Isnin, 17 Jun 2013

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


Thai Buddhist monks criticized for lavish behavior

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 01:15 PM PDT

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2013/06/17/li-thaimonk.jpg 

(WKRN) - The images from the video contrasted with the abbot's message on the temple's homepage that read: "The true core of those who preach Buddha's teachings is to not to own any objects at all." 

Thailand's Buddhism body said it is monitoring monks nationwide for any inappropriate behavior after a video showed monks using luxurious personal items while flying on a private jet.

The YouTube video showed one of the monks was wearing stylish aviator sunglasses, carrying a luxury brand travel bag and sporting a pair of modern-looking wireless headphones. It attracted criticism from Buddhists nationwide.

Office of National Buddhism director-general Nopparat Benjawatananun said Monday that the agency saw the video early this year and had warned the monks from a monastery in Thailand's northeast not to repeat the lavish behavior.

A country with the world's largest Buddhist population, Thailand has attempted to help Buddha's 2,600-year-old doctrine stand the test of time through a variety of means, including banning the sale of alcohol on religious holidays. The efforts, however, are sometimes tainted by the Buddhist monks themselves.

Read more at: http://www.wkrn.com/story/22615400/thai-buddhist-monks-criticized-for-lavish-behavior 

Asean ministers to discuss haze problem

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 01:03 PM PDT

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2013/6/18/nation/asean-minister-haze-n03.jpg 

(The Star) - Ministers from several Asean countries will meet here to discuss ways to tackle the return of the haze to the region and the likelihood of it worsening due to the hot and dry weather.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivelsaid he would chair a meeting on Aug 20 with his counterparts from Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand.

"We will also study several proposals on early fire detection mechanisms through satellite technology and a fire danger rating system," he said yesterday.

He said the National Haze Action Plan would come into action where key departments and agencies would move to handle the fires depending on the different alert levels based on the Air Pollutant Index (API).

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin said the ministry was mulling over cloud seeding if dry weather persisted.

Satellite images from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre revealed that hot spots in Sumatra had increased from 46 on Friday to 136 on Sunday, while 113 were recorded as of 8.30am yesterday.

The air quality in Malaysia, however, has improved slightly, with four places recording unhealthy levels yesterday compared with six on Sunday.

The API readings showed unhealthy levels for Balok Baru (110) in Pahang and Kemaman (121) in Terengganu with other parts of the country reading good to mode- rate levels.

Under the air quality index, readings of between 0 and 50 are classified as Good, 51 to 100 (Moderate) 101 to 200 (Unhealthy), 201 to 300 (Very Unhealthy) and 300 and above (Hazardous).

In Kuala Terengganu, the levels in Paka were 92 and Kuala Terengganu at 70.

In Nusajaya, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the state government would keep the people posted on the matter if the situation worsens.

In Penang, state Environment Department director Datuk Hassan Matsaid the API levels on the is-land was 53 yesterday, while visibility in Bayan Lepas, Prai and Butterworth stood at between 9km and 10km. 

Eroded moral values – children not to blame

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:45 PM PDT

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Children are exposed to a lot of negative inputs and need more vigilance on the part of the adults responsible for their upbringing and education, but the opposite is happening. 

Ravinder Singh, FMT 

Justice Zamani Abdul Rahim who recused himself from hearing a case in the Penang High Court concerning a young man's insulting behaviour towards the Queen was quoted as having said: "I am worried about the younger generation today…I am worried because the younger generation does not respect older people… The Chinese should respect the Malays, and the Malays should respect the Chinese, the Malays should respect the Indians, and the Indians should respect the Malays and Chinese… Saya risau apa yang akan berlaku kepada cucu saya, cicit saya (I am worried for what will happen to my grandchildren)", (Star, June 15,2013).

Well, I couldn't agree more with the feelings of the honourable judge on the question of the moral values of the younger generation. He is not alone in having these feelings. However, the voices of those who are worried about this problem in our society are very few, and they are not the voices of those in authority to do something about it. So their cries remain voices in the wilderness, even though they are very true.

It is ironical that those who have the power to make changes to bring about the inculcation of moral values in our school children in an effective way are in denial mode of the situation spoken of by the judge, i.e. eroded moral values of our younger generation. They see no discipline problem in our schools. They see no relationship between indiscipline in the schools and indiscipline among the younger generation of adults. So they don't want to hear about it, let alone talk about it seriously.

They are blind to the fact that what behaviour children are allowed to practice in school is the behaviour they will practice in adult life. For how long are they going to keep on bluffing themselves that there is no discipline problem in our schools, and trying to make the nation believe their bluff? The Education Review Blueprint that was prepared by so-called experts last year does not say a word about the prevailing discipline situation in the schools, why it happened and how to remedy it. Why this total avoidance of a problem that lies at the root of character development in early childhood, that determines the character of children entering adulthood, that determines the character of a nation? Who is to blame for this situation? How did the erosion of the good moral values of the 50s and 60s happen?

The erosion did not happen like a landslide and the children did not bring it upon themselves. So children, even those who have grown up and become indisciplined adults, must not be blamed because they have not known better behaviour right from childhood.

Some 20 years or so ago a case was reported in a local newspaper of a teenager who told his crying parents in court that they should not cry for him but for themselves. He had been found guilty of being violent and causing bodily injury to someone, and sentenced. He told his parents that he had grown up to be violent because they had not corrected his violent behaviour when he was small. In other words, he was saying that as a child he did not know it was wrong to hit someone, but when he was doing it they had failed to stop him and help change his behaviour. So he grew up doing what he had been doing as a child and believing that was the way to live life.

These words must have hit the parents like a bolt, but they were very true words. In another case, there was this 20 something, big sized young man who had got into a teacher training college. The first time he entered a certain lecturer's class, he was wearing very dark sunglasses. The lecturer asked if he was having sore eyes. He answered 'no'. Then why was he wearing dark glasses? Nonchalantly he said he had always been wearing them for the past 3 years at his previous workplace and no one had said anything. Where was he working? Supervisor at a construction site.

The lecturer told him that that job was under the blazing sun while now he was in an air-cond room with dark tinted window glasses and curtains. It was rude to be wearing dark glasses in a class unless he had sore eyes. He took off the glasses, but with resentment. It was observed that after this the student only took off the glasses in this lecturer's class and not in the others' classes. Reason: the other lecturers' had not bothered about this guy sitting in their classes with the dark glasses on. So much for inculcating moral values in our institutions of learning!

If you do not teach a child to know right from wrong from a very young age, the child will absorb whatever is around him as he simply does not know right from wrong. He does not have a built-in filtration system that will keep the bad out and allow only the good to pass through and be absorbed. Repeatedly practicing what he has picked up, be it language or physical behaviour, internalizes it in him. Once internalised, it is very difficult to change. So the bad must be recognised by the adults as soon as the child starts showing it and removed immediately, even if need be by a smack or two. The adults who should do this are the parents and teachers.

Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/06/18/eroded-moral-values-children-not-to-blame/ 

The Opposition’s new mandate

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:28 PM PDT

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In moments like these, it is easy to hate the arbitrary nature and high-handedness of the ruling government too. This is all the more the case when the ruling establishment, once again, is showing signs of attempting to remain in power on the sly. 

Nurul Izzah Anwar 

Thousands of Malaysians voted abroad during the 13th general election. Many more returned from Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, London and Taiwan, traditionally places with large numbers of Malaysians, to exercise their right to suffrage on May 5th.

This is a peculiar phenomenon.

Why do Malaysians who have found greener pastures abroad feel compelled to return to the country to cast their ballot? This certainly goes against the thesis of Albert O. Hirshman — who argued in a famous treatise in 1970 that when people have the chance to leave, they will, especially if they have found the entity to be increasingly dysfunctional and inefficient.

Malaysia, or rather its government, over the last few decades, has certainly manifested such features.

Concurrently, those who decided to 'stay back' would attempt to improve the country by voicing out. Be that as it may, those who have left the country are not expected to express their voices anymore let alone to vote. Yet, vote they did.

The quick and short answer to the above phenomenon is that they care. Indeed, not only do they care about the future of their immediate and extended families still in Malaysia, but they care about Malaysia, period.  

And that is where Malaysia draws its greatest pride from — Malaysians and their sense of belonging, of camaraderie.

Beyond caring, they also know, through their collective exposure in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, if not as far away as United Kingdom, Japan and Australia, that Malaysia has been back-pedaling, especially on issues like corruption and crime let alone in building a vibrant democracy.

Take corruption, for example. The national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio at 54 per cent, it is one per cent shy of the constitutional limit; and this figure is a conservative estimate. When one lumps in the debt of the government linked companies (GLCS), often with the element of corruption still at work, the ratio is easily in the range of the mid-70s.

While many do not like to use the B word (i.e. bankcruptcy), the next generation is expected to foot the financial profligacy of the present one. Malaysians abroad share the same concern and anxieties with those at home.

Not surprisingly, up 75 to 85 per cent of the voters abroad, almost without fail, voted for the opposition according to exit polls.

Like the 51 per cent of the people in Malaysia, they chose to throw their lot with Pakatan Rakyat, this despite the fact that Pakatan Rakyat did not have any offices or representatives outside the country.

In fact, one may even wonder if they did so purely to register their disgust with Barisan National, rather than due to any objective attachment to Pakatan Rakyat; a trend that was discernible across all racial groups in urban areas from 2008 onwards.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/the-oppositions-new-mandate-nurul-izzah-anwar/ 

Election law amendments top Private Member's Bill proposals

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:26 PM PDT

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(fz.com) - Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians have lined up a series of Private Members' Bills on various matters including reforming the Election Commission (EC).
The first session of the 13th Parliament which convenes on June 24 is expected to see a number of Private Members' Bills on electoral reform and custodial deaths tabled.
 
Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians who have been relentless in their push for electoral changes have lined up a series of Private Members' Bills on matters such reforming the Election Commission (EC) and cleaning up the electoral role.
 
Second-term Klang MP Charles Santiago is expected to table a bill calling for the removal of Section 9A of the Elections Act 1958 which stipulates that no changes can be made to the electoral roll after it has been gazetted.
 
The provision was introduced after an Election Court invalidated the 1999 general election result for the Likas state seat following an election petition filed by Parti Bersekutu's Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh.
 
The court ruled in favour of Harris after it was proven that the EC did not hold a public inquiry after a voter filed an official objection over the inclusion of "questionable" names in the electoral roll, and the police had not investigated reports lodged against the dubious names.
 
"It is related to the case we took up against the EC but the case was thrown out because of Section 9A," Charles toldfz.com, referring to the case of Dinesh Siva Kumar.
 
About one month prior to GE13 on May 5, ajudicial reviewwas filed at the Shah Alam High Court by Dinesh to remove his name from the electoral roll as he had never applied to be a voter.
 
"We wanted to prove that people who didn't apply to become voters were in the gazetted electoral role but after (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) changed the law in 2001 and included Section 9A - the names are there to stay," said Charles.
 
Charles said  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was aware of the need for electoral reform  
 
"But when Najib talks of reform of the EC by putting in under the purview of Parliament, it puts its legitimacy into question – he recognises that there is a problem but he thinks the solution is to put the EC under Parliament.
 
"But this is not enough. Parliament must withdraw Section 9A to give the commissioners powers to remove doubtful names… but the current commissioners must also go," he stressed.
 
Charles said his Private Member's Bill would be ready for inclusion in the order paper midway through the first sitting which is expected to continue until mid-July.

Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/election-law-amendments-top-private-members-bill-proposals#ixzz2WXDljwX3

 

Pakatan's seats allocation conundrum

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:18 PM PDT

http://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/Resources/Images/Teachers/Teachers-Image-139-X280.JPG 

Forming a single unit of Pakatan campaign managers is crucial for the pact to remedy what had happened prior to GE13 on matters of seat allocations. 

Kuo Yong Kooi  

What has clearly emanate through before GE-13 to a political observer was that the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat were squabbling over their "territorial seats". Once the seats were allocated to that particular component party, the task of allocating the right candidates for the squabbled seats were then given to their own party boss(es).

In a situation where there are disputed seats between component parties, last minute meetings was held to remedy a situation where there are not enough time to print election leaflets and campaign materials, let alone do the campaigning. This is a clear case of lack of cohesion amongst the top brass of the component party members on deciding over the seat allocation matters.

PKR meetings with PSM over those disputed seats was dragged till the last days before nomination day. This process and practice of seat allocation need to stop immediately.

Forming a single unit of Pakatan campaign managers is crucial for the pact to remedy what had happened prior to GE13 on matters of seat allocations.

The questions of who is the right candidate to run at a particular constituency should be dealt with in a total "free and frank" atmosphere amongst the "Pakatan seat allocation strategists". 

Potential candidates should be chosen and agreed upon by the "team" as early as possible to allow time for the potential candidates to immerse themselves in their electorate. This is to avoid the parachuting candidates practice which can cause backlash from disgruntled potential local candidates and their followers. Parachuting candidates might be acceptable in urban electorates but is a disaster if applied to the rural constituencies because the "Balas Budi" culture is still strong in rural areas.

Eric C Thompson in his article GE 13 and the politics of urban chauvinism;  http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/ge13-and-the-politics-of-urban-chauvinism-eric-c.-thompson/  noted that in rural district of Selama, Perak, voters rejected a PAS candidate whose main qualification was that he was the son-in-law of the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. He had been nominated by PAS amidst significant protests and at the expense of a local PAS leader with deep local roots. Hadi's son-in-law lost by a little over 600 votes. 

The same can be said when Pakatan sidelined PSM in the Jelapang and Semenyih seats. Although Pakatan has the upper hand in decision making, their actions caused a fatal rippling effect on the election result elsewhere. 

PSM do have members around the country. No matter how small they are, every vote counts. BN won a paper thin margin of 80 votes in the seat of Cameron Highlands. PSM has got a local member working at the Cameron Highlands constituency for many years. I am sure some PSM members and sympathisers there did not turn up to vote or at worst voted against Pakatan because of what Pakatan did to PSM during the seat allocations negotiations.

Giving the individual component party boss(es) the overriding power of allocating candidates on the squabbled territorial seats is a "disaster waiting to happen". The particular party boss(es) have the potential to act according to their personal interests above the party's and national interest.

Azmin Ali allocated seats to all his henchmen and discarded PKR president Dr Wan Azzizah is a classis example of how the seat allocation strategy adopted by Pakatan has failed us. If a team of Pakatan election strategists is involved, the team has to agree (unanimously or by majority) that Dr Wan Azzizah is definitely a winnable candidate. It does not matter which Party she belongs to, a seat is to be allocated for her on that merit alone is a clear way out of this conundrum.

The team of election strategists effectively acts as a buffer to a potential concentration of a power block lead by an individual who oversea the seat allocation matters. 

If blogger Raja Petra Kammaruddin assertion is true about Azmin Ali's possible defection to the BN camp then Malaysia will be in deep trouble because BN might just have the two third majority needed to sail through the delineation process due at the end of this year. 

To Azmin Ali's credit, this has not happened yet but that do no strike out the plausibility of future defections lead by a high profile Pakatan leader with his/her team over to the BN camp. That thought alone send shivers to the spine of Pakatan supporters.

There are no legislation against party hopping in place at the moment. That gives further impetus for Pakatan to reconsider their seat allocation strategy.

On hindsight if a Pakatan "war room" team existed long before the GE-13, Azmin Ali would need to convince the team that Dr Wan Azizah is not a winnable candidate. Azmin Ali would also need to discuss with the team on S Arulchelvan's candidacy in the Semenyih seat. The team would have easily decided on choosing Arulchelvan on the basis that he is 100% defection proof. He was and still is loyal to the Pakatan cause. Unfortunately Azmin Ali had shown to defy this logic.

PAS President Hadi Awang would not have been able to act unilaterally to field his own favoured candidate in Kota Damansara which forces a three cornered fight and cause a Pakatan seat loss.

The tussle of who's right to nominate the Selangor Mentei Besar is another example indicative of Pakatan's need to form a cohesive collective unit to deal with matters electioneering.  The Menteri Besar matter would have settled by the team long before the campaign commences. The decision were made collectively based on merits not based on which party wins the most seats.

Kuo Yong Kooi 

Listen! Listen! Listen! ; MCA, MIC and Gerakan parliamentarians

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:16 PM PDT

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Dear MCA, MIC, and Gerakan Parliamentarians,

Reference : This may be your last chance to stay relevant.
Your political parties are now gasping for some extra oxygen and are lying on the death bed. All dying souls have to go through the process of flashes of images of our past experiences in this life. Our conscience will come and haunt us, we will be asking many questions; "Have I lived a good life?". "Why there are so many people abandoning me in my hour of need?" or "What have I done to deserve this?"

If I were in your shoes, I will act according to my conscience to redeem myself so that I can die a good death with a clear conscience. What is the best thing that I can do now to revive my fortunes? Is there anything that I can do for the national interests, instead of personal interest?.

Yes MCA, MIC and Gerakan parliamentarians this is probably your last big chance to stay relevant. When the parliament convenes, you can cross the floor of our Parliament and support or help the "rebel" East Malaysians block in tabling a motion of no confidence on the current Prime Minister Najib Razak. If there is no motion of no confidence tabled, initiate one and you might be a hero. This is the only way to teach the Najib administration to put a lid on UMNO's mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia and Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali, Mahathir Mohammad and Zul Nordin. Their racial slurs have gone too far and for too long. 

The Najib administration will start to take you seriously if you decide to vote according to your conscience on bills tabled on the parliament. They will have to consult you and will start to give you some respect.

You might be able to change your fortunes if you are willing to cross the floor and support the opposition on some matters. The community you represent will be happy to see that you've finally turned over a new leaf. They might even come back to vote for you in the next general election.

Central committee MCA member Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan was quoted to have said "Since we are aiming to change and win back the support of the younger generation, we should elect younger party leaders who can better connect with them".

Mr Ong is barking at the wrong tree. Getting support back from the younger generation by electing younger party leaders does not necessarily give new life to MCA. If you behave the same way as before you might as well consult a Taoist priest to set a funeral date for MCA.

Doing the right thing for the national interest is one possible way to salvage the party from oblivion.

MCA Young Professional bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong has been quoted, "I urge all the NGOs and parties to stop making accusations and snide remarks. All of us should work together with the Government in its efforts to enhance nation-building and reconciliation plans. Education should not be used as a weapon for one's political interests."

You guys with big job titles have always been saying the right thing ever since I was old enough to read newspapers. Listen! Listen! Listen!.....my head has gone bald now, when are you going to do the right thing for the national interest? Najib Razak has been saying the right thing on national reconciliation and one Malaysia for the last four years. Has he done anything on national reconciliation yet?

Make some gutsy moves in the parliament. If after the motion of no confidence on Najib Razak sails through, support the motion to elect Tengku Razaleigh as the Prime Minister. Listen! Listen! Listen! that is the definition of "doing" the right thing for the national interest.

Continue to give unconditional support to your political master UMNO will hasten your death. That was the main reason why you are near your death bed in the first place. Giving conditional support might be a possible avenue for you to turn the situation around. 

You are to head towards a possible electoral annihilation anyway come GE14. You might as well leave with a bang or would you prefer to leave where people come out to celebrate your passing?

Article related to this theme 
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/56659-ku-li-as-pm

Kuo Yong Kooi

ROS wants proof of vote counting mistake during DAP polls

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:06 AM PDT

(Bernama) - The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has asked DAP to present proof of mistake during vote counting at the Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections.

Registrar Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said this was to determine whether it was due to a computer glitch or cheating.

"We are still investigating and one of the major issue is the votes received by candidates in the party elections," he said in a statement on Monday.

DAP reportedly admitted that a mistake was made during vote counting for CEC elections last December and blamed it on technical error.

Abdul Rahman said ROS had to issue a statement to inform the public on the progress of investigation to avoid manipulation of facts such as contents of the ROS letter dated April 17, 2013.

"This act is unethical. ROS must investigate more carefully to avoid the manipulation of facts," he added.

On April 18, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claimed he received a letter from the ROS dated April 17 that DAP was not empowered to issue appointment letters to party candidates using the rocket symbol at the general election as the ROS decided not to recognise the election of CEC members.

Abdul Rahman said all members interviewed wanted DAP to hold fresh elections, adding that the ROS had no intention of cancelling DAP's registration.

 

TMI staff leave to start new venture

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 10:25 PM PDT

(fz.com) - Nearly 26 staff, including managing editor Joan Lau and executive editor Leslie Lau have left The Malaysian Insider (TMI), Marketing-Interactive.com's Advertising and Marketing (A+M) portal reported today.

This confirmed a report by fz.com on June 12 that TMI staff were walking out on the five-year-old news website to start a company that will run the rival web portal of The Malay Mail newspaper.
 
Sources had told fz.com then that the move, was triggered by increasing differences between the TMI editorial team and its financiers on its editorial direction, especially during the run up to the May 5 general election.
 
This, combined with very persistent wooing by the people behind The Malay Mail group, finally led to the collective decision to leave. The news was first reported by www.fz.com on April 23.
 
When contacted by A+M, TMI editor and CEO Jahabar Sadiq confirmed the departures.
 
"They left to pursue better opportunities and TMI is in the process of finding replacements. The editorial direction however remains the same," he said.
 
Joan, who served her last day on June 14, told A+M: "We had different editorial opinions and direction. Rest assured we'll remain non-partisan in news reporting."
 
Leslie, commented about the departure on Twitter saying, "All the editors of @tm_insider had planned our departure but one decided to stay at the last moment. I wish him all the best."
 
Joan then explained about the company she has set up with her brother Leslie.
 
"Leslie and I set up an independent company called the Trinity Diligent and we secured an outsource contract to manage and provide editorial content for The Malay Mail online. My team (other 25 staff and three freelancers) will be working on that from now on," said Joan.
 
She also denied the speculation that the staff walked out on their last day.
 
"I wouldn't call it walking out as Friday was already our last day," added Joan, who started her career at TMI when the commenced operations in February 2008, just before the 12th Malaysian general election.
 
Joan said operations in The Malay Mail online would kick off June 17.
 
Meanwhile, TMI is left with one sales person and five staff in editorial.  


Federal Court blow to Kayveas, wife

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 08:04 PM PDT

(Bernama) - Lawyers Datuk Seri M. Kayveas and his diplomat wife lost their appeal at the Federal Court in Putrajaya today to set aside an Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board's decision which found them guilty of misconduct and fined them RM5,000 each.

A five-member panel led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria unanimously dismissed their appeal and upheld the board's decision.

"The breach of the undertaking and stakeholding by the appellants (Kayveas and Datin Blanche O'Leary) were clearly conducted in a professional capacity that amounted to grave impropriety," said Federal Court judge Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha who delivered the judgment.

He said it was undoubted that Kayveas and Blanche, who were partners in the legal firm Blanche Kayveas & Co, were guilty of misconduct under section 94 (3) of the Legal Profession Act 1976.

Kayveas, who is also People's Progressive Party president, and once a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, and his wife, Datin Blanche O'Leary, the High Commissioner designate to Papua New Guinea, were said to have breached the terms of entrustment as stakeholders in a RM2 million property sale and purchase transaction between two companies.

The other judges on the panel were Federal Court judges Datuk Hashim Yusoff, Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Hasan Lah. In the judgment, Justice Tan disagreed with Kayveas's contention that he was not complicit in the breach of the agreement. He said there was not a strand of evidence that Kayveas was not complicit or was not at fault.

"In a partnership, an undertaking given by a partner in the course of practice binds all the partners. A partner remains liable on undertakings given while he was a partner, even after he has left the firm or the firm is dissolved."

"The complaint of the Bar Council was against the partners of Blanche Kayveas & Co," said Justice Tan, adding that "no fault" was not a plausible defence to misconduct.

Justice Tan said it was beyond argument that a stakeholder is a trustee and that breach of a stakeholding term was not just a breach of undertaking but also a breach of trust, adding that failure to honour an undertaking was prima facie evidence of professional misconduct.

Both Kayveas and Blanche were ordered by the board on March 17, 2005 to pay the penalty to the discipline fund. The Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal on Dec 12, 2011.

 In their submission, the couple contended, among others, that the Court of Appeal failed to consider that there was no element of dishonesty on their part.

Kayveas who contested the Pasir Bedamar state seat in Perak in the 13th general election, lost to DAP's V.R.Terence Naidu by a 13,037 vote majority.

 

Dr M: The posts of president and deputy president in Umno should not be contested

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 07:12 PM PDT

(The Mole) - Former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Umno's top two posts should not be contested to avoid internal party squabbles.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the nation's fourth prime minister said even though the president and deputy president post should be contested in the spirit of democracy, Malaysians do not really understand democracy.

"If (they) lose, they will withdraw themselves and form another party which will break Umno. I support contests but if there is a contest, Umno will break into two," he was by Utusan Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir said currently there are three Malay-based parties and it may be four if Umno splits into two up, before it eventually breaks up.

"Other posts can be put up for contest but there is no need for the top posts to be so," he said after launching a book called The Prisoners' Diaries by Puan Sri Norma Hashim at Perdana Leadership Foundation on Monday.

Prior to this a blog post at Another Brick in The Wall have stated that having the top two posts not to be contested in Umno will only be seen as a cheap attempt at self preservation of power.

The Mole had previously reported political analysts have described that the proposals by some Umno leaders that the posts of the president and its deputy are not contested, is not reflecting the party's spirit of democracy.

Several Umno leaders have said that the position of president and his deputy, currently held by Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin respectively, should not be contested.

They argued that it would bring disunity among members.

Kedah Umno had also reportedly supporting the proposal that the top two posts in the party should not be contested in the elections this year.

 

Numbers game in Ku Li as PM plot

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 07:00 PM PDT

In 2008, DAP and PAS committed their support for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to be PM, only Anwar Ibrahim and some BN MPs stood in the way. 

Hawkeye, FMT

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah did not initiate the discussions between him and several MPs from Sabah and Sarawak.

In fact, according to "individuals privy to the proceedings", it was the MPs who mooted the meeting. They formed an informal delegation to seek advise from the veteran Umno leader.

It was "just a chit-chat" veered towards the possibility of combining resources to impress upon other MPs that time is ripe for a leadership change.

A breakaway from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat styled politics was also seen as necessary to ensure the country regains its path as a progressive nation.

The "individuals" said Tengku Razaleigh is seen as an eminent statesman regardless of what his critics may say about the 78-year old Kelantan Prince.

It is therefore only natural for some politicians to seek his input on how the country's future is shaping up, especially those from Sabah and Sarawak who feel slighted that their states were overlooked in the federal cabinet line-up.

The "individuals" who declined to be named due to the "sensitive" nature of the issue, confirmed that among the matters discussed was the filing of a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak when the 13th Parliament session begins its first sitting next week.

This is where the numbers game come in.

It is uncertain if Tengku Razaleigh can muster the magical number of 35 MPs from Barisan Nasional  to join him.

It is also uncertain if he is able to coax the 89 MPs from Pakatan Rakyat to agree to such a proposal.

'Drama' a warning?

If Tengku Razaleigh has 124 MPs behind him then the motion could be filed, debated and put to vote in Parliament as it quantifies more than half of the House.

There are 222 elected parliamentarians in Dewan Rakyat and BN under Najib have 133 MPs in the house.

Some insiders opined that the whole 'drama' could just be a signal from some MPs for Najib to re-evaluate the current political scenario and to govern better.

They said it "may not" represent a concerted effort to oust Najib.

Among the issues raised is Najib's ability to lead.

The many concessions given to the Chinese and their rounded rejection of BN in the recently concluded general election, corruption, raciasm as well as lagging development in Sabah and Sarawak has left observers mulling over his leadership ability now seen as "weak".

Then there are also references to the young voters (aged 40 and below) who will soon become the bulk of the voters in the nation's electoral list before 2020.

Tengku Razaleigh's aides meanwhile are pessimistic over any bid to move a no confidence motion against Najib.

They believe most Umno MPs may not support the no-confidence proposal, as many did not want their party further weakened when it already has to deal with a frail BN.

Neither, is there a clear signal from Pakatan on whether they will support it.

READ MORE HERE

 

Indonesia’s SBY concerned about Malaysia’s alleged electoral fraud, says Anwar

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 06:42 PM PDT

(MSN News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed concern about the alleged fraud in the Malaysian general elections and the impact of Saturday's Black 505 rally on the country, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said last night.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed concern about the alleged fraud in the Malaysian general elections and the impact of Saturday's Black 505 rally on the country, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said last night.

The PKR leader told the Black 505 rally in Batu Pahat, Johor, that Yudhoyono (commonly referred to as SBY) had invited him for a briefing and confirmed he did not meet Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was also in Jakarta this past weekend. "There was no previous communication between me and President SBY and I took care to watch the Malaysian government's 'face'. I know TV3 and Utusan will spin a story about me being a foreign stooge," Anwar told the crowd that packed the rally.

"But what is important is that President SBY wanted to know what was happening in Malaysia and issued the invitation due to the increased coverage by the Indonesian media. The feeling there is that the electoral fraud committed was excessive and if it had happened in Indonesia, there would have been a revolt," he added.

The opposition leader also pointed out that other international groups were also concerned about the results of the May 5 general elections where Najib's Barisan Nasional won 133 seats, seven less than in Election 2008. Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat took 89 seats in the 222- seat Dewan Rakyat.

"The European Parliament has passed a resolution to put off signing a Free Trade Agreement with the Malaysian government until all the fraud allegations have been investigated. "Turkey fails to understand why Pakatan which won 51 per cent of total votes cannot form the federal government."

"And President SBY, wants to know how did the fraud take place. Where can our leaders hide their faces," Anwar said.

He also said the Indonesians also wanted to know what would happen on June 22 when the Black 505 rally takes place in Padang Merbok in the heart of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. "June 22 is very critical. Everyone, from orang kampong (village folk), to fishermen, farmers and most important of all young Malaysians must come.

"The world, just like Indonesia, is watching.

"Is there going to be a protest. Is it true the people want to clean up the electoral system. Is it true they want to plug up all the weaknesses?

"If we succeed, then God willing, I am sure June 22 will mark a turning point in Malaysia's cruel political landscape," the 64-year-old former deputy prime minister said.

Anwar also told the Malaysia Chronicle portal that he did not meet Najib or had communicated through "messengers". The Malaysian Insider reported that both leaders were in Jakarta for the weekend after plans were made for a possible meeting for national reconciliation.

Anwar insisted there could be no reconciliation until concrete steps were taken by Najib to clean up the system.

"I told President SBY we are not virgins, we know the importance of stability to national security and to the economy but to wait until the next general election to push for change... we might as well wait till Judgment Day as there is no way for any party to mount a fair challenge and win, not with the current Election Commission (chiefs), who are not deserving of their high office," Anwar added.

 

In search of a successor (UPDATED with Chinese translation)

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 05:49 PM PDT

Therefore, for all intents and purposes, it was Dr Mahathir who appointed Najib as the Deputy Prime Minister and not Pak Lah who did so. Pak Lah did not 'confirm' Dr Mahathir's announcement until the following day. Pak Lah really had no choice in the matter after Dr Mahathir had publicly 'thanked' him for 'agreeing' to appoint Najib as the Deputy Prime Minister.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

It appears like we will not be seeing a contest for 'number one' and 'number two' this coming Umno general assembly. Of course, this is not the first time this has happened. Since the historic 'Team A' versus 'Team B' tussle of 26 years ago -- when the Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-Musa Hitam team took on the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-Ghafar Baba team -- Umno has not tolerated any contest for the top two posts.

This is mainly because of two reasons. Firstly, the 1987 contest split Umno into two and resulted in Umno getting deregistered (followed by the fall of Kelantan in the 1990 general election). Secondly, the President and Deputy President of Umno will become Malaysia's Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively. Hence Umno would not just be choosing its top two party leaders but the top two leaders of the country as well.

No doubt this 'no contest' ruling can be considered as technically illegal because all party posts should be open for contest. But then Umno's 'system' allows for the party's supreme council to make rulings that are final and that cannot be challenged in court or overridden by the Registrar of Societies. Therefore democracy can be suspended for the sake of 'stability'.

This may appear strange and even undemocratic to the uninitiated. However, Malaysia is full of contradictions and these contradictions have been accepted as necessary for the sake of 'peace and stability'. I mean, while the Federal Constitution says that there is freedom of assembly, the police can still arrest you for organising and attending an 'illegal assembly'. And while the Constitution says you cannot be detained without being informed of your crime and that you must be brought before a magistrate or released within 24 hours, you can still be detained without trial and without legal representation for an indefinite period of time.

Many say that Malaysia does not allow freedom of speech or freedom of assembly and so on. I would disagree with that, though. Malaysia does allow freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. It is freedom AFTER speech and freedom AFTER assembly that you do not have. Hence you do have freedom to do what you want to do. It is whether you will still enjoy this freedom after you do it that is the issue.

Anyway, many think that the 'no contest for number one and number two' is aimed at saving Najib Tun Razak. They think that to allow a contest would mean that Najib might be challenged and would possibly be ousted. I have a deep suspicion that this is not about saving Najib but about saving Muhyiddin Yassin.

If there is a contest for number one and number two, two things may happen. One would be that Muhyiddin takes on Najib. Muhyiddin might win or he might lose. However, taking Malay sentiments into consideration where challenging the boss is seen as biadap (insolent), the chance of Muhyiddin losing is stronger than the chance of him winning.

The second scenario would be that no one might challenge Najib but someone might challenge Muhyiddin instead. And if Muhyiddin loses, then Najib would be very secure and unshakable -- as the only alternative for successor, Muhyiddin, would now be out in the cold.

That is a risk they would not like to take. And you cannot say that the number one post is open to challenge while the number two is not. Either both posts are open to challenge or both are not. So better they do not open any of the posts to a challenge, just in case.

Their main worry is not so much about Muhyiddin taking on Najib (in fact, many are hoping he would). If Muhyiddin does take on Najib that would mean the number two post would now be 'vacant' (since Muhyiddin is going for number one) and it would be open season for the number two post.

Let's say Muhyiddin takes on Najib and wins. Najib would now be out and Muhyiddin would become the new Prime Minister. That would mean Malaysia no longer has a Deputy Prime Minister. But who is going to become the new Deputy Prime Minister, one of the three Vice Presidents? Bloody hell, you know who they are, right?

That is the crux of the matter. Who is going to take over as Deputy Prime Minister if Muhyiddin takes over as Prime Minister? That is a thought that is sending shivers down the spine of the behind-the-scenes 'kingmakers'. Hence it is a risk they would not like to take.

They faced this same dilemma when Dr Mahathir handed the reins to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah) on 1st November 2003. For 15 months from mid-2002 Dr Mahathir and Pak Lah hammered out a deal on what will happen once Pak Lah takes over. And one of the terms of this deal was that Najib would be appointed the Deputy Prime Minister.

However, once Pak Lah took over, he dragged his feet and refused to confirm Najib as his Deputy. It was not until Dr Mahathir put a gun to Pak Lah's head that Najib was appointed the Deputy Prime Minister on 7th January 2004 -- more than two months after Pak Lah took over as Prime Minister. 

Pak Lah's choice for Deputy was actually Muhyiddin and not Najib. Najib was Dr Mahathir's choice. But Dr Mahathir shoved Najib down Pak Lah's throat and he (Pak Lah) was powerless to say no mainly because the 'Old Man' publicly announced Najib's appointment even though Pak Lah had not said anything.

Therefore, for all intents and purposes, it was Dr Mahathir who appointed Najib as the Deputy Prime Minister and not Pak Lah who did so. Pak Lah did not 'confirm' Dr Mahathir's announcement until the following day. Pak Lah really had no choice in the matter after Dr Mahathir had publicly 'thanked' him for 'agreeing' to appoint Najib as the Deputy Prime Minister.

That was basically the beginning of the end for Pak Lah. Dr Mahathir realised that the 15 months of 'sorting out the issues' from mid-2002 to 1st November 2003 between him and Pak Lah was a deal gone sour. After that Pak Lah cancelled the Crooked Bridge, the Double-Tracking Project, and so on. That further infuriated Dr Mahathir.

The straw that broke the camel's back was on midnight of 2nd September 2004, a few hours after Anwar Ibrahim was released from jail on the charge of sodomy. Unknown to most, Pak Lah's son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddiin, sneaked into Anwar's house through the kitchen to meet Anwar. This meeting was arranged by the then PKR Youth Leader, Ezam Mohd Nor.

When I found out about this clandestine meeting I immediately wrote about it in Malaysia Today and the next morning there was a lot of brouhaha when Umno demanded an explanation. Pak Lah then explained that Khairy went to meet Anwar to hand him his international passport.

But Khairy was not the Minister of Home Affairs or the head of the Immigration Department. So why should he go to meet Anwar to hand him his passport? Nevertheless, Umno gave Pak Lah the benefit of the doubt, never mind how incredible the explanation may have sounded -- until the following day when The Star published a photograph of Anwar going to the Immigration office to collect his passport.

Pak Lah had lied. Khairy's midnight visit to Anwar's house was not to hand him his passport, as what Pak Lah had said. The Star had revealed this lie. Hence what was the purpose of Khairy's visit?

Later it was revealed that Pak Lah was in discussion with Anwar, through Khairy, for his (Anwar's) return to Umno. Pak Lah knew that Dr Mahathir was after his balls and he thought that an alliance with Anwar (if Anwar returns to Umno, of course) would be the sensible strategy to adopt.

Pak Lah admitted that there actually was such a negotiation. However, since Umno was bitterly opposed to this move, he had no choice but to abort the plan -- and Anwar went on to become the de facto head of PKR, and the Opposition Leader in Parliament in September 2008, four years after he was released from jail.

And is this why Najib allegedly met up with Anwar in Indonesia, a meeting that was allegedly arranged by Pak Lah (and a story that has been denied)? Does Najib know that his time is up and he, too, is seeking an alliance with Anwar to fend off any possible onslaught from Dr Mahathir?

Well, that issue will have to be addressed in part three of this series -- so stay tuned.

************************************ 

寻找接班人

所以说,一开始就是老马把纳吉钦点为副首相的,而不是伯拉。伯拉并没有第一时间站出来确定老马的发言,是直到第二天他才那么做的。伯拉他根本就没得选,因为老马已公开地'感谢'他'委任'纳吉为副首相了。

看起来此届巫统党选大会中我们将看不到第一把交椅和第二把交椅之战。这当然并不是第一次发生的,自从26年前巫统那场AB队之战后(东姑拉扎利和慕沙希旦对垒敦马和嘉化巴巴),巫统就再也不容许任何领导位竞争了。

这背后是由两个原因的。第一,1987年的那一场竞争把巫统给分裂了而搞得被吊销执照(再来的就是他们在1990年失去了吉兰丹政权)。第二,巫统主席和署理主席将会直接成为大马正副首相,所以说巫统不只是选他们党内的领导而已,他们也在选着国家领导。

毫无疑问的,这个'不得参选'的规则其实是犯法的,因为基本上所有党职都应该公开地被竞争。但巫统的'系统'是允许党内最高理事会立定规则而其规则是连法庭或注册局也不能推翻的。所以说,在'安稳'当前民主也是必须让步的。

这可能看起来很奇怪,甚至是不民主。无论如何,马来西亚是充满矛盾的,而这些矛盾都会被视为能维持国家的'安定繁荣'而被接受。我的意思是,虽然说宪法赐予你集会的权利,但警方还是可以因你策划和参加'非法集会'而逮捕你。虽然宪法也说一个人不能再没有被告知他犯了什么错的情况下被逮捕,和这个人被逮捕了以后一定要在24小时内会面法官或被释放,但你还是可以再没有被审讯的情况下遭无限期地扣押。

很多人都说在马来西亚你没得自由地发言和集会,我对这一点感到不赞同。在马来西亚你是可以自由地发言和集会的;你没有的是发言以后和集会以后的自由权。所以说你可以有自由去做任何东西,但当你做完那些东西以后你还有没有那个自由权那就不得而知了。

话说回来,很多人都认为这个'不得参战'规则主要就是要用来救纳吉的。他们想如果没了这条规的话那纳吉有可能会被挑战出局。对我来讲,我认为这规则是为了要救慕尤丁而不是要救纳吉的。

如果说这规则被撤走的话,那有两个情况会发生。第一,慕尤丁会挑战纳吉,他有可能会赢或输。但是你要记住,马来人一般都视挑战你老大是件很无礼的事情,所以他输的机会会大过赢。

第二个情况是没有人挑战纳吉,但可能会有人挑战幕尤丁。如果他输了的话,那纳吉可说是固若金汤,因为纳吉唯一的接班人慕尤丁已经出局了。

这是个他们不愿冒的大险,但与此同时你不能说第一把交椅不能被竞争但第二把交椅则能。这两者都必须同时被公开竞争的,所以对他们来讲更好的选择是两者都不公开。

他们最大的忧虑不是慕尤丁去挑战纳吉(事实上很多人都希望慕尤丁那样做);如果慕尤丁真的那么做的话那就代表第二把交椅是放空的,所以很多人都能够去抢。

就然我们当慕尤丁去挑战且赢了,那现在纳吉会出局而他就会接手首相一职。这同时也代表大马的副首相一职悬空了,请问你要谁来顶上呢?那三个副主席的其中一人吗?你应该都知道他们是谁吧!

这就是问题的所在,慕尤丁上位的话那副首相会是谁呢?这个问题使那些幕后的'造王者'都不寒而颤,所以说他们绝不敢冒此大险。

这些人在0311月老马把职位交给阿都拉(伯拉)时也遇到了同样的问题。在这之前的15个月里他俩就不停地谈判,而其中的一个条件是当伯拉上位后纳吉必须是他的副首相。

问题是,伯拉上位了以后他足足托了两个月还不愿意宣布纳吉是他的副手,直到老马把枪抵在了他的脑袋后纳吉才在0417日宣布就职。

伯拉的心水人物其实是慕尤丁而不是纳吉,纳吉他是老马的人选。老马硬把纳吉往伯拉喉咙塞进去,而伯拉他根本就什么也不能做;老马他一早就对外宣布纳吉是副首相了,虽然说伯拉他一直都没有说话。

所以说,一开始就是老马把纳吉钦点为副首相的,而不是伯拉。伯拉并没有第一时间站出来确定老马的发言,是直到第二天他才那么做的。伯拉他根本就没得选,因为老马已公开地'感谢'他'委任'纳吉为副首相了。

这基本上就是伯拉收山的开端;敦马这时就开始了解那15个月的谈判已经变质了。伯拉尔后取消了多个计划,如弯桥,双轨列车等等,这更把老马给惹毛了。

压垮骆驼的最后一根稻草终于在0492日发生了。就在安华被释放的数个小时后,伯拉的女婿,凯利,在通过当时公正党青年团长伊占Ezam Mohd Nor的安排下漏夜前往安华住所,偷偷摸摸地绕过厨房和安华会面。

当我得知这一次的秘密会面后我第一时间把它写在MT上,第二天早上真的是平地一声雷,所有的巫统人都要伯拉做出解释。伯拉当时给出的解释是凯利只是把国际护照拿给安华而已。

凯利当时根本就不是内政部长或移民局的人,为什么会需要他把护照拿给安华呢?虽然如此,巫统还是姑且接受了伯拉的解释,即使那个理由是这么的牵强;直到第二天,星报刊登了一张照片,照片中显示着安华他亲身前往移民办公室领取他自己的护照。

伯拉他的谎言被星报拆穿了,凯利根本就不是什么拿护照给安华。那凯利的目的又是什么呢?

谜底最终被揭开了,伯拉的目的是要通过凯利和安华开会来讨论安华回归巫统的事情。伯拉知道老马追他追得很紧,他以为如果他和回巢的安华联手的话那这是个很不错的策略。

伯拉他亲口承认他们之间的确是进行了谈判。无论如何,在巫统的强烈抗议下,伯拉被迫放弃这个计划-----安华过后成为了公正党的实权主席,然后再在他出狱的四年后成为了国会的反对党主席。

这就是为什么(根据报导)纳吉要(通过伯拉的牵线下)在印尼和安华会面的原因(他们都否认了这些报导)?纳吉他可知道当他去寻求安华的合作来对抗老马时,他的死期其实已近了?

好的,今天到此为止,以上的问题下期自有分解,敬请期待。

Anwar denies meeting Najib secretly

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 03:45 PM PDT

(The Edge) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has denied that he is in Indonesia for a secret meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Sinar Harian reported.

The PKR de facto leader confirmed, however, that he met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss several matters including the May 5 Malaysian polls, the daily said.

The Malaysian Insider news portal had reported that a Najib-Anwar meeting had been in the pipeline over the past week, apparently as Najib was certain that his position as Umno president would be challenged in the party polls set to be held by year's end.

According to the report, Anwar's meeting with the prime minister was to have been arranged by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is seen as close to leaders from both sides of the political divide.

But Anwar denied that any such meeting had been arranged although Najib was also reportedly in Indonesia yesterday.

There have been reports of political manoeuverings against Najib with a few MPs from Sabah and Sarawak as well as others having approached veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, complaining that they were unhappy with Najib's cabinet appointments and the administration's future.

Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, was said to be trying to get enough numbers to be elected the prime minister when parliament commences on June 24.

Sinar Harian quoted Ibrahim Suffian, executive director of pollster Merdeka Centre, as saying that Najib's position as prime minister is secure, especially after leading BN to victory in the May 5 election.

"With the people's trust in him, his position is difficult to be shaken," he said.

He added that it was unclear if Najib's popularity increased or decreased after the election. That however has marginal impact on his standing with the Malaysian public, he added.

The daily also quoted UKM political science professor Shamsul Abadi Mamat as saying that Najib (in comparison to Razaleigh) might be hard to push aside and has influence to be reckoned with.

"Ku Li is an Umno veteran but Najib has his own influence and he is young. Therefore, maybe he has better ideas for Umno," he said when elaborating about the possibility of Ku Li challenging Najib. 

 

Golongan muda Cina tidak hormat Melayu sebab rasuah, kata Musa Hassan

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 03:34 PM PDT

Md Izwan, TMI

Bekas Ketua Polis Negara (KPN) Tan Sri Musa Hassan menyifatkan golongan muda masyarakat Cina tidak menghormati orang Melayu kerana mereka menerima rasuah, sambil menggesa Putrajaya supaya serius memerangi isu rasuah sekiranya mahu menghentikan sentimen tersebut berlarutan.

Musa dilaporkan oleh akhbar Utusan Malaysia berkata apabila orang Melayu terlibat dalam rasuah, masyarakat Cina akan melihatnya sebagai satu bentuk pengkhianatan kerana menjual hak kepada orang lain.

"Generasi muda Cina membenci rasuah.

"Apabila orang Melayu rasuah, mereka mengganggap seperti menjual hak kepada orang lain dan akibatnya mereka tidak menghormati orang Melayu," kata Musa yang dipetik berkata dalam Utusan Malaysia di "Forum Rakyat:Melayu Islam Bersatu?" hujung minggu lalu.

Isu rasuah merupakan perkara pokok yang sentiasa menjadi permasalahan dalam pentadbiran kerajaan pemerintah Barisan Nasional (BN), kedudukan Indeks Persepsi Rasuah Malaysia (CPI) menurun untuk beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, walaupun kedudukan Malaysia bertambah baik pada tahun 2012 menjadi negara ke-54 di dunia, indeks antarabangsa masih meletakkan Malaysia di bawah negara-negara Afrika seperti Rwanda (50) dan Botswana (30).

Baru-baru ini, seorang wanita  Cina telah ditahan Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) dengan kerjasama Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial PDRM kerana dikhuatiri telah menghina DYMM SPB Yang DiPertuan Agong di laman Facebook-nya.

Siasatan dijalankan di bawah Seksyen 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998 dan juga boleh didakwa dibawah Akta Hasutan 1948.

Keputusan pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) baru-baru ini juga turut dikaitkan dengan sokongan peningkatan sokongan pengundi Cina kepada pembangkang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) sehingga menyebabkan Barisan Nasional (BN) walaupun berjaya kekal sebagai kerajaan pusat, hanya memperoleh 133 kerusi Parlimen berbanding 140 pada Pilihan Raya 2008 lalu.

Malah, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak juga secara terbuka telah menyalahkan masyarakat Cina apabila menyifatkan keputusan PRU13 sebagai "Tsunami Cina" sejurus selepas berakhir pilihan raya.

READ MORE HERE

 

New system for Umno polls

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 02:39 PM PDT

This is to ensure only eligible Umno members can elect grassroot committee and supreme council members. 

(Bernama) - Umno will be using a card scanner system to determine the eligibility of party members in the election process this year.

Umno executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh said the system will be introduced at branch and divisional elections.

The system, he said was initially confined to the supreme council election during the Umno annual general assembly later this year but it would now be introduced at the grassroot level.

"This is the first time that the system will include the divisional and branch level following the amendment to the Umno constitution on the party election process.

"The system is to ensure that only members who are eligible can attend the meetings to elect the grassroots committee and supreme council members," he told reporters here yesterday.

According to him, the party would go on a roadshow to all the states to explain to members how the new system works.

Earlier, Abdul Rauf and Umno election committee chairman Tajol Rosli Ghazali gave a closed-door briefing on the new system to more than 5,000 Perak Umno members at Dewan Jubli Perak here.

Meanwhile, Perak Umno liaison chairman Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the encouraging turnout by members from 1,700 Umno branches was a good sign in preparation for the party's annual general assembly and branch and divisional elections.

The Umno supreme council had earlier fixed July 15 until Aug 31 for the meetings at branch level while the dates for divisional meetings and the annual general assembly would be based on feedback received by the roadshow team.

 

PKR needs new strategies?

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT

PKR must strive to consolidate its position and enlarge its membership base while it devises new plans on how to lead an assault on BN.

Amir Ali, FMT

One of the major tools used by Barisan Nasional in the recently concluded (or not) 13th general election was the government controlled media, so called the mainstream media (MSM) and it damaged Pakatan Rakyat's chances in remote areas.

What the citizens in townships and cities across Malaysia have is the internet as the alternative to the MSM, but that too has showed its limits to a certain extent, since it cannot reach those who are not virtually connected.

In the remote areas in Sabah, Sarawak and in the peninsular villages plus the areas where Pakatan is not allowed to campaign such as the Felda areas, the internet does not seem to be as popular as the local TV1, TV2 and TV3 plus the 4,5,6,7,8,9 and 14 which were also abused during the electoral period.

Then we have the penetration powers of Utusan Malaysia, the Star and other MSM newspapers which were in full support of BN, demonising Pakatan in the process and not giving the opposition any chance to present its criticism of the government or its projects for a better society.

All through 2012, the opposition had problems penetrating the villages in several states and it was an accepted fact among Pakatan elements that this would hurt their chances of gaining more seats in Parliament.

PKR was even more aware of the problem, knowing that it could not depend entirely on PAS and DAP was in an even worse situation with regard to Malay majority areas in the villages.

PAS, as it was proven during the 13th general election, was in competition with PKR and DAP in many seats and went to great lengths to ensure that some Pakatan candidates fail to get elected altogether.

The hope among these PAS elements was that by doing so, they would kill PKR-DAP's chances of getting more seats while they would help their party get more seats at the federal level.

With such an attitude, it is comprehensible that PKR elements on the ground in many areas felt difficult to penetrate some of the darkest and most pro-Umno territories.

PKR and Pakatan had little problems in getting the support of the urban folks and that they will do even better in 2013, but the real problem was how to get the message to the hardcore, fixed deposits and diehard Umno elements.

Some students, in their efforts to enlarge the scope of Pakatan' penetration, tried to enter the Felda and other kampung areas but were chased off by Umno reps. Their leaflets and Buku Jingga were seized.

At times, the authorities were roped in to stop the students and activists from distributing opposition literature in the remote areas, at least as claimed by Pakatan.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar mengadu kepincangan p’raya kepada Presiden Indonesia

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 02:28 PM PDT

Bagaimanapun, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Susilo mengatakan beliau tidak boleh mencampurin urusan dalam negeri Malaysia.

(FMT) - JAKARTA: Indonesia enggan campur tangan urusan pilihan raya di Malaysia yang didakwa pincang oleh Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Laman web viva.co.id melaporkan Presiden Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) mengatakan perkara ini dalam pertemuan dengan Anwar di Bali tiga hari lalu.

Anwar mendakwa beliau bertemu SBY atas undangan Presiden Indonesia itu selain turut bertemu bekas Timbalan Presiden Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK).

SBY menyatakan kepada Anwar, (beliau) tidak boleh mencampuri urusan dalam negeri Malaysia.

"Saya beritahu Presiden (SBY) bahawa isu kecurangan belum selesai, tidak (boleh) dibiarkan begitu saja," kata Anwar dalam sidang media di Jakarta semalam.

SBY berterima kasih

Anwar menjelaskan SBY berterima kasih kepadanya kerana menjelaskan perkembangan pilihan raya umum di negaranya.

Bagaimanapun, Presiden Indonesia itu memberitahu Anwar ingin mendapat keterangan terkini berkait kecurangan besar pilihan raya umum itu.

"Ini sudah rahsia umum makanya saya jelaskan kepada beliau. Indonesia sahabat saya, dulu dan sekarang," ujarnya.

Anwar menjelaskan jika menjadi pemimpin di Malaysia, beliau akan membaiki hubungan dengan Indonesia.

Manakala dalam pertemuan dengan JK, Anwar  menceritakan mengenai kesukaran yang dihadapinya selama ini.

Anwar mengatakan, sepanjang lima tahun menjadi Ketua Pembangkang di Parlmen, dia tidak diberi ruang satu minit pun untuk bercakap di depan media Malaysia.

READ MORE HERE

 

Penganalisis: Tindakan Anwar tidak wajar

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 01:00 AM PDT

(Sinar Harian) - Tindakan Ketua Umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengadu tentang 'kecurangan' PRU13 kepada Presiden Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) dan bekas naib presiden Indonesia Jusuf Kalla (JK) merupakan tindakan yang tidak wajar.

Menurut Profesor Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain, tindakan Anwar tersebut hanya memperlihatkan ketidakmatangan beliau dalam berpolitik.

"Bagi saya kenapa perlu beliau,(Anwar) mengadu kepada Susilo dan Jusuf. Ini merupakan tindakan yang kurang sesuai, sebagai ahli politik yang berpengalaman beliau perlu matang," katanya ketika dihubungi oleh Sinar Harian Online, hari ini.

Dalam hal ini, beliau menegaskan supaya Anwar menggunakan saluran dan perundangan yang sedia ada di negara kita, seandainya beliau masih belum lagi berpuas hati dengan perjalanan PRU13 pada 5 Mei lalu.

"Perkara ini, (PRU13) perlu diselesaikan di dalam negara, kita ada undang-undang dan saluran undang- undang.

"Jadi gunakan saluran tersebut. Kenapa perlu mengadu kepada pihak luar?" katanya lagi.

Memetik laporan media Indonesia, VIVAnews, Ketua Umum PKR itu membuat pengakuan itu dalam satu sidang media bersama pemberita Indonesia, semalam.

Anwar dilaporakan telah bertemu SBY dua hari lalu di Bali.

"Saya beritahu Presiden bahawa isu kecurangan belum selesai, tidak boleh dibiarkan begitu saja," dakwa Anwar.

Anwar berkata, SBY turut mengucapkan terima kasih kepadanya atas penjelasan mengenai perkembangan dalam pilihan raya di negara ini.

Sementara itu menurut pensyarah Sains Sosial dan Kemanusian Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Madya Dr. Fuad Mat Jali, tindakan Anwar ini merupakan tindakan yang kurang bijak yang dilakukan oleh ahli politik berpengalaman sepertinya.

"Bagi saya ini merupakan tindakan yang kurang bijak dan sangat tidak wajar," katanya.

"Bagi saya mereka hanya mendengar sahaja, kerana kita sendiri tidak pernah masuk campur dalam urusan mereka. Oleh itu saya cadangkan Anwar menggunakan Parlimen yang akan bersidang ini untuk "mengadu" perkara ini," katanya.

Mengulas perkara sama, beliau berkata, negara seperti Australia, Amerika Syarikat dan Iran turut bergelut dengan masalah tidak pula 'mengadu' mengenai masalah negara mereka kepada negara lain.

"Hairan dengan tindakan Anwar ini, sepatutnya beliau melihat kepada kesan tindakan tertsebut," katanya.

Oleh itu, beliau menyarankan Anwar supaya memperkasakan barisan ahli parlimen pembangkang, supaya rakyat nampak akan kehebatan mereka dalam memperjuangkan hak rakyat dan bukannya banyak bermain  politik.

"Anwar seharusnya memberhentikan perkara ini, masanya telah tiba untuk Anwar mengatur strategi bagi memperkasakan barisan pembangkang.

"Dengan cara ini saya rasa PRU14 nanti, mungkin PR akan lebih berjaya," katanya.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Kluster Politik, Keselematan dan hal Ehwal Antarabangsa Majlis Profesor Negara, Prof. Dr. Mansor Mohd Noor berkata, tindakan Anwar merupakan hak peribadi beliau.

"Itu hak beliau," katanya ringkas.

Namun ujar beliau, perkara ini perlu diselesaikan didalam negara tanpa memerlukan campur tangan pihak asing.

"Selesai di dalam negara sudahlah, tidak perlu dibawa kepada orang luar," katanya.

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

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