| Memorandum of Understanding between Barisan Nasional and Hindraf – Part 2 Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:36 PM PDT 
A large percentage of the Indian poor cannot vote for themselves, as they are stateless. For a majority of those that can vote, bread and butter issues are what matter, and not whether car prices will come down after the election. Hindraf Economic Unit The purpose of this series of articles is to set a standard of reference for what needs to be done to uplift the Indian poor in Malaysia. A large percentage of the Indian poor cannot vote for themselves, as they are stateless. For a majority of those that can vote, bread and butter issues are what matter, and not whether car prices will come down after the election. Hindraf represents their voice, and is morally and ethically obligated to do what is best for the marginalised Indian poor. A message is now being sent out to the Indian poor in this country. In that message, probably for the first time ever in his life, the marginalised Indian Malaysian will see a clear statement of intent with regards to improving his condition by one of the two coalitions which are vying for his vote and support. For a start he will be shown the following: BN and HINDRAF, in: • Recognizing that there has occurred a transition of the vast majority of Malaysian Indians from plantation estates to towns and cities over a period lasting approximately 4 decades, and,
• Recognizing that this was not directly and adequately addressed by Government policy and implementation, and,
• Now desiring to correct the chronic socio-economic problems that have resulted in a comprehensive and permanent manner, etc… Is that the best "apology" in the world? Not by a long shot. But, it is the only apology he would have received so far that also brings the promise of hope into his life and that of his children. We can say with certainty that none of the developers who displaced the Indian estate worker, or the people who purchased the properties built on the land the estate worker was displaced from, would have gone out of their way to apologise to him. There would have been no greater betrayal that the displaced Indian poor could have suffered than if Hindraf had turned down BN on his behalf. For the pro Pakatan Malaysian voter who cannot stand the thought that Hindraf has thrown the full weight of its support behind BN, fret not, there is a way to counter that move, if not in the coming polls, then in the one after. The MOU spells out the following key points with regards to uplifting displaced estate workers. For the purpose of the Blueprint, 'Displaced Estate Workers' shall be considered as synonymous with 'Low-Income Indian Households' and shall be defined for the purposes of policy formulation and execution as all Malaysian Indian households, earning less than RM3,000 in 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the "Target Group"). The MOU states that the overall objective of the program will be to double the mean monthly family incomes of all Malaysian Indian families earning less than RM 3000, base lined in 2013, by the end of 2020. There will also be programs to retrain and reskill displaced estate worker youth. The program will provide easy and attractive placements with appropriate financial support for the displaced youth (Target group) into 176 GIATMARA centres and 78 community colleges across the nation. After retraining, placement services will be provided for jobs and internships in Government and GLC's. For the youth who wish to start a small business after retraining, TEKUN or a program similar to TEKUN will be set up to provide support. If you are a pro Pakatan voter, and you no longer want to hear the name Hindraf even in your dreams, all you will have to do is make Hindraf irrelevant, it is as easy as that. This can be achieved if you are prepared to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat will at the very least match the programs and work towards the objectives which are being listed in this series of articles. If you are prepared to put the effort to formulate concrete steps to uplift the Indian poor, address the issue of statelessness and solve it once and for all, increase educational opportunities from pre-school to University as well as increase employment and business opportunities for the target group, so much so that the marginalised Indian Malaysian becomes only a memory, and becomes fully integrated into the mainstream development of Malaysia, then Hindraf will also become a memory. When you can get Pakatan to bring down car prices, fuel costs as well as abolish toll charges, uplifting the Indian poor should be a piece of cake, shouldn't it? While we in Hindraf would love to wait with bated breath while Pakatan Rakyat and its supporters get around to uplifting the lot of the Indian poor, there is a small problem that's in the way of us doing just that. Hindraf knows first-hand that the needs of the marginalised Indian poor are not an abstract matter. It is a real need, and it exists in real time, for a part of the population who are as real you are, dear reader. What is unreal is the pain and suffering that they have to endure as their daily lot. That knowledge makes it impossible for Hindraf to wait for anyone to get their act together, so forgive us while we forge ahead while you explain to the Indian poor why abolishing toll charges is going to turn his life around. Hindraf Economic Unit |
| Calon wanita BN meningkat 4.9% berbanding PAKATAN meinigkat 43% Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:31 PM PDT 
Najib sebagai Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat sepatutnya mengenali calon kaum wanita yang berpotensi dan memberi perhatian yang lebih kepada pembangunan wanita. Lantas, tindakan Najib menyalahkan kekurangan calon kaum wanita kurang dari 10 peratus kerana tidak sanggup memecahkan batasan-batasan yang berkenaan, ianya menonjolkan sikap Najib untuk meneruskan kewujudan stereotaip jantina di mana kemampuan wanita masih dipandang rendah dalam arena politik. KPRU Badan pemikir Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU) berasa kesal dengan Presiden Barisan Nasional (BN) merangkap Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, atas ketidakmampuan beliau untuk menamakan lebih ramai calon wanita untuk bertanding di Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) ini. Apabila dibandingkan dengan calon kaum wanita yang dicalonkan oleh Barisan BN pada tahun 2008, kadar calon kaum wanita BN hanya meningkat sebanyak 4.9 peratus sahaja, iaitu sebanyak 3 orang calon. Manakala pencalonan calon kaum wanita di bawah Pakatan Rakyat (PAKATAN) telah meningkat sebanyak 43 peratus, iaitu penambahan sebanyak 24 calon kaum wanita bagi PRU13 ini. Ini membuktikan ikrar Pakatan terhadap jasa kaum wanita dan usaha PAKATAN untuk menggalakkan kehadiran kaum wanita di atas pentas politik. Najib menyalahkan kegagalan untuk mencalonkan lebih banyak calon kaum wanita atas alasan dikekang dengan batasan-batasan yang berkenaan. Ini menunjukkan bahawa walaupun beliau memegang jawatan sebagai Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, namun beliau masih kekurangan perasaan empati dan pada masa yang sama mengabaikan kebajikan dan kesejahteraan kaum wanita. Berhubungan dengan ini, KPRU mendapati berdasarkan senarai penamaan yang dikemukakan oleh laman web Suruhanraya Pilihan Raya (SPR), ianya didapati BN melantik 19 calon kaum wanita, menyumbang kepada 8.6 peratus dalam 222 calon kerusi Parlimen. PAKATAN pula telah menamakan 23 calon kaum wanita untuk bertanding di kerusi Parlimen, menyumbang kepada 10.4 peratus daripada keseluruhan kerusi Parlimen. Di samping itu, bagi kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) pula, sebanyak 45 orang wanita telah dinamakan sebagai calon oleh BN, menyumbang kepada 8.9 peratus daripada 505 kerusi DUN. PAKATAN pula telah menamakan sebanyak 56 calon kaum wanita bagi bertanding kerusi DUN, menyumbang sebanyak 11.1 peratus. (Sila merujukan Jadual 1 di bawah) Jadual 1: Calon Wanita berdasarkan Negeri | Negeri | Kerusi Parlimen | Kerusi DUN | | | BN | PAKATAN | BN | PAKATAN | | Selangor | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | | Pahang | X | 3 | 3 | 4 | | Pulau Pinang | X | 1 | 4 | 7 | | Perlis | X | X | 1 | 2 | | Kedah | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | | Kelantan | X | 1 | 2 | 3 | | Negeri Sembilan | X | 2 | 4 | 4 | | Malaka | 1 | X | 2 | 3 | | Johor | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | | Perlis | 2 | 3 | 8 | 6 | | Terengganu | X | X | X | 1 | | Wilayah Persekutuan | 2 | 2 | - | - | | Sarawak | 4 | 3 | - | - | | Sabah | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | | Jumlah | 19/222 | 23/222 | 45/505 | 56/505 | | Peratus | 8.6 | 10.4 | 8.9 | 11.1 |
Nota: X bererti tiada calon kaum wanita Sumber daripada Laman web SPR, dikemas oleh KPRU Menurut laporan, ianya didapati seramai 120 wanita dinamakan sebagai calon pada tahun 2008 di mana 61 orang calon adalah daripada BN, 55 orang daripada Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN), DAP dan PAS, 3 orang calon bebas dan 1 orang daripada Parti Bersekutu (BERSEKUTU). Apabila dibandingkan dengan PRU13 yang akan diadakan pada 5 Mei ini, terdapat hanya 64 orang calon kaum wanita BN, berbanding dengan tahun 2008, iaitu sebanyak 61 orang. Peningkatan calon kaum wanita daripada PRU12 berbanding PRU13 hanya meningkat sebanyak 3 orang, iaitu 4.9 peratus. Sebaliknya, calon kaum wanita PAKATAN adalah seramai 79 orang, berbanding dengan tahun 2008 di mana hanya 55 orang calon kaum wanita dinamakan. Peningkatan antara dua PRU ini adalah sebanyak 24 orang. Lantas, peningkatan ini menyumbang sebanyak 43 peratus dalam pencalonan kaum wanita dalam PAKATAN. Calon wanita BN bagi PRU pada tahun 2008 dan 2013 hanya meningkat sebanyak 3 orang sahaja dan ini tidak selari dengan tuntutan manifesto BN mengenai penambahan jumlah kaum wanita dalam proses membuat keputusan nasional. Keadaan ini memaparkan dua kemungkinan; iaitu BN tidak mempunyai kemampuan untuk melatih pemimpin kaum wanita yang mencukupi, ataupun Najib telah mengabaikan usaha ahli-ahli kaum wanita dalam BN. Di samping itu, pasca janji PAKATAN untuk melantik 10 orang kaum wanita sebagai Menteri telah mencapai sasaran penyertaan 30% wanita dalam membuat keputusan di peringkat nasional selepas meraih kejayaan di PRU13 ini. [1] Read more at: http://kpru2010.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/calon-wanita-bn-meningkat-4-9-berbanding-pakatan-meinigkat-43/ |
| PKR and now PAS party of Umno and Barisan misfits, rejects and ingrates Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:08 PM PDT 
... and who are their own worst enemies with Umno and Barisan becoming their mere punching bags. Mansor Puteh Parti KeAdilan Rakyat (PKR) cannot be described as a true political party in Malaysia. It was formed for a different reason, which has got nothing to do with any political agenda of national interests, other than to be a sworn enemy of Umno. However, in the process, it became a party which is a sworn enemy of Barisan Nasional, i.e. by default. The main characters involved in the formation of PKR are those who were staunch supporters of Umno and Barisan. And the supporting characters, comprise mostly of the wives, children and also cronies of the de facto leader and founder of PKR, who is Anwar Ibrahim. So what can one say of this party? It does not aim to champion some wonderful national political cause, but one that aims to belittle and condemn the very party and coalition of parties which had spawned its founders and staunch supporters in the first place.
So it is not wrong for anyone to say PKR is a party of Umno and Barisan misfits, rejects and ingrates.
Now Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) is also in such a situation when it readily accepts a former senior Umno leader, Muhammad Muhammad Taib as its member, who left Umno and Barisan in such haste that one wonders if he decided to join PAS in order to further extend his political life. Being in politics in Malaysia all his life, surely, Muhammad Muhammad Taib cannot bear the brunt of not being able to hog the political scene for a while longer, even if he is now on the other side. Unfortunately, most of the original founders of PKR had left the party to join mainstream politics, and who are now most vocal in their criticism of PKR and its lead founder, Anwar. One can almost discount Anwar's first daughter, Nurul Izzah for any diatribe which she may have on Umno and Barisan as she is merely performing her filial duty and not a national duty.
And her win in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat in the past election was a fluke. The voters just wanted to get rid of the President of the Wanita Umno, incumbent Sharizat Jalil, and not because they liked Nurul more, just like how Loh Goh Burne who won in Kelana Jaya became a one-time member of parliament after his party did not extend his political life by nominating him for the thirteenth general election.
Goh Burne could not speak Melayu at all and had given or read only one speech in his halting Melayu while in parliament through the last five years, which dealt with some foreign affairs matters that made Hamid Albar, the then minister of foreign affairs smile widely. Anwar was very angry for not being able to succeed Mahathir Mohammad as Prime Minister. He thought Mahathir had made a very bad and awful decision for sacking him as his deputy, which Anwar thought was not a wise move. But why did Anwar and his supporters think Mahathir had made such a wise move by accepting Anwar into Umno and hence the Mahathir Cabinet, and who later shot up in the Umno and Barisan hierarchy quickly so much so that those who had been waiting in line had to be removed or sidelined? And yet, when Mahathir had the wisdom to change his mind about Anwar and sack him, why then did Anwar and his supporters not say it was also a wise move by Mahathir? From being someone who was wise by admitting Anwar and accepting all his quirks and style, suddenly Mahathir had become not wise simply because he had chosen not to allow Anwar to have his ways anymore. Being the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is not a right; party members of Umno do not choose who to become the Deputy Prime Minister. The right rests in the good hands of the Prime Minister himself and it is his prerogative to appoint and even sack anyone in the cabinet as he so pleases.
And there were many Umno and Barisan leaders who had to face similar music before as it is the practice by incumbent Prime Ministers to discontinue the services of any member of his cabinet whom he finds to have served too long or who deserves to be 'promoted' to retirement, a 'post' which many may find to be disconcerting as they think political life in Malaysia is enduring and all-encompassing so not many of them have made retirement plans.
So when it finally happens, one gets a rude shock. One way to overcome this shock is to become a turncoat and join PKR and now PAS, the two parties which can be described as the 'graveyards' and 'dumping grounds' of Malaysian politics, especially by those who think that there is indeed life after political death, who may be party-spoilers. |
| GE13: Uthayakumar – Get rid of Indian leaders Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:05 PM PDT 
(fz.com) - Uthayakumar says he is standing in Kota Raja, not to represent Indians, but all Malaysians. Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar's theory is very simple: The Federal government and the state governments – both BN and Pakatan Rakyat – have devised a scheme where they appoint Indian mandores (foremen) to solve the issues facing Indians, and when the mandores fail, the Indians will blame the mandores and the community will end up fighting among themselves. "Get rid of the mandores and the problems of the poor Indians in this country would be solved. We do not need Indian leaders in this country to solve the Indians' problems," said Uthayakumar matter-of-factly. "It is in the hands of the Chinese and Malay leaders to end racism in this country. I would prefer a Chinese or Malay leader to address the Indians' issues," he said. Historically, under the British rule of Malaya, the mandores were leaders of labour gangs in the rubber estates who were appointed to ensure that the Indian workers in the estates maintained work discipline. Uthayakumar has not changed much in appearance or views since his arrest under the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) in December 2007 and release in 2009. He is still a firebrand and does not mince his words, one reason he is not wanted by any political faction, he said. "I will not be their mandore," said Uthayakumar. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ge13-uthayakumar-%E2%80%93-get-rid-indian-leaders |
| Don’t vote for Zul Noordin, says MIC veep Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:02 PM PDT 
(FMT) - M Saravanan says he will never forgive Zulkifli Noordin for degrading and passing racial remarks against the Indian community. Vowing not to forgive the Barisan Nasional candidate for Shah Alam, MIC vice- president M Saravanan has advised Indians not to vote for the Perkasa leader. "I will never forgive him (Zulkifli). I will continue to tell Indians not to vote for him, he doesn't deserve their votes. "If I were to say something disrespectful towards Muslims or their beliefs and then apologise, do you think they will accept it?" he asked. "It is the same, we are Malaysians and the thought of disrespecting other religion should never even cross our mind. "I respect the Prime Minister's (Najib Tun Razak) choice. But his candidacy degrades BN on the whole, he is a disgrace to the party," said Saravanan, who is contesting the Tapah parliamentary seat. In an old video clipping which surfaced recently, Zulkifli had questioned the Hindu concept of God and mocked the Ganges River, which is considered sacred by Hindus. "I have been to Sungai Ganga before. How can you say it's pure? There are chicken carcasses and small sticks floating," Zulkifli had said in the video clip. He has since apologised for his remarks. PKR candidate confident in Tapah Saravanan is defending the parliamentary seat against PKR's K Vasanthakumar, who is contesting the polls for the first time. Vasanthakumar carved a name for himself with Hindraf and was one of the five detained under the now defunct ISA after the 2007 Hindraf rally in Kuala Lumpur. Tapah consists 38,000 registered voters with 46.47% Malays, 27.86% Chinese, 13.31% Indians and 12.36% others, including Orang Asli.  Speaking to FMT, Vasanthakumar was confident of beating the incumbent, saying that he was more capable in providing service to the voters of Tapah.
"I have done my research and I know what the people here need and want, I think I know more than anyone else," he declared, when met in Tapah. "Poverty is one of the main issues here. About 30% of the people here suffer from poverty. We promise to uphold our minimum wage pledge as stated in our manifesto," he added. He also claimed that the Orang Asli communities in the constituency have also shown confidence in him. "I would like to take this opportunity to call Saravanan for a debate by April 27. Show me what you have done for the people here. Show me if you are a worthy enough to stay a second term. "I would in turn reply with my grounds on how I would be able to perform better than you and serve the people of Tapah better," he added. Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/04/25/dont-vote-for-zul-noordin-says-mic-veep/ Change this barisan goverment goverment goverment la... - Barisan Kolaveri Song:
ehuGPOIsDKM Or watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehuGPOIsDKM |
| Gelang Patah is Umno's MCA dilemma Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:00 PM PDT 
From being a near equal partner with major influence in government, the MCA has seen its role eclipsed especially after losing two key Cabinet positions – the Ministry of Finance as well as Trade and Industry – to Umno in the early 1970s. Ho Kay Tat, fz.com IT WAS a poignant gesture. Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman holding the hand of the older Lim Kit Siang as they walked alongside each other inside the nomination centre to file their papers to do battle in GE 13. Ghani is the quintessential soft spoken and well-liked Malay gentleman, but he represents a Malay nationalist party that in recent times is loathed by many for being racist, greedy and arrogant. Kit Siang is the Chinese political street fighter who had for 45 years fought vigorously for a Malaysia for all, but till now is unable to shed its reputation as a Chinese chauvinist party. So, despite the friendly gesture on nomination day and a pledge to conduct a clean and fair campaign, the fight for Gelang Patah will be a hard fought one. This is because Gelang Patah in Johor is an electoral contest whose significance goes beyond the racially mixed constituency, which lies very close to the second link to Singapore. Let's start with the historical context. Johor was where the United Malay National Organisation (Umno) was formed in 1946 to fight the Malayan Union set up by the British as the Malays felt that the Union took away too much power from the Malay rulers and was too liberal in giving citizenships to non-Malays. But after succeeding in fighting the Malayan Union, Umno founding President Onn Jaafar wanted to open the party to all races. He felt that a race-based party would not be good for the country in the long run. Had he succeeded, Malaysian politics and society would perhaps be very different today. But Onn Jaafar failed, and left to form a new multi-racial party that floundered. Without him, Umno went on to form a coalition called the Alliance (precursor to the Barisan Nasional) with the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in 1952 and they were joined by the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) in 1954. In 1955, the Alliance contested and won 51 of the 52 seats in the last pre-independence elections. The Pan Malayan Islamic Party (PAS today) won the other seat. This resounding win of Alliance entrenched race based politics and the race-based political structure of Malaysia till today. As a result, even parties that are open to all races like the DAP, Gerakan, PPP are predominantly driven by a particular race, an indication of how difficult it is to break away from the race silos that have been driven into the mindset of Malaysians these past 50 years. This political arrangement where race based parties representing the 3 major races come together to govern is today under tremendous stress, primarily because the MCA and the MIC is probably in their weakest state ever with their respective communities. Which is why Umno has taken 3 parliamentary seats – Gelang Patah, Wangsa Maju and Kuantan – from the MCA in this GE, as it felt the MCA will not be able to win because of poor support from the Chinese voters. Umno believes that a Malay candidate can garner more Malay votes to win the seats for the BN. The irony is that the MCA and MIC are where they are today because of UMNO's overbearing dominance of their partners over the last 25 years. From being a near equal partner with major influence in government, the MCA has seen its role eclipsed especially after losing two key Cabinet positions – the Ministry of Finance as well as Trade and Industry – to Umno in the early 1970s. Over time, this has caused the two parties to lose the respect and support of the Chinese and Indian communities, despite the many contributions they have made, especially the MCA through Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/gelang-patah-umnos-mca-dilemma |
| Najib defends ‘Allah’ ban, rules out election debate Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:58 AM PDT 
(TMI) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak has expressed support for the appeal to overturn a High Court ruling which allows the use of the Arabic term "Allah" for God by non-Muslim groups in Malaysia, according to an interview with global news station Al Jazeera. The caretaker prime minister also told Al Jazeera English's Veronica Pedrosa in the interview, to be aired tomorrow, that he did not intend to have a public election debate with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before the May 5 polls. "The concept of Allah is different in the Muslim sense than in the Christian sense, we should not upset the Muslims and Muslims should not upset the Christians, we are living in harmony for years and it should continue," he was quoted as saying in an excerpt distributed by Al Jazeera English. The Court of Appeal has fixed May 30 for another case management on the government and Home Ministry's appeal against the 2009 High Court decision that the word "Allah" can be used by the Catholic weekly newspaper Herald. In 2007, the government limited the usage of the term to the Muslim context only. This was revoked by the High Court two years later as the judge said the law was unconstitutional. Putrajaya appealed the ruling and the short-lived implementation of the 2009 court verdict has since been suspended. After the ruling, there was a series of firebombing and stones thrown at several houses of worship in Kuala Lumpur. Some of the culprits were charged and later punished but the case continues to rankle. The Christian community forms less than 10 per cent of the 28 million population in Malaysia but both Najib and Anwar have long started wooing them ahead of Election 2013. Najib also said that he preferred engaging the public directly rather than debating with his political opponent. "There are many ways to reach out to the public, both political parties have a lot of space in Malaysia … It is unlikely we will have a debate, we need to engage with the people, the opposition will engage with people," Najib told the Talk to Al Jazeera Najib's interview will be first aired globally tomorrow at 12.30pm (local time). It will be on Astro Channel 513. Repeats of the 30-minute interview will be on Sunday at 4.40pm, Monday 3.30am and 10.30pm. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najib-defends-allah-ban-rules-out-election-debate/ |
| Cars of PKR candidate's daughter set ablaze Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:51 AM PDT 
(The Malay Mail) - In what is believed to be another politically motivated incident, two cars belonging to PKR candidate Dr Xavier Jayakumar's daughter were set afire when a group of men threw kerosene containers at the entrance of her residence in Taman Klang Jaya, Klang yesterday.  During the 11pm incident, election agent Sangetha Jeyakumar, 30, was with her father at their Pakatan Rakyat service centre for a meeting following a ceramah session. A neighbour who did not want to be identified said that two men, one armed with parang, in a silver-coloured Kia Sephia alighted from the vehicle and climbed over the house gate to get into the compound. "My dog began to bark as both men were shouting loudly before climbing over the gate. "I shouted back to warn my neighbour but was threatened by them to stay away or else they would throw the kerosene containers into my house," he said when met at the scene. Husband, toddler and maid at home
Sangetha's husband Dr Arnil Srimanne, 36, her one-year-old toddler and their maid were at home when the incident occurred.
"I heard the commotion and peeked out of my window when they shouted obscenities and threatened me," said Arnil.
He said that the suspects then broke the rear window of his wife's car which was parked on the front porch before dousing it with kerosene and setting it on fire.
"In haste since others members of the public had gathered, the suspects then threw one of the kerosene containers at the other car before leaving the scene," he said.
 Within several minutes the Fire Department arrived to put out the flames.
When met, Seri Andalas incumbent Xavier (right) said he believed that the incident was politically motivated.
"This incident was brought upon my daughter as she is involved in politics with me. Such culture should not be encouraged by either side of the political divide," he said.
Meanwhile police who arrived at the scene are investigating the case under arson. Xavier is defending his state seat at the May 5 general election in a five-cornered fight with MIC Youth chief T Mohan, P Uthayakumar of the Human Rights Party and two Independents, KS Kottappan Suppiah and Hanafiah Husin. |
| When the going gets tough, bomb out your own ceramah and centres Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:40 AM PDT 
Next week, a run on essential items at supermarkets and provision shops would be contrived, so as to give the impression to the public that people were stocking up in anticipation of trouble. Haris Ibrahim Remember the cow head protest in August 2009 in Shah Alam? Carried out by UMNO bozos from Shah Alam, but they tried to create the impression that the protestors present were not just UMNO members, but also from PKR and PAS? Remember? Remember Hishamuddin speaking out in defence of those protestors at a press conference soon after the incident? Remember? They'd hoped to get a reaction from the Hindus, but our Hindu brothers and sisters did not fall for it. Damn! Next? High Court decision in December, 2009 on the 'use of Allah' by Christians. Remember the call for demonstrations at mosques in KL after Friday prayers? Damn! No takers! Malaysians are more mature than UMNO had expected, so a bit of DIY was called for. Burn some churches. Then torch some suraus. Heck, toss some pig heads into mosque compounds for good measure. Reaction? Read more at: http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/when-the-going-gets-tough-bomb-out-your-own-ceramah-and-centres/ |
| Navy denies killing 35 'militants' trying to enter Malaysia Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:38 AM PDT 
(Rappler) - The Philippine Navy on Thursday, April 25, denied that navy personnel shot and killed 35 "militants" trying to enter Malaysia. The Navy said there is no such report coming from the Tawi-Tawi naval task force commander, contradicting reports released by the Malaysian press earlier in the day. "We have contacted our naval task force commander based in Tawi-Tawi and he said that there is no such report that has come to his attention," said Col Edgardo Arevalo, Navy spokesperson on West Philippine Sea matters. Reports in Malaysian media said the 35 militants came from Sulu, and were killed by personnel from the Philippine naval and coast guard forces. The militants were shot before they entered Malaysian territory, The Star newspaper in Malaysia reported Thursday, April 25, quoting Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who spoke in a press conference in George Town, Malaysia. The Star, quoting Hamidi, said the group was attempting to enter Sabah to "cause problems" during the Malaysian general elections. "If they had entered our waters, we would have taken them out. We will defend our country," The Star quoted Hamidi as saying. - Rappler.com |
| ‘Najib, Anwar ignorant of Sabah’s history’ Posted: 24 Apr 2013 07:37 PM PDT 
Local opposition STAR has lumped both caretaker Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as two peas in a pod. Raymond Tombung, FMT Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's ignorance of Sabah's participation in Malaysia has shocked local opposition parties. In yet another show of ignorance on Sabah's history, Najib yesterday said the "Sabah autonomy was still intact in the 20-Point Malaysia Agreement". Pointing out the "lie", State Reform Party (STAR) deputy chairman, Awang Ahmad Sah, said: "I am shocked that Najib as the prime minister is again proven to be ignorant about our history. "The day before that he said that we joined Malaysia and then became independent on Sept 16, 1963. "Now he is saying our autonomy is still intact in the 20-Point-Malaysia Agreement." Correcting Najib, Awang said the 20 points were not "part of" the Malaysia Agreement. "The 20 points are agreements that contributed to the drafting of the Malaysia Agreement. "The prime minister of all people should know that many of the rights promised in the 20-point agreement have been hacked away because of Kuala Lumpur 's interference in Sabah 's governance over the decades," he said. Awang added that many of the promises in the 20 points were never implemented. "They have not implemented Borneonisation and the rights of the state to collect its own revenues. "Malayans still head 85% of federal departments and agencies in Sabah and this excludes other junior positions which are all filled by Malayans. "Also the 20 points had promised that we can collect and spend our own revenues, but in 2012 alone, the federal government collected RM24 billion from Sabah excluding other collections by other federal departments such as the Immigration Department, Road Transport Department, and so on. "In addition, under Tenth Schedule, Part IV, Section 2(1) of the Federal Constitution, the federal government is supposed to give back two-fifth [40%] of the nett revenue collected from Sabah, but this has been denied to us. "Isn't this a case of daylight robbery and denial of our autonomy? he asked. READ MORE HERE |
| 5th May Posted: 24 Apr 2013 07:09 PM PDT 
Hence to use the crowd turnout as the yardstick to gauge your chances of success is not always the right way to go. Many general elections and by-elections have proven this. The opposition ceramah attract crowds in the tens of thousands while the Barisan Nasional ceramah can't even attract 100 people. But when the votes are counted, Barisan Nasional wins and with a large majority on top of that. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin EVENTS OF 5TH MAY 1260 Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire 1430 Jews are expelled from Speyer Germany 1646 King Charles I surrenders at Scotland 1762 Russia and Prussia sign peace treaty 1809 Citizenship is denied to Jews of Canton of Aargau Switzerland 1881 Anti-Jewish rioting in Kiev Ukraine 1893 Panic of 1893: Great crash on the New York Stock Exchange 1920 German-Latvian peace treaty signed 1932 Japan and China sign a peace treaty 1936 Italian troops occupy Addis Ababa 1940 Norwegian government in exile forms in London 1941 Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa 1944 Gandhi freed from prison 1945 Netherlands and Denmark liberated from Nazi control 1948 Belgian government of Spaak resigns 1954 Military coup by general Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay 1955 India's parliament accepts hindu-divorce 1957 Adolf Scharf elected president of Austria 1964 Separatists riot in Quebec 1965 1st large-scale U.S. Army ground units arrive in South Vietnam 1971 Race riot in Brownsville section of Brooklyn (New York City) 1980 Siege at Iranian Embassy in London ends; British commandos and police stormed the building 1994 Labour beats Conservatives in British local elections 2011 In Brazil, the Supreme Federal Court rules that same-sex couples receive the same rights of existing civil unions 2013 (Yet to happen) *********************************************** 
Barisan Nasional is extremely worried. They are not confident of winning the coming general election on 5th May 2013. They are not even sure whether if they do win it's going to be so narrow a win that Malaysia will see a hung parliament. That is good. This is going to be so tight a race you need to be scared. Furthermore, if Barisan Nasional does win, and if they win with a very slim majority, they would be so frantic that they will make sure that this will never happen again. And the only way that that can happen would be if they were to perform and reform and deliver what the rakyat wants. If not, then the next time around they are going to be out for sure since even more young people will be voting in the 14th General Election in five year's time. Pakatan Rakyat is very confident. They are so confident they are already practically celebrating their success and fighting over who should be the Prime Minister and whether the Islamic Sharia law of Hudud will or will not be implemented. And that is bad. This is going to be so tight a race you can't afford to be overconfident and sound arrogant and take the voters for granted. The voters have many times in the past surprised us all. Just when we thought they were going one way they suddenly swing the other way. No doubt the opposition ceramah (rallies) attract large crowds while the Barisan Nasional ceramah are practically deserted. This has always been the case since I first attended election rallies back in 1969. And I have always said since 1999 that crowds do not translate to votes. This has been proven time and again. Hence to use the crowd turnout as the yardstick to gauge your chances of success is not always the right way to go. Many general elections and by-elections have proven this. The opposition ceramah attract crowds in the tens of thousands while the Barisan Nasional ceramah can't even attract 100 people. But when the votes are counted, Barisan Nasional wins and with a large majority on top of that. But then it can also work the other way. Because your rallies are huge, the fence sitters may actually be influenced or psyched into voting opposition. People always want to be associated with the winner. No one wants to run with the loser. Hence, since you are giving the perception of success due to your large crowd turnout, people may actually vote for you. Anyway, I believe that most people have already made up their minds as to whom to vote for. Normally I would use the not so accurate 30:40:30 rule-of-thumb (ruling party versus undecided versus opposition). For this election we can safely assume it is 45:10:45. So this means both sides have a margin of only 10% to play with. And since it is a tight race and the winner will see a less than 10% margin over the loser, this 10% is very large. This 10% will decide who gets to form the federal government. That is how close it is going to be. At this stage of the race, every vote counts. And both sides are going to squeeze every single vote they can get. A mere 5% of the votes will decide who is going to be the government. Hence 10% is a matter of life and death. Anyway, for the superstitious who look at dates as something very significant, I have listed above some of the significant events that happened on 5th May over the last 750 years or so. Consider that my election trivia. *********************************************** IF A PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS 
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| Karpal maintains DAP's stand on Hudud Posted: 24 Apr 2013 05:44 PM PDT 
(Daily Express) - DAP's earlier choice to use the PAS logo did not mean the party now agreed to hudud laws being imposed in Malaysia, said party national chairman Karpal Singh. "PAS allowing us to use their party logo does not mean we have shifted our stand on the establishment of Islamic state or hudud laws," he said. Karpal said Malaysia is not an Islamic state but secular, pointing to a landmark decision on the issue by the Federal Court in 1988. "The introduction of hudud to the legal system would mean one system but two laws, which is impossible to impose," said the incumbent Bukit Gelugor MP. He was responding to PAS deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din's statement that the Islamist party was confident its Pakatan Rakyat ally will accept hudud law because it was willing to contest using the PAS logo. "Although PAS has said hudud is only for Muslims, the implementation of two systems will cause conflicts and chaos," Karpal reiterated. As an example, Karpal said that if a non-Muslim and a Muslim were to be jointly charged for the same crime under the Penal code and hudud system respectively, it would be impossible to have a trial. He pointed out that the Federal Constitution also does not provide for an Islamic state. "If PAS wants to amend the Federal Constitution, DAP or PKR will not allow it," he said. "I don't think PAS would insist on amending the Federal Constitution," he added. |
| Pakatan hoping sailors swing their way in Lumut Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:32 PM PDT 
Clara Chooi, TMI Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base here this week might have boosted the MCA's Datuk Seri Kong Cha Ha's chances but the incumbent is feeling the heat from PKR's Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid, a just-retired navy first admiral who once commanded a fleet of 2,000 sailors in the base. Fielding the former PAS member in Lumut was a strategic move by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's PKR and according to party insiders last night, the sharp-tongued Mohamad Imran's entry into the fray has helped increase PR's support here, especially in the military vote. "Our numbers indicate Lumut is good," party strategist Rafizi Ramli told The Malaysian Insider. "I think Lumut is in the bag if we continue like this." In Election 2008, Kong scraped through in Lumut by a hair's breadth, with a razor-thin majority of just 298 votes. Many said it was the coastal constituency's large number of postal votes — nearly 13,000 or 14 per cent of the 88,473-strong electorate — that had saved the then deputy minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) from an upset defeat. But today, Kong is facing an even more formidable opponent in the stern 59-year-old Mohamad Imran, who served a lengthy 37 years in the naval base until his retirement on April 1, 2010. When met at a function yesterday in Pasir Panjang, a state seat in Lumut, Kong did not repeat his reported criticism of Mohamad Imran for being a parachute candidate. Instead, he told The Malaysian Insider that the Klang-born Mohamad Imran is a formidable enough opponent, having stayed in Sitiawan for over two decades since his time in the navy. "Not really," he said when pointed out that Mohamad Imran is not local. "He has stayed here for more than 20 years." Kong, always a man of few words, had also recently admitted to The Malaysian Insider that the Lumut contest would not be an easy one, but would not say why. "Every fight is difficult," he said. Kong's cold feet and fraying nerves in the BN camp have seen the ruling pact in a bit of a fluster. Dr Mahathir, BN's de facto chief campaigner, was sent into the naval base yesterday to calm the storm, while Mohamad Imran found himself blocked at the gates later that night when he attempted to perform prayers at the mosque within the base. Political campaigns are forbidden within the naval base. Under their standing instructions, navy personnel are allowed to attend political events outside camp but cannot hold party memberships or be actively involved in any party activity. According to news reports on Dr Mahathir's visit, the former prime minister trumpeted BN's successes to some 2,000 navy officers before warning them that the country's budget for the military would be cut under Pakatan Rakyat (PR) rule. But Mohamad Imran said the alleged attempts at spreading fear of PR to these voters would not work. "I am convinced... not this time. From the programmes they (BN) have done in the base, there is an indication of protest. "They know it's not their job to listen to Perkasa speak," he told The Malaysian Insider during a brief interview when met while on his ceramah circuit in Kampung Serdang last night. He lamented that his "boys" from the camp have been forbidden from attending his ceramahs by their superiors, although they are allowed to do so. "These two-stars, three-star superiors... right up to the Defence Ministry. And now, they are treating me like the enemy saying — Oh, he's joining PAS, Pakatan is the enemy. "They are doing a lot of things, talking bad about me. But I say, my boys can think," he said. "I was the commanding officer for one unit. Under me, there was about 2,000 people. "They know me. I was fair to them. I facilitated them to be promoted. I did not simply charge them but punished them sometimes based on Muslim law," he continued. READ MORE HERE |
| Another ex-military officer joins PAS, vows to ensure two-party system Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT 
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI Datuk Ismail Saimon, a former top-ranking military officer who later helmed Universiti Pertahanan Malaysia, has joined PAS in a move the Islamist party believes would help bolster its campaign for support from the security forces. The sizeable number of votes from the armed forces would be crucial to Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) push for federal power and the pact had been busy recruiting retired army and police officers into its ranks, hoping that their presence could help make a dent on Barisan Nasional's traditional vote bank. "Looking at the current political situation, there is a need for change and it must first come from yourself, family and friends. "I was never active in politics… there is no such thing as being apolitical," said Ismail, who retired as a Lt-General from the Malaysian Royal Air Force and was a former vice-chancellor of Universiti Pertahanan Malaysia, at the PAS headquarters here today. Ismail said his decision to join PAS was to help the PR alliance persuade military voters against backing a government that has failed to protect the welfare of army personnel. Ex-military officers now with PR have claimed low-ranking army personnel live in "abject" conditions, often struggling with meagre salaries while most live in poor housing. The issue has driven PR's campaign in the military barracks, or at least close to them, since the Election Commission (EC) claims canvassing votes in the camps is prohibited by the army. Ismail said his experience with army corruption was a major factor behind the woes facing military personnel. He added that only by changing the BN government can the longstanding problems afflicting the military be addressed. "I am for the two-party system. If there is a monopoly in politics then one will be completely immune, it cannot be criticised," he said in reference to BN's 55-year rule. "So we must change this government," he added. READ MORE HERE |
| Hadi’s outburst affects PSM’s chances Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:15 PM PDT 
Sungai Siput incumbent Dr Michael Jeyakumar says the PAS president's remarks will affect Malay votes. K Pragalath, FMT Incumbent Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar is worried about his chances of winning over the Malay electorate following PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's outburst against PSM. "We have problems over Hadi's statement among the Malay voters but it is a non-issue for the non- Malay voters. "We are taking the bull by the horn by addressing this issue in our ceramah sessions in the Malay areas," said Jeyakumar whose constituency is made up of 33% Malay voters. On Monday, Hadi described PSM as a party glorifying communism with photographs of Lenin, Marx and other communist personalities without naming the party. Hadi said this while explaining the reason for the multiple candidates contesting from Pakatan component parties. Another issue that affects Jeyakumar's chances is DAP's decision in dropping incumbent DAP representative Leong Mee Meng for Loh Sze Yee for the Jalong state seat, which falls under Sungai Siput. "The Chinese voters are upset with DAP's decision to drop Lee. They may not turn up to vote or they may vote BN," he said. He is however confident that his relationship with the Pakatan components will not impede his chances of retaining Sungai Siput. "Here we have pragmatism, PAS needs our support to win the Lintang state seat and DAP works with us to retain the Jalong state seat," said the first term MP. He said this when asked about the party's chances of retaining Sungai Siput while the party faces multiple cornered fights in three other state seats. READ MORE HERE |
| Hadi says DAP won’t be forced to accept hudud Posted: 24 Apr 2013 02:32 PM PDT 
Abdul Hadi explained that there was a line in the Quran that conveyed the meaning that "there is no compulsion in religion". (Bernama) - PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party will not force the DAP, its partner in the opposition pact, to accept the implementation of hudud law. In his ceramah at Kampung Batu Rakit near here last night, Abdul Hadi explained that there was a line in the Quran that conveyed the meaning that "there is no compulsion in religion". "In the same context we are together, we unite. In a different situation, we don't quarrel. A problem crops up for PAS in implementing hudud law, the DAP does not agree, but it too does not oppose. "This is the difference that we must understand. If we can't force in terms of religion, then more so in law we can't force. This is the policy that we adopt," he said. Abdul Hadi said the non-Muslim community had now opened their eyes by accepting that it was an important condition that the country's top leadership should be a Muslim. He said that first of all, the party was targeting to win the 13th general election (GE13) together with its partners the PKR and DAP after which it would implement the PAS aspiration in stages. "We want Pakatan Rakyat to win first, let the people vote for us first. We want to fulfil the 'Orange Book' pledge of a welfare state which is also the objective of PAS. "Don't worry if Pakatan Rakyat wins, the prime minister will (always) be a Muslim. If people are scared that I become PM, it's all right, it's also all right that I go (down) to the sea. I (can) become an elected representative to monitor the PM (prime minister) whether he is doing the right things or not," said Abdul Hadi. |
| 35 Sulu militants killed trying to enter Sabah to cause problems during polls Posted: 24 Apr 2013 02:21 PM PDT 
(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Thirty-five armed Sulu militants attempting to enter Sabah were shot dead by the Philippines navy and coast guard on Wednesday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said they were shot before they could enter Malaysian waters after refusing to turn back. He added that according to intelligence reports, the group was attempting to enter Sabah to cause problems during the general election. "If they had entered our waters, we would have taken them out. We will defend our country," he said at a press conference here on Thursday. An incursion by Sulu militant in late February left two villages and 10 Malaysian servicemen dead. The episode has put the eastern state in the spotlight during this election. |
| BN bastion turned swing state? Posted: 24 Apr 2013 02:14 PM PDT 
Sulu incursion, illegal immigrant issue offer a way in for opposition An estimated 800,000 of Sabah's 3.3 million people are illegal immigrants, mostly from the southern Philippines, including Sulu, escaping a civil war there in the 1970s. "The illegal immigrant issue is the single most important issue for many Kadazandusuns," said Mr Fred Marukau, a retired school headmaster in Tuarid Taud village near here. "So now we are listening more seriously to the opposition parties." Lester Kong, ST FOR years, people in this Borneo state lived in relative obscurity as the peninsula cornered all the headlines. Then came an armed Sulu incursion in late February and a tough military response that put Sabah front and centre in national politics for weeks. Now, the same Barisan Nasional government under whose watch the events unfolded is asking for another run in office, saying Sabah's safety is best assured by the governing coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak. "One vote for BN means one vote for a strong guarantee of Sabah's sovereignty and security," Datuk Seri Najib told hundreds of Keningau residents in the heartland of the Kadazandusun community yesterday. And he repeated the message at each of his campaign stops in Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu, and Bongawan before Keningau. To be sure, even as BN considers Sabah a fixed deposit state, the ground may be shifting. The Sulu incursion left two villages decimated and 10 Malaysian servicemen dead. For Sabahans, who have long complained about the influx of illegal immigrants and lax borders, it was their worst fears realised. "The illegal immigrant issue is the single most important issue for many Kadazandusuns," said Mr Fred Marukau, a retired school headmaster in Tuarid Taud village near here. "So now we are listening more seriously to the opposition parties." In 2008, when the BN suffered unprecedented losses in Peninsula Malaysia, it won resoundingly in Sabah, sweeping all but one parliamentary and one state seat. But with Sabah's recent troubles, the May 5 polls may see the BN's biggest challenge here yet. Adding to the unpredictability, there are just two straight fights this time for the state's 25 parliamentary and 60 state seats. With the BN and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat locked in a close fight in Peninsular Malaysia, what happens in Sabah could have a disproportionate effect on who wins Putrajaya. "It's up to us to be kingmakers in Sabah," said Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who leads the independent State Reform Party. On Feb 12, 200 Sulu gunmen landed on Sabah's eastern shore to press ancestral claims on parts of the state. The 10-week standoff, coming after revelations that the federal government had given identity cards to illegal immigrants in return for their votes, angered many Sabahans, long worried about crowding out by immigrants. An estimated 800,000 of Sabah's 3.3 million people are illegal immigrants, mostly from the southern Philippines, including Sulu, escaping a civil war there in the 1970s. Indigenous Sabahans say these illegal immigrants have taken their jobs and their land. For many, the incursion was the last straw. Now, Sabah's 984,034 voters are increasingly impatient. To Sabah opposition leaders, the choice is simple: continue to allow federal parties to dictate policies for the state of three million or install a Sabah-based party in the state and control their own destinies. The opposition's claims have gained traction with Kadazandusuns like Mr Hilbert Manan, 38. "Cash handouts are nothing when you hear of foreigners coming here and getting the same benefits," said the building contractor from Bulu Silou village near here. "We have waited years for our village road to be paved at least but still the government cannot do this," laments rubber tapper Jeffri Paulus, 35, from Senagang Lama village near here. Locals like Mr Hilbert also still hold dear promises made at the birth of Malaysia, inscribed on the Memorial Oath Stone that stands in front of a district office here. The covenant promises religious freedom, control over local lands, and state protection of local customs in return for loyalty to Malaysia when Sabah joined the federation in 1963. But today, Sabah gets just 5 per cent in royalties for oil from its shores. A recent controversy over whether Sabahans can use the word Allah in Malay-language bibles has also angered many. Since the Sulu incursion, the federal government has set up a new security zone bordering two-thirds of Sabah's eastern shoreline, stationing thousands more servicemen. This week, Sabah BN unveiled a manifesto that promised to resolve the illegal immigrant problem and native land issues, improve security along Sabah's northern and eastern coasts and reduce poverty from 8.1 per cent to 3 per cent in five years. Analysts say the economic promises could still hold power. "In the rural areas, politics of development, of basic needs is still very relevant," says Dr Jeniri Amir, a political analyst with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
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| Respect the choice of others, actress Angelica Lee tells cyber bullies Posted: 24 Apr 2013 02:08 PM PDT 
Award-wining Malaysian actress Angelica Lee Sin Jie urged voters to respect the choice of other people as Malaysia is a democratic country, when asked to comment on cyber bullies attacking artistes who showed their support for certain political parties. (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Award-wining Malaysian actress Angelica Lee Sin Jie urged voters to respect the choice of other people as Malaysia is a democratic country, major Chinese newspapers reported. "Every person has the right to vote. We should respect this. Malaysia is a democratic country. I hope our country will stay peaceful," said the actress who hails from Alor Setar, Kedah. Lee, who shot to fame in the horror film The Eye, was asked to comment on cyber bullies attacking artistes who showed their support for certain political parties. "No matter who you support, this is the voters' right. No matter who will rule the country, I hope the people will not be too emotional. "I do not hope to see trouble in the country," she said at a function here on Tuesday. International artiste Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh had been attacked by cyber bullies for her open support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. However, Yeoh has defended her decision, saying everyone was free to give their views in Malaysia, which is a democracy. She had openly expressed support for the Prime Minister at a gathering organised by the Federation of Chinese Descendants of Selangor on Saturday. "We have a leader here who has done so many good things and will do more. I hope from the bottom of my heart that he will remain as the Prime Minister and I ask all of you to give him a strong mandate," she told the crowd at the mammoth gathering organised to show support for Mr Najib. Another Malaysian artiste being attacked by cyber bullies was composer-singer Eric Moo, who performed at the 1Malaysia Penang International Charity Drive concert at the Han Chiang High School in Penang on Saturday. Moo, from Perak, defended his action, saying that everyone had the freedom of choice. Moo posted on Weibo on Wednesday that he was "not affected by threats and not afraid to be scolded" after his decision to perform at the charity concert drew criticism from cyber bullies. Malaysian artistes who attended functions organised by the ruling Barisan Nasional had been attacked by cyber bullies while those who showed support or performed at the opposition Pakatan Rakyat functions were not. On Saturday, a group of local singers including Yu Heng, Danny One and Jiahui Wu had performed outside the Pakatan Rakyat operations room in Kluang, Johor. Several Pakatan candidates, including Kluang DAP candidate Liew Chin Tong, gave speeches at the concert. Some local performers had openly supported Pakatan including Malaysian singer Wilson Tin, who had performed at a DAP ceramah.
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| Youth’s pivotal role in ‘social media’ election Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:54 PM PDT 
But more than five million of the 13.3 million registered voters are under the age of 40 — up 31 percent from previous 2008 polls — and over two million are first-time voters. "Today, youngsters can find out everything through their handphones. The youth have opened their eyes (to see) that they can change Malaysia for the better," the political science student said. (AFP) - Bukhairy Sofian is fed up with a ban on political activity at Malaysian universities, which he calls an outdated shackle on a tech-savvy younger generation yearning to express itself. So the 23-year-old, who heads a student group advocating academic freedom, plans to support the upstart opposition in May 5 elections expected to be the country's closest yet. "Today, youngsters can find out everything through their handphones. The youth have opened their eyes (to see) that they can change Malaysia for the better," the political science student said. His vote is one small victory for the opposition in a battle to win over youths who are exposed as never before to alternative political views online and tipped as potential kingmakers in the election. Malaysian youths have a history of political apathy blamed on the country's relative prosperity, Asian respect for authority and the campus politics ban imposed in the 1970s to squelch radicalism. But more than five million of the 13.3 million registered voters are under the age of 40 — up 31 percent from previous 2008 polls — and over two million are first-time voters. "The Malay youth vote is critical," said Ibrahim Suffian, head of polling group Merdeka Centre, referring to the Muslim Malays who make up about 55 percent of multi-ethnic Malaysia's people. He said high youth turnout could "dilute" support for the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, which has ruled with a tight grip since independence in 1957 but faces a strong opposition vowing to end authoritarianism and graft. The Internet is the battleground in what premier Najib Tun Razak in February called Malaysia's "first social media election". Malaysian Facebook users have surged from 800,000 during the 2008 polls to 13 million, or nearly half the country's population of 28 million. They have among the world's most extensive "friend" networks and also are prolific Twitter users.
Biting reports
A host of independent news sites also have emerged in recent years as political agenda-setters, with biting reports on alleged Barisan corruption and other abuses. "The Internet is playing a central role in spreading information and sparking debates," said Ooi Kee Beng of Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. "The young started thinking: This is our country. We can't just leave it to the old guard. Maybe we know better." Denied access to government-controlled traditional media, the three-party opposition learned long ago to get its message out online in a country where smartphones are essential accoutrements. Campaigning heavily on the Web, it seized a third of parliament in 2008, tripling its share in its best showing ever, with prominent bloggers winning seats. "We lost the social media war. We were almost not there (in 2008)," said deputy higher education minister Saifuddin Abdullah, a leading Barisan reform voice. Since then, the opposition has ramped up its online presence, catering to the growing Internet news media and recently launching live streaming of press briefings and political rallies and a smartphone app to track campaign events. It has also has reached out to youths who surveys show are increasingly upset with the quality and cost of education, and with job prospects. It pledges to liberalise campuses, forgive some student debt and implement free primary-to-university education. Scrambling to catch up, Najib, 59, who took office in 2009, is active on a Twitter account followed by more than a million users and has two Facebook pages and a blog. Najib lifted a decades-old ban on university students joining political parties last year, though political activity on campuses remains outlawed. He also is dangling student loan discounts and other youth handouts and has worked to project a young image, inviting fans to watch televised football matches together and appearing at recent pop concerts. Cybertroopers are work Meanwhile, legions of cybertroopers attack the opposition online. Khairy Jamaluddin, leader of Barisan's youth wing, said his organisation alone has 6,000 volunteers working to get the Barisan message out online. "We can do a political talk and speak to maybe 1,000 or 2,000 people, but we post it on Facebook and within an hour 20,000 people have seen it," Khairy said. Grainy videos and photos also have emerged online claiming to show Anwar Ibrahim and other opposition leaders in sex acts, which they have called fakes aimed at smearing them. Barisan officials deny involvement. |
| NS DAP loses MB seat by default Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:00 PM PDT 
By fielding only Chinese and a few Indian candidates, DAP has lost its opportunity to suggest an MB for the state because it does not even have one single Malay candidate for the entire state?
Concerned Negeri Voter Seeing the crowd in ceramah in Negeri Sembilan is very exciting and if they transfer into votes it will be good for PR as they can at least maintain the status quo held previously of having 16 state seats to BNs 20 seats. The difference is just 4 seats which had 4 years of time to prepare and plan to take over the state.
Perhaps PR in Negeri Sembilan jumped too soon with their Halilintar ke Putrajaya Program in 2010 which was led by Chegubard and created massive energy within people in Negeri Sembilan to start warming up to 13th General Elections.
But today the Energy of Chegu Bard is missing and Khairy has lost a formidable opponent and is going to have an easy way in Rembau. It was Chegubard's war cry to go against Khairy's Parliament seat in every election. We are not privy to the internal tussle going on within PKR which is upsetting many people in Negeri Sembilan and the latest being Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Bahrain standing in for the Ampangan state seat just to fill up the post of MB if PR wins Negeri Sembilan. This has forcefully upset the good doctor who was caretaker of the Ampangan seat which was promised his until the last minute. They had 4 years to prepare and what a mess it became when it was a free for all contest on 20th April Nomination Day.
We do hope PR will sort out its PKR issues to pave the way for a strong Goverment in Negeri Sembilan if it wins.
Our main concern is DAP's involvement in deciding the MB of Negeri Sembilan. DAP had 10 seats in the previous DUN and a lion's share of deciding the direction of the state. So why didnt DAP choose its own candidate for MB? Does not DAP want to have a Menteri Besar in other states other than its own Chief Minister in Penang? Knowing the state rules that only a Malay must become a Menteri Besar.
By fielding only Chinese and a few Indian candidates, DAP has lost its opportunity to suggest an MB for the state because it does not even have one single Malay candidate for the entire state?
DAP is not bereft of Malay candidates. ASPAN ALIAS is a Blogger and goes to all ceramahs and has been convincing Malays all over the country that DAP is not a Chauvinistic Chinese party but also accepts Malay. He is a strong figure and a famous blogger in Negeri Sembilan. Giving him a sure win constituency would have ensured him a place as a Menteri Besar contender. You can still read his blogs on how upset he is regarding DAP's snub and its token Malay candidate sprinkled here and there all over Malaysia.
Other than ASPAN, there are also some prominent Malays in DAP Negeri Sembilan such as Lawyer Rosli and others.
This was DAP's good chance but it blew it without a proper strategy for the state of NS. Perhaps the DAP Mindset is always an Opposition mindset not willing to change according to its UBAH call? Perhaps DAP wants to be on constant antagonism with the Malay population and is not able to accept Malays into its fold, especially when there are Malays who have walked into DAP's fold even withstanding the stigma it will cause for them.
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| Zulkifli Noordin: Kissing and the Bearer of Dirt Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:51 PM PDT 
I suspect the what Zul brings to Selangor (the place where Teoh Beng Hock's blood was shed) is dirt. Dirt he gathered during his days in PAS and PKR. Write2rest I have previously written about Zulkifli Noordin, the people's choice in 2008 for Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kulim Bandar Baru. Like his Master Ibrahim Ali in the Malay Superiority Movement Perkasa, Zul is a party-hopper.
In May 2008 he won on a PKR (opposition, "justice" party) ticket; prior to joining PKR, he had been a member of PAS (opposition, "Islamic" party). In February 2010 he was sacked by PKR and became an independent because he couldn't tow the party line on the Allah issue and he constantly criticized the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng.
In May 2013 he's running for the office of Member of Parliament in Shah Alam under the banner of Barisan Nasional (BN), the alliance of race-based parties which worship Umno.
Zul likes to present himself as a spokesman for Islam. He does this by wearing a Haji hat and spewing untruths and half-truths about those who differ from him and about those who are not Muslims. You can read my expose of Zul's ignorant rants about the Bible here.
Zul has been an M.P. for 5 years, brandishing his own version of Islam – which does often seem like the official Umno-Government of Malaysia version of Islam.
Zul is a lawyer who has no respect for the law: he opposes the judgment of the High Court in the Allah case, just like Umno-BN does. The Constitution of Malaysia is, to him, no more than a hammer to smash into pulp those who disagree with his personal opinions.
Zul is in the news again: this time for being kissed by an alleged Hindu. Zul is in bed with Hindraf, a group which claims to be the voice of Hindus in Malaysia. The person who arranged the liaison is the leader of Umno, the chief idol of the regime which rules Malaysia.
The story of the Zul kiss is particularly relevant because of the emergence of a video clip in which Zul mocks the idols which are so central to Hindus. You can read about it here.
Our honourable Prime Minister – who has just returned from yet another pilgrimage to Mecca – appealed to the Zul-kiss as evidence that Indians have now warmed up to Zul. (The "1Malaysia" PM is still unable to distinguish between Indians and Hindus.)
Our PM says Zul's his man and should be ours too. According to Malaysiakini, the PM said Zul has vowed to take care of the welfare of Indians in the constituency into which he has been brought by Umno to stand against the incumbent, Khalid Samad (PAS).
In a column titled Reject Zulkifli Noordin in The Malaysian Insider, Uthaya Sankar SB, a Media Professional and Political Analyst, wrote that Zul is a racist, fanatic, ethnocentric, and ultra busy-body who busies himself with disrupting other religions and races (in Malay: rasis, fanatik, etnosentrik dan ultra kiasu serta menghina agama/kaum lain.)
After urging the people of Shah Alam to vote against Zul, Uthaya went on to say:
"I also urge Malaysians of all races to "punish" the MIC (the Malaysian Indian Congress, a member of Najib's alliance) which has failed to effectively represent Indians despite constantly beating its chest and claiming to fight for Indians. Every vote for an MIC candidate is the same as a vote encouraging politicians who attack Indians and Hindus. If you don't punish such offenders, they will continue to do as they please without any concern about the sensitivity of the people."
I agree with Uthaya, and I go further. I ask: why is Zul the Prime Minister's choice for the constituency of Shah Alam?
Even Umno members must be wondering why, since Zul has not even signed up as a member of Umno.
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| Pakatan Rakyat is the Best Rebranding Political Entity In The World Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:42 PM PDT 
There is not much differences between the Anwar Ibrahim in the past compare with Ibrahim Ali today. Shen Yee Aun Anwar Ibrahim
Both Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh fought the hardest against Anwar when he was still in UMNO back then. In 1997 even Karpal Singh are the one that brought up Anwar Sex Sodomy Scandal in the Parliament. The Chinese is angry with Anwar to transfer a Malay school headmaster to replace a Chinese headmaster in the Chinese school. The Indians is angry with Anwar for his remarks to claimed that he will destroy the Hindu Temple prayers bell. The non-Malay is angry with Anwar for uplifting the Supremacy of the Malay language over Mandarin and Tamil in our country when he changes Bahasa Malaysia to Bahasa Melayu and introduces bahasa Baku in our country. He was also 1 of the most extreme Muslims and Malay in the country political history. There is not much differences between the Anwar Ibrahim in the past compare with Ibrahim Ali today.
The moment UMNO sacked Anwar, he was being warmly welcome by both PAS and DAP . All his entire sins in the past is forgiven. They say this is the new Anwar and now he is Pakatan Rakyat Choice of Prime Minister.
An UMNO reject stock became Pakatan Rakyat hero overnight. (Pakatan Rakyat Rebranding / Recycle Paper)
Chua Jui Meng
He was 1 of the longest serving MCA leader serving in the cabinet. He was rejected twice by MCA grassroots when he contested for MCA Presidency. After he was being rejected by MCA he decided to quit and abandon MCA to join PKR.
Overnight the so called country dog and betrayer of Chinese by PR Supporters end up became PKR Vice Chairman and Johor PKR Chief and now again he is the candidate for PKR at the age of over 70 year old.
An MCA reject stock became Pakatan Rakyat PKR Johor saint overnight. ( Pakatan Rakyat Rebranding / Recycle Paper) Read more at: http://1sya.com/?p=5660 |
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