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‘Boycott pro-Pakatan Kuok firms’

Posted: 13 May 2013 09:55 PM PDT

It accuses the tycoon of funding Pakatan Rakyat and practising racial discrimination.

K. Pragalath, FMT

The Muslim Consumers Association today called for a boycott of five businesses owned or partly owned by tycoon Robert Kuok, accusing him of racial discrimination.

Nadzim Johan, who heads the association, said the boycott would affect the Pappa Rich and Old Town White Coffee restaurant chain, Sri Murni oil, Marina fish products, Massimo bread and two flour brands produced by a Kuok company.

"It's a selective boycott," he said, adding that the action was endorsed by several other NGOs.

He accused Kuok of siding with Pakatan Rakyat in the recent general election and "contributing" to the deterioration of race relations.

"We have information from staff of certain companies that their companies have provided funds for Pakatan," he said.

Nadzim appeared to be blaming Kuok and Pakatan for what he said was a souring of relations between the Malays and the Chinese.

"We spoke to former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam who worked closely with the Chinese community. He said that during his election campaign they don't even look at him," he said.

He added that the boycott was also intended to prevent PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim from "further inciting the rakyat" and DAP from making use of Chinese Malaysians to "obtain power".

READ MORE HERE

 

Muslim lawyers see red over Christian ‘Allah’ prayer poster on Facebook

Posted: 13 May 2013 03:51 PM PDT

(TMI) - An evangelical church group's Facebook message calling Christians to pray for "Allah's blessings" on the country has riled up a group of Muslim lawyers who are demanding state Islamic bodies act against what they have branded a "criminal" offence against their creed.

The Muslim Lawyers Society of Malaysia (PPPMM) today accused the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF) of committing "criminal" blasphemy against Islam by misappropriating the name of the Islamic god for their purposes, even as the dispute is being heard in the Court of Appeal.

"It is an offence for any party to deliberately and continuously use Allah and a few other words with roots from Islam in the context of a non-Islamic religious for any purpose.

"The NECF poster that has clearly misused the sacred name of Allah is obviously a criminal action and breaches the Schedule of (Section 9) Part I of the Enactment that forbids the use of the name of Allah as well as other Islamic terms by non-Muslims," PPPMM president Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar said in a statement.

Claiming to have received numerous complaints from various non-governmental Islamic organisations, Zainul urged the respective state Islamic departments and councils to file police reports to pressure the government to act against the church.

In its Facebook page, the umbrella body representing the country's evangelical churches urged, in the national language, all churches and Christians to "embrace, love and bless the country with Allah's presence and power". 

The same message was also carried in English and Chinese.

Under a project it called "Malaysia My Home", the NECF urged believers in the faith to put prayer and action together for God's blessing to institute "real and lasting change for our communities".

READ MORE HERE

 

Pakatan to fight ‘seditious’ calls to abolish vernacular schools, says DAP

Posted: 13 May 2013 03:44 PM PDT

Ida Lim, TMI

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will protect vernacular schools from being abolished after suggestions were made that their continued existence had affected national unity and contributed to Chinese voters overwhelmingly backing the opposition, the DAP said today.

The PR party's secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was referring today to a recent call by Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Arshad to abolish the schools where Mandarin and Tamil are the main languages of instruction.

Lim (picture) said the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) pro-chancellor's remark amounted to sedition.

"Abdul Rahman's call for the abolition of Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools in favour of a single stream school is seditious and a BN MP, Mark Koding, was even convicted of sedition in 1982 for making the very same suggestion in Parliament in 1978," Lim said in a statement.

He said the Federal Constitution protects vernacular schools and education in the mother tongue, citing Article 152 (1) (a) and (b) of the country's supreme law.

"For this reason, PR and DAP are ready to fight legally in courts and seek support from all Malaysians — Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban and Kadazan — to protect Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools from being abolished by Umno supporters like Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Arshad," the Bagan MP said.

Last Sunday, Abdul Rahman had reportedly said that vernacular schools presented a barrier to unity within the country, saying that the 13th general election showed that there was no unity in Malaysia and there was greater racism now.

He noted that the different ethnic groups did not mix around enough as most of the Chinese and Indian communities attend vernacular schools, while few of them are sent to national schools.

"It would be best that we have a single stream using Malay language in order to improve unity," he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini at a forum titled "GE13 post-mortem: Muslim leadership and survival."

READ MORE HERE

 

Khalid Ibrahim sworn in as Selangor MB

Posted: 13 May 2013 03:00 PM PDT

Clara Chooi, TMI

After a week of speculation, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim finally received his appointment letter from Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah this morning and was sworn in for his second term as state mentri besar.

According to The Star Online, the PKR leader arrived at Istana Alam Shah in Klang at around 9.40am for the brief ceremony.

An official from Khalid's office was yesterday quoted as saying that the dispute over who should be the next leader of the country's richest state had ended with the latter's name selected as the best person for the job.

"The exco line-up is already prepared," Khalid was also quoted by state news agency Bernama as telling reporters at the Bukit Kayangan palace in Shah Alam yesterday.

"We target two weeks at the latest and a week at the earliest for the new exco to be appointed," he added.

Khalid's political secretary Faekah Husin later confirmed with The Malaysian Insider that his swearing-in ceremony would take place at Istana Alam Shah in Klang this morning.

The DAP and PAS have endorsed Khalid as Selangor mentri besar, amid claims by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali that Khalid's candidacy had bypassed the democratic process.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won a two-thirds majority in the Selangor state assembly in the May 5 general election by taking 44 of the 56 state seats. PKR, however, won only 14 seats while the DAP and PAS took 15 each.

READ MORE HERE

 

‘BN will be toppled this year’

Posted: 13 May 2013 02:21 PM PDT

A massive street rally is being planned to overthrow the ruling government. "We will mobilise a big group and rally on the streets. This is not a threat, this is a promise," he stressed.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Pro-Pakatan Rakyat groups have vowed to overthrow the Barisan Nasional government this year through a massive street rally.

Speakers at a forum held yesterday unanimously agreed that waiting for five years until the next general election was too long, and vowed to overthrow BN this year through "force".

The street rally is rumoured to be as early as May 17 or 18 to overthrow BN and capture Putrajaya.

"We will take to the streets and take over Putrajaya. If we really want to overthrow them, there is no other way. Democracy does not work," Haris Ibrahim from ABU (Anything But Umno) told the 1,500-strong crowd here.

"The people cannot wait anymore. We don't want to wait another five years. We will take the streets," he added.

PKR vice-president and Batu MP Tian Chua mirrored Haris' cry to overthrow BN through force, and said it was the people's choice.

"The decision to wait another five years or fight is not the right of Pakatan leaders, the results during the polls were not of Pakatan… but the rakyat's," he said.

'This is not a threat, it is a promise'

Meanwhile, student leader Adam Adli Halim challenged the authorities to arrest him for urging the public to overthrow the government.

READ MORE HERE

 

Tee Keat For Senator?

Posted: 13 May 2013 01:13 PM PDT

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(The Malay Mail) - Who among the current crop of Chinese leaders would best be able to represent the community?

Following MCA's poor showing in the recent general election, the community is in dire need of leaders able to rise to the challenge and become the voice of the community at national level.

Though many from within and outside the party feel current deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai  would be able to shoulder the burden, there are concerns as to whether he would be able to do it alone.

Rumours have been rife that in recognition of this dilemma, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak may just turn to former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to once again jump into the ring, this time as a senator and help garner support.

Though sidelined for certain reasons, Ong is still seen as a credible and formidable figure who commands a certain degree of respect from the community.

"What is important here is that Ong is liked by the community, which was clearly evident from the support he garnered in the Pandan constituency. With this strong community support, he will be able to play his role in uniting the people.

"Ong is among those who has demonstrated an ability to place the people's interests at heart and work relentlessly for them," said a party veteran.

By offering Ong a senatorship, he would be able to work from the grassroots level to help rebuild the community's confidence.

"Though this process if rebuilding may take more than five years, it will be a strong start. Ong at the moment remains the best bet," said the insider.

When contacted, politicians from both BN and the Opposition agreed that from the fold, Ong has the best chance of reaching out to the people.

One BN leader, who declined to be named, said it was very likely that Ong would be made a senator.

"Look around...who else does MCA have? Liow will need all the help he can get and Ong is the only one who still commands respect in the community," he said.

Another name being touted as a people's favourite is Wangsa Maju MCA division chief Datuk Yew Teong Look who, although considered winnable, was also not among the candidates in the recent election.

Yew is another stalwart who commands strong support, which was clearly demonstrated in the tremendous backing he received from his dicision and constituents before the candidacy was named.

Both Ong and Yew have been singled out by party veterans who feel that these two should be given some role in helping to strengthen and unite the community.

"All hope is not lost. The community is still very receptive to good leaders and I am sure names like Ong and Yew will appeal to them.

"However, any move for Ong to take up a government position will put him in a quandary, as MCA has said its members will not take up positions. He will be going against his party if he accepts, so how he is going to juggle this will be interesting," the veteran said.

Prof Dr Chin Yew Sin, who was appointed by Najib to the MACC consultation and corruption prevention panel, has also been touted as someone with the potential and capability to play a formidable role.

Apart from his involvement in numerous NGOs, he also possesses the experience and education needed for such a position.

"What the community needs now is a role model. Someone they can look up to and respect...not merely a politician, but a genuine leader," said the party veteran.

Another frontrunner for a potential senatorship is former deputy highe education minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who, despite losing in the recent election, is someone well-liked and respected by all races.

Saifuddin is regarded as one of the most sensible, knowledgeable and credible politicians who possesses strong leadership qualities.

"He is someone who more than deserves to be part of the government. It would be a loss if someone with his capabilities and calibre is excluded," said a BN leader.

 

BN’s reduced wins put spotlight on ‘war room’ strategists

Posted: 13 May 2013 12:05 PM PDT

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2013/may2013/zul-may14.jpg

File photo of BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak announcing Zulkifli (right) as the BN candidate for Shah Alam in the recent general election, a strategy which backfired on the coalition. 

(TMI) - "They were spending money on local newspapers with shrinking circulation and TV stations that did not appeal to the young. What a waste of time and money"  

Questions are being asked about Barisan Nasional's (BN) "war room" strategists whose plans with a substantial budget did not appear to stop the ruling coalition from losing more federal and state seats in the May 5 general election.

The BN war room was tasked with selecting the candidates and advising various strategies to win the polls. It counts Rompin MP Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, PWTC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Alies Anor Abdul, Petronas director Omar Mustapha Ong, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, party information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan and former minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as among its members.

"It was just a crapshoot. Their ideas didn't work and their white list predictions were wrong," a senior Umno divisional leader told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.

The war room had stuck to its prediction of BN winning between 145 and 150 federal seats and also getting back Selangor in Election 2013 although some senior BN leaders were privately doubtful of the figures.

And by noon on Polling Day, the war room had issued its "white list" of 118 federal seats it was sure to win, but some like Pasir Mas, Shah Alam and Lembah Pantai were lost, which some Umno divisional leaders said reflected the disconnect between the leadership and the ground.

Poster boy of Umno's insensitivities

The Malaysian Insider also learnt that Jamaluddin was behind BN putting Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin as their direct Shah Alam candidate despite his controversial remarks that offended Indians about their Hindu faith.

It was understood that Jamaluddin felt that Zulkifli's candidacy would not be too much trouble as the latter had already apologised to the Indians for his remarks which he claimed were made when in PAS.

But sources said the strategist did not consider that Zulkifli would become the poster boy of Umno's disregard for sensitivities of non-Malays.

Raja Nong Chik lost in Lembah Pantai despite devoting his Federal Territory Ministry resources on the city constituency."The most galling thing is they put Shah Alam on the white list because they thought the Malay majority there would support Zulkifli. How wrong they were," said an Umno source, commenting on the strategy that backfired.

"There are conservatives with a big 'C' and there are conservatives with a small 'c'. The strategists just did a desktop analysis but did not figure that there are new voters apart from substantial number of Chinese and Indians there," he added.

He explained that the desktop analysis done by the war room contributed to the belief that BN would do well and even get back its two-thirds parliamentary majority in Election 2008.

"You can't assume that a Malay majority seat will go back to you or think that you can share the Chinese and Indian votes and later predict you win big nationally and Putrajaya," said the source.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bns-reduced-wins-put-spotlight-on-war-room-strategists/ 

 

Many laud idea of merging BN coalition parties

Posted: 13 May 2013 12:03 PM PDT

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2013/5/14/nation/khairy-jamaluddin.jpg 

(The Star) - "We are no longer attractive to voters. We are still seen as archaic and out of touch but the changes we bring must not be merely superficial. Just changing Barisan's name is not enough. The rakyat are looking for substantial change"

The idea of ending race-based politics by merging Umno, the MCA and MIC as part of Malaysia's reconciliation effort after the general election should be explored by Barisan Nasional, said Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin (pic).

Khairy, also the Umno Youth chief, said Barisan should explore all possibilities, including the merging as part of reconciliation efforts to make the coalition more relevant post-GE13.

"No idea is bad at the moment. We need a comprehensive analysis of the election results. Then, we should see what is the best way to reform Barisan," he said, adding that Barisan could not continue to make changes in its present form.

"We are no longer attractive to voters. We are still seen as archaic and out of touch but the changes we bring must not be merely superficial. Just changing Barisan's name is not enough. The rakyat are looking for substantial change," he said yesterday.

It was reported that Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had suggested for the ruling coalition to merge into a single party as part of its re-branding exercise to make itself relevant to all Malaysians.

The Putrajaya MP had said that Barisan was currently studying all possibilities to rebrand and make significant changes. However, when contacted, Tengku Adnan declined to elaborate on the matter.

MCA vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said the merging was a good idea as it could reduce infighting among the component parties within Barisan as well as being a suitable move for a multi-racial country like Malaysia.

Welcoming the call for an end to race-based politics, MIC secretary-general Datuk S. Murugesan described it as a positive step for Barisan.

"The Opposition has often accused us of having superficial ties and this will stop them from calling us racist," he said.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also agreed, saying that he was "an advocate of direct membership of Barisan while the component parties can continue with what they have been doing".

He said the rationale was that many people, especially middle ground youths, students, and educated professional, did not like race-based politics. 

New faces from Sabah, S' wak expected to fill Chinese representatives in Cabinet

Posted: 13 May 2013 12:01 PM PDT

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/sabah-sarawak-map-ge.jpg 

(Bernama) - NEW faces from Sabah and Sarawak have been speculated will fill vacancies following the decision by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, MCA and Gerakan not to accept any posts in the Cabinet.

The decision by MCA and Gerakan, which are the biggest Chinese parties in BN, were on the basis of 'respecting the decision of voters, after they performed poorly in the 13th general election (GE13) on May 5.

Among the names mentioned to be appointed as ministers to represent the community is Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) deputy president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, 52, who is Bintulu Member of Parliament and ex-chairman of the BN Backbenchers Club.

Tiong, a holder of a Masters degree in business administration and political science from the Royal Ireland Institute of Business and Technology, is an entreprenuer in property development, construction and timber industry for the past 20 years.

Other than Tiong, two members of Parliament from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), namely Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin, 57, (Batu Sapi) and Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching @ Mary Yap Ken Jin, 62, (Tawau) are also speculated will be new faces in the Cabinet.

Linda Tsen, PBS Wanita deputy chief first won in the Batu Sapi by-election on Nov 4, 2010 following the death of her husband Datuk Edmond Chong Ket Wah in a road mishap, and was a professional musician from the United Kingdom Trinity College of Music and Fellowship at the London College of Music.

Meanwhile, Mary Yap, who contested for the first time in GE13, was a former super principal who held the JUSA post before retiring in 2007.

Mary Yap, who has a Masters in Education from Leeds University, United Kingdom, was also a senior consultant at Institute Aminuddin Baki and was on the advisory panel to the Education Minister for cluster schools.

Other than the three Members of Parliament, several Members of Parliament from Umno were also mentioned. Among them is Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique, 51, the Tenggara Member of Parliament who is said will fill the post of Women, Family and Community Development Minister following her four terms experience as

Johor's Family Development, Women's Affairs and Health Committee chairman.

Halimah, a former teacher, who contested in the Tenggara Parliamentary seat for the first time in 2008, is also seen as among the aggressive Members of Parliament.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, 37, and his Information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merizan, 41, are also said will be among the new faces in the Cabinet this time.

Khairy, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd chairman, who won the Rembau parliamentary seat in GE13, holds a Masters degree in "Legal and Political Theory" from University College London while Reezal Merican, who was the political secretary to former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, made his election debut in GE13.

Also said to be in the running are three former menteris besar. They are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, 62, (Perlis), Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, 53, (Kedah)and Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, 58, (Terengganu).

Former Cabinet members expected to make a comeback are Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, 61, and Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, 64.

 

A dangerous result

Posted: 13 May 2013 11:57 AM PDT

http://media.economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full-width/images/print-edition/20130511_LDP003_0.jpg 

(The Economist) - Malaysian politics seems near breakdown 

AT FIRST sight, the general election in Malaysia on May 5th, the closest-fought since independence in 1957, looks encouraging. A lively campaign inspired a remarkable turnout of 85% of the country's 13.3m voters. The government's victory seems recognition of Malaysia's solid economic performance and of the progressive reforms introduced by Najib Razak, the prime minister. He has repealed some oppressive, colonial-era laws. He has even begun to dismantle the affirmative-action policies favouring the ethnic-Malay majority over Chinese Malaysians (about a quarter of the population) and Indians (8%). Those policies are at the root of the corruption and cronyism poisoning Malaysian society.

Look again, however, and Malaysian politics seems near breakdown (see article). The opposition coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim alleges electoral fraud and has refused to accept the result. Whether that is true or not, it is certain that the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, has huge inbuilt advantages. Gerrymandered constituencies meant that with less than 47% of the popular vote, its worst-ever electoral performance, it still won 60% of the 222 parliamentary seats. The state has dispensed cash handouts and other goodies, while much of the civil service works as a party-political tool, and the election commission has long brushed aside allegations of malfeasance. Add in an obsequious mainstream media, and it is rather remarkable that so many Barisan Nasional campaigners still felt the need to resort to blatant vote-buying.

All of this gives rise to two dangers. The first is of a loss of faith in the political process itself. Mr Najib argues that, in a parliamentary system, it is not the popular vote that matters. But in any system it is time to redraw boundaries when distortions have reached this level (something for others, such as Britain and Japan, to note). And Mr Najib owes it to Malaysians who backed the opposition—more than half of the electorate—to investigate the alleged frauds.

The second danger is of a rekindling of the ethnic animosities that led to bloody rioting in the 1960s. 

Read more at: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21577390-after-tainted-election-victory-najib-razak-needs-show-his-reformist-mettle-dangerous

Defeated SAPP “did the right thing”

Posted: 13 May 2013 11:49 AM PDT

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(FMT) - Did SAPP leaders misread the general electorates' mood for general overhaul in state and national level politics?

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee is adamant that his party did the right thing in not hooking up with national opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat.

SAPP was wiped out in the 13th General Elections.

Yong rejected any blame for his party's demolition which observers put down to misreading the general mood for a complete overhaul of state and national politics by SAPP's top leadership.

Stung by Demokrasi Sabah (Desah) chairman Simon Simon's comments that the State Reform Party (STAR) and SAPP had turned their guns on themselves, Yong denied his party adopted a misguided approach in the election

Sipaun, a respected former Suhakam (Malaysian Human Rights Commission) commissioner and retired Sabah state secretary had argued that the two local opposition parties had scuppered chances of a better showing in the election by going their own way and splitting the opposition vote.

By rejecting the one-on-one approach promoted by Desah, Sipaun said that the Jeffrrey Kitingan-led STAR and SAPP had not only dented the opposition's chances of unseating the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition but had also shot themselves in the foot.

Overall, SAPP got well below 40,000 votes combined in the parliamentary and state constituencies where it put up candidates.

But Yong, who has never admitted to any mistake in his long career in politics, categorised Sipaun's post-election analysis as unfair to the two parties.

He contended that Sipaun had lost sight of such real and more pressing issues like bribery, faulty electoral procedures, tainted electoral rolls, postal votes, vicious lies and lack of resources in his analysis.

Yong said his party was also at the receiving end of "vicious lies" by both Umno and DAP and the disorganised nature of the national opposition front had forced SAPP and STAR "to fight this very tough battle on our own".

"SAPP was wiped out, as predicted by Sipaun, but SAPP retains our honour, our pride and our dignity as Sabahans who refused to be a "kerbau dicucuk hidung" (buffalo that is being led by its nose).

"Sabahans with honour will (live to) fight another day," he said.

Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/14/defeated-sapp-did-the-right-thing/ 

 

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