Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- FDIs not flowing as freely into Malaysia, says Tengku Razaleigh
- Wee: Abdul Rahman an extremist
- On Sabah’s ‘racism’
- From now on, it’s a Malay vs Malay contest
- Selangor already fallen to BN!
- ‘Video proves Anwar is behind Deepak’
- Shall we experiment?
- Pakatan states 'have failed in legislative reform'
- Zaid: PM must apologise over May 13 reference
- ‘Explain Hindu burial land given to Muslims’
- Answer Musa’s claims, cops tell top brass
- The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 11)
- Indonesian embassy warns maids to avoid Malaysia
- M'sians abroad now eligible for postal voting
- Pak Lah’s kin linked to power meter supply storm
- Much work for Umno leaders after the general assembly
- Election hype and debates
- That liberalism, pluralism menace
- SB tailing me, says Musa
- Need for independent public inquiry into police top brass and Home Ministry — Kua Kia Soong
- GE13 will be horror show for BN
| FDIs not flowing as freely into Malaysia, says Tengku Razaleigh Posted: 04 Dec 2012 01:09 PM PST
Eva Yeong, The Sun Daily Malaysia is no longer attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) as freely as it used to, said former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, adding that the country is not investing enough to meet its aspirations. "Private investment now makes up a smaller portion of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Although we continue to maintain a relatively high national savings rate, some of those savings have gone overseas," the Gua Musang member of parliament said in his keynote address on "Pragmatism in the Face of Present Economic Outlook" at the MIER National Economic Outlook Conference 2013/2014 here yesterday. "Malaysia has become a premature exporter of capital, a characteristic that is unbecoming of a growing, high potential economy. "There is also this silent issue of capital flight, whether it is in the form of over-invoicing by corporates or personal wealth leakages," he added. On the domestic production front, he said the nation depends on a relatively narrow spectrum of growth drivers, while the government's revenue base is just as limited and the issue of fuel subsidies has to be addressed quickly. Tengku Razaleigh said the removal of petrol subsidies is imperative as it is a drag on government finances and an impediment to proper resource allocation. "In order to protect the average consumer, perhaps we can begin by applying an implicit subsidy cut on large engine capacity vehicle owners via a higher road tax," he said. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said private investment is expected to account for 30% of the country's total investments next year. "Private investment, which grew marginally by 2.5% during 2005 to 2009 period, registered a double digit growth of 15.5% in 2010 and 12.2% in 2011. "Even more encouraging, it grew on an annualised basis of 22.2% in the first half of this year," he said at the opening of the event. Meanwhile, RAM Holdings Bhd senior general manager and group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng. said domestic-based sectors and services need to grow at a faster pace in order to have a sustainable domestic-driven growth. "Domestic demand has actually helped the Malaysian economy offset the global demand over the last decade and more importantly, in the post global financial crisis year of 2010 and 2011, domestic demand has actually been offsetting the negative growth from exports," he told reporters on the sidelines of the conference. "Domestic demand can help smoothen Malaysia's output fluctuations. "Use domestic demand to enhance resilience because Malaysia is such an open economy with exports contributing more than 100% of GDP. We are actually subject to a lot of these external demand shocks," he added. Yeah said next year's GDP growth will remain above 5% with RAM Ratings maintaining its forecast of 5.3% for 2013. He said the two major risks are the continuing Eurozone debt crisis that could potentially result in double dip for the global economy and the fiscal cliff. "If these two don't happen, Asia, with improving indicators from China and other emerging countries, will be in a strong position to capitalise on the regional growth and demand. "Combined with our resilient domestic demand, there won't be any major shock to our investor confidence and consumer spending," he added.
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| Wee: Abdul Rahman an extremist Posted: 04 Dec 2012 01:00 PM PST
(The Star) - Abdul Rahman Maidin who recently joined PAS is an extremist, said MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong. In a Dec 4 blog post, Dr Wee had described Abdul Rahman, who is the former Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia deputy president, as someone with extreme racial thinking. He added that he had met Abdul Rahman at the Second National Economic Council meeting from 1999 to 2000, where he was also a participant. Dr Wee said he had never met anyone in his life that held such extremist racial views. Abdul Rahman had handed his membership form to PAS party president Abdul Hadi Awang during a Pakatan rally in Batu Pahat, Johor, last Saturday.
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| Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:50 PM PST
There are areas in Kota Kinabalu that are "black areas" controlled by illegals, where locals fear to tread. Even our local law enforcement is forced to turn a blind eye. Some due to lack of manpower, some because they're paid off by the illegals. Many Sabahans are afraid of illegals. They have good cause to be. My neighbourhood doctor was killed with parangs by Indonesians. Two-thirds of the women I know, including myself, have been molested by illegals. Erna Mahyuni, The Malaysian Insider "So it strikes me to ask, is Sabah as racism-free as it seems?" That's what a LoyarBurok columnist asked, after a (brief) visit to Sabah and noting the distaste many locals have towards illegal immigrants. The first problem I have is with the notion of Sabah being "racism-free." No place in the world is free from racism, unless said place is filled with people of the same race. Even then, we human beings will find other reasons to oppress our fellows. Because we can. Sabah has a higher degree of tolerance. A higher tolerance of other religions and more widespread acceptance of intermarriage among the races sets us apart from most states in the Peninsula but we never pretended that we are "racism-free." I have relatives who are racists. Which makes things slightly tricky because I happen to be a "mongrel" with Dusun and Bajau blood and have ancestors from China and Pakistan. So that means I hear about the "lazy, stupid" Dusuns, the "bloodthirsty, manic" Bajaus, the "miserly, selfish" Chinese and the "untrustworthy" Pakistanis from my own family. If all their stories were true, by virtue of my mixed race I am destined for infamy or, at the very least, a long prison sentence. Despite our differences, what sets Sabah apart is that the races just get along better. The point is that racial stereotypes are common everywhere, even in Sabah. But the LoyarBurok columnist chose to harp on local Sabahan's attitudes towards illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia. My god, man, do you expect us Sabahans to embrace them as brothers? Roll out the red carpet? Have feasts for them? The ugly truth is most Sabahans don't want them around. PBS head Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is but one of many Sabah politicians who have called on the mainland to address the problem of illegal immigrants who are frankly unwelcome in the state. It's unfair that many Sabahans see illegals as criminals and parasites, when some people are genuinely fleeing harsh conditions at home. But the reality is that many illegals do turn to crime. There are areas in Kota Kinabalu that are "black areas" controlled by illegals, where locals fear to tread. Even our local law enforcement is forced to turn a blind eye. Some due to lack of manpower, some because they're paid off by the illegals. Many Sabahans are afraid of illegals. They have good cause to be. My neighbourhood doctor was killed with parangs by Indonesians. Two-thirds of the women I know, including myself, have been molested by illegals. Just behind my house, a neighbour started an illegal immigrant-staffed brothel and my family had to put up with the circus of whores and their seedy clientele, literally in my own backyard. My stories are just anecdotes, some of you will scoff. But my "anecdotes" are the reality that non-Sabahans will not be able to appreciate. Then we have people like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who say that we should just give illegals citizenship, no matter what Sabahans have to say about the matter. So we blithely give these 3.2 million (as of 2010 ) people citizenship? Really, Dr Mahathir? Another truth is, as my mother says, that we may despise them but we also need them. Sabah's backward economy is dependent on cheap labour. So much so that locals are forced to go to the Peninsula to seek better-paying job opportunities. The illegals drive the buses. They monopolise the cheap boat services to the islands. They are the ones manning the stalls at the Filipino Market. Some call them industrious, some call them opportunistic. Yet they're here and now they just won't leave. Is it really racism to be unhappy that foreigners come onto your land, monopolise your commerce, threaten your feeling of safety while you are also powerless to get rid of them? I guess Sabahans know too well what the Orang Asli must feel.
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| From now on, it’s a Malay vs Malay contest Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:44 PM PST
One Malay leader is pitted against another Malay leader, and each is backed by an assortment of non-Malays. Such a situation, strangely enough, does not encourage racial or religious politics. This goes for Umno as well as the Islamist opposition, PAS. Ooi Kee Bang, Today As Umno general assemblies go, the one held last week was rather tame in its rhetoric. It was certainly memorable for its lack of vitriolic language. And it was expectedly so ― therein lies its significance. Things were quite different back in the days before 2008, when ethnocentric exhortations were run of the mill, and Umno Youth was the amplifier of racial extremist voices. This year, showing party unity was the order of the day. Much of the credit must go to the fact that Malaysia today has a surprisingly stable two-party system in place. As we know, such a competitive structure has a strong moderating effect on extremist voices, be they racial or religious. After all, gaining the middle ground is how electoral victories are won. The fact that the incumbent prime minister, Najib Razak, reportedly cited ― as a warning to his followers ― significant errors made by Republican challenger Mitt Romney in his defeat at the hands of United States President Barack Obama, tells us that even at the highest level, the possibility of the hitherto invincible Umno being toppled is being taken seriously. Indeed, the bipolar Obama-Romney battle is being reflected in the clash between Najib and Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the opposition. What this actually reveals is the most important point that anyone can make today about the dramatic changes that have been taking place in Malaysian politics, not only over the last five years but also over the last decade and a half. Opposition forces within the Malay community have come of age. That is the fundamental difference. We are witnessing a Malay-Malay battle. Despite the rhetoric, the Malay community ― perhaps because of its increased relative size, its comparative youth, its growing urbanity or its heightened educational level ― is showing a political confidence it did not have before. Its questioning of Umno's claim to being the only plausible champion of their interests as a community ― in fact, questioning the limitations of communal politicking ― is an expression of that very maturity. One Malay leader is pitted against another Malay leader, and each is backed by an assortment of non-Malays. Such a situation, strangely enough, does not encourage racial or religious politics. This goes for Umno as well as the Islamist opposition, PAS. Instead, the new issues are about wealth distribution and governance, not those of race against race, or religion against religion. Now, issues of governance are not simple things. They are comprehensive, covering difficult matters such as cronyism, corruption, rule of law, the state of the civil service and the electoral system, among others. What all this boils down to once elections come around is: Who will be the next prime minister of Malaysia, Najib or Anwar? Abdullah Badawi was replaced by Najib in April 2009 in punishment for letting so much support for Barisan Nasional slip away. Najib's job, therefore, is to win back that support. To his mind, the best way to do that is to continue with the reform agenda (he has preferred the term "transformation"). However, should support for his coalition not rise markedly in the coming elections, there is a real risk that he will be replaced in his turn. But why this sudden wish for reform and transformation on BN's part? No doubt, Anwar has a lot to do with it. He was after all the man behind the pivotal Reformasi movement that started in 1998 after his sacking by Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But the fact that Abdullah's impressive electoral victory in 2004 could not bury that movement for good tells us that the forces pushing for change have deep roots in society, and in the times. What Anwar managed to do after his release from prison in 2005 was to become a bridge for the major opposition parties on the one hand, and a lightning rod for general social discontent on the other. And so, although at one level, the fight is between two Malay leaders, the election, whichever way it goes, is at a deeper level about how governance in Malaysia is to develop ― how Malaysia is to develop ― in the coming years. And within that equation, the role of East Malaysia will increase since both coalitions will be fighting to win votes there. Since the racial and religious ― not to mention political ― conditions in Sabah and Sarawak are so markedly different from those found in West Malaysia, the heightened significance of these states is bound to transform the socio-political situation. Predicting Malaysia's political future has become a much harder gambit. * Ooi Kee Beng is the deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
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| Selangor already fallen to BN! Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST Will recent events concerning the re-drawn boundaries in Selangor indicate that the coming polls is going to be a sham of an election? Selena Tay, FMT Recent reports received from this columnist's friends in PAS have revealed the inevitable – Selangor has already fallen into the hands of BN. Why is this so? Well, besides the dirty voter rolls, recently even the parliamentary and state constituencies in Selangor have had their boundaries re-drawn, said this columnist's friends in the Selangor PAS committee tasked with overseeing the preparations for the 13th general election. Now what is to be done? Of course police reports have been made besides forwarding evidence to the Election Commission (EC) who must remain professional, ethical and honest at all times in carrying out their duties in order to serve the interests of the public by working for the good of the citizens. But will recent events concerning the re-drawn boundaries indicate that the coming polls is going to be a sham of an election? Those who say that Malaysia has a vibrant democracy are merely being economic on the truth. The only thing vibrant is the compliant media's unjust bashing of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the rampant crime and corruption going on. And it bears repeating that the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat state government must only dissolve the State Legislative Assembly in May. Anything before that is disastrous for Pakatan. Looking at the way that BN wants to cling on to power, then is a foretaste of events to come should they lose the 13th general election. BN leaders have said that Pakatan will cause chaos if it loses. But what if it is BN who loses? What is their answer to that question? Have we heard them giving assurances to the rakyat by saying, "We will abide by the rakyat's decision?" Be that as it may, the election must and will go on. The losers must accept the verdict. The opposition have lost 12 consecutive times so for them losing is nothing new but what about those who have never tasted defeat? For the good of the nation and the well-being of the rakyat, the losers of the forthcoming polls should work with the winners to build up the nation. The losers must be magmanimous enough to accept defeat. If they resort to hooliganism and sabotage, then their true colours and greed for power will be revealed and show that their past slogans are empty rhetoric to hoodwink the people. The time has come for Malaysians to move forward towards building a great nation for one and all. Otherwise we will be left far behind – stuck in the age of antiquities. It is high time we march forward to the dawn of a new civilisation of hope, peace and progress. Winning at all cost The case of Selangor highlights the dirty tactics of certain parties who want to win at all cost. "There is just nothing we can do about their dirty tricks as all avenues are closed. We have raised the issue of dubious voters and instant MyKad in Parliament and in our party paper, Harakah. We have brought up the matter with the Election Commission and made the necessary police reports – all to no avail," said PAS Kuala Selangor MP, Dzulkefly Ahmad to this columnist. His PAS colleague and Kuala Krai MP, Hatta Ramli who will be overseeing the PAS election groundwork has informed this columnist that he has requested that the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) set up to look into the problem of illegals in Sabah being given MyKad be given an extension of its workscope to include Selangor as well but the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Liew Vui Keong (Sandakan MP) said that the problem does not exist in Selangor! And this reply was given in the recently concluded Parliament session.
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| ‘Video proves Anwar is behind Deepak’ Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:19 PM PST A two-minute video clip of 'Deepak Jaikishan' has surfaced in pro-government blogs which points to a PKR plot to defame the prime minister and his wife Teoh El Sen, FMT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had met carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan to hatch a plot to defame the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, according to pro-government blogs. Posting links to a "secretly recorded" video footage, blogger Papa Gomo said it proved that Deepak's recent explosive media interviews were the result of a plan engineered by several key PKR players. In the two-minute-long clip, a man who appears to be Deepak was speaking to a few people off camera. Aside from Anwar, he mentions several prominent PKR leader's names, including Subang MP R Sivarasa as well as vice-presidents N Surendran and Nurul Izzah. "So he [Anwar] said I give you the place, whatever you want to do I help you, but you have to help me lah, of course it is understood lah," said the man in the video. The video, according to Papa Gomo, was proof that Deepak had met with Anwar before he began his attacks against Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor on Nov 27. "In the video we hear Deepak saying that Nurul was the first person to contact him to see but for some reason he did not meet her," wrote the blogger. He alleged that Anwar had asked to meet Deepak several times in 2010 but he had ignored the PKR de facto leader until he was pressured by a bank debt that totalled RM170 million. "Deepak's real target is Senator Raja Ropiaah [Abdullah], the Selangor Wanita Umno chief who was together with Deepak previously in the real estate business," said Papa Gomo. He said that Anwar then apparently promised to provide Deepak with a lawyer (Sivarasa) for his case against Raja Ropiaah. "Sivarasa actually instructed Deepak to mention the names of Najib and Rosmah in the Raja Ropiaah trial," he added. However, "Deepak" in the video said he did not do that and "Sivarasa" was angry with him.
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| Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:13 PM PST The 'devil we know' is a recalcitrant beast which is resistant to change whereas the 'devil we don't know' is promising Utopia. Anwar was regarded as a racist and religious bigot. Then there was also that persistent rumour about his fondness for clean-shaven men. But it was his lack of devotion to Dr Mahathir Mohamad that put a curse on his charmed life. RK Anand, FMT Anwar Ibrahim is no saint. But who amongst us is? That is a subject for debate in ecclesiastical circles. But those who believe that a halo hovers above the opposition leader's head must also extend the same benefit of divine doubt to the prime minister who has sworn in the name of God that his hands are not stained with the blood of a murdered Mongolian woman and that he did not pocket a handsome sum in connection with a submarine deal. During his sojourn with Umno, Anwar's reputation as the heir to the throne struck fear in the hearts of many similar to how the prospect of the "Malay first and Malaysian second" Muhyiddin Yassin becoming prime minister is bone-chilling to the non-Malays. Anwar was regarded as a racist and religious bigot. Then there was also that persistent rumour about his fondness for clean-shaven men. But it was his lack of devotion to Dr Mahathir Mohamad that put a curse on his charmed life. More than a decade has passed since Mahathir shoved Anwar out of the corridors of power and into prison but the epic battle between the two warlords continues to be waged. Trapped in the middle is Najib Tun Razak. His predecessor ended up as collateral damage and his ambitious son-in-law was cast into cold storage in the aftermath of the 2008 electoral debacle. Does a similar or even worse fate await him? As the nation edges closer and closer towards the 13th general election, the situation is becoming "curiouser and curiouser". As more and more cans of worms and cows are opened, it is evident that Najib has committed a dreadful error in not calling for the polls earlier when the forecast was in his favour. Perhaps he was not contented with just holding on to power but aspired to be the Ceasar who would return Rome to the pinnacle of power, the emperor who is adored and venerated by his subjects. To his credit, Najib had dared to be different but the odds were just too great. Now he risks losing it all. This has prompted Mahathir to return to the frontline in order to save Umno Baru from decimation. It is, after all, his party. Moreover, the thought of Anwar becoming prime minister is unsettling for the patriarch, especially when his arch-nemesis would have access to certain documents which could prove to be incriminating. Driven out, ridiculed, imprisoned and battered, Mahathir's former deputy might not be as forgiving as some hope him to be should he triumph. Anwar claims that Mahathir is once again sharpening his blade, which has butchered numerous illustrious political careers in the past. He purportedly wants Najib's head to roll but after the polls since Umno is in no position to witness a high-profile beheading at this juncture. The often repeated argument from Barisan Nasional is "better the devil you know", with the prime minister warning Malaysians not to experiment with their votes, lest it would invite damnation. Najib prefers that experiments and debates be confined to the science labs and schools instead of being carried out at the expense of his position. His steadfast refusal to debate with Anwar suggests that perhaps the prime minister is a fictitious character and each word that rolls out of his mouth is crafted by a team of public relations experts. Does he fear sharing the stage with a fiery orator without his retinue of speech writers and advisers, forced to respond to questions without rehearsing his answers in front of a mirror beforehand and in the absence of a prepared text? Is he afraid that he would fail the test of scrutiny on television? The "devil we know" is a recalcitrant beast, which is resistant to change, save for Najib and a handful of others who dwell in the 1Malaysia wonderland, churning out an endless stream of slogans and abbreviations. The rest in Umno remain disenchanted, reminiscing about the golden era where in the words of Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, only the Almighty-sanctioned media like Utusan Malaysia existed, dissidents could be jailed without much fuss, the only ones blowing the whistles were scouts and no carpet dealer threatening to pull the rug from under their feet. Most of all, it was a time when the people feared the government and not the government having to fear the people. The devil or messiah? On the other hand, the "devil we don't know" promises Utopia though his detractors remain unconvinced due to the mounting allegations against those in the opposition, lending credence to the belief that power breeds corruption.
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| Pakatan states 'have failed in legislative reform' Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:07 PM PST
Lee Leong Hui, Malaysiakini Almost five years after forming the state government in four states, Pakatan Rakyat has failed to reform the institution of the legislature, according to Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim. Teng attributed this to the refusal of politicians, who exert control over the Executive, to give up their powers.
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| Zaid: PM must apologise over May 13 reference Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:42 PM PST
Sean Augustin, fz.com Former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says Datuk Seri Najib Razak should apologise for references to the May 13 tragedy made at the recent Umno general assembly. Zaid said that claims the 1969 racial riots would recur if Umno lost the next general election or if it returned with a weak majority was uncalled for and made him 'sick to his bones'. He said Najib - the prime minister and Umno president - should distance himself from such statements, which he feels were outright threats, immediately. As prime minister for all Malaysians, Najib should apologise to the nation for the inflammatory statements made by the delegates of the party he leads, said Zahid. "No one should capitalise on a national tragedy for the reprehensible purpose of exploiting emotions ahead of the coming election. "I hope Malaysians-and especially Malays-will find this statement repulsive and punish Umno accordingly," the lawyer turned politician wrote in his blog, zaiduntukrakyat.com. The May 13th spectre is often resurrected by politicians and right wing groups, especially in response to what they perceive as threats to the rights of Malays. While racial rhetoric was largely absent at the Umno general assembly, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil had mentioned May 13, in her written opening speech, when discussing the fate of the Malays if the party under performed in the coming general election. That part of the speech however was not read. Sharizat however later defended her remarks saying she did not commit any wrong and flayed the media for lacking professionalism. Zaid, in his blog, also wondered why Najib led the 'virulent attack' against liberalism which he defined as a political philosophy founded on the principles of freedom, liberty and equality. Liberalism, he said, supported the free-market economy, the individual's right to ownership of property, free and democratic elections as the foundation of government, freedom of religion and basic human rights. "The constitution of the Federation of Malaysia was founded on these principles, and our proclamation of independence contained the words 'liberty, freedom and justice for all.' So, why are the prime minister and his followers in Umno attacking the constitution and the core values of this country?" he asked.
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| ‘Explain Hindu burial land given to Muslims’ Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:35 PM PST Hindraf questions Selangor's state government's decision to convert a 3.38 hectre plot of Hindu burial land to a Muslim cemetery. K Pragalath, FMT Hindraf wants the Selangor state government to explain its decision to convert a 3.38 hectre Hindu burial land in Teluk Piai, Kuala Selangor, to a Muslim cemetery. "Why grab the land when Selangor is 7,955 square kilometres?" asked Hindraf's P Uthayakumar in a letter addressed to Selangor Menteri Besar, Khalid Ibrahim. Uthayakumar, who is also Human Rights Party's pro-tem secretary general, was responding to a news report in Malay daily, Sinar Harian today on the matter. In the report, Malaysian Indian Welfare and Cemetery Management Association president M Raman had asked the state government for an alternative plot of land for a Hindu cemetery. Raman said the state exco, at a meeting in July last year, despite acknowledging that the plot of land in Teluk Piai was a Hindu cemetery decided to regazette it as a Muslim cemetary. Raman said this was revealed in the 2010 Selangor Cemetery Inventory Report. "Even a letter from the rural and urban planning department dated Aug 28 this year states that the land, in Lot 13, Api-Api, Kampung Teluk Piai, is a Hindu burial land," said Raman. Uthayakumar said: "Reconvert, re-gazette, issue permanent land titles and restore this historical Hindu cemetery in the memory of the rubber tappers who contributed extensively to Malaya's economy." He also requested for a copy of the 2010 Selangor Cemetery Inventory Report under the Selangor Freedom of Information Enactment 2010 to ascertain the number of Hindu cemeteries in the state and how many of them have been gazetted. Uthayakumar also raised concerns over the status of the Hindu cemeteries in Barisan Nasional administered states. He gave three examples: the Bukit Jalil Hindu cemetery that was re-gazetted as Muslim burial ground, a cemetary in Kuala Sawah, Negeri Sembilan that was wiped out and a burial ground in Rantau, Seremban that was desecreated.
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| Answer Musa’s claims, cops tell top brass Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:29 PM PST Police want the top brass to look into the ex-IGP's claims of criminal elements and political interference in the police force. Anisah Shukry and Teoh El Sen, FMT The police are split over ex-inspector general of police Musa Hassan's claims of political interference and criminal elements in the police force but one common sentiment prevails – the top brass must take responsibility over it. "Of course it is damaging to the police force but then again, there is no smoke without fire, so there is an element of truth in it," said a senior policeman on condition of anonymity. "Perhaps in a way it is good because if the top level wants to change, it is high time to look into it," he told FMT. Last week, Musa dropped a bombshell when he accused Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein as one of the politicians who interfered with police investigation. The former top cop also suggested that criminal elements had infiltrated the police force, revealing that there were cases where the links went high up and "nobody dared talk about it." His damning comments coincided with Umno's general assembly; the party's last huddle before it faced the 13th general election. Umno top leaders, including Hishammuddin, had not directly answered Musa's claims since last week, choosing instead to dismiss them as attempts to sidetrack the public from the issues raised during the general assembly. Meanwhile, current IGP Ismail Omar said that he did not have the time for things that were "not important" – a response that courted ire from Musa who labelled the former as "snobbish." 'Ismail is a poor leader' Commenting on this, the senior police officer told FMT that Ismail lacked leadership quality. "He shouldn't be there in the first place, he's merely a puppet. Whenever he is summoned by the ministry, he comes back crying. "Whenever he is pressured, he doesn't act professionally, he screams at his officers. He is someone who is hard to work with, no backbone, no guts," he said.
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| The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 11) Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:33 PM PST
It was a win-win situation. The Minister got to hand over RM6 million worth of engines to the fishermen. The fishermen could get delivery of the engines only when they needed them and not too early. I got my RM6 million order although I did not yet have RM6 million worth of engines in stock. And Barisan Nasional won 34 of the 36 seats in the Kelantan State Assembly leaving PAS with only two seats -- the first time since Merdeka that Umno ruled Kelantan (at least for 12 years until 1990 when they lost the state again to PAS). NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin By 1977 I already owned my first Mercedes Benz, a light blue 204D. A Mercedes is a mark that you have 'arrived'. Nobody would take you seriously if you drove a Fiat like me. That is a playboy's car. So I brought a Mercedes, which I brought second-hand from the Speaker of the Terengganu State Assembly who was given a state car -- so he no longer needed to keep his old car. I paid RM30,000 for that car, quite pricey for a second-hand or used car. But I was paying for the number more than for the car (TC 848), which the Chinese appeared to like a lot. (They say it means prosperous and even after you die still prosperous -- which means prosperous for many generations). In fact, Dato' Salleh Speaker (that's what they called him) wanted the number back but I told him that I only wanted the car if it came with the number. That was the car I drove up and down Malaysia and to every fishing village in Terengganu and Kelantan. They just needed to see that car on the horizon when they would shout, "Taukay Yanmar datang!" That car practically became my trademark. And they knew that the owner of that car could give them loans to build their fishing boats and to buy the engines and/or fishing nets. I suppose I was like Santa Claus coming to town. And I made sure that all those who came out to greet my arrival walked away with something -- caps, T-shirts, calendars once a year at the end of the year (showing half-naked Japanese girls -- a girl for each month of the year), and so on. (Trust me, when it comes to half-naked girls, those Malay fishermen are no racists). I would walk into the favourite watering hole of the fishermen just off their shift or about to go on shift and would tell the coffee shop owner that everything was on me. No one left that coffee shop having to pay for what they ate and drank. This was not just about marketing my Yanmar engines. This was about 'winning an election' -- me, the new kid on the block, versus the 'old boys'. It was no longer enough that I was Taukay Yanmar. I had to be the Taiko of the Taiko, meaning the Taipan. And little did I know that in a mere few months I was going to become the Taipan Yanmar and would 'clean up' the market and monopolise the entire industry. They say 'man proposes but God disposes'. And I learned the real meaning of that phrase that same year, November 1977 to be exact. And this is how the story goes. In 1973, Barisan Nasional was formed and PAS, an opposition party, decided to join the ruling coalition. Three years later, PAS decided that the relationship with Umno was not working out so they decided to leave Barisan Nasional and go back to being an opposition party. Hence Kelantan, which was part of the ruling coalition, now became an opposition state, the only state under the opposition (since Gerakan still remained in Barisan Nasional). Umno needed to grab Kelantan. But first they needed to bring down PAS. A no-confidence motion against the Menteri Besar was tabled in the Kelantan State Assembly. 20 PAS State Assemblymen supported the motion while the 13 Umno and the solitary MCA assemblymen walked out in protest. However, Mohamad Nasir, the Menteri Besar, refused to resign. He then requested the Regent of Kelantan to dissolve the State Assembly to make way for fresh state elections. His Highness refused and Mohamad Nasir's supporters retaliated by demonstrating in the streets resulting in violence, looting and burning. (Actually, this whole thing was engineered by Hussein Ahmad, the Umno Kelantan warlord, but made to appear like it was a PAS 'internal conflict'. And the 'looters' and 'rioters' were gangsters brought in from Thailand). On 8th November 1977, His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong declared a state of emergency in Kelantan. The State Assembly was suspended and the Emergency Powers (Kelantan) Act 1977 was passed by Parliament the following day giving the Federal Government power to govern the state. In March 1978, state elections were held in Kelantan (more than three months ahead of the July 1978 General Election). PAS was successfully toppled and Umno took over the state (and held it for 12 years until 1990 when PAS-Semangat 46 ousted Umno). Now, at this point, some of you would probably be asking: what has all that got to do with me? Well, as I said earlier, man proposes but God disposes. Meanwhile, a month after the Kelantan Crisis, on 4th December 1977, Malaysia Airlines Flight 653 crashed in Tanjung Kupang, Johor, and in that tragedy the Minister of Agriculture, Ali Ahmad, and a few of his senior officers were killed. His Deputy, Sharif Ahmad, was then appointed the new Minister of Agriculture with Khalid Yunos as his Political Secretary. Kelantan was about to face a state election in March 1978 followed by the general election soon after that in July. And Umno wanted to make sure that it won both Kelantan and Terengganu, strongholds of PAS. And the critical task of ensuring that the fishermen in both these states voted Umno -- who form a very large number of the voters -- was given to the new Minister of Agriculture. So they needed to 'buy' the goodwill of the fishermen voters. And to buy this goodwill they needed to give them engines, fishing nets, boats, and whatnot. Basically, they needed Santa Claus to go around the fishing villages with handouts. The Minister then asked his Political Secretary to find out who the biggest Yanmar engine supplier was. And everywhere they asked the name Raja Petra popped up. In January 1978, out of the blues, Khalid Yunos phoned me and asked me to go down to Kuala Lumpur to meet up with him and his Minister. I was, understandably, extremely surprised. Never in my life has any Political Secretary phoned me to ask me to make a trip to KL to meet his boss. Very nervously I reported to the Minister's office. The meeting was about only one thing. They wanted to know how many Yanmar engines I had in stock. I asked them how many they needed. They gave me the figure and it was huge. I would need at least a year or more to supply everything they wanted. But they wanted all that supplied within just two months, a month before the March 1978 Kelantan State Election. Whether I got the business or not depended on whether I was able to supply their RM6 million or so order in a mere two months. I could not do it, of course, but I told them that I could. I got the order and went home wondering how I would supply the engines in two months. They then sent me the schedule of delivery. The Minister would be touring from fishing village to fishing village over a period of a month to personally hand over the engines to the fishermen in a handing over ceremony. It was going to be a big show. And my engines were going to be the centre of attraction. I almost had a heart attack. All I could put together was one lorry-load of engines, not the 20 or 30 lorry-loads like what they wanted. Hence I would have to perform a sort of magic trick to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. I knew that the fishermen did not really need the engines delivered by February or March 1978. Some were halfway through building their boats while some had not even started construction yet. So, realistically, they would need the engines delivered in six months time or maybe even in a year or 18 months. I went to meet the fishermen and told them that the engines come with a warranty. But the warranty starts from the day they take delivery of the engines. So better they take deliver only when they needed the engines or else the warranty would be 'wasted' and may even expire before they can install the engines into their boats. As a 'mark' or 'token' of delivery we would hand over just the propellers. The fishermen agreed and on the day of the handing-over ceremony we parked the lorry-load of engines in front of the stage and handed over the propellers to the Minister who then handed them to the fishermen as a ritual of handing them the engines. We then drove the lorry to the next venue and the following day we did the same thing. The same lorry was sent from fishing village to fishing village. Actually, it was only one lorry made to look like it was 20 or 30 lorries. No one noticed that the lorry had the same registration number or even bothered to check the serial numbers of the engines on the lorry. Our explanation to the Minister was that the engines were too heavy to lift and we would need a crane to lift them (which was true). So better he just handed the propellers to the fishermen -- which in itself were quite heavy already. In fact, the Minister could not lift the propellers all by himself. He needed two other people to assist him. It was a win-win situation. The Minister got to hand over RM6 million worth of engines to the fishermen. The fishermen could get delivery of the engines only when they needed them and not too early. I got my RM6 million order although I did not yet have RM6 million worth of engines in stock. And Barisan Nasional won 34 of the 36 seats in the Kelantan State Assembly leaving PAS with only two seats -- the first time since Merdeka that Umno ruled Kelantan (at least for 12 years until 1990 when they lost the state again to PAS). And that was the day my friends called me 'The Six Million Dollar Man', a popular TV series at that time. I suppose, in business, you need to show confidence and pretend that you know what you are doing and can handle any assignment they give you even when you do not have the winning cards in your hand. After all, is that not how poker is played? And now do you know why I do not want too clever people to become Ministers? I could never pull something like that off if smart people ran the government. TO BE CONTINUED
The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 1) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 2) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 3) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 4) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 5) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 6) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 7) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 8) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 9) The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 10)
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| Indonesian embassy warns maids to avoid Malaysia Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:20 PM PST
(AFP) - Indonesia Tuesday warned its nationals not to work as maids in Malaysia after a weekend raid freed 105 women who were confined against their will and forced to work without pay. In the latest maid abuse scandal to hit Malaysia, authorities said they had freed 95 Indonesians, six Filipinas and four Cambodians who toiled as housemaids by day but were locked inside a building near the capital Kuala Lumpur at night. Recurring reports of abuse of Indonesian maids have soured relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbours and in 2009 prompted Jakarta to angrily cut off the supply of domestic workers to Malaysia. The two sides announced a year ago that the ban would be lifted after they reaching an accord to provide maids better protection and working conditions. But the latest case showed Indonesians were still at risk, especially those who come to Malaysia illegally without going through proper recruitment channels, a spokesman for Jakarta's embassy said. "The Malaysian authorities should take tough action... It's better for Indonesian maids not to work in Malaysia," spokesman Suryana Sastradiredja told AFP. "They (Malaysia) are asking for Indonesian maids but they cannot protect them well." The women freed on Saturday -- who according to Malaysian media reports had arrived illegally over the past several months -- have been taken to a shelter and will eventually be sent back to Indonesia, Sastradiredja said. Sastradiredja said that since the ban was lifted, fewer than 100 Indonesian maids had arrived through official channels, turned off by the low salaries and abuse reports. But, citing reports from Indonesian and Malaysian activists, he said Jakarta fears thousands more may have been duped into coming illegally with promises of well-paid work since the ban was set in 2009, and were now working in vulnerable situations. One of Southeast Asia's most affluent and developed countries, Malaysia has long attracted women from its poorer neighbours, mostly Indonesia, seeking work as maids. Before the ban, some 300,000 Indonesians were legally registered as working as maids in Malaysia. Recurring incidents in which foreign maids have been confined, abused, beaten, or even killed have repeatedly rankled Malaysia's neighbours. In October, an advertisement in Malaysia that offered Indonesian maids "on sale" went viral online in Indonesia, sparking new outrage. Last month, police said they were investigating a man in northern Malaysia for allegedly raping his 15-year-old Indonesian maid, while in a separate case, three police officers were charged with raping a 25-year-old Indonesian woman at a police station. Cambodia also banned sending maids to Malaysia last year following numerous abuse complaints.
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| M'sians abroad now eligible for postal voting Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:13 PM PST
(Bernama) - Postal voting facilities for Malaysian citizens living abroad, apart from absentee voters, will be implemented for the coming general election. Election Commission secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said it was in line with recommendations from the Special Election Committee On Improving The Election Process for Malaysians living abroad and absentee voters to be given postal voting facilities. For this to be implemented, the EC was finalising the policies, logistics planning, manpower and financial allocations before amendments on the Election Regulations (Postal Voting) 2003 was made, he said. "After the regulations are finalised, the EC will set a date for its implementation and will be brought for approval by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. "Following this, the regulations will be gazetted and then tabled at the Dewan Rakyat," he said in a statement today. Kamaruddin explained that although the third meeting of the fifth session of the 12th Dewan Rakyat had ended, and new regulations had not been tabled, it did not mean the regulations could not be enforced during the general election. "The EC will ensure that the date for implementation of the regulations is set, so it can be used in the general election. "Tabling of the regulations at Dewan Rakyat, according to Section 17 of the Election Act 1958, is required by law after it is approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, setting of the enforcement date and gazetting of the regulations are done," he said. With the enforcement of the regulations, Malaysians who meet the EC's requirements will be eligible for postal voting.
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| Pak Lah’s kin linked to power meter supply storm Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:24 PM PST
Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider The family of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was linked today to a company that supplies the controversial digital electricity meters to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) alleged to have hiked up energy consumption bills and gained the national utility company billions of ringgit in profit. According to PKR's investment bureau chief Wong Chen, Noor Asiah Mahmood, who is the younger sister to Abdullah's (picture) first wife, the late Tun Endon Mahmood, owns Ombata-Ambak Holdings Sdn Bhd, which has a 15 per cent share in Malaysian Intelligence Meters Sdn Bhd, the latter which is one of five companies contracted by TNB to supply the new digital meters. Wong alleged that the programme to switch analogue power meters for digital ones had showed consumers would be contributing RM6.88 billion to TNB's profit over the course of 10 years. The programme has been stopped temporarily on the orders of Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui since October. "Our research shows TNB has 8.03 million consumers now and the average price for each meter is RM250, therefore this programme had the potential to reach RM2 billion. "For the financial year 2012, TNB's revenue from all consumers is RM34.4 billion, if the electronic meter had given a conservative raise of two per cent, the additional burden on consumers would be as much as RM688 million a year. "Seeing as the life expectancy of this meter is only 10 years, consumers would ultimately have to pay as much as RM6.88 billion to TNB for that duration," Wong told a news conference at the opposition party's headquarters here. PKR strategy director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who was also present, said the issue was not a small matter as consumers would have to pay up to 50 per cent of the cost of their power bills. "Therefore, PKR urges TNB to be transparent and responsible in this matter to reveal who are the electronic meter suppliers, the price paid for the meters and whether it was competitively priced at local and international standards, and whether an open tender had been called or was it a direct negotiation?" Nik Nazmi asked. The Seri Setia state lawmaker also called for TNB to fund an independent body to investigate consumer complaints on the new meters and to act on the findings that bind the utility company to consumers. Last October, Chin said TNB had halted the replacement of analogue electricity meters with electronic meters until a standard operating procedure could be fixed. He had made the decision after receiving public complaints saying power consumption had spiked after switching to the new digital meters, causing them to be also billed "retrospectively". "This operation will go on but our main task is to educate people on the new meter," the minister had said then. However, Chin had said replacing the analogue devices with the new meters would continue for households where the electricity meters were damaged or suspected to have been tampered with, resulting in losses.
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| Much work for Umno leaders after the general assembly Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:17 PM PST
There are as many as 2.9 million new voters in the next general election. Umno can sit back and relax only after it has convinced these young voters aged between 22 and 29 years old. Lim Sue Goan, My Sinchew The recent Umno general assembly has once again proved the enthusiasm of the Malays in politics, and their allegiance to leaders. However, no matter how successful the assembly was and how well it demonstrated solidarity, the party's general assembly will never be the battlefield of the party. The assembly was filled with tears. Party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak successfully touched many delegates. However, the most important thing would be to touch voters. Therefore, no matter how high the morale was, Umno leaders still have much work to do to bring the momentum to the general election. Firstly, Najib must rectify the problem of overconfidence and arrogance in leaders at all levels. For example, Wanita Umno leader Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's May 13 statement triggered concern while Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob even said that the MCA should "close shop" if it loses Bentong in the next general election and he will also cut off his ears and jump into the Pahang River. Such a cavalier attitude has been turned into a ready-made issue to be attacked by the alternative coalition, while making voters uncomfortable. Adnan also said BN will win 13 of the total 14 parliamentary seats in Pahang, while having half chance to win the remaining one seat. He even said that the number of parliamentary seats BN wins in Pahang will be equal to the number of Kuantan residents in favour of the Lynas rare earth refinery. It is puzzling how he can so amidst the strong opposition against the Lynas project? The top priority now would be to teach leaders about humility. Only those who are modest will know their own inadequacies. Secondly, Umno must restore the people's confidence as soon as possible. Various controversial issues have eroded public confidence in the existing system, including whether the rise of the national debt would cause the reduction of subsidies after the election or, worse, lead the country towards bankruptcy? The government has guaranteed the safety of the rare earth refinery but it has not fully explained about the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah. The construction of ARE's second permanent disposal facility is scheduled to be completed in March 2013 and it will be monitored by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) for 300 years. Three hundred years involve a few generations and it is afraid that the country might have to bear a huge cost. The government also said that Lynas must ship rare earth waste abroad, but Lynas said that all waste will be converted into commercial by-products. Who should we listen to? Who can ensure that all waste will be converted into by-products? There are as many as 2.9 million new voters in the next general election. Umno can sit back and relax only after it has convinced these young voters aged between 22 and 29 years old. Thirdly, Najib must offer the people a new direction. The transformation plans have reached a bottleneck and failed to solve corruption problems as well as boost vitality in the economy. The RM40 million political donation and former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan's criticism of the police force have reflected the lack of transparency in the existing system. The government-related enterprises' performances are also poor. MAS's accumulated loss has reached RM8.19 billion and it has to implement a reorganisation plan. Meanwhile, Petronas posted a 21.3 per cent fall in third-quarter net profit. What should we do if the world economy encounters a recession next year? Transformation and reforms are not just about adjusting the minor parts. It should not be controlled by politics either. If the BN is able to put an end to the various problems which are shaking its credibility, it will then be on the way to success. The problems come from them, instead of the alternative coalition.
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| Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:04 PM PST It is not up to the political elites to decide what is, or what is not, Malaysian culture, especially when it comes to the much anticipated prime ministerial debate. Three generations have passed; 12 general elections have come and gone; six prime ministers have helmed the bridge of the beautifully built but badly sailed ship of Malaysia; yet, there has only been one government, one ruling party, one business plan and one corrupt hole that those at the top keep digging at the expense of the rakyat. By Howard Lee, FMT The general election is just around the corner. At every corner you turn and in every conversation you hear, the election is being talked about passionately. Regardless of whichever side of the political divide one stands on, the future of the nation is at stake, our fates as well as those of our children and their children hang in the balance. The Malaysian experiment in democracy had at its core the guiding principles of progress through 'check and balance', and mechanisms such as the 'separation of powers' and two tiered parliamentary representation built in to ensure a progressive union of the rakyat. However instead of progress, the experiment has pushed our country further away from its goals. Three generations have passed; 12 general elections have come and gone; six prime ministers have helmed the bridge of the beautifully built but badly sailed ship of Malaysia; yet, there has only been one government, one ruling party, one business plan and one corrupt hole that those at the top keep digging at the expense of the rakyat. All this has been garnished by lies after deceptions, time and time again. I was recently lucky enough to spend two weeks in America, during the last frantic few weeks of campaigning for the recent US presidential election. Though I am no stranger to foreign politics – having been involved in British politics with the Liberal Democrats – being in New York two weeks before the acid test of Obama's new politics of Hope and Change, was nothing short of an eye opener. Fortunate enough to be present for three out of the four most important debates in the US legislative term; namely the vice presidential debate, the presidential town hall debate, and the presidential foreign policy debate, I never knew where my threshold for overdosing on politicking was, until now. Polls in the US On TV, analysts and spokespersons from both sides of the divide were interviewed on split screens around the clock and across time zones, whilst live debates and polls assessed every nuance, slip, or hidden meaning behind the speaker's words. Competition raged amongst the countless TV channels to deliver the most impressive visual presentations of the latest polling figures, not to mention opinion pieces on candidate's choice of words, narrative style, perceptive strategy, body language, and last and sometimes seemingly least, their stand on the various pressing issues and topics they stood for. Granted, the buzz surrounding the debate does tend to verge on the side of overkill. More often than not, both parties employ huge resources and go startling lengths to tear apart their opponent with minute details. But this façade (although it must be navigated with care) does not take away from the ultimate purpose: to inform and to get people talking about each candidate and what policies they stand for. My daily 15-minute queue for my Sumatran Macchiato in Starbucks saw students of all hues and accents discussing politics; teenagers whining about how uncool one candidate was compared to the other; and a group of high-powered well-dressed business women biting at one of the talking points. It was a big deal! Whether it was the substance that they cared about, or simply the presentation, they were certainly participating in the discussion. All that, can be said for every elections, in every democratic nation in the modern world. It's definitely applicable to our political reality in Malaysia. But one could be quite surprised to find that the above paragraph is a statement made by an American citizen of Mexican descent in his 20's named Miguel working as a barman in New York. And it's not Malaysia he's talking about. Ultimately, through extensive debates and the public dismantling of policy; each and every member of the public has the opportunity if he or she wishes to become part of the debate.
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| That liberalism, pluralism menace Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:00 PM PST The writer takes a cynical and satirical look on how the Malays must come to terms with themselves. Racism has been around in Malaysia for half a century, so why bother to dismantle it? And why must they blame Umno for looking after the Malays with affirmative action, when MCA and MIC conveniently ignored their own people? Great leaders like Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reaffirmed that those race-based parties are here to stay. PAS is but a fine example. Iskandar Dzulkarnain, FMT Liberalism and pluralism have engulfed the nation, and this negative phenomenon is slowly afflicting the Malays, causing them to turn away from the path of righteousness. Even Umno which has been lovingly protecting the Malays for the last 50 years and the various religious authorities are now watching open-mouthed in horror as liberalism sweeps across the land unhindered – infecting unsuspecting Muslims. Yes, once this affliction manifests itself, it will cause widespread confusion among the Malays causing them to question themselves, question the state and question their religious beliefs. Sometimes they may even question each other. Some are already questioning why there is so much repression of their individual freedoms, in comparison to the non-Malays. Unable to control themselves, they are also starting to question the royalty, the state and the religion. And worse, they are now questioning the hand that feeds them (Umno). Some are even questioning the need for Malay supremacy. How disappointing is that? It is a pity that there are so few organisations like Perkasa around to protect Malay rights. Ibrahim Ali is a rare breed and he epitomises the true towering Malay. Racism has been around in Malaysia for half a century, so why bother to dismantle it? And why must they blame Umno for looking after the Malays with affirmative action, when MCA and MIC conveniently ignored their own people? Great leaders like Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reaffirmed that those race-based parties are here to stay. PAS is but a fine example. When there was lack of jobs for the Malays, Umno absorbed them into the civil service. Yet the Malays remain unappreciative of the fact, due largely to liberalism. They think if they choose Pakatan Rakyat, there will be more individual freedom and liberal thought. They think there will be lesser interference to the way they want to live. Malays have been warned That's why, what Nurul Izzah said also had me and the whole nation quite confused, even though I can "a little speaking". What she said was too liberal and the Malays must not entertain such pluralistic thoughts. The younger generation could go quite berserk. The state doesn't ask very much of the Malays. Only once every five years to give them our mandate to carry on whatever they are doing and they will leave us alone to our fate. And yet some Malays seem to think that the state wants to control our minds and our thoughts. Already, Umno has warned us many times that PAS is out to get us, and if we believe in their extreme ideologies, we will be even more entrapped. Let Pakatan Rakyat deceive the public with its Malaysia for Malaysian slogans or a caring government that will serve the people and accord all citizens individual freedoms. The Malays do want to be part of such liberal ideologies. We are contented with the status quo and many of us are preparing in earnest for the hereafter. Yes, liberalism has caused many Malays to leave Umno's fold and to dine with the enemy (PAS). Today, there are many liberals in PAS, questioning Umno's impeccable religious credentials, and even have the cheek to call Umno murtad (apostates). Now, isn't that a little too extreme? PAS' consistency in belittling the faith of its Muslim political opponents shows that it lacks legitimacy as reformers, said Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein. Isn't that food for thought? Although liberalism has a broad meaning, it does not mean moderation. Moderation is practised by the Muslims in this country but PAS has a higher agenda and intent on introducing a more Islamic outlook. It is not contented that Malaysia is already an Islamic country and wants a purer and more unadulterated version. So the Malays will have to get ready for a better version to their existing way of life some day. Religious authorities have made the call to curb liberalism among the Muslims. Compared to Muslims around the world, the Muslims in this country are relatively weak, especially the younger generation that needs to be constantly nurtured. A borderless world has distracted the Muslims from their focus, causing them to embrace liberalism and pluralism and to seek for political change. PAS Youth has called for more religious education to fill this vacuum. Liberalism begets forgetfulness Young Scholars Secretariat (Ilmu) working committee chairman Ustaz Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya said pluralism was an understanding which adopted extreme tolerant attitude based on western perspective. "I am waiting for the National Fatwa Council to issue a clear fatwa [edict] on the understanding for Muslims to refer to," he said. The fatwa needs to be implemented with strict religious action and enforcement to eradicate such ills effectively. Meanwhile, the Ulama have questioned the Malays who believe in celebrating the diversity and plurality of Malaysian society. This is a tradition that should not be overly promoted as it may threaten the faith of Muslims. Certain guidelines for proper intermingling have been drawn up as intermingling between the races has become too close for comfort. What the government has done for the Malays in the past have been conveniently forgotten, and today the Malays have become rebellious. They have lost respect for the authorities and the government. This needs to be checked. Liberalism has gone out of control until the Malays are willing to vote against the very government that has nurtured them from day one. It has gone so bad that the Malays cannot be depended upon to make the right choice even though they have been given the freedom to exercise their vote. Today, even affirmative actions for the Malays are being questioned and dissected by liberal Malays themselves. They question the role of BTN (Biro Tata Negara or National Civics Bureau), and is efforts to unite the Malays.
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| Posted: 03 Dec 2012 02:30 PM PST Following his explosive revelations at a press conference last week, the former IGP finds himself on the other side of the police radar. Teoh El Sen, FMT Ironic as it may sound, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan has claimed that he is being tailed by special branch officers. This followed his controversial press conference last week, where he claimed that criminal elements had infiltrated the police force and revealed that politicians interfered with investigations. Apart from him, Musa said that R Sri Sanjeevan from the NGO My Watch which organised the press conference was also being tailed. Musa is the patron of the newly-formed NGO. "To me it's funny lah. Why must you put me under surveillance? As if I am a threat to security. "I would like to advise them not to follow me lah. I won't destroy the nation, that's number one. Number two, I think you have better work to do, like following criminals, who are really jeopardising the safety of the public," the former IGP told FMT. "So I think it is stupid of them [to follow us], wasting the rakyat's money. If you want anything just call me, I'll tell you everything," he added. On how he found out, Musa said:"Of course I know who is following me but I didn't want to confront them. Don't want to embarrass them. Of course they ran away when they saw me." Asked why he was being tailed, Musa shrugged and replied: "I don't know, probably instructions from up top. Maybe the IGP himself, I don't know." Musa said that although in the past he had been tracked by syndicates and tontos "plenty of times", this was his first time being followed by a policeman. "Never by policemen, but by syndicates and tontos you know, who want to know my movements. I still remember when I was in the drugs unit. That's why whenever I got out of the house, I would never follow the same route for fear that people might either follow me or ambush me and all that. We must be aware of my environment, being a trained police officer, you know," he added.
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| Need for independent public inquiry into police top brass and Home Ministry — Kua Kia Soong Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:51 PM PST
(TMI) -- The serious allegations of misconduct against the former IGP Musa Hassan through a statutory declaration (SD) made in 2009 and the recent claim by the ex-IGP himself that criminal elements had infiltrated the force as well as interference of politicians in investigations warrant an urgent independent public inquiry to restore public trust in the police force. These allegations contained in the SD were by police officer Noor Azizul Rahim Taharim, who served as Musa's aide-de-camp from 2005 to 2007. The document accuses Musa of wrongdoings during his tenure and exposes how he had purportedly silenced critics with transfers and trumped-up charges. Azizul claims that former CID director Christopher Wan had revealed to him that Musa had directed the setting up of a covert blog to publish allegations of corruption against then Deputy Home Minister Johari Baharom. The contents of the blog, he said, damaged Johari's reputation and subjected him to a probe by the Anti-Corruption Agency. "I am also aware of the statutory declarations made by several policemen, police informants and subjects of police actions showing links between Musa and the underworld, specifically concerning restricted residence detainee Goh Cheng Poh @ Tongku and one shadow figure, BK Tan. Based on my personal knowledge and involvement as the ADC to the IGP, I can confirm that the statements made by these deponents concerning Musa were true…," he alleged. Referring to the SDs of ASP Mior Fahim Ahmad and ASP Hong Kin Hock, Azizul confirmed that their allegations had basis. The pair had claimed that there was manipulation of promotions, ranks and postings in the police involving BK Tan. "The credibility of these officers would be 'demolished' such that whatsoever information they gathered about Musa would be discredited. These officers would suffer hardship being transferred away from their families and home base. They would also get bypassed in promotions and suffer disciplinary action without the proper process. Consequently, less able officers climbed the ranks and the victimised officers were used as warnings against others… This process of 'mecantas' [pruning] explains the apparent lack of ability by PDRM to tackle crime, the lack of motivation and low morale within PDRM that saw crime escalating at an alarming rate during Musa's tenure," he added. After former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave Musa a two-year extension in 2007,"this served as a powerful endorsement that the government was fully behind Musa. A sense of fear also gripped many within PDRM and outside when not long after that in October 2007, the lawyer who assisted CCD [Ramli] in the Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku matter [after the A-G's Chambers declined to prepare affidavits for the CCD] was himself arrested in a most humiliating manner and charged one day before Aidilfitri. "The message was clear that Musa had the support of the ACA, the Attorney-General and the prime minister in all his actions. The fear among officers in PDRM became the need for self-preservation after six rank-and-file policemen including Ramli were charged with various offences. Not long after that, the A-G ordered the release of the said Goh Cheng Ph @ Tengku." (FMT, 4.12.12) These are serious allegations by the former aide-de-camp of the ex-IGP which have demoralised the entire Malaysian police force. Earlier in the week, the ex-IGP himself had pointed the finger at Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein when he charged that politicians had interfered with investigations. Musa's revelations that the police force had been infiltrated by criminal elements and that the current IGP Ismail Omar was weak in heading the police force are enough reason for the urgent establishment of an independent public inquiry. These exposes of unprofessional goings-on in the police top brass and skeletons in the cupboard of the Home Ministry provide us with some clue as to why the recommendation by the Royal Commission on the Police in 2005 for an Independent Police Complaints & Misconduct Committee has failed to be implemented after so many years. The government must ultimately be held responsible for dragging its feet on this vital reform to stop deaths in custody, police shootings and the culture of impunity in the Malaysian police force. The just accomplished Leveson Commission over British media practices brought about by phone hacking of the British media cannot compare with these much more serious allegations against the Malaysian police top brass and the home minister. * By Dr Kua Kia Soong, Suaram adviser.
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| GE13 will be horror show for BN Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:14 AM PST
Umno, BN and Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor are in for a nightmarish ride come the 13th general election if they believe their 'trusted' government reports. If BN loses 13 seats in East Malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat will be getting 122 seats because in Peninsular Malaysia, the opposition coalition is set to win 109 seats. Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, FMT I have a horror tale for Barisan Nasional. Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor claims BN expects to win more than the 140 federal seats it took in the 2008 general election. He is quoting "trusted" government sources. Pray tell: can we expect government sources to tell otherwise? And who are these "trusted" government sources who produce these intelligence report? Are they reports from Kemas, Jasa or maybe from minister Rais Yatim? If it is from Rais, then the numbers are understandable. Rais was never known to be good at numerics. Seriously, let's look at the numbers. BN admits to the possibility of losing six seats in Sabah and seven seats in Sarawak. BN is saying it will win more than 140 seats. There are 222 seats in Parliament. If BN loses 13 seats in East Malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat will be getting 122 seats because in Peninsular Malaysia, the opposition coalition is set to win 109 seats. With PKR's Ibrahim Menudin set to win in Labuan, Pakatan has 110 seats already. What Tengku Adnan dare not reveal is that BN can lose up to 12 seats in Sabah and up to 13 seats in Sarawak, making a total loss of 25 seats from the East Malaysian states. Don't dream, BN The nightmare ahead is that BN will be reduced to a party with 87 seats. Let me tell you how. In the four northern states – Perlis, Penang, Kedah and Perak – Pakatan will win 56 seats to BN's 14. In the west coast – Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor – Pakatan will win 35 to BN's 26 seats. Pakatan expects to win nine seats in Johor this time around. Out of the 36 parliamentary seats in the east coast states – Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang – Pakatan can win 22 to BN's 14. In the Federal Territories – Wilayah Persekuatuan Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan – Pakatan will win 11 against BN's two. There you are, 110 seats for Pakatan, and we haven't even talked about Sabah and Sarawak! The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman but has now joined DAP. He is a FMT columnist.
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He also said there was lack of political will for reform to make the legislative assemblies independent of state governments.
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