| The SPAD Has Spoken Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:55 PM PDT By Tony Pua The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has finally admitted land underground can be acquired under the National Land Code without affecting existing landowners in the cases affected by the MRT tunneling project. The Chief Executive Officer of SPAD, Mohd Nur Kamal has conceded as much in its letter to The Malaysian Insider where "all affected individual land owners [can] apply for stratum titles to be issued to the Government". As highlighted many times during the controversy, this is because the National Land Code 1965 had been specifically amended in1990 to allow for the acquisition of underground land without affecting surface property by inserting Part Five (A) (section 92A to 92G) under Clause 3. The amendment enables the disposal of "underground land", which can then either be alienated or leased for the use to construct tunnels, car parks and to lay pipes.
SPAD then claimed in its letter that in the interest of expediency - "criticality of the project timetable, the benefit of the Government instead of each individual owner handling the process" – the Government has chosen to acquire all land first, and decide whether to return the surface land later. SPAD emphasized specifically that the government "is in no position to make guarantees of the return of these properties". Hence it is clear from the above admission and convoluted explanation that the Government's actions stink of bad faith and ill-intent. When the law clearly enables the Government to acquire the stratum or underground land without affecting the surface, it still chooses to acquire all land – surface and underground – at one go. Expediency is not a valid reason to abuse the law, especially when the rights of the property owners are significantly jeopardized. On top of that, on the one hand, SPAD argued that the acquisition process is just a matter of convenience. But on the other it says that it may not want to return the land after acquiring it – how more hypocritical can one get? The reasoning provided that what was most important was that the government had "listened" to feedback from the affected parties and had agreed to a mutually acceptable outcome rang completely hollow in the light of the above, as it showed that the "listening" was just merely a public relations exercise. All the various untenable excuses being raised leads only to a single possible conclusion – the land acquisition exercises proposed in Chinatown, Bukit Bintang and other prime locations are nothing but poorly masked attempts at profiteering and land grab. They are in breach of the spirit of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 where the Government is only to acquire private land, and only that which is necessary for public use and benefit, and not for profit. SPAD should stop tunneling a deeper hole for itself and stick to its role of independently regulating and ensuring an efficient and effective public transport system. It should not become a partner-in-crime for the Government to justify its "land grab" exercises, which is completely irrelevant to the planning and design of the MRT system. TONY PUA |
| More oil royalty, not Petronas projects Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:48 PM PDT  (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional assemblyman Karim Bujang has come under heavy attack for saying that it is better to have more Petronas projects in Sabah than increasing the state's oil royalty. Karim, who is Bongawan state assemblyman, had said that Petronas had "done much" and had contributed "significantly" to the state economy. He claimed Petronas had spent billions of ringgit to implement various projects in Sabah that directly benefit the people, including local contractors as well as the economic spin-offs which were enjoyed by locals. But local leaders here disagree and are of the opinion that Karim is talking rubbish. Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew King Cheu ticked off Karim over his "short-sighted and narrow" views. "Maybe, Karim cannot see the significance of having higher royalty rate from the current 5% to 20%. "Petronas is not doing Sabah a favour. The projects put up by Petronas in the state are definitely in the clauses in the agreement signed a long time ago. "Sabahans deserved it anyway. It is our right to enjoy all the developments and benefits from it (agreement). "But the question here is, why didn't we see all these projects being put up in the past decades? Was Petronas not aware of these terms in the agreement before?" he asked. Hiew said any increase in the royalty rate on oil and gas will increase the revenue of the state. "This increased revenue will surely out-beat the project costs in the long run," he said, adding that over the past decades Sabah had only received RM5.3 billion from Petronas. No benefit from projects Many here feel that Sabah, as the largest gas producer and the fourth largest crude oil producer in the country, has been shortchanged. They believe that Petronas should do more for the state. Hiew said if the royalty rate is increased to 20%, then Sabahans will enjoy an instant injection of state fund and the state financial status will then improve. "The most important point now is to review Petronas royalty agreement. If Petronas brings projects into Sabah, can the local people see some instant benefits? "I doubt it… maybe a few of the BN contractors and other expatriate contractors can get jobs. "How long do we have to wait for a return from these projects, another five or 10 years? "By then our oilfields may have already run dry," he said, adding that the scenario was not impossible, especially when Sabah's oilfields are not in the form of a seam layer but pocketed and spread out in the sea. READ MORE HERE. |
| PM’s tea with judges implies political tampering, say legal eagles Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:43 PM PDT 
By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — The annual Conference of Judges that kicks off today will include, for possibly the first time, a meeting with the prime minister that critics say will further erode public confidence in the independence of the judiciary. The Malaysian Insider understands that the judges were initially scheduled to discuss writing judgments this afternoon but a last minute change meant a trip to Putrajaya to meet Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a delegation led by outgoing Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi. Zaki, who set a record for being the fastest-rising judge when he was appointed to the top post after spending less than three years on the Bench, will be clocking out on Friday. Judicial sources said the initial conference agenda focused on judgments as the paperwork is crucial to close disputes brought to court and can mean life or death in criminal cases. There was also supposed to be a briefing on arbitration. "This has never happened during my time," retired judge Datuk Shaik Daud Ismail replied to The Malaysian Insider when asked if there had been any similar meetings between the head of the executive branch of government and the judicial arm of government in past conferences. Shaik Daud was first appointed to the High Court in 1984 and stepped down from the Court of Appeal in June 2001. According to a copy of the conference schedule obtained yesterday by The Malaysian Insider, the judges are to attend the opening ceremony at the JW Marriott Hotel here from 8.30am before boarding a bus after lunch to the yellow-domed Palace of Justice (PoJ) in the national administrative capital some 34km away to meet and take pictures with Najib at 5pm. After the photo session, Najib will be given a tour of an in-house museum and the courtrooms before being escorted to the top judge's chambers by the judiciary's top four — incoming-CJ Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria, newly-appointed Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, and Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin. The annual judges' meeting ends with a tea party with the PM in the august courthouse's banquet hall. Lawyer Ragunath Kesavan, who is the immediate past president of the Malaysian Bar, denounced the judiciary's likely unprecedented meeting with the prime minister during an official conference to discuss its duties, as a "blurring of lines between the separate branches of government". He said the fact that the meeting will be photographed made it worse. "The meeting between the prime minister and the judiciary at the judges' conference implies there is no separation of powers," he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted last night. READ MORE HERE. |
| What we can do to sail through stormy time ahead Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:31 PM PDT By Thomas Lee Seng Hock We are all set for a hard time in the almost immediate future, with some of us becoming unemployed, others underemployed, and a few facing the prospect of becoming bankrupts. So, the immediate measure is to cut our spending. I suggest taking the following steps: (1) stop subscription to paid TV (saving at least RM100 a month), (2) cut fixed phone line and use only prepaid HP (saving at least of RM50 a month), (3) don't buy newspapers, read news online (saving at least RM60 a month, (4) have only one dish for each meal, instead of the current three or four dishes (saving of at least RM10 a day, which works out to RM300 a month), (5) have only two meals a day -- brunch and dinner (saving at least RM10 a day or RM300 a month), (6) drink only boiled water, no need for other beverages (saving at least RM3 a day, i.e. RM90 a month), (7) don't eat out -- take food and drinking water to work (can save RM10 a day or RM300 a month), (8) cut down on driving, reducing petrol cost, toll charges and parking fees (saving of about RM200 a month), (9) reduce 50% use of shampoo, toothpaste, etc (saving of RM2 a day, i.e. RM60 a month), (10) Use handkerchieves, instead of buying tissue papers (saving at least RM1 a day, i.e. RM30 a month), (11) forgo new clothing for Christmas and New Year, etc (saving at least RM500 for a family of four), (12) cut down on expenses for festivals and celebrations (like birthdays) and save at least RM100 a month, (13) go to government hospital for treatment and medication, instead of visiting private clinics or hospitals. I save nearly RM200 a month on my daily medication using the Klang general hospital, and (14) Vote Pakatan Rakyat at next general election to save the country from bankruptcy caused by a corrupt administration. |
| Scholars’ views on nationalists and their struggle for Merdeka Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:18 PM PDT By Centre for Policy Initiatives In an earlier commentary titled Media lynching and academic collaborators, I asked the question: "So what is the verdict of professional historians on the communist insurgency and its contribution to the movement for independence from which a real debate and the historical truth can have its starting point?" In this and subsequent posts, the Centre for Policy Initiatives reproduces various key articles written by authoritative scholars and academicians on the events and some of the main protagonists engaged in the struggle for the country's independence. I am grateful to the editorial board of the journal, Kajian Malaysia, and Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia as well as to the authors of the various pieces – C.C. Chin, Richard Mason, Leon Comber and Abdul Rahman Ismail for their permission to have their work featured in this CPI series. Other articles will be included in the series once permission has been obtained from their authors and publishers. I hope that the scholarly work provided here and from other sources can serve as the basis for more informed and historically truthful interpretations of the period leading to and immediately following the independence of Malaya in 1957 and the role of the major actors and political forces. ******************************* Revisiting 1948 insurgencies and the cold war in Southeast Asia By Richard Mason In 1948 left-winged insurgencies broke out in Malaya, Burma, Indonesia and the Philippines. These insurgencies continued to leave their imprint on the region today. The papers in this volume discuss the significance of these insurgencies in the course of Southeast Asian history, with particular reference to the Cold War in the region. These papers are part of a larger collection that were presented at a Roundtable on the Sixtieth Anniversary of 1948: Reassessing the Origins of the Cold War in Southeast Asia, organised by the Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS), 10-11 July 2008. The central concern of the Roundtable was to discuss the significance of 1948 in Southeast Asian history and to determine "in what way 1948 was – or perhaps was not – 'the beginning of the Cold War' in Southeast Asia." Were the seemingly simultaneous left-winged insurgencies that broke out in the region in 1948 Soviet-directed as part of the Cold war in Asia or did the insurgencies emerged from local circumstances affecting the strategies of the struggles of these left-wings movements in the respective counties concerned? How important were the insurgencies in affecting the course of Southeast Asian history? Did 1948 constitute a watershed in Southeast Asian history? The papers in this volume address these issues among many others. Were the left-winged insurgencies which broke out in Malaya, Burma, Indonesia and the Philippines in 1948 directed by the Soviet Union as part of the Cold War in Asia? Known as the "Soviet Conspiracy Theory", the starting point for this postulation is Andrei Zhdanov's speech at the inaugural of the Cominform in September 1947 which argued that the world had been divided into two opposing camps: the Western capitalist countries led by the United States on the one hand, and the communist bloc led by the Soviet Union on the other. Zhdanov advocated that foreign communist parties should be in vanguard of spreading communism throughout the world. This line was repeated by E.M. Zhukov in an article published in the December issue of Bol'shevik, which advocated propagation of revolutions to the colonial areas. According to proponents of this Soviet Conspiracy Theory, it was at the Communist Youth Conference at Calcutta, convened 19-24 February 1948 that the Soviets passed on the "instructions" to representatives of Southeast Asian communist parties to seize the opportunity of the unstable conditions prevailing in Southeast Asia to rise against their colonial rulers. In March, left-winged insurgency broke out in Burma, followed by British Malaya in June, and Indonesia in September. Consistent with the thesis of monolithic communism, the conventional orthodox interpretation of these uprisings has it that they were Soviet-directed as part of the Cold War in Asia. Soviet interest in Southeast Asia had been notably absent before the Pacific War but by 1947 there were discernable evidence of Soviet's growing interest in the region. In 1947, the Soviet Union opened an embassy in Bangkok and this was shortly followed by the Communist Youth Conference at Calcutta in February 1948, and the subsequent the outbreak of the Southeast Asian insurgencies later that year. According to this school of thought, that these left-winged Southeast Asian insurgencies broke out almost simultaneously indeed suggest actions in response to instruction from Moscow. Predictably, both the United States and Great Britain immediately assumed that these insurgencies were Soviet-directed and formulated their responses accordingly.1 READ MORE HERE. |
| Project Malaysia: Belong or 'Lelong' ? Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:12 PM PDT 
By SABM I am lucky to have a father who taught me early in life that diversity is something beautiful. I grew up in an environment that was colourful. But the colours that I saw growing up were predominantly a short spectrum consisting of three main colours. Each corresponded to distinct faces and features that I found out later had ethnic identities - Melayu, Cina, India.
Some years later, as I peeked at the forms being filled in by my father to enroll me in primary school, I noticed the existence of another colour given the name of 'Dan Lain-Lain'.
I soon learned that there was more to the spectrum than what I had known back then.
Despite the convenient label of 'Dan Lain-Lain', each one of those colours matters and makes up Malaysia.
Each one belongs here.
This Hari Malaysia, why not take a look again at our Project Malaysia?
Let's see if our Project Malaysia is truly one that is inclusive and nurtures a sense of belonging in our hearts.
Or is it a Project that focuses on selling off every particle that is beautiful and ours in a truly wholesale manner, 'Lelong' style. Let's lift the label 'Dan Lain-Lain', look underneath and talk to a segment of our community that has been conveniently sidelined and its rights 'lelong'ed alongside ours.
This 16th September evening, at our Rumah, we'll be screening the short film that won the 2010 Freedom Film Fest organised by Pusat KOMAS.
'Hak Dinafikan' is the story of Orang Asal and was created by the Orang Asal themselves. The screening, which begins at 7 pm, will be followed by a discussion with the directors, Abri and Shafie, and also young activists from Sabah and Sarawak.
It's high time we learn their story and understand that it is our story as well.
We have a few other activities planned for the day. The details of the event will be announced in a couple of days.
For now, please reserve time for Hari Malaysia 2011, this 16th September, 7pm, at Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia.
Jumpa di sana ya?
Dengan ikhlas, Nanda __________________________________________________________________ Are you amongst the 3,973,032 eligible but as yet unregistered to vote? Do you know of someone who can but hasn't yet registered?
Register now and get every unregistered voter you know to do the same, if we are to have a chance for change come the 13th General Election.
Register as a Voter today!
http://www.inorout.my/index.php/pages/about |
| WIKILEAKS: THE BUMIPUTERA POLICY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FTA Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:00 AM PDT 
But however the data is massaged, it is clear that bumi share ownership remains significantly less than would be expected given their 66% share of the population (ethnic Malays alone account for about 54% of the total population). In addition, 9MP statistics indicate that bumiputeras experience much higher poverty rates than other population groups. The poverty rate for bumis in 2004 was 8.3%, compared to 0.6% for Malaysia's Chinese population and 2.3% for Malaysia's Indian population. Chinese incomes in 2004 averaged 64% higher than bumiputera incomes, while Indian incomes averaged 27% higher. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KUALA LUMPUR 000930 SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR FOR B. WEISEL AND J. JENSEN STATE PASS USDA/FAS FOR ITP/AAD TREASURY FOR OASIA AND IRS COMMERCE FOR 4430/MAC/EAP/BAKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016 TAGS: ETRD, ECON, EINV, EFIN, MY SUBJECT: THE BUMIPUTERA POLICY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FTA REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 0797 B. KUALA LUMPUR 0613 C. KUALA LUMPUR 0331 D. 2005 KUALA LUMPUR 4080 Classified By: Ambassador Christopher J. Lafleur for reasons 1.4 b & d. 1. (C) Summary: Malaysia's bumiputera policy provides socioeconomic support for ethnic Malays and other indigenous groups with the goal of raising the "bumi" share of national equity ownership to 30% from the current official figure of around 19%. Over the 35 years of its existence, the policy has evolved into a pervasive system of government interventions designed to tilt the playing field in favor of the bumis. These interventions extend into practically every corner of the economy, from banking regulation to the ownership of individual restaurants. The bumiputera policy targets persistent differences in racial income shares. Official figures indicate the poverty rate for bumis in 2004 was 8.3%, compared to 0.6% for Malaysia's Chinese population; and while many analysts believe the 19% figure substantially understates bumi share ownership, no one thinks their piece of the equity pie approaches their 66% percent share of the population. The policy has fostered a propensity for government micromanagement and blurred the lines between official favoritism and illegal corruption. 2. (C) The bumiputera policy will be a critical factor in our upcoming negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Malaysia. The new Ninth Malaysian Plan (9MP) sets targets that will extend the policy through 2020, so formally dismantling the bumi preference system would not be a realistic goal. Malaysian officials recognize the need to improve the country's economic performance, both to meet national development goals and to keep pace with regional competitors. However, it is not yet clear the extent to which the GOM will be willing to compromise on the Bumiputera Policy to obtain an FTA that would increase Malaysia's growth and competitiveness. The best approach for U.S. negotiators is not to tackle the policy head on, but to deal with the preferences it creates on a case-by-case basis. Disaggregating the bumi package, linking changes where possible to Malaysia's WTO obligations and pre-existing policy initiatives, and minimizing discussion of the bumiputera policy by name, will help produce a deal that meets U.S. negotiating objectives, but is salable in Malaysia The New Economic Policy - Now 35 Years Old 3. (U) In 1969, Malaysia experienced racial riots that became a watershed in the country's political and social development. In 1971, in response to the riots and to shore up Malay support for his government, then-Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak launched the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP set a national goal "to correct economic imbalances so as to reduce and eventually eliminate the identification of race with economic function." More specifically, it established the objective that Malays would own and operate at least 30% of the commercial and industrial activities of the country by 1990. At that time, ownership as measured by share capital of private limited companies (the benchmark measurement chosen in the NEP and still used today) was divided as follows: Malays 2%; non-Malays 37%; and foreigners 61%. The NEP set targets to reduce the foreign share to 30%, increase the non-Malay share to 40% and allocate the remaining 30% to Malays. By 1990, the government could claim that it had succeeded in reducing the foreign share to the target level, but only thanks to government acquisition of foreign assets. Private Malay ownership remained at a very low level. 4. (U) An important characteristic of the NEP was that it was a government policy statement, not a piece of legislation. The Second Malaysia Plan (1971-1975) and succeeding five-year Malaysia plans were the formal means of implementing the NEP, but numerous independent measures taken as the government pursued its economic, regulatory, education and other policies supplemented and expanded the program. This pattern continues to this day. The five-year Malaysia plans provide budget resources and set policy targets that put muscle on the bones of the bumiputera skeleton, while politicians and bureaucrats strengthen and expand bumi preferences in their individual areas of responsibility. 5. (U) In 1991, the National Development Policy (NDP) replaced the NEP, and in 2000 the National Vision Policy (NVP; also known as Vision 2020) replaced the NDP. These new policy statements expanded on the goals of the NEP, and also expanded the beneficiary population to include all "bumiputera" or "sons of the soil." This formally added the Orang Asli (indigenous peoples of the Malaysian Peninsula, who lived here before the Malay migration), and the Dyak, Iban, Dusun and other indigenous inhabitants of Sabah and Sarawak, as potential beneficiaries. In practice, Malays continued to receive preference above all because they controlled the levers of political and bureaucratic power. 6. (SBU) Today at the beginning of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP; see Ref A), the goals of the NEP remain unmet. According to 9MP statistics, ownership of share capital in 2004 was: bumiputera 18.9%; Chinese 39.0%; Indian 1.2%; and foreigners 32.5%. The remaining 8.4% are held as nominee shares, with ownership unclear but deemed by the government to be non-bumiputera. Many analysts question whether these statistics provide a good picture of who owns the nation's wealth. For example, they exclude shares held by Federal and state government entities (including a sizeable share held by Khazanah, the Federal investment agency). But however the data is massaged, it is clear that bumi share ownership remains significantly less than would be expected given their 66% share of the population (ethnic Malays alone account for about 54% of the total population). In addition, 9MP statistics indicate that bumiputeras experience much higher poverty rates than other population groups. The poverty rate for bumis in 2004 was 8.3%, compared to 0.6% for Malaysia's Chinese population and 2.3% for Malaysia's Indian population. Chinese incomes in 2004 averaged 64% higher than bumiputera incomes, while Indian incomes averaged 27% higher. Many analysts also dispute these income statistics, noting in particular that the Indian community suffers from some of the most persistent poverty in the country. Malaysian policymakers say they cannot ignore a situation in which the majority group is perceived to be at such an economic disadvantage, or fail to be seen to be taking steps to address these disparities. The Not-So-New Ninth Malaysia Plan 7. (SBU) Prime Minister Abdullah announced the new Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) at the end of March 2006. As reported Ref A, 9MP largely carries forward existing socioeconomic programs, including those supporting the bumiputera policy. Most significantly for U.S. economic interests, in particular the FTA, 9MP reaffirms the goal of increasing bumi share ownership to 30% with a target date of 2020. This means the bumiputera policy probably will be in place for at least the next fifteen years. 9MP also adds a target of increasing Indian share ownership to 3% and reaffirms the NEP doctrine "to correct the identification of race with economic function." In addition, 9MP plans a multitude of bumiputera support measures, from ensuring that privatized government entities are sold to bumi owners, to funding for R&D projects for bumi researchers, to a goal of creating 100 new bumiputera direct sales companies. 8. (SBU) The third of the five "thrusts" of the Ninth Malaysia Plan is "to address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively and productively." While this 9MP element also addresses rural-urban disparities, its predominant aim is to support bumiputera advancement. It sets specific targets for balancing income distribution, restructuring employment, and redistributing the ownership of the nation's wealth, and enjoins "all government agencies (to ensure that their policies and programs take into account the implications on (sic) distribution." This last requirement sets the stage for continued micromanagement of the economy to ensure the advancement of bumiputera policy goals. The Business - As Usual 9. (C) As noted in paragraph 4 above, much of the implementation of the bumiputera policy is carried out through the day-to-day work of Malaysian ministries and agencies in their individual areas of responsibility. This has led to a wide variety of approaches in how it is applied. Some bumi preferences are a matter of law, but others take the form of regulations, or informal guidelines. Even the Ninth Malaysia Plan does not provide a comprehensive list, but following are examples from key sectors. 10. (C) For example, when Bank Negara Malaysia (BN; the central bank) audits foreign financial institutions in its role as a regulator, it checks employment rolls to see whether bumiputeras are receiving an appropriate share of the jobs at each level of the company. In conducting these audits, BN officials characterize their recommendations as "best practices." We are not aware of any formal legal requirement for racial hiring quotas, but few firms would be willing to jeopardize their relationship with their regulator by ignoring its recommendations. Bank Negara also presses new university graduates on foreign financial firms, which are expected to hire a certain number and provide them with training and experience. Many of these young professionals move on to jobs in domestic financial institutions after a few years, so foreign banks are forced to train up their local competition. (See Ref B for more details on the financial services sector.) 11. (C) On a broader level, when the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) drafted new regulations governing the distributive trade sector (note: defined as activities that channel goods and services to intermediaries or to final buyers) it incorporated bumiputera support measures throughout the new guidelines. Its draft required hypermarkets to reserve 30% of their shelf space for bumiputera-made products and stipulated that 30% of all sales receipts must come from bumiputera products. It required restaurateurs to increase their share capital to at least one million ringgit (about $275,000) and reserve 30% for a bumi partner. Initially, MDTCA planned to instruct manufacturers who maintained their own distribution division to spin it off as a separate company and allocate 30% of the equity to a bumi partner. This idea caused such an uproar, however, that MDTCA appears to have dropped it. (See Ref C for more details on the distributive trade guidelines.) 12. (C) The effort to comprehensively implement bumiputera priorities has fostered government micromanagement that penetrates almost every nook and corner of the economy, increasing costs and discouraging entrepreneurship and investment. As one private analyst observed to econoff, "Why would you want to do all the work of setting up a business in Malaysia only to have to turn 30% of it over to someone else?" It also blurs the line between official favoritism and illegal corruption. The government designed Malaysia's "approved permit" system for the importation of foreign cars as a means to encourage the creation of bumiputera car dealerships. But the program devolved into a "middleman" operation where influential individuals acquired the permits from the government and sold them to auto importers and dealers. The rampant corruption in the program became a public scandal, threatening the job of MITI Minister Rafidah and forcing the government to reform the national auto policy, which now calls for the elimination of the AP system for motor vehicles by 2010. (Ref D reports on the government's framework for the planned new national automobile policy. Septel will provide an update. The special case of government procurement also will be covered septel.) Exceptions Prove the Rule 13. (C) There are honest business people, including foreign investors, who are not discouraged by the need to deal with the bumiputera policy. As the Malaysian head of a multinational consumer products company told econ counselor, "You can get anything you need here, so long as you do not require the government to be too obvious about it. You need contacts, but if you have good ones you can always get an exception." Similarly, the head of a high tech manufacturing facility explained that, unlike many foreign manufacturers, he has no problems getting labor permits for foreign engineers to work in his factory. He has a former senior immigration official on his payroll, who arranges for as many labor permits as he needs. 14. (SBU) It is significantly easier for export oriented and high tech firms to do business in Malaysia. Export oriented manufacturers can work through the Malaysia Industrial Development Agency (MIDA), which exempts them from many restrictions and can help clear bottlenecks with other government agencies. There also are other government programs such as the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) that provide a lighter system of regulation. But even in the mainstream economy, many foreign investors are satisfied with the status quo, even though it is far from transparent. Why Rock the Boat? 15. (C) Given the over-riding political importance of the bumiputera policy, why would Malaysian leaders agree to enter into FTA negotiations, knowing they would lead to pressures for change? Responding to this question at a May 9 industry seminar on the FTA, MITI Deputy Secretary General Ooi Say Chuan said, "The NEP has an important role. The government believes it has contributed to economic growth by developing a bumiputera middle class. However, we need to consider Malaysia's global competitive position. We believe the FTA will help us be competitive, but we look for flexibility from the U.S." 16. (C) The Ninth Malaysia Plan also cites growing competitive pressures: "The core NEP, NDP and NVP objectives remain. However, the circumstances and environment in which the country operates have changed significantly. Malaysia is now an open trading economy participating in an extremely competitive and fast-moving global marketplace. The opening up of China and India has changed the economic landscape dramatically for developed and developing countries alike." Malaysia's leadership clearly recognizes the need to improve the country's economic performance, both to meet national development goals and to keep pace with regional competitors, but not if it means scrapping the bumiputera policy. They suggest that it is essential to raise the productive capacity of bumiputeras, since they represent the majority of the population. They also note that abandoning the bumiputera policy would be political suicide. Let's Make A Deal 17. (C) The bumiputera policy will be a critical and omnipresent factor in our upcoming negotiations on a free trade agreement with Malaysia. The challenge for the U.S. team will be to devise solutions that meet our bottom line needs for improved market access, and greater fairness and transparency in decision making, while leaving the Malaysian government able to claim publicly that the final deal protects bumiputera interests. This means avoiding attacks on the bumiputera policy head on and by name, and instead adopting case-by-case approach to clearing the obstacles it creates to trade and investment. 18. (C) Bank Negara's racial hiring quotas in the financial services provide an example. So long as the central bank continues to use its influence as a regulator to promote the government's bumi objectives, it will be difficult to put a complete stop to this type of practice. It would be addressed to some extent by standard U.S. FTA language prohibiting restrictions on the nationality of senior management and boards of directors. An expansion of the scope of this language might be desirable to address the deeper penetration of Bank Negara's affirmative action policies. However, given the central bank's strong desire to promote bumiputera advancement, it may only be possible to insulate the highest executive levels. Even so, local financial firms would welcome our securing a more transparent and rules based approach to affirmative action in employment, as well as in other applications of Bank Negara's regulatory authority. 19. (C) Where feasible, U.S. requests for changes should be linked to Malaysia's obligations under the WTO and other international agreements, as this will permit Malaysian officials to deflect criticism that they conceded to U.S. pressure. Similarly, linking changes to existing Malaysian plans for liberalization, such as the Financial Sector Master Plan (Ref C), will make it easier for Malaysian negotiators to agree. Disaggregating the bumi preference package, linking necessary changes to Malaysia's international obligations and existing domestic plans, and minimizing discussion of the bumiputera policy by name, will help create the impression that the policy is not under attack. This will help produce a deal that meets U.S. negotiating objectives, but is salable in Malaysia. LAFLEUR |
| Puteri Umno lodges police report against Anwar Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:54 PM PDT (BERNAMA) - The Puteri Umno movement today lodged a police report against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is alleged to have made a false report on the sex video issue in March. The police report was lodged by Puteri Umno vice-head Shahanim Mohd Yusof at the Kuala Muda District Police Headquarters, here. She said Puteri Umno had requested the police to take action against Anwar, who is alleged to have abused the law by making a false report at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on March 22. "We take a serious view on the false report made at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters in March concerning the sex video. This is because Anwar had never sued Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah for libel when he said the (sex) video was not true," she told reporters after lodging the report. |
| Malaysia activists outraged after 300 cats starved Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:52 PM PDT (AP) - Malaysian pet owners and activists who found nearly 300 starving cats caged and soaked in excrement at pet care centers demanded sterner laws Tuesday against cruelty to animals. The felines had been left with a company that was supposed to take care of them in Malaysia's central Selangor state while their owners returned to their hometowns for a week to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr. Many owners became worried when they were later unable to contact company representatives. Rescue volunteers broke into the company's two facilities Sunday and discovered the emaciated cats lying in their own feces and urine in cages stacked atop each other. Activists estimated at least 12 cats were dead and dozens more were missing. Police have questioned the company owner and an employee, but no arrests have been made. The case has energized activists to push for stronger prosecution against people who mistreat animals, said Christine Chin, who heads the Malaysian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "There is no deterrent in this country for animal cruelty, so the problem just spreads," Chin said. More than 7,500 people have joined a Facebook group created Monday demanding government action against the company that abandoned the cats. The animals' owners were also considering suing it for breach of contract, Chin said. Chin said her organization receives about 200 complaints of animal mistreatment each month, mostly involving dogs. However, it has recorded only about five prosecutions by authorities in the past decade. Malaysian laws provide for a 200 ringgit ($66) fine and a jail term of up to six months for people convicted of cruelty to animals. However, only one offender is known to have been jailed - for a day - after he kept his dog chained so tightly that it suffered a bloodied neck wound, Chin said. Government veterinarian resources are often focused on livestock and the prevention of disease outbreaks, with insufficient attention paid to animal cruelty, Chin added. Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin, head of Malaysia's Veterinary Services Department, told reporters Monday there were already plans to introduce a new law next year to raise the animal cruelty fine to 100,000 ringgit ($34,000). Chin said activists also want offenders to be forced to undergo psychiatric treatment and be banned from owning pets. |
| Nazri beheads MCA and Gerakan Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:40 PM PDT SAKMONGKOL AK47 Now contrast this. A senior UMNO minister has declared that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure Chinese representation in a Barisan Nasional (BN) government even if the MCA or Gerakan fails to secure a single parliamentary seat in the coming polls. Let's have some fun with this statement. (1) It seems UMNO already knows MCA and Gerakan can't win any seats in the next GE. Liow will lose out in Bentong. Chua Soi Lek stands no chance in any of the parliamentary seats in Johor. My friend Pang Tsu Ming in Semambu Indera Mahkota will have to become an accountant once again. The other MCA rep in Teruntum, Chang, will make his exit. (2) You have been in bed since the Perikatan days, you have not understood the Chinese psyche. They don't like handouts, brother. Looking after Chinese voters is a cinch compared to looking after non-Chinese. This accounts for the massive losses incurred by MCA. You don't allow MCA to be their Chinese self. (3) Even at this juncture - you can't help but cringe and grimace over his self-conceit - you mean only Gerakan and MCA represent the Chinese voters? But then, Nazri has never been known for his cerebral statements. He's more of the swashbuckling type - make things up as you go along type. So, we can't take him seriously on this. (4) Nazri has inadvertently acknowledged that the Chinese have another party of choice. That will be the DAP. By saying that, you direct Chinese attention and also that of non-Chinese to examine the DAP personality. (5). Nazri has given a free pass to DAP. Karpal Singh, the DAP chairman will have occasion to say thank you to Nazri instead of the usual barbs and punches he's fond of giving Nazri. Those who assailed DAP as being a carbon copy of PAP ignores the fact, that these two parties have lived worlds and time apart. PAP has evolved into an imperial party while the DAP, to its credit retains the image of no frills carry on ploughing political party. I have never got myself acquainted on the inner dynamics of how the DAP functions. I was fortunate to be invited to a social gathering during the recent fasting month which the DAP organized. The first thing that strikes you is the minimalist approach which I think is almost a doctrine in DAP. It's all business. Here you come to do only political business. No artificial gimmicks. You come dressed simply to work. You have a simple makan, engage in minimal small talks and then adjourned to do what is demanded on the agenda of the day. No singing, no show time by invited artists, no handing out hampers. You are quickly made conscious, that this is a party of the serious minded, do work - get results people. What does that tell you? It tells you, this party can sapu all the Chinese votes and if it pragmatically leavens its ethnic image can even entice support from non-Chinese. My point then is this - Hello brother - the Chinese will have their representatives - the majority in DAP and the rest in PKR. (6) Also Nazri is assuming, it is the BN which retains power. What if we have a new government? The Chinese can forget MCA because they are going to be vigorously represented by DAP and PKR. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri said that BN would not "punish" the Chinese voters by simply yanking their representatives from Cabinet posts if they refused to vote for the two Chinese-centric component parties. How do you rate this kind of statement? It comes from an ingrained and dyed in the wool feudal chief who elevates himself as dispenser of the spoils of war. In other words he is actually saying: MCA lu tak perlu bikin apa apa, we will fight for you. Can MCA live without shame and indignity with this kind of partnership? No wonder the Chinese are abandoning MCA because MCA has forgotten how to be a real Chinese. The real Chinese doesn't go around with bowl in hand asking and begging for political succor. The Chinese earned their keep and it's a matter of pride – you get something by earning it. Obviously Nazri doesn't understand the Chinese mind. READ MORE HERE |
| Jais charges Khalid Samad over unauthorised sermon Posted: 05 Sep 2011 10:28 PM PDT  (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Selangor's religious authorities have clamped down on the state's PAS leadership, charging deputy commissioner Khalid Samad over giving a sermon without permission and revoking state chief Rani Othman's religious credentials. According to Harakahdaily, Khalid was summoned to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) today and notified of the charge in relation to a sermon he gave in Klang during the recent fasting month. The PAS party organ also said that Rani, whose credentials expired during Ramadan, had his renewal application rejected. "I received the credentials last year and applied to extend them but I received a letter from Jais informing me that my application has been rejected and my credentials revoked," the Meru assemblyman said of the license which allows a Muslim scholar to give sermons without prior permission. Khalid was charge under Section 119 of the Selangor Islamic Religious Administration Enactment for giving a sermon in a surau at Taman Seri Sementa, Kapar in Klang on August 16 without prior permission. The Shah Alam MP will face trial on November 24 in the Klang Syariah court. He told Harakahdaily today that the sermon had touched on the role of Muslims in the religious affairs of the state. READ MORE HERE. |
| The greater threat than communists according to Salahuddin Posted: 05 Sep 2011 07:19 PM PDT 
(Harakah Daily) - Sep 6: The act of distributing instant Malaysian citizenship to foreigners for political reasons is greater threat to the country than communists, said PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub. "Giving citizenship to foreigners and have them registered as voters is more dangerous than militant communists," Salahuddin told Harakahdaily, in response to Mohamad Sabu's August 21 speech urging people to be wary of UMNO's twisting of the nation's history of independence. The PAS deputy president has been the target of an intense media campaign by UMNO for stating that those who launched the famous attack in Bukit Kepong in 1950, killing scores of colonial-era policemen, were the true freedom fighters, and not as being depicted by official propaganda including by UMNO-leaning film makers. The remark and the reactions which followed immediately resurrected a decades-old debate on the distortion of Malaysia's history of independence, with historians and politicians urging for a re-think of historical narrations as they could have been written to serve British colonialists who handed over power to a select group of leaders with whom they felt comfortable to deal. READ MORE HERE. |
| REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY Posted: 05 Sep 2011 06:46 PM PDT By Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin 1. I am amused by the statement made by Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, the so-called de facto Minister for Law, who declared that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure Chinese representation in a Barisan Nasional (BN) government even if the Chinese component party, namely MCA fails to secure a single parliamentary seat in the coming polls. 2. That seems to be a truly "Jantan" statement in championing the Chinese cause. If that statement is supposed to elevate Nazri Aziz in the eyes of the Chinese community, then he is mistaken. That statement would in fact constitute an insult to the Chinese electorates. 3. Who is Nazri to make such offers if the Chinese voters have rejected this Chinese-centric component party? Who appointed Nazri to be the Chinese champion on this issue? Since it is a historical fact that the BN political parties are race-based parties, it is best that Nazri look into his own backyard. I am sure my Malay brothers and sisters would appreciate to have their welfare being continuously taken care of by a vocal Malay Minister like Nazri Aziz, and not only during elections time. 4. There is more than meets the eye to Nazri's statement. I have said it before that the statement by MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is nothing more than a cheap political gimmick. Soi Lek loses nothing by making that statement. He knew that his "pornographic" background makes him unsuitable to be a government Minister. Thus, Soi Lek is actually sacrificing the government posts of other MCA leaders who could pose a threat to his MCA Presidency. The Chinese community is not stupid to not see Soi Lek's objectives.
5. It was only recently that Nazri Aziz was seen interfering with GLCs by instructing them to appoint a favored legal firm in order to cause a withdrawal of the cases that these GLCS have against former MAS Chairman, Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli. The public uproar showed that Nazri had miscalculated the public intelligence and reaction.
6. But more than that, I am told that it showed Nazri's failure to comprehend basic principles of corporate law. I am also told that Nazri's directive offends the Rule of Law because a government Minister cannot suborn the board of directors of a GLC which is a public listed company in that manner. I believe that Nazri Aziz should know these things better as he is a lawyer, while I am not.
7. By the same reasoning, Nazri's statement on Chinese representation in the government offends basic logic on the purpose and objective of elections. A general elections is part of the democratic process to allow the electorates to select the leaders whom they would want to govern over them and the country. If the Chinese electorates have rejected the Chinese leaders from MCA, who is Nazri to force upon us to accept such leaders as our representatives in government?
8. It is more alarming to note the second part of Nazri's statement that "The system allows us to appoint senators and we need to have representatives of the non-Malay community." This confirms the public skepticism that appointments to the Senate have been abused as a backdoor entry into government. This is preposterous. More than that, this statement coming from a senior Minister who is a lawyer, displays sheer arrogance which will be deservedly punished in the coming GE 13.
9. Let us be reminded that the being elected to form the government is part of the democratic process. It erodes the fundamentals of democracy when a government is formed not from elected representatives but by back door appointments from politicians who have failed. A government post is not a trophy for political gratification.
10. I hope that as a person trained in the law, Nazri would recant his statement as it demeans the democracy that we hope to nature as we mature as a nation. Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!
"HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD".
Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin
Justice of Peace |
| Anwar reset button: SAPP Posted: 05 Sep 2011 05:22 PM PDT (Daily Express) - Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) on Monday welcomes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement that SAPP need not join the Pakatan Rakyat in toppling the Barisan Nasional (BN). Its President, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, said Anwar has also given assurance that Pakatan can negotiate with the SAPP in going against the BN one-to-one in the next election. "As the de facto leader of PKR and Pakatan, Anwar has re-set the button on the relationship between SAPP and Pakatan to the same positive footing that SAPP had with Pakatan in 2008," he said in a statement. On the policy framework, he said SAPP has been supportive of the national opposition agenda for change, clean elections, an independent judiciary and an efficient economy. In fact, he said SAPP's two MPs, namely Datuk Eric Majimbun and Datuk Chua Soon Bui, have been consistent on this matter. He said SAPP's eight-point declaration in June 2008 stated that the Government shall be of the people based on good governance and civil society and non-racial politics based on a progressive, just and harmonious society. At the same time, Yong said the party also fights for Sabah autonomy, 20 per cent oil royalties, return of Labuan, review of unfair federal laws in Sabah, Borneonisation of the civil service, solution to the illegal immigrants issue and redressing the socio-economic imbalances affecting Sabah. |
| Aziz Bari: ‘Secara teknikal tidak, pada hakikat British jajah kita’ Posted: 05 Sep 2011 04:38 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Pakar perlembangaan Prof Abdul Aziz Bari berkata meskipun negeri-negeri Melayu bukan atau tidak pernah dijajah oleh British, tetapi pada hakikatnya telah "dijajah kerana pentadbiran negeri dikawal" oleh kuasa Eropah itu sehingga negara merdeka lima dekad lalu. "Pendeknya dari segi teknikal memang negeri-negeri Melayu bukan atau tidak pernah dijajah... hatta pentadbiran agama pun dipantau oleh British," kata beliau dalam reaksi kepada The Malaysian Insider hari ini. "Secara teknikal memang betul bahawa kita tak pernah dijajah; negeri-negeri Melayu hanya negeri lindungan. Hanya Melaka, Pulau Pinang, Sabah dan Sarawak yang pernah dijajah," kata beliau. Bagaimanapun menurut ahli akademik ini, negeri-negeri Melayu bukan negeri yang bebas dan berdaulat kerana mereka tidak bebas mengadakan hubungan luar. "Raja-raja, contohnya, dipaksa menerima kejatuhan Empayar Uthmaniah yang dihancurkan oleh British dan sekutu-sekutunya pada 1924. Ini semua berlaku kerana Raja-raja di bawah tangan British meskipun mereka tidak dijajah. "Selain itu meskipun di sisi undang-undang, yakni secara teknikalnya, mereka berdaulat kita semua tahu dasar dan undang-undang semuanya ditentukan oleh British," kata beliau sambil menambah, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim tidak harus membesar-besarkan kedudukan teknikal itu sehingga menafikan hakikat yang berlaku ketika itu. READ MORE HERE |
| Well, Screw Yew! Posted: 05 Sep 2011 04:07 PM PDT ART HARUN "It shows that Malaysians are observing the agreements they have signed without trying to retaliate in other directions, such as water, which will lead to war." That was part of what Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew reportedly said to a bunch of students at Nanyang Technological University last night. The "agreements" which he was referring to was the one which was allegedly signed in 1990 in respect of the status of the KTM's railway station in Tanjung Pagar and land between Bukit Timah and Tanjung Pagar. I have heard so many versions of that so-called point of agreements and the personality involved behind it. Suffice if I say that that so-called agreement is not beyond scrutiny when it comes to its enforceability. After having said the above, The Minister Mentor continued to speak "positively" of "increasing connectivity" between Malaysia and Singapore through the construction of a third bridge. (I bet you Dr Mahathir is now hyperventilating with immense pleasure after reading that statement). The above remark is typical of the bomb-in-floral-wrap diplomacy which Singapore is so well known for. That tiny southern cock is well known for cuckoo-ing nice little compliments and praises to its neighbours while at the same time lacing them with seemingly harmless little hypothesis of wars and mayhems. To me, the above remark is but a reflection of Singapore's insecurity as a smallish state without any real and tangible strength in its resources, particularly in terms of citizenry and natural sustenance capabilities. Singapore is almost always haunted by the fact that she even have to import water from Malaysia. She is of course also mindful, at all times, of the fact that 300000 of its workforce, come from Malaysia. Her economy by and large is also dependant on Malaysia's willingness to maintain a peaceful, cordial and neighbourly relationship with herself. There is absolutely no reason for Lee Kuan Yew to spell out his nightmare to 1700 students in a forum, unless that nightmare has been haunting him and the rest of the Cabinet of Singapore for all of their collective life. READ MORE HERE |
| Ex-senator agrees with US cable on Sabah situation Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:56 PM PDT 
A Sabah activist claims a 'reverse takeover' was happening in Peninsular Malaysia where names of non-citizens were begining to appear on electoral rolls. (Free Malaysia Today) - Former senator Dr Chong Eng Leong has endorsed a US embassy cable that revealed the federal government's alleged involvement in the recruitment of illegal immigrants for political support in Sabah. The practising surgeon who has been fighting a decade long battle to prevent the takeover of the state by illegal immigrants, alleged that government politicians had acted treasonously by ignoring immigration laws and would never allow an investigation into the matter. Chong, who is currently a Sabah PKR leader, said the same reverse takeover was happening in the peninsula where the names of non-citizens were beginning to appear on electoral rolls. "BN wants to regain political support in the peninsula through non-citizens' votes – by giving away our sovereign rights. "That's why one of Bersih 2.0 demands is calling for the electoral rolls to be rid of phantom voters. He reiterated that in the 90's, when peninsula-based Umno spread its wings to Sabah, an Umno Task Force was set up to look for foreigners who were then issued Malaysian ICs, registered as Umno members and as voters in Sabah electoral rolls. "The director of this task force was Musa Aman and the deputy was Yayha Hussin, current Sabah Chief Minister and deputy CM. "That is the reason why RCI on Sabah illegal immigrants and Project IC will never be set up as long as Umno and BN is still the federal government," he added. "Recipients (of Malaysian citizenship papers) stated openly that they got ICs through Project Mahathir – stated under oath by Election Commission registering officer during the 1999 Likas election petition trial (to prove presence of non-citizen names on the electoral roll)," he said. Unnatural population surge Chong also disputed the Statistics Department's 2010 numbers that they were 2.354 million Malaysians in Sabah. He contended that if Sabah's population growth rate since 1970 were the same as Sarawak's, then Sabah in 2010 should have 1.617 million Malaysians, instead of 2.354 million Malaysians. READ MORE HERE |
| Historical reconstruction again? Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:55 PM PDT 
By Farish Noor, Harakah Daily And so, for reasons that are both complex and irritating, the past is being dragged into the present yet again; while we Malaysians bury our heads in the sand and neglect the future. By now most of us will be familiar with yet another controversy-in-a-teacup that has grabbed the headlines: namely the question of whether the events that took place during the attack on the police outpost in Bukit Kepong ought to be remembered as a historic event in the Malayan struggle for independence.
Unfortunately for all parties concerned it seems that the issue has been hijacked by politics and politicians yet again, as is wont to happen in Malaysia on a daily basis almost. More worrying still is how the manifold aspects of this event have been taken up selectively by different parties and actors to further their own arguments, while neglecting to look at the wider context against which the event took place. It is almost impossible to be truly objective when it comes to the writing and reading of history, and perhaps we can do away with that pretense. But for now perhaps some marginal notes on the matter might come in useful to clear the air a bit.
A. Was PAS pro-Communist?
One of the outcomes of this debate has been the resurrection of the old question of whether PAS (The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) was pro-Communist at that point in its history. This seems an odd question to ask in the first place, as it seems incongruous for an Islamic party to harbour any real sympathy for Communism, which has always been seen as the bugbear to the Islamist cause.
But it has to be remembered that when the Malayan Islamic party was first formed in November 1951, many of its founder-leaders were anti-colonial nationalists who were keen to see the end of British rule in Malaya. Some of them were former members of the Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) and also the first Islamic party in the country, the Hizbul Muslimin (that was formed, and almost immediately banned, in 1948)
PAS's left-leaning days were at their peak during the presidency of Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy (1956-1969), who did not hide his opposition to British rule and who refused to negotiate a settlement with the British then. Dr. Burhanuddin was sympathetic to the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), whose anti-British sentiments he shared; but this does not mean he supported Communism as an ideology.
PAS's stand towards the MCP then (in the 1950s and 1960s) was thus a pragmatic one that was based on the same goal of rejecting British colonial rule. However, it has to be noted that PAS was equally wary of Beijing's influence in the region, and there is nothing to suggest that the leaders of PAS would have ever accepted Malaya coming under Communist rule, albeit directly or indirectly, from Beijing. B. Was the MCP a tool of Communist China?
That the MCP and its guerilla wing were against any and all forms of British colonial rule is simple enough to verify, and their record of anti-colonial struggle is there for anyone to investigate.
The more difficult question to answer however is this: How independent was the MCP, and was it - as the British alleged - working to further China's communist influence in the region then?
The British were somewhat ham-fisted when dealing with the MCP, and it ought to be noted that the invention of the image of the MCP as a 'Chinese threat' was the work of the British colonial propaganda agencies then.
Here, however, a broader perspective on the matter might come in handy. Think of Malaya in the 1950s and envisage the region as a whole, as the Cold War was heating up. In Vietnam, Burma and Indonesia the Communists were gaining strength in numbers; and perhaps the biggest worry to Britain then (as to the departing French and Dutch colonial powers) was the possibility that all of southeast asia might turn Communist.
Remember that this was the time when the region was called 'the Second Front in the war against Communism'; and when the Western bloc was keen to ensure that Indonesia - being the biggest country in the region - would not come under the rule of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). READ MORE HERE. |
| Razali backs call for A-G to act against Anwar Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:45 PM PDT 
(NST) - Deputy Umno Youth chief Datuk Razali Ibrahim has come out in support of the call by a senior lawyer for the Attorney-General to initiate fresh summons against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for contempt of court. He also said Anwar's passport should be compounded to stop him from going overseas and belittling the country with his comments.
On Sunday, senior lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah urged the A-G to take immediate action against Anwar for contempt of court, saying that Anwar had made various allegations from the dock during the hearing of his sodomy trial. Razali, who is also deputy youth and sports minister, told a news conference here yesterday that he did not see Anwar defending himself at the trial. He said Anwar did not take the witness stand and neither did he take his oath.
"He is taking advantage of the trial and turning it into a political stage. He said the court was a playhouse of Barisan Nasional, and many other things. It is a clear case of contempt of court." Razali said if the A-G did not take action against Anwar, others could also belittle the court and get away with it, and the people would lose respect for the law.
"His final aim is to confuse people," added the Muar member of parliament.
Razali said a fresh summons would not delay the sodomy trial as these would be two different cases that could be heard separately. However, Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh said the opposition leader had a "substantive right" to make a statement from the dock.
"Judge Mohamad Zabidin sat through listening attentively to what was said by Anwar in the course of putting forth his statement from the dock," Karpal said in a statement.
He said that only the judge could hold Anwar in contempt. |
| DAP claims Rasah postal voters using army spouses’ IC numbers Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:34 PM PDT  By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — DAP has claimed that at least 21 postal voters are registered in Rasah with identification (IC) numbers belonging to their spouses who are army officers. Rasah MP Anthony Loke told reporters today that 19 wives and two husbands registered at the army camp in his constituency had IC numbers which corresponded to their spouses birthdates and also ended with digits denoting the wrong gender. (The National Registration Department (NRD) issues IC numbers ending with odd numbers for males and even numbers for females.) "We do not even know whether the spouses really exist," the DAP youth chief said. Loke said that he suspected that the IC numbers belonged to the army officers, who are themselves registered at the camp under their own military ICs, allowing someone to double vote. "These IC numbers do not belong to the spouse of the army personnel. So the spouse's own IC numbers can still be registered elsewhere and someone can vote twice. It doesn't matter who. The issue is an extra vote can be made," he added. He said that the Election Commission (EC) ruling last year that spouses can be registered as postal voters meant that all constituencies could potentially see postal votes doubling. "This is not confined to my constituency. We have evidence in Rasah but also know it happens in Rembau, (Umno Youth chief) Khairy Jamaluddin's constituency which we will scan through next," he added. In the second quarter of this year alone, Loke said that 269 spouses have been added in his constituency where there were over 2,000 army postal voters for Election 2008. Loke also found a Yuzina Nodin married to another female named Yuniza Nodin who both had the same birthdate. "I'm not sure whether the Malaysian army has allowed same sex marriage," he joked. READ MORE HERE. |
| Now PAS wants review of independence struggle Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:20 PM PDT 
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — PAS today urged Putrajaya to form a Cabinet committee to review the history of the nation's independence amid controversy surrounding the party's deputy president's remarks on Malaya's pre-independence freedom fighters. PAS No. 2 Mohamad Sabu, widely known as Mat Sabu, told a Bukit Gelugor ceramah recently that those who attacked the Bukit Kepong police station — which killed 25 — during the pre-independence communist insurgency in 1950 were freedom fighters, including Muhammad Indera. PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said today that Umno had lied in calling Muhammad, better known as Mat Indera, a communist, highlighting a book endorsed by the Johor state government titled "Pengukir Nama Johor". "If he is sincere, (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) can set up a Cabinet committee to review the history of the country's independence," said PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub at a press conference today with Mohamad, Mustafa, party central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and party information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Mohamad has since been accused of being a communist sympathiser by Umno leaders and sniped at daily in Umno-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia despite denying that he had used the word "communism" in his speech. Umno Youth said recently it would gather former soldiers, policemen and kinsmen of victims of the Bukit Kepong tragedy in a nationwide roadshow — called the Pentas Patriot or Patriot Stage — to counter Mohamad's view of the fire-fight. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has also accepted a challenge to debate Mohamad on the latter's remarks, although the PAS No. 2 said today that he would let the party's Youth wing debate instead. Mohamad has previously pointed out that Mat Indera was already recognised a freedom fighter by Umno-controlled daily Berita Harian on August 13, 2010. Mustafa said the nation's history needed to be reviewed as the official version only recognised Umno as Malaya's independence fighters. "The fight for independence didn't start with Umno... the ones who fought the British were the Malay Nationalist Party (PKMM)," he said. READ MORE HERE. |
| Grabbing graft by the horns Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:17 PM PDT By Karim Raslan, The Star Corruption is one of the biggest challenges facing Asia's rapidly maturing democracies. The regions' leaders must acknowledge that power cannot exist without responsibility. ACROSS the region, the failure to fight graft has made ordinary people lose confidence in the political process, the police and the courts of law. Popular frustration and anger is clear for all to see. Interestingly, India is witnessing the emergence of influential non-institutional players responding to the society-wide sense of revulsion. This comes at a time of galloping economic growth in India — some 7.7%. However, despite the good news, the world's largest democracy has also been beset by a stream of high-level scandals — ranging from the improper sale of 2G telecom licences to mismanagement and graft in the preparations for the recent 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Indeed, its rising prosperity has made these scandals all the more unacceptable to its middle classes. Given the context, it's unsurprising therefore that a figure like Anna ("Big Brother" in Hindi) Hazare's anti-corruption campaign has found so much resonance in Indian public life. A 74-year-old civil society activist, Hazare has made the fight against corruption his life's work. A military man turned Gandhian, he spent many years promoting his brand of socio-economic and spiritual development in his home village of Ralegan Siddhi, in the booming state of Maharashtra. By the 1990s, however, Hazare had turned his attention to beyond his village. He started targeting corruption in his home state and employing the tactics of his icon Gandhi by using selective hunger strikes against politicians and policies he disapproved of. Matters came to a head this year when Hazare demanded that the Indian government adopt legislation his supporters had drafted for the appointment of an anti-corruption ombudsman. Hazare claimed the original Bill was ineffective and allowed for too much external political interference. Hazare's independently-constituted Jan Lokpal (Sanskrit for "People's Protector") ombudsman commission is set to have the power to investigate all levels of the government (including the Prime Minister), directly impose punishments on offenders and provide protection for whistleblowers. It would even have the power to obtain wire taps on suspects. When Premier Mamohan Singh rejected his demands, Hazare famously launched a "fast-unto-death", leading to his arrest in Delhi. This, in turn, led to a groundswell of support as well as nationwide demonstrations. While the Congress-led Indian government initially held firm, the outcry eventually forced them to back down. Hazare was released and Manmohan promised to draft the Bill according to the former's specifications. What's this got to do with Malaysia? First, it's a sign that desperate times call for desperate measures. Hazare's tactics reveal his almost complete disdain for parliamentary politics. Notwithstanding his hardline position, he's managed to capture the public imagination and much of this is due to his shrewd understanding and manipulation of popular grievances. Frankly, I think Malaysia needs its own Anna Hazare. We need a charismatic, morally irreproachable figure to inject some sense into our public discourse. Moreover, Hazare's Jan Lokpal certainly sounds more appealing than our MACC. If that's the case, who could become Malaysia's Hazare? Is it even possible for any public figure to develop appeal across ethnic lines these days? Would middle class Malaysians now flush with democratic consciousness be willing to imitate their Indian counterparts in dispensing with constitutional niceties to fight corruption? In short, how far would we be willing to go to clean up our system? What would we do if we had to absolutely choose between democracy and good government? Does democracy sometimes need to be rolled back to save it from itself? What happens when people want more freedom and democracy, but without the difficult process of strengthening the underlying institutions of state? Second, the Hazare affair ought to be a warning sign to Malaysian politicians. Leaders are not indispensible — if you fail to deliver you will be replaced sooner or later. India's elite failed to quell the rising tide of corruption. Indeed, they have been complicit in perpetuating it. This, in turn, permitted a figure like Hazare to step into the moral vacuum they vacated, imbuing him with the authority and political capital to dictate his terms. Power cannot exist without responsibility. If Malaysia's rulers think that they really know better and that it would be an unmitigated disaster if the country were led by anyone but themselves, then they best start bucking up, especially in the issue of corruption. |
| Malaysia's parallel judicial systems come up against legal challenge Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:11 PM PDT  By Jennifer Pak, BBC News As a Buddhist, Tan Cheow Hong didn't expect to run up against Malaysia's Islamic laws.
Then last November, his estranged wife showed up at their child's school with a court order from a Sharia judge, who had granted her temporary custody of their 7-year-old.
The wife took their daughter away with the help of Islamic officials and police. "If I had tried to stop them they would have arrested me," says Mr Tan.
He says he had no idea his wife had become a Muslim. The next day his wife converted their daughter to Islam without Mr Tan's consent. That means both mother and child are now subject to Islamic law, which does not apply to non-Muslims like Mr Tan.
He is now filing for child custody through the civil court while his wife is fighting for the case to be heard in the country's Sharia court.
Blurred lines The case highlights a growing problem with Malaysia's separate judicial systems and those caught in between. Muslims are bound by Sharia law on personal matters like marriage and custody rights, while members of other faiths follow civil law.
Yet the lines become blurred when cases involve both Muslims and non-Muslims. Analysts say some disgruntled spouses are exploiting the parallel judicial system.
The most high profile case involved an ethnic Indian couple who were married in a Hindu ceremony. The couple separated and the father became a Muslim. Then he secretly converted his two children to Islam and obtained custody through the Sharia court.
The Hindu mother was also granted guardianship, but through the civil courts. After several years the case is still in the courts to determine which court has jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In a desperate bid to escape the Sharia court order, the mother took the two children and fled the country.
Cases such as these have sowed a feeling of distrust among some non-Muslims who feel that the 'quick conversions' of children with the consent of only one parent are being allowed by religious authorities because of a rising tide of Islamisation in the country.
Courts defended Mr Tan's estranged wife, Fatimah Fong Abdullah, refused to comment on her case to the BBC, but her lawyers confirmed that the child was converted after she returned to her mother. They are fighting to have the case heard in Sharia court.
The Muslim Lawyers Association argues that non-Muslims can submit themselves to the Sharia court jurisdiction.
"It is a fallacy that the Sharia court is religious," vice president Abdul Rahim Sinwan said in a statement to the BBC.
"The court is another system which can be alternative or in fact complement the present civil system."
There is a misguided perception that non-Muslims cannot get justice in the Sharia court but there are plenty of Sharia lawyers willing to give them fair representation, said Mr Rahim.
Law experts say the issue stems back to 1988, when the Constitution was amended to state that civil courts cannot hear matters that fall within the jurisdiction of Sharia courts.
This was meant to prevent Muslims unhappy with a Sharia judge's order from running to civil courts to challenge it, but in practice many claim it has also allowed Sharia courts to expand their remit.
Although government officials have said they will address the problems between Sharia and civil courts, nothing has been translated into law yet.
Alternative representation
In the absence of a remedy, a Christian lawyer is now fighting to practice in Sharia courts to give non-Muslims fairer representation.
Victoria Jayaseele Martin says she is qualified because she holds a diploma in Sharia law from the prestigious International Islamic University Malaysia.
But the religious council in charge of Kuala Lumpur says she cannot practice in Sharia court because she is not a Muslim. Ms Martin is currently appealing against the decision.
Since non-Muslims are being asked to take cases involving Islam to the Sharia court, Ms Martin says they need effective counsel, especially in conversion cases.
Legal limbo
But even with effective counsel in the Sharia court, non-Muslim Mr Tan says he will not subject himself to Islamic law.
Mr Tan is asking the civil court to decide whether one parent can convert the religion of a child without the consent of the other. He also wants the judge to declare that the Sharia court had overstepped its boundary when it granted his wife custody of the child, who was a non-Muslim when the order was issued.
The case is still stuck in the court process. For now he lives in limbo. Every two weeks he takes a five hour bus journey to Kuala Lumpur to see his daughter. It is part of the temporary custody settlement by the civil court.
"If my wife is in a good mood, then she'll allow me to see our daughter. If not, then she won't," he says.
Mr Tan is prepared to push his case up to the country's highest court.
But he feels the law is helpless.
"This type of case is very difficult to resolve in Malaysia because Islam is supreme." |
| Malaysia under Scrutiny as Illegal Ivory Seizures Spike in August Posted: 05 Sep 2011 03:09 PM PDT By International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development Late August saw a surge in arrests related to the illicit trade of African ivory with the seizure of two major shipments destined for markets in Asia. Tanzanian officials on 24 August announced the discovery of more than 1,000 elephant tusks hidden in a shipment of dried fish bound for Malaysia. Five days later, Hong Kong authorities intercepted a further 794 tusks - weighing close to two tonnes - from Malaysia bound for Mainland China. The timing of the seizures coincides with a major illegal wildlife trade training session presented by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Interpol in Gaborone, Botswana. Officials from IFAW said the Tanzanian shipment underscores the fact that more training is needed to help save elephants - particularly those in the Congo Basin, which are most threatened. "We need a global outcry to spur investment in creating the necessary wildlife law enforcement capacity to take on the international criminal syndicates who benefit from these massacres," said James Isiche, IFAW's East Africa director. Countries across sub-Saharan Africa have been struggling with how to effectively deal with poachers, who target elephants and rhinos for their tusks which are used for ornaments and in medicines, particularly in China. Illicit trade in African ivory has been on the increase since 2004, with many experts pointing to increased disposable income in China as a major factor in growing demand. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), China is now the single biggest consumer of illegal ivory. But Malaysia - the common link in the late-August seizures - is increasingly under scrutiny for its role as a hub for illegal wildlife shipments northward. In the past decade, Hong Kong authorities have intercepted two other major shipments of African ivory from the Southeast Asian country also destined for Mainland China. In December 2009, Hong Kong customs officials seized a container shipped from Malaysia containing 186 pieces of Nigerian ivory. The container was erroneously labelled "white wood." Similarly, in 2003, police seized 275 tusks en route from Malaysia, weighing nearly 2 tonnes. The Tusks had originally been shipped from Tanzania. The Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), an illegal ivory trade monitoring system operated by monitoring agency TRAFFIC on behalf of CITES, says Malaysia has progressively gained prominence as a transit country of choice for African ivory. "This latest Hong Kong seizure further underscores Malaysia's role as an intermediary country in the illicit flow of African ivory to Asia," said Tom Milliken, TRAFFIC's Elephant & Rhino Programme Coordinator. "It's time for Malaysia to get tough on international ivory smugglers, who are tarnishing the country's reputation." The shipment of Tanzanian elephant tusks concealed in sacks of dried sardines was also earmarked for export to Malaysia. Authorities in Zanzibar have arrested two suspects. |
| Umno riding on the slippery Mat Sabu bandwagon Posted: 05 Sep 2011 01:20 PM PDT It's OK if Mat Sabu has done something wrong. But the awful truth is that he has done nothing wrong. Mat Sabu has only exposed the myth that Umno is the only one who fought and gained Malaya's independence from the clutches of the colonial power. By Kim Quek If you do not believe that Umno has already passed its expiry date as a potent political party, all you need to do is to watch how its entire leadership as well as its entire propaganda machineries have been fully engaged in the past week to indulge in an orgy of attacks against Mat Sabu – PAS' deputy president. It's OK if Mat Sabu has done something wrong. But the awful truth is that he has done nothing wrong. Mat Sabu has only exposed the myth that Umno is the only one who fought and gained Malaya's independence from the clutches of the colonial power. His illustrative mention of Muhammad Indera (fondly known as Mat Indera) as an independence fighter was only in the context of lambasting Umno for ritualistically twisting the Bukit Kepong assault incident on every Merdeka Day for Umno's self-glorification – as if it is the only body accountable for the country's independence.
MAT SABU BASHING Pouncing on Mat Sabu's positive mention of Mat Indera, Umno bays for Mat Sabu's blood. It accuses Mat Sabu – and by extension PAS – of praising communists and glorifying communism and wanting to turn the country into a republic. While the entire might of Umno has been unleashed on a non-stop assault on Mat Sabu's alleged advocacy of communism, has any one of them paused to reflect that the word "communist" or "communism" was never mentioned by Mat Sabu in his entire speech? For the sake of truth, let us recapture the relevant part of Mat Sabu's speech, delivered in a ceremah at Tasek Gelugor, Penang, on Aug 21: "When it's near Merdeka Day (television programmes) on Bukit Kepong will be aired. The police who died in Bukit Kepong are police who belonged to the British. "Those who attacked Bukit Kepong were the ones fighting for independence. The one who attacked Bukit Kepong was Mat Indera (Muhammad Indera). He is a Malay, but this is not in the history books.
"Jins Shamsudin made a film (about this). Jins Shamsudin is from Umno. (His film on) Bukit Kepong criticised (the attackers) as the villains.
"The police are British police. Before independence, our country was ruled by the British. But in the film, the heroes were the British and the (insurgents) were terrorists." Mat Sabu also criticised in his speech how Umno had perverted the essence of Merdeka Day into self-glorification and ignored non-Umno elements that had also contributed to the country's independence.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND For a better understanding of the issues, let me put the Bukit Kepong incident in its proper historical perspective. The time was 1950, two years after the declaration of Emergency (to deal with the armed insurgency by the Malayan Communist Party) and seven years before the country gained its independence. It was at the height of the guerilla war waged by the MCP to seek independence from the colonial master Britain. One night, on 23rd Feb 1950, a band of guerilla fighters attacked a remote police station at Bukit Kepong, Johor, and killed 25 persons who were mainly policemen and their family. The attack was led by Mat Indera, a Malay, and the policemen were also Malays, serving the British colonial government. This incident was only one of numerous skirmishes within in a larger war staged between the independence fighters led by the MCP on the one side, and the British colonial government determined to protect its colonial rule on the other side.
NO FACTUAL BASIS The question we want to put to Umno is: since this is a guerilla war for independence, in what way was Mat Sabu wrong when he said Mat Indera was fighting for independence? And also, in what way Mat Sabu was wrong when he said the policemen who died belonged to the British? Weren't they serving the colonial government? Didn't they fight to protect the colonial power? Since no "communist" or "communism" was ever mentioned, how did Umno come to the conclusion that Mat Sabu was praising communists or glorifying communism? Haven't Umno leaders and Umno propangandists been taking a big flight of fantasy to conjure up the PAS – Communist nexus? Isn't it true that all Mat Sabu was saying was simply that Umno had used the wrong analogy to self-glorify on a false claim – that it alone has brought Merdeka? What Mat Sabu has uttered has nothing to do with communism. Neither was such uttering intended to downplay the contribution of Malay leaders to the country's independence movement – as wrongly accused by Umno leaders. With regards to the role of MCP in our independence struggles, we have to say this. While we might not like communists or agree to the communist ideology, there is no denying the fact that the MCP fought for Malaya's independence. In fact, it was the high toll caused by the MCP armed insurrection that had prompted Her Majesty's Government (Queen Elizabeth) to shorten the transition of power to its hand-picked successors to ensure continuity of its legacy. In that sense, the MCP struggle had hastened Merdeka. And even under the canopy of the MCP, not everyone was a communist, as many had joined the guerilla warfare not to serve the ideology of communism, but to fight to get rid of colonial rule.
CONFLUENCE OF FORCES As for Umno's claim as the sole power that has brought this country independence, this is a far cry from the truth. Apart from MCP, other nationalist forces had been at work right after World War II (even before Umno was formed) to struggle for an independent Malaya. These were grouped under two umbrella bodies, namely, PUTERA (Pusat Tenaga Rakyat) comprising Malay-based organisations, and AMCJA (All-Malayan Council of Joint Action), a coalition of multi-racial bodies and unions, which included the MCP. These two umbrella bodies quickly joined forces then to press the British colonial government to grant independence to the then Malaya, for which even a draft People's Constitution was proposed in 1947. But the British rejected this proposition. In the subsequent crackdown on this joint political movement, during which many leaders were arrested, some Malay nationalist leaders, including Mat Indera, joined forces with MCP to continue their independence struggles through armed insurgency. As mentioned earlier, it is this armed struggle, which began in 1948 when Emergency was declared, that had served as the constant prod that pushed the British into a speedy hand-over of power. Thus, it was the confluence of forces that had brought Merdeka in 1957. Admittedly, the Alliance – a coalition consisting of Umno, MCA and MIC – as the political group favoured by the British, had played a major role in the negotiation that led to independence. But for Umno to claim sole credit for this independence achievement, as it has done in the country's official version of history, to the exclusion of even its own coalition partners MCA and MIC, would be to do a great injustice to all non-Umno Malayans who have contributed. Other nationalist movements, including those led by prominent leaders like Burhanuddin al-Helmy and Ahmad Boestaman, as well as the MCP, had also made significant contribution towards the speedy realization of Merdeka. From this perspective, Mat Sabu in raising the Bukit Kepong example has done the nation a great service in awakening the country from the great distortion of history perpetrated by Umno.
A DESPERATE UMNO As for Umno's current campaign to vilify Mat Sabu, it is sheer vulgar propaganda aimed at critically damaging the electoral support for of PAS and through it, the entire opposition alliance of Pakatan Rakyat, as Umno's accusation is nothing but concoction of twisted accounts, unsupported by facts or logic. That Umno has to resort to such childish and untenable strategy to salvage its precarious political fortune clearly indicates that it has already lost its potency as a political force – it has neither the substance nor the confidence to compete on a legitimate political platform. |
| ‘Don’t Blame’, because he is not your son, Mr. Prime Minister Posted: 05 Sep 2011 01:09 PM PDT I am not saying that all parties involved in a particular incident should be jailed or penalized, but do we at least allow such matters to be debated openly or investigated with transparency? By Ng Ooi Cheng Journalist Noramfaizul Mohd Nor was one of the casualties in many 1Malaysia-tagged programmes. Last month and in June alone, nearly 200 primary students in different schools of Melaka and Johor experienced symptoms including stomachache and vomiting due to milk poisoning under the 1Malaysia School Milk programme, and they seemed to carry no weight in the UMNO-controlled newspapers. In 2010, more than 20 primary students fell into a river at night in Kuala Dipang, Perak at the 1Malaysia Camp, and three of them died. Definitely, no one would have wanted the above incidents to take place. However, had the organizers and parties involved taken enough consideration, precautions and measures to prevent the undesired incidents? (Read report below) I was upset when I saw the headline 'Don't Blame' in a local newspaper yesterday (5 September), alluding to a comment by Prime Minister Najib about what had happened to Noramfaizul. My spontaneous reaction from my heart was, "Don't blame? Of course, because he is not your son." It is this 'blameless' attitude that people are now facing hard times, mistakes are repeated, and many culprits escape. So, nobody is accountable for any faults, or all faults are denied as false. In Japan, Naoto Kan relinquished his prime minister post, kneeled down and apologized when admitting his government's responsibility for the HIV-tainted blood incident when he was the health minister. In Korea and Taiwan, former presidents got jail terms for corruption. In China, businessmen were sentenced to death for tainted milk powder that killed several babies. I am not saying that all parties involved in a particular incident should be jailed or penalized, but do we at least allow such matters to be debated openly or investigated with transparency? For instance, in the case of Noramfaizul, did those organizing the mission understand the modus operandi of journalists when in a battlefield or war zone? Did they provide the journalists with adequate protection? I have learnt from news reports that the Malaysian journalists did not even wear bullet-proof jackets. Did anyone have full understanding of what is happening in Somalia? It is basically a state of anarchy. People who follow the international news know that the Gulf of Aden offshore Somalia recorded piracy cases higher than any other region over the last few years, and they were mainly Somali pirates who were involved. Dozens of journalists were reported to have been killed in Somalia and foreign journalists have been fleeing the country. A local journalist was reported to have said that both insurgents as well as pro-government forces were targeting journalists as they did not want any record of their criminal acts. Everything is too late now as damage cannot be undone. Heroic titles and compensation can be given, but the beloved father, husband and son to family members cannot be returned. May he rest in peace and his family blessed. Somalia: Will Anyone Be Left to Tell the Tale? It seems there may be a campaign underway to rid Mogadishu of its independent media. Recent reports highlight the increasing harassment and intimidation of journalists in Mogadishu. While dozens of journalists have been killed since late 2006, there has been a visible increase in the targeting of journalists this year. Thus far in 2009 , five journalists have already been killed – most recently Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, director of Radio Shabelle. Dozens more have fled Mogadishu after receiving death threats. According to Hamdi Kadiye, an executive member of the National Union of Somali Journalists, "We [journalists] are in a very difficult and dangerous situation. We are being forced to choose between reporting on what is happening and our lives." But why are journalists being targeted? According to Hamdi Kadiye, it is because the groups fighting, both the insurgents and pro-government forces, want to ensure there are no records of the crimes they are committing. Over the past month, fighting has overtaken Mogadishu, resulting in the displacement of 117,000 people since early May. According to UNICEF's acting representative for Somalia Hannan Suleiman, it "is the most concentrated displacement of civilians the city has seen in years." Even more worrying are U.N. reports of ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of boys – some as young as nine – as fighters on the front lines, and increasing reports of rape and sexual violence against women. These are the stories the fighters want silenced due to fears that media reports could be used as evidence against them in the future. Silencing these reports would be a catastrophe for the Somali people. As fewer international journalists are able to travel to Somalia, it has fallen to the independent media within Mogadishu to continue reporting on the ongoing violence. Without their reporting, the world will know woefully little about the horrors facing the Somali people. Hamidi Kadiye put it best when he said, "If journalists left and the independent media ceased to exist, there would be no one to tell the story of those suffering." |
| Bian: Sarawak govt wrongly advised on NCR Posted: 05 Sep 2011 10:45 AM PDT By Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Is the Sarawak government being wrongly advised on the issue of native customary rights (NCR) over land? The opposition here believes that the Attorney-General's Chambers is not knowledgeable enough about the reach of the NCR issues and is ill-advising the state government. Said Sarawak PKR leader Baru Bian: "The advice given (to the state government) is that NCR land only covers temuda land, and it does not cover pulau galau (communal forest), pemakai menua (territorial domain), pendam (graves) and tembawai (old longhouse sites). "But we have proved to them that they are wrong. "The High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court have agreed with our interpretation and have ruled that the NCR land also covers pemakai menua, pulau galau, pendam and so on." Asked why the state government has been ignoring the court decisions, Bian said the government was afraid that recognising the court rulings would mean that the entire state could come under NCR ownership. "Accepting the ruling on pulau galau and pemakai menua means the whole of Sarawak belongs to the natives. That's why the state government is worried. "A lot of areas deemed to be state land may not be state land after all; it could be NCR land. "Those are not my words, but the words of a government officer," he said, citing remarks made by a government officer in the Nor Anak Nyawai case. Indiscriminate approvals According to the officer, if the government is to recognise pulau galau and pemakai menoa as part of NCR land, then it would have to survey all the NCR land. Bian said the state government has been indiscriminately approving licences, leases and provisional leases covering pemakai menua, pulau galau and temuda land to oil palm and timber companies. "Many native landowners have sued the government over its decision to take away their NCR land. READ MORE HERE. |
| The Winter of Chinese Discontent Posted: 05 Sep 2011 09:22 AM PDT 
By Masterwordsmith Ten years ago, the Chinese community in Malaysia thought in terms of 'us' (The Chinese) and 'them' (The Malays). Fast forward to the present and what do we have? A complete paradigm shift where the Chinese (and even other groups in Malaysia) realize that it is no longer a race struggle but a class struggle that we face in Malaysia today! In other words, no longer is it Chinese vs Malays but Malay-Chinese-Indian vs Malay-Chinese-Indian in a class struggle. Undoubtedly, the political consciousness of Chinese has changed very radically. The Chinese community today are now more politically active and dare take a stand on issues - a far cry from those who cowered in fear ten years ago! (As a Chinese, I am discussing it from a Chinese perspective without prejudice against other races. I thought I'd better make this clear from the start.)
Whereas in the past, there were few Chinese who were involved in activism, the years of being sidelined have propelled them out of the comfort zone to come out in full force such as during the Bersih rally, even though some deny that fact. The stigma of being called 'pendatang' has injected us with new courage and indignation. And yes, we are finally coming out of our individual tempurungs for a better Malaysia for all! And why are Chinese Malaysians braver now? It is because they are fed up. Angry. Frustrated. Even after contributing to the vibrancy of the Malaysian economy by opening up all kinds of enterprises, even after trying to be positive contributors to the development of this country, even after trying their best to integrate and to assimilate to the best of their abilities, they still have to fight for rights before the government gets to be more hard core in marginalizing and sidelining us. All this is done while they have the cheek to grandly deny that they are NOT sidelining us and worse still, we cannot voice our concerns or question this.
After slogging away and contributing to taxes, we see how vernacular schools i.e. hua xiao (do not get enough funds, and deserving students do not get scholarships. Our bright students who do not meet certain 'requirements' have to be on F and M scholarships i.e. father's and mother's scholarship. Whereas in the past people kept quiet, now we see how even a young man Chan Xian Yao, 19, a student who failed to obtain a "Khazanah-Cambridge Scholarship" filed a suit against Khazanah Nasional Berhad and three others at the High Court through his father Chan Chow Wang's law firm. (Read more here.)
Despite whatever economic development achieved or the level of affluence enjoyed, or even the existence of middle class Chinese, does democracy and equality really exist? How far has the status quo crushed the patriotic hearts of the people by discriminatory policies, such as in education and housing?
While in the past many hid in political passivity, more and more are rising up to join organized movements to demand greater power, free speech, or other democratic rights against a repressive political system. In the last ten years, the winter of discontent has led to heavy debates which are more and more animated. Goodbye reticence, hello boldness!
Previously, it was normal for Chinese to give their support to MCA or Gerakan but the tide has changed because they will not suffer any more wishy-washy policies but are ready to moot political change via activism and the ballot box. The image of infallibility of MCA or Gerakan has been completely eroded in the last few years and regardless of how much they swivel in self- denial, they can forget about winning the support of the Chinese in the next election. We know how these two political parties have fared in recent years, and more damningly, many have perceived them as being unwilling to take accountability for their mistakes. Even now, they are in political inertia and their popularity ratings are plummeting. Have they tried their best to protect and promote the welfare of Chinese? How many will continue to support them and resign themselves to stagnation? I am sure that if candidates are good, Malaysian voters will vote for them based on the quality of their leadership and commitment and not along racial lines! And now, we have to contend with the implications of Nazri's statement here.
In the last six months, the quality of life in our country is worsening despite claims of economic growth. Our pockets are lighter and we have to work longer hours to make ends meet. With the removal of subsidies and increases in fuel cost, the cost of living has spiralled out of control. My son has just graduated and I cannot see how his current salary is sufficient to afford his insurance premiums and housing loan (if and when he saves up enough $$ to buy a place).
In reality, the income gap in our country has increased so alarmingly that we now have one of the highest Gini co-efficients in the world as seen HERE. Whatever fruits of our labour or economic success have not been fairly distributed so the spoils are NOT being enjoyed by those who work hard! The winter of discontent on the ground is real but does it appear that the status quo are able and willing to address the situation? Does it seem that they are more intent to do cosmetic surgery to make things look good when in fact, they do not? READ MORE HERE |
| Nazri says no to zero Chinese representation in government Posted: 05 Sep 2011 09:06 AM PDT 
By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — A senior Umno minister has declared that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure Chinese representation in a Barisan Nasional (BN) government even if the MCA or Gerakan fails to secure a single parliamentary seat in the coming polls. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz told The Malaysian Insider that BN would not "punish" the Chinese voters by simply yanking their representatives from Cabinet posts if they refused to vote for the two Chinese-centric component parties. While admitting that the matter would not be his to decide, the minister in the Prime Minister's Department gave his word that he would champion this cause to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should such a situation arise when the coalition retains the government. "I want to tell the Chinese voters that BN is a multi-racial government and regardless of the outcome of the elections, we will always have a Chinese representative in Cabinet. I want to say this with certainty even though I am a nobody in Umno... not even a vice-president. "But if it should come to that, I will do my very best to persuade the PM that we should not have a single communal government. The system allows us to appoint senators and we need to have representatives of the non-Malay community," he said. Nazri recalled that such a promise was made by the country's longest-serving prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his tenure in government. "I remember back when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was PM... he told Cabinet that even if we come to a stage where MCA or Gerakan loses in all parliamentary seats, we cannot form a Malay government. "We cannot be a single communal government as it simple goes against the spirit and policy of BN. We cannot punish and penalise a section of the community just because they do not support BN," he said. Nazri was recalling a pledge made by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek several months ago when the former Cabinet minister said he would pull his party from the government if it performs worse than it did in Election 2008. READ MORE HERE. |
| Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #81 Posted: 04 Sep 2011 09:26 PM PDT 
M. Bakri Musa IFIs thrived in the first few centuries of Islam not because those early Islamic thinkers had found a magic way to dispense with the cost of funds and returns on investments, rather they used different terms (or more crudely said, put a different spin on the issue) to circumvent interests payments and earnings. Chapter 9: Islam in Malay Life Reform in Islam Islamic Financial Intermediaries (Cont'd) IFIs thrived in the first few centuries of Islam not because those early Islamic thinkers had found a magic way to dispense with the cost of funds and returns on investments, rather they used different terms (or more crudely said, put a different spin on the issue) to circumvent interests payments and earnings. The modern version of Islamic banks was resurrected only in the last few decades. Despite its recent rebirth, its popularity has soared both in Islamic and non-Islamic countries. This recent history should serve as a ready caution. The system has not been tested. The system of auditing, accounting, and regulating has not been standardized. What I fear most is that should Islamic banks fail in an economic crisis, it would not only aggravate the situation but also set back people's trust in them. That in turn would severely shake Muslim's trust in their religion. A senior official of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which supervises the world's largest and most sophisticated banks, voiced his concern about this in his address to a meeting of Islamic bankers who were eager on introducing the concept to America. Through bitter experience America has wisely separated commercial banking from insurance and investment banking, and also banking from commerce. A century ago American banks were deeply involved with commercial enterprises much along the lines currently advocated by proponents of Islamic banking. The 1930 depression was blamed in part because banks were deeply involved in speculative share trading activities of companies they owned. Further, such co-mingling of banking and other commercial activities could lead to an unhealthy concentration of economic power. Banks would then cease from becoming an impartial arbiter of credit worthiness. Modern Western banking has been continuously refined over the past centuries. Banks today (at least in Western countries) are safer and offer better services. They have also contributed immensely to economic development. The challenge for IFIs is not simply to say that Western banks are un-Islamic but to offer comparable services to customers and thus serve the economic needs of society. Instead of trying to parse non-existent differences between interest and other costs of funds, modern Islamic bankers and economists should more productively focus their intellectual resources to differentiating the various kinds of lending. Islam rightly prohibits "making money on money," which I interpret as gambling and speculating, but encourages trade, which is taking risks in productive investments. There are certainly significant differences between my borrowing money to buy a Mercedes limousine to show off to my colleagues and neighbors, or to use it as a taxi. The economic multiplier effect of the purchase, for example in creating jobs at the factory as well as the car repair shops, is the same in both cases – the direct effects of consumer spending. From there the economically meaningful differences emerge. With the first instance I am using borrowed funds for consumption; the second for production or investment. With the latter I, as a borrower, would actually earn money (passenger revenues) as a consequent of the loan. And if I share my taxi with another driver, that would create yet another job (making a total of two taxi drivers). No such additional incomes or job creations would result with the first type of borrowing. Additionally, my taxi would provide a much-needed transportation service to the community. My private limousine would only create more pollution and envy from my neighbors. But the most important difference is that with the first borrowing, only the lender (bank) makes money out of the borrower; with the second, both lender and borrower make money. In either case money is being borrowed and interest (cost of funds) incurred. But with the second case the borrowing serves a useful societal purpose; it is in fact a form of trading. I trade my service or expertise as a taxi driver for the bank's capital. The first borrowing on the other hand, is purely for consumption. One can be easily persuaded that borrowing in the second instance should be encouraged as society as a whole would benefit from such activities. No such societal benefits would accrue from the first borrowing. Thus we could properly differentiate, as many recent scholars have suggested, between the costs of capital in the first type of lending as interest, riba; the costs in the second instance should be more accurately called profit on the trading of capital, which in this case is money instead of the usual assets such as goods and real estate. Muslims must remind ourselves that current accepted interpretations of terms such as riba and gharar (risky sale, speculation) are just that: interpretations. Indeed there are some scholars who interpret riba to mean excessive interest. Just as excessive profit is bad (and often illegal as they are usually obtained through such means as market manipulation, monopoly, or plain hoarding) so too are excessive interest rates. Likewise there is a conceptual difference between interests on "productive" versus "consumptive" loans. The latter would more likely fit the description of riba while the former as profit on the trading of capital. There is a comparable controversy on whether insurance, specifically life insurance, is halal or haram. Islam has its own version of managing risks, Takaful. (mutual aid). Again here it is the duty of its proponents to clearly differentiate their product, especially with respect to safety, security, and rate of returns from traditional insurance so consumers could be better informed and be able to "comparison shop" intelligently. In such important matters we must go beyond simplistic and legalistic changes of specific words but instead concentrate on deciphering the meanings and intent of such terms. Indeed Muslim shippers in Spain first started the very concept of takaful or insurance. They would collect levies on each shipper so they would have funds to support the unfortunate shipper who would meet untimely calamity along the way. Of course the concept has since developed a long way from there. When one traces the development of insurance from a mutual aid society, the ulama can easily understand and readily agree to the concept. I once explained to an alim who vehemently opposed life insurance, the concept of risk sharing. I described a community where when someone dies, the rest of the community would contribute some money to take care of the deceased's family. He readily agreed to the benefits of such deeds and went on to quote eloquently some holy passages to buttress his agreement. Then I suggested that instead of collecting the money only when someone dies, we would collect it regularly and put that cash in a pool ready to be distributed at the time of need, that is, the death of a member. Again, he readily concurred. Then I moved on and suggested that instead of giving the same amount of money for each family, we use our judgment and give more to those who die leaving behind young children as opposed to those whose children have grown up. Again, he readily agreed to the rationale that the expenses of a family with dependent children would certainly be greater and therefore they should get more. Then I made the leap forward by suggesting that instead of us or the village committee deciding how much money the deceased family would get, we let individual members decide how much to leave to their family when they die. Surely the individual is the best judge on the needs of his or her family. Those who want to leave more would of course have to contribute more; those who want to leave less would contribute less. Again he saw no problem with that. Then I surprised him by saying that is in essence the concept of life insurance. You decide how much your family would get when you die and you make your contributions (that is, pay your premiums) accordingly. Today, life insurance is much more complex as other risk factors like age and family history are considered. And instead of a village committee we have a team of professional actuaries who assess and price risks as well as invest the premiums. But cut to its core, life insurance is essentially a commercialized mutual aid society. The money contributed (premiums), instead of being left underneath the village headman's mattress, is being invested and thus further contributes directly to the economy. The ulama's prohibition on insurance, specifically life insurance, is simply based on their lack of understanding of the concept of risk sharing. They have this simplistic notion of life insurance as a bounty to invite some mischief on the part of the beneficiary in order to collect the cash. Well, such a scheme is a crime. One would be punished right here in this world for fraud and murder. Life insurance, like other forms of insurances, is merely a form of mutual sharing of risks. Nothing prevents a community, co-operative, or a "mutual" company from offering such investments. Indeed such co-ops and mutual insurance companies are among the biggest issuers of insurances in America. The Mormon Church has a similar insurance-like scheme by levying charges (tithes) on its members to take care of the sick and disabled amongst them. Next: Educating Ulamas on Modern Economics |
| The Malay cock syndrome Posted: 04 Sep 2011 08:55 PM PDT 
The trouble is these Malays measure the size of your balls according to the size of the cock's balls. And to qualify as a man you must have balls the size of a cock's balls. They are not concerned whether you have brains bigger than a cock's brains. NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin You may have noticed that the 'hot' news these past few weeks is all about so-and-so challenging so-and-so to do this, that or the other. Mat Sabu challenges so-and-so, Khairy Jamaluddin challenges so-and-so, so-and-so challenges Anwar Ibrahim, so-and-so challenges Najib Tun Razak, and whatnot.
And these challenges are followed by allegations of takde telur, takde batu, takde pelir (which all means no balls or, as the Chinese would say, boh chuntoi), pondan (transvestite), eunuch, and so on.
This is very revealing of the Malay cock syndrome. And this is also revealing of the Malay penchant for cock fighting, which is still a favourite pastime in the Malay heartland such as the East Coast -- where many macho Malay males love their cocks more than their wives.
Woe to any wife who cuts off the head of her husband's cock and serves it for dinner. Wives have suffered divorce for less than that. A man's cock is a sacred cow, and just like any sacred cow, one does not slaughter it and serve it for dinner.
A fierce cock that has never lost a fight is a man's prized possession. He would proudly parade his champion cock all over the kampong for all and sundry to admire. A champion cock would be worth its weight in gold. It would be worth more than four wives combined in terms of commercial value. You could marry four wives for less than the cost of a champion cock.
A fierce fighting cock is a cock with balls. Although I have never yet seen where the balls are, I assume they must be hidden there somewhere. If not they would not be such fierce fighters.
To these Malays, a man is judged by how close he resembles a fighting cock. And a man who does not rise to the challenge is a man who takde telur, takde batu, takde pelir, boh chuntoi, or is a pondan, eunuch, and so on.
It is that simple. I challenge you, you accept. You don't accept, then you takde telur, takde batu, takde pelir, boh chuntoi, or are a pondan, eunuch, and so on.
That is why Malays love Hindi movies. Hindi movies always start with the baddie terrorising the entire village. Then along comes the hero who gets beaten up to the point of death as he stands up for the democratic rights and civil liberties of the entire community. He then recovers from his injuries and singlehandedly defeats the baddie and his army of 65 toughies, plus in the end he gets to marry the most beautiful girl in the village. These are movies made for the Malay mind.
I too have received my share of challenges and my share of allegations of takde telur, takde batu, takde pelir, boh chuntoi, pondan, eunuch, and so on. To these Malays, a real man would subject himself to a sham trial based on mala fide charges and fabricated evidence. And if you do not dare face this travesty of justice and manipulation of the judicial process, then you takde telur, takde batu, takde pelir, boh chuntoi, or are a pondan, eunuch, and so on
The trouble is these Malays measure the size of your balls according to the size of the cock's balls. And to qualify as a man you must have balls the size of a cock's balls. They are not concerned whether you have brains bigger than a cock's brains.
I really don't know how big the cock's balls are. But I am more concerned with saving my balls, whatever size they may be. So I use my brains, which are bigger than a cock's brains, and not my balls to make my decisions.
I am not sure what decision I would make if I use my balls to make these decisions. But by using my brains to make decisions I think I am able to make better decisions and in that same process save my balls as well.
I suppose this is because I have a better brain than these types of Malays who may have gone to university but yet still use their balls rather than their brains to make decisions. And since they use their balls rather than their brains to make decisions they do not always make the cleverest of decisions.
This is the problem with Malays who suffer from the cock syndrome. They think like cocks and use their balls in deciding things. I refuse to think like a cock so I use my brains. And that is why these types of Malays can never match me. They can't come even close.
They may have gone to university at the expense of the taxpayers -- 90% of whom are Chinese, according to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But they still refuse to use their brains in making decisions in spite of their education. They still use the cock as the basis of whatever they do.
Sigh…you can take the Malay out of the kampong, but how do we take the cock out of the Malay? They still think like cocks and use their balls rather than their brains in making decisions.
This is what caused Dr Mahathir to cry during the Umno General Assembly. And during the interview he gave soon after he retired in 2003, he lamented about how he had failed to change the Malays.
Basically, Dr Mahathir realised that the Malays still use their balls instead of their brains and they go through life like prized cocks and because of this the Malays are going to be a lost race in time to come.
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| Petulant Khairy calls Mat Sabu a eunuch Posted: 04 Sep 2011 07:07 PM PDT 
Khairy sees red after PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu suggested that the debate on Bukit Kepong should be between the two Youth chiefs. (Free Malaysia Today) - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has not even verified if PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu really made a social blunder over the Bukit Kepong incident but he has already started his character assassination. A petulant Khairy, upset that Mohamad Sabu or Mat Sabu has refused to have a debate with him over who were the true independence heroes, has started maligning him in his micro blogging Twitter site. Some of the names Khairy has called Mat Sabu in his Twitter site are "coward" and "eunuch". "One thing is sure: today I know that PAS chose a coward as a deputy president who doesn't have dignity. He is afraid because he is wrong. He is defeated before the war. "That is what they elected. A eunuch," wrote Khairy. The debate was suggested following controversy relating to Mat Sabu's speech in Penang on Aug 28 during which the PAS strongman is alleged to have said that the communists who attacked Bukit Kepong police station are the true independence heroes. Khairy explained that Mat Sabu wants him to debate with PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hasan Tantawi instead. "I have no issues with PAS Youth chief. Nice guy. But I debated with PAS Youth chief in Sinar Harian. Been there, done that," wrote Khairy in reference to a debate in July at Sinar Harian office on the issue of slander. Khairy heaped praises on PAS vice-president Husam Musa for brushing aside protocols to debate with him on hudud in 2008 in Kota Baru. "Even though Husam was vice-president and Kelantan senior exco, he agreed and we debated in the presence of more than 3,000 people. Husam wasn't concerned about protocols. "At least Husam dared to keep party protocols aside for the sake of political openness. He is daring. We met on an intellectual platform." READ MORE HERE |
| How can UMNO take out Mat Sabu Posted: 04 Sep 2011 06:17 PM PDT SAKMONGKOL AK47 I write this article with the full knowledge that UMNO will not strategize. Its advisers will suggest the sledgehammer approach. Its advisers are motivated by headlines in the media. Not for them the strategic content and advantage. There is no mileage in UMNO escalating the Mat Sibu extolling communism issue. If it pursues the issue further, in the end, UMNO will be exposed for what it truly is- a racist non-inclusive Malay political party. Don't allow the hawkish and extreme right wing supporters of UMNO succeed in causing UMNO to be regarded as such. UMNO leaders must stop the madness. Don't sacrifice potential long term gains for the allure of short term gains. The short term gain is winning the argument against Mat Sabu. The longer term gain is to ensure UMNO retain its image as a voice of moderation and reasonableness. The former produces divisiveness. The latter earns credibility for UMNO not only from Malays but non Malays. But if UMNO doesn't care about this, then it will be true- UMNO is imploding. The strategy is to isolate Mat Sabu. Not to widen the issue by dragging Islam into it. What Mat Sabu said has nothing to do with communism. The godless creed remains Islam's eternal enemy. UMNO foot soldiers will find it increasingly difficult to defend its fictional creation. Will UMNO be able to defend its contention that PAS the Islamic party supports communism? PAS leadership will stand behind Mat Sabu insisting that what he meant was historical injustice done to one Mat Indera. UMNO can simply demolish this allegation of historical injustice by saying that it is the UMNO led Johor government that honored Mat Indera by listing him as one of the influential Johoreans who have contributed to the state. The Johor government has done substantially more to the memory of Mat Indera than Mat Sabu's rhetorical stunt in his speech. The issue should have stopped at just that. Nail Mat Sabu for his stupid stunt. Cite him for impetuousness and insensitivity that indicate clear lack of leadership credibility. Take Mat Sabu out. Mat Sabu doesn't have the coolness and presence of mind to be a leader of caliber. But to widen the issue to include communism will be self-defeating. No one would believe that PAS will go to bed with communism. If UMNO uses this argument, it will find itself fighting with Islam and shows it is just a xenophobic political party consumed by paranoia all through. The reason why UMNO has succeeded in earning credibility and legitimacy is because it has always operated on the principles of moderation and reasonableness. UMNO leaders and members must realize where historical extremism and bigotry is leading UMNO to. By historical extremism and bigotry we mean the chauvinistic treatment of history in the furtherance of an xenophobic position. What is it? The whole issue is reduced to a racial war simpliciter. Chinese out killing Malays. This is what the hawkish and right wing UMNO supporters want UMNO to become. So we have articles claiming people of Batu Pahat will never forget the reign of terror inflicted by Bintang 3. Or suddenly we are lectured on the atrocities of communism- or more particularly Chinese atrocities on Malays during the communist reign of terror. Did the 10th Regiment inflict the same terror on the Malayan people? Mat Sabu didn't mention anything about communism. He mentioned the name of Mat Indera, the Malay 'communist' who led the attack on Bukit Kepong police station in 1950. Most of the police who were killed were Malays. Most of the communists who attacked were Chinese. If Mat Sabu had wanted to correct the historical mistreatment of Mat Indera, he has chosen an insensitive way in doing it. The Johor government has issued a publication that listed Mat Indera as one of influential Johoreans who had shaped the history of Johor. That proper historical rehabilitation was done by the government of Johor. Where is the political premium for UMNO in debating this issue? These are only short term gains. First, this is an opportunity to denounce PAS, where in fact, it should have been only Mat Sabu. Second and more important, the Bukit Kepong incident can be turned into a racial issue. READ MORE HERE |
| ‘Mat Indera bukan pejuang kemerdekaan’ Posted: 04 Sep 2011 05:59 PM PDT Seorang tokoh sejarah Malaysia terkemuka mendakwa Mat Indera orang seberang. (Free Malaysia Today) - Seorang tokoh sejarah tampil menjelaskan bahawa Mat Indera atau nama penuhnya Ahmad bin Indera bukan seorang pejuang kemerdekaan yang menentang British. "Komunis ketika itu cuba mewujudkan orde baru dunia berdasarkan fahaman komunis dan Mat Indera seorang penyokong gerakan komunisme," jelas tokoh sejarah terkemuka, Profesor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim. Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditanya berkenaan latar belakang Mat Indera yang mengetuai serangan komunis ke atas balai polis Bukit Kepong pada tahun 1950. Isu berkenaan Mat Indera sebagai ketua kumpulan Parti Komunis Malaya yang terlibat dalam serangan Bukit Kepong menjadi kontroversi apabila timbalan presiden PAS Mohamad Sabu dalam ceramahnya di Pulau Pinang mendakwa bahawa komunis yang terlibat adalah pejuang kemerdekaan sebenar, lapor Utusan Malaysia pada minggu lepas. Khoo turut menjelaskan bahawa Mat Indera bukan anak tempatan. "Mat Indera orang seberang.
Asal Indonesia "Dia berasal dari Indonesia, bukan rakyat jajahan takluk kesultanan Melayu." Khoo turut menyatakan bahawa sejarah diputar belit oleh ahli politik untuk kepentingan diri. READ MORE HERE |
| Khairy kepada Mat Sabu: ‘Jumpa di Kota Baru’ Posted: 04 Sep 2011 05:56 PM PDT Bagaimanapun, dalam perkembangan terbaru ayam kokok PAS itu menolak debat dengan Khairy. (Free Malaysia Today) - Khairy Jamaluddin menegaskan dia menolak pelawaan untuk berdebat dengan Ketua Pemuda PAS, Nasrudin Hasan. Sebaliknya, beliau sedia berdebat dengan Mohamad Sabu. Alasannya kerana kerajaan Kelantan meminta ahli Parlimen Rembau itu berdebat dengan Timbalan Presiden PAS. "Its OK bro. Kerajaan Kelate minta saya debat Sabu. (Mohamad)." Bagaimanapun, dalam perkembangan terbaru ayam kokok PAS itu menolak debat dengan Khairy. Semalam, Ketua Penerangan PAS, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man mengesyorkan debat PAS-Umno berhubung kontroversi tragedi Bukit Kepong dan isu siapa pejuang kemerdekaan negara bagi membolehkan rakyat sendiri membuat penilaian. `Saya dah terima jemputan…' Bagaimanapun tarikh debat tersebut tidak dinyatakan. READ MORE HERE |
| Court must ask Shafee to explain Sodomy II remarks, says Pakatan Posted: 04 Sep 2011 05:08 PM PDT 
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has called on the High Court hearing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial to haul up lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over allegations that he conspired with the Najib administration to destroy the opposition leader's image. Opposition lawmakers told The Malaysian Insider that the court must find out if the prominent lawyer had met media chiefs along with staff from the Prime Minister's Office to subvert media coverage of the high-profile trial. "This raises doubt over the proceedings of the case and the court should call on Shafee to explain to ensure the credibility of the trial," said PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar (picture). This was echoed by Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who said that as Shafee is frequently employed by and linked to backroom discussions with Barisan Nasional (BN) lynchpin Umno, he cannot be considered a neutral party. "Justice must be seen to be served. This was also the lawyer who said openly to the media that it was 99.9 per cent sure that Anwar was the man in a sex video," the Beruas MP said, referring to allegations earlier this year that the PKR de facto leader was the man recorded having sex with an unknown woman. With Anwar's ongoing sodomy trial winding to a close, the Permatang Pauh MP had given his statement from the dock, claiming that the accusation, which surfaced over three years ago, was a conspiracy by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to end his political career. Muhammad Shafee has come under scrutiny online purportedly for interfering with the news coverage of the controversial court case by issuing instructions to mainstream media editors and reporters over their reporting of Anwar's statement. The alleged conspiracy was given more flavour by a blogger calling himself Ahmat Gaza who claimed that a clandestine meeting on August 23 at the swanky Le Meridien Hotel in the city here included one of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's media advisers, Abdul Jalil Hamid. But the lawyer scoffed at the allegations, stating that the meeting with various media such as Utusan Malaysia, TV3 and The Star was not a secret and he was there to talk about the law of contempt. READ MORE HERE. |
| Singapore’s Lee denies calling Islam ‘venomous’ Posted: 04 Sep 2011 05:07 PM PDT Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has stirred a hornets' nest with his remarks about the religion as reported in leaked US diplomatic cables. (Free Malaysia Today) - Singapore's outspoken former leader Lee Kuan Yew today denied calling Islam a "venomous religion" after leaked US diplomatic cables set off a furore in the multiracial city-state. One of hundreds of cables from the US embassy in Singapore released last week by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks had Lee as describing Islam as a "venomous religion" in a 2005 meeting with then senator Hillary Clinton. "This is false," the 87-year-old Lee, Singapore's founding prime minister and elder statesman, said in a statement. Lee said that he looked up a foreign ministry note of the meeting, and "nowhere does it record me describing Islam as 'venomous', nor did I say anything which could have given that impression". "I did talk about extremist terrorists like the (Southeast Asian) Jemaah Islamiyah group, and the jihadist preachers who brainwashed them. They are implacable in wanting to put down all who do not agree with them," he said. "So their Islam is a perverted version, which the overwhelming majority of Muslims in Singapore do not subscribe to." During the meeting, another US lawmaker in Clinton's party had asked Lee about "how organised terrorists were internationally", according to the leaked cable signed off by then US ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin. It said Lee "responded that orthodox Islam was a powerful force capable of recruiting volunteers for terrorist groups". "He noted Singapore's experience in 2001 and 2002 in dealing with Jemaah Islamiyah's terrorist plots in Singapore and characterised Islam as a 'venomous religion'." Singapore has a predominantly Chinese population with minority races including Malays, who are mostly Muslim, making up 13.4 percent of its population of five million. READ MORE HERE |
| Pak Lah’s fishing trip to the Caribbean Posted: 04 Sep 2011 04:54 PM PDT While in St Vincent for a 'working visit', Abdullah spent most of his time vacationing in the Grenadine islands where high-end resorts are located, says a leaked US cable. (Free Malaysia Today) - Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's four-day "working visit" to two Caribbean islands in 2006 was the subject of a confidential US cable which raised questions over the purpose and the potential achievements for the countries involved. The cable by US diplomats based in the Caribbean to the State Department in Washington DC came about two weeks after Abdullah completed his visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines from April 29 to May 2 in 2006. The cable noted that Abdullah's visit was more of a vacation rather than a working visit, in which the Malaysian premier had spend a day on a fishing trip with St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. "After meeting with PM Gonsalves, the Malaysian (Abdullah) vacationed for a few days on the Grenadine islands Mustique and Canuoan. "He spent one of these days on a fishing trip accompanied by Gonsalves. PM Abdullah returned to St Vincent proper on May 2 and addressed Parliament before departing for Jamaica," added the cable. The cable noted that Mustique was a private island containing over 75 private villas, many of which are owned by international celebrities. Canuoan meanwhile was the location of the high-end Raffles Resort and an opulent villa complex and golf course developed by Donald Trump. The cable was leaked by whistleblower site WikiLeaks and handed over to Raja Petra Kamarudin's Malaysia Today website which published it today. 
Red carpet welcome The US diplomats added in the cable that following Abdullah's departure from St Vincent, a joint statement by the two countries expressed further interest in "enhancing cooperation" in a number of areas. The cable also noted that the lack of a concrete agenda or results from Abdullah's trip to St Vincent did little to clear up the circumstances surrounding Gonsalves' earlier trip to Southeast Asia. "When first announced, the Malaysian leader's St Vincent trip appeared to suggest that PM Gonsalves had indeed accomplished something for his country by travelling to Southeast Asia earlier this year. "Considering, however, that the 'working visit' was really a vacation, it does not appear that St Vincent will necessarily benefit from its PM's previous globetrotting," stated the cable. "The lack of a concrete agenda or results from PM Abdullah's trip does little to clear up the circumstances surrounding Gonsalves's earlier trip to Southeast Asia, the purpose and financing of which remain unclear," stated the cable. The US cable also stated that the government of St Vincent "literally rolled out the red carpet for the Malaysian PM, who was greeted by the entire Cabinet and other dignitaries at St Vincent's small airport when he arrived on April 29". READ MORE HERE |
| Umno lawyer defends comments over Sodomy II Posted: 04 Sep 2011 04:53 PM PDT 
By Debra Chong, Malaysia Today KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — As Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's ongoing sodomy trial winds to a close, Malaysia's best-paid lawyer has denied conspiring with staff in the Prime Minister's Office to subvert the media and end the political career of the man once deemed the biggest threat to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN). Prominent lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, frequently linked to the BN's powerful lynchpin Umno, has come under fire online after Anwar's unsworn statement of defence from the dock, purportedly for interfering with the news coverage of the controversial court case by issuing certain instructions to mainstream media editors and reporters. The alleged conspiracy was given more flavour by a blogger calling himself Ahmat Gaza who claimed that a clandestine meeting at the swanky Le Meridien Hotel in the city here included one of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's media advisers, Abdul Jalil Hamid. Muhammad Shafee broke his earlier vow of silence yesterday to denounce the allegations against him as an attempt to plunge the country's government institutions into chaos in order to enable a takeover of Putrajaya, but stopped short of attributing it to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact, headed by Anwar. "His agenda is to create as much distrust as possible, against the institutions of government including the judiciary, to create chaos against the rule of law," Muhammad Shafee replied when asked the motive of the allegations against him, referring to the blogger Ahmat Gaza. "This Gaza is an idiot who does not know the true nature of this meeting," the pro-Umno lawyer said yesterday when contacted by The Malaysian Insider. He scoffed at the allegations of a conspiracy to do harm to Anwar, and put it down to the imagination of the unknown blogger Ahmat Gaza, whom he warned he would sue for defamation once the latter's real identity is revealed. The allegations have since gone viral and been replicated on other websites. Muhammad Shafee admitted that he had met with several media workers at Le Meridien on August 23, saying it was "not a secret". "It was organised by Utusan… someone called Fatiman, to explain to the media what is contemptuous law," he said, adding that there were between eight and 15 media representatives present that day from several mainstream news organisations and named the Umno-owned Malay-language daily, national private broadcaster TV3, English-language daily The Star, among them. He said he doubted Ahmat Gaza was a whistleblower among those present at that meeting because it was not a secret meeting as claimed in the blog. Asked if Abdul Jalil was also present at that meeting, Muhammad Shafee said: "If Jalil was there, I vaguely think he was there, I'm not surprised if Jalil was there because he was there as a media person." He said he knew of Jalil but was not on close terms with the PM's aide, adding that he only was aware of the latter's current position after being informed as such by The Malaysian Insider. A former senior journalist with international news agency Reuters, Abdul Jalil declined comment when contacted by The Malaysian Insider. Muhammad Shafee said he had also been approached by TV3 for a similar explanation after both media companies were hauled up in the Shah Alam court for contemptuous coverage of the murder of cosmetics tycoon Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya last month. READ MORE HERE. |
| Awang Adek taken to task over highway remark Posted: 04 Sep 2011 04:19 PM PDT  (Harakah Daily) - Kelantan PAS has slammed deputy Finance minister Awang Adek over his remark that the state government could never solve traffic congestion issue, describing it a vile and shallow attempt to discredit the PAS-led government. Kelantan PAS Youth chief Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman reminded Awang that Federal government was responsible for highway infrastructure across Malaysia.
"Has Awang Adek just woken up from his slumber or deliberately trying to collide with Kelantan UMNO's state liaison chief (Mustapa Mohamad) in this issue?" he asked, referring to the International Trade and Industry minister who said Kelantan would not able to build highway on its own as it was the responsibility of the Federal government.
On August 24, the state government agreed to take over the long-delayed construction of the Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai highway, following the Federal government's failure to complete it as promised.
The state said it would cost some RM1.9 billion, lower than the RM2.3 billion quoted by the Federal government.
Kelantan state Exco in charge of Finance, Husam Musa, said the allocation had been withdrawn from the 10th Malaysia's Plan.
Husam said the highway was extremely important to the people. READ MORE HERE. |
| S’gor offers Sarawak Pakatan help Posted: 04 Sep 2011 04:02 PM PDT  By Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Selangor has pledged to channel its resources, including manpower, to help Sarawak in the coming general election as it is one of the important states that can ensure the Pakatan Rakyat 'march' to Putrajaya is successful. Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, who was here on a visit together with de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, said people were begining to accept Pakatan. "As the people are now beginning to understand our policies and our struggle, the Pakatan Rakyat will mount a very serious challenge against the Barisan Nasional government. "It is possible for us to go to Putrajaya with strong support coming from Johor, Sarawak, Sabah and other states. "Sarawak is important to us. This is why we have to send our manpower and resources to Sarawak," he told a press conference yesterday. Khalid and Anwar were in Kuching for a meeting with state PKR leaders. Khalid called on Sarawak PKR leaders, members and supporters to work hard and to go to the ground and mix with the people. "You must explain our policies, our struggle and our pledge to the people. "The more they understand our struggle, the brighter the chance for us to win over their hearts and minds," he said. Not easy
He admitted, however, that it is not easy to organise things in the state especially if it has to do with Anwar. "Many people are scared of political backlash or that they are being threatened if they show open support for us. "Let me remind Sarawak leaders that if they continue to do this, we from Selangor can also do the same that is, banning them from entering the state or refusing them from using our facilities. "But Selangor will not do it. They can use our halls and other facilities because these facilities are built using people's money. "However, they must follow rules and regulations. "Tell Sarawak leaders not to be arrogant and give the people the opportunity to choose between BN and Pakatan. "I feel sad that Sarawak is so rich with natural resources, but the people have no chance to enjoy those benefits. "That is why I dare to say that we will work together with the people to plan a better future for the people of the state," he said. Later in the afternoon Khalid left for Miri to meet with party leaders and members, while Anwar met with members of the state leadership council. Later Anwar left for a Bidayuh village in the Mambong constituency, which is one of the 15 seats that PKR has expressed its interest to contest. READ MORE HERE. |
| Coup bid: ‘Five MPs were ready to defect’ Posted: 04 Sep 2011 03:55 PM PDT 
By Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: A leader of a component party within the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) today revealed that five MPs from Sarawak were prepared to defect to the opposition before or on Sept 16, 2008, in support of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's plan to take over the federal government. The leader, who requested anonymity, told FMT: "I was directed by an Umno leader to contact 10 MPs from PBB, SUPP, PRS and SPDP to defect to the opposition. "Five of the MPs agreed to jump ship on condition that an Umno leader would be appointed as the interim prime minister to replace (premier) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi." The leader was responding to a WikiLeaks report which said that Anwar's plan to take over Putrajaya, with the support of BN legislators, was real. "Five more were interested, but they wanted to wait and see before making any decision," the BN leader said, adding that there were several BN parliamentarians who had been unhappy with Abdullah. "I had a number of meetings with the Umno leader, who told me that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would be appointed as the interim prime minister in the unity government for the next two or three years. "Anwar would be appointed as deputy prime minister," he said. According to him, the Umno leader claimed that apart from Sarawak MPs, the plan had also received the support of MPs from Sabah and other states. 'My job to explain our policies' However, the plan failed to materialise as some Umno MPs who were considering defecting had leaked the plan to the then prime minister. Two weeks or so before the Sept 16 deadline set by the opposition to form the new government, about 40 MPs, mostly from Sabah and Sarawak, were sent by the BN backbenchers club to Taiwan to "study" agriculture. The move derailed Anwar's plan. READ MORE HERE. |
| ‘What if govt cannot repay EPF?’ Posted: 04 Sep 2011 03:38 PM PDT  By G Vinod, FMT PETALING JAYA: With a RM290 billion debt hanging over its head and with continued overspending, the government is on a reckless path to self-destruction which could well eat into the people's Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributions. According to a research group although the country has been running on deficit since 1998, it has however not stopped the government from spending beyond its means. The group pointed out that the government has overspent by RM290 billion in the past 13 years. According to Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) executive director Teh Chi-Chang, the deficit could pave the way for more cuts in spending on other important areas such as education and healthcare. "The last time we had a surplus or savings, where we spent less than our income was in 1998. "By end of this year, our total over-spend would reach about RM290 billion. "It means all Malaysians would be in debt by an average of RM10,000 each," said Teh raising concerns over the impending content of the 2012 national budget. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, would be tabling Budget 2012 come Oct 7. Many quarters are expecting Najib to announce several goodies in the upcoming budget to cater for snap polls, rumoured to be held sometime late this year or in early 2012. Barisan Nasional is said to be facing its toughest ever battle in its political history going into the 13th general election. In the 2008 polls, the ruling coalition lost five states – Perak, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor – to opposition Pakatan Rakyat. BN later wrested Perak in a reverse takeover. In the recent April Sarawak state elections which was seen as a litmus test of approval, BN lost an unprecedented 16 seats, a clear indication according to analysts of fast dwindling popularity. Going into the 13th GE, BN is expected to blow hundreds of millions to secure its grip on Putrajaya and such excess spending will mean more borrowings. EPF funds under threat Explaining the economic scenario, Teh said people should understand that when the government runs on deficit, it means having to borrow money to pay for the excess spending. "And the lenders are normally the EPF, banks and fund managers," said Teh. He also said that as long as the government continues to borrow to pay for its dues, interest rates in the country would eventually soar. Teh said with substantial amount of borrowing, there would come a time when lenders would be unwilling to lend anymore which would force government to cut its spending. "Lenders may be forced to take 'hair-cuts; that is accepting lesser payment than what is owned by the government. "Imagine if the government can't pay back its dues to EPF, the contributors will have lesser savings in their account," said Teh. The NGO then offered a solution to the government. READ MORE HERE. |
| WIKILEAKS: MALAYSIA PRIME MINISTER VISITS ST. VINCENT Posted: 04 Sep 2011 01:00 AM PDT Considering, however, that the "working visit" was really a vacation, it does not appear that St. Vincent will necessarily benefit from its PM's previous globetrotting. As stated in reftel, the Government of St. Vincent cannot afford such trips by its PM, which must be paid by third parties. The question remains, what do these third parties stand to gain from financing the travels of the leader of a small Caribbean island-state? THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 000829 SENSITIVE SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV, OVIP, PGOV, PINR, PREL, JM, MY, VC, XL SUBJECT: MALAYSIA PRIME MINISTER VISITS ST. VINCENT REF: BRIDGETOWN 609 1. (SBU) Summary: Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines over the course of four days in April and May for what was touted by St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves as a follow-up to his successful March visit to Malaysia and Singapore. While in St. Vincent, the Malaysian leader addressed a session of Parliament, but spent most of his time vacationing in the Grenadine islands where St. Vincent's high-end resorts are located. The lack of a concrete agenda or results from PM Abdullah's trip to St. Vincent does little to clear up the circumstances surrounding Gonsalves's earlier trip to Southeast Asia (reftel), the purpose and financing of which remain unclear. End summary. Malaysia PM Unwinds in St. Vincent 2. (U) Malaysia PM Abdullah visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines for four days, April 29 to May 2, for what was called a "working visit" in a press release provided by the Malaysia MFA. From St. Vincent, the Malaysia PM went on to Jamaica for a two-day "official visit." A reporter traveling with the PM wrote in the Malaysia Star that the Jamaica portion of the trip dealt with possible Malaysian investment in energy exploration and construction projects, while the PM was stopping in St. Vincent "mostly for a vacation and to unwind from the pressures of work." St. Vincent Rolls Out the Red Carpet 3. (U) The Government of St. Vincent literally rolled out the red carpet for the Malaysia PM, who was greeted by the entire Cabinet and other dignitaries at St. Vincent's small airport when he arrived on April 29. After meeting with St. Vincent PM Gonsalves, the Malaysian vacationed for a few days on the Grenadine islands Mustique and Canuoan. He spent one of these days on a fishing trip accompanied by Gonsalves. PM Abdullah returned to St. Vincent proper on May 2 and addressed Parliament before departing for Jamaica. 4. (U) Note: Mustique is a private island containing over 75 private villas, many of which are owned by international celebrities. Canuoan is the location of the high-end Raffles Resort and an opulent villa complex and golf course developed by Donald Trump. The stylish environment of the Grenadines contrasts markedly with the somewhat squalid conditions encountered on the main island of St. Vincent. End note. Gonsalves to Visit Malaysia, Again 5. (U) Following the Malaysian PM's departure, the Governments of St. Vincent and Malaysia released a joint statement with standard diplomatic language expressing further interest in "enhancing cooperation" in a number of areas. PM Gonsalves announced that he had accepted an invitation to make an official visit to Malaysia in June and would also see the Malaysian PM in September during the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Cuba. St. Vincent formally joined the NAM at the organization's 2004 summit in Malaysia. Comment 6. (SBU) When first announced, the Malaysian leader's St. Vincent trip appeared to suggest that PM Gonsalves had indeed accomplished something for his country by traveling to Southeast Asia earlier this year. Considering, however, that the "working visit" was really a vacation, it does not appear that St. Vincent will necessarily benefit from its PM's previous globetrotting. As stated in reftel, the Government of St. Vincent cannot afford such trips by its PM, which must be paid by third parties. The question remains, what do these third parties stand to gain from financing the travels of the leader of a small Caribbean island-state? GILROY |
| Najib Should Admit Putera 1Malaysia Somalia Trip was Reckless Posted: 04 Sep 2011 12:56 AM PDT The media workers from Malaysia had no bullet proof vests, head gears and the 4-wheel they were traveling in was not marked "Media" to avoid sniper attacks. Charles Santiago Member of Parliament, Klang We all understand that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is thinking about the reputation of his party, UMNO, even as the wife and family members of BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor grieve over his death. At a press conference this morning, Najib rebuked those who were trying to pin the blame for Noramfaizul's death on UMNO Youth and Putra 1Malaysia. The premier must understand that no one is playing a blame game. But UMNO division chief Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Putra 1Malaysia and Bernama must be held responsible for not providing Noramfaizul with adequate protection and training. The media workers from Malaysia had no bullet proof vests, head gears and the 4-wheel they were traveling in was not marked "Media" to avoid sniper attacks. Najib has gone on record to say that one could get killed even if he wears a bullet proof vest. He also dodged questions about whether journalists assigned to conflict zones must be given adequate training, saying such assignments come with its inherent risks. But his most irresponsible remark is this – "Even foreign journalists get killed…If you don't want to become a journalist, stay at home". I am shocked. Journalists do not have to go to conflict zones to bring back news reports and footage. But some opt to do so to tell the truth and disseminate accurate information to the people. This is an honorable job. As such, it is the duty of the media organizations to adequately train and protect their journalists. Noramfaizul has been described by Najib as a national hero. Let's try telling that to his wife, two young children and parents. The truth is that he died because of a reckless trip put together by Putra 1Malaysia and Abdul Azeez with the backing of the government and Bernama. It was nothing but a cheap publicity stunt for UMNO and Putra 1Malaysia when the aid could have been disbursed through existing aid agencies like the Medecins San Frontieres (MSF). The government has to stop repeating what it does best – sweeping pertinent issues under the carpet. Najib must admit that a gross mistake has been made by Putra 1Malaysia and Bernama. Following that the Ministry of Information must impose safety protocol requirements to media organizations in order to protect reporters going to hostile areas. This is because no story is worth dying for. I call upon the government to institute an investigation into the level of preparedness of this poorly planned and reckless mission to Somalia. |
| WikiLeaks crowdsourcing tool / Alternative cablegate browser Posted: 03 Sep 2011 11:26 PM PDT Following the full release of unredacted WikiLeaks cables on Sept 2, 2011, we have made available an updated crowdsourcing tool for journalists and general public also at: The app allows you to easily browse, search and read all the released WikiLeaks cables in a sleek and simple interface.
All 251,287 cables will be uploaded to the site soon. Stay tuned.
I believe this will certainly interest quite a number of people as we have over 900 Malaysian cables. |
| Sejarah Bagai Gadis Disolek Sesuka Hati Posted: 03 Sep 2011 11:20 PM PDT Setujukah kalau kita katakan bahawa kita hanya ada sebelah buku sejarah iaitu versi UMNO sedangkan Inggeris mempunyai buku sejarah tentang negara kita yang lebih lengkap yang tersimpan di London. By Tongkat Bahaman 54 Soalan untuk renungan anak-anak muda pasca merdeka sempena 54 tahun "merdeka…" - Benarkah UMNO tidak pernah berperang dengan British dan pemimpinnya hanya berunding untuk mendapat kemerdekaan. Jadi Tunku adalah perunding atau pejuang ?
- Sebelum Merdeka British begitu terancam dengan PKM selepas merdeka UMNO pula, walaupun sudah berdamai (1989) tetapi tetap gelabah. Apakah mereka bimbang mengenai hakikat sejarah yang akan terbongkar?
- Benarkah ramai tentera British telah menjadi korban gerila Tentera Pembebasan Rakyat Malaya (TPRM) yang terdiri dari seluruh bangsa rakyat Malaya yang bergabung tenaga bersama PKM?
- Bilakah semboyan MERDEKA bermula dan siapakah pemulanya?
- Benarkah ramai perajurit TPRM juga telah terkorban menentang tentera penjajah Inggeris sejak darurat 1948 hinggalah merdeka. Apakah maksud pernyataan ini?
- Kalau merdeka tanpa pertumpahan darah kenapa begitu ramai nama-nama askar Inggeris yang mati direkodkan di tugu negara kita. Kenapa mereka mati? Mempertahankan siapa - tanah jajahan atau rakyat Malaya?
- Benarkah Darurat 1948 adalah perang terhadap rakyat yang berjuang bersemboyankan merdeka. Mereka ditangkap, dipenjara dan dibunuh yang terlepas menyusup ke hutan bergerila membentuk TPRM.
- Akta darurat 1948 adalah demi keselamatan negara atau keselamatan imperialis Inggeris di Malaya?
- Benarkah Darurat 1948 ini diisytiharkan sesudah kuasa penjajah Inggeris melihat PKMM, AWAS, API, PKM, BATAS, Kesatuan Buruh dan lain-lain telah berjaya mengumpulkan berjuta rakyat Malaya di bawah PUTERA-AMCJA untuk mengusulkan negara merdeka berpelembagaan.
- Benarkah Darurat 1948 diistiharkan bagi mengekang tekanan dan suara merdeka di bawah PUTERA-AMCJA pelbagai kaum rakyat Malaya ketika itu.
- Benarkah HARTAL yang dilancarkan pada 1948 adalah antara penyebab kuasa imperialis Inggeris melancarkan akta darurat 1948 … dan kenapa?
- Siapakah yang sebenarnya dalam keadaan darurat – imperialis Inggeris atau rakyat kerana kebangkitan seluruh rakyat ketika itu … ?
- Benarkah akta ini adalah muslihat untuk British tidak mengisytiharkan perang sedangkan ia suatu perang terhadap rakyat yang berjuang menuntut Merdeka dengan membawa masuk 400,000 tentera dari tanah-tanah jajahannya ke Malaya?
- Kerana akta ini ramai pemimpin PKMM, AWAS, API serta lain-lain parti yang berjuang untuk menuntut merdeka telah bersama PKM dan berjuang dengan senjata menentang Inggeris dan kenapa?
- Jika mereka tidak memilih hutan dan gerila apakah pilihan yang ada untuk mereka kerana seluruh parti-parti progresif telah diharamkan. Apakah mereka perlu memilih rumah pasung Inggeris (balai polis), penjara atau tali gantung (UMNO sahaja yang tidak diharamkan ketika itu kerana ia ditaja oleh British).
- Kenapa perang dalam negeri terus berlangsung selepas merdeka. Bukankah ini antara syarat yang dikenakan Inggeris untuk merundingkan kemerdekaan? Apakah signifikan syarat ini? Tidakkah untuk memberi masa kepada British bagi mengelak "premature withdrawal"? Dan apakah signifikannya terhadap soal perniagaan senjata jangka panjang ke Malaya oleh British serta kepentingan mempertahankan harta mereka (kolonial) yang masih ada.
- Benarkah Inggeris memberi kemerdekaan kepada Malaya kerana mereka hormat orang Melayu yang mereka pernah tulis sebagai bangsa yang tinggal di atas pokok (1786) atau kerana mereka sudah tidak dapat tahan terhadap ribuan serangan bertubi-tubi dari gerila PKM yang menyebabkan beribu-ribu askarnya cedera dan terkorban.
- Setujukah kalau kita katakan bahawa kita hanya ada sebelah buku sejarah iaitu versi UMNO sedangkan Inggeris mempunyai buku sejarah tentang negara kita yang lebih lengkap yang tersimpan di London.
- Bolehkah wira-wira Melayu silam seperti Tok Janggut, Datok Bahaman, Mat Kilau, Dato Sagor, Dato Maharajalela dan yang lainnya yang dituduh oleh British sebagai pengganas itu adalah sebahagian dari pejuang kemerdekaan.
- Benarkah pada tahun 1948 UMNO hanya sebuah parti (gerombolan) kecil minoriti seperti PERKASA hari ini?
Read more at: http://www.tongkatbahaman.com/component/content/article/34-tongkat-bahaman/68-sejarah-bagai-gadis-disolek-sesuka-hati.html |
| Isu Bukit Kepong: PAS sedia debat dengan Umno Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:42 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - PAS bersedia untuk berbahas dengan Umno berhubung kontroversi tragedi Bukit Kepong dan fakta sejarah negara — yang kini menjadi senjata terbaru parti Melayu itu untuk menyerang kepimpinan Mohamad Sabu. Ketua Penerangan PAS Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man berkata, ramai pejuang kemerdekaan yang tidak diiktiraf dalam sejarah termasuk Muhammad Indera atau Mat Indera, salah seorang yang terlibat dalam tragedi Bukit Kepong. "Mat Indera dan ramai para pejuang kemerdekaan yang tidak diiktiraf dalam sejarah yang telah menjadi fokus utama serangan media perdana pro-Umno kepada PAS memerlukan satu penyelesaian konkrit. "PAS berasa simpati kepada kesan mendalam kepada waris Mat Indera dan tokoh-tokoh pejuang kemerdekaan yang lain yang bangun menentang penjajah tetapi jasa mereka digugurkan dan tidak diiktiraf dalam sejarah akibat terpaksa menanggung pelbagai tuduhan liar 'pejuang-pejuang pertahanan sejarah versi Umno' tanpa ruang untuk menjawab," katanya dalam satu kenyataan. Jelas beliau, sebahagian besar waris pejuang kemerdekaan yang terkorban menentang penjajah berasa dukacita apabila dilabelkan sebagai komunis. Selain itu, tegas Tuan Ibrahim, serangan Umno melalui lidah rasminya Utusan Malaysia membuktikan parti Melayu terbesar itu kehilangan modal untuk menyerang PAS terutamanya untuk meraih sokongan pengundi Melayu dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13. "Disebabkan serangan bertubi-tubi Umno yang kini berlangsung selama sembilan hari ini, rakyat kini, terutamanya golongan muda yang celik internet terdedah dengan pelbagai maklumat mula membuka mata dan mulai bangkit mencari kebenaran dan membuat penilaian semula fakta sejarah yang dihilangkan selama ini oleh pihak pemerintah. "Selain itu, sebahagian besar waris pejuang kemerdekaan yang terkorban dalam menentang Inggeris kini sangat dukacita apabila mereka dicapkan sebagai golongan komunis, sedangkan mereka langsung tiada kena mengena dengan komunis," katanya. Tambah beliau, waris Muhammad yang ditemui pihaknya juga kesal dengan laporan media yang mengaitkan pemimpin Melayu itu dengan komunis. "Waris Mat Indera yang ditemui juga sangat berdukacita dengan laporan tidak beradab media perdana yang mengaitkannya dengan komunis. Mereka yakin, hanya dengan tumbangnya kerajaan BN (Barisan Nasional) barulah fakta sejarah yang sebenar dapat ditegakkan," katanya. Justeru jelas Tuan Ibrahim, pihaknya bersedia berdebat secara terbuka dengan Umno bagi menghurai kontroversi yang berlaku. READ MORE HERE |
| Mat Sabu's Silap Mata Posted: 03 Sep 2011 07:52 PM PDT  By Masterwordsmith Mat Sabu does not strike me as a loose cannon. Whilst others may argue that his controversial remarks have cast doubts especially among the Malay electorate where communism is taboo, I believe this is Mat Sabu's sleight of hand to deflect interest in the DUMC and Sodomy issues by throwing a red herring in BN's path. It was in July when I first saw Mat Sabu - a jovial gentleman in his wheelchair giving his speech at the Ops Scorpene Fund Raising Dinner. Holding his X-ray films, he told the audience the injuries he sustained during the Bersih rally with the sole intention of maintaining the credibility of his claim - and all that done with smiles on his face that reached his eyes. I had a good first impression of Mat Sabu - a jovial man oozing with earnest sincerity. The recent uproar over Mat Sabu's alleged remarks about the attack on Bukit Kepong in 1950 during British occupied Malaya puzzled me greatly.
Mohamad Sabu, or popularly known as Mat Sabu, rocked the boat when he allegedly said the communist terrorists led by a Malay, Mat Indera, were the heroes in the attack on a police station in Bukit Kepong, Johor, during the Emergency in 1950. All the policemen and their family members including children were massacred. You can read more about the background of Bukit Kepong here. You can watch the video HERE.
Frankly, I have watched the video and cannot understand the furore.
Historically, the Bukit Kepong incident refers to an armed encounter which took place in an area surrounding the police station on February 23, 1950 between the police and the Malayan Communists in pre-independence Malaya.
The truth of the matter is this - during the Japanese Occupation (read HERE), the communists were fighting against the Japanese alongside the British and Malayans. There were many deaths. After the British left, fighting continued because of conflict of ideology. From one viewpoint, the communists were 'heroes' whilst from another, they were zeroes and enemies of the state.
Black Mamba, a commenter in Malaysiakini wrote:
Let's get this straight. The attack on the Bukit Kepong police station was before Merdeka - Aug 31, 1957. The country was colonialised by the British and all personnel who worked for the administration were under the payroll of Her Majesty, the Queen of England.
Those who went against and fought the British colonialists then are nationalists, irrespective of their party orientation. Those under employment of the British government, irrespective of their racial background, worked for the colonial masters.
If Mat Indera (Muhammad Indera), a nationalist with the communist party and his comrades, had successfully driven out the British occupiers, they would have been hailed as war heroes just like the communists in China and Vietnam who had driven out their own countrymen in the Kuomintang and the South Vietnamese Army respectively as they were aligned to the American imperialists.
Victors get to write their version of history. Mat Sabu does not strike me as a loose cannon. Whilst others may argue that his controversial remarks have cast doubts especially among the Malay electorate where communism is taboo, I believe this is Mat Sabu's sleight of hand to deflect interest in the DUMC and Sodomy issues by throwing a red herring in BN's path. READ MORE HERE. |
| The spin by The Unspinners Posted: 03 Sep 2011 07:12 PM PDT The Unspinners say that Rosmah could not have been at the scene of Altantuya's murder because she was at a dinner event at the Tabung Haji building in front of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. But the dinner was at 8.00pm. Altantuya was murdered between midnight and dawn. NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin "Konspirasi mekanik bodoh dari RPK si penipu," said The Unspinners, a pro-Umno Blog, on Friday. In English, that would roughly translate to 'Conspiracy by the stupid mechanic, RPK, the liar'.
I suppose I should be honoured that Umno would devote so much time in attacking me. This means I must be hurting them real bad if they need to try to bring me down.
In that article they raised two issues. One was about the allegation against Rosmah being at the scene of Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder and the other about the USD 24 million ring. These are supposed to be the lies that I spun.
To support their argument, they mentioned that I lack a tertiary education, had been kicked out from the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) while in form 2, and worked as a mechanic.
As usual, there is no name to that article. Normally, The Unspinners and the other Umno Blogs never reveal the writers of their articles or they may use pen (false) names. They never reveal the real identity of their writers. I always put my name to my articles. Yet The Unspinners have the gall to call me gutless.
Actually, what The Unspinners said is true. I did leave the MCKK, but in form 3, not form 2. I then went to the Victoria Institution (VI). You see, I could not stand an entirely Malay environment and I was more comfortable in the multi-racial VI environment. The fact that most of my friends in the VI were Chinese and Indians rather than Malays is testimony to this.
In form four, after my LCE, my father bought me a motorcycle, which was what I had longed for since I was in form 1. But I could not get a driving licence until I was 15 (form 3). My father, however, refused to buy me a motorcycle unless I can pass my LCE.
And I did pass my LCE with a grade A. So I got my motorcycle at last, something I would not have been allowed if I had remained in the MCKK.
I spent most of my time modifying and racing that motorcycle. I even raced in the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1968 (I was only 18 then). I crashed, though, and ended up in the University Hospital for a short stint.
My only interest was tinkering with engines and racing motorcycles. I even raced from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and round Penang Island. Those were in the days before we had such things as highways.
I decided that the only career I would love would be as a motor mechanic. Any career other than trying to make bikes and cars go faster would not be my cup of tea. In one trip to England, my father brought back tons of books on how to modify engines and I knew I had met my calling.
England was where the action was. I asked my father to send me to England. My father wanted me to be a Barrister, just like him (he went to Lincolns Inn). I wanted to be a motor engineer.
My father thought that this was a dirty job and he was not sure if I was serious about this career. He wanted me to prove that my heart was really in this so he sent me to Volkswagen to do an apprenticeship. Pak Arshad was the manager then and he laughed when I met him. You are too qualified for an apprenticeship, he told me. Normally, school dropouts choose this route. I should go overseas, he told me.
But my father was adamant that I would first have to dirty my hands to prove I was serious enough.
I spent the first three months in the car wash, where all apprentices have to start. So for three months I was a basuh kereta boy. After that only are we transferred to the workshop and put under one of the mechanics.
By the end of the first year, I could strip a Volkswagen by lunchtime and put it back together again before the end of the day. It was now time to go to England. But my father wanted me to get a diploma first and then go to England for my degree or whatever. So he enrolled me in the FIT for a two-year motor engineering course.
As I was sitting for my final exams, my father died. He was only in his mid-40s and my mother decided that the plan to go to England would have to wait. The family could no longer afford to pay for my overseas education. So I had to abandon the plan for a further education and instead go out to work for a living.
This was in 1972 and my salary then was only RM250 a month. But with the early death of my father and no money in the bank, it was not much of a choice that I had. I had to learn how to get through life from the bottom and work my way up the ladder.
But I did all this without the rakyat's money, unlike those Umno Malays writing for The Unspinners. It was clean money. It was halal money. I did not receive any government grants or scholarships financed by the Chinese taxpayers like those Umno Malays in The Unspinners who are so proud of their higher education and which was denied me.
Of course, The Unspinners mock me about my lowly education. I, however, am proud that I started from the very bottom, way bottom as a car wash boy, and crawled my way up the ladder
Okay, now let's talk about my 'lies'.
First, about Rosmah's ring. The Unspinners just say that I lied about the ring. Actually, that was not even my story. I did not break that story. I don't know why I am the one being accused of this story.
Anyway, The Unspinners say that I lied. But they did not explain in what way I lied.
They did not say that the ring does not exist. So it does. They did not say that the ring does not cost USD 24 million. So it does. They did not say the ring was not sent to Malaysia. So it was. They did not say the ring was not sent to Malaysia addressed to Rosmah Mansor. So it was.
So where is the lie then? The Unspinners did not explain where. Just saying that I lied is not good enough. They need to explain which part is the lie. This, they did not do.
In short, The Unspinners is spinning and they spin by merely denying without explaining.
Okay, on the next issue, about Rosmah being at the scene of Altantuya's murder.
The Unspinners say that Rosmah could not have been at the scene of Altantuya's murder because she was at a dinner event at the Tabung Haji building in front of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. But the dinner was at 8.00pm. Altantuya was murdered between midnight and dawn.
How long was the dinner? What time did the dinner end? The Unspinners did not say. Would the 8.00pm dinner go on and on until 6.00am the following morning? I would imagine not. I would imagine the dinner would have ended before midnight, say 11.00pm at the latest, considering that the dinner was for young children (orphans). I doubt these young kids would be partying till 6.00am.
So, Altantuya was murdered after midnight while the dinner ended before midnight. Did The Unspinners explain this? Certainly not!
Now, who were the two military officers who entered Najib's house around midnight and exited around dawn? Were Najib and Rosmah home? Why would two military officers need to go to the Deputy Prime Minister's house around midnight and not leave until sunup the following morning?
The Unspinners does not tell us. The Unspinners just says that I lied.
And what about the odometer on Rosmah's car? If the car were used only to drive Rosmah from Jalan Duta to the Tabung Haji bulding near the US Embassy, then it would show a certain mileage. But the mileage was too high. In fact, the mileage would be more appropriate for a journey to Shah Alam than a journey from Jalan Duta to Jalan Pekeliling.
Now, Malaysia Today has previously published the odometer reading for Rosmah's car plus the police logbook showing all movements in and out of Najib's house. So we are talking about documentary evidence here. The Unspinners just makes a denial without offering any explanations and without replying to these points.
And to prove that I lied, instead of rebutting the allegations with facts, The Unspinners raises the issue of my lowly education and my start in life as a mechanic. Actually, even that is a lie. I started life in a car wash.
Tun Ghafar Baba must be turning in his grave. He used to be so proud that he received only a standard six education and yet he went on to become the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Is The Unspinners now going to mock Tun Ghafar because of his even lower education than mine?
Anyway, back to the allegations against Rosmah. Remember what I said earlier? In Malaysia, you are guilty until you can prove your innocence. This is how the system works in Malaysia. So The Unpsinners will have to prove Rosmah's innocence. If they fail to do so then we will have to assume that Rosmah is guilty. That is how it works in Malaysia.
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