or not or he was merely being polite. Furthermore, what Dr Mahathir said was that he accepted that Soros was not involved based on what Soros had told him during the meeting. However, the currency speculation issue and Dr Mahathir's recent accusations of Soros' involvement in wanting to see regime change in Malaysia are two separate things. Why spin Dr Mahathir's letter? But why did Malaysiakini go to great lengths to reproduce much of Dr Mahathir's letter to Soros and attempt the spin? It was obvious the whole article was written to fulfil three aspects: SOROS is not a rogue or a villain as portrayed because Dr Mahathir himself had asked the former to join the Global Peace Forum; THAT being the case, if it is alright for Dr Mahathir to want Soros to work with his Malaysia-based Global Peace Forum surely there is nothing wrong with Malaysiakini receiving funds from Soros or his organisations; and IF the above two aspects are insufficient to vindicate Malaysiakini and exonerate Soros, the third approach is to expose Dr Mahathir as being contradictory and inconsistent when it comes to Soros. As such any of Dr Mahathir's contentions, including the recent accusations that Soros was pushing for regime change in Malaysia, should be ignored. But underpinning all these is one particular objective -- Malaysiakini is trying to tell its readers and supporters that there is nothing wrong with receiving funds from Soros because Dr Mahathir too had asked for his help. So instead of coming out to defend Soros, Malaysiakini used Dr Mahathir to absolve itself and to a large degree Soros, too. The issues of whether Soros is truly pushing for regime change and whether Malaysiakini should explain itself for receiving funds from Soros are conveniently ignored. And Malaysiakini has also conveniently ignored reports of Soros' sinister involvements in setting up numerous puppet governments and regimes. | ||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:24 PM PDT
(The Star) - A BLOGGER has called supporters of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) "racists" who will ultimately "destroy our Chinese culture". A copy of the posting was carried by The Mole online portal. In his blog post on Monday, Shen Yee Aun said he disagreed with Dong Zong on several issues, namely the organisation's preference for Chinese teachers. Shen questioned the need for Dong Zong to ask for more teachers, saying that "those who are not qualified and do not have the quality would destroy our Chinese education and language even further". He also said a true Chinese education fighter would have agreed to "open up the teaching posts at Chinese schools to all races and not restrict them to certain races". "Dong Zong's narrow-minded views would result in the Malaysian Chinese community being left behind economically, politically and socially," he added. Shen was quoted as saying that Dong Zong is being racially-motivated in its aims for Chinese education. This is because it had restricted other races from learning the Chinese language but "the Malays encourage our Malaysian Chinese to learn their own language". Shen also cited that Dong Zong was always critical of Barisan Nasional, especially MCA, more than against Pakatan Rakyat. "Pakatan has not given a single sen, promise, policy, manifesto, demands, schools and basically nothing for the Chinese community and Chinese education, so why is Dong Zong questioning Barisan's sincerity?" he asked. Shen reminded Dong Zong that during the Budget 2013 announcement, the Government had allocated RM100mil to the country's Chinese schools compared with Pakatan, whom he claimed had given nothing. Shen said he went to a national school during his school years, saying that Chinese groups who refuse to mingle with the other races in the country would "sooner or later find themselves living in their own world, separate from the rest of the society". He faulted these groups for pushing some segments of the Malays to label the Chinese as racists. Shen advised the groups to open up their hearts and minds to the other races. "Treat them like how you treat your own race. They will treat you as part of their community even though you are born a Chinese," he added.
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| PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's call for new Selangor MB rocks Pakatan’s boat Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:18 PM PDT
(The Star) - PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's statement calling for a new Mentri Besar should Pakatan Rakyat retain Selangor in the general election is threatening to cause cracks within the party. Calling the statement a "result of hubris" in light of Azmin's hope for electoral victory, party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said this was merely "just an opinion". "I believe in his exuberance and hubris for electoral victory, voicing his personal opinion on all possibilities of leadership is just that - his personal opinion," she said. Nurul Izzah, who is the daughter of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was responding to a statement by Azmin in a Malay daily which implied that Pakatan would appoint a new Mentri Besar should it retain Selangor in the polls. The Lembah Pantai MP said it would have been more prudent for Azmin to first bring up his opinion with all the stakeholders. Faekah Husin, who is Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary, expressed her disappointment that both PKR and Azmin had not discussed the matter first with their office. "The law states that the Sultan has the final say on who the MB is although the party can put forward its candidate. PKR has never discussed this with us on the potential line-up or who will be MB," she said. However, PKR vice-president N. Surendran defended Azmin, saying that Khalid should look at the statement "as a compliment". "Those who claim this to be an insult to the Sultan don't understand Parliamentary democracy and the position of a monarch within it," he claimed. Fellow vice-president Tian Chua said Faekah was "not supposed to be commenting on political issues". In SHAH ALAM, Khalid said Azmin's statement was merely his "personal opinion and did not represent Pakatan as a whole". "Decisions on who is to be fielded, where and why will only be announced if necessary," he said, adding that a special state assembly meeting would be called soon to discuss three main issues, including a White Paper report on Talam debt recovery exercise. PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said such matters had never been discussed at Pakatan's leadership council meetings. "Leaders should stop making statements based on personal views because decisions should be collectively made by the top leadership," he said. Mustafa also blasted Selangor PKR information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei for saying that 20 PKR leaders would be appointed to the Cabinet should Pakatan attain power. "Announcements should not be based on personal views as they will only confuse the public," he stressed.
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| Minister defends ex-Chief Secretary’s son-in-law over solar deal Posted: 03 Oct 2012 02:07 PM PDT
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider A minister today defended the lucrative solar power contracts by companies linked to Todd Morath, the son-in-law of the former Chief Secretary to the Government, saying that the deals were awarded through a "fair bidding process". In July, the DAP's Tony Pua and PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar had pointed out that Morath, his wife Suzi Suliana Mohd Sidek, and two business partners control 12 out of 32 companies that had won the "lion's share" or 32.4 per cent of the nation's solar energy quota. Suzi's father, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, was appointed the new Petronas chairman after his retirement in June from his post as Chief Secretary to the Government. "But I want to underline the companies owned by Mr Todd, he used the method of bidding online, not he wants to see me, (not) me who gave him... he did online bidding like other people and other companies," Datuk Seri Peter Chin, the minister of energy, green technology and water, said in Parliament. "Because of that, how can I blame him because he is the son-in-law of the former KSN (Chief Secretary)? Cannot," the Miri MP said. "This is a fair bidding process, because it's fair, he won, he got it. I didn't interfere. CEO of SEDA (Sustainable Energy Development Authority) didn't interfere," he said. "Don't accuse with facts that are not true..." he added. Chin was replying to a supplementary question by Fuziah Salleh (PKR-Kuantan) during Question Time in Parliament.
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| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:59 PM PDT
It is fair to say that the students can be the spark for a broader struggle ahead. By Khoo Ying Hooi, FMT Given the current dynamic atmosphere of Malaysian politics, campus elections in the public universities are steadily gaining attention. Last year, a Pro-Mahasiswa (Pro-M) candidate Masturah Abu Bakar from Universiti Malaya was allegedly kidnapped during the campus elections. (Pro-M is widely regarded as an anti-establishment party as opposed to the pro-government Pro-Aspirasi.) This time, Pro-M student leaders claimed that they received intimidation and death threats while UM Pro-M national chairman Edikoup Lakip Sediyantoa claimed that he was assaulted by unknown assailants. With the rise of the new generation, voices of dissent are shaking the foundations of the old order around the globe. When it comes to campus polls, the question always arises: should students be kept away from politics or should they be allowed to take an active part in politics? Historically, the 1960s saw student activism and discontent erupt all over the world and were seen as a significant force for social change. Student movements have played a crucial role in many major social and political transformations. Clearly, students around the world have been part of various movements to promote democracy and human rights. Their role is indeed crucial as they are the backbone of society. Nowadays, students are often asked to reflect on the future challenges of their society. So, if they are not taught in the way they should, the future of society will be in danger. Interest in politics as an academic subject in Malaysia is certainly increasing and it is undeniable that the university serves as one of the places to nurture political ambitions. Looking at the development of student activism in the country, are our students nowadays like their counterparts in the 1960s? The student activism in the 1960s was so influential that it not only changed the political climate, it also paved the way for the rise of the current generation of students. Student activism elsewhere It is important to look at the famous national student organisation, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The SDS was founded in 1960 at the University of Michigan by a group of students and youths intending to search for an alternative path to Cold War politics. It was the largest and most influential student organisation in the US during the 1960s.
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| Second break-in at Aliran office Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:56 PM PDT  After the second break-in – the window that was forced open P. Ramakrishnan Exactly 18 days after the first break-in at the Aliran office, the thieves struck again for the second time. They removed the same grille, forced open the same window and entered the same room. That was as far as they went. On the first occasion, they had gained access to the rest of the building from this room but this time we had reinforced security and thus they were unable to move farther inside the building. We discovered this break-in on the morning of Sept 29, 2011. They must have struck in the early hours because we were in the office until midnight the previous day trying to wrap up Aliran Monthly. Following the first break-in some people commented whether those who committed the break-in were really petty thieves or something else. They had reason to doubt because these so-called thieves were only interested in the computers used by the past president, the current president and the serving treasurer. They were not interested in the two other computers, a printer and some petty cash in the drawer that were also there for the picking. Now the same people are wondering if the second break in was meant to convey the impression that it must be the work of petty thieves – nothing sinister or ominous about the first theft. All that we can say is, "We don't know!" We do not wish to speculate or insinuate. That would not be right. Most people are of the opinion that making police reports does not curtail crime or reduce their frequency. While we admit that the police cannot solve every crime reported, what is more disturbing is that criminals seem to realise this as well, and this only emboldens them. Is this why they came back a second time in the knowledge that they would have their day and go scot-free?
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| Where are the Malaysian universities in Times Higher Education 2012-2013 rankings? Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:52 PM PDT
The latest rankings by Times Higher Education are out, but where are the Malaysian universities? This is a reflection of the dismal standards to which they have sunk. Anil Netto The top three Asian universities as ranked by THE are University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore and University of Hong Kong. Read more at: http://anilnetto.com/democracy/education-and-students-rights/where-are-the-malaysian-unis-in-latest-the-rankings/
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| MACC must investigate the wedding Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:51 PM PDT
As chief minister, Mohd Ali has no business accepting favours from businesses. Chua Jui Meng Isn't that corruption? As chief minister, Mohd Ali has no business accepting favours from businesses. Why don't those businesses also offer free services to others, the layman? So, how is Ali going to respond to the "business donors" when they ask for contracts? In the first place, it is unethical for anyone holding high public office to accept "free" favours. Even hampers have to be declared in corporate organisations that observe strict ethics. I now wish to refer to two newspaper reports on the mega wedding, so dubbed because a record 130,000 people attended the reception: The Star: Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam's special secretary MS Mahadevan said: "… 500 people had volunteered while many of the caterers and other businesses provided their services for free." Malay Mail: On whether he had sponsors, he (Ali) said companies had advertised their products in the wedding souvenir book. "As advertisers, they have to pay the advertisement cost by giving away products, such as 50,000 cans of Kacip Fatimah drinks … citing Mamee Sdn Bhd and Orang Kampung Drinks Sdn Bhd as among the companies that advertised." There appears to be some interesting points raised in the statements issued by Mahadevan and Ali with regards to organising the RM600,000 wedding reception. The RM600,000 bill, as claimed by both, is also generally being disputed by many Malaysians because that would work out to less than RM5 per pax for 130,000 diners. Would there be enough food? Do you hear complaints of food shortage at the eight-hour wedding reception? Whether the bill is RM600,000, RM1.3 million or RM13 million is another matter. Ali's blatant acceptance of favours for his son's wedding is most unethical, akin to admitting receiving bribes. Unless Ali now wants Mahadevan to take the rap and admit that his statement, issued on behalf of the CM's office, was erroneous or misquoted. This is the same man who was punished by his party, Umno, for using money politics to win political support. Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor PKR chairman. He is a former MCA vice president and ex-health minister.
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| Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:47 PM PDT
Under Budget 2013, the allocation to set up a 1Malaysia grocery store in Sabah and Sarawak will cost RM6.7 million. Athi Shankar, FMT Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is curious on why it costs RM6.7 million to set up a 1Malaysia grocery store (KR1M) in Sabah and Sarawak when it only costs RM470,000 per store in the Peninsular. Last year, he recalled that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak set aside RM40 million to set up 85 KR1Ms, or RM470,000 per store, across the Peninsular. But Budget 2013, he noted had allocated RM386 million to set up 57 KR1Ms, or RM6.7 million per store, in Sabah and Sarawak. "It's 15 times costlier," said the DAP secretary-general. He called on Barisan Nasional federal government to justify the RM6.7 million spending to set up a KR1M just to sell basic necessities like sugar, rice and salt. "Or are the KR1Ms also selling luxury goods like designer handbags, gold and diamond jewellery?" he asked in a blog posting. The KR1M stores are run by Mydin Wholesale Hypermarket. The Bagan MP claimed that the allocation would benefit those awarded contracts to operate the stores and drive local retailers in Sabah and Sarawak out of business. Power tariffs The Pakatan Rakyat leader also criticised Budget 2013′s failure to announce the inevitable increase of electricity tariffs. He said it proved again BN's 3Ds record of deficits, debts and deception compared with Pakatan state government's 3S achievement of surplus, sustainable debt reduction and stern action against corruption. He said the budget was clearly an exercise in deception as Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui admitted that a future tariff increase was inevitable due to growing international fuel price. In an interview with a vernacular newspaper, Peter Chin did not reveal the time and quantum of the electricity tariff hike. But he pointed out that higher electricity prices would encourage the public to save energy and switch to products with green technology. Lim reproached Peter Chin's admission as "shocking", asking on why then this was not announced in the budget tabled by Najib on Sept 28. "Any responsible government would have included it in the budget," he said. Continuing deficit
He said BN's budget of RM252 billion cannot mask a persistent record of deficits for the 16th year estimated at RM40 billion. He recalled that the last time the country had a budget surplus was in 1997 when Anwar Ibrahim was still the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.
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| Dismantle our apartheid education system Posted: 03 Oct 2012 04:30 AM PDT
Malaysia needs not only a new educational direction, detouring from the road of further "apartheid-isation of education" it is happily traversing but also a new breed of cosmopolitanistic-thinking educational policymakers and practitioners. A REPUBLIC OF VIRTUE Dr Azly Rahman In an attempt to engineer what seems to be a successful system of failure in a hyper-modernising state that prides itself in the slogan of "human capital" and "education for all", Malaysians seem to live with these oxymorons. In the words of George Orwell in his prophetic novel of a dystopic society of Oceania in the classic work called 1984, this means "doublespeak", in which contradictions abound in the inner-workings of the conveyor belt called education ********************************** DR AZLY RAHMAN, who was born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York) doctorate in International Education Development and Master's degrees in the fields of Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 300 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience spans Malaysia and the United States, over a wide range of subjects from elementary to graduate education. He currently resides in the United States. https://www.facebook.com/#!/azly.rahman http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/
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| MB S’gor: Pendirian Azmin, bukan Pakatan Posted: 03 Oct 2012 04:08 AM PDT
Bagaimanapun, Khalid memandang kenyataan Azmin itu dari sudut positif kerana beliau dilihat boleh bekerja di peringkat Persekutuan maupun Negeri. Fazy Sahir, FMT Kenyataan Timbalan Presiden PKR Mohamed Azmin Ali bahawa Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim akan ditukar ke kerajaan Persekutuan sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat memenangi pilihan raya umum ke 13 (PRU13) bukan pendirian Pakatan. Bagaimanapun, Khalid memandang kenyataan Azmin itu dari sudut positif kerana beliau dilihat boleh bekerja di peringkat Persekutuan maupun Negeri. "Saya baca kenyataan (Azmin) dari sudut positif dan nampaknya saya boleh bekerja dalam kerajaan Persekutuan dan Negeri," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat mingguan exco di sini hari ini. Tegas Khalid, "keputusan mengenai siapa akan bertanding dalam pilihan raya, siapa akan jadi (MB), hanya akan diumumkan sekiranya perlu. Tapi kebiasaannya komen ini bukan dari Pakatan Rakyat sebagai satu kumpulan. Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas kenyataan Azmin yang dilaporkan akhbar Sinar Harian bahawa kemungkinan beliau akan ditukar ke pentadbiran Persekutuan jika Pakatan menang PRU13. Sementara itu, menyentuh mengenai desakan segelintir pembeli rumah agar kerajaan negeri mengambil alih hutang mereka seperti dilakukan ke atas Talam Corporation Berhad, beliau berkata terdapat beberapa usaha untuk membantu. Menurutnya, kerajaan negeri meminta Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) memberi senarai nama pembeli rumah yang miskin untuk dibantu. "Kita bukan ambil alih hutang mereka tetapi jika fakir miskin kerajaan negeri ada beberapa usaha untuk tolong mereka ringankan masalah," katanya.
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| Anwar jemput peguam Scorpene beri taklimat di Parlimen Posted: 02 Oct 2012 08:43 PM PDT
Taklimat itu bagi membolehkan ahli parlimen BN dan Pakatan Rakyat mendengar penjelasan mengenai dokumen hasil siasatan polis Perancis. Jamilah Kamarudin, FMT Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menjemput peguam Perancis datang ke Malaysia untuk memberi taklimat kepada Ahli Parlimen berhubung kes pembelian dua kapal selam Scorpene yang sedang berjalan di mahkamah Perancis. Naib Presiden PKR R Sivarasa berkata, taklimat itu bagi membolehkan ahli parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat mendengar penjelasan mengenai dokumen hasil siasatan polis Perancis kepada badan kehakiman negara itu. Surat jemputan yang ditujukan kepada peguam mewakili Suaram yang mengendalikan kes Scorpene di Perancis, William Bourdon dan Joseph Breham, menjemput mereka supaya datang dalam tempoh sehingga Parlimen tamat bersidang pada 22 November depan. Turut dijemput peguam mewakili syarikat pertahanan Perancis yang terlibat dalam penjualan Scorpene iaitu Direction des Construction "Rakyat Malaysia nak dengar tentang skandal bayaran 114 juta Euro kepada Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd yang dimiliki Abdul Razak Baginda bagi tujuan 'logistical support for training'. "Tapi semua orang tahu Perimekar tidak layak dan tiada pengalaman langsung tentang kapal selam tapi diberikan kontrak bernilai lebih RM500 juta," katanya dalam sidang media di Parlimen di sini hari ini. Ahli Parlimen Subang itu berkata, taklimat itu juga membolehkan ahli parlimen mendengar kes mantan pengarah kewangan syarikat DCNS membuat tuntutan pemotongan cukai sebanyak 32 juta Euro atas alasan duit itu digunakan sebagai bayaran rasuah kepada pegawai. Anwar kini di Paris Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Batu Tian Chua berkata Anwar yang berlepas sejak malam semalam bagi menerima satu anugerah khas kini "Harap mereka terima dan boleh tetapkan tarikh…jika semuanya berjalan lancar Ahli Parlimen BN dan Pakatan dijemput hadir mendengar taklimat," katanya. Tian Chua berkata, taklimat itu perlu dijadikan satu peluang kepada semua mendapat gambaran jelas sekali gus dapat membetulkan persepsi "Kalau ada sasuatu yang tak betul kerajaan Malaysia wajar ambil tindakan susulan," katanya. Berbeza dengan sistem perundangan Malaysia yang mengikuti undang-undang British, Sivarasa berkata badan kehakiman Perancis mempunyai agensi penguatkuasa tersendiri untuk menyiasat sesuatu kes tanpa perlu bergantung kepada hasil siasatan daripada pihak polis.
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| Posted: 02 Oct 2012 08:37 PM PDT  KTEMOC KONSIDERS The Malaysian Insider - Azmin: Khalid to get minister's job if Pakatan takes Putrajaya Blue-eyed Boy is making his move, or at least indicating his grand strategy - c'mon, I wanna hear some thunderous applause lah, wakakaka. Many suspect Azmin Ali wants to be MB Selangor. I have to say I have my doubts in this regard, not that he doesn't (he actually does), but he can't be MB Selangor if he wants to be near the PM spot, starting perhaps with the Home Ministry, no doubt to control the Police and its dreaded SB, wakakaka. Yes, we may assume that our dearest Blue-eyed Boy wants to be in the federal cabinet of a Pakatan federal government and to head a very powerful ministry, Home Affairs, before he becomes the PM (as he may be fantasizing, wakakaka). Thus he has to make some sacrifices, to wit, forego the position of MB of Selangor, because Article 43 of the Malaysian Constitution won't allow him to be both, ie. MB Selangor and PM Home Minister. And how do I know he wants to take over Hishamuddin's place? Read on, wakakaka.
That's right, ADUNs who are also MP cannot have it both ways, that is, by continuing to be ADUNs and at the same time, federal ministers or deputy ministers. They have to choose between being a federal minister (or deputy minister) or an ADUN. Obviously, senior party leaders who want to be MBs or CMs or State Exco members have to be ADUNs in the first place. And if they are federal ministers they won't be allowed to hold on to their ADUN positions, and consequently no MB or CM hat to wear. Thus, as I mentioned previously, if Lim Guan Eng wants to continue being CM of Penang, and most Penangites want him to, then he can't be a federal minister, full stop!
But of course he can be ADUN/CM of Penang as well as an ordinary federal MP in which case he can serve in both State and Federal Parliaments. But in participating as both a state and also a federal representative, he cannot be a federal minister. Thus if Lim GE wants to be a federal minister, he can kiss goodbye to his CM job and Ayer Putih ADUN position ... ... which I suspect is a situation 'someone' wakakaka is hoping and hinting/pushing for. According to sweetie Selena Tay in her Free Malaysia Today article titled Pakatan's 'shadow cabinet' list, a so-called (non-existent*) 'shadow minister' could/might have 'hinted' to Sweetie that under a new Pakatan federal government, the proposed Foreign Minister(s) would probably be Kamarudin Jaffar (PAS) or Lim Guan Eng (DAP) or Elizabeth Wong (PKR), with a couple (of the trio) becoming deputies. * ta'ada shadow cabinet maka mana ada shadow minister - real bayang adalah wakakaka
It's a joke of a suggestion, and you may guess where or who that so-called self-appointed 'shadow minister' had been. For a start, none of the trio proposed has shown any specific inclination towards foreign affairs, though of course there's no denying they can play the role. Secondly, Eli Wong is more into environmental affairs and therefore should be provided a ministerial position in the appropriate sector, Environment.
Kamaruddin Jaafar, OTOH, is a very close buddy of The Great One - you know, MCKK, UMNO (wakakaka), ISA-ed together, then left UMNO in 1999 (not sure whether he left voluntarily or was ejected out like Anwar?), had in his UMNO days stuck really close to Anwar when the latter was the DPM, and was said to have been assigned by Anwar to some business roles, the lot! While Anwar's devotees prepared a party (KeADILan, then PKR) as a platform to fight for his release from prison, Kamaruddin joined PAS in (I think) 1999 and stood successfully as a PAS MP in Tumpat in 1999, 2004 and 2008. I believe he was the UMNO MP in that same constituency. Since then, he had a meteoric rise in PAS and even became the Party's Sec-Gen in 2004.
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| 97 cows for me and 3 cows for you Posted: 02 Oct 2012 08:08 PM PDT
Hence trade and commerce is very crucial to Islam. And the distribution of wealth (zakat) is one of the tenets of Islam alongside praying, fasting and performing the pilgrimage (Haj). And in Islam it is mandatory that every year you pay 2.5-3.0% of your wealth as zakat. This zakat is then distributed to the needy, poor, orphans, people too old or too sick to work, travellers, people in debt, etc. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin This was an e-mail sent by a friend in the UK to another friend in the UK. Both are Malaysians although I have not revealed their names. I thought it would be interesting to read the exchange. Obviously you need some proper understanding of what is meant by socialism. Give me a call to meet up for a sensible discussion. Hopefully you will then realise the trash you are circulating has nothing to do with socialism. Brown's "socialism" was a continuation of Reagan/Thatcher free market for the greedy to take all they could take in an unregulated market. Free market is not about rewarding those who worked hard. Free market is about giving the descendants of land and cattle thieves (the lords and ladies of the manor) and the generations of the slimy greedy bloodsuckers the freedom to accumulate more wealth by using their existing wealth, power and connection to screw the majority of the population. I am saddened that a nice and intelligent guy like you is circulating trash on behalf of those bloodsuckers who wish to divert attention from their despicable greed that caused the economic and financial disaster we are all facing today. I am currently in Malaysia, best wishes. Basically, my two friends above were debating the workings of 'western' socialism. Let me join the fray (or throw the cat amongst the pigeons) and add 'Islamic' socialism to the discussion. Muslims would normally argue that Islam is not a religion but a way of life (adeen). However, not every Muslim practices what they preach. Hence we tend to find a lot of hypocrisy amongst Muslims -- as we also find amongst the other religions that preach love but invade other countries since the last 1,000 years and have never stopped doing so until today. If you were to study Islam in depth, you will find that Islam is a combination of socialism and capitalism. For example, Islam teaches you that doing business is better and more virtuous than working for someone. Prophet Muhammad was a businessman, as was his first wife who owned the business that the Prophet was managing. And so on. Now, as much as most Muslims would never want to admit this (and will whack me for saying it), the first 'Holy War' was actually a war concerning trade. This first 'war' at Badr (a village south of Medina on the road to Mekah) was a caravan raid and was meant to cripple Mekah's position as the centre of trade for the Arabian Peninsular. At that time, Mekah was the centre of commerce and this resulted in it also being the centre of religion, or vice versa. People from all over did their pilgrimage to Mekah and at the same time engaged in trade. If Medina wanted to replace Mekah as the new centre, it would have to first cripple Mekah's trade supremacy. And to achieve this the Prophet attacked the trade caravans on route to Mekah. Before the war of Badr, many caravan raids were conducted and the biggest 'battle' was supposed to be the one passing through Badr. Hence while the Islamists would insist that the first 'holy' war of Badr was about religion, I will insist that it was about trade, although it can be indirectly regarded as about religion since whichever became the centre of trade invariably would also become the centre of religion. In short, trade and religion went hand-in-glove and to be the centre of one you must be the centre of the other. Let me put it another way. The Prophet's forces attacked the trade caravans not to convert these 'pagans' to Islam but to disrupt the trade routes and cripple Mekah's supremacy as the trade centre of the Peninsular. Mekah, in turn, sent an army to Badr not because the Prophet was propagating Islam but because he was disturbing Mekah's trade. The fact that one force was Muslim and the other 'pagan' was incidental. That is my interpretation of the events and is based on history and not theology. And the Islamists for sure will not agree with my interpretation of events -- but that is their problem, not mine. Hence trade and commerce is very crucial to Islam. And the distribution of wealth (zakat) is one of the tenets of Islam alongside praying, fasting and performing the pilgrimage (Haj). And in Islam it is mandatory that every year you pay 2.5-3.0% of your wealth as zakat. This zakat is then distributed to the needy, poor, orphans, people too old or too sick to work, travellers, people in debt, etc. In short, you are encouraged to do business rather than work for someone so that you can become wealthy and so that once you are wealthy you can take care of those less fortunate than you. So, as I said, Islam is a combination of capitalism and socialism. Islam wants you to create wealth so that you can share this wealth. Now tell me, how many Muslims will understand this or will agree with this? Of course, the manner in how you make your money and how much profit you make is also an issue. But let's not go into that or else this piece is going to turn into a thesis. The long and short of it would be no one starves or sleeps on the streets under Islam's capitalist-socialist system. But the reality is, there is more poverty in Muslim countries than in non-Muslim countries plus more exploitation, discrimination, injustice and so on. So, the system may be good but the people living under that system do not comply and deviate from what should be. And that is why I always say that changing the system (or the government) is of no use unless the people themselves are prepared to reform. In theory, the Islamic capitalist-socialist system is superb. In practice, Muslim countries suck. It is not about the system or the government. It is about the mentality of the people. In Malaysia, when we scream about reforms, we normally talk about changing the system or the government. But if it is merely old wine in a new bottle nothing good is going to come out of it. Islam's capitalist-socialist system is already good enough. It is better than even some western concepts. But show me one superb Muslim country. And show me one Muslim country that changed its government and became a Shangri-La. Most times the new government was as bad or worse than the old government. Hence the best system in the world would be like throwing pearls to swine if the people are not capable and resist change.
Read more here: http://www.hidaya.org/zakat-calculator?gclid=CLXv5_HE5LICFaTHtAodKToA0g |
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