Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Yes, but the question is how? (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
Sabah: Land Below the Winds of Change
You are a lost cause (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
Do you want to play poker with me? (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
70 years later and still the same (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
The untold story of the Lahad Datu incident

Yes, but the question is how? (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 06:54 PM PDT

Let us discuss the salient points in these two Election Manifestos, though not in order of priority or importance (since each person will have different priorities on what they expect from life). And the first item would be the issue of abuse of power, corruption, cronyism, nepotism, mismanagement of the country's wealth, and so on.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I have been observing with interest without much comment since the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament and thought that maybe today I would write something as food-for-thought for Malaysia Today's readers.

You may have noticed that I like to write controversial pieces and would usually take the opposing side in a debate or argument just so that, as I always say, I can throw the cat amongst the pigeons. For example, when people take a stand opposing the Islamic Sharia law of Hudud, I take a stand supporting its implementation and when people take a stand propagating that law I take a stand opposing it.

People ask me why I do that. Well, I suppose it is in my genes. It is what I do. More importantly, however, it teaches people to think and if they disagree with my stand then they would be forced to argue their case in defense of their stand. No doubt this does not always work as planned. In some instances, when people do not have the ability to debate with decorum and civility, they resort to name-calling, swearing and cursing.

I suppose we can only blame these people's parents who did not bring them up the right way. I remember my teenage days when I visited the homes of my Chinese school-friends. The whole family would be playing mahjong and the children would scream tiu niamah in front of their parents whenever they got a weak 'card'.

Hence, when children scream tiu niamah over the mahjong table in front of their own parents you can imagine why they are so coarse and rude when they comment in Malaysia Today. It is the way they were brought up by their parents.

Anyway, that is not the point of what I want to say today. What I do want to talk about is the promises made in the run-up to the coming general election, which some call Election Manifesto and some call Akujanji (I promise).

There appears to be some confusion or misunderstanding about the meaning and implication of an Election Manifesto. In the past, the Bahasa Malaysia translation of Election Manifesto was Manifesto Pilihanraya. Now that it is being called Akujanji makes it even more confusing, especially since Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, the Selangor Menteri Besar, said that an Election Manifesto is not a promise.

The voters need to be told whether this is a firm commitment or merely an aspiration. And they also need to be told that there is a difference. For example, I aspire to become rich but since I am unemployed and am surviving on welfare that aspiration will remain unrealised. However, if I borrow a million dollars from the bank and I invest this million together with another million of my own money into a business that can turn water into oil, then definitely that aspiration will become reality.

The thing is, I may aspire, but the question is how do I plan to meet that aspiration? That is what appears missing in these election promises being made by both sides of the political divide.

Hindraf says that Pakatan Rakyat stole their Manifesto while Pakatan Rakyat says that Barisan Nasional stole theirs. In that case I need not address the Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional Election Manifestos separately since both are duplicates of each other.

Now, while everyone claims that reducing or eliminating corruption is going to be one area of priority, can we be told how this is going to be done? The aspiration of attacking corruption is commendable. How we are going to achieve that is more important.

For example, are we going to send convicted corrupt government officials and politicians to the firing squad like they do in China? Or are we going to execute them by chopping off their heads like in Saudi Arabia? Or maybe cut of their hands like in Afghanistan?

You see: corrupt people do not fear God. In fact, they may not even believe in God. Hence it is pointless to try to put the fear of God in them. We need a stronger fear factor. And a bullet in their head or their head chopped off or their limbs severed may be a stronger deterrent to corruption.

And how do we gain a conviction? Most times, just from their lavish lifestyle, we know these people are corrupt. But to prove it in court is another thing. Less than 1% of corrupt people actually get sent to jail. Can we, therefore, do what they do in Iran (or used to do back in the days of the Revolution of 1979)? In Iran, they torture (or tortured) suspects to gain a confession and after they confess to these crimes these people are executed.

So you see, we need to know the modus operandi that is going to be applied. Having an aspiration to reduce or eliminate corruption is one thing. Being able to achieve it is another thing altogether. So we need to know how this is going to be achieved. And that is missing from the election promises.

The next thing is about the people's welfare. This, of course, would involve a few things such as education, health, safety, quality of life, and so on. We will need details on how the people's welfare is going to be taken care of. And if we talk about change then we need to be brave (plus honest) and talk about a paradigm shift. And if we are not brave enough in committing ourselves to this 'revolutionary change' then nothing much is going to change.

I have written about all these issues more than once in the past so I do not think I need to repeat myself here. Nevertheless, at the risk of boring you with the 'same old story', allow me to summarise the issues as briefly as I can (and being brief is not something within my nature, as you may well be aware).

Will all Malaysian citizens irrespective of race, religion and gender be guaranteed a place in school, college and university?

Will all Malaysian citizens irrespective of race, religion and gender be guaranteed financial assistance to attend school, college and university if they deserve and require financial assistance?

Will the poverty level be reset at a more realistic level -- say RM2,000 for the big towns and cities and RM1,500 for the rural areas -- and will all those families living below this poverty level be guaranteed financial assistance to attend school, college and university if they deserve and require financial assistance?

Will a National Health Trust be set up so that all Malaysian citizens can receive good and free healthcare even in private hospitals, the cost to be borne by the National Health Trust?

Now, these are just some of the issues and certainly not the only ones. However, to me, education, health and the safety and welfare of our citizens take priority over all other issues. Hence we need a strong welfare, education and healthcare system to achieve this. And of course someone has to pay for this 'welfare state', if that is what you would like to call it.

Petronas brings in billions in revenue. The states receive only 5% of this while 95% goes to the federal government. Say the states' share is increased to 20%, as what Pakatan Rakyat promises. Can, say, 5% be paid to a National Health and Education Trust so that all Malaysian citizens living below the poverty level can receive free education and healthcare without exception?

A law can be passed in Parliament, say called the National Trust Act, where Petronas, by Act of Parliament, pays 5% of its oil revenue to this Trust. This National Trust then pays for the cost of education and healthcare to those registered with the Welfare Department. They are then given a National Trust Registration Number where with this they can qualify for free education and healthcare.

Of course, we need to fine-tune the mechanics to weed out those who do not qualify or who no longer qualify because their income has already exceeded the poverty level. Whatever it may be, the system must be colour-blind. If you deserve it you get it, never mind what race, religion and gender you may be. And that would automatically make the New Economic Policy irrelevant without even needing to officially abolish it.

Note that the points above are just examples of some of the issues and in no way make the list complete. If I want to cover every issue then this piece needs to run into 20 pages. Nevertheless, I trust this demonstrates the point I am trying to make in that the aspirations in the Election Manifesto is only the skeleton and what we now need to see is some meat on that skeleton.

*****************************************************

是的，但問題是，我們應該怎麽做？

現在，讓我們來談談這兩份宣言的重要事項。請記住，我的論點是不按重要性來分先後的（因爲重要性的先後是人人不同，很客觀的。而我要談的第一點是和濫權相關的（如貪污、裙带关系、不當管理財政等。

原文：Raja Petra Kamarudin

译文：方宙

自從國會解散后，網絡上出現了很多有意思的爭論，而今天我想就這些爭論上提出看法，希望我的看法能夠成爲MT讀者們的'思想糧食'。

你們可能注意到，我會常寫些具爭議性的文章，且我經常會為反方站臺。如，儅人們反對落實回教法時我會提出贊同的言論。別人問我為何會那麽做，我想這可能是我的基因吧，這就是我的作風。但更重要的，我希望人們會動腦筋思考。如果他們想反駁我的話，他們必須提出論據。然而並不是每一次他們都會這樣的，有些人詞窮時會用罵髒話、詛咒等來回應。

我想可能是他們父母沒把他們教好吧。我記得我年輕時去拜訪我一個華人同學，當時他們家人正在打麻將。那些小孩在摸到一手坏牌時會儅他們長輩面前大罵'屌你老媽'！所以你在此可以想象爲何他們可以如此粗魯的在網絡上發言了；他們的父母是如是教養的。

話説回來，這不是我今天的重點。我今天要講的是大選宣言（或有些人會稱爲 Akujaji）内的承諾。

很多人誤解了大選宣言的目的。之前大選宣言的馬來文翻譯是Manifesto Pilihanraya，但現在的Akujanji 這個翻譯把它的意思搞得更加亂（尤其是在雪蘭莪大臣Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim表明大選宣言並不是承諾后）。

選民們有必要被告知那些宣言到底是個承諾還是個心願，他們也必須被告知這兩者的不同。打個比方，我現在失業，很窮，但我有要成爲有錢人的心願。如果我靠福利金苟且度日的話，那我的心願就不會實現。反過來，如果我從銀行借了1百萬來做生意而賺取了另一個1百萬，那我的心願就會實現。

我可以有心願，但問題是我要怎麽實踐呢？這就是雙方大選宣言裏邊沒有提到的。

Hindraf 已説明了，民聯的宣言是抄他們的，而民聯則說囯陣的宣言是抄民聯的。因此，我並不需要個別説明，因爲無論是民聯或囯陣，他們的宣言都是一樣的。

現在，讓我們來談談這兩份宣言的重要事項。請記住，我的論點是不按重要性來分先後的（因爲重要性的先後是人人不同，很客觀的）。而我要談的第一點是和濫權相關的（如貪污、裙带关系、不當管理財政等）。

所有人都宣稱打擊貪污是他們的首要任務，那他們能否告訴我們要怎樣來實踐呢？打擊貪污這個理念是很可取的，但如何達到目的才是更爲重要。

我們是否應該像中國一樣，把貪官污吏捉去槍斃？還是仿效沙特判他們斬首示衆？還是像阿富汗剁他們的手？

你應該明瞭，那些貪贜枉法的人是不怕上帝的。事實上，他們可能根本都不信有上帝這囘事，所以你根本不能用上帝這個名號來嚇阻他們。我們需要一個更有效的嚇阻方法。在他們頭顱上打一槍或讓他們斷手斷腳可能會有效。

我們又能怎樣更有效的制裁他們呢？大多時候我們是從他們那奢侈的生活方式來斷定他們是有貪污的，但要在法庭内將他們定罪又是另一回事。目前只有少過1%的貪污人士被送進監牢裏。那麽我們又能否仿效伊朗般呢？在伊朗他們會折磨嫌犯，讓他們屈打成招，然後再將他們處決。

所以你看，我們必須知道及擁有一個執行方式。擁有一個心願是一回事，實踐又是另一回事。我們必須知道實踐的方法，而這正是那些大選承諾裏所沒談及的。

我要講的下一個課題是福利（牽涉到的計有教育、醫療、治安、生活素質等）。我們必須知道人民的福利會怎樣地被照顧。如果我們所談到的是改變，那我們就應該勇敢的（和誠實的）談及典範轉移。如果我們不能夠很徹底地做出革命性的更改，那很多事情就只會維持原貌。

我之前已經提及很多次了，其實我並不需要重復。但在此容我再重復一遍，給你一個很簡短的總結（其實簡短並不是我的作風，你們應該是很了解的）。

所有馬來西亞人，無論種族、宗教、性別，是否能有保障性地進入學校，學院和大學求學？

所有馬來西亞人，無論種族、宗教、性別，在符合條件下，是否能有保障性地得到財務資助進入學校，學院和大學求學？

贫困线會否被調整至一個合理的底綫----即大城市的2000馬幣和鄉村地區的1500馬幣----而那些窮困學生是否能有保障性地得到財務資助進入學校，學院和大學求學？

'國家醫療基金'會否被成立以幫助所有大馬人得到免費而有素質的醫療服務（甚至涵蓋私人醫院的醫療費用）？

這只是所有問題裏的冰山一角，但對我而言，教育、醫療、治安、和人民福利就現在而言是最爲緊要的。所以現今我們需要的是一個很好的福利、教育、與醫療系統。當然背後必須得有人為這個'福利社會'買單。

囯油每年進帳上億，產油州只抽取那其中的5%，而95%則進入中央政府的口袋。就如民聯應承般，讓20%的盈餘給州政府好了，那就是否能抽取5%放進'國家醫療及教育基金'中來幫助窮苦人士得到教育與醫療服務呢？

或者福利部可以通過審查來登記那些有需要且符合資格的窮苦人士，然後國會可以通過'國家信托法'勒令囯油把5%的盈餘用在此信托中以支付那些窮苦人群的教育與醫療費用。

當然，我們必須要有一個很好的檢查方式來排除掉那些沒資格或那些之前有資格但現在已經脫離贫困线的人。底綫是這個系統必須是色盲的。無論你的種族、宗教、性別是什麽，只要你符合條件，你就有資格得到援助。若這個計劃能夠落實，那NEP將會自動地失去用處，我們根本就不必特意地去廢除它。

以上的幾點只是一小撮的例子，要我現在把所有課題都列出來，那是不可能的；我可能需要20多頁才能擧列完畢。我希望在此你們能夠看見我所要表達的意思：大選宣言裏的理念其實只是骨头架子而已，而我們現在要看到的是骨頭上的肌肉。

Sabah: Land Below the Winds of Change

Posted: 30 Mar 2013 02:21 PM PDT

The voting trend speaks for itself: within East Malaysia, dissatisfaction against BN does not necessarily translate into a swing for PKR – unlike Peninsula Malaysia, the party will have to do more than win on 'protest votes' here.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Shashi Karu

Over the online media, the atmosphere is palpable and almost sweating with suspense. As we near election day, bloggers, commentators and the occasional pundits are beating with increasing intensity to the same rhythms of change: "it's now or never", "ubah", "ini kalilah" and of course, how could you not forget, "ABU!" [Asalkan Bukan Umno].

Analysts alike are expecting a repeat of the March 2008 Tsunami, but this time it's back with revenge: Peninsula Malaysia is expected to see bigger gains to Pakatan Rakyat - with the bastions of BN in Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor finally caving in to the 'winds of change'. As the tides of politics continues on its charging path, Anwar Ibrahim inches ever closer to Malaysia's first "opposition" Federal government.

And yet, despite the inevitability of change, many anticipate that these electoral gains may not be enough to provide that much needed parliamentary majority. In pursuit for these last remaining seats, analysts and political strategists believe that the final frontline will be won, or lost, in Sabah - the last fortress of BN's 'fixed deposit'.

Winds of change sweeping Borneo?

As the political oven continues to heat up, we are increasingly seeing the battle fought openly in the sleepy state. Issue that irate Sabahans continue to pervade the news, blogs, and coffee shops: PATI (illegal immigrants), UMNO, underdevelopment, timber corruption, state autonomy, and the list goes on. The unfortunate Sulu incursion and RCI of Project IC has further 'activated' dormant voters, who were otherwise indifferent or fatigued to the politics of the state. It's no surprise then that, with an electorate ripe for change, victory is firmly within the grasps of Pakatan Rakyat - or is it?

Despite the solidified angst against BN, history suggests that this may not mean an easy victory for PR. If the 2011 Sarawak state election is to go by anything, the packed ceramahs, sloganeering crowds and near unanimous aggravation certainly does not translate into votes for the opposition.

A Sarawak down memory lane

Looking back at the recent 2011 Sarawak state election, the much vaunted expectations fell embarrassingly short on election day: opposition gained a total of 15 of the 71 state seats - 12 of which were delivered by DAP and a paltry 3 by PKR. Although DAP saw significant gains in the urban areas, PKR suffered a major blow, losing over 46 of the 49 seats it contested. This is despite an election occurring within three years of the March 2008 Tsunami - with anticipations of that very Tsunami finally arriving in Sarawak. Justifiably, the question that should be asked is 'Why did this happen?' and given the shared geography, history and voter preferences: 'Will this trend continue towards 2013 elections in Sabah?'

Many factors have been flagged but a key reason for the upset, as touted by Pakatan Rakyat leaders, was the failure to agree upon seat allocations; this resulted in multi-cornered fights, allegedly 'splitting' and 'diluting' opposition votes that resulted in a BN victory. However, closer analysis of the voting results shows an overlooked fact: even if multi-cornered fights did not occur, the vote counts indicate that Pakatan Rakyat, namely PKR, would still have lost all but 1 seat in Sarawak. Similar trends were seen in the 2008 Sabah state elections, where PKR failed to come close to any victory in all but 3 seats contested.

A further look at the results show that in many of the multi-cornered fights identified, PKR candidates were out-voted by DAP, local opposition parties and independent candidates - suggesting that the party may be a poor voting alternative, even within opposition. The voting trend speaks for itself: within East Malaysia, dissatisfaction against BN does not necessarily translate into a swing for PKR – unlike Peninsula Malaysia, the party will have to do more than win on 'protest votes' here.

Banking Locally

And yet, there is hope for the party. The few gains made by PKR, provide an insight into how the party may achieve its goals in the Eastern front. In both the Sabah and Sarawak State elections, results indicate that voters were won over by the candidates' ties to their communities, rather than PKR's brand and struggle. In Sarawak, the election of Baru Bian, See Chee How and Ali Anak Biju, were achieved through their long-known activism in Native Customary Rights and land rights.

Similarly in 2008 Sabah Election, the only PKR candidates that came close to victory (Daniel John Jambun, Awang Ahmad Shah and Jeffrey Kitingan) were supported by their familiarity as long-time serving leaders and activists within their communities. The result show potential - and PKR has the potential to win, but only through banking on the history and community ties of its local leaders.

The PKR Brand

However, looking forward to the 13th General Election, one thing is for certain: the PKR brand by itself does not hold up its weight in East Malaysia. Given the strong parochial and 'regionalist' sentiments of Sabah and Sarawak voters, PKR continues to be viewed as a 'Federal Party' or 'Parti Malaya', especially within the local bumiputera communities.

Indeed the actions of PKR's Head Bureau, sidelining local leadership choices and decision making of its Sabah Branch, has not gone unnoticed: as one independent Sabahan columnist, Erna Mahyuni, opines: "I wouldn't be surprised if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attempted to parachute another West Malaysian in to lead Sabah PKR like he did with Azmin Ali. What next? Azmin Ali as Sabah chief minister? If that happens, I am surrendering my passport and moving to the Philippines."

The perception of Sabah PKR as a "toothless body helpless to even choose its leaders" adds fuels to the perception of PKR and Anwar Ibrahim himself is continuing another 'Parti Malaya'. These sentiments may continue to grow, as allegations and aspersions of Anwar's role in Project IC and the establishment of Sabah UMNO continues to resurface. Looking forward, Anwar Ibrahim realises that PKR (and even his own) brand and struggle will not be sufficient to swing votes in Sabah; it comes as no surprise then, that the de-facto PKR leader has opted to pursue an alternative (some might say risky) strategy to Putrajaya.

Hot Cross BNs

Since re-entering the political arena, Anwar Ibrahim has undertaken a major political exercise to resurrect the careers of former Sabah UMNO politicians. The re-entry of these players provides that much needed 'established community history and local leadership experience' that is lacking amongst its existing candidates. The clout of these leaders and their affinity with the local community may reverse PKR's dismal performance in Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in Muslim Bumiputera areas.

However, even this may not provide the sufficient number to reach Putrajaya; as a last remaining arsenal, Anwar Ibrahim is currently engaging with existing Sabah and Sarawak BN politicians to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat. Already 4 MPs have successfully defected, with more anticipated. Indeed mutiny is simmering within the state, as Sabah UMNO's own Salleh Said Keruak (current Speaker of the state's legislature) boasting 'between 8 and 14 BN MPs (out of Sabah's 25 seats) would leave BN'¹.

The strategy is risky, and if successful, will secure Anwar Ibrahim the comfortable majority to form Federal Government; on the other hand if the strategy is unsuccessful (as seen in the Perak 2009 debacle), the crossovers will back-fire disastrously - it will certainly be defining the point of Anwar's political demise.

Reformasi-compromised

Already, the negotiations have soiled PKR's reputation in East Malaysia - they are reminiscent of Anwar Ibrahim own involvement in the infamous 1994 cross-overs, that resulted in the fall of Sabah's independent PBS government - and importantly, UMNO's entry into Sabah. In Peninsula Malaysia, the cross overs may signal that the BN ship is sinking; however, here in Sabah, they conjure up the nightmares of a previous decade.

No doubt with a successful crossover exercise, Malaysia will see a new Federal government - a final victory for more than a decade long struggle for Reformasi. Pakatan Rakyat supporters have argued that the Reformasi goal is so vital, that accepting BN politicians into the fold may be an essential means to a long awaited end. However, from the view of Sabahans and Sarawakians, the cross overs will mean one and one thing only: the same players of BN's long standing politicians will continue to remain within their clout and power over East Malaysia. Yes, the Reformasi dream can be realised federally - but Sabah and Sarawak must be sacrificed under the yoke of its politicians.

Heading towards a PR disaster?

The political exercise has not sat well with local Sabahans, leading to the up-in-arms exit of its crucial local leaders, including the previously mentioned heavyweights Daniel Jambun, Awang Ahmad Shah and Jeffrey Kitingan. Furthermore, the strategy may be inadvertently doing the opposite of it's intent, strengthening the possibility of an ironic 'protest vote' against PKR; recent surveys conducted by Merdeka suggests this may be likely, particularly within Bumiputera communities and younger, professional-working Sabahans.²

If the cross overs are successful, it will place immediate pressure on the remaining Sabah and Sarawak PR politicians:

Are they willing to fully embrace BN politicians and parties as equals in Reformasi?

Are they willing to ally and work, with those who they have fought their whole political lives against?

Will they be able to put the party's interest, above the Rakyat's interest?

Already we see murmurs within the coalition, with Penang DAP politicians pressing forward an "Anti Hopping Law" and Karpal Singh's ever untimely comments ("The DAP has always been against party hopping"). We may even see local politicians leaving Pakatan Rakyat in protest - as one Sabah DAP State Leader ominously decried: "Why should anyone sacrifice for Anwar's ambitions?"³ Indeed, rather than being the answer, Sabah is turning out to be the source of many questions and doubt for both Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar Ibrahim.

- Shashi Karu

1. US Embassy Cables (Jun 2008, Wikileaks)

2. Public Opinion Survey for Parliament Kota Kinabalu & Penampang (March 2012).

3. US Embassy Cables (Jun 2008, Wikileaks)

You are a lost cause (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 28 Mar 2013 10:03 PM PDT

The most popular comment from these people is that the Malays and Indians should wake up. What do they mean by wake up? Do they think that the Malays and Indians are still sleeping? In what way are the Malays and Indians still sleeping?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

It's very funny to see those Bible-thumpers and Qur'an-screamers jump when you touch their raw nerve. They will rant and rave about God's work, principles, sacrifices, noble causes, community service, and all that bullshit. Then, when you corner them with hard facts, as opposed to mere rhetoric, they will accuse you of hitting below the belt.

One favourite of mine are those who challenge me to return to Malaysia if I dare. And if I don't dare then I should 'stop talking'. That is very laughable considering the challenge comes from those who throw this challenge using fictitious names and false e-mail addresses. They don't dare reveal their true identity and yet they call others a coward. And some of these people do not even live in Malaysia but post comments from another country.

Isn't that extremely funny and very typical of the Malaysian mindset? These are the same people who lament about the poor but will refuse to donate even one Sen to the poor. They would even throw their own parents into an old folks' home if they could do that free-of-charge and did not have to pay a single Sen towards the cost.

It is all talk and no action.

What about those who say that we must change the government because there is no freedom of speech in Malaysia and that we are denied our right to criticise the government? But when you criticise the opposition, these same people will scream and call you all sorts of nasty names.

When someone -- say from MCA, MIC or Gerakan -- says something in support of Barisan Nasional, they will call this person an Umno dog or prostitute. But what happens if you say something in support of Pakatan Rakyat? Are you an Anwar Ibrahim dog or prostitute? No, of course, you are not. But then why?

Then there are those who say that the NEP is unjust and discriminatory and they will raise the issue of education as the best example of why the NEP should be abolished. And when we write about how important education is to the non-Malays, they will scream and say that we know nothing about the mindset and priorities of the non-Malays and should, therefore, not be commenting about that matter.

Last week I wrote in support of the NEP and I related the story of my work in the Rotary Club of Kuala Terengganu to emphasis the point as to why we still need the NEP. I expected the non-Malays to call me a racist pig, which they did. Then, this week, I write about why the Chinese are angry with the NEP. And I used the issue of education to support my argument.

And do you know what happened? The same people who screamed discrimination and argued that the NEP is denying deserving Chinese students a place in the universities turned around and said I know nothing about what the Chinese want. But I thought the argument was that the NEP is discriminatory and that Chinese students are being denied a place in the universities because of the quota system? That's what you said and that was what I also said. So what is there to not understand about the Chinese mindset and priorities?

When they say that the Malays and Indians are still sleeping they mean that 90% of the Malays and Indians are not supporting the opposition like the Chinese are. Only 50% of the Malays and Indians support the opposition. Hence the Malays and Indians are still sleeping.

Hence 'sleeping' means you do not support the opposition while 'wake up' means you support the opposition. And it must be 90% to be considered 'woken up'. Only 50% means you are still sleeping.

In the UK, only 35% of the voters support the ruling party while 35% support the opposition. And the balance 30% support neither -- they support the 'third force', LibDem.

So what would you say about this? Which group has woken up and which group is still sleeping? And what do you call the 30% who support neither? They have not 'woken up' nor are they 'still sleeping'. What label shall we give them then, the 30% LibDem supporters?

Actually, it is bad to have 90% of the voters vote for one party. Prior to the 2008 general election I used to talk about a two-party system. In my talks during the pre-election rallies (ceramah) I still talked about a two-party system. And I pleaded with the voters to vote for Pakatan Rakyat so that we can see a two-party system in Malaysia.

And we saw that happen in 2008 when about half the voters voted for the opposition and Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament plus five states. So now it is time to bring it up to the next level. This coming election we may see a 'photo-finish'. Some say we may even see a hung parliament.

If that is true then it is time to move up to the next level, like here in the UK. No longer can we just talk about a two-party system, like what the UK (and the US for that matter) had for so long. The UK is moving toward a three-party system. And if you think that this was a flash-in-the-pan, in the latest Eastleigh by-election on 1st March 2013, LibDem won that seat. Hence the support for LibDem is still there in spite of what many may say.

See: The Liberal Democrats have won the Eastleigh by-election, with the UK Independence Party pushing the Conservatives into third place (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21625726).

To the Pakatan Rakyat supporters I can only say that you are your own worst enemy. Your mouth moves faster than your brain. You think you are clever but in reality you are quite dumb. You open your mouth without thinking and do more damage to your cause than Barisan Nasional, Umno, TV3, Utusan Malaysia, etc., can ever do. And you only have yourself to blame for the thrashing you are going to receive in the coming general election.

And do you know what my greatest fear is? My greatest fear is that most of the Chinese seats will fall to the opposition while most of the Malay seats will go to Barisan Nasional. Then we are going to see a Chinese opposition versus a Malay ruling party. And do I need to explain why such a thing is bad for Malaysia?

Go figure that one out for yourself.

*****************************************

你们真的无药可救

我常见的留言是'马来人和印度人必须醒起来'。醒起来是什么意思？他们认为马来人和印度人还在睡觉？请问他们是怎样个睡法呢？

原文：Raja Petra Kamarudin

译文：方宙

若你曾挑动过那些所谓圣经和可兰经拥护者的神经，你会发现他们的反应是近乎可笑的；他们会抬出上帝的名号，原则，牺牲，神圣使命，社会服务。。。等等的狗屁废话。而当你以实据而非华丽的词藻来反驳他们是就会讲你在攻击他们的下阴（即对他们不公平）。

而我觉得最经典的，是那些向我叫嚣，要我回国的一群。如果我不回应的话我就必须'闭上我的狗嘴'。那是最为可笑的，因为那些挑战我的人都躲在假的名字和电邮地址后。他们连公开自己真实姓名的种也没，但他们可以大言不惭地讲别人是懦夫。更扯的是，他们根本都不住在马来西亚；他们的留言是在他国发出的。

这真是马来西亚思想的最佳写照，非常的可笑。这些就是嘴里为穷人打抱不平，而口袋里永远都不会拿出一毛钱来帮助的人。若他们可以不付一分一毫的话，他们可以毫无考虑得把他们的父母丢进老人院。

这就是经典的只讲不做。

那对于那些整天讲说，我们要改朝换代因为政府压抑我们的言论自由，我们无法批评政府，他们又好到哪儿去？当你批评反对党时，他们就会跳出来对你大喊大叫，骂你难听的脏话。

当有人----就讲是马华，国大党，或民政好了----发表支持国政的言论时，他们会骂他巫统走狗，是巫统的娼妓。那相对的说，如果你发表支持民联的言论，你就是安华的走狗，娼妓咯？当然不是！那请问，为什么不是？

外面有些人讲说NEP是不公的，他们会举出教育的失败为NEP不公的证据。而当我写出教育对非马来人的重要性时，他们就会批评说我根本就不懂非马来人的想法，所以我应该闭嘴。

上个星期我以我在瓜拉登嘉楼扶轮社的经验来叙述NEP还有存在的必要性时，我早就预料到非马来人会称我为种族主义的猪。我是对的，因为他们确实这么骂。然后这个星期我写出华人对NEP的不满，我用了教育这个课题来支持我的论点。

你知道后来发生什么事情吗？那一群认为NEP对华人教育不公的人站出来大喊说，我根本就不懂华人要什么。奇怪了，我那篇文章正是讲说NEP经大学固打制而对华人教育上的不公，这正不是他们关心的课题吗？他们又怎能说我不懂华人的看法呢？

我常见的留言是'马来人和印度人必须醒起来'。醒起来是什么意思？他们认为马来人和印度人还在睡觉？请问他们是怎样个睡法呢？

他们说马来人和印度人还在睡觉因为90%的马来人和印度人还没有华人般的支持民联。只有50% 马来人和印度人支持民联，所以说他们还在睡觉。

从上面可以看出，如果你没有支持民联你就是在'睡觉'，反之则证明你是'清醒'的。而且必须要有90%的支持率才算'清醒'，50%的也不算。

在英国，只有35%的选民支持执政党，而有35%是支持反对党的。剩下的30%，他们就是所谓的'第三势力'，自由民主党（Liberal Democrats）。

你会怎么圈定他们呢？哪一组是清醒的，哪一组是睡觉的？那30%的选民，你会称他们为什么呢？他们既没有'睡觉'，也没有'清醒'，那我们又该如何辨别他们呢？

其实，有90%的选民倾向一个政党是不健康的。08年大选前我就强调两线制的必须性。我在大选讲座会上一直提起，我恳求选民们投给民联以实现两线制。

在2008年，我们看到50%的选民投给了反对党进而让国阵失去了在国会三分之二的优势和五个州的政权。所以现在我们应该再接再厉，在这次大选给国阵民联来个'终点相片判定'（即更加接近50-50）。也有人相信我们会把国阵送上断头台呢。

现在真的是我们更上一层楼的时候了。但就像是英国一样，我们不能再谈两线制，英国现在已经朝向'三党制'了。如果你认为这个想法只是昙花一现，你错了；在3月1号Eastleigh递补选举中，自由民主党是胜出的。所以我们可清楚地看见选民对自由民主党的支持，即使他人仍然相信那是无所其事。

看此：http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21625726

我只想对民联支持者说一句：你们才是你们自己最大的敌人。你们的口转得比你们的脑筋还快。你们自以为很聪明，但其实笨得很。你们一开口就比国阵，巫统，TV3，Utusan 等对你们自己更有杀伤力了。在来届大选中，你们必须为自己的动作付出代价。

你们知道其实我最担心的是什么吗？我担心的是华人区议席会落入反对党手中，而马来人议席则落入国阵手里，然后形成了华人在野，马来人在朝的形势。你们还需要我多解释其坏处吗？

你们自己想想吧！

Do you want to play poker with me? (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 27 Mar 2013 07:23 PM PDT

Rafizi also did not confirm or deny the meetings between Anwar and Misuari. He just said I lied. Did I lie about the meetings being held (which means there were no meetings) or did I lie about the reason for the meetings and about what was discussed in those meetings? Rafizi did not explain this.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Some readers have challenged me to rebut Americk Sidhu's allegation against me. I will certainly do that but I am first working on the evidence. Once the evidence is complete, I will reveal what I have.

I also want to give some 'space' between P. Balasubramaniam's death and my revelation because what I reveal may not be too complimentary to the deceased private investigator -- nor to his lawyers such as M. Puravalen and R. Sivarasa, for that matter.

I think Americk is going to be shocked to find out what Puravalen and Sivarasa had hidden from him. I personally like Americk and he is a very nice person indeed. However, he can sometimes be a bit naïve about what I would call realpolitik. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realpolitik).

Meanwhile, I want to reply to Rafizi Ramli's statement in the video below (see minute 12.12 of that video). Then view Nur Misuari's Aljazeera interview, starting from minute 21.15 where he clearly states that Sabah and Sarawak belong to them and that the peace talks with the MILF (brokered by the Malaysian government) is merely aimed at cheating the MNLF of its right over Sabah and Sarawak.

Hence the motive of the recent intrusion into Lahad Datu is very clear. It was meant to 'stir the sentiments' of the very large Muslim population in Sabah. And considering that 32 of the 60 state seats in Sabah are Muslim-majority, this can have a bearing on the outcome of the general election. And whomsoever wins Sabah and Sarawak will get to form the next federal government.

First look at this chart.

You can see how over 50 years from 1960 to 2010 the Kadazan-Dusun and Chinese population of Sabah have been reduced by almost half while that of the Muslim population has increased dramatically. Furthermore, the non-Malaysian-citizen population is now about a quarter of the State's population. Hence one in every four Sabahans is a non-Malaysian citizen -- probably the highest ratio in relation to the national average of roughly 10%.

And these non-Malaysians, mostly Filipino Muslims, want Malaysian citizenship. And if that happens then the Muslims in Sabah would make up more than two-thirds of the state's population -- where once Sabah was regarded as a 'Christian' state. And these people want autonomy and a new Muslim nation-state comprising of Mindanao (population 25 million, mostly Muslims), Sabah and Sarawak -- 'independent' of both Malaysia and the Philippines.

To exploit this situation, therefore, is not that difficult. Sentiments, hatred and suspicion are running very high. The only question is: who is the one doing the exploiting? Is it Umno or is it PKR?

Umno has met the Muslim Filipinos and their excuse is that it is their job as mediator (pendamai) to meet the Filipinos. Anwar and other PKR leaders have also met the Filipinos. But they have not told us why.

According to the intelligence reports, the reason Anwar met the Filipinos is as I had reported in my article: The untold story of the Lahad Datu incident (SEE HERE). Rafizi says that this is a lie. However, in his press conference, he did not explain that if I had lied then what was the reason Anwar met Nur Misuari?

Nur Misuari made it very clear. They want back Sabah and Sarawak, which he claims belong to them. Was this discussed in the meeting between Anwar and Nur Misuari?

I already gave the date and place of both the first and second meetings. I also revealed that an Indonesian Member of Parliament had arranged the meetings at the behest of Anwar himself. Would Rafizi now like me to reveal the name of that Member of Parliament?

I can if he so wishes but I would not want to be the cause of a diplomatic row between Malaysia and Indonesia. Hence I do not want to embarrass the two governments by revealing the name of that Member of Parliament. And until either the Malaysian or Indonesian government challenges me to reveal his name, I will keep that card close to my chest for the meantime.

I do not always reveal what I have in my possession. For example, I have video evidence that the story regarding 'First Lady' Rosmah Mansor's so-called RM24 million diamond ring is not entirely true.

Nevertheless, I am keeping that evidence and will not reveal it yet because the Pakatan Rakyat supporters will just accuse me of being bought, doing a U-turn, trying to sabotage Pakatan Rakyat, and so on.

You see, even if that story about Rosmah's ring is not entirely true, the Pakatan Rakyat people will not want me to reveal the evidence. They want this story to be thought true because this will work in Pakatan Rakyat's favour. Hence it is better that the not-true story be maintained than the truth be revealed.

Is this honest? Never mind whether it is honest or not. If the truth will hurt Pakatan Rakyat then better we perpetuate a lie or half-truth if that lie or half-truth can help Pakatan Rakyat.

In that sense I am also not honest. I have evidence of the truth and yet I hide this evidence just to help the opposition win the election. However, if someone would like to call my bluff and accuse me of lying, then I would have no choice but to defend myself by revealing the truth. Then don't scream that I should not do this so close to the election.

The bottom line is: be careful what you wish for. When you challenge me and call me a liar you are forcing me to defend myself. And you might not like what you see as the truth can sometimes hurt.

Rafizi: Raja Petra is telling tales (see minute 12.12)

4KDZhJiARv0

SEE ON YOUTUBE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KDZhJiARv0

Nur Misuari's recent interview with Aljazeera regarding the Lahad Datu incident (see minute 21.15)

vbjsw-iQ6wI

SEE ON YOUTUBE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbjsw-iQ6wI

*******************************************************

你要跟我玩扑克牌吗？

Rafizi 也没有有承认或否认安华到底有没有见过Nur Misuari。他所说的是"RPK说谎"，那他指的是，我谎称那个会面的存在（意思是说，根本就没有会面那回事），还是说，那个会面是发生了，而我谎称了会面的内容/目的？ Rafizi他没有解释清楚。

原文：Raja Petra Kamarudin

译文：方宙

有些读者挑战我反驳Americk Sidhu对我的指控。你们别担心，我肯定会，但我必须先搜集证据。在我拥有足够证据以后，我才会公告天下。

其实，我也想在Bala之死和我把证据公诸于世之间给各空隙，因为我的证据可能会对刚刚逝世的Bala和他的律师（Puravalen和Sivarasa）不大有利。

我猜想Americk在发现Puravalen和Sivarasa隐瞒有他后，他将会是很惊讶。我自己本身很喜欢Americk，因为他真的是个好人，唯他有时候在面对现实政治会有点天真。（http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realpolitik）

与此同时，我想要就Rafizi Ramli在下方影片的言论作出回应（请看影片的12分12秒，然后在看NurMisuari在Aljazeera的访问，在21分15秒他清楚地表示沙巴和砂劳越是属于他们（苏禄）的，而和MILF的和平谈判（马来西亚政府为协调者）则是用来欺骗MNLF就沙巴和砂劳越主权问题上的烟雾弹）。

拿笃事件的动机是显而易见的；它的目的是挑起沙巴庞大穆斯林人口的神经。沙巴60个国席中的32个国席都是多穆斯林选区，它对大选的影响是很大的。所以说称霸沙巴和砂劳越的政党就是即将组织新政府的政党。

让我们来看看下表。

你可以清楚地看到,在1960到2010这五十年里,卡达山和华人的人口比例降了将近50%,而穆斯林人口比例则显著激增。不只如此,非大马公民现在大约占了沙巴人口的25%,换句话说,每4个沙巴人中,就有一个是非马拉西亚人----相比之下,我国全国的非公民人口比例只有10%。

这些非公民,大多是菲律宾穆斯林,都想成为马来西亚公民。如果他们都如愿以偿的话,那么沙巴,一个曾经被誉为'基督之州'的州属,将会有66%的穆斯林人口。必须注意的是,这些人都有想要自组一个穆斯林国家的议程---他们想把棉蘭老島(2500万人口,大为穆斯林), 沙巴,和砂劳越统一且脱离马来西亚和菲律宾的管制。

所以说,如果有心人士要利用这个局面以自利的话,其实一点都不难：这是个尔虞我诈,自身利益为重的局面。现在的问题是, 有心人士到底是谁?是巫统？还是公正党?

巫统曾经以'我们是调协者'的名义和那些菲律宾穆斯林会面。安华和公正党领袖也和菲律宾穆斯林会面,但他们到现在为止都没有说出他们这样做的目的/理由是什么。

根据我的情报,安华的目的就是我之前所写的(The untold story of the LahadDatuincident按此)。Rafizi 讲这是个谎言。但是，在他的记者会上，他没有交代说，如果我真的说谎的话，那安华会见Nur Misuari 的目的是什么？

Nur Misuari 已经讲得很清楚了，他要'收回' 沙巴和砂劳越。这是否是他和安华会面的主题呢？

我把第一次和第二次会面的时间和地点都讲得很清楚，我也揭露是一个印尼的国会议员在安华的指令下安排这个会面的。Rafizi是否要我讲出那个印尼议员的名字呢？

如果Rafizi要我说的话，我绝对可以，但我不想成为马印两国外交争吵的起端。我不想因为给了那个名字而羞辱马印两国政府。所以如果他挑战我的话，我目前会把那张皇牌捉紧。

我并不会公开我所有的证据。举个例子，关于'第一夫人'罗斯玛2400万钻石戒指的指控，我就有影片证明那个指控是不完全正确的。

但是，我是不会公开那证据的，因为民联支持者只会骂我，讲我被收买，U转了，破坏民联。。。。等。

所以你看，即使罗斯玛戒指案是不正确的，民联是不会要我摆出证据的。他们要大众相信他们的版本，因为这样对他们有利。所以对他们来说，谎言会好过真相。

这成实吗？不重要吧。如果真相会对民联不利的话，那我们说谎也是对的！

这样推断下来，我也是不诚实的。我有确凿的证据，但我现在却把它给隐藏起来了以便反对党能够赢得即将的大选。但是，如果有人够胆说我讲骗话的话，我唯只有公开证据以示清白。到时，请别在那大喊大叫，说我不应该在离大选这么近时做出那种事。

总归一句，小心你想要得到的东西。当你挑战我，讲我是个骗子时，我必须得保护自己。你可能会看到你不想看得到的东西，因为真相有时是很伤人的。

70 years later and still the same (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 05:14 PM PDT

Millions of Malaysians could go hungry as unpredictable weather in rice -producing countries is likely to affect our supply of rice. Unpredictable weather in rice-producing countries, spurred by Malaysia's rising population, could mean less food on the table, warned Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan. "If they have major flooding in rice-producing countries, such as Vietnam or Thailand, or assuming they go to war, where are we going to get our rice?" he asked.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

More than ten years ago, before Malaysia Today was launched, I wrote about the low food production in Malaysia -- in particular rice, which is the staple food of most Malaysians -- and said that if war ever breaks out Malaysians would go hungry; just like they did 70 years ago when the Japanese invaded Malaya and Malayans had to eat tapioca.

After 70 years since the Japanese occupation and more than ten years since I wrote that article, nothing much has changed. Today, Indonesia, which has a population about ten times that of Malaysia, has announced it is now self-sufficient in rice production. Maybe Malaysia should do what Cambodia did -- send the people from the urban areas to the rice fields to plant padi.

And that is why I should not be in politics. If I were and if my party were to win the general election, I would impose a one-year national service program and send school-leavers, plus those who are about to enter university, to the rice fields to serve their country by planting padi. And if you have not done this national service you cannot enter university or get a job -- unless you 'run away' to a foreign university without doing your national service (which means you will have to stay and work overseas after you graduate).

What is the focus of most Malaysians? Well, our focus is whether Najib Tun Razak or Anwar Ibrahim makes the better Prime Minister. And those who will be voting in the coming general election are going to vote with this in mind -- which person is going to make a better Prime Minister.

Basically, the main factor is going to be whether Najib is guilty of involvement in Altantuya's murder and whether Anwar is bi-sexual and guilty of homosexual activities. If you think Najib is guilty then you will vote for Anwar (meaning Pakatan Rakyat) and if you think Anwar is guilty then you will vote for Najib (meaning Barisan Nasional).

No doubt some of you are going to say that you will not vote for Barisan Nasional because it is a racist and corrupt party. If Pakatan Rakyat is not also racist and corrupt then I would agree with this argument. However, when it is pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat is also racist and corrupt, many will reply that that may be so but Pakatan Rakyat is not as bad as Barisan Nasional.

In other words, Pakatan Rakyat may be just as bad but Barisan Nasional is worse. So you are prepared to accept the lesser evil over the bigger evil. That, of course, is your prerogative and in a democracy you have a right to your choice, whatever the reason may be for you making that choice.

But there are other factors we also need to consider. And we should be very concerned that the government we choose is in tune with what is happening in the world. All countries are moving towards self-sufficiency in food supply. And many countries have already achieved self-sufficiency. Malaysia, however, has been talking about self-sufficiency since the time of Tun Razak Hussein back in the 1970s and after 40 years is still just talking about it.

Food and water are crucial to life. And these are two things that in time are going to become scarce -- food and water. If, say, one day those countries selling us food decide to stop exporting food to Malaysia for whatever reason -- be it war, natural catastrophe, food shortage in the exporting countries, crop diseases, etc. -- where will Malaysia get its food supply from?

Golf courses, holiday resorts, shopping complexes, more cars on the road, high-rise condos, etc., are fine and allow Malaysia to project an image of success and progress. But at the end of the day we need to import our food to stay alive. And if another country wants to bring Malaysia to its knees it need not send in its army. All it needs is to stop sending food to Malaysia. In just a few weeks we will have to surrender without a single shot being fired.

So let's up the election fight one step. Whether Najib is involved in murder or Anwar in homosexual activities are certainly important points to consider. But this is not going to put food on the table. What is would be a government that has a clear program on how to make Malaysia self-sufficient in food, say in the next ten years, and not merely talk about it over 40 years and still be far from achieving self-sufficiency.

Yes, I know many of you are going to say that this is the whole reason why we need to change the government. But then I have not heard what this new government is going to do to guarantee us food on the table. And note that Anwar was once the Agriculture Minister and his policies as Agriculture Minister actually regressed things rather than progressed it. In fact, many people were actually unhappy with Anwar's policies and thought that he was undoing the good things that the Ministers before him did.

No, this is not an anti-Anwar article. This is about hearing what Anwar plans to do if he becomes Prime Minister to ensure Malaysians do not one day starve. And please do not give me political talk. Give me concrete and workable plans. And once this is addressed then we can talk about the other issues. But without enough food and water the other issues become meaningless.

****************************************

Indonesia declares rice sufficiency, no more imports

(Jakarta Post) - Indonesia's State Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan said Sunday that Indonesia would not import rice in 2013 as local farmers could produce sufficient rice to meet the domestic demand.

He said that as of December 2012, the existing rice stock inventory in state logistics agency PT Bulog's storehouses across the country reached around 2.5 million tons. Bulog should procure 3.5 million tons of rice during harvest periods this year.

"If Bulog can procure 3.5 million tons of rice during harvest periods this year we will not need to import more rice, as we did last year," said Dahlan, as quoted by Antara news agency. He spoke on the sidelines of a rice harvest event in Jati village, Jaten district, Karanganyar regency, on Sunday.

He said that from last year's rice imports, Bulog reaped Rp 800 billion (US$82.1 million) worth of profit. However, the profit was returned to the farmers so that the price of rice did not decline.

"To procure such a large amount of rice, from now on Bulog should use its full capacity to achieve the target. And if Bulog is willing to work hard, I'm optimistic that this can be achieved," Dahlan said, adding that in 2012, Bulog procured 2.6 million tons of rice from local farmers.

The Minister said that state run agribusiness firm PT Pertani planned to buy 100 units of rice dryer machines to distribute in several regions across the country. The machines would help farmers to dry their unhulled rice properly.

Dahlan said that obtaining fertilizer was no longer a problem for farmers and there was no more accumulation of fertilizer by traders.

"I haven't heard any more about traders accumulating fertilizer, which means that fertilizer distribution has been continuing under a mechanism requested by the farmers," said Dahlan.

****************************************

Rice Consumption in Malaysia

Domestic consumption increased 3.8 percent to 2.7 million tons in 2011. Malaysia is about 62 percent self-sufficient. Consumption is forecast to increase about 4 percent in 2012 as demand is bolstered by an in-flow of foreign workers and tourists. While rice consumption per capita shows an increase from 81.6 kg in 2006 to 95 kg in 2010, the figure does not account for foreign workers and tourists.

In reality, the domestic consumption per capita is about 72 to 75 kg, and it has been on the slide vis-à-vis the consumption of wheat over the last two decades.

http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Grain%20and%20Feed%20Annual_Kuala%20Lumpur_Malaysia_2-15-2012.pdf

****************************************

Experts: Rice production vital

Malaysia is 72 per cent self sufficient in rice production, Science adviser Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid said yesterday.

"Malaysia is progressing steadily. Ten years ago, we were 60 per cent self sufficient and in the next 10 years, we are aiming for 90 per cent," he said at the launch of a strategy meeting workshop on rice security.

"The global population is expected to swell to 9.3 billion by 2050, hence food security is critical.

"We need to find a way to accelerate our food production because Malaysia is one of the most import-dependant countries in the world," he said.

****************************************

'Not enough rice to eat'

A rice shortage and a worsening self-sufficiency on food could force many Malaysians to go hungry.

Millions of Malaysians could go hungry as unpredictable weather in rice -producing countries is likely to affect our supply of rice.

Unpredictable weather in rice-producing countries, spurred by Malaysia's rising population, could mean less food on the table, warned Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

"If they have major flooding in rice-producing countries, such as Vietnam or Thailand, or assuming they go to war, where are we going to get our rice?" he asked.

Citing the 2008 global rice shortage as an example, he added: "If the crisis then lasted for another five or six months, we would all have had to learn to eat tapioca."

"This is no laughing matter. Our national rice stockpile was being consumed very rapidly, and we couldn't buy rice quickly."

Abdul Rahman said this in response to concerns raised by the World Bank over the country's worsening food self-sufficiency levels.

According to the Malaysia Economic Monitor (Smart Cities) report, the country's self-sufficiency in rice shrunk to 62% in 2007 from 71% in 1970.

****************************************

Rice Supply Channel Needs Improvement

Problem and implications of low rice production growth that is not able to match the higher growth rate of the population of the world are the subject of a workshop on 'Sustainable Rice Production' here last week.

The workshop organised by the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of The National University of Malaysia (UKM) deliberated on solutions to overcome the escalating problem which include the growing of high yielding and quality rice while ensuring safety of the rice farmers.

Tan Sri Dr Mohd Noor Ismail, Corporate Advisor to Tradewinds Malaysia Berhad in his key note address at the workshop said the rice business has to be looked at wholistically from farm to shelf.

He said finding ways to grow rice better and faster is all well and fine but attention must also be given to the issues that goes beyond research so that whatever findings and innovations made will not be undermined.

***********************************************

70年过去了，一切还是没有改变。

近期在稻米盛产国变化无常的天气很有可能会影响我国的稻米入口，进而导致数以百万的马来西亚人民挨饿。哥打贝鲁（Kota Belud）国会议员阿都拉曼（Abdul Rahman Dahlan）指出，他国的无常天气，加上我国的人口暴涨，会导致我们人均食品量的减少："如果大水灾发生在那些稻米盛产国，如泰国，越南等，抑或爆发战争，那请问我们应该去哪儿购买稻米呢？"

原文：Raja Petra Kamarudin

译文：方宙

大约十年前，在今日大马还没开网以前，我曾经讨论过有关大马国内食品供应——尤其是稻米（我国主要主食）供应——过低的隐忧。我甚至还提过如果战争爆发马来西亚人民将会挨饿，就如70年前二战期间日本入侵马来亚时，我们必须依靠木薯糊口度日。

70年过去了，我那篇文章也写了十年，一切还是没有改变。印尼的人口多于我国十倍，但日前他们早已宣布他们已拥有足够的国内稻米供应。或许大马应该多向柬埔寨学习——把城市居民带回乡间种植稻米。

这就是为什么我不应该参政的原因：如果我执政的话，我将会强制那些刚离开中学或即将进入大学的学生们参与一年制的国民服务计划——我会派送他们去种稻米。那些不愿意的人将不被允许进入大学和申请工作。当然你可以'逃离'到他国留学，但是毕业后你将会在国外生活和工作。

马来西亚人民最关注的是什么呢？我们关注的是，纳吉抑或安华，哪个会是比较好的首相？那些即将去投票的人都是这个思想模式的——哪个会是比较好的首相，他就会投哪个。

基本上，投票的因素会是：纳吉是否牵涉在阿丹杜亚(Altantuya)谋杀案中，而安华又是否是双性恋且牵涉在鸡奸案中。如果你认为纳吉是有罪的你就会投给安华（即民联），而如果你认为安华是有罪的你就会投给纳吉（即国阵）。

你们当中当然会有人跳出来讲说你们不投给国阵是因为国阵是腐败兼具有种族歧视的。如果民联是廉政且一视同仁的话我当然赞同你这个理由。事实上，当有人站出来指出民联的腐败和种族歧视时，很多人会认为这些指责可能是对的，但他们会说民联还没有国阵这么糟糕。

换句话说，民联是有问题的，但国阵更糟糕，而你愿意从两个烂苹果中挑一个比较不烂的。当然，这是一个民主社会，无论背后的原因是什么，你都拥有绝对的选择权。

我必须提醒你，我们还是应该参照其他因素。我们应该考虑到我们所选的政府是否能够跟上国际社会的步伐。所有国家都设法在食品供应上自给自足，很多国家都已经达成目标了。我国早在敦拉萨时期就提起了自给自足方案，但40年过去了，我们还是停留在'讲讲'这个阶段。

食物与水源是生活的首要必需品，而这两样东西在未来可能会面临短缺。若有朝一日我们的食物入口国因某些原因——战争，天灾，农作物歉收等——而拒绝继续供应我国粮食，那我们应该去哪儿买食物？

高尔夫球场，度假村，购物广场，高楼大厦。。。等等，都显示出马来西亚的发展与成功，但终究我们现今还是得入口食品以存活。如果他国想要我们俯首称臣的话，他们根本都不必发兵来袭，他们只需要停止供应我们食物。不出几个星期，也不用打出一枚子弹，我们就会投降了！

所以，让我们来为这次大选增添'看头'。虽然说阿丹杜亚案和鸡奸案都是重要的考虑因素，但毕竟这些都是不能拿来吃的。重要的是，政府必须提出有效方案以解决国内食品不足问题，而这个方案必须是要有事时间性的（比如说我们定制10年为限期）而不是有如上述40年的空谈。

是的，我知道你们当中会有人告诉我这正好是我们应该改朝换代的原因。但是，我并没有听说过这个所谓的新政府就食粮课题上做出任何承诺。你们应该知道，安华曾经当过我国的农业部长，而他当时的农业政策是开倒车的。是的，当时确实很多人对他的政策不满，认为他把前任农业部长的良好政策给搞砸了。

不，这不是一篇反安华的文章。我是要听听安华在当了首相后，他会怎样做以确保人民不会有朝一日挨饿。还有，麻烦你们别在给我上政治课；给我一个实在的，可行的计划。当我们解决这个课题后，我们才能解决其他的；没有了食粮水源，其他问题都是扯淡的。

The untold story of the Lahad Datu incident

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 01:00 AM PDT

On 16th July 2012, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim flew to Jakarta to meet Nur Misuari -- who is very close to Anwar since the days when Anwar was in the government -- and the military commanders of the MNLF. The meeting was held in the Crowne Plaza Jakarta hotel and was arranged by an Indonesian Member of Parliament -- another close friend of Anwar -- at the behest of Anwar. A second meeting was held in Manila on 4th August 2012 to finalise and seal the agreement.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I wrote about this matter eight years ago back in 2005. However, many of you were probably not yet readers of Malaysia Today in 2005 so you most likely did not read what I wrote then.

For those of you who can remember what I wrote, it was a very long story indeed but basically it was about the links between the Muslim leaders in the Malaysian government and the Muslim leaders in the Philippines and the role that Malaysia played in the 'internal affairs' of the Philippines.

Most Malaysians do not understand the difference with Sulus, MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayyaf -- as they do not know the difference between the PLO and Hamas. Nevertheless, let me simplify it by saying that they are all merely splinter or rival groups of the Muslims in the Philippines who are seeking self-determination, just like the Palestinians in the Middle East are. And Malaysia, being a Muslim country, sympathises with the Muslims of the Philippines -- as it does with the Muslims of Southern Thailand -- and is helping in any way it can to resolve both the Philippines and Southern Thailand issues.

Along the way, however, something went wrong. As I had written in 2005, certain promises were made that were not delivered. And this has a bearing on the Sabah 'IC issue' (you do not need a RCI for me to tell you that). And that resulted in the Sipidan hostage crisis and the involvement of Libya in helping to eventually resolve the crisis after many months of deadlock.

A reported RM50 million changed hands to secure the release of the hostages, the cost which Libya underwrote. Of course, no one is going to admit to this although they will not be able to explain how and why the hostages were eventually released.

But all that happened decades ago. We are talking about the start of the crisis in 1970, when many of you were not even born yet, and the hostage crisis 30 years later in 2000. Since then everything has been very quiet -- that is until last year when this whole thing was resurrected in preparation for the coming general election.

And this was what happened recently.

Anwar's and Nur Miusari's links go way back to the time Anwar was in government

A second meeting was held in Manila on 4th August 2012 to finalise and seal the agreement. Anwar flew to Manila on flight MH 704 and if you were to check these flight details you can confirm that Anwar did make this trip, as he did the trip to Jakarta just two weeks or so earlier.

In that meeting, Anwar told Misuari that he needs the latter's help to win the coming general election. Pakatan Rakyat was confident of winning at least 82-85 of the 165 seats in West Malaysia. It was the 57 seats in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan that he was not confident of winning.

Pakatan Rakyat needs to win at least 30 of those 57 East Malaysian seats to be able to form the federal government with an extremely slim but comfortable enough majority. (Anwar can always increase this majority later with crossovers from Barisan Nasional once they form the government). And for that to happen Anwar needs the support of the Muslims in East Malaysia, in particular in Sabah, many of them Filipino Muslims with Malaysian citizenship and voting rights.

Anwar promised Misuari that in the event Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government, Sabah and Sarawak would be given autonomy, as what they had been fighting for over 42 years since 1970. These two East Malaysian states would also be given 20% oil royalty, an increase of 15% from the current 5%. This would ensure that these two states would become very wealthy -- an estimated RM4 billion a year for each state.

Furthermore, all the non-Malaysian Filipinos in East Malaysia would be given Malaysian citizenship -- or at the very minimum permanent resident status -- so that they could seek employment in Sabah. Jobs for them will also be assured.

Nur Misuari agreed to these terms and subsequently appointed Haji Ibrahim Omar as the MNLF coordinator or 'unofficial ambassador' to Sabah to help Anwar garner the support of the Filipino Muslims in that state.

And that was why the Malaysian government hesitated to take drastic action when trouble first emerged in Lahad Datu. The government knew that there was more than meets the eye in this whole episode although it was not too clear yet at that time how this incident fit in to the bigger scheme of things.

To leave things alone is certainly out of the question. But taking military action would only play into the hands of the conspirators and convince the Filipino Muslims in Sabah that they must unite behind Anwar to gain autonomy from the federal government.

Yes, the Lahad Datu incident was certainly a 'wayang', as the opposition claims. Very few Malaysians would deny that this is so. Many Malaysians are also convinced that there are certain 'dalang' behind this incident. What they do not know is: who is the dalang? Well, Malaysia Today has just revealed the untold story and I challenge the Malaysian government to deny the authenticity of what I have just revealed.

Another point to consider is whether the 'war of words' between the MNLF and MILF is another wayang. By perpetuating this conflict, which will result in the torpedoing of the peace process, this gives them an excuse for continuing the armed conflict. However, the relationship between the MNLF and the other splinter groups does not appear as ruptured as what it shows behind the scenes, if the above photograph is anything to go by.

My conclusion to this whole thing is that there are many plots and sub-plots and at the end of the day we really do not know who is playing whom.

2. Columnist claims Misuari helped Sulu siege to derail Bangsamoro peace deal: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/55284-columnist-claims-misuari-helped-sulu-siege-to-derail-bangsamoro-peace-deal

3. Anwar claims of BN plot to implicate him in Sulu clampdown: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/55320-anwar-claims-of-bn-plot-to-implicate-him-in-sulu-clampdown

4. Sulu military commander captured: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/55327-sulu-military-commander-captured

5. Lahad Datu: Kg Tanduo chief's son is coordinator for Sulu group, say police: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/55326-lahad-datu-kg-tanduo-chiefs-son-is-coordinator-for-sulu-group-say-police

6. Sultanate: 8 terror accused are Malaysians, not Pinoys: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/55315-sultanate-8-terror-accused-are-malaysians-not-pinoys

7. There's much at stake in Sabah: http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/55346-theres-much-at-stake-in-sabah

**********************************************

Hostage crisis in the Philippines

(CNN, 23rd April 2000) - Abu Sayyaf gunmen attack a Malaysian dive resort on the island of Sipadan, seizing 21 hostages.

The hostages -- 10 tourists and 11 resort workers -- were taken to an Abu Sayyaf camp on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

Over the following months all but one of the hostages, a Filipino, were released, allegedly after ransoms of up to US$1 million per hostage were paid to the kidnappers.

READ MORE HERE: Libya and the Jolo Hostages (20th August 2000) http://212.150.54.123/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=126

**********************************************

AFP mum over sultanate's Sabah intrusion

The intrusion occurred just as former Malaysian leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader, proposed that Sabah be granted autonomy.

(AFP, 16th February 2013) - ZAMBOANGA CITY: Philippine military officials kept silent over the daring intrusion of dozens of Filipinos into the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, where authorities surrounded them and were negotiating for their peaceful surrender as of press time.

Reports said that the men are members of the sultanate of Sulu province and North Borneo and the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF), and that some of them were armed.

The Filipinos were believed to be active in the campaign to reclaim the Malaysian oil-rich island, which is part of the sultanate.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs has the sole authority to give a statement about that," Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, told The Manila Times.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila have not issued any official statement about the situation in Sabah's Lahad Datu town, where some 100 Filipinos, many of them wearing military uniforms, were holding out.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said that they are still trying to ascertain and complete the facts of the Sabah incident.

The Sultanate of Sulu obtained Sabah from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on Borneo Island. The sultanate of Sulu was a Muslim state that ruled over much of the islands off the Sulu Sea. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to North Borneo, now known as Sabah, in the west and south and to Palawan province, in the north.

The Sultanate of Sulu was founded in 1457 and is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. Malaysia, which is now brokering peace talks of Manila and the MILF, still pays a token to the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu around 6,300 ringgits each year.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that they will do their best to prevent any bloodshed. Gen. Tan Sri Ismail Omar, police inspector, and Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib, said that the Filipinos arrived in speedboats and that police and military forces have encircled the men.

"In terms of strength, we have the upper hand in combat power to arrest them, but the government opts for negotiation to break the stalemate so that they leave peacefully to southern Philippines," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the Malaysian news agency Bernama.

"We have more and less identified the group. But let the police negotiate with them and hopefully, it will bear fruit and succeed. This is because they cannot go anywhere, they have been surrounded . . . They have no choice and have to find a solution," he added.

The intrusion occurred just as former Malaysian leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader, proposed that Sabah be granted autonomy.

Sultan Muhammad Fuad Kiram I, the sultan of Sulu and the sultan of Sabah, said that Malaysia illegally occupied Sabah. "Sabah is still the property and sovereign patrimony of the sultan of Sulu and the royal sultanate of Sulu to this day," he said in the website of the royal hashemite sultanate of Sulu, which is accessible at http://www.royalsulu.com.

He said that the sultanate supports "a free and independent Sabah [which] will be under our reign and our heirs and successors according to law of succession as the reigning sultan of Sabah."

**********************************************

Authorities urged to reveal if Sulu militants are 'Project IC' Malaysians

(The Malaysian Insider, 21st March 2013) - PKR has urged the government to reveal if the Sulu militants who invaded Sabah last month were given blue identity cards (ICs) under Project IC.

The Sulu sultanate said yesterday that Agbimuddin Kiram — the brother of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III — was never issued a blue IC, but admitted that he had worked as an assistant district officer in Kudat on Sabah's north.

"The confirmation (by the Sulu sultanate) raises worries among many quarters whether the armed group in Lahad Datu involves Malaysians originating from the Philippines who hold blue identity cards," PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (picture) said in a statement today.

"This matter raises the possibility of threats to national security, as a result from certain parties allegedly linked to (former Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who allegedly gave citizenship without due process," he added.

Dr Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister who was in power from 1981 to 2003, has been accused of spearheading the so-called "Project IC", in which citizenship was allegedly given to immigrants for their votes.

PKR said yesterday that Agbimuddin was appointed in the civil service in 1974, based on a 1975 Sabah government payroll dug up from the state's archives.

The Sulu sultanate's spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, reportedly said yesterday that Agbimuddin was still alive after fresh clashes against Malaysian security forces that killed two Sulu militants yesterday.

The Sulu sultanate's "raja muda" or crown prince had led a 200-strong band of gunmen into Lahad Datu last February 9 and turned the Sabah east coast into a violent battleground in their bid to retake the state.

Rafizi also urged the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah to continue its proceedings to expose the illegal issuance of ICs in the Borneo state.

The RCI is due to resume on April 15, according to RCI secretary Datuk Saripuddin Kasim.

The RCI, which was formed on August 11 last year, has an additional six months to complete its probe after receiving the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's consent.

Former Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) officers have testified at the RCI that blue ICs were sold to Filipino, Indonesian and Pakistani immigrants in Sabah.

**********************************************

Misuari cautioned not to take advantage of Lahat Datu episode

(Daily Express, 21st March 2013) - Kuching: Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot on Wednesday cautioned former Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari not to try and take advantage of the Lahad Datu episode to advance his personal selfish agenda.

In rebuking Misuari's claim that Sabah rightfully belonged to the so-called Sultan of Sulu, he said, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had made it categorically clear that the State was part of Malaysia and no one should question its sovereignty and territorial integrity as a legitimate part of Malaysian territory.

"My advice to Misuari is, if he is a peace-loving man as he desperately claimed to be and if he really loves and cares for his Bangsamoro, he should support and join the efforts towards the peace agreement within the framework that was signed recently between the Philippines government and Bangsamoro for long-lasting peace in Mindanao," he told a media conference here.

Cautioning Misuari to heed the Malay proverb, "jangan menagguk di air yang keruh" literally translated as "not to fish in murky water," he urged him to devote his remaining energy and time to the peace accord for the good of his fellow countrymen and government of the Philippines, to which he owed his loyalty.

He said the promotion of peace was one of the pillars of Malaysia's foreign policy and, for which, the country would vehemently protect and defend every inch of Sabah against foreign aggression and any hostile action.

"We have witnessed that turmoil and instability in Southern Philippines have certainly brought no advantage to anyone but only to burden Malaysia and other neighbouring countries having to host those fleeing their homes for safety and better lives," Riot said.

There was nothing that Malaysia desired for its neighbours more than for them to enjoy peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

For that reason, he said, Malaysia had been actively involved in peace keeping missions all over the world and willing to broker peace efforts in neighbouring countries, particularly in the Philippines.

He said the warm bilateral relationship between both countries was reflected when the regional governor of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao, Mujir S Hataman, paid him a courtesy at his office in Putrajaya in October last year.

**********************************************

Lahad Datu: Misuari's claim a lie, says MILF

(The Star, 21st March 2013) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has denied the claim that the Malaysian Government had used it to strengthen its claim on Sabah.

MILF secretariat head Mohammad Ameen also dismissed claims by former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari that Malaysia was responsible for promoting disunity among the Moro people.

"This is a total lie and completely fabricated. Misuari has committed a sin for making such an irresponsible and callous statement against both the MILF and the Malaysian Government.

"He should rectify and atone for this," Mohammad was quoted as saying in a news report by the Luwaran News Centre yesterday.

He was responding to Misuari, who accused Malaysia of being a "stumbling block" in efforts to unite rival Moro groups in southern Philippines.

Misuari also said that the MILF was "the instrument of Malaysian colonialism" and that it was Malaysia which was "pulling the strings" behind the MILF.

Mohammad pointed out that it was Malaysia who called for the formation of the Bangsamoro Solidarity Conference (BSC) in 2002 to unite the MNLF and MILF factions, as well as to promote a common position among them, especially in their dealings with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"How could Malaysia use the MILF to strengthen its claim to Sabah when Sabah has never been made part of the agenda of the peace talks since 2001?" said Mohammad.

He said Malaysia did not volunteer to facilitate the peace talks between the MILF and the Philippine Government, but it was the then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in 2001, who requested Malaysia to act as a negotiator.

Mohammad questioned why Misuari was so eager to raise the Sabah claim now when throughout his 21 years of peace talks with the Philippine government, he had never raised the issue.

"It is a pity that Misuari is blaming everyone else for the failure of his leadership and growing irrelevance to the Bangsamoro struggle to self-determination," he said.

"As a leader, Misuari has nothing more to prove. It is better for him to rest, write his memoirs, and allow the new breed of leaders to lead the Bangsamoro people towards the fulfilment of their true aspirations."

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Selasa, 9 April 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan