| PM, DPM’s aides accused of taking kickbacks Posted: 17 Dec 2011 01:18 PM PST The two aides and a deputy minister were named in an anonymous blog claiming to have evidence of their involvement in corruption. (Free Malaysia Today) - Allegations of corruption against top government officials, including two aides linked to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, have surfaced in an anonymous blog. Written by one "TheWhistleblower711", the blog claims to have evidence – in the form of documents and informants – to also implicate a deputy minister of improper conduct. The blog has so far named three government officials whom the author claimed have been "bought" by one businessman for the purpose of obtaining contracts from the federal government and its agencies. The author claimed that the businessman, whom he identified as a managing director of two companies and who is also an Umno leader in Johor, had been channellling several thousands of "monthly contributions" to the government officials. Proof of these contributions was published in the blog in the form of scans of several cash deposit slips, together with serial numbers. These were alleged to be the personal accounts of the
government officials. The two aides were described by TheWhistleblower711 as "highly-placed, influential" government officials who have "full access" to the nation's top leadership. Najib's aide, TheWhistleblower711 claimed, had been receiving monthly contributions of RM5,000 from the businessman amounting to RM170,000 as of May 2011. The contributions had allegedly started since August 2008. The author claimed that the modus operandi of the businessman was to issue and cash out the cheques at a well-known bank. Then a deposit, of either a partial or full amount, would be put into the personal accounts of the government officials. (However, the cheques were never "physically" cashed out but contra with the deposit.) As for Muhyiddin's aide, the author said he had been receiving RM10,000 monthly contributions since February, 2010. The amount added up to RM160,000 as of May 2011. Tip of the iceberg For the deputy minister, TheWhistleblower711 claimed that the politician, who is also a senator, had been receiving contributions of RM10,000 since January 2011, from the same individual. TheWhistleblower711 claimed that the businessman had obtained contracts for the maintenance of two federal government buildings in Johor and a few days later, a sum of RM80,000, which was issued by the businessman's company in the form of two cheques, was contra with a deposit to the deputy minister's personal account. The author asked: "If these deposits are legit, why would the cheques be 'cashed out' and then contra with a deposit to the receivers' account? What are the roles played by these two government officials…for them to receive monthly salary…?" READ MORE HERE |
| Is there a secret sand deal with Singapore? Posted: 17 Dec 2011 01:11 PM PST 
Channel News Asia reported: Najib hints of secret dealing with Lee Hsien Loong. According to the news report, early next month both governments are going to make a 'significant announce'. Is this significant announcement about Malaysia selling 1 billion cubic meters of sand to Singapore at SGD30 per cubic meter? And has Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad agreed to this? If not….then….hmm…. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Najib hints at major announcement at next meeting with PM Lee
By Teo Cheng Wee, Channel News Asia
JOHOR BARU: Improving ties between Singapore and Malaysia will see their leaders meeting for a fifth time early next month, when a 'significant announcement' will be made, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak promised yesterday.
While he did not elaborate on what this would be, he said that they will touch on the progress of initiatives to improve connectivity between their countries, as well as the 'iconic project' that they are developing in Johor's Iskandar development region.
The meeting is part of a series of regular retreats that Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Datuk Seri Najib have had since May 2009, and which have led to major breakthroughs in longstanding disputes that previously hampered bilateral ties.
Among others, they worked out a landmark land swop involving Malayan Railway land and agreed to work together on multi-billion-dollar projects in Johor and Singapore.
An MRT link between Johor Baru and Singapore is also set to be operational by 2018. Companies from both countries were reportedly invited last month to bid for the right to do an architectural and engineering study of the link, which is expected to take a little over two years to complete.
These tie-ups, initiated since Mr Najib took office almost three years ago, have deepened bonds across the Causeway.
Indeed, targeting Singaporean investors and identifying mutually beneficial growth sectors were included among the key strategies outlined yesterday by Malaysia's investment arm Khazanah Nasional and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda).
It has been five years since the Iskandar development region in southern Johor was launched, and yesterday saw Mr Najib officiating at the showcase of the project's achievements.
In his speech, the Malaysian Prime Minister underlined the importance of working with Singapore.
Improvements in links between Johor Baru and Singapore, he pointed out, would help create a 'mutually beneficial economic unit' in this region to compete with the rest of the world.
'In today's increasingly globalised world, competition is as much between regions as between countries,' he said. 'Regions must work to make themselves truly competitive on a global scale.'
Since it was first launched in 2006, Iskandar Malaysia has attracted RM77.8 billion (S$31.9 billion) worth of investment commitments.
Private schools and universities, theme parks and hospitals have been built or are set to spring up from what were previously vast empty tracts of land.
Yesterday, Mr Najib had a bird's eye view of the progress when he took a 30-minute helicopter ride over the region, accompanied by Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, Khazanah managing director Azman Mokhtar and Irda chief Ismail Ibrahim.
Another 12 projects worth RM1.73 billion were also announced at the event, from both domestic and foreign investors.
These included plans by international consultancy Frost & Sullivan to establish a Global Innovation Centre to house financial and research centres. The company will invest about RM600 million, creating more than 800 new high-value jobs.
Meanwhile, Singapore's education services provider Raffles Campus will form a joint venture company with Malaysian property developer UMLand to develop an international school at Bandar Seri Alam.
Called the Excelsior International School, it will be spread out over 8.1ha of land and offer international curricula for children aged three to 18 years old. The campus is expected to be completed by June 2013.
Earlier in the day, Mr Najib also announced that recently opened designer discount chain Johor Premium Outlets will spend another RM100 million to expand further.
Located in Iskandar and housing labels such as Burberry, Gap and Coach, another 60 shops are set to be added, bringing the total number to 130.
He also announced a 942-strong auxiliary police battalion to be based in Iskandar Malaysia to boost safety and security - an issue that has been a concern for some investors here.
He handed out appointment letters to the first batch of 13 officers yesterday.
|
| Utusan predicts public unrest after sodomy verdict Posted: 17 Dec 2011 12:10 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Utusan Malaysia today expressed confidence that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be convicted of his sodomy charge, but predicted that public unrest would follow the trial decision. The Umno daily's columnist, writing under the pseudonym of Awang Selamat, charged that Anwar was the first Opposition leader in the world to be associated with so many "moral and ethical" scandals. In the weekend edition of Utusan, Mingguan Malaysia, Awang claimed to be privy to information of a PKR-led strategy once Anwar is convicted on January 9. Awang said that Anwar would resort to "anything to save himself", and that he would not stand idly by and accept the court's decision, knowing that it will be the "most significant moment in his life and political career." "There is a possibility of a unexpected plan. We will await the surprise," the Utusan columnist said. "As expected, Anwar will be found guilty after which the Angkatan Muda Keadilan (PKR youth) will launch their free Anwar 901 campaign on Twitter. "There are talks of other plans, such as street demonstrations, as seen in his first sodomy trial. We have not yet even touched on the words of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who wants to break down prison walls if his boss is jailed," said Awang. READ MORE HERE |
| Persamaan, perbezaan PRU-12 dan PRU-13 Posted: 17 Dec 2011 11:49 AM PST Sekiranya imej PM sebagai kepala kerajaan diambil kira, ternyata imej Abdullah sebagai 'Mr Clean' jauh meninggalkan imej Najib yang terpalit dengan persepsi pelbagai skandal. Beberapa skandal seperti skandal PKFZ, NFC, istana Khir Toyo, skandal perniagaan Taib Mahmud dan banyak lagi walaupun dikatakan berlaku ketika era sebelum Najib lagi, tetapi kerajaan yang dipimpin Najib hari ini terpaksa menerima padahnya. Nazli Ibrahim, Free Malaysia Today Adakah senario tsunami politik yang tercetus dalam Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) ke 12 pada 2008 lalu akan sekali lagi melanda politik tanah air dalam PRU-13 yang dijangka diadakan tahun depan? Mungkinkah kali ini 'swing' pengundi akan kembali kepada Barisan Nasional (BN), menghayun pembangkang yang pertama kali berjaya menafikan kelebihan majoriti dua pertiga BN di parlimen serta menawan empat buah negeri lain selain mempertahankan Kelantan dalam PRU-12 lalu? Secara kasarnya, kita boleh melihat beberapa persamaan dan perbezaan corak yang boleh dianggap penyebab terbentuknya gelombang tsunami politik 2008 lalu dengan situasi pra pilihan raya yang ada pada hari ini. Rata-rata penganalisa politik bersetuju, antara faktor utama yang telah menyumbang kepada berlakunya tsunami politik dalam PRU-12 lalu adalah peningkatan harga barangan keperluan pengguna yang makin meningkatkan kos sara hidup masyarakat negara ini. Kesan berantai dari kenaikan harga bahan api seperti petrol dan takri elektrik dikatakan penyebab peningkatan kos pengeluaran sesuatu produk dan menaikkan harga barangan di pasaran. Selain itu, langkah kerajaan menguatkuasakan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) tahun depan dijangka akan menyebabkan rakyat negara ini terus berhadapan dengan peningkatan kos sara hidu melambung tinggi yang masih belum bernoktah. Jika diteliti peningkatan kos sara hidup ketika sebelum berlakunya tsunami politik pada 2008 hingga ke hari ini masih lagi tidak berhenti setakat itu, malah berterusan meningkat naik secara mendadak dalam jangka masa yang amat pendek. Keadaan ini masih tidak menunjukkan sebarang petanda kenaikan harga barangan pengguna ini telah mencapai paras statik. Bagi kebanyakan pengguna, sekiranya harga barangan keperluan harian tidak turun pun, mungkin sedikit lega sekiranya ianya berada dalam kedudukan statik dalam satu jangkamasa yang panjang. Kesimpulan dalam isu peningkatan kos sara hidup ini, jelas ianya tidak menunjukkan perbezaan antara pra PRU-12 lalu dengan pra PRU- 13 hari ini. Keadaan ini akan mendorong pengundi yang memilih calon pembangkang dalam PRU-12 lalu atas faktor ini, sekali lagi memberikan sokongan mereka kepada pihak yang sama dalam PRU-13 nanti. Islam Hadhari lawan 1Malaysia Secara umumnya, majoriti masyarakat Islam negara ini boleh dianggap tiada masalah dalam penerimaan gagasan Islam Hadhari yang diperkenalkan oleh bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Bagaimanapun, gagasan ini dikatakan telah memberi impak negatif terhadap sokongan masyarakat bukan Islam terhadap kerajaan BN ketika PRU-12 lalu. Hari ini mungkin menyedari kesilapan ini, Perdana Menteri (PM) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak cuba membetulkan kesilapan ini dengan memperkenalkan gagasan yang kontras dengan Islam Hadhari Abdullah iaitu gagasan Satu Malaysia. Malangnya, berdasarkan keputusan-keputusan pilihan raya kecil dan PRU Negeri Sarawak lalu, gagasan tersebut masih tidak menunjukkan tanda-tanda mampu membawa pengundi bukan Melayu-Islam kembali memberikan sokongan kepada BN. Dalam beberapa siri pilihan raya kecil selepas PRU-12 dan PRU Sarawak lalu menunjukkan sokongan pengundi masyarakat bukan Melayu -Islam, khasnya pengundi kaum Cina masih menyebelahi dan terus meningkat kepada calon Pakatan Rakyat. Sekiranya imej PM sebagai kepala kerajaan diambil kira, ternyata imej Abdullah yang dikenali sebagai 'Mr Clean' jauh meninggalkan imej Najib yang terpalit dengan persepsi pelbagai skandal. Ditambah pula dengan tindakan-tindakan isteri beliau yang banyak menimbulkan kontroversi yang turut menjejaskan imej beliau berbanding isteri Abdullah ketika menjawat jawatan PM. Bagi pengundi yang mengutamakan imej bersih pemimpin dalam menentukan logo parti mana yang bakal dipangkahnya maka Najib berada dalam kedudukan lebih sukar berbanding Abdullah.
Ekonomi era Abdullah lawan era Najib
Dalam menguruskan hal ehwal ekonomi negara, Najib dengan program transformasinya dikatakan lebih bijak menguruskan ekonomi negara berbanding Abdullah. Sehingga kini, melalui data yang dikeluarkan oleh agensi-agensi kerajaan dan dakwaan dari Najib sendiri memberitahu bahawa ekonomi negara berada di landasan yang betul dan berkembang baik. Sebaliknya data yang dikeluarkan oleh agensi berkecuali dalam negara dan agensi penyelidik ekonomi antarabangsa kerap kali menunjukkan angka-angka sebaliknya. Malahan angka-angka pertumbuhan positif yang dipersembahkan oleh Najib dan agensi-agensi kerajaan kepada rakyat juga dianggap tidak memberi sebarang makna kepada rakyat terbanyak. Kebanyakan anggota masyarakat negara ini juga kurang berminat untuk mengambil tahu tentang angka-angka ekonomi yang tidak berapa difahami, memeningkan dan mengelirukan ini. Apatah lagi, perkembangan positif ekonomi negara yang digembar-gemburkan oleh Najib itu masih tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda positif dalam kehidupan majoriti masyarakat negara ini. Maka, sekali lagi meskipun Najib dikatakan lebih bijak menguruskan ekonomi berbanding Abdullah tetapi dalam isu ini keadaan masih tidak menyebelahi beliau. Bajet beri faedah kepada rakyat Abdullah ketika memegang tampuk kuasa sebelum ini dikatakan kurang perihatin akan beban rakyat negara ini termasuk kakitangan awam apabila gagal memberikan manfaat pada tahap optima kepada rakyat terbanyak setiap kali bajet dibentangkan. Selain dalam bajet-bajet yang dibentangkan beliau, keputusan beliau dan kabinetnya menaikkan harga petrol lebih 70 sen dalam satu kenaikan turut mencatat sejarah sebagai kenaikan paling tinggi harga petrol dalam sekali kenaikan. Satu-satunya keputusan Abdullah yang diingati khususnya oleh kakitangan awam negara ini ialah mengadakan kenaikan tangga gaji baru kakitangan awam bermula 7.5 hingga 35 peratus bermula Julai 2007. Najib pula, kecuali Bajet 2012 yang dibentangkan baru-baru ini, beliau turut dikatakan bersikap kurang perihatin, sama seperti Abdullah. Malahan, meskipun tiada disebut dalam bajet tahunan, tindakan menarik subsidi dan perlaksanaan GST juga dikaitkan dengan sikap kurang perihatin terhadap golongan berpendapatan sederhana dan rendah negara ini. Bagaimanapun dalam Bajet 2012 lalu, kerajaan di bawah Najib telah menunjukkan sikap yang berbeza dengan menghamburkan pelbagai manfaat untuk dinikmati rakyat negara ini sekali gus dikaitkan dengan bajet musim pilihan raya yang semakin hampir. Apatah lagi peruntukan hadiah besar untuk rakyat dalam bajet tersebut telah menyaksikan belanjawan negara telah mengalami defisit atau disebut sebagai bajet hutang telah menyebabkan andaian ini semakin kuat. Keadaan ini telah memberikan gambaran seolah-olah kerajaan terpaksa menghadiahkan sesuatu untuk rakyat sebelum pilihan raya diadakan atau dalam erti kata lain 'gula-gula' pilihan raya. Lebih menghairankan, sebelum ini Najib pernah mendakwa kerajaan negara ini bakal menjadi muflis sekiranya kerajaan tidak mengambil langkah berjimat cermat termasuk mengambil langkah memansuhkan subsidi untuk rakyat. Bagaimanapun, langkah terbaru Najib ini meskipun dilihat terselindung muslihat di sebaliknya, sedikit sebanyak ia mampu memberikan kesan positif terhadap sokongan pengundi terhadap BN. Cuma mungkin jumlah sokongan itu tidaklah sebanyak yang Najib harapkan ketika beliau memutuskan untuk menganugerahkan pelbagai hadiah untuk rakyat dalam bajet 2012 tersebut. Rasuah era Abdullah lawan era Najib Meskipun di era Abdullah yang dikenali dengan gelaran 'Mr Clean' turut dikaitkan dengan kontroversi salah guna kuasa yang dikaitkan keluarga terdekatnya, era Najib boleh dianggap yang terburuk dalam sejarah negara. Beberapa skandal seperti skandal PKFZ, NFC, istana Khir Toyo, skandal perniagaan Taib Mahmud dan banyak lagi walaupun dikatakan berlaku ketika era sebelum Najib lagi, tetapi kerajaan yang dipimpin Najib hari ini terpaksa menerima padahnya. Selain itu skandal tepat ke batang hidung Najib tambah menjejaskan reputasi beliau ialah skandal pembeliaan kapal selam Scorpene, pembelian kenderaan berperisai kegunaan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, kehilangan dua enjit pesawat F-5E dan banyak lagi. Indeks persepsi rasuah (CPI) yang dikeluarkan oleh badan bebas pemantau rasuah antarabangsa, Transparency International (TI), baru- baru ini turut menunjukkan prestasi negara jatuh merudum dengan banyak dari kedudukan 56 ke tangga ke 60 tahun ini. READ MORE HERE |
| Don't forget they cheered Chamberlain's 'victory' too Posted: 17 Dec 2011 11:34 AM PST Poor old Archbishop Rowan Williams doesn't really matter much. This is because he's a rather dull mainstream leftist, who talks about politics when he ought to be urging our neo-pagan country to return to Christianity. At the moment we're more interested in shoes and booze than we are in God. By Peter Hitchens, Mail Online Sometimes whole countries can get things utterly wrong. This is usually because they prefer soft dreams to the raw truth. We all know now that Neville Chamberlain made a huge fool of himself when he came back from Munich in September 1938 claiming to have won 'peace for our time' and 'peace with honour', and waving a worthless piece of paper in which Hitler promised that Britain and Germany would never go to war again. But look at the newspapers of the time and you will find almost all of them crammed with sickly praise for Mr Chamberlain. He was invited on to the balcony of Buckingham Palace by King George VI and was there cheered by a gigantic crowd, many of whom would die in the war that followed.  Taken in: Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain thought he had Hitler under control They should have booed him - not because of what he had done but because he was fool enough to think that Hitler could be trusted. They applauded him because they did not want to be bothered by the boring details of European politics, and preferred to think that he had in fact bought peace. Something similar is happening to us. Many people who should know better are still cheering David Cameron for his supposed mighty veto in Brussels on December 9. They are doing this because they passionately want it to be true. They want Mr Cameron to be a patriotic conservative. But he isn't. They want Britain to stand up to the EU. But it hasn't. Mr Cameron did not in fact use the British veto. There was no treaty to veto. France and Germany were quite happy to get what they wanted by other means - France positively wanted to do so, and Jean-David Levitte, a senior aide of President Sarkozy, has described Mr Cameron's action as a 'blessing'. They were happier still to let Mr Cameron take the blame on the Continent - and the credit among his gullible and simple-minded 'Eurosceptic' backbenchers, who really oughtn't to be allowed out on their own if they are this easy to swindle. Nor did Mr Cameron save the City of London. The French, who have never forgiven us either for Trafalgar or for not surrendering in 1940, are still determined to destroy the City. And they can do so - as long as we are idiotic enough to stay in their power by belonging to the EU. They can and will do this through 'Qualified Majority Voting', under which Britain does not have a veto. Wishful thinking on this scale may not lead to war, as it did in 1938. But it will not help us get out of the EU, or protect us from those who pretend to be our partners, but are in fact our rivals. Stop cheering. Start booing. READ MORE HERE |
| Sadaqallaah Al Azeem Posted: 17 Dec 2011 11:09 AM PST Syed Akbar Ali The Taliban too are an uneducated class of religious scholars who attended village madrasahs and 'darul uloom' (equivalent to sekolah pondok) which usually did not have water, electricity, proper toilets or even a floor. The floor was dried mud or sand. The infamous Darul Uloom in India (where many Taliban leaders were trained) has only in recent times been fitted with running water and modern toilets. A friend who attended a sekolah pondok in Gunung Semanggol (in the 50s?) recalls how the 'guru' made the students fetch water from the well for him. The students were made to perform chores around the sekolah pondok for the material comfort of the guru. All humans need material comforts.
What people do not realise is that the Taliban or the sekolah pondok became removed and out of touch with reality because they did not rely too much on the use of intelligence. They were actually far removed from Islam. They also followed their own lusts and their own confused understanding of religion which really has no legitimacy in Islam. That is why they end up so poor, violent, crude and always fighting with other human beings.
Their method of proving a point is very simple - either they become violent towards you or they shut you up using state sanctioned force (arrest, trial by religious courts, imprisonment etc). That is how they preserve their religious views. This is called intellectual cowardice. When you use force or anger to project your religious views - it simply shows you are bankrupt.
This resorting to religious violence and religious anger to intimidate someone is still part and parcel of almost all people who call themselves "Muslims" - even you my dear readers.
A long time ago there was an article called "A Letter To The Prophet" The title was an offtake from a article written by the Catholic Pope titled 'A Letter To Jesus Christ'.
The 'Letter to the Prophet' was a complaint to the Prophet about how the religious scholars had abused his name to corrupt Islam. Anyway I sent a copy of the article to some friends. I was shocked when one of them said the writer of the article should be killed !!
More than once since then I have met people whom I thought were educated and rational who tried to 'expose' me to other people by telling them about my critical views about religion. Their intention was to embarrass me or shame me in public. Now this is only possible when they know that the public can be irrational or dangerous.
I mean if someone in New York says "I dont believe in Santa Claus" you cannot really embarass such a person by 'exposing' his beliefs about Santa Claus. But if someone here says 'I know that Haron Jin is a conman' it is possible to use this information against that person. Why? Because Haron Jin has numerous supporters among the lame - including those who say that his 'jinn' escapades are now "urban legends".
If placed in a free and unfettered environment where you only have intellectual debate to prove your point, too many of the so called religious scholars will feel like a fish out of water. Discussing and debating intelligently is not within their capability.
The problem now (for the rest of the world) is that the Taliban types too are benefiting from "modernisation". They are part and parcel of the shrinking world. While we may not be reaching them, they are certainly intruding more into our lives.
Electricity has come to Afghanistan. Our sekolah pondok also have water, electricity, tv, radio and other modern conveniences. They have modern classrooms, time tables for classess, modern printed textbooks and such. None of these conveniences are the product of their own effort. These are all the products of science and technology - products of the secular west. But n'theless they take benefit from it.
But they are still backward. Why? Because they have not gotten rid of their unIslamic ways of thinking. To digress - an even bigger anomaly are the Wahabis and Salafis from Saudi Arabia. They have not changed their basic outlook from the time they embarked on their barbaric religious killing and butchering of two hundred years ago. For over two hundreds years they butchered people in the Hejaz in the name of their violent Wahhabism.
They are convinced that their backward, illegitimate form of Wahhabi religion is the true faith. They do not realise that for two hundred years (actually longer than that) their lands in the Hejaz became the home of an uncultured and uncivilised people. I am talking about them.
Then in the 20th century oil was discovered in the lands they occupied. This made them fabulously wealthy. To them the oil wealth was a "God send" - they said that it was God who had chosen them and blessed them with so much wealth as a reward for upholding the true form of their religion. To them Wahhabism was the true religion.
But their wealth has nothing to do with God rewarding their religious beliefs. Their wealth is due to Texas oilmen who extracted the oil and the millions of motorcars made with Western technology which require petrol. However this little detail has not stopped the Wahhabis from spending their money to export Wahhabism all around the world. Wahhabism and militant Shiahism now form the largest threats to peace and harmony among Muslims all over the world. The Wahhabis think that God gave them the oil wealth which they must use to save the world through Wahhabism.
The Wahhabis, the Taliban, the madrassah and the sekolah pondok people have not changed the way they think. They are still the same people who ended up in the Club of Doom.
The only problem for the rest of us is that they now have access to the whole world. They have access to us. They have oil money, they sit in ultra modern universities and populate the school hallways. They are now mainstream. Tapi otak dia masih kosong lagi. READ MORE HERE |
| PAS veering away from Islamic agenda, says Nasharudin Posted: 17 Dec 2011 11:02 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - As speculation continues to build over his possible departure from PAS, an embattled Nasharudin Mat Isa has broken his silence and accused the party of deviating from its Islamic principles and agenda. In an exclusive interview with the weekend edition of Berita Harian, Berita Minggu, Nasharudin said that the PAS leadership should not be too preoccupied with the party's political goals while abandoning its Islamic ones. He lamented that PAS was no longer seen as "consistent" with its Islamic image and that it could not afford to continually change "terminologies" to suit its political direction. "As an Islamic organisation PAS has to be consistent with an Islamic face. Do not abandon the party's principles based on Al-Quran and Hadith over the issue of 'maqasid' (goals) and 'maslahah' (problems). "Politics is coloured with perception and this has to be dealt with carefully. The general perception right now is that PAS is 'loose' in several aspects, which is dangerous," he said. The Bachok MP, who was PAS deputy president until he was defeated by his successor Mohamad Sabu recently, said that PAS could not afford to become too "flexible" to the point where the rights of Islam and the Malay community are disregarded. He echoed the controversial views of Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, who is under fire for re-igniting talk of PAS-Umno unity. "Our focus should be towards unity because that is the main necessity. The country's future, the Malays and Islam hinge on how united we are, especially Malays and Muslims as the majority race. "The issue of unity must be fought for regardless of political ideologies," said Nasharudin. He said that there was a new political perception within PAS, that the party no longer keeps its private matters under wraps. In reference to news that he and Hasan would be dropped as election candidates, Nasharudin said that such remarks by "some leaders" only inflicted more confusion and discord onto PAS. "This is not for them to decide, it is for the president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) to. What's more, he was shocked to discover there were people determining who would contest and who would not. "This has led to PAS being attacked by all sides, including from within the party." READ MORE HERE |
| NGOs want apology from DAP reps over ‘beggar’ claim Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST (The Star) - Three non-governmental organisations have demanded an apology from Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer and Bagan Dalam assemblyman A. Tanasekharan, claiming they have offended the Indian community. Representatives from the NGOs held a protest against the DAP assemblymen in Jalan Mohet here, demanding that they apologise to Penang Deputy Chief Minister Dr P. Ramasamy and the community for implying that Indians were "beggars". "The community is hurt by Rayer's comments that Dr Ramasamy begged for the DCM's post. "He is a professor with credentials. He did not have to beg for his post," said Pertubuhan Naam Tamilar Malaysia chairman G. Ramesh. The other NGOs are Klang Tamil Welfare Association and Malaysia Tamil Students Progressive Association. At the height of the "godfather-warlord" squabble between DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Dr Ramasamy, it was reported that Rayer had reminded Dr Ramasamy that he would not have been given the DCM's post if not for Karpal. Rayer had claimed that Dr Ramasamy practically begged Karpal for the post after the 2008 general election. A news portal quoted Dr Ramasamy as denying the allegation and said Rayer had "stooped so low" as to condemn him over a remark about godfathers just to curry favour with Karpal. |
| Swear on the Quran, Mahathir challenges Anwar Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:56 AM PST (The Star) - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has challenged Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to show evidence that he (Dr Mahathir) had sought help from the World Bank during the financial crisis in 1999. "I also challenge Anwar to swear on the Quran in a mosque that I had written a letter to the World Bank asking for funds," he said after attending a forum at SMK Agama Al-Irshad near Tasek Gelugor here yesterday. "I'm willing to swear in a mosque that I did not write such a letter," he said. Dr Mahathir said the Federal Government would not have sufficient funds to pay civil servants' salaries if it had received the loan from the bank and followed the bank's conditions. Dr Mahathir said he had warned Anwar, a former finance minister, that Malaysia would become a slave to the World Bank if the country borrowed money from it. On Friday, Anwar claimed that Dr Mahathir had written to the president of World Bank appealing for funds in 1999. Anwar had said he was unaware of Dr Mahathir's action as he was jailed in 1999 and only discovered it during his consultancy work for the World Bank after he was freed. |
| ‘Superman’ brought down JCorp, says ex-CEO Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:40 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Former Johor Corp (JCorp) chief executive Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim has blamed outside forces he dubbed "Superman" for incurring more debts to the once-powerful Johor state investment company. Muhammad Ali, who helmed the corporation for 28 years until July last year, said the "Superman" had seized control of the state-owned company and was directing the future of JCorp and its group of companies. "This Superman's hands are among the factors that caused JCorp to set aside the management's original plan, to let go its assets and businesses that were less strategic, to resolve its debt," he said in a statement late last night. Muhammad Ali was responding to reports that Johor's investment firm was partnering a private equity fund, CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific (CVC), in a plan to buy out its prized assets QSR Brands Bhd (QSR) and KFC Holdings Malaysia Bhd (KFCH) and privatise the two public-listed companies. JCorp owns 53 per cent of Kulim, which holds a 57.5 per cent stake in QSR. QSR, in turn, owns 50.6 per cent of KFCH. There have been several attempts to sell KFCH but Malay right-wing group Perkasa has objected, saying it should remain in Bumiputera hands. In this week's report by business daily, The Edge, JCorp and CVC bid to pay RM6.80 per QSR share and RM4 for every KFCH share. The bid was made through Massive Equity Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle, The Edge added. Muhammad Ali questioned Massive Equity's statement as published by Malay tabloid Kosmo on Friday. READ MORE HERE |
| Running Scared? Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:37 AM PST SARAWAK REPORT For the first time in 30 years Abdul Taib Mahmud has cancelled the traditional press conference, normally held at the Wisma Bapa Malaysia after the weekly Cabinet meeting. Even more astonishing, the journalists were barred from the building, as if they were unwanted intruders. It is often such small, but extremely strange signs, that make us aware of developments that are seismic behind the scenes. Like when a beach suddenly bares before a tsunami or there is rumbling before an earthquake. So what has made Taib act so out of character? What pressure is he under that he and his ministers have suddenly decided they dare not face what has for so long been their 'lapdog' press? The inescapable conclusion is that the evidence has now piled so high, that Taib suddenly realises that he can no longer brush aside the questions about his corruption and the squalid wealth of his family, both in Sarawak and abroad. With the issue now making headlines in Malaysia and reaching the international news, even the controlled pressmen of Sarawak would not be able to avoid asking questions about it. And, by cancelling the press conference, it seems clear that Taib has no idea how to answer them. It is a sign of fatal weakness at the heart of his regime that Taib no longers dares to face the press. People should remember that Taib has already been suffering under siege in the State Assembly. He may have been able to rig the recent election to produce his customary 2/3 majority of seats yet again, but even after all the bribery and manipulation 45% of voters still voted against him and there now is a strong body of PR opposition YBs, who are fearlessly giving him a far tougher time than before. So how has he dealt with their outraged questions about corruption and cronyism? How has he met their complaints about lands and contracts being handed out to his unqualified children and siblings, instead of being tendered properly for the benefit of the people of Sarawak? It turns out he has been reduced to having to switch off their microphones, rub out their statements from the Hansard record and even to throwing these individuals with their rightful concerns physically out of the DUN building! The only reason for such a farcical reaction has to be that he finds such questions impossible to answer, so he needs to pretend that they haven't been asked. In exactly the same way, now that it is the turn of the press to ask the same set of questions, he has been forced to lock the doors and shut them out! The questions that Taib is frightened of being asked So, what are the questions that any decent set of journalists would have put to Taib, if he had agreed to open the door? We suggest the following top five: "Chief Minister, how do you explain the US$1.5 billion dollars worth of assets that have been acquired by members of your immediate family through just 14 of the more than 400 companies that they own?" "Chief Minister, you claimed that you and your family 'do no business in Sarawak to avoid being hounded by accusations that you have used your influence to enrich yourself'. So how do you explain the over 300 companies in Sarawak that you and your family own shares in?" "Chief Minister, your dead wife has been the largest single shareholder of Sarawak's largest single company, CMS. Yet she passed away two years ago. She received those shares from your brother Onn, so who is her beneficiary?" "Chief Minister, why do you keep handing out all the most valuable state lands and state contracts to members of your own family in secret deals, instead of putting them out to open tender?" "Chief Minister, given that dual citizenship is illegal, is your eldest daughter, Jamilah, Malaysian (as it says on the records of the 87 Sarawak companies in which she holds shares) or is she Canadian, as admitted by her husband Sean Murray?"
READ MORE HERE |
| Sabah trapped in divide-and-rule politics Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:20 AM PST The new 'Borneo Agenda' alliance, born of Jeffrey Kitingan, has consigned the one party for all concept to the dustbins of Sabah. (Free Malaysia Today) - The entry of the Sarawak Reform Party (STAR) into Sabah through the membership of maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan and his allies has opened the door to yet another multi-racial coalition in Sabah. On the heals of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, STAR's link up with Jeffrey's United Borneo Front (UBF) along with the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Usno and the Sabah People Front (SPF) may be seen as the new-coalition-kid-on-the-block battling for the hearts and minds of Sabahans. It's an indication of how politics in this state is shaping up after decades of apparent social unity that was shown through competition within single, multi-racial parties such as Usno, Berjaya and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). All this went out the window in 1994 with the overthrow of PBS by the Umno-led BN coalition which has ruled ever since. The new 'Borneo Agenda' alliance parties of STAR-UBF, SAPP, Usno and perhaps SPF, points to the fact that the old idea of one party fitting all has been consigned to the dustbin of history in Sabah. But does this also mean that the various communities in the state no longer trust each other or is it for political expediency? All four of the new alliance are in fact multi-racial parties like Pakatan Rakyat and indeed many in the BN, with the exception of Umno, MCA, MIC and Upko. If last Friday's roll out of the new Borneo opposition alliance is a sign of the times ahead of the 13th general election expected to call anytime now, STAR-UBF will be gunning for the Sabah native (KDM) votes leaving the rest of the pie to SAPP (Chinese), Usno and SPF (Muslim-Bumiputra). SAPP deputy president Amdee Sidik who is proud of his party's multi-racial roots, showed some concern of the anomaly and stressed political unity over and above race and religion. Commenting on his speech during UBF's first anniversary gathering attended by several hundred people on Dec 16 he said: "SAPP's struggle is for all Sabahans and the state of Sabah. We're not partitioned based on race and religion. "I'm not going backward … the way forward for Sabah in particular and Malaysia in general is to get out of the communal outlook. We can't afford to turn the clock back. "I believe time has come that our state and country must be looked after by able leaders not because of his race and tribe. Gone is the old school (of race-based politics)," he said. READ MORE HERE |
| ‘Interlok and Perkasa’s weird logic’ Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:18 AM PST The DAP calls Perkasa's objection in removing the Interlok novel from schools as 'weird logic' (Free Malaysia Today) - The DAP said that they could not understand Perkasa's weird logic in going against the decision to remove the controversial Interlok novel from schools. Its national chairman Karpal Singh said it was the Cabinet's responsibility to 'correct all wrongs' in its system of governance that affects the people. "It's wrong for an extremist organisation like Perkasa to criticise the government decision to remove the Interlok novel. "Indeed the book should be banned altogether across the country," he told reporters in Air Itam here today.He also called on the novel's author, national laureate Abdullah Hussain to apologise to all Malaysian Indians for the racially insensitive contents in the book. In a SMS statement last night, Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hasan Syed Ali said the group was very angry with MIC president G Palanivel over the withdrawal of the Form 5 literature text. He expressed Perkasa's disappointment and regrets over the government decision. "The government is too weak and has failed to withstand pressure from a minority group that is big headed. Perkasa is aware of MIC's need to bank on the Indian vote for the GE13. "This is very insolent. Because of the Indian vote, the dignity of a Malay writer is being insulted," said Syed Hassan. Karpal called Syed Hassan's views as "weird logic " The Bukit Gelugor MP instead called on for a total ban on the novel for it contained racial slurs insulting the Indian community. READ MORE HERE |
| Sabah’s sand monopoly plan slammed Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:16 AM PST There are fears that the sand monopoly will hold the construction industry to ransom, impose arbitrary prices and payment terms, including hidden costs. (Free Malaysia Today) - The Sabah government's plan to enforce a sand-mining monopoly in the new year has run into immediate opposition. Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee said the Barisan Nasional government's move to become the sole supplier of sand to the construction industry was frightening as it was taking exclusive control of a business. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) leader urged sand operators and consumers to complain to the anti-monopoly Malaysia Competition Commission under Section 15 of the Competition Act 2010 that takes effect on Jan 1, 2012. Under the plan, state government subsidiary, Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) would have a monopoly on the extraction and supply of sand to the construction industry in the state. "Our anti-monopoly laws seek to protect consumers, businesses and the economy. Under Section 4(2)(b), it is an offence to monopolise the market as well as the sources of supply. "It is understood that the Competition Commission will investigate the MAS-Air Asia share swap deal that has created a super monopoly of the aviation industry, leading to reduced flights, reduced destinations, higher fares and cancellation of Tiger Air flights to Sabah," he said. Yong noted that such a move is a repeat of the failed attempt in 2008 to let Superpanel Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB), monopolise the scrap metal business. "At the time, the scrap metal business was lucrative. The same excuse about metal thefts and protecting the government's interests was used for monopolising the business. But eventually, the idea was dropped due to the fall in scrap metal prices. "The decision on the monopoly had nothing to do with the government's interests. It had all to do with greed and abuse of power. "Now the cronies are at it again. After failing to monopolise the scrap metal business three years ago, cronies have again reared their ugly heads to grab the extraction and supply of sand to the construction industry. "Using the same lame excuse of lax enforcement against "thefts of scrap metal", the political masters have now come up with thefts of sand as the excuse to put all the rights to sand extraction in the hands of Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO)," he noted. He expressed concern that this sand monopoly could hold the construction industry to ransom, impose arbitrary prices and payment terms, including hidden costs. "Like the import of vehicles using APs (Approved Permits), quotas could be allocated to sub-cronies to buy and sell sand, thereby driving costs," he cited. READ MORE HERE |
| ‘Speed-up conclusion of Altantuya murder case’ Posted: 17 Dec 2011 10:12 AM PST Under the law civil proceedings can commence only after the criminal proceedings have been completed in its entirety. (Free Malaysia Today) - Senior lawyer Karpal Singh today called on the Attorney-General Chambers to hasten the conclusion of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case. He is frustrated over the prolonged delay of appeal process by the two former police personnel, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri 34, and Corporal Sirul Azhar, 39, who were convicted for Altantuya's murder five years ago. Their appeal is up for case management in Court of Appeal on Feb 10 next year and could even end up in the Federal Court. Altantuya father Setev Shaariibuu has filed a suit on June 4, 2007 against the Malaysian government and those responsible for the gruesome murder of his daughter. Karpal is representing Setev in the civil case on a pro-bono basis. He had also held watching brief for the late Altantuya family and the Mongolian government during the murder trial. Under the law, the Setev's civil proceedings can commence only after the criminal proceedings have been completed in its entirety. "I appeal to the AG to quicken the appeal process to enable the civil case to began soon," Karpal, the DAP national chairman, told newsmen during his visit Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency here today. After a long hiatus, early this year Setev has appealed to the Malaysian courts to hasten the hearing of the RM100 million civil suit he has filed against the government. He said he has paid a substantial amount of money, RM60,000 as security bond to the Malaysian court last year. Azilah and Sirul were sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on April 9, 2009 READ MORE HERE |
| DAP’s Bollywood drama Posted: 17 Dec 2011 09:55 AM PST The stand-off between the "warlord" and the "godfather" in Penang is a signal that the DAP will have to grapple with ambitious politicians who will go all out to be picked as candidates for the general election. The issue was sparked off by a Tamil press report where Dr Ramasamy had reportedly indicated that DAP might field three Indian women in the next general election. It is actually a good idea and might even be a game-changer for the party among Indian voters. Joceline Tan, The Star THEY say a picture speaks a thousand words and this could not be truer during the Penang DAP convention. The "godfather" and the "warlord" barely glanced at each other. The "warlord" Dr P. Ramasamy looked terribly defensive with his arms folded across his broad chest whereas the "godfather" Karpal Singh stared straight ahead like an angry lion. The "buffer" between them was party secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who looked rather sheepish and almost like a small boy next to the two defiant and big-sized men. Guan Eng's new hairstyle has transformed his appearance. It has helped him shed some years off but, as many have pointed out, also makes him look softer and chubbier. The previous Brylcreem image was outdated but it lent him an air of authority which would have been handy during such hostilities. Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow who was seated next to Karpal looked even more sheepish and subdued. Lim and Chow are big names in DAP, but when the elephants fight, even the powerful know better than to get in the way. Dr Ramasamy is also the Deputy Chief Minister and Penang deputy chairman whereas Karpal is the national chairman. But more than that, the two men have big personalities and egos. Besides, Karpal is not afraid of anyone in the DAP, not even Guan Eng; he has put Guan Eng in his place a few times although not after the latter became Chief Minister. DAP people have labelled the war of words between Karpal and Dr Ramasamy as a "Bollywood drama" but deep down, they are extremely worried that something like this is happening with a general election around the corner. "We are wondering why it had escalated to such a public theatre," said Klang MP Charles Santiago. Santiago had attended a book launch of an Indian social commentator on the day of the Penang DAP convention and the warlord-godfather issue was the top conversation topic among the Indian crowd. Santiago, who is also Selangor DAP vice-chairman, led a delegation of Indian DAP leaders to Penang to meet with the warring factions a few days ago. "We appealed to them to get back together or to at least maintain silence. What is happening is affecting us in Selangor and Perak," said Santiago. Internal party quarrels are not new in DAP and big names have fallen out because of it. Last year, the fallout from the in-fighting between rival camps in the Selangor DAP grew so nasty that the party took the unprecedented step of postponing the national elections. Internal fights have acquired a greater intensity than ever before because the party is now in power and power does strange things to people. Previously, it was just about fighting for a party post; now it is also about fighting for what comes with the post. More than that, many in DAP have convinced themselves that Putrajaya is within their reach and that makes everything more urgent and seductive. The warlord-godfather dispute was referred to a high-level panel headed by party doyen Dr Chen Man Hin and comprising Guan Eng and his father Kit Siang. They wanted to keep a lid on the issue. The matter would not have been raised at the central executive committee (CEC) meeting on Tuesday night if not for Selangor vice-chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim who insisted that it be discussed. He had apparently said that the same rules should apply to all and the committee could not possibly think of leaving the building without some conclusion on the issue. Eventually, Kit Siang proposed the special panel and the CEC went along with it even though several people, including Dr Chen and national vice-chairman Tunku Aziz Ibrahim had been in favour of it being handled at the CEC level. A day later, the party announced that the matter had been resolved. Dr Ramasamy, known as "Professor" in the party, took a beating at the Penang DAP convention and had to endure a long and rambling lecture by Karpal. It was very humiliating and he felt his pride and honour had been trampled upon. The former academic did not appreciate being slammed as a warlord and has indicated that he is prepared to walk away from it all if the party is unhappy with him. The term warlord carries unsavoury connotations in the DAP. It is associated with MIC politics or what Santiago called "Samy Vellu kind of politics". Tamil press report The issue was sparked off by a Tamil press report where Dr Ramasamy had reportedly indicated that DAP might field three Indian women in the next general election. It is actually a good idea and might even be a game-changer for the party among Indian voters. Some even suggested it was Guan Eng himself who had asked him to look out for credible Indian candidates. But Seri Delima assemblyman and lawyer R.S.N. Rayer did not take well to the report and complained to Karpal. The rest is history. Rayer, said one Penang professional, is the Indian version of Ng Wei Aik, the hot-tempered and impetuous political secretary to Guan Eng. But the tall and fierce-looking Rayer had chambered under Karpal, hence the older man's soft spot for him. Rayer takes his Hindu roots seriously and is rarely seen without vibuthi (holy ash) on his forehead. Seri Delima is one of three state seats under Karpal's Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency. It was supposed to have gone to Zulkifli Md Noor, a long-time Malay face of DAP. But Rayer lobbied through Karpal for the seat and had reportedly threatened to stand in Bagan against Guan Eng if he did not get it. When Karpal's white MPV, that is specially out-fitted for his wheelchair, drove up to the state convention last week, he was greeted by protesters holding banners slamming Rayer although they misspelt his name as "Rayar". The pro-Ramasamy protesters pointed to Rayer as a troublemaker and demanded that he apologise to Dr Ramasamy. DAP is used to protesting against other people and it was extremely embarrassing that this demonstration was an instance of DAP versus DAP. Dr Ramasamy, some said, was not off the mark in referring to Karpal as the godfather. Karpal is an unparalleled figure in the party, almost untouchable because of his long service record and the special relationship he holds with Kit Siang. Over the years, he has become some sort of rallying point for young, upcoming Indian figures in the party. Dr Ramasamy, who has the ears of Guan Eng, is probably seen as a threat by those around Karpal. Dr Ramasamy's supporters have reacted by accusing Karpal of trying to position his son Jagdeep Singh Deo as the next Deputy Chief Minister. Jagdeep has dismissed the claim as "preposterous and malicious" given that he had rejected an offer to join the state executive council after the 2008 election. He wanted to focus on his law career. It would be a field day for DAP's detractors if that ever happened – Kit Siang's son the Chief Minister and Karpal's son the Deputy Chief Minister. Dr Ramasamy's problem is that he is a parachute candidate who is only starting to build up a grassroots base. He was a big catch for the DAP but his phenomenal rise from university lecturer to Deputy Chief Minister has also resulted in envy and jealousy among some people. The way the speakers at the state convention went for him was terrible. It was as though he had done nothing for the party, which is not exactly true. There have been allegations of cronyism and MIC-style politics on his part but he is basically a political novice who is struggling to make the transition from academic ideas to the dog-eat-dog world of politics on the ground. "Dr Ramasamy is an okay person, he has no airs and does not demand special treatment. But Karpal is an urban electorate hero who has earned his stripes and Dr Ramasamy should have watched his words when it comes to Karpal," said social historian Dr Neil Khor. Different culture The warlord-godfather issue is far from resolved. There are big egos involved and besides, the Indian faction in DAP poses quite a different culture to the Chinese-dominated culture of DAP. Guan Eng is probably at a loss on how to handle these two men. But his bigger headache lies ahead. In essence, the warlord-godfather drama is about the upcoming general election, candidates and seats. There will be an intense lobby to be candidates and it is going to be fierce among the Indian aspirants because there are far fewer seats allocated to them than for the Chinese candidates. Unlike in 2008 when DAP had to go around persuading people to contest, this time, they will be fighting off people who want to be candidates. Aspiring candidates are not just thinking about forming the state government, some of them already see themselves as ministers and deputy ministers. Even Guan Eng is caught up in the Putrajaya dream. This general election is going to be much more complicated for the DAP leadership than they care to admit. Apart from the lobbying, there is the question of whether certain leaders should still persist in contesting parliamentary-cum-state seats. Karpal has been vocal about his one man-one-seat proposal although he has made an exception for Guan Eng on the grounds that as the Chief Minister, he needs access to Parliament. Given all that, the stand-off between the warlord and the godfather may not be a Bollywood drama as claimed by some but a prelude to the big fight to be candidates in the mother of all battles. |
| Anwar breaks into Malay heartland as sodomy verdict, polls loom Posted: 17 Dec 2011 09:53 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Faced with the possibility of being thrown behind bars again, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is wasting no time to embark on an aggressive campaign to woo voters from Barisan Nasional's (BN) traditional Malay stronghold areas. With a looming general election and sodomy trial verdict weighing on his shoulders, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader is making the most of his freedom by going deep behind enemy lines, trying hard to sway the psyches of the country's ethnic majority — who are traditionally supportive of Umno-BN. In a series of trips beginning with Temerloh, Kuantan yesterday, Anwar's message to the Malay folks in these areas was plain and simple: Vote BN out if you want reform and change in governance. Speaking to a 500-strong audience at Shakira Cafe, Batu 1 yesterday, Anwar charged that BN's on-going abuse of power and cronyism had resulted in a majority of Malays suffering, while only an elite minority reaped rewards. The PKR leader claimed that Malays in rural areas failed to see this due to the successful campaign by Umno in blaming the Chinese community for monopolising the country's riches. "Why do you blame the Chinese? You have Malay representatives, Malay district officers, Malay Mentri Besars. So why are Malays getting poorer? "If you look at Pahang itself, it is rich, logging has been done for 50 years. But why has the rewards not reached the people?" he was quoted by PAS organ Harakahdaily as saying. READ MORE HERE |
| Opposition house in disarray? Posted: 17 Dec 2011 09:49 AM PST The loose coalition appears to be a bit under the weather lately Nasharuddin, who along with Dr Hassan, is widely tipped to be dropped in the next election due to their stand, told Berita Minggu today in an interview that Pas had started to derail from its original struggle. A. Jalil Hamid, New Straits Times IT IS said that Islamic party Pas is having second thoughts about keeping maverick Pas leader Da-tuk Dr Hassan Ali because he is fighting for Islam. In Penang, the mainly Chinese DAP has been rocked by a widening feud between two non-Chinese leaders in the party. Just as the floods are causing havoc in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of the country due to the monsoon, the opposition is a bit under the weather these days. Pas and DAP, the two main parties in the tripartite Pakatan Rakyat, have seen their respective infightings coming out into the open to dominate the front pages in recent weeks. With de facto Pakatan leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim battling his seemingly endless legal woes -- the verdict for his Sodomy II trial is due on Jan 9 -- the opposition alliance is slipping further into disarray despite the imminent general election. Up to now, Anwar's fledgling Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has been the glue that binds the more established Pas and DAP. But it seems more a marriage of convenience because of their contrasting party ideologies. Such unions may not last long. PKR has experienced top-level resignations, the latest being Bukit Gelugor division chief Lim Boo Chang, who resigned from the party and hit out at the DAP-led Penang government. In all, PKR has seen the resignations of six members of parliament, five state assemblymen, a deputy president, a vice-president, a secretary-general and several supreme council members. DAP and Pas have also lately bickered over issues such as the imposition of hudud law, apostasy cases in Selangor, the beer-sale ban in Selangor and the future of the casino in Genting Highlands. The parties, along with PKR, rule Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan and hold sizeable seats in Parliament after their unprecedented strong showing in the March 2008 election. Critics say the opposition, which struggled to rule those states, began campaigning for the coming general election right after the last election by forcing or diverting the Barisan Nasional (BN) government from its responsibility of governing. This, however, has not deterred the government from pushing ahead with its transformation agenda. The latest opposition disarray could provide an impetus for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to hold the elections sooner than later. No doubt he will call for elections when the time is right, after considering many factors. There are possibly many things running through his mind when deciding on the date, but winning by a comfortable majority should be the overriding consideration. BN, banking on its proven track record, will continue to work hard for the election, which Najib has described as one of the "toughest". It will certainly not take things for granted. There are certainly positive signs in BN's favour. For instance, Pakatan is believed to have conceded that Pas, on its own, is unlikely to be able to maintain the Malay support it enjoyed in the 2008 election. Observers say Pas would face an uphill task even defending its seats in the Malay heartland, including parliamentary seats in its power base of Kelantan, which it has ruled for a record 21 years. Within Pas, the rife worsened after Dr Hassan, who is also exco member in the PKR-led Selangor government, fell out with the Pas leadership. It has also seemed to have opened up a brewing discontent within the party over Dr Hassan's strong commitment to Islam. Dr Hassan, who has been viewed by some as a thorn both in Selangor Pas and Pakatan, has won the support of former Pas deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who has insisted that Pas should put Islam first. Nasharuddin, who along with Dr Hassan, is widely tipped to be dropped in the next election due to their stand, told Berita Minggu today in an interview that Pas had started to derail from its original struggle. "Pas should be more firm and consistent in stating its stand on many issues," the former academic said. "The perception from outside is that Pas appears to be less rigid. This is dangerous." In the case of DAP, it was a bitter row played out in the media between DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Penang deputy chief minister II P. Ramasamy. A three-member panel to resolve the dispute has declared that the issue between Karpal and Ramasamy had been resolved and that the party leadership would move forward as a united team to face the elections. Saying the issue was far from being resolved, Karpal on Thursday made it clear that the panel might have come to its own conclusions, but "it was definitely not the end of the matter". Looks like it's a case of "it never rains but it pours" for the opposition this rainy season.
|
| Opposition pact cannot be sustained: Najib Posted: 17 Dec 2011 09:48 AM PST (Bernama) -- The opposition pact is fragile and cannot be sustained because the political parties are cooperating only due to their hatred for the Barisan Nasional, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today. The fragility of their pact and the ideological differences of the parties are the sources of the various problems they face among themselves, he added. "The pact cannot sustain for long because the fundamental differences in opinion will eventually trigger conflicts among the parties," he told reporters after launching the national-level Agriculture Graduates Entrepreneurs Club (MyAgrosis) and opening the youth and graduate entrepreneurs gathering at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Merbok, near here. The prime minister was asked to comment on the various problems the opposition parties faced in their attempt to make their collaboration work. Najib described the fragile opposition pact as being much different from the BN which he said forged cooperation on a single policy accepted by all the component parties. "They (the opposition parties) are facing all kinds of problems even before the general election. This happens when you have ideological differences which are very apparent and fundamental," he said. Najib, who is also Umno president, said the recent Umno general assembly has inspired the party members greatly to face the next general election. "I hope they will carry this spirit to their respective areas and continue with the task of strengthening our machinery and discharging their duties as per our instruction," he said. |
| Show me the letter to World Bank, Dr M challenges Anwar Posted: 17 Dec 2011 09:42 AM PST (Bernama) - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday challenged Opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to show a letter purportedly written by him to the World Bank for funds during the financial crisis in 1999. Dr Mahathir said on the contrary he was the one who had refused the World Bank funds. "I know that if we had accepted the World Bank funds, we will become its slave. Hence, we did not do so," he said after opening the third Multaqa Wehdatul Ummah here yesterday. Dr Mahathir was commenting on Anwar's allegation that the former prime minister had written to the World Bank for funds during the financial crisis in 1999. "If Anwar's allegation is true, please show me the letter. I challenge him to swear by the Quran in a mosque and I'm willing to do so if needed," said Dr Mahathir. He said Anwar was known for advocating measures introduced by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in tackling the financial crisis at that time. "I used to tell him (Anwar), if we were to take the World Bank funds, we will not have enough money to pay the salaries of our officers. But he was bent on advocating the World Bank measures to the extend that it clouded his thinking," said Dr Mahathir. Meanwhile, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, who was present, said he could vouch for Dr Mahathir that the former prime minister had rejected the World Bank funds. Nor Mohamed said he could still remember that a World Bank representative came to see Dr Mahathir to discuss on how Malaysia could avoid the financial crisis in 1999. "The World Bank representative had proposed to Dr Mahathir to increase housing loan interest rates and restrict government's spending while Bank Negara should withdraw all loans to avoid economic crisis. "But Dr Mahathir told him that the proposals would cause bloodshed in the streets and he said let it be bloods in the streets, much to Dr Mahathir's chagrin," Nor Mohamed said, adding that Dr Mahathir told him off and told him to leave the office. |
| ‘Amend constitution to stop party-hopping’ Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:48 PM PST DAP chairman Karpal Singh says if a bill is tabled, the BN government will get the full backing of Pakatan Rakyat. (Free Malaysia Today) - The DAP today called on the Najib administration to amend the Federal Constitution to ban party hopping by elected representatives. Its chairman Karpal Singh said Barisan Nasional government should table an emergency parliamentary bill soon to amend the constitution. "It should be done before the next general election," Karpal told newsmen during his weekly Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency visit here today. He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak can count on the Pakatan Rakyat support for the amendment. He said Najib should not be worried about not securing a two-thirds majority needed to make a constitutional amendment. He said the Pakatan MPs would surely back Najib's administration on the amendment, which would eventually flush out selfish politicians. The amendment will have to done on Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which allows citizens freedom of association. Many elected representatives are pointing to the article to justify their defections over the years. Karpal, a lawyer by profession, indicated that only a constitutional amendment can once and for all put an end to party hopping by elected representatives. The amendment would pave way for the parliament and state governments to legislate anti-hopping laws. Karpal was referring to a Gerakan suggestion to ban party hopping made during a public hearing by the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms here yesterday. The hearing was chaired by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili. READ MORE HERE |
| Cowgate: Talk straight please, MACC! Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:20 PM PST Abu Kassim, never mind about your so-called faithfully practiced principle of investigation "without fear or favour", just tell us plain and simple a) whether you agree or disagree that there are elements that justify MACC to move in, and b) whether you have started investigation in earnest. By Kim Quek Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) defended its position on Dec 16 with regards to the National Feedlot Center scandal on two fronts: through the issue of a statement and in a press conference given by MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed after the closing ceremony of a MACC program at the Anti-Corruption Academy . In the statement quoted by Bernama, MACC denied that it had not taken any action. It said that it did scrutinize the complaint from NGOs regarding the abuse of a government loan to purchase luxurious condominiums by National Feedlot Corporation, and found no corruption element, and hence passed the case to the police. In the press conference, Abu Kassim said that since the scandal was exposed in the 2010 Auditor General's report in October, MACC had already started studying it from corruption point of view., The issue of whether MACC is or is not probing the case does not arise, since MACC's earlier measure to pass the case to police was only a response specifically directed at the particular complaint of irregularity in using the loan to purchase the condos. Since it was a case of misuse of public loan, it was forwarded to police for further investigation. Abu Kassim further said that the public could have misunderstood MACC, not knowing its working procedure. He stressed that MACC has always practiced the principle of probing corruption without fear or favour, regardless of whether the persons involved are cabinet ministers or ordinary citizens. We take it from this Abu Kassim statement that the earlier "passing the buck to police" move relates to only the condo purchase incident and not to other aspects of the scandal. Then, can Abu Kassim tells us now whether MACC is investigating the entire NFC debacle? WHY THE EERIE SILENCE? And please tell us why MACC has steadfastly kept its eerie silence for the past two months, while the controversy has been raging inside and outside parliament, with numerous press conferences and Internet postings that produced heaps of evidence of corruption, abuse of power, collusion, breach of trust and criminal negligence by ministers and government officials in the award of project and disbursement of loan? Abu Kassim, never mind about your so-called faithfully practiced principle of investigation "without fear or favour", just tell us plain and simple a) whether you agree or disagree that there are elements that justify MACC to move in, and b) whether you have started investigation in earnest. Since this is such a high-profile scandal that affects vital national interests, and the resolution of which will hinge the credibility of the entire Malaysian government, will Abu Kassim please be honest for once and tell the nation what exactly is the status of MACC's investigations with respect to this NFC fiasco. And what has MACC done in the past two months towards seeking out the culprits and restoring some semblance of rule of law to this country? No more hypocritical rhetoric please; just simple, honest answers. |
| Act against Hadi and not Hasan Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:11 PM PST Kelantan opposition leader says PAS president and other leaders were the ones involved in Malay unity talks with Umno. (Free Malaysia Today) - PAS should not be taking action against its former Selangor commissioner Dr Hasan Ali instead they should go against party president Abdul Hadi and other leaders. Kelantan opposition leader Alwi Md Che Ahmad said Abdul Hadi Awang, former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and vice-president Sallehuddin Ayub were the ones who started the PAS-Umno Malay unity talks. Alwi who was the political secretary to former premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, revealed that Hadi led a small party delegation to meet Abdullah at Seri Perdana. "It happened in late 2008 before Abdullah (Pak Lah) had stepped down as prime minister and Umno president. It was a frank discussion about Malay Unity and Abdul Hadi had even (tried) to persuade Pak Lah to stay on as the nation's leader," Alwi said in an interview. He remembered that Hadi and Nasharudin were present while Sallehuddin liased with him on arranging the meeting. "Hasan was nowhere near Seri Perdana. Now, PAS is asking him to quit the party when he apparently talked about Malay Unity. PAS is showing its true colours as a hypocrite and as an opportunist. They should act against Hadi instead," he said. He said the issue of Malay Unity had dragged on since 1999 when it was first conceptualized. In 2004, when PAS was almost wiped out in the general election, the Islamist party had then seemed more than eager to pursue this form of centralised-politics. Later after 2008, PAS had outright rejected the notion of unity as it performed remarkably well in that year's election. Now, the issue has cropped again after Hasan made the remarks after it was recently reported that he would no longer be fielded as a PAS candidate. READ MORE HERE |
| More members roped into Jeffrey’s opposition group Posted: 16 Dec 2011 10:15 AM PST (The Star) - Political figure Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is putting together an Opposition front comprising Sabah and Sarawak parties to fight Barisan Nasional in the coming polls. Apart from the pressure group United Borneo Front (UBF) that he heads, Dr Jeffrey has so far roped in the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the unregistered Usno Baru into his Borneo Alliance. His aides said the alliance, which would be launched on Jan 6, includes the Sarawak Reform Party. "We will be discussing the use of a common symbol for the coming election," Dr Jeffrey said when launching the UBF's first anniversary gathering here yesterday. SAPP deputy president Amde Sidek, Usno Baru pro tem chief Datu Badaruddin Tun Mustapha and Sarawak Reform Party president Dr Dripin Sakoi were present. Asked about support for the Opposition being split between the alliance and Pakatan Rakyat, Dr Jeffrey said he would like to see it being averted. Dr Jeffrey said Sabah and Sarawak parties should come together as an alliance in the election as the 166 parliamentary seats in the peninsula and Labuan were equally split between Barisan and Pakatan. "Sabah and Sarawak are now kingmakers and we must quickly capitalise on this opportunity," he said. |
| MACC probing Shahrizat Posted: 16 Dec 2011 10:12 AM PST (The Star) - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating whether Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had played any part in the award of the RM250mil loan to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), of which her husband is the executive chairman. Sources said MACC officers were checking to ascertain if she had influenced, took part in the project or whether she had a hand in the loan award. They said the commission had started its investigations into the matter after the NFC issue was highlighted in the Auditor-General's 2010 Report. The report indicated that the project had not met targets set by the Government. It is learnt that MACC officers had visited the project site as well as the NFC office and interviewed Shahrizat's husband Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail as well as several other people connected to the NFC project. Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed said the commission had been investigating "grand corruption all the way" and denied that it was only combating petty corruption. "Our responsibility is to investigate and we have been doing so regardless of the person's status," he said at the closing ceremony of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy here yesterday. He was responding to a question that certain groups, including Transparency International (TI), which said that not enough was being done to combat "grand corruption". On Dec 1, TI said Malaysia had shown a decline in its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score for the third consecutive year, scoring lower than 4.4 last year and was significantly lower than the Government's own benchmark of 4.9. Abu Kassim said the MACC had been investigating "big" cases regardless of whether it involved Cabinet ministers or ordinary citizens. |
| Rebel PAS leader continues to receive flak over his stand Posted: 16 Dec 2011 10:11 AM PST (The Star) - PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali has stepped up the attacks against rebel Selangor party leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, who has been widely speculated to be leaving the party. Mustafa chided the Selangor state executive councillor, saying the latter's stand on certain matters created the impression that he was going against the tide to defend Islam. "By saying that he is making such and such a stand in defence of Islam, he has created the perception that PAS is no longer defending Islam," he said in an interview yesterday. Mustafa said this in response to growing discontent within the party against the 64-year-old Dr Hasan. The secretary-general said PAS leaders who behaved in such manner had "obviously taken Umno's bait" to weaken the Islamist party. He also hit out at Dr Hasan for allegedly offering to mediate unity talks between Umno and PAS, pointing out: "He should know the party's stand on the matter. It was decided at the PAS muktamar that unity talks are off." Mustafa also shrugged off as a non-issue claims in the media that Dr Hasan would not be fielded in the next general election because he had failed to secure enough nominations from PAS members to defend his Gombak Setia state seat. The PAS central leadership would decide on who the potential candidates would be, he added. In an immediate response, Dr Hasan said he would explain all during a press conference on Monday. "I will clear the air soon. I will explain everything. I will address the matter properly and put things in the right perspective," he said. Dr Hasan also said he had no plans to quit PAS to join Umno. PAS central committee member Khalid Samad expressed hope that Dr Hasan would not leave the party. However, he urged Dr Hasan to learn to work as a team member. "He should stick to collective decisions," Khalid said. Former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa also came under heavy criticism for allegedly propagating PAS-Umno unity. "I do not know why I am being dragged into it again. I have been very busy with family matters in recent days," he said. As a Selangor state executive councillor, Dr Hasan has had numerous run-ins with his party and Pakatan Rakyat colleagues, being blamed for the controversial anti-proselytisation inspection at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in August. He also stirred a hornet's nest by claiming that "solar-powered talking bibles" were being used to convert Muslims to Christianity and for his failed attempt at banning the sale of alcoholic beverages at 24-hour convenience stores. Dr Hasan nevertheless continues to command support, especially from among the party grassroots. Most notable is PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan, who views Dr Hasan as an eminent defender of Islam, Malays and the royal institution. It was reported on Thursday that there was a widening rift between Dr Hasan and top PAS leaders after talk emerged that he would not be fielded as an election candidate. |
| The need to chart Nurul Izzah’s career path Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:45 AM PST Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her 'home-state', Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member of an important portfolio. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim sex trial verdict might push for political heir
(Press TV) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's supporters say the verdict of his sex trial, scheduled for January 9, would indicate the transparency of the country's judiciary.
Anwar, who stood trial for sodomy, has repeatedly said he did not get a fair trial throughout the two-year court proceeding. He also accused the government of trumping up the sex charge to end his political career and popularity.
Anwar was charged with sodomy for the second time a few months after he led the opposition to an unprecedented victory at the general election in 2008, which denied the government its two third majority.
His party loyalists say that the judgment is crucial in determining if the government had meddled into the trial.
The government has denied any political conspiracy. Anwar lost his position as the deputy prime minister when he was arrested and charged for corruption and sodomy in 1998. He served a six-year jail sentence and was released in 2004 when the federal court overturned his conviction.
Government leaders say the country's judiciary is independent and alleged that Anwar is orchestrating conspiracy theories for his political gain.
If seen to have manufactured the sex charge, political observers say that it would cost prime minister Najib Tun Razak votes at the next general election, which is expected to be called early next year.
Political analysts say that the verdict for the sex trial of opposition Anwar Ibrahim would not just determine his political future but also that of the opposition coalition. But there is a widespread speculation that Anwar's eldest daughter, who herself is a member of parliament, might take over the leadership from her father. ***************************************
Many are now no longer talking about whether Anwar Ibrahim is or is not going to jail but talking about who will take over the leadership of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, once Anwar goes to jail. And there is already talk that Nurul Izzah can most likely be that candidate.
Of course, some say Nurul Izzah, at only 31, is still too young. That is, of course, a very subjective view. At 30, Alexander the Great had conquered almost half the world. And in these modern times many have became multi-millionaires or billionaires before the age of 30.
So, is 31 really an age that is too young?
I made my first million at age 27 (my good friend, Michael Toh, can testify to that because he was my mentor). By age 37 I went bust when 'Black Monday' swept the world (because I became too big for my britches and did not listen to Michael Toh who advised me to focus and consolidate rather than expand and diversify indiscriminately). So it was a very short ten years of life as a millionaire before I was reduced to a life of begging.
So, again, is 31 really an age that is too young?
Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her 'home-state', Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member (State Minister) of an important portfolio.
This will give her the opportunity to learn the ropes. Her job as a state minister would give her the experience she needs to eventually take on the task of a federal minister, or even as one of the Deputy Prime Ministers (assuming by then Malaysia has three Deputy Prime Ministers once Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government).
Furthermore, this will also allow Malaysians the opportunity to gauge her performance as a Deputy Chief Minister or a State EXCO member. Whether she also contests a parliament seat so that she still has a presence in parliament is up to the party to decide. To me that is not as crucial as her training in the state government to eventually play a prominent role in the federal government.
Even if Pakatan Rakyat gets to win the next election and gets to form the federal government there is no problem with Nurul Izzah spending a stint in the state government before moving up to the federal government in the 14th General Election -- assuming, of course, Pakatan Rakyat wins the 14th General Election. By then Nurul Izzah will be about 40 or so and at just the right age to take centre stage in the federal government.
Anyway, that is just my opinion, not that my opinion means anything to those who walk in the corridors of power or aspire to walk in the corridors of power. But the point is, Nurul Izzah's stint in the state government not only allows her to gain the experience that she will need but also allows us to gauge her suitability to play a bigger role at federal government level.
"And why Penang and not Selangor?" you might ask. Well, because Umno is saying that Penang is controlled by the Chinese and with Nurul Izzah as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers she can demonstrate that the Chinese do not control Penang and that Lim Guan Eng is not the dictator who runs Penang like it is his personal kingdom. Furthermore, Nurul Izzah would have no problems working with Guan Eng plus we Malaysians would not be losing any sleep wondering whether she would sell out the opposition and go join Umno. This would put to rest the 'frog' issue.
|
| Jeffrey’s back to active politics Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:58 AM PST Sarawak Reform Party (STAR) officially announced Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan as the chairman of its Sabah chapter. (Free Malaysia Today) - Maverick Jeffrey Kitingan, who has been without a party since he left PKR one year ago, has now joined a reactivated 16-year-old Sarawak party, Sarawak Reform Party (STAR). STAR president, Dripin Sakoi, presented Jeffrey a membership card and document empowering him to lead a Sabah chapter of the party in time for the 13th general election. Four other Jeffrey allies in Sabah, who also received their membership cards from Sakoi today, are Guandi Kohoi, Rubin Guribah, Jeffrey Telado and James Aik. Sakoi, who took over the presidency from STAR founder Patau Rubis in March, surprised everyone in the packed hall of a restaurant in Penampang, near here, when he invited the five to come forward and received their STAR cards while he was giving a short speech after Jeffrey finished his. "We in STAR fully subscribed and support the Borneo Agenda of UBF (United Borneo Front) and it is time now for us to unite… I am calling on Jeffrey to come forward and receive his membership. He is now to lead the Sabah chapter," Dripin said amidst applause from the some 300 supporters of UBF and guests. FMT learnt that Jeffrey will tonight be meeting with his people to set up an organising committee for the launching of STAR Sabah on Jan 6. It is understood that that Hongkod Koisaan hall, which is the headquarters of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), has been booked. The 4,000-capacity hall will be the site for Jeffrey's clarion call to gather together the much-touted third force. Earlier in his press conference, Jeffrey did not mention joining any party. Neither did he say anything about it his hour-long speech. In his speech, he reiterated his frequent call for the people to unite and see the reality of false hope and broken dreams spun by the then regime. "We have been duped because we were too young to comprehend then (1963). "They exploited us until we became just one of the 13 states in the federation, until we have become the poorest in this country. "We must put a stop to this and the only way is to unite once again to fight for our independence and our rights," Jeffrey said.
STAR on the lookout Over the past year, Jeffrey has been travelling all over Sabah holding hundreds of tea-parties to explain and galvanise people to support his Borneo Agenda. Badaruddin Datu Mustapha Harun, son of a former chief minister, was one of two speakers at the event. The other was Sabah Progressive People's Party (SAPP) deputy president Amdi Sidek. Badaruddin urged all the three major native communities in Sabah – Muslims, non-Muslims and Chinese – to unite and vote Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) out of Sabah at the next general election. READ MORE HERE |
| We are looking at the fifth estate Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:12 AM PST Why should politics reach out to social media? Just look at the figures put out by the Internet and Mobile Association of India. At 112 million, and growing by 5-7 million internet users a month, India is well on its way to topple the US (245 million users) and come within sneaking distance of China (485 million). With that pace, India would well cross 500 million by 2015. Vinay KamatVinay Kamat, The Times of India A joke doing the rounds in cyberspace gives an idea of social media's chain reaction. "Thank God, the Kolaveri song was sung by Dhanush. If it was sung by his father-in-law Rajnikanth, it would have been our national anthem."
Leave Rajnikanth out of the picture frame for a moment and deconstruct Kolaveri. After all, it used the stickiness of social media to get eyeballs and eardrums. Kolaveri may be a case study for online music; it is also a case study for politics. Social media, especially Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, is redefining social and political discourse. How do you familiarise yourself with this new medium? How do you create a message in this space? How do you target? How do you connect? And, finally, how do you interact?
These questions have popped up after two quick developments in cyberspace: Kolaveri's viral success and Kapil Sibal's attempt to regulate social media. And both are related to the three values that make social media: creativity, empowerment, interactivity. They made a song fly. They also forced the government to sit up and take notice.
Kolaveri is a test case. It explains why a hick experimental tune without any marketing muscle reaches a tipping point and then explodes on the web. What you see in pop art, you will see in political and social spheres as well. Have a message? Make it participative. Make it emotive.
This is the Kolaveri test for surviving in social media. Let's flex the argument: How is Anna Hazare able to make politics a social discussion and lead social media? Why is Sibal not able to convince the blogosphere? Social media seeks participation and experimentation; it seeks to deliberate freely on social and political issues. Without participation, there's no social media. It explains why Anna and Dhanush are able to use technology successfully to reach out to you and me.
Why should politics reach out to social media? Just look at the figures put out by the Internet and Mobile Association of India. At 112 million, and growing by 5-7 million internet users a month, India is well on its way to topple the US (245 million users) and come within sneaking distance of China (485 million). With that pace, India would well cross 500 million by 2015. Even though Google's projections are slightly conservative (300 by 2014), they do indicate a population bulge.
Certainly, these numbers would increase social media's clout. Hence, it is important for social media companies and putative regulators, internal or external, not to ruffle users' sentiment or loyalty. In fact, the rise of the social media coincides with the global debate on participative democracy. Should democracy be a continuous referendum or a referendum only during elections? Should it be a static or dynamic interaction between people and legislators? Should the government increase political discourse in social media by making it participative? Should elected representatives reach out to people? In fact, some of these aspects of interactivity have now been raised by Sibal, a week after kicking up a cyberstorm over regulation.
And rightfully so. If social media is clamouring for a stake in democracy, why deny it? Why antagonise it by regulating it? Let's look at some studies that have assessed the political impact of social media. They give an idea how democracy blogs in cyberspace. A study points out that engagement with politics begins at home. "Those who are most likely to take up the new tools offered by Web 2.0 are those who are already politically engaged. While this is a very positive development for those citizens, as they now have new, easy and cheap means to engage on a global basis, it is unlikely to draw the politically unengaged and uninterested into politics on a large scale," says a study by Allison Orr on political participation and Web 2.0.
Now, let's look at a Pew study on the internet's influence on voting behaviour in the US. As many as 22% of online political users said they were influenced by online political content in 2010. And 33% of respondents said online political content influenced their voting choices, or the candidates they selected. While it is still too early to gauge the full impact on social media on voting behaviour, social media is becoming a key tool of civic and political engagement in the US.
While these studies do indicate a stream of political consciousness dripping into social media, the critical mass that could make social media an inflection point in India is 5X: 500 million. That's the social media's Kolaveri moment. That's when India's social media would have reached the critical mass to be counted as a political voice, a heavyweight.
Says a case study on netizen democracy in South Korea, where social media is politically hyperactive, by Ronda Hauben, "Not only is the internet a laboratory for democracy, but the scale of participation and contributions is unprecedented. Online discussion makes it possible for netizens to become active individual and group actors in social and public affairs. The internet makes it possible for netizens to speak out independently of institutions or officials."
We have seen that happening frequently in China's highly regulated cyberspace. Already, there is a debate on the evolution of the social media. Will it evolve into a fifth estate-democracy's newest stakeholder? Will social and political discussions in social media grow into deliberations? Will they be opinion-creating instead of rabble-rousing? Will they be reflective instead of impulsive?
Social media is still in a state of evolution. Just imagine the power of a medium which empowers users and disintermediates communication. In fact, even as it seeks to elevate conversations into discussions, it has redefined communication by simply empowering the user. So far, we have looked at social media through the prism of the fourth estate, an offline social media. It misses the key point: the speed at which technology is empowering knowledge. You can't regulate that.
No wonder Sibal is now talking of empowering government through social media and reaching out to a wider population. It's the first sign of political outreach. |
| Only Ku Li can put M’sia on right footing Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:01 AM PST For PKR to survive and for Pakatan Rakyat to stay relevant, they need a leader who is acceptable to the royal houses and who can command the respect of all Malaysians. There's a practical side also as to why Tengku Razaleigh is the ultimate playmaker for the Pakatan people if the bigger picture is to oust Umno and the BN government. The bigger picture, I repeat once more, is to secure the interest of the country, not to secure the interest of one Anwar Ibrahim. Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today What is Umno's latest weapon now? It's the cultivation of the royal houses in the country. If PKR isn't blind, they will see where the HRH Sultan of Selangor is going with his majesty's overt political tones. Umno is now working overtime to drum in this fallacious idea that if others come into power the very future of the royal houses, the symbol of Malay existence, will be wiped out. How can Pakatan neutralise this powerful move which is also a powerful idea? By having someone from the royal line to talk to the rulers. Who can talk to the rulers on equal terms other than Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li)? He's a royalty himself and commands respect and deference among the royal houses. Tengku Razaleigh will represent the second coming of a Tengku Abdul Rahman figure but this time, putting Malaysia on the right footing. There's a practical side also as to why Tengku Razaleigh is the ultimate playmaker for the Pakatan people if the bigger picture is to oust Umno and the BN government. The bigger picture, I repeat once more, is to secure the interest of the country, not to secure the interest of one Anwar Ibrahim. Pakatan must win over fence-sitters It's for better and participative democracy, the rule of law, and disciplined and better governance. Why Tengku Razaleigh? Because it's important for the Pakatan to gain the allegiance and support of the 20 percent fence-sitter voters. This section of the public has a different psychology. They want to know who the next prime minister is. Is the next premier going to be more acceptable than the present one? They want certainty and some confidence in the person. That person must have substance, experience, standing and respect all around. Furthermore, the fence-sitters will demand to see some clarity. READ MORE HERE |
| Najib, Father of ‘Spin’ Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:47 AM PST The sixth Malaysian prime minister will go down in history as the master of spin, sloganeering and story-telling. Najib has totally lost it! Nothing can salvage 1Malaysia now. He has had his chance of implementing genuine political reforms but he blew it. His stand now is to strictly obey the Umno warlords and the ultra-Malays. He has now transformed himself into becoming a barbarian warlord – truly a government transformation programme! Selena Tay, Free Malaysia Today At long last, the 1Malaysia slogan has been revealed for what it truly is: the greatest failure of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. What for so long has been bandied about as the keyword for racial harmony and unity has been debunked as a 100 percent failure at the recent Umno general assembly and the one who debunked this mythic 1Malaysia slogan is none other than Najib himself. Poetic justice, you might say. Thus, the prime minister has proven himself to be the greatest spinner of yarns and tall tales beyond comparison and 1Malaysia is his greatest masterpiece, so to speak, as he has proclaimed that 1Malaysia is his brainchild. It beats out GTP, ETP, NKRA, NKEA and what not. The sixth Malaysian prime minister will thus go down in history as the master of spin, sloganeering and story-telling. Incredible credentials, indeed, if one were a movie director or producer for sure. But as a prime minister? Naah! Najib's move of pandering to the demands of the ultra-Malays in order to gain support of the Malays is a crass and lowdown tactic unbecoming of someone who aspires to be a great statesman. What will other world leaders think? It is time for Najib to wake up to the fact that his words and deeds are watched not only by Malaysians here but also by other world leaders and Malaysians overseas. Still, he has reached the point of no-return and his "movement of moderates" talk is all hype, hot air and hoo-ha over nothing. As we approach the finishing line towards the dissolution of Parliament, Najib seems desperate to build up what he considers as enough solid support before calling for the 13th general election. And by solid support, he is thinking of the Malay vote. His desperation shows through clearly as he comes across as a muddled flip-flopper lacking in direction of whether to adopt a policy encompassing all races or only a Malay-only policy. His party, Umno, is also rudderless and clueless on how to steer the Malaysian economy through unchartered stormy seas next year when the global economic crisis truly hits our shores and we have been forewarned. Instead, Najib and Barisan Nasional leaders are deluding themselves that the Malaysian economy is all fine and hunky-dory. The Umno general assembly has deteriorated into a barbaric sword and shield-clanging feast as each Umno leader vowed death and destruction to their perceived enemy forces. Nothing on economic or administrative policies for the good of the nation was discussed. Najib has totally lost it! Nothing can salvage 1Malaysia now. He has had his chance of implementing genuine political reforms but he blew it. His stand now is to strictly obey the Umno warlords and the ultra-Malays. He has now transformed himself into becoming a barbarian warlord – truly a government transformation programme!
Polls after Chinese New Year Due to Umno's outright wooing of the Malays, Taiping MP, DAP's Nga Kor Ming, has opined that the 13th general election will be held between two and four weeks after Chinese New Year to lessen the Chinese vote. This is because once the Chinese have taken long leave to go back to their hometown for the Chinese New Year, it will be difficult for them to take leave again to go back to vote. In 2012, Chinese New Year falls on Jan 23 and thus polling will be between Feb 11 and 26. Besides, the feel-good factor among the rakyat is still there in February after the distribution of goodies by BN in January when in fact the goodies themselves come from the rakyat's money! In March, the feel-good factor would have dissipated so BN will want to hold the polls as near as possible to the date of the distribution of the goodies – and February fits the bill. Another reason why the polls will not be held in March, opined Nga, is that the BN federal government will not want Pakatan Rakyat to remind the people of the political tsunami of March 2008. Therefore, March is out. However, the government must not think that it can do as it likes by riding rough-shod over the rakyat. The time is coming when the world is changing. In Russia, the opposition and its supporters are already protesting due to widespread fraud and malpractice in the Russian elections. With Time magazine naming "The Protester" as the Person of the Year for 2011, there are signs that the global movement for change is already at hand as the world's populations are demanding justice and fair play. The incumbent government must pay heed to the signs of the times and not talk down to the citizens. It must not continue to display arrogance as the oppressed people have shown that they can and will arise to overthrow despotic and dictatorial regimes that are merciless in suppressing the voice of the people. READ MORE HERE |
| Umno’s missed opportunity Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:44 AM PST Issues of national concern were not discussed at the recent Umno general assembly. Delegates also failed to call on Najib to step down for Umno to rise again. Under an undemocratic-despotic government where gross abuse of power is the hallmark of the regime, it is of no surprise then that no concerted efforts have been made by the government to tackle such malpractices let alone remove corrupt federal ministers, chief ministers and menteris besar. Awang Abdillah, Free Malaysia Today Frankly, the recent Umno general assembly was the best venue and probably the last chance for Umno leaders to show their sincerity in addressing party and national concerns. Instead of adopting the Mahathir doctrine or rather its despotic policy, Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should have discussed with the party leaders on how best to tackle the party and national problems. Disgruntled members should have urged Najib to step down as one of the solutions for Umno to rise again. Personal leadership, party strength and national issues and problems are all inter-related. Glaringly missing at the Umno general assembly were discussions on issues of national concerns. Allow me to list it all out here.
(1) The national debt The most prominent of the major national issues is the growing national debt which now stands at RM437 billion, dwarfing the expected revenue of RM186.9 billion for 2012. A massive national debt is one of the main factors that can destabilise the economy of the country. Such a gigantic problem can be seen from afar by financial institutions and fund managers, the Employees Provident Fund board, foreign investors, dealers and speculators in the Malaysian foreign exchange market, investors in Bursa Malaysia, trading partners and our neighbouring countries. If this problem remains unsolved, a number of fallouts are expected: banks will hold on to credit outflow leading to higher lending rates; flight of capital out of Malaysia; panic selling of the ringgit leading to a free-fall of the currency; panic selling of stocks in Bursa Malaysia; foreign direct investment will be neglible; unemployment will rise; delays in public funding of development projects, and so on. There is no reason for a country like Malaysia – blessed with natural resources, high exports of primary commodities and other goods valued at RM639.4 billion for 2010 – to become a net borrower for development funds. We believe as much as 30 to 40 percent of the development allocations in the yearly national budget goes indirectly to Umno politicians and Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), too, and its companies. For 2012 , a sum of RM51.2 billion is allocated for development. As much as 30 to 40 percent of the amount may be siphoned away through marked-up prices of government contracts, maintenance of public projects and supplies to government ministries, departments and agencies. Some of such practices are partly revealed by the Auditor-General Report 2010. Unfortunately, the Auditor-General made false reports on the Sarawak government's public accounts for the last nine years, for reasons best known to him. If Umno cares about the welfare of the rakyat, then Najib and his top party leaders should discuss ways during the party general assembly to reduce this serious national problem instead of pushing it aside. For any country, if its national debt keeps on growing, it would mean that government development funds in the past years have not been properly utilised for productive economic projects, which can give good returns to the government. Instead, a big portion of it goes to the personal accounts of Umno politicians. READ MORE HERE |
| Taib-Linked Group Faces Tasmanian Protests Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:39 AM PST Environmentalists accuse timber company of cutting old-growth timber Asia Sentinel A unit of Ta Ann Group Bhd, a Sarawak-based timber giant closely linked to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, is being accused by an Australian lawmaker of invading a protected 430,000-hectare Tasmanian forest that was supposed to be protected by a national-state intergovernment agreement. Tasmanian Sen. Bob Brown, the leader of Australia's Greens, said that although the governments had signed an agreement earlier this year to protect the forests until an independent verification process was completed, Ta Ann had already begun logging.
"Four months later not one hectare has been protected and Forestry Tasmania continues to fell these magnificent trees as fast as they can put the roads in. All up, more than 10 square kilometers of our wild forests will be destroyed," Brown said.
In an effort to stop the logging, a young woman name Miranda Gibson climbed into a structure high above the forest with a vow to sit there to stop the logging, which began last Monday.
That is the latest protest against the company, which has been operating in Tasmania for some time, ostensibly receiving A$10 million in direct public subsidies and being housed in Tasmanian state premises that cost A$22 million. Ta Ann Tasmania has reported net losses of A$18 million although the parent company declared a 25 percent profit margin on annual sales of more than RN800 million.
Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, headed by Taib's cousin Hamed Sepawi, is comprised of at least 31 Sarawak-based companies in three broad sections including timber harvesting, palm oil plantations and various other interests. The company, with a market capitalization of RM1.24 billion (US$388.6 million), employs 6,000 people and began expanding overseas n 2007, according to the group's website.
Taib himself is under fire from a plethora of NGOs from six different countries demanding that he and 13 members of his family be arrested and prosecuted for massive fraud, theft, corruption, illegal appropriation of land and abuse of public office and that he is at the epicenter of the operations despite the naming of family members to head ancillary operations. They allege that the looting of Sarawak's rich timber and other natural resources has earned Taib's family billions of US dollars through investment in as many as 400 companies in 25 countries.
Research released earlier this month by the Switzerland-based Bruno Manser Fund said official documents show the Taib family stake in 14 Malaysian companies alone is worth US$1.46 billion. The fund has uploaded all of the documents onto the Internet. They can be found here. Billions more are believed to be held in other countries.
Environmentalists accuse the Tasmanian unit of claiming it exports rotary peeled veneer manufactured only from regrowth and plantation Eucalyptus logs supplied by Forestry Tasmania. However, the environmentalists say, "the reality is that Ta Ann is sourcing timber from Tasmanian old growth forests, from world heritage value and high conservation value forests."
The Tasmania-based Huon Valley Environmental Center accused Ta Ann Tasmania of receiving wood timber from logging areas containing old growth forest is processing wood acquired from the logging of old growth forests, high-conservation value forests and forests with recognized world heritage values in Tasmania. READ MORE HERE |
| Sand monopoly, the cronies are at it again Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:34 AM PST WikiSabah By Datuk Yong Teck Lee KOTA KINABALU: The cronies are at it again. After failing to monopolise the scrap metal business three years ago, cronies have again reared their ugly heads to grab the extraction and supply of sand to the construction industry. Using the same lame excuse of lax enforcement against "thefts of scrap metal", the political masters have now come up with thefts of sand as the excuse to put all the rights to sand extraction in the hands of Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO). This is a repeat of the failed attempt in 2008 to let Superpanel Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary company of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB), monopolise the scrap metal business.
At the time, the scrap metal business was lucrative. The same excuse about metal thefts and protecting the government's interests was used for monopolising the business. But eventually, the idea was dropped due to the fall in scrap metal prices. The decision on the monopoly had nothing to do with the government's interests. It had all to do with greed and abuse of power.
This sand monopoly could hold the construction industry to ransom, impose arbitrary prices and payment terms, including hidden costs. Like the import of vehicles using APs (Approved Permits), quotas could be allocated to sub-cronies to buy and sell sand, thereby driving costs.
How can SEDCO enforce against sand thefts? It has zero enforcement personnel and no statutory power to seize machineries, investigate, arrest or prosecute. So, people are entitled to draw their own conclusions. Is it a coincidence that the Chairman of SEDCO, the assemblyman for Membakut, is a family member of the Chief Minister? READ MORE HERE |
| Unease grows over Muslim head for top convent school Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:29 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - For Catholic Malaysians, Putrajaya's latest pick of a Malay-Muslim principal to head the prestigious SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) underscores a worrying trend to disregard the Church's contribution and rights in the country. Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam waded this week into a growing row between the 112-year-old school's Catholic owners and the Ministry of Education (MOE) after its new principal Datin Seri Zavirah Mohd Shaari's surprise arrival at its doorstep. "The appointment of the principal of CBN is not only contrary to the government policy of maximum consultation but has given the impression that it is the government's strategy to take over the mission schools in total disregard for the status, ethos and special character of mission schools, especially CBN," Pakiam said in a statement published earlier this week in Catholic paper The Herald. He was appealing to Education director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud to reconsider the ministry's decision and pick a suitably qualified person nominated by the school owners under the Infant Jesus (IJ) Sisters order. The school is considered among the top convent schools in the country. The case comes on the heels of a recent drama over the police's extra conditions for carolling permits on two South Klang churches less than two weeks ago. Earlier this year, right-wing Malay-Muslim groups triggered a national uproar over persistent rumours that churches are on a campaign to convert their own and pushing unfounded allegations of a secret political plot to install a Christian prime minister in the next general election. Christians say such issues are an attempt to erode their religious rights in Muslim-majority Malaysia. CBN, which has produced notable personalities such as Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and former International Trade Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, is one of 60 convent schools in Malaysia, Sister Rosalind Tan told The Malaysian Insider. Tan is the mother provincial of the IJ Sisters and the person in charge of the order's administration in the country. She related that the school's board of governors were taken aback when Zavirah reported for duty last week. The previous head, Ann Khoo, retired last month because there was no prior notice from the Education Ministry. READ MORE HERE |
| Boo Chang under fire on plan to rejoin Gerakan Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:27 AM PST (Bernama) - A Penang Gerakan leader has rapped former PKR Bukit Gelugur division chief Lim Boo Chang for intending to rejoin Gerakan. Penang Gerakan Legal and Human Rights Bureau head Baljit Singh said Lim should not be allowed to rejoin as he had previously left Gerakan and joined other parties.
"Why does he want to rejoin Gerakan?," he asked on Friday
Speaking to reporters, Baljit said Lim had betrayed the party (Gerakan) by joining MCA in 1999, adding that at that time, Gerakan almost lost the chief minister's post because of his action.
"I will sincerely hand over the legal bureau to him, if he is accepted again. I will not betray the party like him.
"I will ask for the creation of a landscape bureau where I will build many ponds for tadpoles and frogs. To all frogs, welcome to Gerakan," he said.
After announcing he was leaving PKR and quitting his Penang municipal councillor post on Wednesday, Lim had on Thursday submitted a form to join Gerakan. |
| Court orders Balkis to be re-instated Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:25 AM PST (Bernama) - The High Court today ordered that Balkis, the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and Members of Parliament Welfare and Charity Organisation, to be reinstated from the time it was de-registered by Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Feb 2009. Balkis made the headlines after Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim alleged that there had been misappropriation of Balkis' funds under its previous president, Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik, the wife of former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo. Justice Datuk Rohana Yusuf made the ruling in chambers after meeting counsel S.Selvarajah, who appeared for the applicants, and Senior Federal Counsel Datin Azizah Nawawi who acted for ROS. The applicants were the Selangor government, Abdul Khalid's wife Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad, Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad, Selangor State Development Corporation, Worldwide Holdings Berhad, Selangor Industrial Corporation Sdn Bhd, Selaman Sdn Bhd, PKNS Infra Berhad and PKNS Engineering & Construction Bhd. They filed the judicial review application against ROS to quash ROS' decision to de-register Balkis and sought a declaration that the decision was illegal, null and void. They also sought the re-instatement of the organisation. Selvarajah told reporters that the judge only allowed Salbiah's application to quash the ROS decision and a mandamus order to compel ROS to re-instate the organisation on the grounds that she had substantive locus standi to apply for such an order. "The court held that she (Salbiah) had legitimate expectation to assume office as YDP (president) of Balkis in her capacity of wife of the Menteri Besar as provided for in Balkis Constitution," Selvarajah said. The court rejected the other applicants application as they had no locus standi and were merely donors to the organisation, he said. Selvarajah also said Justice Rohana held that ROS had not properly verified documentation before de-registering Balkis. He said the judge said that the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held by members of Balkis to dissolve the organisation on March 11, 2008 was invalid as there was serious defects in the meeting agenda because it did not state the meeting was called for the purpose of dissolution. "This had prejudiced the members who were deprived of information on the purpose of the EGM," he said. |
| Boustead gets Mindef contract for 6 ships, contract ceiling RM9b Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:23 AM PST (The Edge) - Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd has received the letter of award from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to supply six patrol vessels with a contract ceiling of RM9 billion. Bousted Holdings Bhd said its subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard had received the letter on Friday to design, construct and deliver six second generation patrol vessels. "The contract carries a ceiling of RM9.0 billion, to be implemented over three Malaysia Plans, 10, 11 and 12. The delivery of the first of class ship is estimated in 2017 with follow-on ships every six months thereafter," it said. |
| Tuan Ibrahim on enemy tactics, indispensability Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:04 AM PST (Harakah Daily) - 'No one is indispensable' – that is the gist of PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's response to the controversy involving former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and Selangor state exco Hasan Ali. Writing in his column, Tuan Ibrahim however reminded PAS members to be wary of enemy tactics to cause frictions to bring down their foes. "The enemy will use all methods to cause chaos and internal conflicts in the opposing organisation to the extent that knives will be pointed against friends," warned Tuan Ibrahim (pic).  Earlier, PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali criticised both Hasan and Nasharuddin for dancing to UMNO's tune by supporting efforts by UMNO to bring PAS out of Pakatan Rakyat and make alliance with the Malay party for the sake "unity".
Tuan Ibrahim said what is even worse was that those being used by their enemies were also blinded by ego. "To the extent that they are very confident that their actions are right while others are wrong," he lamented. And Tuan Ibrahim minced no words when he made known the solution to tackling such developments within the party. "Sometimes it takes a hard slap to wake them up and make them realise that they are falling into enemy traps. So, the big question is, whether your weapon should be used against the enemy or your teammate, and worse, yourself?" he questioned. In a struggle for Islam such as PAS's, the Pahang PAS commissioner said conflicts were a divine test on Muslims. "It comes in many forms, to test the person in the conflict, and to test how far others will go to help friends embroiled in conflicts," he added. In a team, Tuan Ibrahim said no one should make threats and consider themselves to be on a pedestal and immune from being reprimanded. "We must realise in a team, collective opinion is better than personal opinion," he said. |
| The Way We Were Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:15 PM PST THE WAY WE WERE IN 1957: HOW BN HAS DESTROYED MALAYSIAN DEMOCRACY IN 54 YEARS The original Merdeka constitution provided that in drawing up constituencies, "there shall not be more than a difference of 15 per cent in the number of electors of any constituency to the electoral quota." The "electoral quota" or national average, was defined as the number obtained by dividing the number of electors in the Federation by the total number of constituencies. Section 2 (c) of the Thirteenth Schedule had stipulated that "the number of electors within each constituency ought to be approximately equal throughout the unit of review." By Kua Kia Soong It is now 54 years since we became independent and with the 13th general elections approaching, it is time to count the cost of BN rule since 1957. Many draconian and unjust laws did not exist at independence and Malaysians should seriously reflect on the way we were and how many reforms being proposed today merely represent the status quo in 1957, nothing more. Malaysia in fact needs to undergo much deeper reforms to survive the 21st century. Let us first examine the situation at Independence to see how our country has regressed under BN before we consider further reforms. It also brings into perspective the so-called "social contract" frequently brought up by UMNO to justify the status quo. And let us not forget that UMNO has managed to destroy our democratic institutions only with the assistance of all the other BN coalition parties in parliament. The following are some stark examples of the damage done to our fundamental liberties enshrined in our Federal Constitution in 1957: 1. Equality undermined through the amendment to Article 153 in 1971: The addition of the new clause '8A' to article 153 in 1971 two years after May 13 has led to the gross racial discrimination seen in admissions to educational institutions such as MARA science schools, colleges and UITM and the access to public sector scholarships. In recent years, racial discrimination has been further institutionalized through the routinized usage of "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay dominance) in common parlance to justify the discrimination. 2. Liberty of the person violated since 1960 to allow detention without trial: The Internal Security Act that has been used to put away dissidents and the opposition all these years only came into existence three years after independence in 1960. Under the guise of protecting "national security", it was used to finish off the entire leadership of the Labour Party, the main threat to the Alliance government in the sixties. To date, more than 10,000 people have been detained under this iniquitous law. The Emergency Ordinance 1969 also allows the BN government to detain Malaysians without trial; it only came in 1969 after 'May 13'. Purportedly necessary to deal with gangsters and others, this law was recently used against six leaders of Parti Socialis Malaysia using absurd allegations of fact. The legislation of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1985 which also allows the BN government to detain people without trial only came into existence in 1985, purportedly to deal with drug dealers and traffickers. In recent years, hundreds of people have been detained under the EO and DDA. 3. Independence of the Judiciary in doubt since 1988: Ever since Mahathir sacked the Lord President and suspended three more Supreme Court judges just before the crucial judgement on the UMNO Team A/Team B judicial challenge in 1988, the Malaysian Judiciary's independence has been in doubt. 4. Unfair constituency delineation since the amendments to the Constitution in 1962 and after: The original Merdeka constitution provided that in drawing up constituencies, "there shall not be more than a difference of 15 per cent in the number of electors of any constituency to the electoral quota." The "electoral quota" or national average, was defined as the number obtained by dividing the number of electors in the Federation by the total number of constituencies. Section 2 (c) of the Thirteenth Schedule had stipulated that "the number of electors within each constituency ought to be approximately equal throughout the unit of review." The Constitution was amended in 1962 transferring the power to delimit parliamentary constituencies from the Election Commission to a bare majority of parliament. Professor R.H. Hickling, the first parliamentary draftsman of Independent Malaya commented on this amendment thus: "The abolition of the powers of an independent commission smacks a little of expediency and expediency can be a dangerous policy…the Federation is intent upon destroying the relics of a paternal policy embedded in the original Constitution, under which a number of independent bodies (in addition to the Supreme Court) shared, with the legislature, the authority of the federation." A new Thirteenth Schedule set out certain new features permitting a weightage of up to 2:1 in favour of rural constituencies, thus enabling differences of 100 per cent between urban and rural seats. A further constitutional amendment in 1973 took away altogether the original check in the Thirteenth Schedule on there being too great a disparity between urban and rural seats. Today, the absurdity of constituency delineation in Malaysia is exemplified by the contrast between 6000 voters at Putrajaya federal constituency and more than 100,000 at Kapar, a disparity of 16:1. 5. Suspension of local government elections in 1965: At independence in 1957, we had elected local government. In fact the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections were our baptism in democracy even before independence. But the government suspended local council elections on 2 March 1965 when the Labour Party was at its strongest, using Indonesia's 'Confrontasi' as an excuse. They promised to restore elected local authorities "the very moment peace is declared and the Emergency regulations are withdrawn." These emergency regulations have been in existence for more than 40 years allowing the government to continue to suspend local council elections. 6. Mother tongue education stunted since 1961: At independence, the Education Ordinance 1957 provided for local education authorities as part of elected local councils. These local education authorities provided for surveying, planning and allocating resources for building schools. The number of English, Malay, Chinese or Tamil schools to be built in each locality and the financial allocation they were entitled to depended on the need of the people in the area. It was not something to be horse traded by political carpetbaggers to appease their communalist supporters. Thus at independence there were 78 Chinese secondary schools, 1320 Chinese primary schools and 800 Tamil primary schools. Even the school-leaving certificate of the Chinese secondary schools was a government examination. Now we only have 1285 Chinese primary schools and 550 Tamil primary schools. The government will only allow 60 independent (community funded) Chinese secondary schools and their Unified Examination Certificate is recognized all over the world except in Malaysia! The 1961 Education Act did away with the Chinese secondary schools and after the suspension of elected local government, education became a federal prerogative and has become an object of communalist politics ever since. 7. The right to peaceful assembly taken away in 1967 and after: Our right to assemble peaceably under Article 10 was severely circumscribed by the Police Act 1967, giving the police wide discretionary powers to the police to regulate assemblies, meetings and processions by requiring a licence to be obtained for peaceful assemblies. Amendments to the Act in 1987 further extended police powers to stopping and dispersing activities in private places. It also provided the police with power to use force against participants when closing down events, whether in public or private places. Since 2007, section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the government to use court orders to stop public assemblies. The police have the power to arrest individuals named in court orders if they enter the identified areas of planned assemblies. With the passing of the latest Peaceful Assembly Bill, the right of Malaysians to assemble peaceably has been further circumscribed. 8. Our freedom of expression shackled in 1971 and after: The constitution was amended in 1971 making it seditious or criminal to question any rights and privileges relating to citizenship, the national language and the use of other languages, to quotas for Malays and the natives of Borneo, and to the sovereignty of the rulers. The Internal Security Act 1960, the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) in 1971, Official Secrets Act 1972, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 have further restricted Malaysians' freedom of expression. The monopoly of the mainstream media by the component parties of the BN acts as an effective clampdown on our freedom of expression. 9. Our freedom of association restricted since 1959: We enjoyed relative freedom of association until 1959 when the Trade Unions Act was brought in to impose strict controls on trade union affairs. The Societies Act was introduced in 1966 requiring every organization to secure a licence. In 1967, the Industrial Relations Act further restricted Malaysian workers' freedom of association. The UUCA clamped down on the freedom of association by academics and students. The Societies Act was further amended in 1981 and in 2011, two respectable associations, namely the Malaysian Medical Association and the Malacca Chinese Assembly Hall were deregistered. Thus, it is no big deal to call for the reinstatement of all the democratic institutions that were in place at the time of independence in 1957. If we manage to do that, Malaysians will only be realizing the quality of life at the time of Independence such as, a relatively more equal society; a more independent judiciary; fairer constituency delineation; elected local government; freedom for mother tongue education to grow; the freedoms of expression, assembly and association respected; no detention without trial for a start. We would still need a new agenda for concrete reforms to take us through the many challenges we face in the 21st century to deal with racism, racial discrimination and other related intolerances; abuse of powers; law reform and the rule of law; effective prevention of corruption; free and fair elections; more accountable and representative democracy; freedom of information; defending workers' rights and living conditions; upholding women's rights and dignity; protecting the rights of indigenous peoples; a progressive economic policy; an environmentally friendly policy; a people-centred social policy; channeling defence spending into social services and promoting a culture of peace. |
| Illicit Money Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:10 PM PST Malaysians Mourn The "Lost Decade Of Corruption" Where RM 1,077 Billion Of Illicit Money Had Been Illegally Siphoned Out Of Our Country From 2000-2009. By Lim Guan Eng Malaysians mourn the "the lost decade of corruption", where RM 1,077 billon of illicit money had been illegally siphoned out of our country from 2000-9. According to the Washington-based financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI), in 2009 alone RM 150 billion (US$47 billion) in illicit money was illegally siphoned out of Malaysia. This RM 150 billion amount is in addition to the staggering loss of RM927 billion (US$291 billion) over a period of nine years between 2000 and 2008. The GFI report has shocked us all, with results showing that Malaysia is now ranked one of the top 5 countries in the world in terms of highest illicit capital flight. The latest GFI report, 'Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries Over the Decade Ending 2009', is penned by economists Sarah Freitas and Dev Kar, who is a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund. According to the authors, the estimates are based on balance of payments, bilateral trade and external debt data reported by member countries to the IMF and the World Bank. They stressed that these illicit outflows are basically "unrecorded capital leakages through… illicit transfers of the proceeds of bribery, theft, kickbacks and tax evasion." In other words, it refers to corruption money or black money that is obtained illegally and worse, not even re-circulated into our economy. This whopping and unaccountable loss of more than RM1 trillion as a result of corruption or black money will never be recovered. The fact that RM1 trillion worth of corruption was generated and subsequently siphoned out of our country makes the last 10 years the lost decade of corruption for Malaysia. It is time that we get rid of the robber barons in this country. It is precisely projects like the Port Klang Free Trade Zone, the RM52 billion Bumi share scandal, the RM250 million NFC "cows and condos" fiasco, the half a billion ringgit "commission" for the purchase of two Scorpene submarines, and the multitude of government-linked projects that run into massive cost overruns with zero accountability, including the RM3.7 billion over-expenditure by government departments reported in the latest Auditor-General's report, that contribute to Malaysia now becoming the king of black money. No wonder Malaysia performed dismally in the latest 2011 Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index(CPI), dropping 4 spots to No. 60 out of 183 countries this year from No. 56 out of 178 last year. Malaysia's 2011 CPI dropped for the third year running, slipping to 4.3 this year, leaving it in 60th place out of 183 countries compared with 37th place when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister in 2003. TI Malaysia Deputy President Mohammad Ali even noted that Malaysia's CPI has continued to decline as "elements of state" that facilitated 'grand corruption' were still prevalent. The latest expose by GFI of RM 1,077 billion in black of corruption money illegally taken out of the countrys explain the extent of losses suffered by Malaysians. DAP regrets that the BN government has dismissed this reputable study carried out by an independent and prestigious body. Malaysians must unite to save this country from BN, clean up corruption and try to get back this RM 1,077 brillion of illicit money. LIM GUAN ENG Rakyat Malaysia Kehilangan "Satu Dekad Yang Telah Hancur Dek Korupsi" Di Mana Wang Haram Sebanyak RM1,077 Bilion Telah Dikeluarkan Dari Negara Kita Dalam Tempoh 10 Tahun Dari 2000-2009. Rakyat Malaysia kehilangan "satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi", di mana wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion telah dibawa keluar dari negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun dari 2000-9. Mengikut laporan terkini badan pemerhati kewangan Washington Global Financial Integrity (GFI), wang haram sebanyak RM150 bilion (USD47 bilion) telah dikeluarkan dari Malaysia dalam tahun 2009 sahaja. RM150 bilion ini adalah tambahan kepada kerugian besar RM927 bilion (USD291 bilion) dalam tempoh 9 tahun dari 2000 hingga 2008. Laporan GFI ini telah mengejutkan kita semua, terutamanya apabila Malaysia kini berada di kedudukan 5 negara yang tertinggi untuk pelarian modal haram yang terbesar. Laporan terkini GFI yang bertajuk "Aliran Kewangan daripada Negara Membangun Dalam Dekad Berakhir 2009" telah disediakan oleh ahli ekonomi Sarah Freitas dan Dev Kar, yang pernah menjadi ahli ekonomi kanan di Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa. Mengikut penulisnya, unjuran tersebut adalah berdasarkan kira-kira bayaran, perdagangan dua hala dan data hutang luar negeri yang dilaporkan negara-negara ahli IMF dan Bank Dunia. Mereka menekankan bahawa aliran haram ini merupakan "ketirisan modal yang tidak direkod melalui... pemindahan wang secara haram yang terhasil daripada rasuah, pencurian, sogokan dan pengelakan cukai." Dalam erti kata lain, ia merujuk kepada wang rasuah yang diperolehi secara haram dan tambahan pula tidak diedar semula ke dalam ekonomi negara. Ketirisan lebih RM1,000 bilion yang amat besar dan tidak bertanggungjawab ini adalah akibat daripada rasuah dan sukar untuk ditebus semula. Hakikat bahawa hasil rasuah sebanyak RM1,000 bilion telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun yang lalu bermakna bahawa rakyat Malaysia telah kehilangan satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi. Sudah tiba masa untuk menghapuskan lanun-lanun yang telah merompak negara kita. Projek-projek seperti Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ), skandal saham Bumi RM52 bilion, skandal "lembu dan kondo" RM250 juta NFC, "komisyen" setengah bilion untuk pembelian dua kapal selam kelas Scorpene, dan banyak lagi projek kaitan kerajaan yang penuh dengan kos "overrun" atau kos berlebihan tanpa apa-apa kebertanggungjawaban, termasuk juga pendedahan Lapora Ketua Audit Negara terkini tentang RM3.7 bilion yang terlebih dibelanja oleh jabatan-jabatan kerajaan, yang telah menjadikan Malaysia sebagai raja wang haram. Tidak hairanlah kenapa prestasi negara kita telah merosot mengikut laporan Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI) 2011 badan pemerhati rasuah Transparency International (TI) yang menunjukkan bahawa Malaysia telah jatuh kepada tangga ke-60 daripada 183 negara, berbanding tangga ke-37 pada tahun 2003 apabila Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengambil alih pucuk pimpinan negara sebagai Perdana Menteri. CPI Malaysia pula telah menurun kepada 4.3 pada tahun ini, dan Timbalan Presiden TI Malaysia Mohammad Ali juga berkata bahawa CPI Malaysia terus merosot kerana "unsur-unsur kerajaan" yang memudahkan "rasuah besar" masih lagi tersebar luas. Pendedahan terkini oleh GFI tentang wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion yang telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita sedikit sebanyak menunjukkan betapa banyak kerugian yang dialami rakyat Malaysia. DAP menyesal kerana Kerajaan BN mengambil ringan kajian bereputasi ini yang telah dijalankan oleh sebuah badan yang bebas dan berprestij. Rakyat Malaysia harus bersatu untuk menyelamatkan negara kita daripada BN, membersihkan rasuah yang berleluasa dan mendapatkan balik RM1,077 bilion yang telah kehilangan ini. LIM GUAN ENG
从2000年至2009年之间，马来西亚共有1兆7千700亿令吉的黑钱非法外流至国外，全马来西亚人因此而为这"贪污而失去的十年"而哀悼。 从2000年至2009年之间，马来西亚共有1兆7千700亿令吉的黑钱非法外流到国外，全马来西亚人因此而为这"贪污而失去的十年"哀悼。根据华盛顿一家非盈利机构"全球财务整合"（Global Financial Integrity (GFI)），单在2009年，就有1千500亿令吉（相等于470亿美元）的黑钱从大马流失出去。 这1千500亿令吉更是2000年至2008年这9年之间，惊人流失额9千270亿令吉（相等于2千910亿美元）的附加数目。这份"全球财务整合"报告让国人震惊，因为马来西亚在这个全球排行榜上，高居第5名，也是最多黑钱外流国的第5名。 最新"全球财务整合"报告，是由经济学家Sarah Freitas 及国际货币基金组织前资深经济学家 Dev Kar所撰写、题目是《截至2009年过去10年从发展中国家流失的黑钱》。 根据作者称，有关的预算是以成员国向国际货币基金组织及世界银行所提呈的国际收支平衡表、双边贸易及外债等数据而作出的预算。 他们强调，这些黑钱，基本上是"通过贿赂、盗窃、回扣和逃税方式的无记录基金外流，"。换句话说，这就是指透过贪污取得的，或是非法手段获取的"黑钱"，更糟糕的是，这些钱从来不会回流到我们的经济体系。 这因贪污或洗黑钱导致的超过1兆惊人损失，永远不会回来了。更甚的是，这价值1兆的贪污钱已形成，并外流到外国去，导致马来西亚因贪污行为，而失去了十年的岁月。 是时候让我们摆脱国内这些强盗大亨了。比如巴生港口自贸区丑闻、蒸发了的520亿令吉土著股权、2亿5千万令的"牛及豪华公寓丑闻"、购买2艘潜水艇缴付的5亿3400万令吉"佣金，以及众多超支的政府相关计划，都是在零问责制度下进行，包括总稽查司的最新报告指出政府部门超支37亿令吉一事，让大马成为了"黑金王"。 难怪马来西亚会在国际透明组织最新出炉的2011年度贪污印象指数中，我国的排号名再次下滑，在183个国家排号第60，跌了4级，比去年的178个国家排行第56更糟。这也是马来西亚在贪污印象指数排名中，连续三年创下下滑的记录，跌至今年的4.3，这与敦阿都拉在2003年接任首相时的排名第37相去甚远。马来西亚国际透明组织署理主席莫哈末阿里说甚至点评，马来西亚的贪污印象指数会持续下滑，因为方便"大贪污腐败"的"政府元素"依然盛行。 最新"全球财务整合"报告揭发的1兆7千700亿令吉黑钱外流，说明了马来西亚人所蒙受的损失。民主行动党遗憾的是，国阵政府却驳回了这份独立及具信誉机构提呈的报告。马来西亚人必需团结起来，让我们从国阵手中拯救这个国家，洗净贪污，试图把非法外流出去的1兆7千700亿令吉黑钱取回来。 |
| Blackout Papers Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:08 PM PST In past three days, BN-controlled media have degenerated further to become "blackout papers" – on call for arrest of Taib Mahmud for corruption, Penang High Court defamation judgment against Utusan and over RM1 trillion illicit capital outflows from Malaysia in past decade By Lim Kit Siang For the past three days consecutively, the Barisan Nasiona-controlled media have degenerated further to become "blackout papers", over three episodes, viz: Firstly, over the call on Tuesday by 17 international and national environmental groups and activists, including Greenpeace and Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund, addressed to the Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Chief Commissioner and the Inspector-General of Police for the arrest and criminal prosecution of Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his 13 family members for massive graft and plundering of Sarawak's rich natural resources; Secondly, the Penang High Court judgment on Wednesday against Utusan Malaysia for defamation against Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng for its article "Kebiadaban Lim Guan Eng" of 20th December 2010, and the High Court award of RM200,000 for general and aggravated damages and RM25,000 for costs against Utusan; and Thirdly, the release yesterday of the latest report by Washington-based financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI) that Malaysia has maintained its position as one of the top five countries in the world suffering the highest illicit capital outflow in the past decade, 2000-2009, involving over RM1 trillion (US$338 billion or RM1,077 billion) as a result of corruption and misgovernance! Apart from one small inconsequential paragraph about the Utusan judgment, there have been total blackout of these three developments in the Barisan-controlled "mainstream media". Recently, coinciding with the UMNO General Assembly, Malaysia suffered its worst international report card for anti-corruption when the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2011 gave the country its worst ranking in 17 years as well as the lowest-ever CPI score - placed No. 60 when Malaysia was ranked No. 23 in 1995 with a score of 4.3 when Malaysia scored 5.32 in 1996. With the egregious "blackout" of unfavourable news by Barisan Nasional mainstream media as happened blatantly in the past three days, Malaysia's press freedom index is set to nosedive further in future – as if Malaysia's press freedom index is not bad enough. In conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day in May this year, Malaysia was ranked 143 out of 196 countries in terms of press freedom, categorised as "not free", in the Freedom of the Press Survey 2011 by US-based Freedom House. After the "black eyes" by Transparency International and Financial Global Integrity, and the bulldozing of the undemocratic and repressive Peaceful Assembly Bill in Parliament, Malaysians must be prepared to suffer more "black eyes" by other international watchdogs for freedom, integrity and good governance in the coming year. |
| Jeffrey Kitingan announces the formation of United Borneo Alliance Posted: 15 Dec 2011 07:02 PM PST (The Star) - United Borneo Front president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan announced the formation of United Borneo Alliance, an opposition coalition of Sabah and Sarawak-based parties, to contest in the coming general election. He made the announcement here Friday. Among those who were at presence when he announced the formation of the alliance were Sarawak-based State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Dripin Anak Sakoi, pro-tem president of newly revived USNO, Datuk Badaruddin Tun Datu Mustapha and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Amde Sidik. |
| Anti-Umno activists campaign the old-fashioned way — by hand Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - An anti-Umno group's campaign to spread its message through a video began in earnest last night with the distribution of dozens of hardcopies at a spirited ceramah here. Keeping to its viral theme, the Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) coalition handed out VCDs and urged attendees to pass along copies of the hard-hitting video to their family and friends in rural areas to break Umno's heartland media chokehold. Kamarulzaman Ismail, 47, a businessman from Kelantan, said he will target voters who had yet to choose sides to convince them not to cast their ballot for the ruling Malay party. "I'll pass it to those who appear to be sitting on the fence. We have to give priority to the fence-sitters," he told The Malaysian Insider. But Kamarulzaman said he would also try to hand the video over to those he knew were hardcore Umno supporters despite the small likelihood of success. "There are many approaches when it comes to people. Sometimes it looks difficult but with things like this CD it can be easy too," he said. Mohd Sharif, 30, a sales promoter, also said it was not enough to distribute the video among opposition supporters as the goal was to sell ABU's message to undecided voters. "It's not enough for us to disseminate it. We need to convert people," he said. However, the PAS member downplayed the effectiveness of passing the video along from person to person, reasoning that it would be better to screen it in a public setting to draw fence-sitters. Sharif added that the video would also be more effective online, pointing out that this would allow ABU supporters to share the video without appearing to come on too strong. "You can say (to someone), 'I just want to share something and this is the website.' Usually, that's better," he said, adding that directing a person to a page online would also allow them to view related videos. READ MORE HERE |
| We have bigger fish to fry Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:38 PM PST I know many of you are excited about the cow scandal now engulfing Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. But that's peanuts compared to what's cooking at the Defence Ministry. It's comical and unfair for some UMNO leaders to ask Shahrizat to resign when they are all in the same pot. ZAID IBRAHIM Four months ago, I wrote about Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and Co. wanting to purchase six more Second Generation Patrol Vessels or SGPVs for the Navy. The story was ignored by the public ; and so I have to write this again. Some of you will recall that when the Government decided to privatise the Lumut Naval Dockyard in the early 1990s to the man with the white hair Tan Sri Amin Shah Omar, that exercise also entailed the Government buying six patrol vessels from him for the Navy. That exercise cost taxpayers RM9 billion: RM6 billion for the patrol vessels and RM3 billion for interest charges for late payments and exchange rate losses. Amin Shah ordered the vessels from the German company Blohm + Voss. Apart from procuring the six patrol vessels, Lumut Naval Dockyard (now Boustead Naval Shipyard) also paid RM300 million for their design so that we could build additional units ourselves if we needed them in future. "Malaysia Boleh!" was, after all, the rallying cry then, and our defence officials have never failed to brandish the catchphrase, "transfer of technology". Fast-forward 15 years later and our current Defence Minister has decided to buy another six patrol vessels. It will cost more this time, naturally, since these are second generation SGPVs with a new design to be built by another company, DCNS. Why we are not using the design that we paid so much for is something we should be thinking about. And why Zahid and Boustead Naval Shipyard have decided to change our supplier to DCNS is anybody's guess. All I can confirm is that DCNS is a famous company because DCNS supplied us Scorpene submarines (a deal in which someone equally famous got RM500 million in duit kopi). DCNS is also involved in a corruption scandal in Taiwan, where they had been sued by the Taiwan government for recovery of more than USD1 billion for a kickback scandal. So how much will this new procurement cost Malaysian taxpayers? The new vessels' combat and management system will be decided by some foreign consultants and not by the Royal Malaysian Navy, so your guess is as good as mine. But it's not just the money I am worried about. The consultants are Singapore based companies. Are they not foreigners?. What if they recommend a system that compromises our national security? What assurance do we have that these consultants are not our enemies? Every time we question the Government's secrecy in the procurement of defence equipment, we are told that it's in our national interests to be kept in the dark. Now I know why. I am certain that input from our Royal Navy into this very important procurement has been minimal at best. So we can expect an announcement later that will sound something like this: the base price for the vessels is RM10 billion while the maintenance, training and parts contracts will cost RM1 billion a year for 10 years. That means Tabung Angkatan Tentera, which has the controlling stake in Boustead Holdings, and ordinary Malaysians (who will be getting RM500 soon) must be prepared to shoulder the burden of a RM20 billion defence contract for vessels that neither you nor I can even be sure we need. I know many of you are excited about the cow scandal now engulfing Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. But that's peanuts compared to what's cooking at the Defence Ministry. It's comical and unfair for some UMNO leaders to ask Shahrizat to resign when they are all in the same pot. For the moment, I hope our Defence Minister or Prime Minister can answer three simple questions: firstly, are we buying the six patrol vessels from DCNS and for how much? Secondly, why were foreign consultants engaged, to the exclusion of the Navy, to recommend combat systems and other sensitive components of the vessels? And thirdly, why are we not having a competitive bid for this project? I hope we can get some answers soon, before the General Election. |
| RM1,077 bilion wang negara dibawa lari, lapor GFI Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:32 PM PST (Harakah Daily) - Rakyat Malaysia kehilangan "satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi", di mana wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion telah dibawa keluar dari negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun dari 2000-9. Mengikut laporan terkini badan pemerhati kewangan Washington Global Financial Integrity (GFI), wang haram sebanyak RM150 bilion (USD47 bilion) telah dikeluarkan dari Malaysia dalam tahun 2009 sahaja.
RM150 bilion ini adalah tambahan kepada kerugian besar RM927 bilion (USD291 bilion) dalam tempoh 9 tahun dari 2000 hingga 2008. Laporan GFI ini telah mengejutkan kita semua, terutamanya apabila Malaysia kini berada di kedudukan 5 negara yang tertinggi untuk pelarian modal haram yang terbesar.
Demikian kata Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng dalam satu kenyataan medianya hari ini.
Menurut Lim, laporan terkini GFI yang bertajuk "Aliran Kewangan daripada Negara Membangun Dalam Dekad Berakhir 2009" telah disediakan oleh ahli ekonomi Sarah Freitas dan Dev Kar, yang pernah menjadi ahli ekonomi kanan di Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa. Mengikut penulisnya, kata Lim Guan Eng, unjuran tersebut adalah berdasarkan kira-kira bayaran, perdagangan dua hala dan data hutang luar negeri yang dilaporkan negara-negara ahli IMF dan Bank Dunia.
Kata Lim, mereka menekankan bahawa aliran haram ini merupakan "ketirisan modal yang tidak direkod melalui... pemindahan wang secara haram yang terhasil daripada rasuah, pencurian, sogokan dan pengelakan cukai. Dalam erti kata lain, ia merujuk kepada wang rasuah yang diperolehi secara haram dan tambahan pula tidak diedar semula ke dalam ekonomi negara, katanya.
Bagi Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang itu, ketirisan lebih RM1,000 bilion yang amat besar dan tidak bertanggungjawab ini adalah akibat daripada rasuah dan sukar untuk ditebus semula.
"Hakikat bahawa hasil rasuah sebanyak RM1,000 bilion telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita dalam tempoh 10 tahun yang lalu bermakna bahawa rakyat Malaysia telah kehilangan satu dekad yang telah hancur dek korupsi.
"Sudah tiba masa untuk menghapuskan lanun-lanun yang telah merompak negara kita," tegas Lim.
Antaranya, projek-projek seperti Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ), skandal saham Bumi RM52 bilion, skandal "lembu dan kondo" RM250 juta NFC, "komisyen" setengah bilion untuk pembelian dua kapal selam kelas Scorpene, dan banyak lagi projek kaitan kerajaan yang penuh dengan kos "overrun" atau kos berlebihan tanpa apa-apa kebertanggungjawaban.
Ia termasuk juga pendedahan Lapora Ketua Audit Negara terkini tentang RM3.7 bilion yang terlebih dibelanja oleh jabatan-jabatan kerajaan, yang telah menjadikan Malaysia sebagai raja wang haram, tambahnya.
"Tidak hairanlah kenapa prestasi negara kita telah merosot mengikut laporan Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI) 2011 badan pemerhati rasuah Transparency International (TI) yang menunjukkan bahawa Malaysia telah jatuh kepada tangga ke-60 daripada 183 negara, berbanding tangga ke-37 pada tahun 2003 apabila Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengambil alih pucuk pimpinan negara sebagai Perdana Menteri. "CPI Malaysia pula telah menurun kepada 4.3 pada tahun ini, dan Timbalan Presiden TI Malaysia Mohammad Ali juga berkata bahawa CPI Malaysia terus merosot kerana "unsur-unsur kerajaan" yang memudahkan "rasuah besar" masih lagi tersebar luas," katanya.
Pendedahan terkini oleh GFI tentang wang haram sebanyak RM1,077 bilion yang telah dialirkan keluar daripada negara kita sedikit sebanyak menunjukkan betapa banyak kerugian yang dialami rakyat Malaysia.
"DAP menyesal kerana Kerajaan BN mengambil ringan kajian bereputasi ini yang telah dijalankan oleh sebuah badan yang bebas dan berprestij.
"Rakyat Malaysia harus bersatu untuk menyelamatkan negara kita daripada BN, membersihkan rasuah yang berleluasa dan mendapatkan balik RM1,077 bilion yang telah kehilangan ini," tegas beliau. |
| Guan Eng to sue NST, calls daily ‘evil’ over state secret claims Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:15 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he is planning to sue the New Straits Times (NST) over claims that he had leaked national secrets after the newspaper omitted him from an apology to two other personalities over an article it admitted was without any foundation or basis. The NST, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan on October 23 for alleging that he had leaked state secrets at a dinner with leaders of Singapore's ruling PAP party. All three acknowledged that the claim, made by Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim, was without any foundation or basis. The weekend papers also promised not to publish further allegations of this nature involving the ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd chairman without prior verification. On October 2, the NST, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia, quoting Ruslan, alleged that Kalimullah had leaked national secrets during the dinner in Singapore. The next day Lim publicly demanded an apology from the NST and Mingguan Malaysia for also alleging that he had leaked national secrets at the same dinner. The English daily reported that Perkasa had claimed that there was a dinner arranged for three Malaysian personalities, including the Penang chief minister, and top Singapore politicians in August. Ruslan had questioned the motive behind the dinner that was allegedly attended by Malaysia Airlines board member Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, businessman Kalimullah and Lim with PAP leaders. "The weird thing is that the paper apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah and Datuk Azman over this false report, but it didn't want to apologise to me. This shows how NST has ill intentions and I will ask my lawyer to take legal action," Lim told reporters at the Penang Skills Development Centre today. READ MORE HERE |
| Youth Dilemma: Employment & Remuneration Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST KHOO KAY PENG Jobstreet.com reported that bout half of bachelor degree holders in Malaysia are a disappointed lot as they are not getting the pay they expected. The survey found that these graduates typically expect salaries between RM1,800 to RM2,100 (73 percent), but only 54 percent would have their expectations met. Another 35 percent's pay was below RM1,800.
Meanwhile, 37 percent of diploma holders's salaries were lower than RM1,200, "far below their expected salary level" that is typically between RM1,200 and RM1,800 (67 percent of respondents).
The entry point salary level for degree holders has remained stagnant since 1997. It is shocking to note that cost of living has doubled, if not tripled, during the same period. The number of tertiary institutions has grown significantly but we are merely churning out new generations educated poor.
The same report mentioned that respondents needed RM700 to make ends meet. These ends must be really short ones! Rental rates in certain areas in Klang Valley have ballooned to almost RM500 per room per month.
Coupled with cost of transportation, food and basic amenities such as health care and basic household products, it means that those who are earning less than RM1800 a month do not have anything extra for contingency. It is almost unimaginable how those who are earning less than RM1000 are going to survive in the city.
What has gone wrong? There are several reasons: READ MORE HERE |
| EC is a ‘staff’ in PM’s Dept Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:55 PM PST The Election Commission (EC), it appears, is bogged down by the lack of money, manpower and 'real' clout. (Free Malaysia Today) - In a democracy, it is widely understood that when a "commission" is set up, it comes directly under the purview of Parliament. But in Malaysia's case, the story is different. Take the Election Commission (EC). Why does the EC need the government to approve recommendations proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms before implementing them? Because the EC is technically a staff "employed" by the Prime Minister's Department. Explaining the "relationship", EC secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said: " The EC does not fall under the purview of Parliament. "It falls administratively under the Prime Minister's Department… but it is independent in terms of decision-making." Recently, EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar reportedly said the federal government must approved the PSC's recommendations before they can be implemented. He said that "even a small change in regulation" would need to be approved by the government, although he agreed with observers that some recommendations such as the use of indelible ink did not require amendments to the law. Wan Ahmad's comments followed PSC chairman, Maximus Ongkili's statement that the PSC committee would table its full report which could include more proposals for electoral reforms in March or early April next year. Strapped for money, and lacking in manpower and clout, the EC, it appears, is now scrambling to deal with its "newfound" challenges. Speaking to FMT, Kamaruddin said that one of the EC's shortcomings in implementing the PSC recommendations was an acute lack of personnel.
READ MORE HERE |
| Kempen ABU tumbangkan Umno bermula Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:46 PM PST Selain ahli politik ia turut mengetengahkan golongan suri rumah, pekerja dan pelajar (Free Malaysia Today) - Kempen Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) untuk menumbangkan Umno/BN dimulakan semalam di markas PAS di Taman Melewar dekat Kuala Lumpur. Kempen ini dipelopori oleh parti politik pembangkang dan NGO. Berbeza dengan kempen lain, ABU turut mengetengahkan suri rumah, pekerja dan golongan pelajar. Menurut Setiausaha Agung Parti Rakyat Malaysia Al Jafree Md Yusop, sesi ceramah semalam menampilkan Badrul Hisham Shaharin dari Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) dan PKR, Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Setiausaha Agung Parti Sosialis Malaysia S Arutchelvan dan aktivis NGO Haris Ibrahim. 1, 000 orang hadir "Mereka berceramah berkenaan banyak isu tetapi ia adalah berpangkalkan empat topik utama iaitu peningkatan harga barang, politik perkauman, Lynas dan undang-undang yang zalim seperti ISA, Ordinan Darurat dan Rang Undang-undang Perhimpunan Aman 2011," kata Jafree. READ MORE HERE |
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
