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• ‘PKR will collapse under Azmin’
• Pakatan kept intact by sense of history and destiny
• DPM orders internal probe into aide
• DAP courts Umno veterans to blunt anti-Malay attacks
• Malay Rights v Special Position
• Election guessing game again
• PAS must purge Hasan Ali quickly
• Kit Siang has his hands full
• Ramasamy wants The Star to retract report
• Siapa Lemahkan Melayu?
• Kong not aware of rail contract award
• PKR hak milik - Anwar dan Azmin
• Don’t debate Article 153, warns Muhyiddin
• Pakatan MPs claim Umno, Perkasa twisting Article 153
• Barisan National’s early elections plan in disarray
• And the Winner is.... Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock...!!!
• No need for Race Relations Act if people behave, says Ibrahim Ali
• Perkasa: Charge people like Rev Eu with sedition
• Datuk's remand extended to Thursday
• Perang mulut seharusnya buka mata pemimpin PAS bawahan
• How we fail the Malaysian Indian poor
• Muhyiddin: Claims that aide received bribes will be investigated
• Hakisan Pantai Teluk Lipat; Mana janji Zaabar nak buat benteng pemecah ombak RM1.5 juta
• Muhyiddin: No bullying under Article 153
• Let the punishment fit the crime
• Al Sheikh Al Juburi’s Faithful Assistant & Clique
• An insignificant and irrelevant hogwash

‘PKR will collapse under Azmin’ Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:11 PM PST A pro-Umno blogger predicts doomsday for the opposition party if Azmin Ali becomes the president. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR will be doomed once its deputy president Azmin Ali takes over the top post, predicted pro-Umno blogger Anuar Mohd Nor. In a posting on his blog umno-reform2.com, Anuar said Azmin controlled party supremo Anwar Ibrahim and the latter controlled the former, "so PKR is controlled by Anwar and Azmin". He advised Umno not to make any mistakes with regard to attacking PKR or engineering its downfall as the party would self-destruct when Azmin is given the reins. Citing Batu MP and PKR vice-president Tian Chua, he said: "Once branded as a great reformist who stuck to his principles, he now prostrates before Azmin in worship." Anuar also blamed Azmin for Badrul Hisham Shaharin's defeat for the PKR Youth chief post and the wing's weakness. He also claimed that Azmin's hold on the party was growing and Anwar silences the issue by playing up the reformasi agenda among PKR members to retain their support. READ MORE HERE

Pakatan kept intact by sense of history and destiny Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:08 PM PST Contrary to Umno's wishful thinking, the opposition pact is much more than just a marriage of convenience The BN cannot win even a single Chinese-majority seat. Only the opposition matters in such seats, and doubly so if Indian and Chinese voters are treated as one voting block. DAP can easily end up as the party with the largest number of seats in Parliament. Joe Fernandez, Free Malaysia Today Most of us have become tired of hearing from Pakatan Rakyat detractors that the opposition alliance is a marriage of convenience, an unholy pact motivated solely by a common hatred of Umno, but Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak keeps singing the same tune—and ever more loudly these days. According to this theory, the marriage will not last; the pact will fall apart immediately after the next general election. It is a theory based mostly on wishful thinking and urged on by hype. And Najib, as everyone would have noticed by now, is one man who believes in hype. So he keeps on singing his signature tune, at a higher and higher pitch. If it is true that Pakatan will fall apart, he should have nothing to worry out, and does not have to sing himself hoarse. Obviously, he has yet to convince himself that he is right. If there is one factor that will keep parties together in a coalition, it is the common fear of losing power. This has been amply demonstrated by Barisan Nasional over the last 50 years or more despite there being a great deal of unhappiness within the coalition with Umno's disproportionate share of the spoils of office and power. The Pakatan parties will be no different on that score as demonstrated by their ability to hang on to power in the states now under their control. Umno's best efforts, after Perak, were not good enough to sow the seeds of division in the opposition pact. All that the hard work has yielded are a few defections to the BN-friendly camp. And this is not so surprising, given the "every man has his price" measuring rod worked out by the Special Branch for Umno. What is keeping Pakatan together is a profound sense of history and manifest destiny. All ruling parties bite the dust sooner or later, and it will be poetic justice indeed to see Mahathir Mohamad, Najib & Co jostle with each other in a mad scramble to leave the country and avoid counting the bars for the rest of their days. Umno's day of reckoning is coming sooner rather than later and the opposition alliance is geared for that challenge. They believe—and there is no reason why they should not—that they will be in Putrajaya as surely as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow. Umno, having outstayed its welcome, is not the only factor motivating and driving the opposition and giving it a sense of history and manifest destiny. But one cannot deny that this is the main factor. Adding to the worry of the Umno warlords, Umnoputras and the various varieties of sycophants and hangers-on is the fact that the party can no longer rely on political detention as a weapon to drag out its days in power. The result of the opposition leaders cooling their heels in prison under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) has often been complete disruption of any organised opposition to the ruling party. In effect, the ruling party has all these years been returned to power by default as much as by massive electoral fraud. READ MORE HERE

DPM orders internal probe into aide Posted: 27 Dec 2011 10:35 AM PST (The Star) - Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered his office to probe allegations that one of his aides received bribes. Muhyiddin said he had read about the allegation on a blog, adding he would let his office investigate the matter first. "No, I am not aware, except what I read in the blog. I will look into this and whatever is said to be linked to me, I will look into. "Until then I will will not comment further," he said, when asked by reporters about the matter during an event at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) at Puncak Alam here yesterday. The posting on the blog had alleged that one of his aides had received bribes of more than RM100,000. The blog had also alleged that aides to the Prime Minister and a deputy minister had also received bribes. The allegations, posted by the blogger on Dec 15, suggested that one of Muhyiddin's aides had been receiving "a steady contribution" from a company amounting to about RM160,000 since early last year. In the same blog post, which is the second part of a series titled Corruption within Corruption, the blogger also alleged that an aide to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had also been receiving such "contributions". Last month, the blogger also claimed that a deputy minister had been receiving bribes. The anonymous blogger describes himself as "an ordinary Joe, with flaws of a human being" and interested in reading, researching and travelling.

DAP courts Umno veterans to blunt anti-Malay attacks Posted: 27 Dec 2011 10:31 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - DAP has approached several Malay figures including at least two Umno veterans in a bid to reverse eroding support from the community after repeated accusations of being anti-Malay from the ruling party. The Malaysian Insider understands that influential bloggers Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz, who is also former Pulau Manis assemblyman and Aspan Alias, a Negri Sembilan Umno veteran, have been invited by DAP to join its ranks, with a view to contest in the next general elections. Mohd Ariff's blogging pseudonym is Sakmongkol AK47. DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke, who is informally tasked with increasing Malay support along with strategists Liew Chin Tong and Zairil Khir Johari, confirmed the duo have been approached to join the party. "We approached them but no decision has been made. But there is no condition that they must run in elections. That is a secondary concern," the Rasah MP said when contacted. Loke added that for now, the party was happy that both veterans have been publicly critical of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in their blog postings. Both attended a social media convention called "Friends of Penang" organised by Zairil two weekends ago. "We want to reach out to influential people on social media. But we are not building a cybertrooper army. Unlike Umno, we can't pay and friends can't be bought," he said but refused to comment on whether the two would be joining the party. Zairil, son of Umno's former Education Minister Tan Sri Khir Johari, was himself recruited as secretary general Lim Guan Eng's political secretary early this year in what was widely seen as a move to burnish the mainly Chinese DAP's multiracial credentials. But DAP and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders admitted in a recent report by The Malaysian Insider that Umno's attacks have hurt the opposition's Malay support base. The Malaysian Insider also reported in October that a survey commissioned by DAP showed Malay support in Penang, where it leads the state government, has dipped to 30 per cent, down from nearly 50 per cent just a few months after Lim took office as chief minister in 2008. Umno has repeatedly accused PR, especially DAP, of being anti-Malay, most recently when at its general assembly where several delegates and leaders including deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin said the opposition was anti-Malay, anti-Islam, agents of Christianisation and disrespectful to Malay rulers. Umno's newspaper Utusan Malaysia also claimed earlier this year that DAP had conspired with the Church to turn Malaysia into a Christian state. READ MORE HERE

Malay Rights v Special Position Posted: 27 Dec 2011 08:20 AM PST In this last week of 2011, we will be re-publishing selected stories carried in FMT throughout this year. We find that these stories still remain relevant in the present context. Critics accuse the Umno-led regime of spending millions of ringgit on decorative rhetoric and ceremonial reforms without making any real effort towards substantive institutional changes that would bring about compliance with democratic principles and respect for human rights and needs. Stanley Koh, Free Malaysia Today This story was posted on Jan 9, 2011, reminding the nation's leaders the warnings that the late Ghazali Shafie gave 10 years ago. We think it is still worth reminding our leaders the warnings. "There are no Malay rights since our Constitution holds dear that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law without discrimination on the basis of race and religion." That was what the late Ghazali Shafie said in a speech at the National Unity Convention in May 2001. He continued: "What perhaps has come to be regarded as special rights is the special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 153 (of the Federal Constitution). The change from 'position' to 'rights' is frightening. Who did that, I wonder? "In a plural society like ours, if the leadership was not bold and sincere enough to take corrective measures so that there would be a level playing field, then the situation would indeed be bleak and our society would be a playground for those who wish us ill." Born in Kuala Lipis, Ghazali was 88 at the time of his death in January 2010. He had a distinguished career in politics and government. Many bigots, opportunists and self-serving leaders of today will probably dismiss those remarks on the New Economic Policy as just one man's opinion. If they are ignorant of history, they may even question his authority. If Ghazali were alive and facing these critics, he would probably reply in these words, which were part of the speech at the 2001 convention: "It was Tun Abdul Razak who asked me to devise the NEP after being inspired by Rukunegara. "The NEP was the fruit of consultations among the various races in the Consultative Committee and later Parliament, who agreed to the corrective measures by invoking affirmative action." Distortions and misinterpretations In explaining affirmative action, he paraphrased Tun Abdul Razak, who likened it to the handicap system in golf, "so that," he said, "everyone could play together on a level playing field." He added: "Almost ad nauseam, it was explained that the NEP was not to make the Malay community rich but to change vocations through affirmative action. To acquire riches is the privilege of any individual and it would be contrary to the Rukunegara if the only aim was to make the Malays rich." When he spoke those words, the greed for riches through the NEP had long taken root. Distortions and misinterpretations of the policy had already divided the nation, and our so-called leaders tossed around the word "unity" only when elections were near, and they still do so today. But unity, if we take it seriously, is indeed the key to resolving the profound problems that the nation faces. Is "1Malaysia" a call for such unity? Many Malaysians do not think so. They believe instead that it is a red herring meant to deflect attention from the continuation of discriminatory policies. The thinking public does not buy all the hype about 1Malaysia that BN is pushing through the media organisations it controls. It remains an empty and meaningless slogan. And, as if oblivious of what the public is saying, 1Malaysia has become a favourite catchword among BN politicians. They tag the slogan to everything, like a chef sprinkling salt in every dish. Do they really think that Malaysians are stupid enough to believe that mere rhetoric can charm them out of their dissatisfactions? READ MORE HERE

Election guessing game again Posted: 27 Dec 2011 08:17 AM PST In our political system, the government, federal or state, may dissolve the state assemblies or Parliament at any time to allow it  to go back to the voters and put its fate in the hands of the people it claims to represent. One calls elections when it is beneficial or advantageous to do so. This is true for both state governments and Federal Government. By Zainul Arifin Md Isa, New Straits Times THE year that is ending can be remembered for a lot of things, but one that is rather significant is that, less than a week to 2012, there is not going to be a general election this year despite what we have read and heard these past 12 months. Political observers, analysts or pundits with a blog or a website or allocated some column centimetres in newspapers must have collectively put in millions of words on why the general election would have been held in the first, or second, or third or fourth quarter of the year. Some were so sure of their information that one could not be faulted for thinking that these guys were printing election posters on the side. Alas, they did not have access to the prime minister's thinking. All else, as they say, is  speculation.Yet, we lapped them all up because we love the idea of an election. Also we have been living in such a politically intense environment that we would not be wrong to conclude that an election would just be something the doctor ordered to cure us of all our ills. We did have the Sarawak  election, which Barisan Nasional won handily except for urban centres where the largely Chinese voters threw their support behind DAP. Now  analysts, observers and pundits are saying elections would be in the first quarter, just after the Chinese New Year, or early in the second quarter, next year. Many reasons were given, including the uncertainty in  the global economy, and the seemingly stronger BN  now. Well, if they keep it up, they will get it right, sooner or later. The thing about the general election is that the  opposition seems to be the most keen to have it early. Since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak assumed the premiership, they have been talking up the possibility of snap elections. They may have argued the need for Najib to get a fresh mandate, but surely their interest in  early polls was to ride on the momentum of their March 2008 performance. They also assumed, not without basis, that BN was  hurting and shell-shocked from the outcome of the 12th general election. A young opposition member of  parliament  on the radio early this year suggested that Najib should have called the election already. The reason? I am not so sure. I suppose she  liked elections. I believe, ideally, a full five-year term would be good.  At least we would make sure we do not spend too much on elections. Technically, Najib need not be rushed into calling one. He has until March 2013 before the current term lapses, and beyond that, another six months to dissolve Parliament and call  for elections. If he wants to, the prime minister could make the anticipation  of the election a grind for those keen on having it early. If he delays, the  government would presumably be stronger, especially with its transformation and economic plans coming to fruition one by one. The BN  coalition, with member parties almost suffering from a crisis of confidence post-March 2008, is  now stronger. At the same time, in the opposition grouping, held  together by a band aid of common purpose, there is now some disquiet within the ranks. There have been flare-ups between parties, as well as internally. But to their credit, they have managed to put forth a bold, united public face. After their surprise performance in 2008, the opposition's mission was to oust the present government and form its own in Putrajaya. However now, in private, the script has changed -- their mission is to keep denying BN its  two-thirds majority. DAP and Pas, for instance, seem more interested in increasing their seats and retaining the states they control. Parti Keadilan Rakyat, on the other hand, looks more like a one-trick pony consumed by the travails of its supreme leader. The conventional wisdom would suggest that the longer it takes to have the elections, the worse it would get for them. For the government, presumably, it would get better. The joker in the pack is, of course, the global economy. Troubles in the eurozone countries would have major consequences for  the global economy, and as a major trading nation, Malaysia could be affected significantly. Thus, before that happens, Najib may need to call a general  election soon. Well, that's my  analysis and punditry, not too original, I am afraid. Interestingly, the euphoria for a general election is not replicated in the states governed by either PKR, DAP or Pas. The chief minister of Penang and menteris besar of Selangor, Kelantan and Kedah have suggested that they may not be too keen to follow the federal route and dissolve their respective state assemblies together with Putrajaya. So what gives? Najib is afraid  and worried for not calling the general election quickly, but they are being strategic for not wanting to hold their state elections at the same time? If BN is stalling and clinging to power, what about them then? At the end of the day, they must have found out that governing is another kettle of fish altogether. In our political system, the government, federal or state, may dissolve the state assemblies or Parliament at any time to allow it  to go back to the voters and put its  fate in the hands of the people it claims to represent. One calls elections when it is beneficial or advantageous to do so. This is true for both state governments and Federal Government. Maybe the general election will be next year, sooner rather than later, or so say the pundits and analysts. Let us just hope that all the states, except  Sarawak, would have their elections at the same time, too. If nothing else it will spare us of endless, excessive politicking. Happy New Year.

PAS must purge Hasan Ali quickly Posted: 27 Dec 2011 08:14 AM PST Perceiving himself as 'important' PAS' Hasan Ali is an 'accident waiting to happen' because he has always done things with the hope of catching Umno's eye. He does not understand that there is a fine line between holding on to your principles because you genuinely believe in the rightness of your cause and the holding on to your 'principles' because it serves your vested interest to do so. CT Ali, Free Malaysia Today The question of how Islam as the purist knows it, and democracy as we know it, would be able to work in harmony, is one of PAS' perennial 'problems'. The practical aspects of making Muslim democracy work within the framework of Pakatan Rakyat is critical to the coalition's internal cohesiveness and by extension the coalition's ability to govern effectively should it have electoral success in the 13th general election. This is a work in progress between PAS, DAP and PKR. Although amongst a coalition of friends who are desirous of accommodating each other's nuances, there is still conflict over PAS' inherent conservatism, the uncertainty of Anwar Ibrahim's future within PKR and the cloud of perceived 'racial overtones' hanging over DAP (however undeserved it may be!) PAS' ageing but wise leadership chose to confront the opposing progressive and conservatism factions within PAS by courageously throwing themselves into the lion's den at the 57th PAS Muktamar in June this year. Where Umno and MCA choose to postpone party elections until after the general election for fear that it would adversely polarize opposing factions within their parties, PAS looked upon its party elections as an opportunity for PAS to announce its emergence as a partner within Pakatan in every sense of the word. The 57th PAS Muktamar confirmed the party's commitment to democratic principles. It allowed activists within PAS – the ulama and the progressive – to go head to head in an overt display of democracy at work. The progressive won and in so doing made PAS's engagement in national politics relevant within the Pakatan Rakyat democratic framework. Can PAS be a tolerant government? In so doing PAS demonstrated its commitment to reform while Umno remains locked in the all encompassing limitations of race, religion and the stifling and domineering control of its ageing first tier leaders or warlords whose priorities was and still is, the getting of power and the accumulation of material wealth. Can PAS govern tolerantly across community? PAS wants to build a welfare state where our basic needs of food, shelter, education, health and religious faith are intertwined. The rakyat will be empowered towards achieving these ideals within the constrains of government and the financial limitations that our country has – an inclusiveness that transcends race and religion. Those who now lead PAS are in tune with Pakatan's ideals and policies. PAS has now evolved into what Pakatan and we expect of those that are within the Pakatan coalition. Invariably within these parameters there are those in and outside PAS that find fertile ground for assent and dissent. The Hasan Ali and Nasharuddin Mat Isa issue is one that will test PAS' resolve for dissent within its ranks. It must be emphasized that we are privy to only what is in the public domain and whatever comment I make will be within these constrains. Nasharuddin lost the deputy president post to Mat Sabu because Mat Sabu represented the direction that PAS members wanted the party to take in the lead up to the 13th general election. This much is clear at face value. Is Hasan Ali an honorable man? Nasharuddin has categorically stated that he will stay within PAS and in so doing, I would presume that he would abide by the wisdom within PAS and subject himself to its 'guidance' and 'instructions' without demurring. It is now a matter of Nasharuddin being able to adjust himself to the realities of no longer being deputy president of PAS – a personal challenge that hopefully, time will resolve. Hasan is an accident waiting to happen. To quote (William) Shakespeare: "Madness in great ones must not unwatched go" Hasan's greatness is his self-perceived. He is a relic of a time long past. Politics in Malaysia today has been polarized into two distinct factions – Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. Any movement between the two is not to be contemplated by honorable and decent men. Only frogs contemplate such movement. In which case is Hasan an honorable and decent man? You do not hedge your bets in the politics of today. Those that seek to do so are deservedly shunned by both sides – unless you are a Chua Jui Meng or a Zaid Ibrahim – neither of whom Hasan is able, in all seriousness, to hold a candle to. Hasan is no Ku Li From his stand in the Selcat (Selective Competency, Accountability, Transparency) issue where he chose to break ranks with his Pakatan comrades to his recent brazen attempts at wagging the dog by appearing on TV3 with his tirades against PAS, Hasan has always done things with the hope of catching the eye of Umno. He has done these fairly insignificant sniping at PAS' inadequacies with the hope of baiting Umno for God knows what reasons. There are phrases to describe these sorts of people – none of them complimentary – and so I will desist. Maybe he is testing Pakatan and PAS claims to openness and ability to accept criticism – this would be the claim by those seeking to be kind to Hasan – but surely this can be done in ways that would not compromise Pakatan. But as I have said before, the times that we now live in are polarized into those for BN and Pakatan. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) seems to be in the middle of it all but his political pedigree has earned him the right to play the elder statesman's role for now. Hasan insists on going back to the three R's – Religion, Race and Royalty. Three issues that ANY politician will chose to gain traction within the political arena that he chooses to be in because these issues, by their very nature are divisive and will attract debate for the wrong reason. PAS members have made their stand on these issues crystal clear when they elected leaders who reject the negative aspects of race, religion and royalty. In race and religion PAS accepts and respects the right of every rakyat to follow his own inclinations. Royalty is a non-issue for those within Pakatan. READ MORE HERE

Kit Siang has his hands full Posted: 27 Dec 2011 07:49 AM PST (The Star) - While the feud in Penang DAP continues between national chairman Karpal Singh and Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, party adviser Lim Kit Siang has his hands full with another squabble blowing up in Perak. This follows the war of words between party vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran and Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming over the latter's alleged involvement in a tailoring contract awarded to his wife during Pakatan Rakyat's brief rule in the state in 2008. Stepping in to calm the simmering quarrel, the veteran Lim issued a gag order on the issue. In his tweet yesterday, Lim wrote: "Both Kula n Nga agree int. party channels x BN msm 1st resort 4 thrashing out matters affecting party leaders. Nga 2 explain 2 party leadership." The message said Kulasegaran and Nga both agreed it was an internal matter and party channels, not the Barisan Nasional mainstream media, should be used to thrash out matters affecting party leaders. Lim also asked Nga to give an explanation to the party leadership. Nga, who is Taiping MP and Pantai Remis state assemblyman, is alleged to have given a lounge suit sewing contract to Ipoh company Ethan & Elton, of which his wife Wong Seow Ching is said to be a director. Allegations on the Internet said the company was formed 42 days after Pakatan took over the Perak government in 2008. While several groups took Nga to task over the issue, Kulasegaran, who is Ipoh Barat MP, also asked him to come clean over the matter. Contacted by The Star yesterday, Kulasegaran confirmed Lim had contacted him. He declined to comment on what transpired in their conversation. In his tweet, however, Kulasegaran defended his action of calling Nga to come clean on the tailoring contract. He claimed he had not made any allegation or accusation and that his comments had been misinterpreted as an internal problem and bad blood between him and Nga. Meanwhile, Nga said in his blog he respected the party's directive and was therefore refraining from commenting on the issue. "I shall leave it to the party leaders and members to judge his (Kulasegaran's) conduct," he said. He had earlier accused bloggers of smearing his reputation, saying the accusations were slanderous, defamatory and irresponsible. Meanwhile, MCA Youth vice-chairman Yit Lee Kok said the DAP should not turn a blind eye to the claims that Nga had awarded a tailoring contract to his wife's company.

Ramasamy wants The Star to retract report Posted: 27 Dec 2011 07:38 AM PST (The Star) - Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P Ramasamy wants The Star to retract and apologise for a report on Dec 23, headlined Distress in DAP continues' quoting him. If the paper failed to do so, he said Tuesday he would file a lawsuit against the daily. He said he would send a letter of demand Wednesday, insisting he had never said there was corruption among DAP party leaders nor uttered the words "grand design" to oust him. "I deny categorically having said that," he told a press conference at his lawyer's office here on Tuesday. Continuing his salvo against the paper, he accused it of practising unethical journalism.

Siapa Lemahkan Melayu? Posted: 27 Dec 2011 07:31 AM PST NURUL IZZAH ANWAR Sinopsis sejarah negara kita jarang sekali dipapar di dada media arus perdana. Walhal kisah lampau berserta pengajaran yang disemat di hati kita semua lah yang menjadi penentu kepada kejayaan kelak. Seraya mengambil hasrat ini sebagai pembuka kata, saya lontarkan persoalan-persoalan berikut dalam meneliti liku-liku sebab-musabab kelemahan kita: Siapa yang telah memerintah negara selama 54 tahun tanpa putus dengan menggunakan undang-undang keras anti-demokratik? Siapa bersubahat dengan penjajah British menahan dan tidak berusaha membebaskan pejuang-pejuang kemerdekaan Melayu daripada tahun 1948 sehingga 1957? Siapa yang sengaja benarkan Singapura meninggalkan Malaysia pada tahun 1965 dengan mudah? Siapa lemahkan kuasa dan martabat raja-raja dengan pindaan perlembagaan pada 1993? Siapa  memberitahu seluruh rakyat bahawa raja-raja Melayu tidak relevan dan membahayakan bangsa pada tahun 1993? Siapa yang menghasut agar semua harta Raja-Raja disiasat dan dirampas pada 1993? Siapa yang melemahkan institusi kehakiman dengan memecat Ketua Hakim Negara dan meminda perlembagaan pada tahun 1988? Siapa yang hancurkan UMNO Lama yang ditubuhkan tahun 1946 dan gantikan dengan UMNO Baru pada tahun 1988? Siapa yang melemahkan kuasa politik Melayu dengan mengurangkan kerusi majoriti melayu melalui proses persempadanan semula semenjak 1999? Siapa yang memberikan kerakyatan dan kad pengenalan biru kepada warga asing dengan mudah untuk undi? Siapa lemahkan ekonomi Melayu dengan menjual RM50 billion daripada RM52 billion saham DEB semenjak 1970? Siapa serahkan dengan mudah dan murah; Pulau Batu Putih dan tanah KTM ke Singapura dan Blok L dan M ke Brunei? Siapa yang menjual tanah rizab Melayu kepada bukan Melayu dengan merubah status tanah kepada pegangan bebas (freehold) dengan mudah? Siapa yang telah menenggelamkan Bank Bumiputera Malaysia Berhad yang diwujudkan daripada Kongres Ekonomi Bumiputera pada 1965? Siapa yang memberikan lesen judi yang bertentangan dengan Islam kepada syarikat swasta tauke seperti Genting, Berjaya Sports Toto dan lain lagi? Siapa lemahkan penguasaan matematik dan sains anak melayu dengan mengubah bahasa pengantar kepada bahasa Inggeris dan setelah berbelanja lebih RM6 billion dan 8 tahun sekarang mahu mengubah balik kepada Bahasa Melayu? Siapa yang membebankan anak muda dengan hutang pendidikan tinggi melebehi RM 25 billion? Siapa yang menyebabkan peluang pekerjaan anak muda berkurangan dengan dasar pengunaan buruh asing yang membantut kadar upah di pasaran buruh Negara? Siapa galakkan harga barang naik berganda dengan membenarkan monopoli seperti Bernas dan amalan herotan pasaran yang hanya menguntungkan para peniaga berterusan? Siapa bebankan rakyat dengan kadar bil letrik yang tinggi berbanding dengan  Negara jiran yang bukan pengeluar minyak? Siapa yang bertanggung jawab meluaskan lagi jurang pendapatan dengan 'gini coefficient'  0.492 yang kedua tertinggi di Asia dimana yang kaya bertambah kaya dan yang miskin bertambah miskin? Siapa yang menjadikan harga kereta mahal dua kali ganda dengan dasar perlindungan otomotif yang membebankan rakyat dan menguntungkan industri otomotif? Siapa bebankan rakyat dengan kadar tol lebuhraya yang tinggi sedangkan kutipan cukai jalan dan saman kenderaan mampu menampung pembinaannya tanpa tol? Siapa yang membenarkan harga rumah bertambah tinggi sehinga 15 kali gaji tahunan berbanding piawaian antarabangsa dengan hanya 5 kali gaji tahunan? Siapa benarkan syarikat-syarikat gergasi merosot dan gagal sehingga hanya menjadi jaguh kampung seperti MAS, Perwaja dan Proton? Siapa yang untung daripada bakal penyenaraian 800,000 hektar tanah perladangan milik peneroka nanti dengan anak syarikat Felda yang rugi besar? READ MORE HERE

Kong not aware of rail contract award Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:16 AM PST (Bernama) - Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha says he is not aware of any multi-billion ringgit contract being awarded to a Chinese firm for the construction of the Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double tracking project (EDTP). The Ministry of Transport is totally unaware as the awarding of the contract comes under the Ministry of Finance, he told Bernama when contacted today. Kong, currently abroad on leave, said his ministry was still in the process of designing the Gemas-Johor Baru EDTP. "All I can confirm is that we are still in the process of designing. We have not done anything beyond preparing the design," he added. He was responding to a report in a news portal that a Chinese firm, Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), together with local partner Gamuda Bhd, have been awarded a multi-billion ringgit contract to build the 197-km Gemas-Johor Baru rail project. Quoting sources, the report said CRBC was picked instead of another front runner -- China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) -- for the project estimated to be worth between RM7 billion and RM8 billion, after it was put under a mid-term review in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The project includes the building of nearly 200km of parallel railway tracks, stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signalling and communications. It would also see a realignment between Pulau Sebang, Melaka and the Gemas section. The Gemas-Johor Baru sector would be the final link in the EDTP, with the other links being the Ipoh-Padang Besar and Seremban-Gemas lines.

PKR hak milik - Anwar dan Azmin Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:12 AM PST UMNO REFORM Bercerita mengenai hubungan antara Anwar – Azmin, tidak dapat tidak ia ibarat lagu dan irama – tidak dapat dipisahkan. Azmin hari ini adalah orang terkuat dalam PKR dan politik PKR sudah lebih buruk dari apa yang ada dalam UMNO. Penulisan dalam: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/46104-al-sheikh-al-juburis-faithful-assistant-a-clique menceritakan bagaimana Azmin berusaha membentuk rejim nya dalam PKR. Rejim ini dibentuk dengan memanipulasi pemilihan yang ada – catas mencantas sehingga tumbuk menumbok berlaku. Memang usaha ini telah berlaku sewaktu pemilihan PKR yang menyaksikan kekotoran demokrasi yang dibenarkan oleh Anwar Ibrahim dan Anwar Ibrahim sendiri turut mencatur pemilihan bersesuaian dengan kehendak Azmin.   Ini bukan satu rahsia di kalangan PKR. Malah ada yang berkata, UMNO jaga sahaja langkah dan jangan melakukan apa-apa kesilapan kritikal – PKR akan runtuh dengan sendiri bila Azmin mengambil alih teraju parti. Semua tahu dan semua bertanyakan kepada satu sama lain mengenai Anwar – Azmin. Malah kalau diselidiki usaha memasukkan kalangan anti Azmin oleh Presiden Parti dan anaknya turut ada tetapi tidak berjaya. Hubungan rapat Anwar –Azmin inilah yang menjadi kecemburuan kepimpinan lain – yang ada antara mereka sudah terpelanting keluar dari jemaah kepimpinan malah ada yang mengambil keputusan untuk keluar dari PKR dan menghentam PKR secara rakus tanpa strategi. Ini berlaku dalam hubungan tiga segi Anwar – Azmin – Ezam. READ MORE HERE

Don’t debate Article 153, warns Muhyiddin Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:05 AM PST He says Rev Eu's statement about Malays bullying others could cause racial tension. (Free Malaysia Today) - Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today rejected a Christian leader's allegation that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution allows the Malays to bully other Malaysians. He also said the statement by Eu Hong Seng, chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, could cause racial tension and warned against continuous debate on the subject. Eu, speaking on Saturday at a Christmas hi-tea, said Article 153 ought to cover the rights of all Malaysians, not just the Malays and the natives of Sarawak and Sabah. "When we talk of the rights of only one group, if I may suggest, that is bullying," he said. Speaking to reporters here, Muhyiddin said: "There is a reason, a rationale, behind the article. There is a history behind it." He did not elaborate, but referred to the so-called unwritten social contract that Barisan Nasional politicians are fond of citing when confronted with questions about preferential treatment of the Malays. He said the Barisan Nasional government had "done much to help everyone" and that this obligation was "sealed in the social contract". "I hope that there will be no debate on this matter as it could incite racial tension. What is already enshrined in the Constitution should not be questioned." Eu's statement provoked an angry reaction from the hardline Malay group Perkasa. It accused the church leader of attempting to instigate animosity against Malays. Perkasa's secretary-general, Syed Hasan Syed Ali, said Malaysian Christians must remember that they were free to practice their religion because of Article 153. According to his interpretation of the article, its safeguard of bumiputera rights mitigates against the community's economic discontent and thereby ensures the peace that makes free religious practice possible. The spat is the latest in a series of disputes that have lately soured Christian-Muslim relations. READ MORE HERE

Pakatan MPs claim Umno, Perkasa twisting Article 153 Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:03 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - The constitutional provision outlining the special position of Bumiputeras has been manipulated by Umno and is now being used as a weapon of aggression, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers claimed today amid growing debate on the subject. On Saturday, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng said Article 153 of the Federal Constitution is akin to "bullying" if it only protects the rights of one group. Today, several PR lawmakers suggested that Article 153 was being intentionally conflated with the concept of "ketuanan Melayu", or Malay supremacy. "Reverend Eu mentioned it should be inclusive and I think it did try to cover it (inclusiveness)," PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said today. "Fundamentally it is inclusive but has been manipulated and it is not about protection anymore but aggression." Eu's remark sparked protest from Malay rights group Perkasa and drew a denial today from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin that the provision had been used to bully any community. On Sunday, Perkasa claimed the provision kept the country peaceful, further claiming that the race riots of May 13, 1969 happened because it was not implemented properly. "This country is peaceful because of Article 153 which protects the rights of Bumiputeras who are the majority in this country. "The reverend needs to remember that Christians are able to practise their religion without worry in this country because of Article 153," Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hasan Syed Ali had said last week. Article 153 states that "it shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article." Constitutional expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari also chimed in on Sunday to say this meant "the King must also make sure that (safeguarding Bumiputeras) must not be done at the expense of the legitimate interests of other communities." Today, Khalid echoed the view and similarly noted the inclusion of the phrase "other communities." READ MORE HERE

Barisan National’s early elections plan in disarray Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST Written by Dr Lim Teck Ghee, CPI During the last few months, Prime Minister Najib Razak has been pulling out one pre-election carrot after another from his inexhaustible supply of goodies aimed at persuading the electorate to vote BN's way in the coming general election (GE). These range from indefinite postponement of the long delayed goods and services tax to financial grants and other handouts to Chinese, Tamil and Islamic religious schools as well as politically strategic groups including Felda settlers, Indian small entrepreneurs, low income communities, and imams and Kafa (religious) teachers. Najib's backroom boys must have been supremely confident that this mass saturation of money and handouts – so effective in past elections - would pave the way for a resounding victory as they plotted the timing of the next GE. Unexpected road blocks Two recent developments appear to have now derailed the BN's plans for an early election to take advantage of the 'feel good' sentiments generated by the deluge of monetary incentives disbursed under the glare of fawning media coverage. One is the spreading cloud of corruption and political irresponsibility associated with the National Feedlot Corporation's (NFC) scandal-ridden project. This is not only likely to result in Minister Sharizat Jalil's resignation very soon but is also causing consternation and reverberations among Umno's grassroots members and supporters in the Malay heartland. The arrogance and contempt displayed by Shahrizat, who received loud applause from Wanita Umno delegates for her bellicose speech, will not be easily forgotten. If the elections are called during the next several months when the cattle-gate case reaches its expected climax, Malaysians going to the polling booths will not only have indelible ink on their fingers; they will also go in with the overpowering and indelible stench of the NFC fiasco influencing their choice of parties. The other development is one which the Prime Minister's think tanks and cronies high up in the civil service must be kicking themselves over. The introduction of a new improved salary scheme for the country's 1.4 million civil servants was to be the main 'game changer' in the 13th GE. With a majority of the country's voters coming from civil servant or ex-civil servant households – perhaps 60% or more of the electorate – it is easy to understand why the roll-out of the new scheme was timed to take place just before the election. Its successful implementation would reinforce the BN's image as a government with the best interests of the civil service constituency at heart. It is possible that if given the thumbs-up by the majority of civil servants, the new salary scheme could have affected the outcome in many marginal constituencies where the civil service vote is critical to tilt in favour of the BN candidates. It is no exaggeration to say that civil service voters comprise the kingmakers in the country and that any aspiring government has to pay special attention to courting and winning this massive block of votes. Devil in the SBPA details The new public service remuneration scheme (SBPA) is to take effect in January 2012. The Public Services Commission rushed its introduction without providing full details of the SBPA key components and without adequate consultation with stakeholders. It was not surprising that the civil service trade union Cuepecs initially refused to be bulldozed into accepting what is now clearly emerging as "a half baked cake" with the icing of 7-13 percent salary increases prominently displayed but resting on a soggy base. Among the scheme's shortcomings is the lopsided salary increase that favours the top echelon. One civil servant compared the impact of the new scheme on lower and higher rank staff. According to him: READ MORE HERE

And the Winner is.... Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock...!!! Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST Wow, this is indeed an achievement for our PM Najib's golfing partner, the one and only Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock of George Kent (the water meter maker). YM Raja Petra Kamarudin exposed his plot in Malaysia Today sometime in September, 2011 (see article attached http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/34319-how-playing-golf-with-the-prime-minister-can-earn-you-billions), but our great Tan Kay Hock kept smartly quiet, allowed time to lapse so that the short memory of Malaysian Rakyat would forget while he planned and schemed his way to CRBC (Chinese Road & Bridge Corporation) which like his previous horse CHEC (China Harbour Engineering Construction) is also within the Group of CCCC (China Communications Construction Co. Ltd). You can bet your last penny that Tan Kay Hock (perhaps in collaboration with some other buddies and Daim) will not use any name of company connected to him or his family when working with CRBC for fear that his demand of RM500 million will be exposed again. Whatever vehicle is used in this contract, you can be sure that Tan Kay Hock's unseen hand is there, to grab the RM500 million (Rakyat's money); RM300 million for himself and his buddies, and RM200 mllion for Rosmah to buy that returned diamond and more luxury handbags, etc. etc. It must be made known to all Malaysians that neither CRBC nor CHEC has track record of having constructed railroads, let alone electrified double tracking rail. Based on a Google search, these Chinese companies are good for ports, harbours, roads and bridges only. But YM Raja Petra Kamarudin in his article, has said that Najib was bent on giving the contract to CHEC for his golfing partner Tan Kay Hock, come what may. Therefore, since CHEC's plot exposed by Malaysia Today, and Tan Kay Hock could not get into the good books of CRCC (the forerunner) because they know his scandalous approach, he must have got CRBC to agree to his scheme of things. YM Raja Petra Kamarudin had said, "In China, both the givers and the receivers of bribes will be sentenced to death with a bullet in the head plus the cost of bullet charged to the family of the deceased." In this case, we have to prove there is bribery involved first, and if proven, only the Chinese givers will face the firing squad, while they cannot touch our receiver (or his nominees) in Malaysia. We therefore cannot stop what our Najib wants to do for his buddy, and who cares if some Chinese givers get shot in the head? That's not our concern. Behind every cloud however, there is always a silver lining, and we the Malaysian Rakyat will have to pray hard for that silver lining to appear during the coming GE13. When and if that happens, we can review the contract in details, checking every minute payment and commitment. The new Lords of Putrajaya will take all necessary actions to put these culprits behind bars, and cancel the contract (like what Pak Lah did to Mahathir's pet project), and to reopen negotiations with the new President of China, Xi Jinping. Malaysia's name stinks in the global market where Government or semi-government projects are concerned. We have to stop this curse by promoting and assisting The March to Putrajaya. Eye M Fox ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Putrajaya contracts Gemas-JB double-track to Chinese firm By Jahabar Sadiq Editor, The Malaysian Insider December 27, 2011 A worker checks train tracks near a railway station in Yingtan, Jiangxi province March 10, 2008. — Reuters pic KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — Putrajaya has agreed to award a Chinese firm, most likely the Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) with local partner Gamuda Bhd, a multi-billion ringgit contract to build the 197-km Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double tracking project (EDTP), instead of front-runner China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), sources say. The Malaysian Insider understands the project is worth between RM7 and RM8 billion, after it was put under a mid-term review in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The Gemas-Johor Baru sector would be the final package for the EDTP, with the other sectors being the Ipoh-Padang Besar and Seremban-Gemas lines. "Putrajaya has decided on China Road and Bridge Corporation after some last-minute lobbying," a source told The Malaysian Insider. Another source said the award could be a wrinkle in Putrajaya-Beijing ties as only CRCC is authorised to tender for rail-related projects abroad. "The decision has been made and will be announced very soon," the source disclosed. Putrajaya and Beijing maintain very good political and business ties, with China taking palm oil and other commodities apart from a flow of goods being traded under the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). However, the Penang Second Bridge project has not drawn down a US$800 million soft loan from Beijing while Putrajaya has also rejected a Chinese firm's US$1 billion (RM3.1 billion) redevelopment bid for the Pudu Jail land. But the Gemas-Johor Baru EDTP has always been seen as a project for Chinese companies, the sources said. The project includes building nearly 200km of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges and cover systems such as electrification, signalling and communications. This includes a realignment between Pulau Sebang, Melaka and the Gemas section. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said in July that the Gemas-Johor Baru stretch was already in the final stage of design but declined to state if the tender would be open to foreign parties when it is completed by end of the year. He said the EDTP in the northern section was slated for completion by end-2013 and the line to Johor by 2016. There has always been great interest in Malaysia's double-tracking project as it was part of a larger Trans-Asian rail link between Singapore to China. On May 2009, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, a relatively small contractor and its Chinese partner, China Infraglobe, submitted a proposal to Putrajaya to build and upgrade tracks from Gemas to Johor Baru at a cost of RM5 billion. The Business Times reported that the project will be on a private finance initiative (PFI) basis and the plan submitted to the Finance Ministry later in June 2009 was conditional upon signing over mineral rights in Johor State. Kong said last January that the government hoped to appoint the contractor for the project this year and Malaysia is still in the midst of talking with CRCC but nothing had been confirmed yet. He also said two consultants had been appointed, a design consultant and an independent checker, to monitor the project.

No need for Race Relations Act if people behave, says Ibrahim Ali Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Putrajaya need not table a Race Relations Act to govern interaction between the communities and curb racial extremism if "everyone behaves", Datuk Ibrahim Ali said today. "If everyone behaves, if nobody touches on (Article) 153, nobody questions this and that, condemns this and that, and at the same time recognises the disparity of wealth between Malays and non-Malays, I don't think we need any additional Act. "We've lived harmoniously for the last 54 years. We faced a problem once during May 13 but after that, nothing has happened. So the system has worked well," the Perkasa chief told reporters here. The Malay rights leader blamed the rise in racial tension on the opposition's big gains in Election 2008, saying politicians were now capitalising on racial issues for political mileage. He also denied that the general election, which saw Pakatan Rakyat (PR) sweep into power in four states, amounted to a referendum on Barisan Nasional's (BN) "well-received" policies. "I still believe the people rejected Barisan Nasional in 2008 because of the weakness of (Tun) Abdullahj Badawi as a prime minister. Nothing to do with policies," the Pasir Mas MP said. READ MORE HERE

Perkasa: Charge people like Rev Eu with sedition Posted: 27 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - The authorities must charge those who question Article 153 of the Constitution like Christian leader Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng with sedition to safeguard national security, Datuk Ibrahim Ali said today. "We demand the government use the Sedition Act on anyone who makes statements like this from now on and charge them in court," the Perkasa chief told reporters today. He was referring to a statement made on Saturday by National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman Eu, who likened Article 153 to "bullying" for only protecting the rights of one group. Article 153 states that it is the King's responsibility "to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article". Calling Eu's statement "irresponsible provocation", Ibrahim said use of the Sedition Act would deter further attempts to question the provision and preserve racial harmony. Disputing the article would only lead to civil strife as it was part and parcel of an established social contract that could not be amended without consent from the Malay Rulers, he said. The Malay rights leader also cautioned Christians against repeating statements similar to Eu's in light of past controversies like the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) raid, as this would only give the impression that Christians wished to make enemies of Muslims. "We're only upholding what's in the Federal Constitution... Please don't keep provoking us on and on because it's not good for the country. And we have been patient for so long," he said. Ibrahim added that Perkasa might lodge a police report against Eu on Thursday to help protect Article 153. READ MORE HERE

Datuk's remand extended to Thursday Posted: 26 Dec 2011 11:50 PM PST (New Straits Times) - The police today obtained a three-day remand order against a Datuk who was re-arrested by Kuala Lumpur Commercial Crime police on Monday to facilitate their investigations into a RM 280,000 fraud case involving a project to operate a petrol station in Klang Valley which was reported in 2009. The complainant, a 43-year-old woman claimed that she  had met the suspect over a petrol station project in 2007 and  had been asked for RM280,000 consultation fee to help her to  get the project. Two years went by and there was still no news on the  project which prompted the complainant to lodge a police  report. The Datuk who was wanted by police for two other  cheating case in Cheras and Ipoh, had previously been remanded  for two days by Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC)  for  allegedly trying to bribe Federal Commercial Crime senior  police officers.

Perang mulut seharusnya buka mata pemimpin PAS bawahan Posted: 26 Dec 2011 03:17 PM PST Episod Hasan dan Nasharuddin membelasah PAS secara terbuka harus diambil iktibar oleh kepimpinan PAS di peringkat negeri, kawasan dan cawangan. (Free Malaysia Today) -  Perang mulut bekas Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Datuk Dr Hasan Ali dan bekas Timbalan Presiden PAS, Nasharuddin Mat Isa dengan Setiausaha Agung PAS, Datuk Mustafa Ali seharusnya membuka mata kepimpinan PAS di peringkat pertengahan dan bawahan. Jika dakwaan Hasan dan Mustafa dijadikan rujukan maka kemungkinan Hasan, Mustafa dan Nasharuddin pernah mengadakan pertemuan dengan kepimpinan Umno ada asasnya. Pada mulanya Mustafa berkata Hasan dan Nasharuddin pernah mengadakan pertemuan dengan pemimpin Umno di Hotel Le Meridien pada bulan Ramadhan lalu. Bagaimanapun Mustafa enggan mengulas lanjut berhubung maklumat pertemuan tersebut. Selepas 48 jam, Hasan pula dalam sidang media berkata sebenarnya Mustafa yang beberapa kali mengadakan pertemuan dengan pemimpin Umno. Namun masing-masing tidak mahu mendedahkan maklumat terperinci tentang pertemuan-pertemuan tersebut. Tetapi bagi mereka yang mengikuti politik tanahair dengan rapat terutama yang Pro-Pakatan Rakyat adalah tidak sukar untuk menjangka bahawa pertemuan tersebut mungkin bersangkut paut dengan agenda Kerajaan Perpaduan (Unity Government), gabungan Umno dan PAS. FMT difahamkan asalnya Mustafa, Hasan dan Nasharuddin sememangnya merupakan amat akrab dan dikatakan mendukung agenda UG. Desas desus berkata idea UG ini lahir dari Timbalan Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Haron Din. FMT juga difahamkan turut menyokong agenda UG ialah Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang; Ketua Dewan Ulama PAS, Datuk Harun Taib; Ketua Penerangan PAS, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man; Ketua Pemuda PAS, Nasrudin Hassan At-Tantawi dan Timbalan Ketua Pemuda PAS, Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz. Bagaimanapun apabila berlaku bantahan dari dalam terutama sekali apabila Musyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat meminta diadakan Muktamar Khas untuk membincangkan isu UG dan apabila Nik Aziz secara terbuka meminta Nasharuddin meninggalkan PAS jika sayang sangat kepada Umno, isu UG terus senyap. Pertikaman lidah Maka apabila berlaku pertikaman lidah dalam media apabila Mustafa menuduh Hasan dan Nasharuddin pernah berjumpa pemimpin Umno dan apabila Hasan memulangkan kata-kata, Mustafa lah yang sebenarnya pernah berjumpa pemimpin Umno maka segala dakwaan seorang blogger Pro PAS sejak tahun 2009 ada sedikit kebenarannya. Pada 5 November 2009 seorang ahli PAS bernama Abdul Rahman Abdul Talib yang juga merupakan seorang blogger yang dikenali sebagai Tulang Besi dalam sebuah posting beliau berkata beliau telah menghantar email kepada Tuan Ibrahim (Naib Presiden ketika itu). Beliau membuat aduan rasmi ke atas salah laku Nasharuddin berhubung pertemuan Nasharuddin (termasuk Hasan) dengan blogger- blogger termasuk blogger Umno. Tulang Besi juga muat naik rakaman pertemuan tersebut yang dirakam secara rahsia di dalam blog beliau. Namun sehingga hari ini isu tersebut disenyapkan oleh PAS dan apabila isu Hasan dan Nasharuddin mengeluarkan kenyataan yang seiring dengan kenyataan Umno menghentam PAS, maka sebenarnya ramai pemimpin PAS peringkat atasan yang tidak menyenangi idea UG ini tidak terkejut. Selepas isu kritikan Hasan dan Nasharuddin terhadap PAS secara terbuka mendapat liputan meluas media arus perdana, ramai pemimpin PAS peringkat negeri, kawasan dan cawangan seperti baru terhantuk kepala. Pemimpin PAS pro Umno? Golongan pemimpin ini merupakan golongan yang tidak mempercayai kononnya ada kepimpinan PAS Pusat yang pro Umno selama ini. Bagi mereka ini semua fitnah daripada blogger pro PAS dan mereka pernah mengecop blogger seperti Tulang Besi sebagai blogger Umno tetapi menyamar sebagai blogger pro PAS kerana sering melabelkan pemimpin pro UG ini sebagai pemimpin pro Umno untuk memecah belahkan PAS. Kini segala usaha "coverline" yang dilakukan sebelum ini oleh kepimpinan PAS Pusat sudah terburai secara terbuka dek kerana kenyataan secara terbuka oleh Mustafa, Hasan dan Nasaruddin sendiri. FMT merasa pelik kerana serangan Hasan dan Nasharuddin secara terbuka ke atas PAS selama seminggu itu merupakan satu kesalahan tatatertib yang besar. Jika perkara yang sama dilakukan oleh seseorang pemimpin dari Umno, MCA, MIC, PKR atau DAP, sudah pasti pemimpin itu sudah dipanggil menghadap jawatankuasa disiplin. Tindakan tegas pasti menanti pemimpin tersebut dan paling minimum akan dikenakan tindakan digantung daripada jawatan dan tugasan parti. Agak pelik juga apabila Mustafa mengetahui banyak pergerakan Hasan dan Nasharuddin berhubung pertemuan Hasan dan Nasharuddin dengan pemimpin Umno sebelum ini tetapi mengapa sebarang tindakan tidak diambil oleh beliau atau kepimpinan PAS Pusat? Setakat hari ini tidak ada sebarang tindakan disiplin atau siasatan diadakan terhadap Hasan dan Nasharuddin. Kenyataan Mustafa di FMT bahawa beliau tidak mahu memberi apa-apa kenyatan kerana Hasan dan Nasharuddin tidak lagi meyerang PAS tidak menjawab persoalan besar apakah benar Hasan dan Nasharuddin pernah berjumpa dengan pemimpin Umno. Mustafa juga berkata "No komen, biar dia kata apa pun. Kalau dia nak bercakap, biarlah dia bercakap," katanya kepada FMT pada Sabtu lepas. Perjumpaan empat mata Hasan dan Nasharuddin dengan Abdul Hadi nampak seperti tindakan formaliti untuk menutup pekung atau dalam bahasa pasar sebagai "coverline". READ MORE HERE

How we fail the Malaysian Indian poor Posted: 26 Dec 2011 03:09 PM PST Among the reasons why the Indian community is still stuck in the trenches of poverty is because the NEP was not extended to help those in the estates What we did not realise is that the Indians are not a homogenous group, but made up of different groups that came in several batches. While there are a small group of Indians who were wealthier, about 10 million of them came to Malaya as buruh kasar. By Anas Zubedy, Free Malaysia Today After 54  years as a country, it is unfortunate that a lot of non Indian Malaysians do not yet know the Indians. For example, a lot of Malaysians still do not know the difference between Punjabis and Bengalis, and in some instances in recent years this confusion has been the topic of public discussion. This goes back to the time of Independence and the formulation of our principal social engineering programme, the NEP With all due respect to the Tun Abdul Razak administration which created it, one of the main reasons why some parts of the Indian community is still stuck in the trenches of poverty are because the NEP was not extended to help those in the estates. While the NEP helped the Malays and Bumiputera out of poverty and managed to create a group of middle class Malays, it overlooked the needs of the real composition of Indians. The NEP was designed based on the per capita income of the Malay, Indian, Chinese and foreigner population. At the time, the Chinese had the highest percentage of per capita income, the Indians second, the Malays had the lowest. However, as for the Indians, because we did not understand them, we grouped all of them in one big group. What we did not realise is that the Indians are not a homogenous group, but made up of different groups that came in several batches. While there are a small group of Indians who were wealthier, about 10 million of them came to Malaya as buruh kasar. Based on the average between the incomes of the small group of middle class Indians and the larger community of poor Indians, the statistics drawn were inaccurate. It shows as if the Indians were doing okay, but in reality a big cluster of them were as poor as the Malays and Bumiputera. It is sad that because we do not really understand our Indian brothers and sisters, we have allowed their poverty problem to continue as a legacy until today. Now that our PM has vowed to address this issue, it is important that we know who they are, where they are and where they are going. I recommend a book by Muzafar Desmond Tate called 'The Malaysian Indians: History, Problems and Future'. Here are several important points from the book. As I mentioned earlier, the Malaysian Indians are not all the same, but are made up of different smaller communities. One major way the Malayan Indians were divided were the separation between Hindu and Muslim. Another thing was social division into four major class groups: '1) The elite, consisting of professionals, high government officials and senior executives in leading private firms; 2) An upper, English-educated middle class consisting mainly of government servants; 3) A lower, vernacular-educated middle class, comprising merchants, school teachers, journalists, smallholders, all largely outside government service; 4) Labourers in government  service – the PWD, medical services, railways, the docks and the municipalities of large towns – and in private employ, particularly on estates.' Tate writes that the Indian community remained highly compartmentalised as there was very little interaction between these groups, and hardly any social mobility existed for them. A large number of Tamils who arrived in Malaya during the British colonial period were drawn from the lowest ranks of Tamil society and came as contract labourers for tin mines and agricultural estates. They were 'virtually debt slaves' from the point they came to Malaya, having to work off the costs of their passage and recruitment under the contract system. Their wages were so meager that this would take them their whole term of service. Besides this large group of Tamil labourers, there was also a small group of upper-class Tamils who came by their own resources. These were men of trade, commerce and finance, and Tate writes that this upper class, though small in numbers, were very significant as they 'exerted an influence out of all proportion to their numbers'. After Merdeka, the rift between the more affluent middle class and the larger number of Indian estate workers who 'hover on the borders of poverty', continued to exist. The middle class was doing fine, dominating certain professions like law and medicine. The enrolment of children into primary and secondary schools also remained the same. But for those in the rural areas, especially in the estates, the problem of poverty seemed intractable. At the same time, the greatest shift that happened post-independence is urbanisation, which brought new social problems with it. This was the 'new poverty syndrome' of the rootless Indians in the town. While the strategies of the NEP brought growing industrialisation, the Indian workers who left the estates found that they were in no position to compete in the towns. They were uneducated and had no command of English, they lacked technical skills and were once again forced to live under squalid conditions. The NEP, on the other hand, did not extend its benefits to the estate workers. The official rationale was that these workers were employees of the private limited companies who owned the estates, and thus they did not fall under the scope of the NEP. In reviewing the Second Malaysia Plan (1970 – 75), the authors of the Third Malaysia Plan concluded that the aim of eradicating poverty in the plantation sector did not make progress. Two-fifths of the estate workers were still living below poverty levels and unemployment was high. READ MORE HERE

Muhyiddin: Claims that aide received bribes will be investigated Posted: 26 Dec 2011 03:07 PM PST (The Star) - Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said claims that one of his aides has been receiving bribes will be investigated by his office. "I will look into this. Whatever that is said to be linked to me, I will look into. Until then, I will not comment further on it," he told reporters at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Puncak Alam here Tuesday. Muhyiddin was commenting on a blogger's allegation that the aide has received more than RM100,000 in monthly kickbacks, adding that he was not aware of any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, earlier, Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the country has created about 16,000 graduates in the life-science industry and aimed to achieve 70% lecturers with doctrates, to cater for the nation's biotechnology development. He said the sector should be given emphasis, adding that it would surely bring the nation to greater heights. "This sector will definitely be among the country's main sources of income," he said at a function to launch UiTM's success in mapping the Malay ethnic genome. This was achieved by a group of UiTM researchers in collaboration with BioNexus Partners (BNP), placing Malaysia on par with other developed countries. BiotechCorp is the lead development agency for the biotech industry and has facilitated the development of about 207 BioNexus-status companies in Malaysia, with total approved investment of more than RM2.1bil.

Hakisan Pantai Teluk Lipat; Mana janji Zaabar nak buat benteng pemecah ombak RM1.5 juta Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:42 PM PST (Buletin Online) Namun, sehingga semalam 26 Disember, 2011, apabila ombak memukul pantai dan menyebabkan jalan di Teluk Lipat tinggal sekerat kerana dihakis, tidak ada walaupun satu benteng pemecah ombak sebagaimana yang dijanjikan. DUNGUN – Hakisan teruk akbat ombak besar yang melanda pantai Teluk Lipat dekat sini mendapat liputan pelbagai media. Namun, tidak ada media yang mengungkit semula janji kerajaan Umno dan Barsan Nasonal (BN) kira-kira enam bulan dulu untuk menyelamatkan pantai yang indah itu. Pada 7 April 2011, Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, Haji Mohd. Abdul Wahid bin Endut telah minta Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sektar menyatakan perancangan dan usaha yang dilakukan untuk mengatasi masalah hakisan pantai di negeri Terengganu seperti Pantai Tok Jembal Kuala Nerus, Telok Lipat Dungun, Rhu Rendang Marang dan Telok Kalong Kemaman Wahid selaku Ahli Parlimen Kula Terengganu sewaktu membangkitkan perkara itu dalm sdang Parlimen berkata, akibat ketiadaan perancangan rapi dan perancangan yang tidak betul, Pantai Tok Jembal kini semakin teruk terhakis, apabila tambak yang dibina dibuat terus ke laut ekoran pembinaan landasan kapal terbang di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Mahmud. Menurut beliau, akibat perancangan yang tidak betul, Pantai Rhu Rendang turut mengalami hakisan teruk, ekoran pembinaan pemecah ombak untuk pembinaan Pelabuhan Chendering. Katanya, kesemua itu berlaku disebabkan gangguan-gangguan yang terlalu banyak di kawasan pantai sehingga menyebabkan berlakunya tindak balas yang menyebabkan berlakunya hakisan sepanjang masa dan lebih teruk lagi pada musim tengkujuh. "Ekoran itu juga, jalan raya di kawasan Teluk Lipat di Dungun sekarang sampai sudah habis nak tenggelam, nak dikorek dan dihakis," katanya ketika mengemukakan soalan tambahan dari soalan asalnya kepada Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas. Sehubungan itu, beliau bertanya sama ada pihak kerajaan ada melakukan kajian secara menyeluruh atau tidak tentang apa juga aktiviti yang hendak dilakukan yang melibatkan pantai supaya tidak mendatangkan kesan sampingan seperti itu. Jika tidak diadakan kajian menyeluruh, ia pasti akan mendatangkan kesan sampingan yang teruk sehingga memaksa kerajaan mengeluarkan perbelanjaan besar untuk membaik pulih pantai-pantai berkenaan. "Sekiranya tiada kajian menyeluruh dan perancangan yang rapi, perbelanjaan besar yang diperuntukkan oleh kerajaan sehingga RM5 juta atau RM10 juta pun tetap juga tak mampu membaik pulih pantai-pantai berkenaan kerana hakisan tetap juga berlaku semula," jelasnya. Ekoran dari itu pada 11 Mei, 2011, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam negeri, Datuk Zaabar Mohd Adib berjanji, peruntukan RM1.5 juta diluluskan untuk membina tiga benteng penahan ombak dan ia perlu disiapkan segera sebelum musim tengkujuh akan datang. [Gambar kanan - papan tanda projek kawalan pantai; baru bermula kra-kira sebulan yang lalu, setelah pantai Teluk Lipat dirobek ombak kelai pertama musim tengkujuh tahun ini] Peruntukan segera itu, katanya, diluluskan selepas Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said dalam lawatan kerja ke daerah Dungun pada minggu lalu melihat sendiri kemusnahan pantai itu dan mengarahkan Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) menyiapkan reka bentuk benteng penahan ombak berkenaan. "Kita minta supaya JPS segera menyerahkan reka bentuk terbabit supaya kerajaan negeri dapat menyalurkan peruntukan dan seterusnya kerja membina benteng itu akan dapat disegerakan," katanya ditemui selepas merasmikan program Tenggol Underwater And Island Challenge (TUIC) anjuran Coral Malaysia Namun, sehingga semalam 26 Disember, 2011, apabila ombak memukul pantai dan menyebabkan jalan di Teluk Lipat tinggal sekerat kerana dihakis, tidak ada walaupun satu benteng pemecah ombak sebagaimana yang dijanjikan. Menurut seorang warga Dungun, Lu Chee Ann, tahun ini tidak ada sebarang kerja kawalan hakisan pantai tersebut dilakukan. Halangan 'bag pasir' yang 'kononya' cuba menahan ombak dipinggir pantai itu, katanya, adalah di letakkan dsitu pada tahun lalu (2010). "sebelum ni (2010) letak bag pasir saje, yang letak bag pasir (itu) ialah tahun lepas…..tahun ni tak buat (sebarang) benteng la….,"katanya [Gambar kiri - bag-bag pasr yang diletakkan d pinggr pantai setahun yang lalu] Justeru, PAS kesal kerana pemimpin Umno dan BN hanya berjanji dan berjanji, tetapi tidak menunaikannya. Menurut Setiausaha Majlis Tindakan DUN (MTD) Sura, Mohd Ibrahim, bukan sahaja Menteri Besar Terengganu, Dato' Seri Ahmad Said, bahkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin juga menabur janji kosong. "TPM dan MB kata hendak baiki pantai di Teluk Lipat untuk selamatkan pantai, kami tunggu,  (tapi) janji tinggal janji untuk baiki pantai, "Inilah kekuasaan Allah kepada hamba-Nya...kite mesti ingat kepada-Nya (sekiranya berjanji),"ujarnya.

Muhyiddin: No bullying under Article 153 Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:33 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) SHAH ALAM, Dec 27 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin denied today that any community had been bullied as a result of Article 153 of the Constitution as claimed by a senior Christian leader last weekend. The deputy prime minister told reporters that the clause, which charges the Agong with protecting the position of Bumiputeras, was "enshrined in the Constitution (because) there is history, there is a rationale". "That is an incorrect interpretation," the Umno deputy president said when asked to comment on National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng's claim that Article 153 was akin to "bullying" if it only protected the rights of one group. "The government's policies under Barisan Nasional (BN) have served all. Efforts to help all levels of society... are all sealed in the (social) contract that has been implemented all this while. "I hope no debate is sparked for certain purposes. What is already enshrined in the constitution should not be questioned," the Pagoh MP said. Perkasa had responded to Eu on Sunday by saying the Article helped keep the country peaceful, further claiming that the race riots of May 13, 1969 happened because it was not implemented properly. "This country is peaceful because of Article 153 which protects the rights of Bumiputeras who are the majority in this country. "The reverend needs to remember that Christians are able to practise their religion without worry in this country because of Article 153," Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hasan Syed Ali said. Muhyiddin had also said yesterday no one was sidelined under BN due to the ruling coalition's power-sharing concept that is based on a common understanding among the various races and religions. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/muhyiddin-no-bullying-under-article-153/

Let the punishment fit the crime Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:29 PM PST By Zaid Ibrahim Just because society creates offences for reasons of its own does not mean that the person committing the offence is undesirable, bad or a danger to others. Sometimes offences are created because the acts are frowned upon by religion. However, in a democracy we should not create offences just because acts are considered sinful. Sodomy is a criminal offence in Malaysia but so are other sexual acts that are more "creative" than the usual horizontal position. Offences "against the order of nature" make us blush because many of us probably partake in some of them. These are offences because the British made them offences 160 years ago, and although England and other countries have since abolished such laws, we still have them in our Penal Code. In some countries long ago, it was a crime for a commoner to look upon the King, and for a woman to walk unescorted by a male relative. In Saudi Arabia it is still an offence for a woman to drive. There is also a vast collection of very strange—if rarely enforced—laws: for example, commoners are prohibited from dying in the Palace of Westminster (i.e. the UK Parliament) as they would be eligible for a state funeral. Any actual deaths in Parliament are legally recorded as having occurred at a nearby hospital. In Florida, it is illegal for an unmarried woman to parachute on a Sunday, and in France it is unlawful to name a pig "Napoleon"—the list goes on. Just because society creates offences for reasons of its own does not mean that the person committing the offence is undesirable, bad or a danger to others. Sometimes offences are created because the acts are frowned upon by religion. However, in a democracy we should not create offences just because acts are considered sinful. Offences can be justified only on the grounds of providing for the safety and protection of the people, or as deterrents. The moral issue is not for the government to deal with. Sins are for God to punish, not the government. Whatever the verdict in Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case next week, I hope he will be treated fairly. If there is a conviction and the court is disposed to hand down a custodial sentence, let it be minimal. Even if the act of sodomy was committed, it was consensual. This fact must not escape the judge. Fairness is for everyone Consensual sexual acts are not crimes in most countries and we should take cognisance of this. Some of us may have a deep sense of revulsion and disapproval of such acts, but this disapproval does not justify punishing those who are different from us. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/12/27/let-the-punishment-fit-the-crime/

Al Sheikh Al Juburi’s Faithful Assistant & Clique Posted: 26 Dec 2011 01:27 PM PST Parti Keadilan Rakyat is becoming more Umno-like than Umno itself these days and Al Sheikh Al Juburi's Faithful Assistant & Clique are responsible for it. If the Azmin-Zuraida team is capable of doing what they are doing now to PKR, imagine what they will do if Pakatan wins the next general elections without DSAI to control these two. By Hakim Joe One may ask, "Who the Hell is Al Sheikh Al Juburi and who is this Faithful Assistant that is being referred to?" The answer can be acquired from Mat Sabu (PAS Deputy President). Back in the dark ages (1977) when DSAI was still the Finance Minister and DPM of Malaysia and prior to Sodomy I, Mat Sabu made this reference against DSAI as a tit-for-tat after Ummi Hafilda lodged a complaint to A/L Kutty that his deputy is bonking his driver, one Azizan Abu Bakar from the rear and one Shamsidar Taharin (Azmin Ali's missus) from the front. This was pure revenge for DSAI's chief conspiratory role in having Mat Sabu caught for "close proximity" at Hotel Perdana in Kota Bharu on January the 31st, 1995, two years after the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly approved the motion on Hudud and Qisas. Jubur refers to the posterior or the rear end, but in Kelantan it also refers to the female private part. Mat Sabu chose such an appropriate tag to describe DSAI as an abnormal individual who have preferences for the front part (Shamsidar) and the posterior (Azizan Abu Bakar). Realmente Magnifico! History has of course acquitted DSAI of Sodomy I and Mat Sabu had to literally eat his words but it has also provided Umno with the ammunition to re-launch Sodomy II. This article however does not make reference to either Sodomy I or its sequel but concentrates purely on Al Sheikh Al Juburi's faithful assistant and his coterie of henchmen who are becoming more like Umno than Umno itself. Mohamed Azmin bin Ali was born in Singapore on August the 25th, 1964 (Year of the Dragon), which makes him Singaporean by birth. However his education was purely KL stuff, first at the English-based primary school, Gurney Road School [2] (now SK Jalan Gurney) and its secondary education at Technical Institute in Jalan Cheras (now SM Teknik Cheras). From thereon it was to the University of Minnesota where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics (1986) and his Master of Education in Mathematics and Economics a year later. First job home in Malaysia was as a Special Officer to the Minister of Education and two years later in 1989, Azmin was promoted to being DSAI's private secretary. He served in the same capacity after DSAI was first promoted to being the Finance Minister (1991) and then later to be the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (1993). One year before DSAI was sacked from Umno in 1998, Azmin took a two-month hiatus from work to enroll at St. Catherine's College, Oxford University where he successfully completed an Executive Training Program on Political Administration. At this juncture of time, Azmin had already accumulated a full decade of political experience and was groomed to be someone of note but his initial plans were seriously derailed after DSAI was dismissed from all his political positions. However this proved to be somewhat of a blessing in disguise, as he was elected Selangor State Assemblyman for Hulu Kelang in 1999, and therefore launched his political career earlier than if he was still DSAI's private secretary. In November 2001, while DSAI was still in jail, Azmin was elected as a Vice President of Keadilan and in 2008, he won the Gombak parliamentary seat and Bukit Antarabangsa state seat in Selangor. By now he had over twenty years of political experience and with no one evidently challenging him on his smooth and sheltered ride to the upper echelons of PKR, Azmin brought together an assembly of his loyal supporters and delegates that climbed the party ladder together without a notable hitch (except for Khalid Ibrahim) and fully backed by the defacto leader himself. When Keadilan merged with Parti Rakyat Malaysia in 2002 and launched itself in 2003 as PKR, Azmin was still pretty confident of his position within the newly merged party. However he was knocked down one notch when Khalid Ibrahim was selected as the Menteri Besar of Selangor after the 2008 state election victory. Then came Zaid "Sea-Biscuit" Ibrahim one year later in 2009 and this intimidated Azmin's "now seemingly precarious" position in PKR and within Pakatan Rakyat itself. From the onset, it was seen that Zaid was his own man and not someone else's poster boy. This was his first big mistake as his escalating popularity was challenging Azmin and posed as an affront to DSAI, and this made the entire PKR EXCO gang up on him (less the few loose cannons). As a recent former Umno minister, Zaid did not understand how the PKR party politics were being played and by standing out as a candidate that could pose as a serious replacement for DSAI so soon after joining PKR, he was in fact threatening Azmin's position, status and future. The second mistake Zaid did was his attempts to entrench himself as the number two man in PKR and Azmin was not having any of that. Even when Zaid was grabbing national headlines alongside DSAI, the latter acknowledged the fact that PKR is in reality stronger with Zaid and therefore portrayed itself as a creditable replacement to Umno. Additionally, DSAI also knows that Zaid could not possibly challenge him as the defacto leader of PKR and that should Pakatan win the next general elections, DSAI will unquestionably become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The scenario is however completely different with Azmin. With Zaid showing tremendous form, one of the DPM seats (DSAI proposed 3 DPM posts, one each from the three coalition parties) suddenly looked awfully remote and getting further and further away from his outstretched grasp, and something had to be done to curb his ominous headlong slide to mediocrity. The PKR party elections hence became the definitive battleground to rein in Zaid (and along the way Khalid as well) and to resolve the issue once and for all and Selangor was chosen to be the ultimate frontline, no holds barred. The controversy laden 2010 PKR party elections proved to be tainted by allegations of vote rigging, undemocratic practices, existence of two different register rolls, missing ballot boxes, fraud, electoral misconduct, double standards, bribery, etc and its corresponding results became so dubious that Azmin-crony Molly Cheah, the PKR party election committee chairperson, was taken to task over the final announced results. Hell, even A/L Kutty was pleasantly surprised with the Umno-tactics used in the PKR party elections. Nonetheless, Azmin and his clique have done their damage and finally, Zaid and Khalid were left standing alone. Zaid resigned from PKR and Azmin took full advantage to be appointed the PKR Chief of Selangor, replacing incumbent Khalid Ibrahim, the Selangor MB who was reassured that he shall remain the Selangor PKR Chief by PKR President Kak Wan less than a month ago (29 days to be exact). For those who stood by him, all were suitably rewarded. PKR Wanita Chief, Zuraida Kamaruddin became the PKR Deputy Chief of Selangor. Zakaria Abdul Rahim aka Zakaria Bola was selected as the PKR Pandan Chief (even when the corresponding party elections was a tie between him and incumbent Nik Md. Zain Nik Mohmad). Mansor Othman and ninety percent of all PKR honchos and cohorts were praised and rewarded. N. Surendran was appointed as one of the party's Vice Presidents. Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong was retained as the party disciplinary bureau chairman. For the remaining 10 percent who was not of the DSAI-AA-ZK gang, the witch-hunt began in earnest. Amongst the "biggies" on the list, Batu Kawan division women wing chief Dr. Joyce Lee Yueh Choo was the first one to be served suspension papers (later sacked). Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong was next to go. Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan and Nibong Tebal assemblyman Tan Tee Beng were sidelined. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was ignored and many municipal councilors who defied Azmin or Zuraida had their appointments terminated. PKR Deputy Secretary General, Jonson Chong of Kelana Jaya were amongst the 29 active members that were sacked. 10 members were suspended and 12 others received warning letters. Even Tian Chua did not have sufficient clout to stop the "cleansing" ala Mao's Cultural Revolution style elimination of all resistance within the party while Wan Azizah pretended ignorance. Anyone suspected of not condoning the "Cult of DSAI-AA" were systematically dismissed from the party (and it is still happening now). PKR Deputy Chief of Selangor, Zuraida Kamaruddin then took this opportunity to do a bit of personal cleansing and started sacking anyone who question her actions and sidelined those who does not serve her purpose (including the time she instructed all Selangor's PKR Cabang's official minutes that were detrimental against her be "misplaced"). Way to go. Yes, PKR really needed to clean up their house a long time ago but it should be done against those who opposes the Party's ideology, not those who would not support either DSAI, AA or ZK. Keadilan should stand for the people not these three individuals alone. PKR, as with DAP and PAS, is about presenting themselves as a viable alternative to BN, and not acting like them. PKR should act like a political party and not a cult. With DSAI possibly going in for another stint after Sodomy II, Azmin is now attempting to present himself as the only suitable candidate to lead PKR and Pakatan to GE13, and to do so he needs 100 percent backing from PKR itself, henceforth the cleansing exercise that is turning the party upside down. Parti Keadilan Rakyat is becoming more Umno-like than Umno itself these days and Al Sheikh Al Juburi's Faithful Assistant & Clique are responsible for it. If the Azmin-Zuraida team is capable of doing what they are doing now to PKR, imagine what they will do if Pakatan wins the next general elections without DSAI to control these two. Be warned. Be especially warned.

An insignificant and irrelevant hogwash Posted: 26 Dec 2011 01:20 PM PST By Thomas Lee Seng Hock The mainstream media are having a field day cashing in on the so-called party civil war in the DAP. Their spin writers have been making some remarkable fantastic comments that the the public tit-for-tat party war of words between national chairman Karpal Singh and Penang Deputy Chief Minister (II) P. Ramasamy will result in the DAP being insidiously damaged or even destroyed eventually. The pubic feud between Karpal and Ramasamy is said to be have happened at an inopportune time when a snap general election seems imminent, and all parties are busy preparing and mobilising their leaders and members for the Battle of Putrajaya. I think all these comments are hogwash, given the fact the the Karpal-Ramasamy spat will not have much significance in the electoral equipollent equation as the personal political fate of Ramasamy will have no impact and influence on the DAP performance in the next general election.  Ramasamy was a virtually unknown, a political nobody, until the DAP fielded him as a candidate in the March 2008 general election and made him a deputy chief minister in Penang. It was not his personal charisma and credential that resulted in his electoral victory at the federal constituency of Batu Kawan and the state seat of Prai. It was the DAP Rocket that attracted the voters, who gave Ramasamy the victory on a golden plate. In March 2008, the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat had 47,378, with Chinese voters comprising 56.3% of the electorate, Indians constituting 22.8%, Malays 20.5%, and voters of other racial origins 0.3%. Ramasamy, standing under the DAP Rocket symbol, won the contest by returning 23,067 votes, beating Gerakan president and the then incumbent Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon, who obtained 13,582 votes, giving the DAP candidate a 9,485-vote majority. There were 640 spoilt votes. In the Prai state seat, Ramasamy, the DAP standard-bearer in the contest, sent Barisan Nasional candidate L. Krishnan of the MIC and independent candidate Ulaganathan K.A.P. Ramasamy packing, winning the 14,175-voter constitutency by polling 7,668 votes against the Barisan Nasional man's 2,492 votes and the independent candidate's 311 votes. Ramasamy's majority was 5,176 votes. There were 180 spoilt votes. The Prai state seat then had 52.9% Chinese votes, and a relatively high concentration of Indian voters, which accounted for 35.4% of the voters. The Malays constituted only 11% of the voters, with the balance 0.6% voters being people of other racial origins. From these statistics, it could be observed that whoever the DAP had fielded in March 2008, the results in both the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat and the Prai state seat would have been the same. Given the then prevailing wind of change blowing in the political scenario of the country, the credit and merit for the DAP victory cannot be attributed to the candidate. Anyone fielded by the party would have won hands down, given the fact that the DAP was riding high in the political tsunamic waves at that time. Hence, Ramasamy cannot claim personal credit for the electoral victory per se. If he had contested on his own, he would have in all likelihood lose his deposits. One spin writer has claimed that Ramasamy's threat to quit the DAP has put the party in a fix, quoting a purported Ramasamy supporter as contending that the DAP would lose the Indian votes, without him. The spin writer argued that Ramasamy, a parachute candidate imported into the party to stand at the last general election, is supposed to be a dynamic champion of Indian issues, highly looked up to by the Indian community, and any action on the part of the DAP to drop him as a candidate will result in massive exodus of Indians from the party. I think the spin writer is severely miscalculating in his assessment of the Indian community, at least the core majority within it, who are fiercely loyal to the DAP over the last 50 years of the party existence. Do not forget that the DAP has been in the forefront of fighting for the Indian community all these years, and is the main political bastion to protect and promote the rights of the community. Many of its early and current top leaders are Indians, like Devan Nair, V. David, P. Patto, Karpal Singh, Peter Dason, and that at any one time, the DAP has more Indian MPs than the MIC. Hence, to say that the Ramasamy fiasco would seriously affect the performance of the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat at the 13th general election is simply an illusion created by the Barisan Nasional propaganda machinery using the main stream media controlled by the ruling coalition to sow discord, create demoralisation, and promote disillusion among the DAP grassroots members, and to deceive the general voting population that all is not well in the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat. The Ramasamy saga will not be the only media assault on the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat. The PAS Islamic agenda, the Hasan Ali controversy, the alleged Nga Kor Ming tailoring contract scandal, and every little negative incident involving the DAP and its Pakatan Rakyat component partners will be exeggerated, exacerbated and exploited to the fullest to make the DAP and the alternative coalition look bad in the public eyes. However, the DAP should take comfort in the fact that the integrity and credential of its top leaders, in particular Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng, Tan Kok Wai, Fung Kui Lun, and its army of upcoming new generation of idealistic, well-educated, committed, and exemplary leaders like Teresa Kok, Chow Kon Yeow, Ronnie Liu, Tony Pua, Jenice Lee, Lim Lip Eng, Gobind Singh Deo, Jagdeep Singh, Hannah Yeoh, Teo Nie Ching, etc will ensure it performs beyond expectation, exceeding the victorious margin of the March 2008 general election. The people's dream and hope are in the hands of the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat, so don't let the Ramasamy fiasco and other minor irritants frustrate the march towards Putrajaya.

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