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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• Suaris Interview: The Future of Malays #4
• Proton distorts market, bleeds Malaysians
• We Need a new Huguan Siou
• Xenophon: Dumbfounded by Malaysian deportation
• Malaysia trip not unofficial: Xenophon
• Gangnam style
• Western "Exceptionalism" Crumbling as Aussie Senator Deported from Malaysia
• Xenophon criticised for interfering in M'sian politics
• Australia wants Malaysia to explain Senator’s deportation
• A Non-tick for Nong Chik!
• PM Najib and Oppa Gangnam Penang Style
• PM: Opposition only has attractive slogans
• PKR banks on ex-deputy minister to win back Wangsa Maju
• Hindraf: Pakatan risks losing 25 seats without us
• MIC man calls on Hindraf to woo BN
• ‘Pakatan’s Allah decision is official’
• The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter
• Najib’s time ends now
• ‘I Love New PM’ sambut Anwar di majlis Dong Zong
• Postal voting: M’sians abroad have until dissolution of Parliament
• Australian govt to fight Xenophon deportation
• Anwar caught in another video controversy
• No way, Hisham!
• Australia’s former PM Rudd tells Canberra to be ‘robust’ on Xenophon expulsion
• Xenophon says Malaysian democracy in ‘dire and critical state’
• Hadi: Pakatan ties smooth but PAS will quit pact if Islam, Malays lose out
• Najib creates history as first PM to attend Dong Zong CNY

Suaris Interview: The Future of Malays #4 Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:57 PM PST   Najib promised to, borrowing his latest buzzword, "transform" his administration. How could he possibly do that when all his ministers would again stand for election? If they win, they would surely again be ministers. What transformation did he have in mind? Hishammudin becoming Women's Minister?   M. Bakri Musa    Suaris Interview:  The Future of Malays Part 4:  It is said that Malays are at a crossroad. This is particularly so with the upcoming General Election 13 where the choice is between feudalism and liberalism. To what extent do you agree with that viewpoint? [The original in Malay appeared in suaris.wordpress.com on February 6, 2013.]   MBM:  I agree that we Malays are at a critical juncture. Our choice is between continuing on the present path that has led us to where we are today, with our minds still trapped, or make a sharp turn towards liberating them. Remember that the path to the dumpsite is the one well-trodden.   I do not agree that the forthcoming election (GE 13) will be a choice between liberalism and feudalism, as I understand both terms. Instead it will be between a party that has grown old, tired, and bankrupt of ideas versus another that is young, vigorous, and full of fresh talent.   As an aside, "liberalism" to me means a system that treats every human as having certain inalienable rights or freedoms granted unto him (or her) by Almighty Allah, among them, the freedom of thought, to choose our leaders, own properties, and pursue happiness. Feudalism on the other hand was the social system prevailing in Medieval Europe where humans were either lords or peasants. Land, property and peasants belonged to the lords. Your fate and place in society was determined at birth and remained fixed throughout life. Meaning, born a peasant, and you would remain one until death.   Clearly from the perspective of respect for human lives and values, liberalism is closer to Islam than is feudalism.   True, Malay society today still retains many feudal elements. Nonetheless we are free to choose our leaders. Even though we could not choose our sultans, we do not consider ourselves slaves to them. Yes, we use the term "patek" in referring to ourselves when addressing a member of the royalty. That is merely a habit. A sultan can no longer grab a village maiden for his palace collection. We hitherto peasants could now (if we wish to and can afford it) own a house more palatial than the istana and drive a car that could overtake the sultan's in speed, price and glamour.   Returning to GE13, before we make a decision as to which party to vote for, it is prudent to do a downstream analysis. There can only be three possible outcomes. First, Barisan be returned to power; second, Pakatan to prevail; and third, neither winning a decisive victory. By decisive I mean where the buying of a handful of victorious candidates would not alter the balance of power a la Perak 2008.             If Barisan were to win, that would mean voters approve of the current pervasive corruption and abuse of power. We would have gone further, essentially rewarding those who have destroyed MAS, Perwaja, Bank Bumiputra, and others. Expect the greed of ministers and their families to grow unabated. Our rotten system of education would continue its decline. Our professors and academic leaders would continue to be chosen based not on their scholarly contributions but their ability to suck up to the politically powerful. Najib would continue to lead as he has for the last four years – delivering an alphabet soup of acronyms, endless exhortations, and a surfeit of sloganeering, much like the character in Shannon Ahmad's short story Uggapan (Slogans).   Najib promised to, borrowing his latest buzzword, "transform" his administration. How could he possibly do that when all his ministers would again stand for election? If they win, they would surely again be ministers. What transformation did he have in mind? Hishammudin becoming Women's Minister?   Barisan leaders are scaring citizens into believing that our stability depends on their winning the election. On the contrary, if Barisan fails to secure a greater victory than in 2008, (no one is predicting it will win a supra majority), there will be an ugly power struggle at the top. The Najib/Muhyyuddin rivalry would eclipse the earlier Abdullah/Najib power struggle in its messiness. It would be even uglier than the Mahathir/Ku Li confrontation a generation earlier. The permanent establishment would be paralyzed, not knowing which faction to support. Mahathir has already sharpened the knife that he used with devastating effectiveness on Abdullah. This time the victim would be Najib.   In defeat, there would be much soul searching in Pakatan. Perhaps their leaders would now resolve to focus on the things that they could agree on that would benefit the nation and citizens, as with eradicating corruption and abuse of power, ensuring justice, improving the education system, while distancing themselves from such meaningless symbolic items as with an Islamic state and who could use the word "Allah." Those obsessions do not contribute to the well being of citizens, on the contrary, they divide us.   The second possible outcome would be a Pakatan victory. That would not mean that all our problems would magically disappear. Far from it! First, Pakatan leaders are only human; there would be a great temptation to regard their victory as a bountiful harvest. There are many more family disputes during such times! Expect a not-so-pretty grab for positions, and contentious issues like who would be Deputy Prime Minister and whether he (unlikely a she) would be a Malay or non-Malay. There would also be the jostling for key portfolios as with education, finance, and internal affairs. Those are to be expected.   The pettiness would challenge the wisdom and patience of Pakatan leaders. If they were to behave like kids at Hari Raya or Chinese New Year greedily grabbing duit rayas and ang pows, then their future and also that of the nation would indeed be gloomy. However, if they were to consider their victory not as Hari Raya but the beginning of Ramadan, meaning, a time to be tested, patient, and diligent, then their and our future would be bright.   More interesting is to imagine what would happen to UMNO in defeat. Those who joined the party not for the sake of the party and country but for their greed would quickly abandon it. Their flow of opium would be cut off. Meanwhile the new 2M team of Mahathir and Muhyuddin would be merciless on Najib. Erstwhile sleepy supporters of the equally soporific Abdullah Badawi would now be intent on exacting revenge on the two sides.             As ugly and embarrassing as that would be to Malays, it would bring only good to UMNO. The party would begin its slow and long overdue rehabilitation, back to it glorious past. Its members would now be limited only to those who truly love and are passionate about the organization and of Malays. The party might once again be the pride and love of our people and not as at present, an enabler for the corrupt and criminal.   There are two other much more meaningful consequences to an UMNO defeat. Consider that the corruption of Khir Toyo, former Chief Minister of Selangor, was only exposed with Pakatan winning the state. Had UMNO won in 2008, that slimy character would now still be its chief executive, with his greed and corrupt ways unabated. Because Pakatan won, he is now awaiting jail, pending appeal, for his corruption conviction. There are many Khir Toyos at the federal level; they could only be exposed with a Pakatan victory.   The second important consequence would be on members of the permanent establishment, from senior civil servants and heads of GLCs to sultans and professors. They would now realize that their careers are no longer dependent on their skills at sucking up to Barisan. They would be forced to examine themselves carefully and not be so politically partisan. The future of their careers would now depend on their dedication, diligence and professionalism, not their political skills and leanings. That could only be good for the country generally and its administration specifically.   Many, especially in UMNO, predict a vicious racial riot a la May 1969 with the party's defeat. I totally disagree. First, in 1969 the power shifted from Malays (UMNO) to Chinese (DAP). If UMNO were to lose in the coming election, power would still be in Malay hands except that those Malays would not be from UMNO. Second, our society is much more wise and mature now. The Chinese for example need not have to parade with their dragons to show off their might. A look around KL and Penang would be enough to reassure them and others. And if Malays were to run amok on the streets, those luxury bungalows and BMWs they would burn down might just belong to the likes of Khir Toyo and Abdullah Badawi!             In 1969 UMNO was still Malay, and Malays, UMNO. Today conditions have changed radically, as evidenced by the recent massive KL112 rally.   Extremists like Ibrahim the Frog could easily be taken care of. An offer of a directorship or two and trips to Macao would silence them. Alternatively, do not impede the anti-corruption agency. I am simply amused that Malay leaders from Mahathir to the academic Ramlah Adam would pin the hopes of our race to characters like Ibrahim the Frog.   For Malaysians, the greatest consequence to a Barisan defeat would be that we actually get to experience and benefit the meaning of free elections. That is, by merely putting an "X" in the appropriate box on the ballot paper, we could change our government. There is no need to riot or demonstrate on the streets. A Barisan defeat would effectively demonstrate the true meaning of checks and balances in a democracy.   The third and worst possible consequence would be if neither party were to win convincingly. We had a glimpse of that ugliness in Perak following the 2008 election. All, politicians from Barisan to Pakatan and members of the establishment from civil servants to the sultan, did not shine. Their behavior brought shame to the nation. They however, were oblivious of that.             Expect that, only worse, in Putrajaya. The behavior of these politicians would be more flagrant than those of the ladies of the evening. As odious as that would be, there would be some redeeming values. We would finally see those politicians for what they really are, worse than those prostitutes at Chow Kit Road. At least those ladies had the morality not to sell themselves so openly and in broad daylight.   The odiousness would so enrage many that able and honest citizens would now be encouraged if not compelled to offer themselves as candidates in the future. That can only be good! We would finally get to appreciate the awesome power of the ballot booth and that elections have consequences, prompting us to be more prudent the next time we vote. That is one invaluable lesson.   In short, the best outcome for Malaysia in GE 13 would be for Pakatan to win convincingly. Next would be for neither side to do so. The worst outcome would be for Barisan to be returned to power. Stated differently, a hung parliament would be a not-so-pretty Pakatan victory.   Next:  Suaris Interview. The Future of Malays #5:  You appear cynical towards things labeled "Islam." Many view you as not being enamored with "conservative Islam" as currently practiced by most Muslims and not with Islam itself. What's your comment?

Proton distorts market, bleeds Malaysians Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:51 PM PST   The thrust of the turnaround plan is to boost Proton's image by ditching the idea that cheap is the way to go. Nothing is being said here about value for money and being competitive. Obviously, bringing in a German associate company not so long ago to help with quality control is not working either.  Joe Fernandez It's interesting that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad should reveal at this juncture, as Proton Advisor, that the privatized national car maker is putting the finishing touches to a turnaround plan. This man has an infinite capacity to continue spewing sheer nonsense in economics. The forthcoming 13th General Election no doubt figures prominently in the so-called turnaround plan. The idea is designed to make the embattled Barisan Nasional Government and the national car concept suddenly look attractive. If Proton has a genuine turnaround plan, it must mean that the market distorting parasitic vendors and suppliers a la Bumiputeraism will be phased out to open up the market to competition. This will never happen as this community continues to leech off the car owners unfortunate enough to own a Proton and need spare parts and service. Opportunities, the politics dictate, are to be hogged. The turnaround plan must also mean that there will be greater diversity in its workforce. Again, it's a non-starter, given the politics of "creating and keeping the jobs for our community alone". For another, turnaround must pledge that Proton will somehow conjure up a new series of engines and not through sheer magic. The engine, the core of what car-manufacturing is all about, is the national car maker's Achilles heel. It has no R&D facilities worth speaking about, no world-class engineers, and all this despite Government promises of continued financial and other support in this area. This leaves the so-called national car maker dependent on continued hand-outs from the tax-payer despite having gone private and Government protection to ensure that its market share of 50 per cent along with Perodua doesn't shrink even further. There's a limit to how much the Government can help protect Proton's market share. Foreign makes are likely to make further inroads into the domestic market, given their economies of scale and the newly-found tendency among Proton-allergic Malaysians to fork out ever-increasing amounts to get a foreign car model which will be worth their investment. The thrust of the turnaround plan is to boost Proton's image by ditching the idea that cheap is the way to go. Nothing is being said here about value for money and being competitive. Obviously, bringing in a German associate company not so long ago to help with quality control is not working either. Mahathir thinks in a contradiction in terms that producing more expensive versions, as part of the turnaround plan, will help pull Proton through and put it on the road to viability and sustainability. This hare-brained approach based on a simplistic notion fails to take into account the fact that it was a combination of Government protection, infusion of tons of money from the tax-payer and Petronas, and cheap pricing that in the first place initially won it the lion's share of the domestic market. That market share is now in grave peril as it's set to shrink year by year. The national car project, to rub salt into the wounds, does not enjoy the kind of economies of scale that has helped world number one Toyota for example to take the world by storm. It's said that no car manufacturer can be in the game for the long-haul unless production exceeds one million units a year, a new engine model is turned out every three years, and one has a share of the world export market. This is where Proton completely falls apart on all counts. Proton is congenitally incapable of raising production levels and even if could, it will not be able to sell the number unless the export market has no qualms about coming to the rescue of an uncompetitive and long outdated engine model. Clearly, Proton thanks to Mahathir during his long innings in power has painted itself into a corner and there's no way out. This is the end result of thinking like a communist – read Mahathir -- when it comes to economics and the market. Communism has proven that the idea of a national anything is a non-starter and it's anybody's guess why Malaysia chose that path under Mahathir. Ignorance is bliss, a little knowledge is dangerous, and the politics of race obviously had a lot to do with it. The Proton idea appears to have been hatched by a jaguh kampung over a teh tarik at a mamak stall: "If Japan can produce cars, why can't we? etc etc . . . Malaysia Boleh!" It's a certainty that the Proton idea would be killed in any change of Government in Putrajaya, and with good reasons. The future of the automobile industry is in India and China, a fact already recognised by global manufacturers in Japan, Korea and the West who are flocking to the two Asian giants. Proton cannot emulate the established car manufacturers to live and fight another day simply it has no standing whatsoever in the industry. Hence, any new Government will be foolish to fork out even a sen to the ailing national car maker and this will suddenly make the future all the more dangerous for it. If the carpet is pulled out from under the feet of vendors and suppliers, spares will suddenly dry up and car owners will ditch their vehicles in a panic. The bottom will fall out from the market. It's not clear to what extent the slack can be taken up by spares available from Japan and Taiwan. Proton cannot continue to be an ego game at the expense of long-suffering Malaysians, especially car owners. It was not so long ago that Proton started at the same time as Hyundai of Korea. Hyundai has gone on to achieve global recognition and ranking. Proton remains a manufacturer struggling still very much at the kampung level. If there's one thing that has done Proton in, it's taking Mahathir's advice on car manufacturing when he's no subject matter expert. If Mahathir reads widely and everything, as his apologists claim, he should have realized this ages ago.   Joe Fernandez is a mature law student, among others, who loves to write. He feels compelled, as a semi-retired journalist, to put pen to paper -- or rather the fingers to the computer keyboard -- whenever something doesn't quite jell with his weltanschauung (worldview). He shuttles between points in the Golden Heart of Borneo formed by the Sabah west coast, Labuan, Brunei, northern Sarawak and the watershed region in Borneo where three nations meet.

We Need a new Huguan Siou Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:47 PM PST   THE CURRENT issue arising from the so-called declaration of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Huguan Siou has another angle to it that the people of Sabah need to be aware of. But first, I say there is NO need for Anwar or PKR to apologise to KDCA. In fact I really feel the KDCA and its president, the Huguan Siou, should instead apologise to the Kadazandusuns for failing to serve them.   Richard Libun Adou, former Vice President of KDCA Jonathan Yasin and Datuk Wilfred Bumburing have now denied that Anwar was installed as Huguan Siou of Malaysia . But my purpose here is not to argue on that point. What I want to state is that there is a powerful reason why Anwar was declared, (oh, okay, given a sash that says) "Huguan Siou of Malaysia ." The reason this happened is that the new generation of Kadazandusuns are hungry for real leadership because their original Huguan Siou, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, has become weak, ineffective and no longer acts as a fighter for the rights of the Kadazandusuns and Muruts (KDMs). To them, their Huguan Siou is a just a puppet with no teeth or courage to say and do what need to be said and done. The title of "Huguan Siou," I think, was chosen by the PKR leaders of Paginatan because they wanted Anwar to be seen mainly as a new leader of the KDMs. They could have chosen another word for "paramount leader" but unfortunately, the Kadazandusun language doesn't have any other word for that has equal weight as "huguan siou." Maybe it would have been a better decision to use a Malay title, like "Pahlawan Reformasi Malaysia" or something, but it would still be not as meaningful as "Huguan Siou" in the context of Sabah. Unfortunately, this decision rattled a lot of people. They have forgotten that the words simply mean "paramount leader" or "highest leader." Is the name really sacred? Is the KDCA the only body who has the exclusive right to use the name which is in the KDCA's Kadazan Dusun Malay-English Dictionary? What if another Kadazandusun association wants to give their president the same title? I believe in the old days each village in Penampang had its own huguan siou, so they were more than one huguan sious walking around in those days! Whatever the arguments going on about this, one thing is clear: the new generation of KDMs are crying out for a new and dynamic leadership which is strong and courageous in fighting for their cause. They need something new which fits the needs of the KDMs in the new globalized world. They feel that Pairin has betrayed them by being on a political platform which to most of them is against their spirit for rights and dignity. Many of them also feel that the Huguan Siou shouldn't be a politician, but someone who serves his people socially and culturally without any political affiliation. As it is Pairin is a Member of Parliament for Keningau, assemblyman for Tambunan and a deputy chief minister. With these responsibilities he has no more time to serve as Huguan Siou, or even as president of the KDCA. And because of this the KDCA has become weak and inactive. It no longer works aggressively to pursue the objectives listed in its constitution. It is as if KDCA has lost its spirit because its Huguan Siou is no longer osiou (brave) enough to do and say the right things because it has become subservient to a greater master. KDCA has become so quiet and lethargic, making noise only during the Pesta Kaamatan. A former deputy president of KDCA had prepared a strategic plan for KDCA to become more active and productive, but this was never implemented. This is so unfortunate because the Kadazandusuns are having their vision confused and blurred in a very challenging time. At one time the association was at least producing a good number of books, but now this productivity has stopped. It needs to organize the young members to compliment their knowledge and skills, or at least boost their morale and spirit and be proud of KDCA and their Huguan Siou. There is a need to groom them for leadership in their community. There is also a need for documentation works to record countless aspects of the cultural heritage which is fast disappearing, It cannot use the excuse that KDCA doesn't have the money because most activities, like producing CDs of traditional musical performance, need very little money, but such CDs can be sold to tourists for good income. Also Pairin and Dr. Maximus Ongkili if they wanted it aggressively, can get government funding for many worthy causes, such as youth leadership seminars, or cottage industry courses. Sadly these are not done by KDCA or the Koisaan Co-operative because of a lack of dynamic and creative leadership. In fact by now the Koisaan Co-operative should already have a franchise of KDM-owned minimarkets all over Sabah offering discount prices to KDMs. The immigrant people such as the Bugis and Pakistanis have their respective bodies to help their own people go into business but we the so-called proud natives are unable to do this. Even the management of the Pesta Kaamatan at the Hongkod ground had overlooked the need to help our own people as proven by the mistake of charging extremely high rental for the stalls and canopies during the Pesta Kaamatan. The rent are so high that many sellers had to share stalls. This is against the spirit of helping our own people. It will hurt the feelings of many KDMs when someone says the Paramount Leader may have become a No-amount Leader, but this is the reality of our fate as a people. We don't dare tell our leaders there need to step down no matter how ineffective he has become, thinking that such an advise would go against the sacred, or that it will cause ousung (cursed for going against an elder). But the truth is the concept of ousung is dragging us back into the stone age.

Xenophon: Dumbfounded by Malaysian deportation Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:43 PM PST   (ABC Adelaide) - Permanently refused entry to Malaysia on grounds he was a threat to the country's security, South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon joined 891 Breakfast to explain his tumultuous weekend. Rejected entry on the belief that he was challenging the country's electoral system, Mr Xenophon said it was not his intention to provide support for any party running in the upcoming election, he was simply there to encourage a democratic process. "We have a situation where they have asked for our help to say 'we just want clean and fair elections'." Mr Xenophon said the deportation came as a shock as he had previously travelled to Malaysia in April and November in 2012 without incident. He said the plan for the visit was to meet with the Opposition, the Clean Elections Movement and Minister Nazri. "If we have meetings lined up with a senior minister and a senior government body, you'd think there wouldn't be a problem for me to come in. "I was there to facilitate the meetings because I had been there previously," Mr Xenophon said. Read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/02/18/3692513.htm

Malaysia trip not unofficial: Xenophon Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:34 PM PST   (The Australian) - INDEPENDENT senator Nick Xenophon says his trip to Malaysia, which saw him deported on national security grounds, was official. Senator Xenophon travelled to Malaysia as the head of a parliamentary delegation to review the country's electoral system. But he was detained on arrival and returned to Australia on a flight that landed in Melbourne on Sunday morning. The South Australian senator disputes media reports that his trip was unofficial. He says Nationals senator John Williams and Liberal MP Mal Washer had received approval from the Australia's Special Minister of State Gary Gray to use their study leave for the trip. "It's not unofficial," he told ABC radio on Monday. "It was a meeting that was going to result in a report being provided to the federal parliament in relation to the trip." Senator Xenophon called on Australia's government to do more to support Malaysia's electoral system. He described Foreign Minister Bob Carr's position on Malaysia's general election, due later in the year, as flawed. "(Senator Carr) says so long as the country has elections, we won't be sending observers," Senator Xenophon said. "But if the electoral process is so flawed and so corrupted ... then I think we need to look at it quite differently." Read more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/malaysia-trip-not-unofficial-xenophon/story-fn3dxiwe-1226579998056

Gangnam style Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:25 PM PST   Young people may well enjoy watching Psy on YouTube — the music is infectious and the dance steps are great fun but that doesn't mean they'd select their leaders in the same way: entertainment is one thing, politics is another. Political strategists have been very focused on how to win over Malaysia's all-important new voters. There are now more than five million young people aged 20-29, most of whom are first-time voters with no clear political loyalties. Over the Chinese New Year in Penang, the prime minister made a stab at winning their support. Sharing a stage with the global YouTube sensation Psy of "Gangnam Style" fame, he sought to enhance his "coolness" and therefore his electability. Firstly, it's worth mentioning that YouTube sensations like Psy are exactly that — momentary blips on the radar of celebrity. Bringing him into Malaysia to drum up support shows that Barisan Nasional is behind the curve in understanding this youthful demographic because these fads pass very, very quickly. They aren't anticipating or leading: they're just following. Secondly, if Malaysia was a presidential-style democracy, such tactics might stand a chance. However, we are not. For better or for worse, we've adopted the Westminster system: a system that requires strong political parties, solid constituency representation as well as an adept collective leadership. Thirdly, the event with Psy also reveals the pitfalls of seeking to win over the younger voters by associating yourself with something "cool". Being "cool" isn't easy. Moreover, once you try too hard you're instantly the opposite of cool, something the PM experienced on that stage on Monday as he implored people to vote for Barisan. Finally, there's also a major tactical error at work. Young people may well enjoy watching Psy on YouTube — the music is infectious and the dance steps are great fun but that doesn't mean they'd select their leaders in the same way: entertainment is one thing, politics is another. For young Malaysians and especially those with degrees, the issues they're facing are very straight-forward. A cool PM is great but one who can solve sky-rocketing car prices, dismal starting salaries and the soaring price of housing would be truly rocking... With this in mind, I've spent some time talking to some Malaysian graduates — especially those pouring out of the country's 20 public universities and 50 or so private institutions of higher learning. For them, the job market is extremely challenging. A 2011 Graduate Tracking Index released by the Ministry of Higher Education in September 2012 revealed that at least 40,000 of these graduates were unemployed 12 months after they had completed their studies. Johari (not his real name) is recent graduate from the International Islamic University (IIU) in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur. First mooted under the current Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he was in the administration, the IIU with its lavish suburban campus has become a leading tertiary educational institution, in part because the course-work is conducted in English. Working at a non-profit, Johari earns a seemingly comfortable RM3,000 per month. However, as he explains his take-home pay is very quickly reduced to a far more modest amount: "I'm every lucky that my parents live within commuting distance of the city. Friends from Terengganu or elsewhere have to fork out another RM400-500 on accommodation. Having said that, I spend about the same amount on my transport, leaving home every morning by 6.15am. More often than not, I only get back to the house by 10 or 11 at night." Transport is a big chunk of Johari's monthly expenditure. He'd like to buy a car but he knows he can't afford to run it and more especially pay for parking in the city. Separately, he resents Malaysia's inflated car prices — a legacy of the Mahathir era especially that of the national car project Proton. "I go on the Internet and compare prices for cars in Malaysia with Thailand or elsewhere. We're paying so much more for the same models because of the duties!" In fact, he's read the criticisms of the Malaysian automotive policy from the up-and-coming opposition politician Rafizi Ramli. Johari adds: "I'm not a political person but I have to agree with Rafizi's arguments." However, Johari stresses that he does not necessarily agree with all of the opposition's populist rhetoric. For example, he rejects their more radical views on student loans dished out by PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation). "I believe we should be responsible for paying for our own tertiary education. However, I would add that if we're good students and win better grades this should lessen our repayments." At the moment, he's accumulated some RM28,000 in student loans that he's paying off at the rate of RM100 per month. He acknowledges that he won't settle this debt until he reaches 40. Housing is a further source of complaint and he says: "I don't know if I'll ever be able to afford a house in the Klang Valley. I imagine that I'll have to settle for a small flat somewhere. Saving enough money for a deposit will take a very long time and that's before we're even talking about marriage! As graduate I should be able to bring mas kahwin (dowry) of at least RM12-15,000. My last girlfriend was quite straightforward about her expectations. Status really matters." Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/gangnam-style/

Western "Exceptionalism" Crumbling as Aussie Senator Deported from Malaysia Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:20 PM PST   Clearly Senator Xenophon's visit to Malaysia was not one of "monitoring," but of checking up on a group of clearly compromised, openly foreign-funded, subversive elements operating behind the guise of disingenuous principles - making the Malaysian government's claims that Xenophon constitutes a security risk absolutely justified. Landestroyer  Senator was to meet with Wall Street-London funded faux-democracy front Bersih, IMF frontman Anwar Ibrahim.  February 17, 2013 (AltThaiNews) - The Australian reported in its article, "Xenophon deported by Malaysia," that Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has been detained and then deported in Malaysia as part of an "unofficial parliamentary delegation to review the electoral system." In reality, Senator Xenophon was part of a Western effort to assist Malaysia's Wall Street-London backed opposition into power as part of a wider geopolitical strategy to align Southeast Asia against China's emerging regional influence.   Confirming this, the Australian also reported that:    "He and other Australian MPs were to meet opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, as well as Malaysia's minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Mohammed Nazri, and members of the group Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections." Image: (RT) Despite Bersih's best efforts to portray itself as apolitical, it is clearly led for and by Malaysia's US-backed opposition, with the IMF's Anwar Ibrahim leading the coalition. Here, Anwar Ibrahim (center) can be seen speaking to a Bersih rally in Malaysia.  .... Bersih of course, is admittedly funded by the US State Department through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) as well as convicted criminal George Soros' Open Society. According to a Malaysian Insider report on June 27, 2011, Bersih figurehead Ambiga Sreenevassan herself "admitted to Bersih receiving some money from two US organisations — the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Open Society Institute (OSI) — for other projects, which she stressed were unrelated to the July 9 [2011] march." Image: NDI's website in 2011 before taking down any mention to Malaysia's Bersih movement. (click image to enlarge)  .... Xenophon's planned meeting with Anwar Ibrahim, who with Western-backing has in fact created Bersih to propel himself into power, is also indicative of Australia's insidious meddling in Malaysia's sovereign, internal affairs. Image: Taken from the US National Endowment for Democracy's 2007 Democracy Award event held in Washington D.C., Anwar Ibrahim can be seen to the far left and participated as a "panelist." It is no surprise that NED is now subsidizing his bid to worm his way back into power in Malaysia on the back of Bersih's serial protests. (click image to enlarge) ....   Anwar Ibrahim was Chairman of the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1998, held lecturing positions at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, was a consultant to the World Bank, and a panelist at the Neo-Con lined National Endowment for Democracy's "Democracy Award" and a panelist at a NED donation ceremony - the very same US organization whose subsidiaries are funding and supporting Bersih - casts irrefutable doubt on their official agenda for "clean and fair elections." Claims by Bersih members that Anwar Ibrahim is "hijacking" their movement ring especially hollow when looking at both his and Bersih's entwined foreign financial and political backers. Two Years of Western-Engineered Chaos in Arab World Justifies Malaysia's Decision.   Clearly Senator Xenophon's visit to Malaysia was not one of "monitoring," but of checking up on a group of clearly compromised, openly foreign-funded, subversive elements operating behind the guise of disingenuous principles - making the Malaysian government's claims that Xenophon constitutes a security risk absolutely justified. The last two years of Western "democracy promotion" in places like Egypt, Libya, and Syria, have left devastation, rising despots, and extremists in its wake and has justified similar moves made earlier this year by Russia who has begun purging itself of the same meddlesome, disingenuous "NGOs" that are backing Bersih and Awar Ibrahim in Malaysia. From the West's "human rights" observers, to the United Nations itself, all have been demonstrably abused to pursue the agenda of Western corporate-financier interests, many times both causing and compounding the alleged abuses they set out to "stop" in the first place. Read more at: http://landdestroyer.blogspot.de/2013/02/western-exceptionalism-crumbling-as.html#more

Xenophon criticised for interfering in M'sian politics Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:17 PM PST A handout photo taken and received on Feb 16 shows Australian Senator Nick Xenophon being detained at Kuala Lumpur's International Airport.  (Bernama) - ONE of Australia's senior commentators has taken maverick independent senator Nick Xenophon to task for his "foolish or cynically self-promoting" episode in Malaysia at the weekend.  The Australian newspaper's foreign editor Greg Sheridan said Xenophon's call for the Australian government to monitor the forthcoming Malaysian elections was "stupid and impractial". Sheridan also accused Xenophon of "campaigning for just one side of Malaysian politics — the opposition".  Sheridan said Foreign Minister Bob Carr was right to make his response to Xenophon's deportation as low key as possible and to agree with his Malaysian counterpart that the issue would not affect relations between the two countries. "Carr should take no further action on the matter, nor is he likely to," he said. "They (Malaysia) should either have told Xenophon in advance he was not welcome or they should have let his visit pass unnoticed.  "However, if anything, having an argument with an interfering Australian politician will be of some small electoral advantage to the ruling coalition. "He might reflect on the fact the side he supports contains as perhaps its strongest element the most extreme Islamist party in mainstream Southeast Asian politics. "Xenophon wants the Australian government to send electoral monitors to the forthcoming Malaysian elections. This idea is stupid and impractical," Sheridan said.  Citing electoral problems in Vietnam and Cambodia, Sheridan said Malaysia "on any measure is one of the most democratic and freewheeling nations in Southeast Asia.  "Its elections are certainly not perfect, but they are better than in most parts of the world.  "Indeed, its very openness allows people such as Xenophon to grandstand there."

Australia wants Malaysia to explain Senator’s deportation Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:14 PM PST In this Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 photo, Australian senator Nick Xenophon, right, walks with Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: AP  (Today Online) - "We made immediate and strenuous representations on his behalf, not only in relation to him being detained, but in terms of him being allowed to be in Malaysia," Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne, where Mr Xenophon had arrived earlier. "Clearly we didn't succeed. We will continue to pursue this issue with the Malaysian government." Australia is seeking further explanation from Malaysia about why an Australian Senator, who went to Malaysia to discuss electoral reform, was denied entry and deported, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said yesterday. Malaysia refused entry on Saturday to independent Senator Nick Xenophon, with an immigration official saying the decision was due to his participation in an illegal street rally for electoral reform last year. The Malaysian government is bracing for an election within months that is expected to be the closest in the country's history. "We made immediate and strenuous representations on his behalf, not only in relation to him being detained, but in terms of him being allowed to be in Malaysia," Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne, where Mr Xenophon had arrived earlier. "Clearly we didn't succeed. We will continue to pursue this issue with the Malaysian government." Mr Xenophon was part of an unofficial delegation seeking to discuss the coming elections with members of the Malaysian government, opposition, judiciary and election commission. The other three members of the delegation cancelled their trip after Mr Xenophon was detained on arrival in Kuala Lumpur. He said he had been told he had been detained because he was considered "a security risk". The Malaysian government said he had broken the law on a previous visit. Mr Xenophon was invited to Malaysia last year by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and observed a major street rally for electoral reform in April that ended in violence. He later criticised the government's handling of the rally. "I understand the decision to deport me came from the highest levels of the Malaysian government," Mr Xenophon said yesterday, adding that he had become the first Australian lawmaker to be deported from any country. Australia and Malaysia have had a sometimes rocky diplomatic relationship. The two countries clashed 20 years ago when former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating called former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad "recalcitrant" for boycotting the 1993 Asia-Pacific economic forum. Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia does not need to entertain Canberra's criticism for expelling Mr Xenophon. The former Prime Minister said the Australian government was free to criticise but Malaysia's government had the right to enforce its laws. "If he comes here with no good intentions, might as well not come here," Dr Mahathir said. "If (the Gillard administration) wants to criticise, they can criticise. We don't have to entertain them," he told reporters at a Chinese New Year celebration in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Approached by reporters, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was also with Dr Mahathir at the event, said he would not comment on the matter yesterday.

A Non-tick for Nong Chik! Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:04 PM PST   At every street corner, a pasty face with creepy veneers and still hair would pounce out at unsuspecting motorists without woeful warning of the wimpy visage! Public property has been plastered with pimping portraits of bribe-brocaded BN bumpkins.   Shenaaz Khan 'Twas a glorious day indeed as devilry had ceased momentarily and I was met at my neighbourhood street junction by the fine featured face of the legitimate Lembah Pantai lawmaker. This was rather unorthodox of course, given the vile vindictive vandalism perpetuating through my Pakatan-held constituency. Having been a resident of Bangsar Baru for 38 years now, I have never quite witnessed such unashamed UMNO unlawfulness as I have in the last 2 years. The blatant breaching of by-laws has been bolstered with barefaced belligerence and Bolshevik brute! At every street corner, a pasty face with creepy veneers and still hair would pounce out at unsuspecting motorists without woeful warning of the wimpy visage! Public property has been plastered with pimping portraits of bribe-brocaded BN bumpkins. And patches of grass outside private homes have been plunged with BN billboards, erected on the directive of (SPOILER ALERT!) the Federal Territories Ministry! This nugget of information came as a terrible horrible shock to ABSOLUTELY NO ONE!! For awhile now, many Bangsar folk have been subjected to this menacing modus of a moustached mooching marauder called Raja Nong Chik. A non parliamentarian and kitchen entrance minister, Raja Nong Chik is, for all intents and purposes, a perfidious politician who offensively plies the peasants of Pantai Valley with his patrician pity! And with hideous regularity, he is seen bouncing about and brunching with the Bob's and Betty's of Bangsar, venturing to vulture votes. Hardly acts of hardiment one would think! Nonetheless his blog boasts a sudden stellar track record of service to the people of Lembah Pantai and could lead one to believe that Nong can do no wrong!! His catalogue of kindness includes stalking, soliciting and spamming the simple people of Lembah Pantai! Yes, everywhere a voter wanders, there he is. Just a fortnight ago, I received a box emblazoned with his smug mug, filled with festive fruit. Actually for this, I was rather thankful as I quite enjoy ingesting oranges and my cats love turning cardboard into confetti. But the endless stream of text messages, mails and postcards pointlessly piled onto Pantairians carrying the "Nong Chik is no chickadee" chants has all but made many quite sick of Nong Chik. Yes, much like the Great Mustachio Prime Minister NAJ1B, who drums for support with a demeanour that demands a diuretic, Nong Chiks ballot begging has produced bile in many bellies. And Bangsar bellies are further upchucked by Chiks bastionhood of banner bullying. Yes, BANNER BULLYING! Tis a riveting game of brashly binning banners of one's foe and then brandishing beastly banners bearing BN blockheads! The cheek of him! Now the Nong-Nurul imbroglio has courted much contempt from both campaigning camps! Hence, last week, the democratically elected Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah Anwar, invited the resident rounding Raja to a public powwow on policies and performances. She proposed a date and a bipartisan mediator. But the foul fowl frowned upon the offer as he has a debilitating disdain for democracy and diplomacy! This was abundantly justified of course, as a debate debacle could easily prove Nong to be one humongous nought! To those who have beheld the idiocy of indignation, it was delightfully obvious that Nuruls' debate demand dilemma-ed dear Nong and frightened the faeces out of the FT fronter, who favours flibberti-gibberti falsehoods to irrefutable facts! Now I don't mean to get philosophical, but Nong is no Nietzsche and is more accustomed to spin than Spinoza. So he says NO to his nemesis, feebly fearing that Nurul, the novice, would nimbly numb his neurons with nuanced knowledge of his niggling nepotism. A King among cowards, he instead opts to spinelessly spew spiteful slander from platforms made of plastercine and pipes and trumpet his trivial triumphs to troupers, trustees and Tamagotchis. Mindful that any public debate would expose Nurul's natty nature against his nonsensical natter, the mischievous minister maligns my MP's movement with madcap monologue. Two days ago, amidst a barrage of barren bollocks, the cowardly Chik commanded us to feverishly fear the onslaught of dingling democracy should those tongue twisting, freedom frothing, homosexual hosting Opposition win the next general elections! The ninth circle of hell will then be upon us and we shall become the Nubian slaves of Godless heathens! Malaysia shall be imperilled, for the Opposition is going to Khmer our Rouge and hurl us into Das Kapital damnation! How very tragic! Yes, Nong certainly neighed some knee-slapping nuttiness when he compared the Opposition to the Khmer Rouge. My, my, such asinine assertions would confound both Mulder and Scully alike! One can't help but be nonplussed by Nong's nonsense. His chid of the Khmer Rouge is like the pot calling the Pol Pot black! It is after all the BN regiment that represses the rights of its rakyat with racial and religious discrimination and rampant abuse of power! And they do this all while taking a whack at the nation's wealth. Poor Raja- his thoughts must have been stuck at the taxidermist and he must have confused the Khmer Rouge with Moulin Rouge. But if Raja Nong Chik wishes to invoke horrible histories, he ought to reflect upon these hard-hitting truths of yesteryears- Elmer Fudd never killed Bugs Bunny, Wile E Coyote never out ran the road runner and Gargamel could not impede the smurfs from becoming Ipad icons, even if it was the last thing he ever did! And Raja Nong Chik best remember that on March 8th 2008, the people of Lembah Pantai handed divorce papers to the malfeasant Madam Shahrizat and retained custody of our pride. We value our vale far too much to ever let anymore thieving, smirking BN overlords leech on to our land. So, so long Nong! And may the rest of the nation bid adieu to the BN blisters and their rotting residue!

PM Najib and Oppa Gangnam Penang Style Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:56 AM PST   Najib's Oppa Gangnam in Penang has shown that he is serious about wanting to be a Prime Minister for all. For that, he has my respect. I hope he and those like him be they from BN, PR or civil society will continue to work towards being a Malaysian leader no matter what. Even if you receive millions of  'NOs!" Anas Zubedy  I grew up in Penang. I grew up amongst the Chinese, mainly Hokkiens. Thanks to the experience, I am familiar with them and conversant in their dialect.  Those who grew up amongst them will be familiar with their logic and reasoning during mediation. There is a favourite defence mechanism.  It goes like this; "Wa bo sa lah." [I'm not in the wrong] "Lu bo ka wa kong." [You didn't tell me (from the very beginning] "Lu bo sia lok lai ma." [There's no written agreement] The above sequence is an automatic response typically whenever they are in a debate or dispute. It's almost like a standard operating procedure. And because of this line of thinking, it is not entirely surprising that when the Prime Minister asked, "Is Penang ready for BN?" during the Chinese New Year gig; there are those among them who boldly answered 'No' without feeling any guilt. Let me explain. Unlike the Malays generally, the Penang Chinese do not easily feel 'terhutang budi' when someone extends a kind act as did the BN. When they extended a gift, like bringing Psy to Penang, many Penang Chinese generally do not see it as an obligation to be nice in return. Their reaction is simple, "I did not ask you to do it. If you do it… that is your problem lah." Basically, Wa bo sa lah. Lu bo ka wa kong. Lu bo sia lok lai ma. If Penang Gerakan or MCA hope they can wrestle the votes of Penang Chinese in favour of BN simply because they brought Psy to Penang, I will be genuinely surprised. It will be asking far too much. Penangites will go and have fun at the concert with Psy entertaining them, eat the free food, but they are still likely to vote for the DAP. There was no earlier 'agreement' to require voting for BN in return for the kind act of bringing Psy and the party; and therefore, they do not feel that they are in the wrong. Wa bo sa lah. Lu bo ka wa kong. Lu bo sia lok lai ma. This is especially true where DAP supporters are concern. As their leader, CM Lim Guan Eng openly told them it is okay to be a freeloader and go have free fun, eat the free food, and dress in symbolic opposition colours. But does that mean BN had a public relations disaster as per pro-opposition pundits are trying to sell? Not at all! Unfortunately today in Malaysia, extreme partisanship has made critics from both sides exaggerate situations way far off reality with the hope to paint the other side as bad as possible and colour their side as best as they could.  Through the CNY show BN may have achieved the following. 1.    The Chinese New Year gathering  has reminded the Penang Chinese that BN/Gerakan/MCA are still around, can still move things in a big way and Penang is not the monopoly of the DAP. It was an occasion for BN to engage the rakyat directly. The event was a good PR opportunity for a re-launch of sorts. 2.    Furthermore, the Penang rakyat including hard core DAP supporters get to meet, see, and listen to the Prime Minister in person. With his earnest effort to woo and mingle with the grassroots it helps to bolster the image of a leader who mati-mati wants to be a Prime Minister for all Malaysians. By stressing that he wants to be the Prime Minister for all, including the Chinese who currently are seen solidly with the opposition sits well among the fence sitters of all races. His willingness to risk going into 'an enemy territory' and be humbled and snubbed portrays him as a leader who is soft in the outside but very strong in the inside. 3.    Chances are those who answered either 'yes' or 'no' to the Prime Minister at the gathering, would have answered the same regardless. But this event is advantageous to the BN for it is luring the fence-sitters. And they form the bulk of the electoral roll nationwide. What happens in Penang does not stay only in Penang.  Both BN and PR should worry about what these non-partisan undecided voters think of BN and PM Najib after the event instead of focussing on hard core supporters from each side who are already decided. In this coming election, the non-partisans are the kingmakers. 4.    As suggested in item 3, what happens in Penang does not stay in Penang. I have strong convictions that scores of Malays will not take kindly that a 'Malay' leader like PM Najib has been snubbed openly by a mainly Chinese crowd. Many Malays will see this as rude, unbecoming, and uncultured. In the Malay way of being and ideals, when one comes bearing 'gifts' – in this case, an international star performer and good food – and you decide to take it, at the least one must be courteous and considerate. Acting any other way can be construed as 'tak berterima kasih' and ill-mannered. Some will say, if they can do it to Najib a Prime Minister, imagine what will they do to us, we the rakyat jelata. At most, from a Malay standpoint, one should just remain silent instead of answering 'No'. By not saying 'yes' it will mean 'no', but in a nicer way. Malays are sensitive to such things.  In the late 90s, many Malays while not being Anwar's supporters and may even agree with Dr Mahathir's point of view did not take kindly with the manner the former DPM was treated. Such behaviour by the Penangites, coupled with other incidents like CM Lim Guan Eng using the Allah issue in his Christmas message for political purpose (which probably baffled even people in PAS his own comrades in PR) and the recent rude 'gesturing' to Her Majesty The Queen by someone many Malays see as a DAP supporter will make them rasa was-was with the DAP leadership. This will have a direct impact on the average Malays be they from UMNO, PAS, PKR or party less. In short, Malaysian politics is far more complicated and sophisticated and by far more dynamic than one might aspect. For example, when CM Lim Guan Eng uses the Allah issue for political purpose perhaps to gain the support of the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, he dented his own team mates in PAS and PKR within the Peninsular. Similarly, when Ibrahim Ali and right wing Malay groups like Perkasa reacted by suggesting the burning of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible, the act will move various parties in differing ways. In short, what one group does have repercussion in many forms across the nation. Playing to one group, will affect another – it is no easy task to win the leadership of Malaysia. Leaders must find a delicate balance. To lead this nation, and to be Prime Minister of Malaysia, each candidate no matter if you are in a Malay or Chinese stronghold; in Penang or Kelantan or Sabah or Sarawak you must be a leader for all. It is not enough to have the Malays supporting you. You also need the support of the Chinese, the Indians, and the communities of Sabah and Sarawak. You will need the support of people in urban areas and rural areas. You will need support from the old, the middle aged, and the young. In doing so, a Malay leader cannot be too Malay, the Chinese cannot be too Chinese, the Indians cannot be too Indian, the Sabahans cannot be too Sabahan, the Sarawakians cannot be too Sarawakian. They all have to be Malaysian first. Najib's Oppa Gangnam in Penang has shown that he is serious about wanting to be a Prime Minister for all. For that, he has my respect. I hope he and those like him be they from BN, PR or civil society will continue to work towards being a Malaysian leader no matter what. Even if you receive millions of  'NOs!"

PM: Opposition only has attractive slogans Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:53 AM PST   (The Star) - Slogans by the Opposition may be attractive but these do not assure the people's comforts or way of life, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. In contrast, Najib said the Government Transformation Programmes had proven to enhance both the country's and the people's standards of living and morale. Malaysians, he added, could not survive only on nice slogans or huge banners. "Can the banners give your children an education? Or repair your homes? The answer is not at all. "However, the transformation programmes can help the people out. The proof is that today, some 7,000 people in the Chini state constituency have received their Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) from the Government," he said during a kenduri rakyat in Bandar Dara Chini attended by some 20,000 people here yesterday. Najib also urged the people to evaluate the attempts by certain groups to inspire a revolution through reformasi (reformation) like in Egypt. Although these groups had used the word reformasi instead of revolution for their cause, he said there was no better word than the "transformation" undertaken by the Government. "If reformasi means demonstrasi (demonstration) and baling kerusi (chair throwing), it is definitely not good. "It is better to have transformasi (transformation) as we are doing to help the people out of concern for their needs, such as giving out BR1M, the early schooling aid and so many other forms of assistance from the Government. "The reformasi cannot give all of these," he said to loud applause from the crowd. Unlike the Opposition, Najib said Barisan Nasional had not played the people out by not fulfilling its promises. "All the Opposition's promises to the people in Selangor how many of these have been fulfilled? The monthly financial aid to single mothers was not fulfilled despite them having been in power for nearly five years. "Many Selangor folk are also disappointed with the promise for free water supply. Instead, there is no water," he said. "This is the fate that has befallen the people after believing those promises by the Opposition. However, with the Barisan government, our promises are fulfilled," added Najib.

PKR banks on ex-deputy minister to win back Wangsa Maju Posted: 17 Feb 2013 01:46 AM PST Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider PKR is banking on a former deputy minister to take back the Wangsa Maju urban constituency needed to seize federal power in Election 2013. Former Deputy Minister Land and Cooperative Development Datuk Dr Tan Tee Kwong had started reconnecting with the voters to increase his profile on the ground since incumbent Wangsa Maju representative Wee Choo Keong quit the party in 2010 and turned Independent though pledging support to the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal coalition. In a recent Sunday walkabout, Dr Tan told The Malaysian Insider that he is now more comfortable and confident after meeting Wangsa Maju residents regularly. "After two years, the walkabouts and contributions to the needy have started to show positive result," said the former Gerakan MP. He also confessed that the hardest task is to convince the voters who question his loyalty to PKR, and to assure them that another party-hopping incident will not repeat itself. "The first time I was here, almost everybody I met asked what assurance can I give them if I win," Dr Tan added. Two high-ranking PKR leaders have also acknowledged that Dr Tan was given the responsibility to take care of the area's party branch after Wee left. "(Dr Tan) was given the responsibility to restore the party's image and strengthen the election machinery," said PKR Secretary-General Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. "The possibility of him contesting (in Wangsa Maju) is there." PKR Communications Director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also echoed Saifuddin's view of Dr Tan's chances. "A full decision is yet to be made, but that's it... maybe Tan will contest that seat," the Seri Setia assemblyman said. Dr Tan's presence was lauded by Mohammad Hamdi Mohd Said, who was part of the election machinery's backbone which contributed to Wee's win back in 2008. "Almost every week, (Dr Tan) would go to the ground to meet the residents," the Wangsa Maju PKR Youth Chief said. "After Wee left, it became a bit chaotic, but since Tan took over, situation has changed. "Tan is a true politician, and he is not shy to go to the ground, unlike Wee who did so rarely. "His character is so different to the old candidate, because in 2008 we made a big mistake by putting a parachute candidate." READ MORE HERE

Hindraf: Pakatan risks losing 25 seats without us Posted: 16 Feb 2013 07:05 PM PST Meena Lakshana, fz.com Pakatan Rakyat risks losing 25 parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election without Hindraf's partnership, the Indian-based movement claimed today.   Hindraf chairman P Waytha Moorthy said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration has gained traction in the Indian community, and the community was "not at war with the government as they were in 2007 and 2008."   "The Najib administration has done tremendous work on the ground and if they are successful in gaining 55% of the total Indian voters, Pakatan is likely to face risk in 25 parliament seats," he said in a statement.   "We have educated and empowered the people politically. They are no longer the naive community who would agree to what is promised prior to elections.   "We earnestly hope Pakatan would do some real on-the-ground investigation instead of relying on information from their own diehard supporters. BN did the same mistake in 2008 and paid a heavy price," he added.   Waytha Moorthy said Hindraf, with its 200 volunteers, is prepared to do the ground work for Pakatan to gain support among the Indian community.    He also said Pakatan should endorse the Hindraf blueprint in which the group spells out policies that if feels would help alleviate the problems faced by the Indian community.   "Hindraf has been questioned by the Indian community throughout their road shows as to the reason for Pakatan's reluctance to sign the document. We have no concrete answer to give them," he said.   Waytha Moorthy repeated his claim that a strategic partnership with Hindraf would ensure delivery of 50% of the undecided Indian voters.   Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously said the coalition's Buku Jingga, a master plan of policies it would enact if it were to take over Putrajaya, would address the woes of the Indian community.   Pakatan's discussions with Hindraf to form an electoral pact hit a wall after the group reportedly demanded that its representatives be fielded as candidates in seven parliamentary constituencies and 10 state seats.   Waytha Moorthy clarified later Hindraf representatives are only seeking to contest in constituencies that are currently held by MIC.

MIC man calls on Hindraf to woo BN Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:49 PM PST Since Pakatan does not appreciate the efforts of Hindra, KP Samy says the movement should turn to BN instead. K Pragalath, FMT Days after Hindraf announced that its courtship with Pakatan Rakyat has soured, a former Hindraf activist wants the movement to woo MIC and Barisan Nasional. Ex-Hindraf activist KP Samy wanted the movement to reveal Pakatan Rakyat's shortcomings to the Indian community. "Hindraf should agree that MIC is the sole Indian representative. They should work with MIC to strengthen the community. "Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been doing his level best for the past four years," said the MIC central working committee member. He also said Hindraf's efforts to build a working relationship with Pakatan was not appreciated by the federal opposition alliance that helms four state governments. "Hindraf should go back to the Indian community and reveal Pakatan's insincerity. A large number of Hindraf supporters have left Pakatan," he told FMT. Samy said that Hindraf's contribution that led to Pakatan's victory was neither valued nor recognised. He added that Pakatan should have honoured the five Hindraf leaders held under ISA and provided financial backing for the hundreds of Hindraf supporters who were detained. Instead, he said Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar only announced financial assistance for Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga when the federal government initiated a suit against Bersih. Samy also requested Hindraf to consider the Indian equity factor. "Only one race – the Chinese – have maximised their equity in Selangor. The Indians remain the same," he added. He added that in terms of positions within the government, Pakatan had only fulfilled its pledge by giving the Penang Deputy Chief Minister 2 post to P Ramasamy but in Selangor that was not the case. "Jayakumar's exco post is the eighth in the list. All the important exco positions are held by Chinese representatives from the DAP and PKR," he said, citing Teresa Kok and Elizabeth Wong as examples. Meanwhile, Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy still hoped that Pakatan would continue courting Hindraf. "Hindraf has made clear from the outset that it supports Pakatan and wishes to work closely with Pakatan to achieve its objectives of addressing the 56-year marginalisation of the Indian community in this country," he said in a press statement. He also emphasised on Hindraf's vital role in swaying Indian votes for Pakatan. READ MORE HERE

‘Pakatan’s Allah decision is official’ Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:46 PM PST Karpal Singh says that the PAS majlis syura's decision cannot overwrite the stand taken by Pakatan Rakyat. Athi Shankar, FMT Pakatan Rakyat's decision that the term "Allah" can be used by non-Muslims is the coalition's official stand that should be respected by its allies, said DAP national chairman Karpal Singh. He said Pakatan's decision was binding on DAP, PAS and PKR notwithstanding the parties' respective stand on the issue. Hence, he said the decision by PAS' majlis syura, the party's highest decision-making body, that non-Muslims cannot use the term would not overwrite Pakatan's stand. He said Pakatan's official stand was collectively and unanimously adopted by its leaders – PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to safeguard larger public interests and rights. He pointed out that majlis syura was just a small entity in a party that was part of Pakatan. "Mathematically, it can't overwrite Pakatan's decision. Pakatan is the bigger entity. The three Pakatan parties agreed to it unanimously. All allies should stand by Pakatan's decision," he said. He was commenting on media reports about groups protesting against the stand taken by DAP and PKR leaders, like Karpal, Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Anwar and Azmin Ali on whether Christians could use the term Allah in the Malay edition of the Bible. Claiming to be current and former PAS members, the groups criticised DAP and PKR leaders for stirring Muslim sentiments and undermining the Majlis Syura decision. Karpal criticised certain Barisan Nasional-controlled media for playing up the issue to irk Muslim sensitivities against Pakatan leaders like him. "Publishing pictures that are defamatory is a serious matter," he cautioned. The Allah issue aside, he said the relationship among Pakatan allies were generally good as the parties had good understanding on many common and pressing issues. He also commented on Pakatan's leadership seeking clarification from Hadi over his flip-flop on the issue following the majlis syura's decision and pressure from party grassroots. "The issue does not arise. Pakatan's stand is clear," said Karpal.

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:03 PM PST And this is where Peter and Paul disagreed. Basically, Peter's 'market' was fellow Jews so the old Jewish traditions must be maintained. Paul, however, wanted to expand the 'market' to non-Jews. So the old traditions of the Jews should be discarded. And instead of circumcision, those non-Jews (who were therefore not circumcised) should be baptised when they leave their old religion to become Christians. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter," said Sir Winston Churchill. In fact, there is another quote from Churchill: "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the forms of government that have been tried from time to time." While we are on the subject of quotes from Churchill, you may want to read what more he said. "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else." "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." "Any 20 year-old who isn't a liberal doesn't have a heart, and any 40 year-old who isn't a conservative doesn't have a brain." "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." "Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." Anyway, those are but a fraction of sayings from Sir Winston Churchill to brighten up your Sunday evening (or Sunday morning here in the UK). But that is not what I want to talk about today. What I want to talk about is the issue of Haron Din being scolded, cursed, vilified and disparaged because of the stand he has taken regarding the use of the Allah word in the Bible. For both Muslims as well as Christians, they need to understand the boundaries of decent discourse and when does that discourse exceed the boundary and falls into the category of indecency. And this is why I have titled today's article "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." The average voter, meaning the majority of Malaysia Today's readers, have absolutely no idea what democracy means. Democracy means Haron Din has a right to his view and so do you. And democracy does not mean if you differ in view you have the right to attack the other person verbally, or worse, physically. For example, we can disagree on whether Malaysia should remain a Secular Constitutional Monarchy or be changed into a Secular Republic or, as some are proposing, a Theocratic Constitutional Monarchy or an Islamic Republic. At the end of the day, we all have different views and different choices. And that is why there are so many religions and sects of these many religions in existence plus, of course, agnostics and atheists. This is because we have differing views about religion and God and about the way to 'reach' God -- and whether God even exists or not in the first place and if He does then in what form. However, although we may disagree on theological issues, this does not mean since Malaysia is a democracy that gives me the right to disparage someone who has a different view from me. It just means we have different views and we should respect each other's views. I have read comments from readers who say that Muslims are stupid for not wanting to eat pork because pork is so delicious. You know that pork is taboo to Muslims so why the need to goad Muslims with such comments? Have you read any comments from Muslims saying that Hindus are stupid for not wanting to eat beef because beef is so delicious? If Muslims do not want to eat pork (or Hindus do not want to eat beef) then let it be. Learn to respect the taboos of each religion. I am sure you do not like it when I say that Chinese are stupid for getting upset with Ibrahim Ali when he gave white colour angpau for Chinese New Year. If white angpau are meant for funerals and are taboo for Chinese New Year then we respect that tradition. Saying that Chinese are stupid for believing such silly superstition is provocative and will certainly trigger bad-will. In fact, did you know that pork was actually taboo to the early Christians as well (who were not yet called 'Christians' but 'followers of the Jesus Movement')? No, I am not talking about the Christian doctrine or dogma here. I am talking about history. And if you study in greater detail the history of the Apostles (not what the Bible says but what the historians say) then you would know what I am talking about. For the benefit of the non-Christians, in particular the Muslims, the majority who have never studied Christian history, the 12 Apostles are as follows: 1. Simon Peter (brother of Andrew). 2. James (son of Zebedee and older brother of John) also called "James the Greater". 3. John (son of Zebedee and brother of James). 4. Andrew (brother of Simon Peter). 5. Philip of Bethsaida. 6. Thomas (Didymus). 7. Bartholomew (Nathaniel). 8. Matthew (Levi) of Capernaum. 9. James (son of Alphaeus) also called "James the Lesser". 10. Simon the Zealot (the Canaanite). 11. Thaddaeus-Judas (Lebbaeus), brother of James the Lesser and brother of Matthew (Levi) of Capernaum. 12. Judas Iscariot. The Roman Catholic Church puts a great deal of emphasis on (Simon) Peter and claims that Jesus said he would build his church on him. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." (Matthew 16:18). In fact, (St.) Peter is considered the First Pope of the Catholic Church. Hence Peter is regarded as one of the most important Apostles of Christianity. The second most important Apostle, however, is not one of the other 11 but Paul. Paul was a strong anti-Jesus Movement Jewish zealot who made it his mission to destroy this movement. In fact, it is said that he was there to witness the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (and it is also said that Paul held Stephen's cloak while Stephen was being stoned to death). Paul was instrumental in arresting and torturing those who had strayed from true Judaism by following the false teachings of the Jesus Movement. One day, while travelling from Jerusalem to Damascus on his mission to hunt down and kill Christians, Paul 'saw' Jesus in the form of a mirage. Paul was immediately blinded but, three days later, his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus. This 'miracle' prompted Paul to become a follower of the Jesus Movement. However, while Peter and the other disciples focused their missionary work just on fellow Jews, Paul felt that Christianity should be for all, not only for Jews. So Paul started preaching Christianity to the gentiles and pagans. And to attract non-Jews to Christianity there should be a certain relaxing of the rules, so to speak. Hence the need for circumcision and the banning of eating pork, as an example, which are a Jewish tradition and therefore also the tradition of the early Christians, should be reviewed. By Paul's reckoning, non-Jew Christians should be exempted from circumcision and should be allowed to eat pork. And this is where Peter and Paul disagreed. Basically, Peter's 'market' was fellow Jews so the old Jewish traditions must be maintained. Paul, however, wanted to expand the 'market' to non-Jews. So the old traditions of the Jews should be discarded. And instead of circumcision, those non-Jews (who were therefore not circumcised) should be baptised when they leave their old religion to become Christians. Of course, there were more non-Jews than there were Jews. Hence, understandably, Paul's movement expanded faster than Peter's. Furthermore, while Peter focused on small Jewish communities, Paul travelled to the bigger non-Jewish cities where there were more people and therefore more potential converts. And because Paul's version of Christianity, so to speak, was more 'liberal' (for want of a better word) compared to Peter's (which retained the strict Jewish taboos and traditions) more people followed Paul than Peter. The 'headquarters' of the Church of England is St Paul's Cathedral in London, founded in 604, around the time that Islam was founded. The 'headquarters' of the Roman Catholic Church, however, is St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, founded in 319 by the Emperor Constantine. Now, can you figure out why that is so (make your own conclusion on this)? This is, of course, my analysis of the early development of Christianity and based on historical accounts and not based on what the Bible says. So I can expect many Christians to disagree with my analysis. And they have every right to do so (as do many Malays/Muslims also disagree with my historical analysis of the early development of Islam -- and the reason why many of my Malay/Muslim friends are no longer my friends: because they disagree with me). Nevertheless, since we are talking about democracy and the right of non-Muslims to comment on Islam, I, too, exercise my democratic right to offer my analysis regarding the early development of Christianity. That is how democracy works, unfortunately. So, my conclusion to this is: if you are a follower of Peter, then pork should be haram for you (plus you should be circumcised) while, if you are a follower of Paul, then pork should be halal (and you only need to be baptised). So be very careful before you whack the Muslims and call them stupid for refusing to eat 'delicious pork'.

Najib’s time ends now Posted: 16 Feb 2013 04:10 PM PST Josh Hong, Hornbill Unleashed From day one, Najib Abdul Razak's apprenticeship as prime minister has been marked by facade. Having edged out Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with the help of Muhyiddin Yassin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he promised the people a thorough reform, so that Barisan Nasional and most critically, Umno, could regain the public trust, and yet another mandate to rule. At a media function nearly four years ago, he publicly stated that "there is a vital place… for a vibrant, free and informed media" and that "we need a media – both old and new – that is empowered to responsibly report what they see, without fear of consequence". Now, turn toUtusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, the New Straits Times,The Star and the Najib-friendly Sinchew Daily, and read for yourself their coverage on the fiasco at the Chinese New Year celebration in Penang, at which the crowd shouted "No!" loud and clear – not once, but three times – to Najib early this week. There is no better way to put Najib's sincerity to test, and it is found utterly wanting. Najib also admits that "the era when the government knows best is over". Still, his party and coalition partners continue to exercise a tight grip on the mainstream media, with Utusan arguing flagrantly and atrociously that there is no need to verify negative news concerning the opposition parties. And my sources told me that with Chinese support almost bottoming out with no hope of being revived before the upcoming general election, there is now a team of people at the Prime Minister's Department directly monitoring all the Mandarin news on TV to ensure that 'undesirable' elements are edited out before they are aired. Even the Malay elite are beginning to feel the heat of Umno's hegemony, and Azrul Azwar, the chief economist at the Islamic Bank suspended from duty over his 'politically incorrect' predictions, is a case in point. Facade is actually a worse form of politicking than spin-doctoring. Whereas the latter is meant to interpret favourably words and actions of a certain politician to convince the public, and may contain half truths in it, the former is a sheer exercise of deception with a clear goal of fooling the people. Najib's rubbing salt into wounds Hence, when Najib bowed to mounting public pressures and set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the mysterious and tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock, all that it culminated in was a verdict that only rubbed salt into the wounds of the victim's family, while the death of Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed had been completely erased from public memory. Despite that the RCI did identify 'institutional racism' as being pervasive in the public sector, Najib has done nothing to address the issue, choosing to blow his own horn of '1Malaysia' ad nauseam. But what '1Malaysia' is he boasting? His wife, the infamous 'First Lady' Rosmah Mansor, graced a fundraising event hosted by Ibrahim Ali of Perkasa exactly a year ago, over which Najib was conspicuous by his elegant silence. I still remember someone describing it as, "as if Michelle Obama is endorsing the Ku Klux Klan". What a fitting analogy! Najib's being beholden to the ultra-conservative forces within Umno can be clearly seen from his failure to chastise Ibrahim Ali (right) over the latter's recent threat to burn the Bible. While Mahathir rushed to the defence of the Perkasa head, Najib just played dumb as usual. As a believer in free speech, I disagree with those who call for Ibrahim Ali's arrest in the wake of his remarks, incendiary though they may have been. But as a politician aspiring allegedly to national leadership, Najib should have at least had the courage to rebuke them. Born with a silver spoon, Najib is no risk-taker. He prefers, obviously, to indulge in his own fantasies of 'transformation' while the extremists are becoming bolder by the day. READ MORE HERE

‘I Love New PM’ sambut Anwar di majlis Dong Zong Posted: 16 Feb 2013 04:02 PM PST (Suara Pakatan Rakyat) - KAJANG: Ketibaan Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada majlis sambutan Tahun Baru Cina anjuran Dong Zong kira-kira sejam selepas perdana menteri meninggalkan majlis itu mendapat sambutan yang agak luar biasa. Kehadiran Anwar bersama isteri dan pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat disambut dengan tiga plakad bertulis 'I Love New PM'. Plakad sama sebelum itu digunakan ketika menyambut kehadiran Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sebelum ia diubah suai dengan menambah perkataan 'new' iaitu baru bagi menyambut kehadiran Anwar. Salah satu plakad itu juga menambah 'I Love New PM Anwar'. Anwar tiba kira-kira jam 11.30 pagi. Sama seperti Najib, Anwar juga tidak menyampaikan sebarang ucapan kepada kira-kira 5,000 hadirin yang menghadiri sambutan Tahun Baru Cina kali ketiga anjuran Dong Zong yang bertempat di Kolej New Era di sini. Sama seperti ketika menyambut kehadiran Najib, acara "Lao Shang" dan aneka persembahan turut disajikan kepada rombongan Anwar. Meskipun begitu, masyarakat yang hadir dilihat begitu teruja melihat Anwar dan bersalaman dengan pemimpin itu. Bahkan laungan reformasi turut kedengaran. Turut mengiringi Anwar ialah Adun Kajang, Lee Kim Sin; Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang; Naib Presiden Pas, Datuk Mahfuz Omar dan Naib Presiden PKR, Tian Chua.

Postal voting: M’sians abroad have until dissolution of Parliament Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:50 PM PST Applications through the 1B Form received after midnight on the day of dissolution will not be processed, says the EC. (Bernama) - Registered Malaysian voters living abroad have until the dissolution of Parliament to apply for postal voting for the 13th general election. Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said applications through the 1B Form received after midnight on the day of dissolution would not be processed. Since Jan 21, the EC had received 2,485 applications from Malaysians living overseas of which the highest were from Australia with 574 applications, United Kingdom (449), United States (195), China (132), Qatar (116) and United Arab Emirates (97), he told Bernama. Besides them, 2,651 Malaysian students and civils servants and their spouseshave also registered for postal voting for the coming elections. He said Malaysian citizens could refer to the guideline for filling in the 1B Form on the EC website for any question they might have regarding form completion to ensure it was done properly. Completed forms need to be sent to the EC headquarters in Putrajaya by e-mail (upup@spr.gov.my), fax (+603-8881 1201/ 1202/ 1187/ 1192) or by post. Wan Ahmad said each application would be immediately processed and the applicants would be informed of their application status. "Malaysians abroad should keep themselves updated on EC's announcements by visiting www.spr.gov.my from time to time," he said. For the first time in the country's election history, Malaysians living abroad who are registered voters can vote and be involved in determining the future of the country. Previously, only full-time students and civil servants and their spouses were eligible to use the postal voting facility. Besides being a registered voter, they must also have been in Malaysia for not less than 30 days within five years before Parliament and state assembly are dissolved. Malaysians living in Southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan are not eligible for postal voting and are required to return to cast their votes on polling day.

Australian govt to fight Xenophon deportation Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:38 PM PST (World News Australia) - Independent senator Nick Xenophon says he'll use the Malaysian courts to try to get his name removed from the country's watch list. The federal government will continue demanding explanations from Malaysia after failing to convince authorities to let South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon stay in the country. The independent senator was detained and deported from Malaysia upon arrival over the weekend - a decision he says came from "the highest levels of the Malaysian government" because of his support for pro-democracy reform. He arrived in Melbourne on Sunday after an eight-hour return flight, saying he believed he was the first Australian MP ever to be deported and he was ready to fight such a travel ban in court. "I'm now on a watch list," he said. "I don't know how many years or decades it will be before I'm allowed to set foot in Malaysian soil, which is a great pity." Senator Xenophon had been travelling to Malaysia as the head of an unofficial parliamentary delegation to review the country's electoral system. He and other Australian MPs were to meet Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, as well as the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Mohammed Nazri, and members of the group Bersih - the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections. But immigration officials told Senator Xenophon there was a technical glitch with his passport when he arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. He said he was then detained and deported upon being found to be a security risk. "I think that they've made a big mistake," he said. "This was going to be a low key visit ... I think it's spectacularly backfired on them." Prime Minister Julia Gillard said her government had immediately tried to convince Malaysia to allow Senator Xenophon into the country. "We will continue to pursue this issue with the Malaysian government," she told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he had already spoken with his Malaysian counterpart to express his surprise and disappointment at the deportation but hoped the incident would not erode bilateral relations. "I said I thought no ill could come of having an Australian senator there to observe the elections," Senator Carr told reporters at Sydney Airport on Sunday. But the Malaysian government took strong objection to foreign interference in their election campaign, he said. Local Malaysian media reported that Senator Xenophon was barred because he had attended a banned demonstration last year. "Malaysia is a free and democratic country but no one is above the law," a government-issued statement said. Former prime minister and foreign minister Kevin Rudd said Australia's response should be "robust," considering the senator's treatment. "Detaining any member of an Australian parliament, in the way in which Senator Xenophon appears to have been detained, is just unacceptable," he told Sky News on Sunday. "We are robust about our democracy and therefore we should be robust in our response to our friends in Kuala Lumpur." Senator Xenophon said his planned court appeal will likely mean he'll have to testify via video link since he was no longer allowed into Malaysia.

Anwar caught in another video controversy Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:31 PM PST (The Star) - A new controversy is swirling over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent trip to Sabah to woo voters there, this time for remarks he is claimed to have made against PAS leaders. A video of his speech, being circulated by pro-Barisan Nasional bloggers, seems to show him belittling the PAS leadership to stress that Pakatan Rakyat had not changed its stand on the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims. Among the remarks heard in the one-minute clip are his accusations that PAS mursyidul am Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat no longer understands Islam and his description of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as a mere follower. It is the second controversy to hit the PKR following Anwar's visit to Sabah. The first is the alleged conferment of the Huguan Siou (paramount leader) title to Anwar that angered Sabahans, because the revered title is traditionally bestowed only on members of the Kadazandusun community. In the video clip, Anwar claims that Umno is campaigning against him, and says: "Tok Guru Nik Aziz? Tok Guru Nik Aziz also does not understand Islam now. "Ustaz Hadi Awang? He also doesn't know, he only follows." The video clip is part of a recording of Anwar's speech at a PKR Chinese New Year open house at a hotel in Sabah last week. It has been reported that Anwar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had called on PAS to stick to a decision made by the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council on Jan 9 to allow non-Muslims to use the word "Allah". The PAS Syura Council had on Jan 13 objected to the use of the word in Malay Bibles. In the clip, Anwar says the Pakatan leadership had reached a consensus on the issue after discussions with Hadi in his capacity as PAS president. Anwar is heard in the video as saying that Pakatan had agreed that non-Muslims could use the word "Allah" but they should not "dishonour, ridicule and smear" the sacred term. When contacted, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said Anwar clearly stated in the video that it was Umno that had been going around claiming that Nik Aziz does not understand Islam and Hadi was a mere follower.

No way, Hisham! Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:19 PM PST Nicole Tan Lee Koon I would like to comment on Hishamuddin's statement on the 16th of Feb, 2013 that the Registrar Of Societies can investigate DAP and DAP run the risk of being deregistered just like UMNO in 1987 : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/ros-boleh-mula-siasat-dap-kata-hishamuddin/ In his haste to finish DAP off, Hishamuddin made a huge blunder by jumping the gun. His motive was manifested ever so clearly. The 60 days period that he mentioned can be found in Section 14 of the Societies Act 1966. Section 14 stipulates that every registered society shall forward to the Registrar inter alia, copies of AGM minutes; attendance; amendments to rules (if any); list of office bearers; address of the society; accounts within 60 days after the holding of its annual general meeting. For those who are familiar, it is actually the filing of Borang 9 returns. DAP has filed the necessary returns in accordance to Section 14 as confirmed by  DAP NS State Chairman and also National Organising Secretary , Anthony Loke Siew Fook in response to Hishamuddin's press statement on the same day.          What Hishamuddin meant was probably Section 16 which stipulates that if the Registrar is of the opinion that a dispute has occurred among the members as a result of which the Registrar is not satisfied of the identity of the persons who have been properly constituted as office-bearers of the society, the Registrar may serve notice on the society requiring the society, within one month of the service of such notice, to produce to him evidence of the proper appointment of the lawful office-bearers of the society and if any such notice is not complied with to the satisfaction of the Registrar within the period of one month, the Registrar may take steps to cancel the registration of the society. What the ROS should have done was to issue the notice pursuant to Section 16, which the ROS did not do so. I opine that even if the notice was issued, DAP does not run the risk of being de-registered as follows. Firstly, pursuant to Section 16, we can produce evidence of the proper appointment of the lawful office bearers i.e the internal and external auditors' reports which clearly states that the manual counting and results were proper and valid. However, there was a "copy and paste" error when the results were transcribed to the computer. The mistake was then rectified.  Secondly, under Sections 18A-18C (provisions applicable to political parties only), where there is any inconsistency between Sections 18A-18C and any provisions in the Act, Sections 18A-18C shall prevail. Section 18C stipulates that the decision of a political party on any matter relating to the affairs of the party shall be final and conclusive and such decision shall not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, quashed or called in question in any court on any ground, and no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain or determine any suit, application, question or proceeding on any ground regarding the validity of such decision. I repeat emphatically that the decision of a political party on any matter shall be final and conclusive. What more having been vindicated by the external auditor's report. When UMNO was deregistered in 1987, they wanted to ensure that history does not repeat itself and hence enacted Section 18C.  Chedet pre-empted any moves by political opponents to de-register a political party back in 1987 (but Section 18C only took effect in 1990). Therefore, Hishamuddin is wrong to say that DAP situation is the same as the time UMNO was deregistered. Karmic ? Further, the Court in the case of Pendaftar Pertubuhan Malaysia v PV Das (Bagi Pihak People's Progressive Party of Malaysia (PPP)) concluded that under the circumstance the election of the plaintiff as President of PPP and the approval and endorsement of the defendant's Presidency of the PPP are the decisions of a political party within the meaning of Section 18C of the Act and that the business of electing the president or the approval and endorsement of the president are 'matters relating to the affairs of the party'. Therefore, decisions on such matter in the view of the Court are final and conclusive decisions and the court has no jurisdiction to question the validity of such decisions. Section 18C of the Societies Act makes such disputes matters of internal affairs of the political parties and a non-justiciable political question not fit for judicial determination. The section precludes the courts from exercising jurisdiction in matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties.  De-register DAP ? No way, Hisham !!  I urge the Home Minister to do some homework before making a press statement which threatens to deregister a formidable rival political party !   Nicole Tan Lee Koon Secretary, Seremban branch, DAP NS Tweet handle : @loyarbaik Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/nicoletanleekoon Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/nicoleleekoontan Blog : Nicole Tan Lee Koon, Social Politico

Australia’s former PM Rudd tells Canberra to be ‘robust’ on Xenophon expulsion Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:11 PM PST Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd condemned Australian senator Nick Xenophon's detention in Malaysia as unacceptable and urged Canberra to be "robust" in response. Xenophon (picture) arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning to call on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night. "Detaining any member of an Australian parliament, in the way in which Senator Xenophon appears to have been detained, is just unacceptable," Rudd told Australian news channel Sky News today. "We are robust about our democracy and therefore we should be robust in our response to our friends in Kuala Lumpur," he added. Xenophon was to review the country's electoral system with a delegation of other Australian MPs and senators that would arrive later, but his colleagues have cancelled the trip in response to his deportation. Rudd said today that Australia was a "good friend" to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but that Putrajaya's action warranted a response. "He's an elected member of the Australian Parliament and should be treated with the appropriate respect," added Rudd, referring to Xenophon. The deportation order issued by the Malaysian Immigration Department to Nick Xenophon.- Picture courtesy of Nick Xenophon's office Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday that Xenophon was deported and barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act 8(3) because the senator had made statements that allegedly tarnished Malaysia's image. Alias highlighted Xenophon's remarks about the Malaysian government being "authoritarian" in handling last April's Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections. In Xenophon's observation of the rally, he noted that the police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water in what had been a largely peaceful protest. His comments were also laid down in the final report of a fact-finding mission on elections in Malaysia as part of an international polls observer group that included six others, including representatives from neighbouring Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Germany. READ MORE HERE

Xenophon says Malaysian democracy in ‘dire and critical state’ Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:03 PM PST Australian senator, Nick Xenophon (left) seen here with Opposition Leader, Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim.  Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider Australian senator Nick Xenophon said today that his deportation from Malaysia yesterday revealed how "dire and critical" the state of Malaysian democracy was. The independent lawmaker was also quoted by Australian media as saying that his deportation was a "big mistake" as it had backfired on Putrajaya.  "But if it means more Australians in the region are aware of how dire and critical the state of Malaysian democracy is and how Malaysian democracy is at the crossroads, then that unambiguously is a good thing," Xenophon was quoted today as saying by Australia's national broadcaster ABC News.  "Australia and Malaysia are the greatest of friends. This shouldn't affect the relationship but I think if the Malaysian government thought that they were doing the smart thing, I think it spectacularly backfired on them," he added.  Xenophon also said that Australia had a moral obligation to intervene in the coming Election 2013 to ensure that it was clean and fair, despite the polls having a "veneer of democracy", according to Australian newspaper Herald Sun.  "Millions of Malaysians see Australia as a shining beacon of democracy in the region and seek our help for independent election observers," he said.  Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd has condemned Xenophon's detention as unacceptable and urged Canberra to be "robust" in response.  Xenophon arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning to call on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.  Xenophon was to review the country's electoral system with a delegation of other Australian MPs and senators that would arrive later, but his colleagues have cancelled the trip in response to his deportation.  Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday that Xenophon was deported and barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act 8(3) because the senator had made statements that allegedly tarnished Malaysia's image. READ MORE HERE

Hadi: Pakatan ties smooth but PAS will quit pact if Islam, Malays lose out Posted: 16 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST (TMI) - Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has said that the Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) three partners are working well with each other but PAS will not hesitate to quit the pact should Islam and Malays lose out in coalition politics. The Islamist party president's declaration last night, reportedly made in front of a 10,000-strong crowd in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, appeared an attempt to shore up support from the country's biggest demographic group ahead of Election 2013.  "If that pact does not benefit Islam and Malays, PAS will exit PR! Without a doubt," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian, which carried the news on its front-page today.  The Malay daily reported Hadi (picture) saying there were no issues currently within the three PR partners and that he was confident their collaboration would not impact the Malays in a negative wat, who are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims.  The Marang MP was also reported saying the PR political partnership with DAP and PKR had in fact empowered the Malays and Islam.  "In fact, we have succeeded in making a paradigm shift with the victories of candidates like Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Fuziah Salleh who fought with non-Malay Muslim candidates and were won by Malay and non-Muslim voters.  "That's the big change we have created," the opposition leader was reported saying.  Dr Siti Mariah is PAS MP for Kota Raja while her PKR colleague, Fuziah, is MP for Kuantan. Both are urban federal seats with a mixed racial demography.  Recently, an unsettled feeling among the country's biggest demographic group has been perceived to be growing amid widespread rumours that their constitutional rights were being challenged by minority groups.  The issue of race and religion — which are inseparable subjects in Malaysia — have become major electoral fodder ahead of national polls that must be called by April when the ruling Barisan Nasional's mandate expires.  In particular, debate over the use of the word "Allah" to call god among non-Muslims remains a hot-button topic as many Muslims nationwide believe the Arabic word to be exclusive to Islam, despite a 2009 High Court ruling it otherwise.

Najib creates history as first PM to attend Dong Zong CNY Posted: 16 Feb 2013 02:56 PM PST (Bernama) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak became the first prime minister to have attended a Chinese New Year celebration organised today by the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) since it was established 59 years ago. Najib (picture) was received on arrival at 9.45am at the Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre, by Dong Zong chairman Dr Yap Sin Tian and several other representatives of the association.  Also present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.  The prime minister took part in the "lao shang" and tried his hand at Chinese calligraphy, writing the words which meant celebrating the new year together.  The calligraphy session was also joined by Yap, Dong Zong deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon, United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) chairman Ong Chiow Chuen and Merdeka University Berhad chairman Foo Wan Thot.  Najib and the more than 5,000 guests then enjoyed the spread served while watching a cultural performance that included a lion dance, and Chinese music and traditional dances.  The crowd was excited with the prime minister's presence and took the opportunity to shake hands with him as he was leaving the function at about 10.30am.  The celebration was organised in collaboration with Jiao Zong, Merdeka University Berhad, United Chinese Associations of Hulu Langat District, Dong Jioa Zong Higher Learning Centre, Chinese School Committee Association of the respective states and New Era College.  Chow when met by reporters said the prime minister's presence was a good start towards enhancing further Chinese education in the country.  "The prime minister's presence at our function shows his sincerity and we are delighted with his presence," he said.

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