Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- PKA seeks hair cut on PKFZ loan
- RM200,000 more for each speed camera because of training, says government
- Ali: Come down hard on personnel leaking govt secrets
- Kelantan’s gender segregation rules affect non-Muslim businesses
- Australian foreign minister Bob Carr cool on Anwar request
- Malaysia's Anwar Faces an Islamic Revolt
- You must only be seen, not heard
- Kemampuan Kewangan Luar Biasa Ahli Parlimen Ampang Sejak Bergelar YB Empat Tahun Lepas
- Dato’ Onn Jaafar – the man who defined “Malay”
- Dr M: PAS is backed by the devil
- Reporters who stir racial tension should be jailed, says Dr M
- The Q&A with Free Malaysia Today
- Muhyiddin: We will defend Sabah at all costs
- Nothing will compare to GE13
- Perimekar, Terasasi tak terlibat dengan Scorpene
- No U-turn in Islam
- Pakatan in a fix over choice of PM
- Haris: I’ve had enough of RPK
| PKA seeks hair cut on PKFZ loan Posted: 22 Nov 2012 11:00 AM PST
(fz.com) - "We borrowed money from the government but the government still owns that property. The 1,000-acre land and all the properties belong to the government, so the government doesn't lose out" The Port Klang Authority (PKA) has approached the government with proposals to restructure its RM4.63 billion Treasury loan incurred to develop the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ). This comes as part of a move by the port authority to alleviate its debt obligations and ensure that it is able to meet the repayments in the long term. PKA chairman Datuk Teh Kim Poo told fz.com that PKA has proposed to only repay the RM2.76 billion portion of the RM4.63 billion loan that has gone toward development expenses for PKFZ. Teh argues that PKA should not have to pay for the cost of acquiring the land and assets as these assets ultimately belong to the government. "We borrowed money from the government but the government still owns that property. The 1,000-acre land and all the properties belong to the government, so the government doesn't lose out," Teh said in a recent interview. According to Teh, PKA has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) outlining the various repayment options should the government consent to restructuring the 20-year soft loan given to PKA in 2007. If the government allows the restructuring plan put forward by PKA, Teh estimates that PKA would only have to pay about RM100 million a year over a 30-year period. "This is a comfortable amount. We can manage it," said Teh. The restructuring of PKA's RM4.63 billion soft loan has been a key recommendation of the earlier position report completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released in May 2009. The PwC report pointed out that PKA should consider options including a loan rescheduling, government grant or privatisation. "Should PKA fail to meet the MOF soft loan instalments as scheduled and if these instalments are deferred to match its projected cashflows, it would incur additional interest cost of some RM5 billion. This would further increase the outlay of the project to RM12.45 billion," PwC had warned. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/pka-seeks-hair-cut-pkfz-loan
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| RM200,000 more for each speed camera because of training, says government Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:53 AM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - The home ministry told Parliament today that teaching policemen here how to use two models of speed trap cameras accounted for the huge difference of over RM200,000 per unit paid for by Malaysia compared with prices in the United States. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said the suppliers had provided training to policemen here as well as for maintenance of the cameras used to catch speeding motorists.
Earlier today, an opposition lawmaker demanded Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein explain the stiff price discrepancy of over RM200,000 per unit in two models of speed trap cameras for the police it had purchased 17 years ago. According to market prices then, the Laser Trucam model would have cost only US$5,000 (RM15,300) a unit while the Laser Digicam model would only be US$1,000 more, at US$6,000, Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said. These prices are reported to have been paid for by police departments in the United States to the suppliers. In his answer to Parliament, the deputy minister did not provide a detailed breakdown of the training costs. While he said that the contracts for the cameras were awarded through an open tender he did not reveal the name of the supplier. "The difference in price between ours and the ones in the US is because they are manufacturers while we import the cameras in. "There is an element of training provided by the supplier to the police, maintenance and also a two year warranty," said Abu Seman. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rm200000-more-for-each-speed-camera-because-of-training-says-govt/
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| Ali: Come down hard on personnel leaking govt secrets Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:51 AM PST
(The Star) - Heads of government departments have been told to be more stern when taking action against personnel found leaking government secrets, including using the Official Secrets Act. Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa said acts, including falsifying documents and disseminating classified and sensitive information, to other parties should not be tolerated. "It could jeopardise national security and the Government cannot compromise on such acts. "I want all heads of departments and security officers to be more stern when taking action against those found doing it. "Action can also be taken against those who are careless in safeguarding secrets under the Public Officer Rule or the Official Secrets Act (Act 88)," he said at the national Security Protection Convention here yesterday. Also present was Chief Government Security Office (CGSO) director-general Datuk Johari Jamaluddin. Dr Ali said he hoped the CGSO would prepare a new security protection policy to replace the present one. "They could at least update the rules, instructions, guidelines and procedures of the present policy. "This is because in the current ICT era, we have to be very careful and vigilant to manage the information," he said.
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| Kelantan’s gender segregation rules affect non-Muslim businesses Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:50 AM PST
(The Star) - Hair dressing salon operators are learning the hard way that gender segregation rules in Kelantan apply to non-Muslims as well. They have had to pay many summonses for allowing their female workers to cut the hair of non-Muslim male patrons, which they thought was permissible. E-Life Hair Salon manager Ong Lee Ting said she had settled 11 summonses since she opened for business in KB Mall in 2010.  Hairy situation: Ong showing one of the 11 summonses she received for allowing her female employees to cut the hair of non-Muslim male patrons.The fines were imposed under Section 107(2) of the Local Council Act by-laws which prohibits a woman from cutting the hair of a man and vice versa regardless of religion. "I have been paying fines of between RM200 and RM350," said Ong, who was issued the latest summons on Tuesday. "I find the by-laws confusing ... they should not apply to a non-Muslim woman cutting the hair of a non-Muslim man." Gender segregation is among the controversial regulations imposed by the PAS state government, which insists that the rule be also observed at supermarket check-outs. The last time Ong went to the local council office to pay a compound, she was told that the licence for the salon would be revoked because of the many summonses issued to the operator. However, council secretary Mohd Anis Hussein said: "As long as they (the salon owners) pay the compounds, they will be allowed to operate." He added that the salon owners understood the by-laws and the consequences of ignoring them. Nice Hair Salon manager Alice Ong Lee Ruong was baffled by the rule. "I would understand it if we were fined for allowing our women workers to cut the hair of Muslim men. But they were attending to non-Muslim men," she said. Ong, who had settled 10 summonses so far, wondered for how long she would have to pay fines. "They are not cheap and we have to consider the high rental, salaries of our workers and other expenses," she said. Another salon manager, who declined to be named, said the council by-laws were making life difficult for hair dressers. She had been issued four summonses so far. Kelantan MCA information chief Tan Ken Ten said the by-laws were "not friendly" to non-Muslim business circles. "The council, in its zest to implement Islamic principles in its by-laws, has caused hardship to the non-Muslim business community," he added. National PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw agreed that the by-laws should not apply to non-Muslim women cutting the hair of non-Muslim men. He urged the council to review the ruling.
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| Australian foreign minister Bob Carr cool on Anwar request Posted: 22 Nov 2012 12:51 AM PST
The leader of Malaysia's largest opposition party and former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, appears to have thrown Australia's Foreign Minister a curve ball with his request for help to deal with the corruption in Malaysia's coming general election. RADIO AUSTRALIA Mr Ibrahim wrote to the Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, to outline his concerns and to ask for Australia's help in ensuring that the election is free and fair. But Senator Bob Carr told Sabra Lane that it's difficult for the Australian Government to assist unless it's the Malaysian government that asks for help. Correspondent: Sabra Lane Speakers: Senator Bob Carr, Australian Foreign Minister CARR: Well the Malaysian elections are a matter for the Malaysian people. It's very hard for Australia to do anything about how they're run, as hard as it would be for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run. We're not the election authority for Malaysia. Of course we support free and fair elections in any country. I spoke to Anwar Ibrahim in a private conversation during my recent visit to Malaysia. I heard him express concerns and in the letter he underlines them by talking about, by making accusations of fraudulent and fraudulent registration processes and raising concerns that the elections can reflect the popular will. We can't comment on that. An opposition leader is entitled to say that to us. But we discussed the elections with him, I'm aware of his concerns. LANE: What are you going to do about those concerns? CARR: Well we're not the election authority for Malaysia. LANE: So you're not going to do anything. You've got, Nick Xenophon characterises this as a desperate letter… CARR: Yeah, I'm not sure what you're saying Australia can do. We don't run elections in other countries. We've received concerns. I say, in respect of this, we want free and fair elections in any country but we're not the election authority for Malaysia. It is important that we follow what happens in Malaysian politics and our commission there does it. I think their analysis of Malaysian politics is very, very good. Very high quality. But I'm, and it's useful in that process that we talk to opposition forces as well as people in the government. LANE: Can we offer assistance to Malaysia? Are we interested in sending a parliamentary delegation to… CARR: Well they would need to ask for it. The only way that can happen is for the government of Malaysia to ask for assistance and then we'd respond. LANE: Okay. So you won't respond until a request is made? CARR: Well there's no way we can. Australia doesn't run elections for other countries. We send observers when other countries ask for them. We receive, we receive submissions from opposition figures in other jurisdictions. We have in this case and we take what is said seriously. Our position is, we want free and fair elections in any country. LANE: How would you characterise the letter that you got? CARR: Well it's a letter from an opposition figure expressing concern about the elections in his country. But that is the point. It is his country, not our country. And while we can express concern about the freedom and fairness of elections anywhere, we don't run elections in other jurisdictions. LANE: That's fine, but he's obviously asked for your help and you're saying we can't do anything. CARR: What help are you proposing we provide? LANE: Well, I'm simply asking. CARR: Do you want an amphibious landing on the east coast of Malaysia? LANE: No, I'm asking. CARR: This is in Malaysia. Australia doesn't run those elections. LANE: Some Malaysians believe Australia may be reluctant to say anything given that we are still hoping that the Malaysia asylum seeker swap can be enacted with the country... CARR: No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. We've got friendly relations with Malaysia and we haven't a capacity to do anything about the internal affairs of Malaysia any more than we have with any other country. LANE: This criticism has been made this morning. Senator Nick Xenophon said that there are figures in Malaysia who believe that Australia will do nothing because of that deal. CARR: What are you proposing Australia do? LANE: I'm not, I'm simply putting this… CARR: Sorry, that is, that is, the essence of it. What are you- LANE: I'm putting the proposition to you. CARR: What are proposing Australia do? Malaysia is a sovereign country. LANE: I'm putting the proposition to you. CARR: No, but I want to know what it is, proposed by anyone, Australia can do about an election in a sovereign country.
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| Malaysia's Anwar Faces an Islamic Revolt Posted: 22 Nov 2012 12:09 AM PST
PAS says it wants to run any opposition government that might be elected Eventually, the conservatives proved they weren't just there for lip service to the rhetoric. They won a provision agreeing that PAS would assume the leading role in the three-party alliance, and that Hadi would be the coalition's pick for prime minister – not Anwar, who cobbled the opposition together and who has led it since 2008. Eventually the assembly approved the conservative agenda with Hadi tacitly going along with the idea. Asia Sentinel The always-delicate relationship between Malaysia's three opposition parties is growing strained again in the wake of the annual general conference of Parti Islam se-Malaysia, the conservative Islamic member of the coalition.
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| You must only be seen, not heard Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:49 PM PST
Take the recent freedom of religion and apostasy issue as another example. Everyone has something to say about that, mostly the non-Malays and non-Muslims. You hide behind freedom of speech to attack Islam. You, the non-Malays and non-Muslims, demand that Malays-Muslims be allowed the right to leave Islam. You say that Islam is an outdated religion from the Dark Ages and any religion that does not allow its proponents to leave is a bad religion. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Hmm…now PAS and Umno are calling each other the party of devils. Actually, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed quoted the saying 'better the devil you know'. I think what he said was: 'better the devil you know than the angel you don't know'. The correct idiom is 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't'. Nevertheless, whichever it may be, what it means is: you take your chances with the known rather than take your chances with the unknown. In short, both are risks. But one risk is a known risk while the other is an unknown risk. I suppose if you know for sure then you just go with the proven thing. You need not dabble in the unknown. However, when you are not sure, then you stick with what you know. No doubt this latest round of name-calling is about whether Barisan Nasional is a better devil than Pakatan Rakyat or whether Umno is a better devil than PAS. If we go by the adage of 'better the devil you know', that would mean you know one of the devils but you are not really quite sure of the other. Hence choose the one that you know. This 'ideology' probably makes sense in some situations. This, however, does not apply to everything. It all depends on what you hope to achieve. Are you talking about the economy? Are you talking about abuse of power and corruption? Are you talking about civil liberties and human rights? Are you talking about racism and political persecution? Are you talking about freedom of religion? Are you talking about transparency and good governance? Are you talking about public perception and investor confidence? You would be idealistic to expect a package deal. You must compromise on some things in the interest of others. For example, PAS would offer a more honest and corrupt-free government compared to Umno. But PAS would be less tolerant of apostasy and proselytising compared to Umno. You gain on one but you must be prepared to lose on the other. I have been accused of being too idealistic for expecting the perfect form of government. Actually, I am more realistic than many of you give me credit for. No, I do not aspire for perfection. I am realistic enough to know that perfection is quite impossible to achieve. What I aspire for is the perfect balance where we can see a compromise of sorts. There are certain things that are priorities and certain things that may have to be sacrificed for the sake of these priorities. So what are our priorities and what are we prepared to sacrifice for these priorities? During the Siege of Leningrad in the Second World War, the Russians adopted the same strategy that they used to defeat the French 130 years or so earlier. Basically, they let hunger and the cold defeat the Germans. However, this meant that Russia had to sacrifice millions of its own citizens as well. The objective and priority was to defeat the Germans. Russian civilians would have to be the collateral damage. Russia could not have both. They could not defeat the Germans plus save their own people. We, too, the Malaysian citizens, have certain objectives and aspirations. But are we prepared to place these objectives and aspirations as our priority and accept the downside to whatever action we need to take? Malaysians want everything. We want an end to Barisan Nasional/Umno rule. We know we can't do that unless the second largest party in Malaysia (and a Malay party, too, on top of that), PAS, supports us to do that. But we want PAS on our terms, not on their terms. When one delegate to the PAS annual general assembly stands up to propose his own party president as Prime Minister, we go berserk. We hurl insults at the entire one million members of PAS, call them Talibans, call them backward village bumpkins, question their educational background, question their level of intelligence, and so much more. We even hurl insults at Islam and suggest that Islam is the cause of the backwardness of Muslims in general and PAS people in particular. In other words, we are telling the one million PAS members that they are not suited to become our leaders. We only want them to kick out Barisan Nasional and Umno. But we do not want them as our leaders. Okay, I have read what you said about the one million PAS people. It is like a white man telling a non-white woman: you are only good enough for me to have sex with but you are not good enough to become my wife because of your 'colour'. I bet none of you looked at it in this manner. Well, that is because you are looking at things from only your perspective. You are not looking at things from the perspective of those on the receiving end of your vilification and insults. PAS is only good enough to help us change the government. PAS is not good enough to head that government. That is your message to the one million PAS members. Even if that is not your real message, your words certainly give the impression that that is your message. Do you all not stop to think before you say something? And now that you have said it how are you going to unsay it? For more than a decade since the mid-1990s (when the Internet first emerged in Malaysia), I have had to endure the Malay- and Islam-bashing, by mainly the DAP Chinese supporters. And when I spoke up in defence of PAS back in the 1990s, I was whacked to kingdom come. Those who were on the late MGG Pillai's chat group would know what I am talking about. I eventually left that chat group because I realised I would never be able to convince those hard-core DAP supporters that we need PAS if we are going to see a change of government. It is not that I, too, had not been critical of PAS. In fact, some of the articles I wrote criticising PAS were even published in Harakah. At least PAS is democratic enough to allow articles that criticise them to be published in their party organ, Harakah. But I criticised PAS regarding some of its stands or regarding its strategies. I did not insult Islam or Prophet Muhammad like those DAP hard-core supporters in MGG Pillai's chat group. I admit that I did criticise the conduct of Muslims, which got me into a heap of trouble with the authorities. But my criticism was only about the conduct of Muslims who deviate from Islamic teachings. I did not blame Islam for this conduct and say things like this proves that Islam is a bad religion -- like what those DAP hard-core supporters commented in MGG Pillai's chat group. Many of you have probably noticed that of late I have written articles uncomplimentary of the non-Malays, in particular the Chinese. I have even written some articles uncomplimentary of the Christians. And I know many of you just hate this. And you call me a racist. Some even say that, because I am now 62, I am trying to 'get closer' to Islam (since I am about to die) and I do this by whacking Christianity. If you really believe this then you are even dumber than I thought. It is good that you hate this. I want you to hate this. I was hoping that you would hate this. I wanted you to feel what the Malays have had to endure these last many years since the 1990s when the Internet first came to Malaysia. I write just a few articles and you get so hot and bothered. The Malays have had to take what you dish out for almost 20 years. You, however, feel that you are justified in what you do and that you have every right to do what you do because the non-Malays and non-Muslims have suffered persecution in Malaysia for 55 years since Merdeka. Take the recent freedom of religion and apostasy issue as another example. Everyone has something to say about that, mostly the non-Malays and non-Muslims. You hide behind freedom of speech to attack Islam. You, the non-Malays and non-Muslims, demand that Malays-Muslims be allowed the right to leave Islam. You say that Islam is an outdated religion from the Dark Ages and any religion that does not allow its proponents to leave is a bad religion. There is nothing good about Islam. Everything about Islam is bad. PAS is an Islamic party. We want PAS to help us kick out Barisan Nasional and Umno. After that the one million uneducated PAS people can return to their villages and not interfere in the running of the country. And for sure we want none of them as our top leaders. Do you think you have just won the support of the more than one million PAS members and supporters? You don't like me whacking the non-Malays and the non-Muslims? I am glad that you feel that way. I am glad you don't like being whacked. Let me share a secret with you: the Malays-Muslims also do not like the way you whack them and Islam. And they have had to endure this much longer than you have. Now that you know what it feels like, maybe you can reassess the situation and tell me where we go from here. Your comments regarding Tok Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, apostasy, freedom for Muslims to leave Islam, etc., have caused a lot of damage. These comments were uncalled for. Worse of all, it shows that you will not even allow PAS members the freedom of speech in their own annual general assembly where members are supposed to be free to tell their leaders what they want for their party. And you say that you are fighting for liberalism? Your liberalism means only the freedom for Muslims to leave Islam but not the freedom for Muslims to express what they want or don't want. |
| Kemampuan Kewangan Luar Biasa Ahli Parlimen Ampang Sejak Bergelar YB Empat Tahun Lepas Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:15 PM PST
SEL13.COM Zuraida Kamaruddin di lahirkan di Bengkulu, Sumatera Indonesia. Akibat kemiskinan hidup pada masa itu di Indonesia keluarganya telah berhijrah ke Singapura. Ketika itu Singapura masih lagi berada dalam Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Selepas berlaku perpisahan antara Singapura dengan Malaysia keluarganya mengambil keputusan untuk memilih Malaysia sebagai tempat bermaustatin. Selepas itu mereka telah di beri kerakyatan Malaysia. Nama asal mereka sekeluarga juga dipercayai telah ditukar. Sebelum di pilih sebagai Ahli Parlimen Ampang pada tahun 2008 Zuraida adalah seorang penjual buah di kawasan Ampang. Selain menjual buah beliau juga secara sampingan turut menjual ubat-ubatan tradisional termasuk minyak angin. Penglibatannya dalam PKR bermula selepas dia menyertai sebuah pertubuhan pro pembangkang yang dikenali sebagai Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA. Hasil pergaulan dan perkenalan beliau dengan orang-orang pembangkang dalam pertubuhan itu membawa beliau menyertai PKR. Kebetulan pada masa itu PKR berada dalam keadaan hidup segan mati tak mahu dan tidak ramai orang yang sanggup menerima jawatan -jawatan dalam parti. Kesempatan itu di ambil oleh Zuraida untuk menonjolkan dirinya dengan suara-suara lantangnya yang akhirnya membawa beliau berjaya memegang jawatan Ketua Wanita PKR. Zuraida yang terkenal dengan bau badan yang masam di kalangan orang-orang PKR telah dipilih oleh PKR untuk menjadi calon mereka di Ampang dalam PRU ke 12 memandangkan pada waktu itu tidak ramai orang-orang PKR yang berminat untuk jadi calon. Tuah ayam nampak di kaki tuah manusia siapa yang tahu. Zuraida menang di Ampang dan dalam masa yang sama PKR berjaya membentuk kerajaan di Selangor. Ramai orang-orang PKR yang terlopong melihat orang yang selalu diperli dengan bau badan masam sebelum itu diangkat sebagai ahli parlimen oleh pengundi-pengundi Ampang. Bermula Mac 2008 kehidupan Zuraida sekeluarga berubah setelah bergelar wakil rakyat di sebuah negeri yang diperintah PKR. Zuraida tidak perlu lagi menjual buah. Selain sibuk sebagai ahli parlimen Zuraida juga sibuk memenuhi undangan-undangan ceramah di seluruh negara untuk membongkar 'penyelewengan dan rasuah Umno'. Sebelum menjadi wakil rakyat di negeri yang diperintah oleh PKR Zuraida hanya menggunakan kenderaan Perodua Myvi yang dibelinya pada tahun 2005. Itulah satu-satunya kenderaan yang dimiliki beliau pada masa itu.
Namun seperti yang kami katakan diatas tuah ayam nampak di kaki tuah manusia siapa yang tahu. Daripada seorang penjual buah dan ubat-ubatan tradisional yang hanya menggunakan kenderaan Perodua Myvi kehidupan Zuraida berubah sekelip mata selepas menjadi wakil rakyat. Beberapa bulan selepas diangkat sebagai ahli parlimen dan PKR membentuk kerajaan di Selangor Zuraida telah membeli sebuah kenderaan baru seperti berikut.
Bayangkan daripada Perodua Myvi yang berharga RM 40k terus melonjak kepada Volvo yang berharga RM 355k. Itulah yang dinamakan rezeki. Tahun 2009 tidak ada sebarang kenderaan baru yang dibeli oleh Zuraida. Manakala pada tahun 2010 Zuraida membeli sebuah lagi kenderaan seperti berikut. 
Mungkin dua kenderaan baru belum mengcukupi untuk menggantikan Perodua Myvi yang dimilikinya sebelum itu, maka pada tahun 2011 Zuraida membeli lagi sebuah kenderaan seperti berikut.
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| Dato’ Onn Jaafar – the man who defined “Malay” Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:01 PM PST
ART HARUN I have been re-reading "Reflections of Pre-independence Malaya" by Dato' Mohamed Abid (Pelanduk Publications). It is a book telling the author's personal experiences with Dato' Onn Jaafar, the founder of Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu (UMNO – United Malays National Organisation) and reproducing many of Dato' Onn's pre-independence speeches. Here is the man who, according to his nephew, Professor Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, gave the definition of "Melayu" in the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948. The same definition is then adopted in our Federation Constitution (article 160) which stands till to date. Here is also the man who requested the good Professor to draw up the UMNO logo. That logo was apparently adopted at a meeting attended by, among others, Dato' PanglimaBukit Gantang, Dato' Zainal Abidin Abas, Colonel Musa, who was also known as Pak Lomak, who was the originator of the Malay ghazal. That logo too stands as UMNO logo till to date. Perhaps Dato' Onn's humility and his tireless fight for freedom and independence could be gleaned from the advice that he gave the author when the latter was a teenager. He said the "Malays should never "sembah" anyone except God." And when somebody from a higher social order meets with somebody from a lower social order, the latter should not be ignored. He did not only say that but he actually practised what he said. In 1927, Dato' Onn was told to leave Johor by HRH the Sultan for criticising the Sultan. As a result he spent almost 9 years in exile. On this, Dato' Onn said: "I opposed my own Ruler because his actions towards his subjects, and as a result, I was dismissed from government service. Later, because of my subsequent opposition to the Ruler for his injustice towards his subjects, I was once again removed from my government and was banished from the State of Johor.... Are such actions the actions of one chasing after wealth and grandeur for himself?" In 1936, he was recalled to Johor by HRH Sultan Ibrahim. He did come back. However, after the war, when he was the Chief Minister of Johor and the drive for independence was taking shape, HRH the Sultan gave him an ultimatum. He was told to choose whether to remain as the CM or accept the post of UMNO President. Dato' Onn resigned as CM of Johor and took the position of UMNO President. He then moved to Kuala Lumpur, living in a single story house at Stonor Drive. Even though he was appointed to a post which was equivalent to the current Home Minister by the British Government and the country was in the middle of an emergency, he did not have any police protection. He said "even if you have many bodyguards, when it is time to go, you will go!" He was clear in his direction. His understanding and appreciation of the duties and responsibilities that came with his position as a leader would put many leaders and civil servants to shame. On the UMNO Presidency, which he held from the formation of UMNO in May 1946, he said: "The post of President of UMNO is not one that I desire, it is one entrusted to me by the representatives. I do not wish for this or that. I was willing to shoulder the responsibility because I was aware of my responsibility, as long as the Malay people and the members of UMNO placed their trust in me." Again, Dato' Onn practised what he said. In 1950, when accusations were made that he was not doing enough for the party and the Malays, he willingly resigned from the post. The post of UMNO Presidency, to him, is not one which is to be cavorted and held on, especially when one is not wanted. He said: "Had I known that there were some from amongst the UMNO members and the Malay people, who did not have faith in me, it would have been appropriate for me to resign, in order that the post be held by one more qualified and skilled..." After resigning, he went back to Johor. However, appeals were made for him to retract his resignation. Thousands of UMNO members marched to his house. Finally, on 27.8.1950, he was once again elected as the President of UMNO. Clearest in his mind was the concept of fiduciary duties owed by the people in power. And the duties, in his mind, are owed to the people of the nation as a whole, and not to any particular race or people. To him a Minister is subject always to the law. And he or she must discharge his responsibilities solely for the benefit of the country and the people. He said:
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| Dr M: PAS is backed by the devil Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:51 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider The PAS president is backed by the devil himself, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir said today, in retaliation against Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's thinly-veiled comment about Malay-majority Umno. "He himself is working with the devil, that's the devil I know," Dr Mahathir said in a press conference here, referring to Abdul Hadi. This remark came after the Marang MP spoke at the Islamist party's annual conference, or muktamar, last weekend, where he criticised a "party of devils". "The devil party which is controlled by the devil — the devil that people know — is incapable of upholding justice for all," Abdul Hadi said in his opening speech last Friday. At a press conference later, Abdul Hadi was asked to clarify which party did he mean was the "party of devils", but he refused to name any names. "Siapa yang makan lada, dialah yang rasa pedas," he replied, referring to a Malay idiom on knowing that one fits a description. "Go and ask Mahathir, that was said by Mahathir, he was the one who coined the term," PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali added. In his blog entry in August, Dr Mahathir had urged the people to choose the "devil they know" rather than risk the country's future with an "angel they don't know", a reference to Pakatan Rakyat. The line had since then been used repeatedly to attack the ruling coalition on various occasions.
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| Reporters who stir racial tension should be jailed, says Dr M Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:41 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today acknowledged the government's censorship of news, but denied allegations that freedom of press is suppressed. "If you play out ethnic issues to the point where people would want to fight each other, then we'll censor that," he told reporters at a press conference here after the International Conference on War-Affected Children organised by the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW). "But otherwise it's quite free ... You read Harakah, Sin Chew Jit Poh, China Press, Malaysiakini ... we don't censor. We should really put them in jail." Asked to clarify who exactly should be jailed, Dr Mahathir replied: "Journalists lah." Dr Mahathir had earlier criticised the lack of press freedom in the US, where news of conflicts resulting from the superpower's foreign policy is allegedly censored by its government and owners of news publications. "Censorship is not only done by the government, I know that because I was in the government before. "It is done by the owners of press. It is done by journalists like you, and it is done by your sub-editors who will edit what you write," he added. The former PM had been quoted admitting that he started his own blog CheDet.cc because his voice was stifled. "I became a blogger because I was blocked out from mainstream media. I still needed to say something," he said when addressing the Asian Bloggers and Social Media Conference in 2010. Malaysia is ranked 122nd in the Press Freedom Index of 2011-2012, a rank shared with Algeria and Tajikistan. Malaysia was ranked 104th in 2003, the last year of Dr Mahathir's administration, and was ranked 131st in 2009, the year current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak took over.
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| The Q&A with Free Malaysia Today Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:22 PM PST
FMT makes it sound like I am attacking Haris Ibrahim. Actually I am not, so maybe the full text of my Q&A can better explain what I said. FMT asked me three questions and I responded accordingly, not as an attack but to explain what happened. Everything I say should not be seen as an attack or even a criticism. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Q: First off, it is implied that you're on Dr Mahathir's payroll. Would you say this is true? A: First of all, it is, of course, not true. Have you not read what Matthias Chang said about me? Matthias is Dr Mahathir's man. What Matthias wrote about me would certainly not have been done to someone who is on Dr Mahathir's payroll. That was a most hard-hitting and damaging piece that Matthias wrote about me. Furthermore, the government deleted my name on the land title of my house in Bukit Rahman Putra in Sungai Buloh. My daughter, Raja Suraya, who owns 75% of that house, was forced to buy back that 25% share of mine, which the government had confiscated. Finally, the amount my daughter had to pay came to about RM300,000, legal fees and taxes included. On top of that, the government hit my daughter for property gains tax even though we had bought that house 18 years ago in 1994 and therefore there should be no tax. My daughter had to take a loan from MBF to settle that amount. Further to that, my Malaysian passport expired three years ago in September 2009. I have checked and have been told that the government will not renew my passport or that of my wife. I started Malaysia Today in 2004. I began associating with Dr Mahathir in 2006. All this is on record. All you need to do is to check on the Internet to find records of this. So how can Dr Mahathir be behind Malaysia Today when I began associating with him two years later and even then only when he started attacking Pak Lah. Q: I was told that you appear to be rather racist as of late. What would you say to this? A: I have been a 'racist' since the very beginning. For many years, long before 2011, I would attack the Malays, the Muslims, the religious department, the ulama' (religious scholars), the Sultans, etc. I was arrested in 2004, soon after Malaysia Today was launched, for attacking the Sultans -- although they never charged me in the end. I was arrested a few more times for 'attacking Islam'. Finally, they detained me in 2008 because there were so many 'insulting Islam' police reports made against me. And that was what my Detention Order stated (which worked in my favour because that was one of the arguments my lawyers raised to get my detention declared illegal). Only lately, since 2011, did I add the non-Malays to my list of 'targets'. But that does not mean I have stopped attacking the Malays, the Muslims, the religious department, the ulama' (religious scholars), the Sultans, etc. It is just that now the non-Malays are guilty of what Umno is doing. Hence, just like Umno, they too need to be criticised. Why was I not considered a racist before? Why only now am I considered a racist? When I attack the Malays, the Muslims, the religious department, the ulama' (religious scholars), the Sultans, etc., I am a freedom fighter. When the non-Malays are included in my attacks I suddenly become a racist. Q: Have you been in contact with Haris recently? Have the both of you cut ties, or is this just a tiff? A: I have my views and Haris has his. We have always had differing views from the beginning. Once, when Haris was representing me in court, I shouted to the judge that I was sacking my lawyers because I did not agree with their opinion regarding bail. On another occasion, I refused bail and walked off to the lockup. Haris disagreed with this and he and my wife spent an hour trying to get me to change my mind. Finally, because of my wife's tears and Haris's pleading, I relented and accepted bail. When MCLM was first launched, it was supposed to be just a civil liberties movement. I asked Haris to head it but at first he did not want to. Later he agreed. Then Haris wanted to use MCLM as a platform to 'outsource' 30 potential Member of Parliament candidates for Pakatan Rakyat. I felt MCLM should not be political but I nevertheless went along with him since this was his project. Then MCLM was accused of wanting to engage BN-PR in three-corner fights. This public perception of three-corner fights is what hurt MCLM and we got accused of being a Trojan horse, etc. These videos can tell you more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxWC1eGf72Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhplZz64vv4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YCihOL5XQU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UkBKyC2v_w You can see from those videos above that many things Haris said up to a year ago is what I am still saying today, although Haris no longer says these things. There were many things I did not agree with, such as Haris's quarrel with the late Tunku Vic in Chiengmai. But I held my peace and backed him in spite of the fact I did not quite agree with his approach. It appears, though, he is not returning that same courtesy that I extended to him. Haris is angry with me for what he says is my act of undermining ABU. He has his views on what ABU should be, as do I. However, while I respect his views, he does not respect mine. He expects me to agree to his view with no conditions attached. Maybe this will explain what my views on ABU are: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/52875-there-is-change-and-there-is-change |
| Muhyiddin: We will defend Sabah at all costs Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:00 PM PST
(The Star) - Sabah must be defended as Barisan Nasional's stronghold at all costs, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. "Sabah is an important state for Barisan, we cannot afford to lose it," he said during a breakfast meeting with members of the former Barisan elected representatives association (Mubarak) here. "We must defend it at all costs. Some people say that Sabah is a fixed deposit (for Barisan) but I think it is more than a fixed deposit," he said referring to Sabah Barisan sweeping 24 of the 25 parliament seats and 59 of the 60 state seats in the 2008 general election. Muhyiddin said it was important for everyone to work hard to ensure that the ruling coalition continued to rule the country. He said Barisan had transformed itself to meet with the aspirations of the people particularly the younger generation who are savvy and aware of things not only in the country but also overseas. "They have high expectations and are more knowledgeable and aware of the things happening around them. "This is the new reality we face as a political party. We must evolve. The Barisan of today is not similar to the Barisan of yesterday, we have transformed to meet to the new expectations of the people," Muhyiddin said. He said Mubarak members had a role to play in helping Barisan win convincingly in the next general election which was going to be very challenging and important for the coalition to continue ruling the country. Later in the morning, Muhyiddin flew to the Kuala Penyu district for a walkabout in town. Kuala Penyu is part of the Beaufort parliament seat held by Datuk Lajim Ukin, who left Umno to align himself with Pakatan Rakyat.
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| Posted: 21 Nov 2012 02:31 PM PST The 13th general election will be historical and a pale comparison to the 1948 Emergency, Merdeka, May 13 and even the 2008 polls. It will be remembered not because it was the election that resulted in the defeat of Umno or any other political party, but for the fact that the "sleeping giant", that is the Malaysian public, had finally been awakened from its long slumber by the antics of a failed BN government. CT Ali, FMT There are not many of us left who saw the beginning of the Emergency declared in June 1948 when the Malayan Communist Party murdered those three estate managers in Perak and the end of that Emergency in 1960. A few more of us were there with Tunku Abdul Rahman in Merdeka Stadium when he declared Merdeka on Aug 31, 1957. Many of us remembered the 1962-1966 Konfrontasi with Indonesia for Sukarno's promise to "crush Malaysia" – it was a minor hiccup between old friends quickly settled. May 13, 1969, however, is too recent an event for too many of us to forget. We know now that lessons learned during those terrible times have been noted by many of us but not by our government. Then came the 12th general election just a few years ago and we thought that would have been a watershed for this Umno-led Barisan Nasional government to change and be the change that the people had demanded. But 2012 came and we now know that this BN government will not and cannot change even if their political life depended on them doing so. For those of us who saw the end of the Emergency, who were with the Tunku at the Merdeka Stadium, who endured Konfrontasi with Indonesia and lived through the horrors of May 13 and then saw the awakening of that sleeping giant – Malaysian public – at the 12th general election, let me tell you that none of what we witness thus far will compare to the 13th general election. I can tell you all that all of those times will pale in comparison against what we are to witness in this 13th general election. And many years from now, just as I am telling you all about what I have witnessed in my lifetime, you too will tell all who will listen to you that you lived through the 13th general election and you saw the people of this nation unite, became one in their desire for change and made that change happened at the 13th general election… and you lived through it all. Living in interesting times You saw the end of the BN government. You saw the best thing that has ever happened to our country, to our people and for the future of our children – the end of a corrupt, arrogant and irresponsible government. These are interesting times that we live in now. There will be some among us that will rue these last few years as the harbinger of doom for the Malays, for Islam and for a Malaysia as we know it now because the Malays deserted Umno for Pakatan Rakyat. Deserted Umno because the Malays were seduced into believing that Pakatan could lead the Malays to a greater good by giving up Ketuanan Melayu for the privilege of being one with the other people of Malaysia. If you hear them say so, then you must tell them that the Malays did not give up anything for that privilege – they earned that privilege themselves by voting for Pakatan, not Umno. Umno failed the Malays in so many ways and yet the Malays were forgiving of Umno until Najib Tun Razak allowed even the prostituting of Felda – the same Felda that his late father worked so tirelessly to make a success of. Najib used that same Felda not for the benefit of the Malays that were within Felda but for the benefits of those within Umno when he allowed the listing of Felda Global Ventures. Najib lost many Malay votes for doing so. There will be others within Umno who will blame PAS for contributing to the decline of Islam by being in a coalition with Pakatan when PAS should have stood together with Umno to defend Islam against the infidels who preached apostate to the Muslims and seek to convert them to the ways of the Christians. If you hear them speak in that manner, then you as a Muslim must tell them that Islam has never been stronger nor had it ever had a stronger presence within the Malays and in this nation as it had now. Umno has shamed Islam Islam is the religion of this nation and Islam teaches us not to be corrupt, not to be arrogant and not to pursue greed in the manner that Umno has become accustomed to. So it is Umno, not PAS or the Malays, that has shamed Islam and caused its decline. For most of us, this 13th general election will be remembered most for what it will do for the future of our nation. It will be remembered not because it was the election that resulted in the defeat of Umno or any other political party, but for the fact that the "sleeping giant", that is the Malaysian public, had finally been awakened from its long slumber by the antics of a failed BN government. Once stirred awake the Malaysian public will not rest until the BN government is made to understand that a quiet Malaysian public does not mean that it is showing respect to Umno or to its coalition partners in BN. Respect is earned.
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| Perimekar, Terasasi tak terlibat dengan Scorpene Posted: 21 Nov 2012 02:26 PM PST Kelengkapan ketenteraan dilakukan secara pembelian terus antara pembekal kerajaan dengan negara lain. Jamilah Kamarudin, FMT Kerajaan tidak pernah melantik mana-mana pihak ketiga atau orang tengah untuk menjalankan urusniaga pembelian kapal selam Perancis, Scorpene mahu pun jet tempur buatan Rusia, Sukhoi. Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad menegaskan, kelengkapan ketenteraan dilakukan secara pembelian terus antara pembekal kerajaan dengan negara lain. "Kami tidak pernah melantik pihak ketiga dalam pembelian mana-mana kelengkapan sama ada kapal selam, (Landrover) 8×8, ataupun Sukhoi. "Semuanya melalui proses G2G (kerajaan kepada kerajaan). Dalam sejarah Malaysia tidak pernah lantik mana-mana ejen untuk beli kelengkapan kita," katanya dalam Dewan Rakyat malam tadi. Beliau turut menepis dakwaan penglibatan syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd milik isteri kepada bekas pembantu kanan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Abdul Razak Baginda sebagai orang tengah dalam pembelian Scorpene. Sekaligus menafikan wujudnya konflik kepentingan pembelian itu dengan Terasasi (HK) Ltd milik Abdul Razak dan bapanya, Abdul Malim Baginda yang didakwa menerima duit komisyen sebanyak Euro 36 juta (RM144 juta) daripada pembelian Scorpene. Sebaliknya, Abdul Latiff mendakwa perkara itu sengaja diputar belit pembangkang untuk mencalarkan imej Najib. "Jelas perkara ini diputar-belitkan untuk menggambarkan kaitan antara Scorpene, Abdul Razak Baginda, Altantuya, dan (ahli Parlimen) Pekan. "Ini semua nak calarkan nama Pekan (Najib)…fitnah semata-mata," katanya.
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| Posted: 21 Nov 2012 02:21 PM PST In Islam renouncing Allah is an act of treason of the highest order against God. Awang Abdillah, FMT Malaysia, being a multi-religious country, will have to live with the differences in religious beliefs among the various races. Among the differences that have become issues of contention are:
In essence, the main contention is the supremacy of the religion of Islam in a Muslim-majority country like Malaysia as advocated by the Muslim community versus the non-Muslims' recognition of the supremacy of man-made laws over religion. The Muslims believe everything centres on the teachings of their religion, but the non-Muslims contend that religion should be confined to one's own personal spiritual belief. Muslims believe that the religion of Islam, which has been established more than 1,400 years ago, has been proven to provide spiritual guidance and has become a way of life for the ummah (believers) in the Muslim countries till today. Hence Islam should enhance its role to dictate its terms – vis-à-vis syariah laws – to its ummah. The syariah law is to ensure the religion continues its role as a beacon and custodian of believers. Muslim scholars would then like to ensure that the syariah laws are implemented in a comprehensive way in the country applicable to Muslims. On the other hand, the non-Muslims believe the issue of freedom of religion or beliefs is part of the democratic, constitutional and legal rights of an individual; thereby Islam as a religion should be confined to its spiritual teaching only. In this article, I would like to confine my analysis on the freedom of religion and beliefs. When the Quran states that there in no compulsion in religion, it means a Muslim cannot force a non-believer to embrace Islam and that a non-Muslim cannot force a Muslim to leave his religion. However, a non-Muslim can embrace Islam on his own free will but a Muslim cannot leave his religion on his own free will! In the first place, the terms "to be" or "to become" a Muslim are different from those of being a non-Muslim/non-believer. Destiny pre-determined and irreversible A born Muslim is already pre-determined as such by Qada and Qadar (fate and destiny). Similarly fate pre-determines a person born as male or female, his time and place of birth, his parents, family, his place and time of death. These matters or events are preordained by his/her personal fate and destiny. Believing that God determines the fate and destiny (pre-destined and the final outcome ) is the sixth pillar of faith in Islam. It is a fact that the realities involving pre-determined fate and destiny are irreversible. For a Muslim convert to become a Muslim, he has to declare a spiritual covenant between himself and the one God Allah and His messenger Muhammad (pbuh). This spiritual declaration is the first pillar of Islam and is irrevocable. For a born Muslim it is mandatory that he declares his faith to Allah and His messenger Muhammad (pbuh), too. Hence the spiritual agreement which is eternally binding does not give him the right to renounce the religion openly and officially he cannot leave the religion. Therefore under syariah law it is a crime to renounce his religion. So when a born Muslim or a Muslim convert makes the declaration of faith, he is bound to adhere to all the terms of the teachings of the religion. A person who renounces the spiritual covenant is called a "murtad" (apostate), while a Muslim who now and then breaches the terms of the vow is called a "munafiq" (hypocrite), which is a common sight in Malaysia, meaning that he is Muslim in name but acts otherwise. There are many man-made agreements that are irrevocable and punishable. Acts by a citizen that jeopardise national security is an act of treason against his country with severe penalties meted out; committing serious offences under the man-formulated laws such as the Dangerous Drug Act may result in the death penalty and so on. 'Renouncing Allah is treason' A husband/wife who dishonours his/her marriage vow by renouncing his partner or acts to dishonour his/her partner in public may result in divorce or even retaliations which may be brutal in nature. In Islam, renouncing Allah as his One God is an act of treason of the highest order against God. On top of that he makes a mockery of the religion. The Jews rejected only the holy prophets Isa and Muhammad (pbuh), yet God cursed them till the end of times. So I leave it to your imagination the seriousness of the crime when a person declares openly that he rejects God after he declares his faith.
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| Pakatan in a fix over choice of PM Posted: 21 Nov 2012 02:13 PM PST The opposition may find itself in disarray if it continues to squabble over its candidate for prime minister. Rashid Ahmad, FMT Pakatan Rakyat is caught in a difficult situation when one of its partners – PAS – dropped a bombshell on the last day of its muktamar (national assembly) on Sunday. Its Youth wing and Ulamak Council endorsed a proposal that party president Abdul Hadi Awang be made the prime minister if Pakatan were to win in the 13th general election. This has created uneasiness in the opposition alliance despite PAS secretary-general Mustapa Ali saying it was just a suggestion and was not even adopted as a resolution in the assembly. Mustapa's assurance did nothing to allay the feelings of distrust among the partners as the position of prime minister has been decided, according to DAP and PKR leaders, in a consensus a long time ago. It is unclear whether the consensus (naming Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as the candidate) had been communicated to all the members of the three parties or was only known to the top leaders. But the fact that PAS Youth and the Ulamak Council had mooted the proposal meant that the decision to pick a candidate for the prime minister's job did not reach the grassroots. Or perhaps the PAS grassroots members knew about it and waited for the assembly to voice their disagreement that Anwar should become the country's top executive. If this is so (that the grassroots want Hadi to be their man), it means that the party is still being controlled by veteran fundamentalists who do not trust Anwar whose image has been, rightly or wrongly, smeared with "unholy acts". Internal strife In fact, PAS has been plagued with internal strife with the liberals seen pitted against the fundamentalists. The former, aligned to Anwar, has been trying to unseat the latter since the party election in 2009. The liberals managed to get rid of deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and elect their man Mohamad Sabu or Mat Sabu, but this alone is insufficient to gain control of the decision-making process in the party. The liberals, although they have gained positions in the supreme council, could not steer the party according to Anwar's wishes as policies have still got to go through the Ulamak Council for endorsement. And Nasharuddin, despite being unseated as deputy president, still sits in the council, which comprises veteran fundamentalists who share similar views although most do not air them in the open.
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| Posted: 21 Nov 2012 02:06 PM PST Raja Petra responds by saying Haris did not have a consistent view of MCLM, and that he had supported him over many things despite not agreeing with them. Patrick Lee, FMT Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, according to his former confidante and social activist, Haris Ibrahim, has gone too far with his writings. Haris accused Raja Petra (better known as RPK) of causing division through his Malaysia Today blog, strongly implying that the latter, now living in Manchester, England, was on former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's payroll. "By late September, I had come to terms with the fact that RPK and I were not on the same cause," Haris wrote in his blog posting. He added that many times he was at a loss with RPK's writings. He cited a recent article by Raja Petra, saying that it was full of "untruths" and an attempt to divide the Anything-But-Umno (ABU) movement and its allies through his blog. Haris added that he had been corresponding with the blogger, and had questioned RPK's political stance. "I told him that I have only declared war on Umno-BN and it was he who needed to make clear where he stood in this war, so that I too would know what to do," he said. Haris disputed several of RPK's claims, including one where potential election candidates under the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) pulled out because of problems with Pakatan Rakyat. "They withdrew because they were put off by RPK's interview with TV3 which was aired just before the Sarawak state election [in April] last year," said Haris. He also called RPK's claim that the Jan 2, 2012 interview with the NST was part of a plan for MCLM personnel, including Haris, to smoothly exit the group as a "blatant lie". Haris said that RPK spoke about an alleged "Anwar-Najib" deal, seemingly gleaned from Umno insiders. "But I'm convinced that this revelation by RPK now is with a view to drive a wedge between ABU and our allies in Pakatan," said. 'The ugly side of the Chinese' Haris further cited an anonymous Facebook post, which claimed that RPK was being hired by Mahathir, and that Malaysia-Today was created by the former premier to topple his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The anonymous person, Haris added, said this after a September meeting with RPK. Haris also cited FMT letter-writer Victor Lim, who hinted that the controversial blogger not only had strong financial backing, but was also mysteriously allowed to escape to England. "Who had the power and influence to faciliate RPK's migration?" Lim had asked. It was a view that was not shared by RPK, who criticised these allegations in an article entitled, "The ugly side of the Chinese". RPK also accused Lim of supposedly being under the payroll of PKR-Batu MP Tian Chua. Haris, however, thought differently, seemingly agreeing with Lim. "RPK has gone into overdrive in blaming the Chinese, Malays, Muslims over what's wrong with the country. Since Jan 2 until now, I've had to closely read his writing and rebut them," Haris told FMT. Asked if these accusations meant an end to his relationship with RPK, Haris said that all he cared about was making sure that BN would lose the next federal elections. "Right now, I'm working with many people on the ground, and they're not in Manchester, shooting from the hip. I'm not prepared to remain silent every time he takes a very racist stand," he said. RPK: I'm not a racist' In an e-mail interview later, RPK denied being funded by the former premier, citing a letter written against him by Mahathir's former political secretary, Matthias Chang. "It is of course, not true… what Matthias Chang wrote about me would certainly not be done to someone who is on Dr M's payroll," he said. He said that his family had faced many hardships, and hinted that these would not have come about if Mahathir was behind him. One of his hardship was his daughter, Raja Suraya, having to buy back his stake, confiscated by the government, in a Bukit Rahman Putra house she owned, which cost RM300,000. He also asked how he could have been working with Mahathir when he only "began associating" with the premier in 2006, two years after Malaysia Today was formed. RPK also denied being a racist, and that he was only being termed such after he attacked Malaysia's Chinese. "Why was I not considered a racist before? Why am I a racist only now? When I attack the Malays, the Muslims, the religious department and scholars, the Sultans… I'm a freedom fighter. When the non-Malays are included in my attacks, I become a racist," he said. RPK was also critical of Haris, adding that the latter had different views and that they would sometimes clash. "Haris wanted to use MCLM as a platform to 'outsource' 30 potential MP candidates for Pakatan Rakyat. I felt MCLM should not be political but nevertheless went along with him," he said. He also attacked Haris for not having a consistent view of MCLM, and that he had supported him over many things despite not agreeing with them. "It appears, though, he is not returning that same courtesy I extended to him… he has his views on what ABU should be, as do I. "However, while I respect his views, he does not respect mine. He expects me to agree with his view with no conditions attached," he said.
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