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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• Sulu group must leave today
• Lahad Datu stand-off: Clock ticking for armed group
• PKR mulled Tee Keat for Pandan but chose Rafizi, source says
• End of Islam under Pakatan rule, warns Najib
• Standoff linked to MILF peace deal?
• Election in June?
• ‘Najib wants to hold polls on working day’
• ‘Pakatan looks like BN to Sabahans’
• Malaysia should dialogue with the Sultan
• WHAT WENT BEFORE: Sultan of Sulu’s 9 principal heirs
• JK III’s intruders not budging despite Friday deadline
• Defense chief: Sultanate could be right on Sabah
• Malaysia Invaded: The sultan’s Sabah swing
• DAP-PKR squabble widens
• Ego, fear of failure pushes PAS to open PM race
• Khalid wants review of FEDERAL PROJECTS
• Trouble brewing in MCA?
• So who is the winnable candidate?
• ‘Pandan MCA has never discussed candidate for 13th GE’
• Najib hits out at Nik Aziz for insulting BR1M recipients
• DAP eyeing over 150 seats in GE
• Deepak sues Najib for defamation
• Pakatan sure of winning nearly 140 federal seats, say sources
• PI Bala returning to help Pakatan in GE13, says lawyer
• Stop being a busybody, Karpal told
• DAP’s Ngeh muscling out PSM?
• Philippine navy blocks Sulu Sea
• ‘Stand up or sack me, Mr President’
• Aquino: Guns won’t solve it
• Najib wants Taib to continue as CM
• Freeze on federal projects?
• Kayveas and gang ambush Tamil daily
• As polls loom, PAS wavers over Anwar as PM
• For BN, EIU says GE13 already in the bag
• Jui Meng: Karpal ruined Pakatan unity
• Election 2013 will be won in Sabah and Sarawak, says Anwar
• Field Malay candidates in Penang, DAP told
• Bishop censures Muslim scholar’s ‘toxic’ remarks
• Wan Azizah backs Chua
• Tee Keat dropped from Pandan
• Filipino 'army' lays claim to Malaysian state
• Police chief confirms arrest of seven at Labian
• Najib sets the tone for clean elections

Sulu group must leave today Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:48 PM PST (The Star) - Malaysia has extended the deadline for the Sulu armed group to move out of Tanduo village and return home to today, following a request from the Philippines. The Philippine Government had earlier asked for the deadline to be set for Tuesday to allow them to persuade Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to order his brother Azzimudie Kiram and the armed group of more than 100 to get out of Tanduo village in Felda Sahabat 17 where they have been holed up since Feb 9. The request was made to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman by his Philippine counterpart Albert del Rosario after the expiry of the Friday deadline. Anifah, however, told The Star that he had conveyed the decision on the new Sunday deadline to Rosario. "We are hoping the stand-off will end peacefully with the latest deadline," he said, echoing Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's statement that he wanted the two-week stand-off to "end sooner than later" without bloodshed. Hishammuddin told reporters in Kluang that the extended period would not be too long as his ministry would leave it to the security forces to conduct an operation to end the stand-off. He said the Tanduo incident was different from the country's past experience with armed groups such as Al-Maunah, Abu Sayyaf and Jemayah Islamiah as this group claimed to be descendents of the Sulu sultanate. However, he said the country's sovereignty and the pride of the Sabah people must not be taken for granted. The priority of the armed forces was to defuse the situation without bloodshed as it could affect Malaysia's good relationship with the Philippines, he said, adding that the preparation for the deportation of the Sulu group "is in the final stage". As the Philippine Government tries to persuade the Sulu Sultan to take their Sabah claim demand to a diplomatic level, the Kiram family has been adamant and had asked Azzimudie's group to stay put in Tanduo. Although emissaries have been negotiating with Azzimudie, the political pressure in Manila has been mounting on President Benigno Aquino and his Cabinet to resurrect the long dormant Sabah claim following talk that the Oct 15 peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front had left out the Sulu sultanate as well as Nur Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front. To help defuse and bring the stand-off to a peaceful conclusion, Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said he and his Malaysian counterpart, including the armed forces of both countries, were closely coordinating their actions and exchanging information. Gazmin said the Philippine military had enforced a naval blockade in the Sulu Sea to prevent undocumented Filipinos from entering Sabah as reports emerged that other groups from southern Philippines were poised to help Azzimudie's gunmen. Stating that the Sulu group was pursuing its Sabah claim the wrong way, Gazmin revealed that six navy ships and a transport vessel were on standby in Tawi Tawi, about a 15-minute fast boat ride to Tanduo village.

Lahad Datu stand-off: Clock ticking for armed group Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:36 PM PST (The Star) - The clock is ticking away for the Sulu armed group holed up at the Tanduo village as the Sunday deadline draws near with no sign of them giving up peacefully. Reports emerged that the group by Raja Muda Azzumudie, the brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III was running short of food supplies with the Malaysian security forces maintaining a tight sea and land cordon around them. The earlier Friday deadline was extended by 48-hours after the Philippines government requested for a four-day extension till Tuesday on the grounds that Manila was trying to persuade the Sulu group to give up their stand. Azzumudie was reportedly in contact with Sultan Kiram who has told the group to stay put at the village till the Sabah claim demands were discussed but to avoid violence. According to the Philippine Inquirer quoting Abraham Idjirani, secretary general of the self-proclaim Sultanate of Sulu, Azzumudie talked with Jamalul and him on Saturday, telling them they were eating root crops and vegetables found in the village. He said the group had been told to remain calm and keep their muzzles of their riffles down to signify that they had no hostile intent. As of Saturday, Idjirani said Jamalul's orders to the Azzumuddie remained unchanged that they hold their ground at Tanduo village. Except for one villager identified as Pakcik Umrah, the remaining families from 15 homes fled Tanduo from the day the Sulu group landed on Feb 9. Both the Malaysian and Philippines government are trying to resolve the standoff that has entered its third week.

PKR mulled Tee Keat for Pandan but chose Rafizi, source says Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:30 PM PST Clara Chooi and Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider PKR's leadership considered fielding MCA's Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat in Pandan for Election 2013 several months ago, a PKR source has confirmed, but the suggestion was immediately vetoed in favour of Rafizi Ramli. The source said the consideration was made after Ong's MCA followers "sent out feelers" to PKR leaders on the possibility of him contesting on a PKR ticket, but without the former MCA president's actual confirmation, the party had decided not to take the matter seriously. "We never actually heard from him even though his people had made representation on his behalf," the source told The Malaysian Insider. "But there was a clear indication of Ong's, or his people's, intention. Only that it appeared he was just testing waters through his people so there was never anything really concrete." He added that despite the matter being raised at leadership level, the party had decided to proceed with its campaign in Pandan and stick to Rafizi as its candidate, refusing to leave candidate selection to the last minute. The source pointed out that when the matter was raised, it had also appeared likely that Ong was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's favoured choice for Pandan. Ong, who was deposed as MCA president by his current successor Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek during a fractious power struggle in 2010, has been the Pandan MP for five terms now. But earlier this week, Dr Chua told reporters at a Chinese New Year gathering that the Pandan MCA division had excluded him from its list of possible candidate choices for Election 2013. Instead, said Dr Chua, the division had proposed 39-year-old lawyer Gary Lim, the division's legal bureau head. This was immediately denied by the division, however, and the majority of its leadership held an emergency meeting on Friday to clarify that they have yet to meet to discuss possible candidates for Pandan and had therefore not decided to propose Lim. But PKR had predicted that out-of-favour Ong would lose his MCA ticket. "We did expect this would happen, that Ong would be dropped. But at the time, Najib came to Ong's constituency for a visit and gave allocations and all... talk was that Ong was the favoured choice. "So the party decided that unless there is a formal request from Ong himself, it could not entertain requests made by those claiming to represent him," said the source. There has been heavy speculation on the possibility of Ong defecting to the opposition as the leader grew more isolated from his MCA peers over the years, but the Pandan MP never confirmed the possibility. His open tiff with Dr Chua, however, continued to fuel the rumours and when the latter announced that his predecessor had been dropped from MCA's list, the rumours reignited. When contacted yesterday on the matter, Rafizi, who is PKR's strategy director, told The Malaysian Insider that the issue did not come as a surprise. He would not confirm if his party had discussed fielding Ong for Pandan, but affirmed that he was willing to exit the contest should the leadership feel that the latter was a more suitable candidate for the seat. READ MORE HERE

End of Islam under Pakatan rule, warns Najib Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider Voting PKR and PAS will divide the Muslim community and destroy their aqidah (faith), Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said, in a warning to Malay voters against supporting the opposition in Election 2013. Najib also added that supporting DAP would see "Islam oppressed" if the Chinese-dominated component of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were to be voted into power, according to Sunday Star. "A vote for PKR will destroy the aqidah (faith) while a vote for PAS will only result in disunity among Muslims," the Umno president was quoted as saying at the launch of his administration's "Jelajah Janji Ditepati (Promises Fulfilled Tour)" in Terengganu yesterday. "As for DAP, a vote for them will see Islam being oppressed". The BN chairman's statement comes amid rising tension between the country's majority Muslims and minority Christians over the tussle on "Allah", an Arabic word for god that Muslims insist was exclusive to them. Malaysian Christians, however, said it was their right to use the term to describe their god, especially for those in Sabah and Sarawak where "Allah" has been used in religious texts and sermons purportedly for centuries. The term is also used by the Sikhs in their religious scriptures. The "Allah" storm was reignited recently when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng urged Putrajaya in a Christmas message to lift its ban on the word published in Malay-language bibles shipped to East Malaysia, where the bulk of Malaysia's 9.2 per cent Christian population reside. This led to the Sultan of Selangor issuing a blanket ban against non-Muslims using "Allah" in the state, a move that sparked legal confusion in light of the December 2009 High Court ruling that the term was not restricted to Muslims and the Catholic Church had the constitutional right to publish the word in the Malay section of its weekly newspaper, The Herald. PR also differed with the Selangor Sultan's decree, insisting that Islam does not prohibit others from using the word. Explaining the federal opposition's position, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told a joint press conference with PR leaders that Christians and other non-Muslim communities should not abuse the word to spread confusion among Muslims but this did not mean they were not allowed to use the word. The Islamist party, however, was seen backtracking on its position when some members from the party's highest decision-making body, the Syura Council, said "Allah" can be used orally but not translated in religious texts. The move drew criticism from DAP chairman Karpal Singh who felt PAS was politicking on the issue to placate its conservative powerbase. READ MORE HERE

Standoff linked to MILF peace deal? Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:14 PM PST Back in the Philippines, there are murmurs that former Sultan of the Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III, may not be working alone in the 'takeover' of Lahad Datu. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: After almost fading out of the picture, Nur Misuari, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chief and the man who helped put the Southern Philippines on global political map, is back with a bang. The man who used to travel in and out of Sabah and was often seen in snooker parlours in the state capital back in the 1980s is among several individuals reportedly suspected by Philippines authorities of playing a behind-the-scenes role in the bizarre "invasion" of Sabah by an armed group of Filipinos. Misuari is reportedly angry the MNLF was not included in a peace deal between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), his rivals for power in the Southern Philippines, and has chosen to use the Sulu Sultanate's claim to Sabah to reinsert himself into the politics of the region. Analysts have said that Misuari is aware that he would be rendered irrelevant by any peace deal that may be forged between Manila and the MILF and this is his way of pointing out he is still in the picture. The historic peace deal signed by Manila and Muslim rebels last October to end the four decades-long conflict in the southern Philippines always risked destabilising and alienating powerful clan leaders, security analysts say. The peace deal, they said, handed control of much of Sulu to MILF rebels and left out Jamalul Kiram III, 74, a former Sultan of the Sulu as well as Misuari's MNLF that had struck an earlier peace deal with Manila which had resulted in the formation of the MILF. Kiram was cited by AFP as saying that the sultanate's exclusion from the deal, which aims to set up a new autonomous region to be administered by Muslims, prompted the decision to send the men to Sabah this month. But that's not the full story. According to a report in news portal The Philippine Star, President Benigno Aquino's administration believes Kiram is not acting on his own. Officials note that Kiram is ailing and undergoing dialysis treatment in Manila and in no condition to set in motion the events that have taken place. The standoff in Sabah has reportedly infuriated Aquino, who suspects that the incident is an attempt to sabotage his administration's peace initiatives with the MILF that has made marked progress since last year. The peace agreement was signed last year by the Aquino administration with the MILF, which broke away from Misuari's MNLF when it was negotiating peace with the government in 1996. READ MORE HERE

Election in June? Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:11 PM PST If the public opinion is turning against the current PM, the ruling party will be expected to remove the incumbent leader.  Amir Ali, FMT The news is out that there might be a lengthy delay in the holding of the 13th general election. What will be the cost of further delays – beyond April 2013 – for Barisan Nasional, the country and the opposition? Recently, several foreign newspapers and portals pinpointed on the difficulties faced by the ruling coalition to hold the polls. Among the ruling coalition, there are fears of yet another setback, if the polls are held before April 2013. Dr Mahathir Mohamad has periodically voiced his views that BN will be winning the next elections, but with a reduced majority. Lately, he suggested such a victory will render the regime destitute, or rather impotent. In Malaysia, while most observers were adamant the polls will be held in 2012, they were dumbfounded by the prime minister's hesitations. With the month of January ducked, the month of February crossed-out, there is left the months of March, April or May. Leadership crisis? However, the month of June – as some observers are pointing out – could be the time for the elections. Putrajaya seems emboldened by the calls from the Sabah State Reform Party (STAR) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan, to delay the Sabah polls. This could be used to bolster plans to hold the 2013 polls, beyond the dissolution of the Parliament in April. Nonetheless, there are talks in town within the local political cahoots, that elections may eventually be held in June this year. The two weeks school holidays in May and June could be the appropriate time, it is said to hold the polls. Beyond that period, there will be major Islamic events, that would render holding the polls a monumental task. The reason for further delays? The massive crowd in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 12, supporting the opposition's call for free and fair elections. The backlash of the water crisis in Selangor is cited as one of the reasons for BN to seek a lengthy delay in calling for the elections. The failure to dissipate the accusations against the prime minister by a former "friend" of the PM's family, is another credible reason. The negative predictions by a key analyst of Bank Islam, could yet be another probable reason for the possible delays. Further delays, however, could spark a leadership crisis within Umno. READ MORE HERE

‘Najib wants to hold polls on working day’ Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:08 PM PST Perak DAP leader Nga Kor Ming claims that the PM is planning to hold the polls on April 18, a working day, in order to prevent the opposition from getting the full support of its outstation supporters. (FMT) - DAP has claimed that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will dissolve Parliament on March 15 and polling will be on April 18, a working day, to prevent Pakatan Rakyat from getting the full support of outstation workers. DAP state secretary Nga Kor Ming said that he heard this reliable news from a high ranking government officer whom he declined to name. Pakatan is unhappy with the timing of the polling date as its outstation supporters especially from Singapore and other states may not make the numbers for the opposition to take control of Putrajaya. Nga said that if the election is held during a weekend, Pakatan will have the numbers to break BN's five-decade dominance. The DAP leader was speaking at a state PAS programme attended by PAS state leaders including former menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, various NGOs as well as church and temple leaders. Nga, who is also Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyperson, urged the people to use Twittter, SMS, emails and Facebook to communicate with their relatives and friends to return home to vote. He also urged the voters not to fall for the election gimmicks from Umno and BN. Later at another DAP function, Nga told Umno and BN not to take Taiping voters for a ride with the promise of setting up a new university in the parliamentary constituency. "Every general election since the time Paul Leong contested under Gerakan and down to M Kayveas (PPP), this proposal of building a new university has cropped up but it is a non-starter," he said. The Taiping DAP chief challenged BN to name the site of the proposed university in Taiping and the cost involved in setting up this institution and the date of its completion before the coming polls.

‘Pakatan looks like BN to Sabahans’ Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:04 PM PST Pakatan's over demanding on state constituencies reflects the same mentality as Barisan Nasional's wanting to have a grip over state matters, says SAPP. Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has accused national opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat, of applying the same 'divide-and-rule' tactic applied by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which puts their parties and personal interests over the people's interest. The party's secretary-general Richard Yong made the accusation when commenting on the seat-sharing formula unveiled by Pakatan recently. "When Pakatan offered the 60 divided by 6 formula with Pakatan going for more than 50 state seats in Sabah, the Pakatan formula had nullified their own "Kuching Declaration" and the recently launched DAP "Borneo Agenda". All these announcements became meaningless to Sabah. "Pakatan's over demanding on state constituencies reflects the same mentality as Barisan Nasional's wanting to have a grip over state matters. Both Pakatan and BN and peninsula based-parties must not try to dilute and neutralise Sabah's political representation and make Sabahans subject to their mercy. "I believe the people will not allow the divide-and-rule tactic to be applied again on Sabah and they will know that they have a better choice in supporting a local party like SAPP," said Yong in a statement issued here. Yong also critisised the Pakatan leadership for repeatedly blaming SAPP for the seat-sharing deadlock. "Pakatan's seat-sharing (negotiations) also hit a snag in some constituencies in the peninsula and generating heated argument in the media," he noted. While noting that the opposition coalition's component parties are arguing for more seats to be allocated to them, he said that SAPP as a local party was bound to ensure Sabah's autonomy was non-negotiable. "This is so that we do not have to leave the state's future into the hand of outside-controlled parties. We have been firm from the very beginning, we will not waver in our stand and must not compromise on Sabah's rights," he stressed. Yong urged voters in Sabah to give their full support to SAPP in the coming general election, to ensure the state is not ruled by peninsula-base parties. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia should dialogue with the Sultan Posted: 22 Feb 2013 06:30 PM PST An attack by the Malaysian police and military against the group headed by Crown Prince Agbimuddin Kiram after the deadline could start a war against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, who is of royal lineage, will order his followers to cross to Sabah and fight a guerrilla war. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) - There's no way the Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram, will heed President Noy's appeal for him to order his men in Sabah to come home so  the standoff could be resolved peacefully. "Why would the Sultan listen to the President who left him out in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)?" said a member of the Philippine intelligence community who claims he is close to Kiram. The sultan continues to refuse Malaysia's ultimatum for the recall of his men. The ultimatum expired yesterday (Friday). An attack by the Malaysian police and military against the group headed by Crown Prince Agbimuddin Kiram after the deadline could start a war against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, who is of royal lineage, will order his followers to cross to Sabah and fight a guerrilla war. The MNLF, composed mostly of Tausogs, waged a  decades-long war against the government until it signed a peace accord with the government during the time of President Ramos. If MNLF guerrillas cross over to Sabah, they will be harboured by fellow Tausogs who live in the Malaysian state. A third of the population in Sabah, according to a rough unofficial estimate, is Tausog. The Tausogs and other Muslim tribes, like the Maguindanaoans and Maranaws, live in a feudal society where datus (village kings) rule. The datus in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, in turn, defer to the Sulu sultan. It would be good for Malaysia to dialogue with the sultan to prevent a guerrilla war like the one waged by the MNLF against the  government from the 1970s through the 1980s and early 1990s. Malaysia could promise the Tausogs just about anything to appease them. At the outset of the talks with the Sulu sultanate, Kuala Lumpur could promise to increase the rent it pays the sultan for Sabah. The fact that Malaysia pays rent, no matter how paltry, is evidence that the sultanate owns Sabah.

WHAT WENT BEFORE: Sultan of Sulu’s 9 principal heirs Posted: 22 Feb 2013 11:13 AM PST   (Philippine Daily Inquirer) MANILA, Philippines—Every year, the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines issues a check in the amount of 5,300 ringgit (about P77,000) to the legal counsel of Jamalul Ahlam's descendants. Malaysia considers the amount an annual "cession" payment for the disputed state, while the sultan's descendants consider it "rent." In 1939, a decision issued by the high court of North Borneo named the nine principal heirs of the last sultan of Sulu, whose descendants had been pressing their claim to Sabah. Known as the 1939 Macaskie Judgment, the nine principal heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II were Datu Punjungan Kiram, Datu Esmail Kiram, Dayang Dayang Piandao Kiram, Dayang Dayang Sitti Rada Kiram, Princess Tarhata Kiram, Princess Sakinur-In Kiram, Dayang Dayang Putli Jahara Kiram, Dayang Dayang Sitti Mariam Kiram and Mora Napsa. Jamalul II's father, Sultan Jamalul Ahlam, leased Sabah in 1878 to British North Borneo Co. Under the agreement, the company would pay 5,300 Mexican gold pieces a year to the Kingdom of Sulu. It continued to do so until 1936, when Jamalul II died. According to Ahlam's descendants, Sabah (formerly North Borneo) was ceded in 1704 to the sultan of Sulu by the sultan of Brunei, after the sultan of Sulu helped quell a rebellion against the sultan of Brunei. After Jamalul II's death, the British consul in Manila recommended the suspension of payments because President Manuel L. Quezon did not recognize Jamalul II's successor. Sultan Punjungan Kiram, crown prince of the sultanate at the time of Jamalul II's death, went to the British consulate in Manila to demand the resumption of payments. P77,000 rent After the court decision, British North Borneo Co. complied for several years. It stopped paying when its rights to Sabah were transferred to the newly established Federation of Malaysia in 1963. The new government assumed the payment but in ringgit. Every year, the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines issues a check in the amount of 5,300 ringgit (about P77,000) to the legal counsel of Jamalul Ahlam's descendants. Malaysia considers the amount an annual "cession" payment for the disputed state, while the sultan's descendants consider it "rent." According to Abraham Julpa Idjirani, secretary general and spokesperson of the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, the direct descendants and heirs of the sultan of Sulu and North Borneo at present are Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram III, Datu Alianapia Kiram, Datu Phugdal Kiram, Datu Baduruddin Kiram and the crown prince, Agbimuddin Kiram, official administrator of Sabah and son of Datu Punjungan. Lies In July 2008, there were reports that Jamalul II's heirs had "dropped" their Sabah claim, but these were dismissed as untrue by the heirs. In the reports, Malaysian Datu Omar Ali Datu Backtiyal told a local newspaper in Malaysia that he had obtained the signatures of the nine heirs for the relinquishment of their claim to Sabah. The heirs dismissed the reports as "lies." Read more at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/65303/what-went-before-sultan-of-sulus-9-principal-heirs

JK III’s intruders not budging despite Friday deadline Posted: 22 Feb 2013 11:06 AM PST   (Borneo Insider) - MANILA, Philippines: The followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III holed up in Lahad Datu town in Sabah refused to leave despite the Friday deadline set by Malaysia. Jamalul, his brother Ishmael and wife Princess Fatima Cecilia and some of their followers faced the media on Friday in a press conference at the Blue Mosque in Maharlika Village in Taguig City, saying they will consult their followers regarding their next move. Princess Fatima, who is the sultan's spokesperson, said the family wants the Sabah issue to be resolved before the International Court of Justice and that they are open to negotiate with Malaysia. She also said that the family was hurt by President Benigno Aquino's statement that the Sabah issue was "dormant" but she welcomed his directive for his top Cabinet officials to study the Sabah claim issue. Meanwhile Malacañang on Friday appealed to the Sultan and his family to reconsider its decision not to recall his armed followers from Sabah, warning of further "deterioration" of the two-week standoff if the followers refuse to leave by Friday, the deadline set by Malaysia. "I'm disappointed to learn that the message the emissary is carrying is for them to stay put as this will not help diffuse the situation," Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (pic) told the Inquirer by phone while he was en route to the Palace for a 3:30 p.m. meeting with President Benigno Aquino. Roxas, a senior member of the security cluster of the Cabinet, took the decision of the sultan's family as "unfortunate." "The government has been trying to facilitate the sending of an emissary from the Kiram family to Sabah precisely to alleviate and de-escalate the situation," he said. "I am disappointed at this news because our fellow Filipinos are presently in a precarious situation. Our utmost priority should be the peaceful and stable resolution of this immediate situation. "All talks about historical claims and national territories and borders can only positively happen and be fruitful in a stable atmosphere, not in this situation of tension and duress. So this would not be a helpful development," said Roxas. Aquino met with Cabinet members in charge of the peace process in Mindanao at the Palace at 3:30 p.m. The meeting was originally called by the President to talk about progress in the peace process with Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a preliminary peace agreement with the government on October 15, 2012. "Its' possible that it will be converted … to talk about this (Sabah standoff)," said Roxas of the Palace meeting. Besides presidential peace process adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles, secretaries of the foreign affairs, national defense and national security were expected to attend the meeting. Roxas summed up the implication of the Sabah standoff on the bilateral relations between Manila and Kuala Lumpur. "We must separate the claim of the Kiram family and or the Republic of the Philippines from this act, which strains the ties between the two countries," he said. Roxas, thus, appealed to the sultan's family to support the Aquino administration's position for a "de-escalation of the situation" to ensure the safety of some 300 armed follower of the sultan of Sulu. "I am appealing to responsible parties to ensure the safety of our fellow Filipinos there," said Roxas, wary that Malaysian forces could "move in" after hearing the decision of the sultan. The Malaysian authorities had given the 300 followers of the sultan led by his brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, until Friday to decide whether to leave on their own, or be rounded up and deported. Roxas begged off from commenting on the pronouncement of the Kiram family, during a press conference in Taguig, that the sultanate had already withdrawn its authorization for the government to pursue the Philippines' claim to Sabah. "I cannot say. I don't know the facts. All these issues that are being tossed about cannot be resolved in the near term, nor is it (standoff) helpful under duress, or in a crisis situation," was all Roxas could say about the validity of the sultanate's claim to Sabah. Read more at: http://borneoinsider.com/2013/02/22/jk-iiis-intruders-not-budging-despite-friday-deadline/

Defense chief: Sultanate could be right on Sabah Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST   (ABS-CBNnews.com) - The Sultanate of Sulu may have basis for its claim on Sabah in Malaysia, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday. He said Kuala Lumpur pays the sultanate around 5,000 ringgit as annual rent for the area. "If you are being paid, you have a claim, isn't it? That is your basis there. Even without saying anything, the fact (remains) that you are being paid. Meaning, what is the 5,000 ringgits for?" he said. However, Gazmin said he is against the use of violence in the issue. "You can settle this (issue) before going there. In other words, the process leading to their actions is apparently not right," the defense chief added. He said the government is asking Sultan Ismael Kiram to convince his brother, Kiram Jamalul, and his followers to return to Mindanao. Philippine military officials are also in talks with their Malaysian counterparts to resolve the issue. Read more at: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/22/13/defense-chief-sultanate-could-be-right-sabah

Malaysia Invaded: The sultan’s Sabah swing Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:35 AM PST   (The Economist) - It was the Philippine government's betrayal in 1968 of a plot to pursue the claim to Sabah by force of arms that provoked the rebellion by Muslims seeking independence for their heartland in Mindanao in the south of the country.  In the chaotic south of the Philippines, Muslims launch a foreign policy AS AMPHIBIOUS assaults go, the invasion of the Malaysian state of Sabah by the self-styled Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu on February 11th is admittedly tame. Scores of men, many heavily armed, came ashore from motorboats that had brought them from the Philippines, an hour away, where they and the sultan of Sulu are citizens. Without firing a shot, they occupied a sleepy village. There they announced that they had come to enforce the sultan's claim to Sabah. At first the Malaysian security forces suspected the intruders were Islamist militants (the Philippines has plenty such people in its southernmost islands). They swiftly surrounded the village. Negotiations ensued. Malaysian officials informed the Filipinos that they had entered Sabah illegally and would be deported. The men refused to go, and as The Economist went to press were still there. The Philippine government was taken aback. It denied any hand in the incursion and asked for the safe return of its citizens. To understand what it is all about, go back to 1658. Then the sultan of Brunei gave Sabah, in what is now the Malaysian portion of the France-sized island of Borneo, to the sultan of Sulu, who ruled a part of what is now the Philippines. In 1878 the sultan of Sulu leased Sabah in perpetuity to the British North Borneo Company. In 1946 the company ceded control of Sabah to Britain. Eleven years later, the sultan declared the lease void. But Sabah opted to become part of Malaysia when it gained independence in 1963. The sultan subsequently assigned his Sabah claim to the Philippines. Malaysia still pays him a token rent. Some Filipino Muslims regard with nostalgia the heyday of the sultanate of Sulu—a time before colonial rule first by Spain, then by America, and latterly by the Christian majority in an independent Philippines. The sultan, Jamalul Kiram III (there is also another claimant), is now a merely symbolic figure. His claim to Sabah is a romantic fantasy, yet one that grips the imagination of those hoping for another golden era. It was the Philippine government's betrayal in 1968 of a plot to pursue the claim to Sabah by force of arms that provoked the rebellion by Muslims seeking independence for their heartland in Mindanao in the south of the country. The rebellion persisted for more than four decades, costing tens of thousands of lives. But last October the government and the main rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), signed a preliminary agreement to give Muslim areas greater autonomy in exchange for peace. The agreement was brokered by Malaysia. Read more at: http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21572251-chaotic-south-philippines-muslims-launch-foreign-policy-sultans-sabah-swing

DAP-PKR squabble widens Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:30 AM PST   (The Star) - More state and grassroots leaders from both sides have waded into the widening spat between Johor's DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and the state's PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng. Kedah DAP committee member S. Neelamekan has criticised PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for her hasty defence of Chua, who he claimed had sabotaged Pakatan Rakyat. In defending Dr Boo's stand for the Gelang Patah and Bakri parliamentary seats to be given to DAP, Neelamekan who is also the party's Lunas branch chairman, even went to the extent of running down PKR, saying it was not as popular as before and had lost in many by-elections it had contested in. He said since a victory was more important to Pakatan than which party was chosen to contest, the seats should be given to DAP as it was a better performer compared to PKR which had suffered many defections over the past five years. In fact, he said, since DAP was the best performer in the last general election, it should be allowed to contest in more seats as it has a bigger number of young talents, professionals, veterans and party loyalists. Stressing that PKR's popularity was on the wane, Neelamekan said DAP would be a better bet to win the seats. "PKR contested in 49 seats in the Sarawak state election but only won three," he said. Dr Wan Azizah on Thursday said PKR would continue to place its confidence in Chua who had done much for the party in Johor. Her statement came a day after Chua publicly accused DAP chairman Karpal Singh of destroying the relationship within Pakatan for saying that his (Chua's) credibility was "suspect" as he is a former MCA leader. Meanwhile, PKR Jerai division vice chief M. Palaniappan has called on Karpal to apologise for his uncalled for remarks against Chua. "Karpal should also apologise for calling Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a sodomiser in Parliament in October 1997. Karpal has no moral decency to be in politics," he said. He said PKR deputy chief minister Mansor Othman had apologised last year for calling Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng a tokong although it was the truth. In a related development, a former DAP grassroots leader and a PKR branch leader have criticised both DAP and PKR's national leaders for interfering in state matters that could be resolved internally. "By interfering, the party leaders are only making things worse," said former Pantai Sepang DAP branch chairman R. Vellasamy yesterday. Vellasamy, who was sacked from the party last year, said Chua and Dr Boo should be allowed to resolve their problems through discussions. Former PKR Sepang Selatan branch leader Mahful Wahid, meanwhile, criticised Anwar for remaining silent over the issue. He added that the endless disagreements within the PAS, DAP and PKR showed that the Pakatan Rakyat coalition was not strong. "If they can't even solve their own problems, how are they going to solve the people's problems?" asked Mahful who is now an Umno member.

Ego, fear of failure pushes PAS to open PM race Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:29 AM PST   (The Malaysian Insider) - The fear of losing Malay support or the status of being a senior member of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) appears to have driven PAS clerics to question Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's candidacy as prime minister should the coalition win federal power in Election 2013.   But not naming a credible choice for the country's top elected post early could cost PR valuable votes from the 13.3 million eligible to cast their ballots in the country's most closely-fought general election. Both PR and Barisan Nasional (BN) officials have claimed they can win big in the polls which must held by this June for 222 federal seats and 505 seats in 12 states. PR is confident of getting almost 140 seats while BN is sure of 145 seats in the federal parliament. Independent surveys show BN can win 117 seats to PR's 105 seats, getting the ruling coalition a simple majority. The key to victory appears to be getting the bulk of Malay votes. who form the majority of the country's 28 million population although the minority Chinese and Indians have a say in urban seats. But PAS clerics in the top policy-making Syura council fear that not having their man as a potential prime minister could cost the Islamist party to lose support among the Malay Muslims. These cleric fear the loss of support and with that, PAS will just be a junior member of PR and unable to exert any influence, say party insiders and analysts on condition of anonymity. "It is an ego trip to be considered for the PM"s post and the lack of such an opportunity is seen as a failure," said a party insider. While it is unclear if the majority of PAS felt the same way, the clerics are holding sway and conveyed their unease to Anwar last weekend through party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. "PAS top leaders said it was 'haram' (illegal) for Anwar to ask for the prime minister post," a PR source told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity. "Then a top PKR leader replied that Anwar had never asked for the prime minister post, and that it was the people instead who called for it. This has also been agreed to by PAS and other parties like DAP since the 1999 general election," the source added. Anwar has remained silent about the meeting but it is clear that PKR officials and some within PAS are displeased this issue has cropped up and can affect their chances in Election 2013 especially with talk that Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is touted as a possible choice for the top post if PR wins the elections. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ego-fear-of-failure-pushes-pas-to-open-pm-race/

Khalid wants review of FEDERAL PROJECTS Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:24 AM PST   (NST) - RETALIATION? Selangor govt's move follows court decision to quash notices over dismantling of AES SHAH ALAM: THE Selangor government may stop the Federal Government's billion-ringgit Light Rail Transit extension project and six proposed highways in the state. This follows the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to quash the notices issued by the Sepang Municipal Council directing a company to dismantle two Automated Enforcement System cameras in Selangor on Thursday. Apart from the six proposed highways, including the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Expressway, West Coast Expressway and the Serdang- Kinrara-Putrajaya Expressway, top state officials have been instructed to list other federal projects in Selangor to be reviewed. It is understood that Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim wants to prove a point that the state, via the local councils, has jurisdiction when it comes to the construction of any structure or project in the state, although some are on federal reserve land. Selangor State Secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said under the Local Government Act 1976 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, any party had to seek the approval of the local council even to erect a billboard on highway reserve land. "The menteri besar made a sudden decision to review federal projects following the court decision on Thursday. "For instance, any project in Selangor, although it is on federal land, is still subject to state jurisdiction. That is why the state is going to file an appeal," he told the New Straits Times. State development officer Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh  said to date, the Federal Government had spent RM5.6 billion to implement 439 projects in  Selangor. "Many development projects in Selangor are funded by Federal Government allocations rather than state funds, including the construction of roads and infrastructure as well as mosques and surau. "Federal  allocations exceeded the funds provided by the state government, which is only about RM1.63 billion," he said.  Ghani said apart from the LRT and highway projects, the Federal Government allocated almost RM3 billion for various  projects in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat-led state. For  implementing the safe city National Key Result Area (NKRA), the Federal Government allocated RM18.1 million for 107 projects. The Federal Government allocated RM32.8 million to pay allowances to imam and other positions   under the Islamic Development Department (Jakim). "From the 2012 special provisions made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, RM64 million was allocated to various sectors, including the construction of 11 mosques and 47 surau," he said. Additionally,  5,083 people received aid of up to RM10,000 for the e-Kasih programme and RM5.04 million was spent on housing aid programmes, RM2.8 million for programmes under the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry and another RM6.3 million under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry to finance development projects for 600 families. The Federal Government also covered the cost of  Public Infrastructure Maintenance Projects (PIA) and Basic Infrastructure (PIAS) in Selangor through 358 projects at a cost of RM19.75 million, while another RM9.73 million was set aside for 132 projects under the Housing and Local Government Ministry. Under the Tourism Ministry, three projects were being carried out in Selangor, costing RM3.4 million, he said.

Trouble brewing in MCA? Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:22 AM PST SIGN OF SOLIDARITY: Ong and members of the MCA Pandan division hold posters promoting its Chap Goh Mei celebration on Sunday, which will be attended by the prime minister — Malaysiakinipix  (The Malay Mail) - IT appears as if trouble is brewing in MCA Pandan when five of its senior division officials showed up at Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat's press conference yesterday, as a sign of solidarity with the Pandan MP who has been dropped as a candidate for the coming general election. Five Pandan MCA division office bearers — deputy chief Tan Chuan Yong, Wanita chief Leong Siew Kam, organising secretary Chung Mun Hing, deputy organising secretary Lee Fook Seng and committee member Lee Cheing Fong — said they were not informed of the decision not to endorse Tee Keat as the area's BN candidate. Tan and Leong expressed shock over the latest development, saying the division did not meet to decide on the division's nominee as the Pandan candidate — allegations that Tee Keat's successor Gary Lim denies. Lim when contacted said files on six potential candidates, including Lim and Tee Keat, had been submitted to the party headquarters for the MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's selection. Tan meanwhile said he "tried in vain" to contact division chief Ong Chen Huing to clarify matters and has thus called for an urgent committee meeting today to discuss the latest development. He said eight out of the 15 division committee members have agreed to attend the meeting. Also present at the press conference were Umno Taman Cempaka branch chairperson Datuk Mat Aris Yusof, Selangor Gerakan Youth chief Ben Liew, MIC Pandan division Youth chief T.M. Padmanathan and representatives from various local NGOs. "They are here on their own accord," said Tee Keat, adding that their presence showed Dr Chua's assertion that he did not enjoy the confidence of the division was questionable. Tee Keat said he had been contesting under the BN banner in every electoral outing and has never used the MCA logo during his campaign. However, he refused to comment if he would contest as an independent should he be dropped, and also skirted a question on whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has indicated that he would be allowed to defend the seat. Tee Keat also mocked Dr Chua by challenging him to contest in Pandan, since the MCA president had once claimed he was a "winnable candidate anywhere I go". "Politicians, in particular a party chief, should know that the ground feedback is a thermometer by which one will know the temperature of the water," Tee Keat said.

So who is the winnable candidate? Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:18 AM PST   (The Malay Mail) - So who is a winnable candidate for the BN in Pandan? Five-term MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat or newbie Gary Lim? While the announcement by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek on Wednesday night that Ong would be dropped was not surprising, it still came as a shock. Was the MCA chief putting his personal feelings against his nemesis and predecessor, over BN's own interests in retaining one of the few seats MCA is strongest in? Sources say dropping Ong seemed to contradict the prime minister's endorsement of Ong as a winnable candidate. It is understood that Datuk Seri Najib Razak had on at least two occasions insisted that Ong's name be included. "There is still hope for Ong as Najib could use his discretion as BN chairman and insist on fielding Ong," said a party insider. "The decision to drop Tee Keat is debatable due to the bad blood between him and Dr Chua, hence Najib could exercise his prerogative to decide in the larger interests of BN." Newbie Gary Lim — Surprised he is called 'winnable candidate' In 2010, Najib exercised this discretion in hand-picking P. Kamalanathan over other MIC candidates for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election. Underdog Kamalanathan ended up slaying Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and taking back the seat from PKR. Ong is aware of this. "It is the BN chairman's prerogative to decide on the candidates list. Even if Chua wants to contest, that decision, too, lies in the hands of the BN chairman," he told a press conference, adding that he had expected to be dropped. However, it seems Ong is still within Najib's sights. The prime minister will attend the Pandan Chap Goh Meh do on Sunday — an indication of his regard for Ong. Lim, meanwhile, is undoubtedly daunted by the task ahead, saying he was "surprised" to be named a winnable candidate by Dr Chua. His respect for Ong was also evident when he spoke to The Malay Mail. "I think I have always had a good working relationship with Ong. We have met on many occasions and held joint programmes. I still need his guidance," said the 39-yearold lawyer, who heads the MCA Pandan legal bureau.

‘Pandan MCA has never discussed candidate for 13th GE’ Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:12 AM PST   (Bernama) - The Pandan MCA division has never discussed its choice of candidate for the coming 13th general election (13th GE), Youth leader Chong Sin Woon said yesterday.   However, he said, the division would support anyone chosen by the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to ensure victory for the candidate.   "Anyone who claims that they have the support and nominated by Pandan MCA, the claim is baseless," he told reporters after the division's emergency meeting which was chaired by its deputy chairman, Tan Chuan Yong.   The meeting was called to clarify on a media report about an announcement by MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek that the Pandan MCA had nominated a new face, Gary Lim, a 39-year-old lawyer, to be fielded as a candidate in the coming general election, instead of incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat.   Chong said the Pandan MCA was taking an open stand and willing to discuss with Dr Chua on the candidate for Pandan.   "There is no issue of a rift here. We will support whoever, including Ong or Lim, if they are endorsed by the MCA and BN leadership. "If necessary, we will call for another meeting to discuss on the candidate," he added.   At a MCA Pandan Open House last Wednesday, Dr Chua said that Ong was not included in the party's list of candidates for the 13th general election and claimed that it was because Ong no longer had the support of the Pandan MCA members.   On Thursday, Ong refuted the report and said the final decision lies in the hands of BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and not Dr Chua.

Najib hits out at Nik Aziz for insulting BR1M recipients Posted: 22 Feb 2013 10:07 AM PST   (The Star) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has chided Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat for denouncing the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), saying the PAS spiritual adviser had insulted the people. The Prime Minister said BR1M was meant to help the people, particularly the lower-income groups, and was no different from financial assistance given in other countries. "So what Nik Aziz said was an insult to the people and was really too much," he told a press conference after chairing a meeting with state Barisan Nasional leaders and elected representatives here yesterday. Nik Aziz had said that giving cash handouts was like luring farm livestock to animal feed. "It is like scattering padi and coconut husks in front of chickens and cows to entice them to come closer," he was reported as saying on Wed­nesday. Defending BR1M, Najib said it was a way of giving subsidies in a more focused manner. The Government had been giving indirect subsidies for fuel, rice, flour, sugar and other necessities amounting to some RM30bil a year. "However, these indirect subsidies are also benefiting those who are not eligible, including the rich. "Through BR1M, we can determine those who really need it," he said. Najib also questioned whether there was a difference between BR1M and the financial assistance given by the Selangor government. "They promise RM250 for single mothers every month, an allowance for preschool, free water and all sorts of things. Isn't this financial aid? "Why should Nik Aziz denounce what we do but when Pakatan Rakyat gives assistance he doesn't say anything? "Where is the consistency if he thinks one is not a good practice and equates it to animals receiving feed, but not the other?"

DAP eyeing over 150 seats in GE Posted: 21 Feb 2013 09:09 PM PST (Bernama) -- The Democratic Action Party (DAP) is eyeing to contest more than 150 Parliamentary and State Assembly seats in the upcoming 13th General Election (GE13), and seeking RM15 million for its election campaigns. Its deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai said the final list of its candidates was being finalised and would be announced after the dissolution of Parliament and States Legislative Assemblies. The DAP National Election Bureau chairman also said the DAP would unveil its election manifesto this Monday, however the venue had not been finalised. Touching on the increased seats that the party would be contesting this upcoming election, Tan, who declined to elaborate on the new seats, however did not deny that some of the seats would overlap with their coalition partners in the opposition pact, PAS and PKR. He said this at a press conference to launch the party's fund raising campaign, here today. In the 2008 general election, the party had contested in 149 constituencies, including 47 parliamentary seats. In that election, the DAP won 28 parlimentary seats and 63 state seats.

Deepak sues Najib for defamation Posted: 21 Feb 2013 08:12 PM PST PKR leader Sivarasa and Deepak The controversial businessman hopes that his action will goad the prime minister to break his silence over the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.  Anisah Shukry, FMT Controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan today filed a defamation suit against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in a bid to drag out the truth over the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu. Deepak stressed the purpose of the suit was for the prime minister and his wife to publicly disclose their alleged role in Altantura's murder and P Balasubramaniam's statutory declaration (SD). "I am seeking their admission that they were directly involved in instructing me to change Balasubramaniam's SD. This is the main factor behind my suit," Deepak told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. "I am prepared to withdraw the suit if the prime minister comes forward by tomorrow to deny or confess his involvement in the SD." Otherwise, Deepak said, he would continue with the lawsuit and award any compensation or damages he received to Altantuya's family. He said he was hoping to claim RM100 million in damages, but had not included the figure in the statement of claim as per the rules of court. According to the statement of claim, which was filed at 3pm today by Deepak's lawyer R Sivarasa, Najib had defamed Deepak by uttering the words "it's not true. He [Deepak] is not a credible person". 'My credibility affected' "The plaintiff [Deepak] will state that the defendant [Najib] deliberately and with mala fide made the terrible accusation during a question and answer session at the press conference after the defendant chaired the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting on the night of Jan 17, 2013. "The defendant uttered the defamatory words during the press conference as a response towards the statements made by the defendant since November 2012 which links the defendant and his wife, [Datin Seri] Rosmah Mansor with the creation of the second statutory declaration dated July 4, 2008 by private investigator P Balasubramaniam, in which Balasubramaniam withdrew the paragraphs that implicates the defendant in the first statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008," the statement reads. "Najib's statement has affected my credibility as a businessman, because he is the prime minister of Malaysia," Deepak said. READ MORE HERE

Pakatan sure of winning nearly 140 federal seats, say sources Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:47 PM PST Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is confident of snaring nearly 140 parliamentary seats in Election 2013, with wins in Sabah, Sarawak and Johor giving the pact a simple majority to form the government, say sources. The Malaysian Insider understands that PR leaders have calculated their chances in a number of states but their numbers hinge on getting opposition forces in Sabah on the same page. Despite PR's confidence, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) has carried out surveys that show it can win up to 145 federal seats, above the 112 seats for a simple majority and below 148 seats for a two-thirds majority. Independent surveys however show BN can scrape through with 117 seats to PR's 105, with the latest electoral poll survey showing Umno's approval rating is near 40 per cent, far off from the approval rating for Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak. "Pakatan leaders are talking about winning 138 seats at least, maybe up to 140 with a lot of hard work that has been put in since 2008," a source told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the last general election where the three PR parties swept 82 federal seats and five states. The victories by the DAP, PAS and PKR, after an electoral pact in 2008, paved for PR's formation although the pact has yet to be registered. BN is the only registered political coalition in Malaysia. PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had told the Bloomberg news service that the main battle for votes in Election 2013 will be in Sabah and Sarawak, which offer 56 of the 222 Parliament seats. Both Borneo states are seen as a "fixed deposit" for BN but an on-going Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into citizenship-for-votes in Sabah has put the ruling coalition in bad light. A stand-off with armed Sulu militants in the east coast town of Lahad Datu in Sabah has raised questions about Putrajaya's ability to defend its eastern-most state. It is understood that PR hopes to score big in Sarawak and Sabah, not just in urban areas where the dominant Chinese community favours opposition parties but also in several rural areas where PR leaders have received a warm welcome. READ MORE HERE

PI Bala returning to help Pakatan in GE13, says lawyer Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:38 PM PST Bala to arrive in KL 6.00pm on Sunday Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider P. Balasubramaniam's decision to return to Malaysia for good this weekend is spurred by the ex-investigator's determination to help Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) campaign to capture Putrajaya in Election 2013, his lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu said today. The lawyer said Balasubramaniam or "PI Bala", who became famous following his explosive revelations on the 2006 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, had decided to come out of hiding and brave his return simply to participate in PR's polls campaign. "He wants to help campaign for the opposition," Americk told The Malaysian Insider when asked for the reason behind the timing of Balasubramaniam's sudden return. "He wants to join in with the rest of the Malaysian society to ensure there is a change in government... a long overdue change," he added. In an exclusive email interview with news portal Malaysiakini carried today, Balasubramaniam (picture) confirmed plans to return for good this Sunday and was quoted as saying that he hoped PR achieves its Putrajaya dream in the next polls. But Americk also raised concerns over Balasubramaniam's safety, saying he hoped Immigration officials would not find cause to give any trouble to the man. "They might deport him to Australia, though, won't they?" the lawyer said in jest, referring to the recent expulsion of Australian Senator Nick Xenophon who was deported home last weekend for posing a "security risk" to Malaysia. "But no, I should think there should be no problem. He (Balasubramaniam) is a Malaysian citizen, he has a Malaysian passport and he is just returning to his motherland. "He is no criminal or a bankrupt, he is an ordinary citizen who has the right to be here," he added. Asked if there are fears over Balasubramaniam's safety in public, Americk said there was no reason why the latter could not roam freely as he pleased. "I don't think anyone should attack him. He hasn't hurt anybody," he pointed out. He confirmed that Balasubramaniam will arrive at the KL International Airport at 6pm on Sunday. READ MORE HERE

Stop being a busybody, Karpal told Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:31 PM PST The Chua-Boo spat in Johor (The Star) - A PKR branch leader has told DAP national chairman Karpal Singh to "stop being a busybody" and apologise for questioning the credibility of Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng. Bukit Bintang PKR branch deputy chairman Norzairi Jantan in a statement said that Karpal had no right to silence Chua, adding that PKR leaders answered to their party chairman and not to him. "Karpal is stupid for attacking Chua in public. Moreover, he shouldn't be criticising PKR leaders when he has been criticised by other DAP members over the party's central executive committee polls fiasco," he said. Norzairi added that DAP would surely lose in Johor without PKR and also demanded that Karpal apologise directly to Chua over his comments. It was reported that Karpal had chided Chua over his spat with Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau, who called for Chua's removal. Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, also reportedly brought up the issue that Chua was a former MCA member and suggested an inquiry into claims made by Dr Boo.

DAP’s Ngeh muscling out PSM? Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:05 PM PST Sources from Perak PSM and DAP confirmed the rift between them following both parties' interests in contesting the Jelapang state seat.  G Vinod, FMT There seems to be no love lost between Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Perak DAP, with both vying for the "infamous" Jelapang seat. Although DAP is outwardly cordial, many remember that the party had issued a quiet boycott against PSM last year over its interest in contesting in Jelapang. Speaking to FMT, a PSM source said the boycott, although denied by DAP Perak, was "in force" between July and November last year and the "loop" had extended to its fellow Pakatan Rakyat partners who declined PSM invitations to the latter's functions. "It started in July last year. Former menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin was supposed to attend one of our events. He intially agreed and we put up banners informing the public of his attendance. "But all of a sudden, he decided not to turn up. We thought it was an isolated incident but then we noticed that many Pakatan leaders, especially from DAP, decided not to attend many of our programmes," said the source. Upon investigation, the source alleged they learnt that the state DAP leadership had ordered a boycott of PSM's events in the state. On who issued the boycott, the source refused to divulge names, saying the matter was resolved after the Pakatan leadership in Perak had a closed-door meeting and revoked the Perak DAP's boycott. But now the issues have re-surfaced. According to the source, Pakatan and PSM are still discussing which party will contest in Jelapang but the DAP grapevine is spilling otherwise. Ngeh-Nga culprits In 2008, DAP won the Jelapang state seat through Hee Yit Foong. Hee, alongwith two other PKR elected representatives, defected to Barisan Nasional causing the democratically elected Pakatan government to fall to BN in a reverse takeover. Said the PSM source: "We all know the current Jelapang state assemblyperson [Hee] was formerly a DAP member before becoming BN-friendly and caused the Pakatan state government to collapse in 2009. "Despite all that, we continued to serve in Jelapang and the people there know us well. We even have three service centres at the area now. "DAP must understand that there is no longer a place called traditional seat after 2008. Race-based politics is also becoming a relic of the past. "In 2008, people looked at the party symbol first, then the candidate. But the situation now is reversed. It's the candidate first, then party," said the source. Meanwhile, a Perak DAP insider, when contacted, confirmed that a boycott was issued against PSM last year. The insider even accused Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Khor Ming of being behind the boycott. The duo are cousins. "Ngeh and Nga tried in every possible way to work in an unfriendly manner with PSM," said the insider. The insider also alleged that the DAP leaders issued a a threat against PSM not to go for the Jelapang seat. "The brothers said that they will field a DAP candidate for the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat if PSM insisted on the Jelapang state seat," alleged the DAP insider. READ MORE HERE

Philippine navy blocks Sulu Sea Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:52 PM PST The navy says this is to prevent more followers of the Sultan of Sulu entering Sabah.  (Agencies) - MANILA: The Philippine Navy has sealed off the so-called southern backdoor to prevent the followers of the Sultan of Sulu province from traveling to Sabah, where a standoff between the sultanate's followers and Malaysian security authorities persists. The naval blockade was one of the measures taken by the Philippine government to prevent the escalation of the already tense situation, meant to ease the tension in and around Lahad Datu, where hundreds of Filipinos were holed up. Lt. Commander Gregory Gerald Favic, Navy spokesman, on Thursday, said that six ships and an islander plane have been patrolling the Sulu Sea after Malaysian authorities reported the presence of loyal supporters of the sultanate. The group is headed by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram 3rd of Sulu. The Manila Times reports the Navy patrol team is keeping a close watch on the vicinity of the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, home provinces of Kiram's mostly Tausog warriors. The naval patrol, he said, is for "security and stability of the situation." "We are avoiding the escalation of the issue," the Navy spokesman added. Favic clarified that the Navy's patrol and reconnaissance mission on the vast Sulu Sea was not requested by Malaysia. He added though that the Philippine Navy is ready to conduct joint maritime patrol operations with the Malaysian Navy within the disputed area. The Sulu Sea is a large body of water in the southwestern part of the country. Favic said that no one has been arrested trying to cross the southern backdoor going to Sabah so far. Heirs of the Sultan of Sulu said that their followers will stay put in Sabah, which they claim as theirs. The Filipinos are staying in the village of Tanduao, surrounded by Malaysian forces. Negotiations Emissaries of the Philippine government continue to negotiate with the leaders of hundreds of members of the sultanate of Sulu, who rejected Malaysian demands to return to the Philippines. Government sources said that there is a plan to fly a Philippine Air Force C-130 transport plane to Sabah, or a naval boat to fetch Azzimudie's group and bring them back home. But whether such plans will be carried out "depends on the situation on the ground," a source, who is privy to the negotiations with the sultanate leaders said. Two weeks into the standoff, Malaysian officials are now calling for a drastic action against the sultanate's followers. Sabah's Daily Express quoted Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as saying that there will be no compromise on the rights and safety of its people in resolving the intrusion of the Filipinos, some of them armed. "Since they had guns, it is important our action does not lead to bloodshed," he said. Malaysian security forces have surrounded the village, where the sultanate members are seeking refuge. "The issue is not political, not racial, no connection with the stand on sovereignty but in our context this is our land and this is something that can jeopardize the nation's security. This is why we are trying to handle wisely without bloodshed or loss of lives in our land," he said. He said that Malaysia is working closely with the Philippines to resolve the standoff.

‘Stand up or sack me, Mr President’ Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:47 PM PST In a scathing letter to G Palanivel, MIC leader S Vell Paari tells his president to push for action to be taken against Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Ibrahim Ali, failing which, he will ask the Indians to vote for the opposition. RK Anand, FMT Still nursing the near fatal wounds sustained in the last general election, MIC is limping towards the frontline once again. And while its supporters remain optimistic, its detractors however believe that it would not survive the looming battle. Amidst this uncertain future comes a scathing open letter from an outspoken MIC leader to his president, which could plunge the Barisan Nasional component into a crisis just ahead of the polls. Aware of the risks and repercussions involved, S Vell Paari told FMT that he felt compelled to ink his thoughts since the issue transcended partisan politics. "It might be the wrong thing to do as a BN politician but I believe it is the right thing to do as a Malaysian who is fed up with those attempting to rip this nation apart," he said. In his letter, the MIC strategy director urged G Palanivel to push for stern action to be taken against academic Ridhuan Tee Abdullah for penning an article which disparaged those who professed the Hindu faith as well as Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali. Failing which, Vell Paari warned that he would put into motion a proposal to call on Indians not to cast their ballots for the ruling coalition in the coming polls. "If no action is taken against Ridhuan and Ibrahim, I would push forward my proposal in advising the Indians who to vote for. I would use the MIC platform to go forward with my proposal. "The only way for you [Palanivel] to stop me is to sack me. The ball is in your court," read the letter, which was copied to FMT. Vell Paari said that Palanivel should raise this matter during next week's Cabinet meeting and press Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to make a stand. The MIC leader also clarified that he was asking the president to take the lead based on protocol. "As a MIC member, where we represent Indians of all faiths and a member of a race called Malaysian, I cannot remain quiet on this sort of issues any longer, which tend to crop up with increasing frequency. The community wants to know what is our response. "We berate Pakatan Rakyat for breaking temples but keep quiet on these insults. If the reverse had happened [a Hindu insulting Islam], all hell would have broken loose," he said. "With regard to the controversy regarding the use of the word Allah, it went to the extent where a certain imbecile called for Bibles to be burnt. Why must is it always be a one-way street when it comes to our [non-Muslim] sensitivity?" he added. 'We are not children of a lesser God' Vell Paari said that when he criticised Ridhuan, he had to recharge his mobile phone several times as he was flooded with calls in support of his stand both from within and outside MIC. "If we continue to remain silent on such issues because we are afraid of antagonising certain powers- that-be, then we might as well close shop and convert the MIC headquarters into a banana leaf restaurant. We cannot hold our heads high, when our tails are between our legs," he added. Vell Paari pointed out that Ridhuan, who was an associate professor with the National Defence University, also held other government-related positions. "He is a committee member of the Islamic Consultative Council in the Prime Minister's Department, a national council member of the Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim) and executive facilitator at the civil service integrity enhancement unit in the Islamic Development Department. "He sits in these positions including the Prime Minister's Department and hits out at MIC, a member of the government that he is employed by. This is a clear case of insubordination and defiance of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's 1Malaysia concept," he said. "If Ibrahim calls for the torching of Bibles to protect his faith, then what should our reaction be towards someone who had insulted our faith and the Thaipusam festival? "Who are Ridhuan and Ibrahim to talk about non-Muslims and our religions? In what way are we children of a lesser God? We too have every right to stand up and protect the God we pray to. This country is our home as much as it is theirs. They should be charged with sedition," he stressed. READ MORE HERE

Aquino: Guns won’t solve it Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:33 PM PST President Benigno Aquino says if you use guns, the other side will have only one possible response. (FMT) - MANILA: The drastic action being pursued by the sultanate of Sulu to press its claim to the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah is not the best way to resolve the ownership dispute, President Benigno Aquino warned on Thursday. "If you [use] guns, of course, the other side will have only one possible response to [your] challenge," Aquino said, breaking his silence on the standoff between Malaysian security forces and a group of armed followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town in Sabah. "[T]hat cannot be the solution," the president told reporters in an interview here. The president inadvertently confirmed a report published by the Inquirer on Thursday that his administration was silently working through emissaries to convince Jamalul to recall his followers from Sabah so that the standoff could be resolved peacefully. "[W]e have been dealing with this. We have been talking to parties concerned, including the family of the sultan, to ensure that there will be a peaceful resolution to this," Aquino said. The Philipine Inquirer reports him as saying that the matter is not entirely in the government's hands. "There has to be cooperation among all entities to achieve, first, a resolution of the current crisis and, later on, what could be a long-term solution to this dispute," Aquino said. The standoff between Malaysian police, military and naval forces and the Sulu sultan's followers is now in its second week. Aquino said he expected that Malaysia would not give away Sabah without a fight. He disclosed that he had long tasked a legal team to study the basis of the Philippines' claim to Sabah. "Any country [that] has territory will be naught to give up sovereignty. And Malaysia has not been—I think forever—they have been very, very friendly to us. And they have been very, very supportive to us. And we have to, as a brother nation in (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), also respond," he said. Malaysia also brokered the peace talks between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The two sides signed a preliminary peace agreement last October, and they are thrashing out a final peace accord that they hope to conclude this year. Sultan's brother According to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the government has asked Esmail Kiram II, a brother of Jamalul, to talk to the sultan and convince him to recall the armed group led by their brother Agbimuddin Kiram from Sabah. Roxas said a military general, a police general and a provincial official had been communicating with Esmail to ask him to help end the crisis in Sabah. He said other government emissaries were talking to Jamalul, who is undergoing dialysis treatment in a Manila hospital. Esmail was traveling to Manila from Zamboanga City on Thursday to meet with Jamalul, Roxas said. The idea, he said, is for Esmail to travel to Sabah to talk to Agbimuddin about ending the standoff and going home to Sulu. "Our officials have communicated with Esmail to consult with Sultan Jamalul to obtain his guidance because the government has asked Esmail, in view of the sultan's illness or need for dialysis, to go to Sabah to talk to his brother prince," Roxas said on the phone. Come home Through Esmail, he said, the government is sending a message to Agbimuddin, "Come home peaceably." "The message of the government is that nothing will be attained through force and aggression," Roxas said. "We must try to find a way to resolve the standoff and pursue their claim in other [forums]," he added. The Malaysian authorities have agreed to give Agbimuddin and his group time to talk to a "prominent figure" before they leave Tanduao to be deported to the Philippines. The authorities have given them until Friday to decide whether to leave on their own or be rounded up and deported. Esmail could be the "prominent figure" Agbimuddin's group is waiting for. "The best person to talk with Agbimuddin is his brother and fellow claimants," Roxas said. READ MORE HERE

Najib wants Taib to continue as CM Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:26 PM PST Sarawak's future brighter under Taib as he has yet to exploit its resources to take the state forward, says prime minister. Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak yesterday made it very clear that he wants Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to continue to lead the Sarawak state government. "Sarawak has tremendous potential to become a developed state. It has yet to exploit its resources. What you need is someone like Taib so that Sarawak will enjoy a brighter future. "What you need is a BN state government under his leadership," Najib told a crowd of about 10,000 at a Chap Goh Meh dinner at MJC Batu Kawah, in Kuching last night. "We will work closely with the state government, my promise and my commitment is that when Malaysia becomes fully develop, Sarawak will also become fully develop," he said. His endorsement of Taib to lead the state comes in the wake of speculation that the Chief Minister may be pressured by the BN leadership to step down before the general election. Taib marks his 32nd year as Chief Minister on March 26 and has been blamed for the loss of 13 Chinese majority seats in the last state election and one parliamentary seat in a by-election. Taib had promised to step down several times but until now there is no sign of him doing so. There are still some who want the prime minister to pressure Taib to step down as they fear his continued leadership would affect SUPP's performance in the coming election. SUPP which has been allocated seven parliamentary seats is in danger of losing six – Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Sibu, Lanang and Miri to the opposition. Bandar Kuching and Sibu are being held by DAP. Najib: We will help the Chinese Najib made no mention about Taib stepping down. Instead he wants him to continue to lead because he feels Taib can deliver at least 20 of 31 parliamentary seats to the BN coalition. He reminded SUPP leaders that they must be united and put aside their personal differences especially as the coming general election would be a litmus test for the party. READ MORE HERE

Freeze on federal projects? Posted: 21 Feb 2013 11:50 AM PST   (Selangor Times) - Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof yesterday decided that the speed cameras were erected on areas that have been declared as federal roads by the minister. The state is not the owner of the land and so neither MP Sepang nor Selangor have a say over structures built on it. Selangor is considering halting all federal projects following yesterday's High Court decision to disallow the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) from removing the controversial Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras. "The state government is disappointed with the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision that local governments have no power over structures built on Federal roads, "If we have no right to control structures in the state then we cannot manage it well," said Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim during a press conference yesterday. The state has ordered the State Economic Planning Unit to prepare a list of Federal  projects on highways and Prasarana's Light Rail Transit (LRT) project for review by the state executive council to ensure the interests of the public and state are protected. Meanwhile, projects which have been approved should  be suspended temporarily until the issue is resolved. Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof yesterday decided that the speed cameras were erected on areas that have been declared as federal roads by the minister. The state is not the owner of the land and so neither MP Sepang nor Selangor have a say over structures built on it. She added that Selangor was under "constitutional obligation" to not interfere as highways are Federal roads. "The Selangor government does not have jurisdiction on the North-South Expressway (Plus) and the South Klang Valley expressway (SKVE) as such powers lie with the federal government and the Public Works Department. "Hence, the company (Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd) need not have permission from the Sepang Municipal Council to erect the AES poles on the federal roads. The application is allowed and as this is a matter of public interest I make no order as to costs." However, Khalid said Selangor will be appealing the High Court decision. "We will be getting the state legal adviser and the MPSepang's legal department to review the judicial records and then file an appeal," he said. Khalid reiterated that the state and local governments should be able to have control over all structures built in Selangor including AES and advertising billboards. The AES cameras were installed last year along the North-South Expressway (PLUS) and the South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE) without the proper applications and approvals by MPSepang. Following this, two notices were issued by MP Sepang last November requesting the contractor to put in a formal application for the AES camera structures. However, the notices were disregarded and the contractor was subsequently issued another letter dated Dec 6 to dismantle the cameras within 14 days. The contractor then challenged the council's directive and filed a leave application for a judicial review in the High Court on Dec 12, which was granted on Dec 19.

Kayveas and gang ambush Tamil daily Posted: 21 Feb 2013 11:40 AM PST   (Free Malaysia Today) - It is said that the politician is upset over an article which claims that the ruling coalition has failed the Indians. Enraged over a news article, People's Progressive Party president M Kayveas and a group of his supporters ambushed Tamil vernacular daily, Malaysia Nanban's office in Jalan Ipoh here this afternoon. The blue T-shirt wearing mob was looking for the writer of an article who had called on Indians to demand for their rights since the ruling coalition had failed them. The writer, who used a pseudonym, urged the Indian community to press both BN and Pakatan Rakyat to fulfill their demands on several issues such as education and eradicating crime ahead of the general election. Six police patrol cars were deployed to the scene to contain the situation. It is learnt that the entourage hurled obscenities at the Tamil newspaper's staff and accused the editorial team of repeatedly painting Kayveas and PPP in a bad light. It is also learnt that Kayveas' group had manhandled a Malaysia Nanban journalist. Unhappy with a critical article Malaysia Nanban editor in chief, M Malayandy, when contacted by FMT, confirmed the incident and said Kayveas and his supporters had been harassing them since 3.30pm today. "Kayveas, Kuala Lumpur PPP chief A Chandrakumanan and a group of 60 people were here demanding to meet our freelance writer since afternoon," he said. Malayandy said Kayveas and his supporters were unhappy with the article published by the newspaper yesterday, which they claimed was critical of the party. "They want to know why we published the article. Basically the article was an overall review of all political parties. "In one paragraph the writer stated that the PPP was giving the best service by providing free food for the people. The writer also questioned whether Indians would vote in favour of BN if free food was given to the people. "I told Kayveas and the group that if they disagreed with the article, they can issue a rebuttal which we would publish. However they demanded in meeting with the writer," said Malayandy. Police at the scene While a heated deliberation took place inside the newsroom – when at one point Kayveas and his group had allegedly 'raided' a senior editor's office to demand answers, the police arrived at about 4pm after receiving a distress call. The police then held talks with Kayveas and his supporters, urging them to leave the newspaper's premises but without any success. Many of Kayveas' supporters were also seen standing outside Malaysia Nanban's office. FMT also learnt that a Malaysia Nanban reporter was hurt when the mob barged into the office. Crime reporter LK Raj said he was trying to shield his superiors when he was manhandled. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/21/bn-leader-and-gang-ambush-tamil-daily/

As polls loom, PAS wavers over Anwar as PM Posted: 21 Feb 2013 11:38 AM PST   (The Malaysian Insider) - PAS leaders have questioned Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's candidacy as prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) win federal power in Election 2013, with one confirming they have also sounded out Umno's Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for the top post. Sources told The Malaysian Insider the questions arose at a closed-door meeting between PAS and PKR leaders on Sunday, after party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said last Saturday the Islamist party would not hesitate to leave the opposition pact should Islam and Malays lose out in coalition politics. "PAS top leaders said it was 'haram' (illegal) for Anwar to ask for the prime minister post," a PR source told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity. "Then a top PKR leader replied that Anwar had never asked for the prime minister post, and that it was the people instead who called for it. This has also been agreed to by PAS and other parties like DAP since the 1999 general election," the source added. Another PR source said the party's top leaders have met with Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh to invite the former finance minister to be prime minister should PR wrest Putrajaya in the approaching national polls. "But Pakatan must keep in mind that they must be consistent about who will be prime minister-elect. Otherwise the people will see us as flip-flops," said the source, using the phrase that has been directed at their political foes, Barisan Nasional (BN). It was unclear if the PAS leaders' move is widely supported within the Islamist party. PAS leaders from spiritual chief Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to its MPs have all along supported Anwar as PM. Still, there appear to be some moves to assure the PAS grassroots that it is the eminent member of PR and one way to show this is by getting the PM's post. However, this grandstanding by PAS is unlikely to pay off with the DAP and PKR firmly in support of Anwar as prime minister. The issue of who would be prime minister should PR form the next federal government arose two weeks ago when the PAS syura council reportedly rejected Anwar as prime minister and would instead appoint an outside candidate for the post. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/as-polls-loom-pas-wavers-over-anwar-as-pm/

For BN, EIU says GE13 already in the bag Posted: 21 Feb 2013 11:35 AM PST   (Bernama) - The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which is part of the respected London-based magazine, "The Economist", predicts that the Barisan Nasional (BN) will win the 13th General Election (GE13) based on its successful track record, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's reform agenda and his successful economic leadership. For international observers, the outcome of the upcoming polls is already clear, that the BN will be victorious, the EIU said. It also said the opposition Pakatan Rakyat has been making "costly promises" to gain power, and these were a big stumbling block. On all these counts, Pakatan Rakyat comes a distant second, prompting the EIU to predict BN will be the winner. The EIU, a think-tank which offers regular country, industry and risk analysis, said that "it is clearly not feasible" for Pakatan to implement all of its campaign promises. "For example, providing free secondary education would cost the government RM43 billion, while abolishing car duty would cut tax revenue by RM4.6 billion a year," it said. The EIU pointed out that Pakatan had broken many of its earlier promises, including financial assistance for pre-school education, for university students, senior citizens and the disabled; free healthcare for those over 65; lower property taxes; and assistance for home buyers. On all these counts, Pakatan's populism has remained just hot air. In Selangor, for example, BN claimed that Pakatan has implemented only 15 per cent of its 31 election pledges, RM2.4 billion worth, made in its 2008 general election manifesto. "Selangor Mentri Besar (Tan Sri Abdul) Khalid Ibrahim commented that a manifesto is not a promise but conceded that voters may think otherwise," the EIU noted. Compared this with BN's successful track record in fulfilling its promises, and you have a clear difference in approach. For instance, Najib has promised Penang 20,000 affordable houses and a monorail service to ease traffic congestion, and if BN comes to power in the state, voters can be sure that these plans would be implemented. "The stakes are high for both (BN and Pakatan)... the bidding war is likely to continue as both sides make preparations for what is being billed as one of the hardest-fought elections in Malaysia's history," the report said. "Both will need to appeal to young, first-time voters, given that nearly three million people in this crucial voting bloc have been added to the electoral register since the last election," it added. The EIU claimed the "bulk of this group" was undecided about which party to vote for and could swing the outcome of the election. Najib needed to win big in order to secure the future of his reform agenda, while on the other hand, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wanted to be the first to break the BN's stranglehold on power. Meanwhile, Umno is upbeat with only weeks left for the polls, as Najib said the party machinery was in the final stages of its preparations. "We have received the audit report on our machinery and from there I can say our preparations are satisfying. At the same time, I hope the efforts to strengthen our preparations will continue to be carried out by leaders at the state level," he told reporters after the Umno supreme council meeting last Friday. Najib, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, made the selection of winnable candidates the focus of his strategy, making it clear that the BN should field candidates with the best chance of winning, regardless of which BN component party had kept the seats previously. Another key reason for the ruling coalition's strong morale is the "gravity defying" growth of 5.2 per cent that the country is enjoying under Najib's leadership, along with a jump in domestic and foreign investments. And to top it all, per capita income hit US$9,700 from US$7,500 in 2010. The EIU agrees with the upward trajectory: "Following an estimated expansion of 5.2 per cent in 2012, we expect GDP to grow at the same rate during the 2013-17 forecast period." Growth figures announced yesterday by the Statistics Department showed that the economy accelerated to 6.4 per cent growth in the last quarter of 2012 and supporting the full year growth to expand by 5.6 per cent from 5.1 per cent a year earlier. Against such a backdrop, the EIU said: "No wonder the writing is on the wall for Pakatan as it tries to cobble together some opposition unity between its squabbling leaders before the polls."

Jui Meng: Karpal ruined Pakatan unity Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:14 PM PST (The Star) - Johor PKR chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng says he is disappointed with DAP chairman Karpal Singh and has claimed that the latter destroyed the relationship within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. China Press reported Chua as saying that he was shocked that Karpal had brought up the issue that he was a former MCA member when the DAP leader recently suggested an inquiry into claims made by Dr Boo Cheng Hau. Dr Boo, the Johor DAP chairman, had a few days earlier released a statement in Chinese accusing Chua of being behind vicious attacks against Johor DAP. Dr Boo claimed that he "deeply believed" that Chua was the "black hand" behind all the anonymous attacks against Johor DAP. In the China Press report, when asked whether the DAP leaders had tacitly given the nod to Dr Boo to attack him, Chua said "you will get an answer by reading Karpal's statement". Chua added that PKR and PAS top leaders had never issued statements which would tarnish the relationship within Pakatan except for Karpal's remarks after the incident. Chua said he was not surprised by the criticisms made by Dr Boo and claimed that the latter had criticised him and Johor PKR several times. Chua said he had tolerated Dr Boo and Fernandez who continued to destroy the relationship among component members in Pakatan as he wanted to protect the cooperation among the three parties. Chua said Johor DAP had boycotted other parties in the Pakatan in the past few months.

Election 2013 will be won in Sabah and Sarawak, says Anwar Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:02 PM PST (TMI) - Rural Sabah and Sarawak will play a vital role in determining the victor of Election 2013, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in a Bloomberg report today. Anwar told the news agency he was confident of Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) success despite the alliance's differences in ideologies, although current seat tussles between PR and component parties in both east Malaysian states indicate otherwise. "In Sabah and Sarawak, we've never seen that level of support among indigenous tribes," Anwar told Bloomberg here. "People do concede that there's going to be a substantial change in Sabah and Sarawak, enough to alter the shift in balance of power nationwide." Sabah and Sarawak are traditionally viewed as a safe vote bank for Barisan Nasional (BN), with the coalition winning 55 out of 71 seats when Sarawak held its state election in April 2011. The de facto leader of PKR also predicted a smooth transition of power should PR win Putrajaya, thanks to the changing attitude of the police force in handling political events. "The police have changed in the last few months," he said.  "There's hardly been any harassment from the police in all our programmes. It's a pure change." He pointed out that the police did not obstruct the latest opposition rally, the People's Uprising Rally in January, but instead helped to "facilitate" it. In the aftermath of the rally, dubbed "KL112", it was the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) that has come under the spotlight, earning praise from the public and key leaders from both the opposition and BN for exercising restraint during the event.  The police force, especially the Dang Wangi police station, had implemented a number of initiatives for the first time during the rally, in order to assist the participants and the media covering the event.  Previous gatherings organised by polls watchdog group Bersih 2.0 had resulted in pitch battles on the streets between the police and protesters. Parliament will automatically dissolve on April 28 and elections must be held 60 days from then.

Field Malay candidates in Penang, DAP told Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:36 PM PST The Penang Malay Congress suggests that the eight Malay DAP leaders, who contested in the last central executive committee election, should be given state or parliament seats. Hawkeye, FMT DAP should come out with a candidates' line-up which appeals to all Malaysians and not just the Chinese, said the Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak. It should not be preoccupied with just winning in the general election but focus on how to govern in its aftermath. "Everybody wants to win in this modern age, but we should also see beyond winning. We have to ensure that after winning, we must learn to manage our victories, otherwise the moment would be shortlived." Therefore, the line-up unveiled by DAP should mirror its Malaysian-Malaysia slogan and consist of a rich blend of Chinese, Indians and Malay candidates, Rahmad said in an interview. He said this was an important consideration in view that DAP's alliance – Pakatan Rakyat wants to capture Putrajaya in the election. DAP should also bear in mind that the three Pakatan components are not on equal footing throughout the country, he claimed. "PAS is strong in the Malay heartland (Kedah) and the east coast, but not readily accepted in states such as Penang whereas PKR is only strong in highly urbanised areas like Selangor." Sabah and Sarawak are different stories altogether, he added. DAP should come up with a line-up which can forsee the possibilities that PAS and PKR candidates may not be accepted in states like Penang, which is DAP's bastion now, Rahmad said. Therefore, Rahmad is appealing to DAP supremos Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Karpal Singh to ensure that the party fields Malay candidates, particularly in Penang. This would safeguard DAP in an event that the Malay candidates in PKR and PAS are overwhelmed by the onslaught of Barisan Nasional. He also suggested that the eight Malay DAP leaders, who contested in the last central executive committee election, should be given state or parliament seats. They are Ahmad Ton, Harun Ahmad, Syed Solaiman Syed Ibrahim, Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, Lt. Col Roseli Abd. Ghani, Zulkifli Mohd. Noor, Zairil Khir Johari and Dr Arifin Omar. Do not underestimate BN He said although BN is largely seen as rundown and out of sync here, Pakatan should not underestimate the coalition, which boast of over 10 parties with a membership of over three million politicians. "Do not think that the brains are with Pakatan only. BN has its fair share of technocrats and talent." He said the congress is of the view that DAP is here to stay in Penang for sometime because the voters here are simply fed up of BN and they subscribe to the belief of ABU (Anything But Umno). So, any candidate using the DAP symbol including the Malays have a chance, and the latter is important in view that Pakatan needs to form a balanced state government, which consists of all major races. READ MORE HERE

Bishop censures Muslim scholar’s ‘toxic’ remarks Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:34 PM PST Bishop Paul Tan criticises Ridhuan Tee Abdullah over his article which belittles Hindus and calls on the Muslim scholar to apologise.  RK Anand, FMT After more than five decades of independence, this nation which once celebrated the harmonious existence of its diverse racial composition is now mourning the regression of race and religious ties. And this lamentable state of affairs is unravelling under the watch of a prime minister, whose clarion call of 1Malaysia is premised on cementing such relations. With the seat of federal power at stake in the next general election, the desperation for votes had driven certain quarters to exploit sensitive issues at the risk of widening communal fissures. The latest to join that bandwagon was academic Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, who penned an article which the head of the Catholic Church in the Malacca and Johor diocese found unpalatable. In sharing his thoughts on the article which belittled Hindus and Indians, Bishop Paul Tan did not mince his words when rapping the Muslim scholar's knuckles. Build, don't burn the bridges First and foremost, Tan said he was disappointed that such a learned and religious man would stoop to such a deplorable level. Speaking to FMT, he said people like Ridhuan should draw upon their wisdom and religious knowledge to build and not burn bridges between the various communities. He stressed that the issue was not one of belief but rather the simple fact of according respect to fellow human beings irrespective of colour and creed, which was the essence of all faiths. "Ridhuan painted the annual Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves as vexatious to the non-Hindu public and a provocation to the ethos of the majority religious community in Malaysia. "This is an example of toxic arguments against a harmless and pacific religious community that are aimed at stirring revulsion against them," he added. Calling on Ridhuan to apologise, the bishop argued that the academic's remarks were comparable to Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali's call to burn the Christian bibles which contained the word Allah. "In the one instance, you have a hate speech and in the other, you have an example of incitement to do something rash and provocative," he added. Ridhuan, an associate professor with the National Defence University and a familiar face at government functions and programmes, had penned the article for the Malay-language newspaper Sinar Harian. Under the provocative title "Muslims' patience has limits", he had cited Thaipusam as an example when commenting on the controversy surrounding a Tamil movie. The movie with a plot revolving around terrorism had been pulled out of cinemas following complaints that certain scenes had put Islam in a bad light. Ridhuan's article drew flak from both the opposition and ruling politicians, with MIC leader S Vell Paari demanding the home minister to take action or face electoral repercussions. The issue also received widespread coverage in the Tamil press. Observers noted that Ridhuan's article which appeared at a time when the nation was on the brink of a nail-biting general election could prove detrimental to the ruling coalition, which claims to have recaptured the hearts and minds of Indian voters, who deserted it in the previous polls. The academic had refused to respond to his critics, prompting speculation that he had been warned not to exacerbate the situation. READ MORE HERE

Wan Azizah backs Chua Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:20 PM PST But the PKR president also reiterates a gag order on the quarrel in Johor.  G Vinod, FMT PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today threw her support behind party vice president Chua Jui Meng in his spat with the Johor DAP leadership. In a statement coming two days after the top guns of both parties had ordered a gag order over the issue, she said PKR would continue to place its trust and confidence in Chua to lead the party's Johor chapter. Disagreements between the two parties broke into the news recently when Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau accused Chua of masterminding an underground campaign against his party. DAP chairman Karpal Singh backed Boo's allegation and called for an investigation. On Tuesday, however, both DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim brokered a truce and ordered the members of their parties to stop discussing the quarrel in public. Wan Azizah said Chua had made "immense" contributions to Johor PKR's political development since he joined the party in 2009 and should be given the opportunity to continue to work for change in the state. However, she expressed support for the gag order, saying disagreements between Pakatan Rakyat parties "should be resolved internally, as advised by DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng". She said PKR, PAS and DAP had made "major inroads in the Johor political landscape and we have established a common understanding on the big issues. Negative media statements do not help and can be exploited by our opponents."

Tee Keat dropped from Pandan Posted: 20 Feb 2013 12:23 PM PST   (The Star) - Incumbent Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is not listed as a possible candidate under MCA to defend the parliamentary seat. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Ong did not have the support from Barisan Nasional component parties in the constituency that he has held for five terms. "Ong doesn't have the support from his own division," Dr Chua said after attending a Chinese New Year open house organised by Pandan MCA here yesterday. "Ong's name is not in the list prepared by the division and I am dependent on the list prepared by the division," he added. He also introduced 39-year-old lawyer Gary Lim to reporters as MCA's choice of candidate for the constituency. "Gary is a new face and he does not have any baggage. "All politicians have enemies and over time you accumulate more," said Dr Chua. At the same time, he said he could not stop Ong from contesting as an independent, and that it might even benefit Barisan Nasional to split votes for the Opposition. PKR has announced that its director of strategies Rafizi Ramli would be contesting in the parliamentary constituency. At the function, Dr Chua also warned that people especially those in Selangor would be hampered with a host of problems including a water shortage if they were to re-elect Pakatan Rakyat for state government.

Filipino 'army' lays claim to Malaysian state Posted: 20 Feb 2013 11:57 AM PST Steve Chao among those arrested  (Al Jazeera) - Self-proclaimed Royal Sultanate army land in eastern state of Sabah, saying ancestors once ruled area. Watch video at: http://m.aljazeera.com/story/2013220182943625413  More than 100 people have been left homeless by what has, until now, been a little-known armed Filipino group. The self-proclaimed Royal Sultanate army sailed across the Sulu Sea to lay claim to Malaysia's eastern area of Sabah. The group say they say are descendants of an ancient Sulu sultan who once ruled the land they are claiming. Both the Philippines and Malaysia have called for the army to put down its weapons. Al Jazeera's Steve Chao reports from Tanjung Labian, Malaysia.

Police chief confirms arrest of seven at Labian Posted: 20 Feb 2013 11:52 AM PST   (Borneo Insider) - Three Al-Jazeera journalists, three SAPP youths and boatman detained while attempting to head to Tanduo, later 6 released with a warning Three Al-Jazeera journalists were among seven people detained by police off waters at Tanjung Labian, near here Wednesday morning in an apparent bid to attempt a landing at Kampung Tanduo, the hideout of hundreds of followers of the Sulu Sultanate. The others caught early this morning were three Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) youths as well as the boatmen. The news was first broken by SAPP Tungku Central Liaison Committee (CLC) Chairman Suaib Mutalib, who in a statement disclosed the arrests. Later in the afternoon Sabah police chief, Datuk Hamza Taib confirmed the arrests saying the seven were spotted in a boat by a General Operations Force (GOF) team at about 8.00am. Six were later released by police after their particulars were taken down and given a stern warning not to repeat their 'ill-planned' adventure. The seventh person, presumably the boatman was detained further as his travel documents were not in order. Hamza said the three journalists and the youths had earlier tried to enter Tanduo by a land route but had failed. Hamza reminded all journalists, local and foreign, as well as all other parties, not to even try and enter the said area for security reasons. "Please let us do our jobs. Our focus is to ensure the safety of the people and we do not wish to see any unforeseen incidences happening," he said. Read more at: http://borneoinsider.com/2013/02/20/breaking-news-al-jazeera-journalists-sapp-youths-detained-near-standoff-point/

Najib sets the tone for clean elections Posted: 20 Feb 2013 11:48 AM PST   (The Star) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has set the tone for a clean and fair general election by making a public declaration to uphold integrity and reinforcing his commitment to fight corruption in the upcoming polls. The Prime Minister signed the Transparency International (TI) Election Integrity Pledge, which carries this objective, at a brief ceremony at the Perdana Putra building here yesterday. TI Malaysia president Datuk Paul Low and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull witnessed the signing. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Barisan Nasional component party leaders. They included MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, PBBpresident Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel. The TI Election Integrity Pledge is a voluntary social contract, where candidates who will be standing for the general election pledge to promote integrity, good governance, transparency and accountability in government and to uphold the rule of law. Candidates who sign the pledge agree to adhere to the Election Offences Act 1954 and its regulations and give an assurance that their actions and decisions are for the benefit of the general public and not self-serving. In signing the pledge, Najib declared that he would observe principles of truth, integrity, ethical conduct and accountability, including not accepting or giving bribes or being involved in any way in corrupt practices. Joyful meeting: Najib shaking hands with teachers and other staff members after launching SJK (C) Chung Hua Tudan in Kuala Bertam, Miri. The pledge also committed him to uphold and give priority to the interests of the rakyat, good governance and transparency, and compliance with the country's laws and regulations. Meanwhile, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that once the Barisan nominees for the general election are announced, he will ensure that they all sign the pledge. "Nominees from the Barisan and component parties have gone through a review process with the MACC. It is fitting that they now take their commitment for clean and fair elections a step further by signing this Election Integrity Pledge. "The responsibility of fulfilling the pledge lies with the signatories of the pledge and it is the prerogative of the general Malaysian public to hold them accountable to it. "Let us work together towards strengthening the election process," the Prime Minister said. TI Malaysia commended Najib for signing the pledge. "He had ensured his political nominees would be screened by the MACC. "Now, taking this step further, he is encouraging them to make a public commitment for clean and fair elections," TI Malaysia said in a statement.

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